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squirmhoney · 2 months

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BUT HE NEEDS A WIFE | NAOYA ZEN'IN

Please read all warnings carefully, my fics cover dark topic matters, that may be upsetting to certain readers. Read at your own discretion. Warnings: Dark. Arranged/Forced marriage. Non con touching. Violence against reader. Mentions of sex. Misogynistic views. Degrading views. Submissive reader. Abusive relationship. Forced pregnancy. Non con. Dub con. 18+ A/N: I feel like the character is a warning in itself. But of course I had to pick this one, out of all the characters in JJK.

AS ALWAYS MINORS DO NOT INTERACT! MASTER LIST HERE

When your parents told you of your engagement to Haru, you had been hesitant.

You knew it was an honour to marry someone so high up in the Zen’in clan but you had remembered Haru from your teenage years, or more so his closest companion, Naoya Zen’in.

Naoya had always tormented you growing up, spitting about how a weak woman like you should know your place. He even once forced his friends to hold you three steps behind him as he paraded you through the school.

Where a woman should be, he had chuckled darkly.

It was no surprise he had turned out the way he did.

Since you had known him, people around him had been feeding him the belief he’d be head of the Zen’in clan one day. No wonder he constantly felt entitled and put himself above everybody else. But his arrogance when it came to women was something else, something that had bile creeping up your throat every time someone even uttered his name.

You had never understood why girls had thrown themselves his way, knowing they’d be discarded like a used toy the next day.

Even your childhood best friend had fawned over him, fluttering her eyelashes and bowing her head like an obedient servant every time he walked her way. For years he had never even batted an eye her way, completely ignoring her existence.

Until he had exhausted his options and finally his line of vision was turning in her direction. Or that’s at least what you believed.

It was only days after you were cradling her form in your lap, her tears soaking your legs as you brushed her hair out of her face.

The sight had sent you into an out of mind craze because days later you found yourself completely alone as you confronted him about it.

At first he had laughed when he saw you storming over his way, even whistling your way. Only for his eyes to narrow at you when you spat your vicious words at him, hand wrapping around your throat before you could finish.

“Anyone would be grateful to be even touched by me,” he hissed, holding you against the wall.

You had wheezed his name, fingernails clawing at his hand. But his grip only tightened, as he glared at you.

“It’s a fucking honour.” He was seething as he spoke the words, a rage pouring off of him that you had never seen before. One that you’d hoped you’d never see again.

With your tears you begged for your life, unable to speak with his hands constraining your neck.

You didn’t know why he let go of you, letting you drop to the floor below him. But he had, giving you once last disgusted look before he walked away.

Even in your fear you had been defiant, the words falling from your lips before you could stop them.

“I fear for the woman who ends up marrying you.”

Naoya had simply rolled his eyes at your words, nostrils flaring slightly but he never responded.

Even though Haru hadn’t been there to witness that day, he had still been friends with Naoya for so long. By association you believed him to be an awful person and the thought of a marriage with someone like that, terrified you to the core.

But Haru had changed since then.

He was gentle and doting, reassuring you with every day you spent together that he would be a good husband. Nothing he did made you believe he could be lying and so each night when he gently brushed his lips with yours before you settled into bed together, you opened your mind to the idea of it. Until it was truly all you believed.

Words couldn’t reach your lips when you had been told, body only freezing in your seat as your parents had blabbered on to you and Haru.

It’s an honour, you heard your father say. The head of the Zen’in clan blessing our daughter’s marriage is an honour.

Luckily Haru spoke for you, hand grabbing yours as he squeezed it gently.

Of course we’d be honoured to have him in our home. Haru had told your parents. Me and Naoya used to be such good friends back in the day

Your gaze lifted to look at him then, body trembling beside him as you caught his wide smile.

There was a sickening feeling in the pit of your stomach when you returned home that day. One that you were unable to shake even as the day drew closer and your fiancé tried so hard to reassure you it’d be okay.

“He won’t bless our marriage,” you had told Haru, eyes glazed over with tears. “I know it.”

Haru only shook his head, not taking your fear seriously. “Relax-”

“I know him.” Your hands gripped onto his shirt, pleading with him to listen. “He’ll do it out of spite. He hates me.”

“It’s been years, Y/N.”

You turned away, trying to steady your shaky breaths as you listened to your words. You really wanted to believe him, to think that everything would be okay. But you had both known a different person growing up, while he had been your biggest tormentor, he had been one of Haru’s closest friends.

Haru had of course had no reason to believe that Naoya hated you so much, that he wouldn’t bless your marriage just because he felt like it.

But that tightening feeling in your stomach told you differently. Even when you desperately craved to not want to believe it.

“It will only be for a few hours,” Haru reassured you, his hand rubbing into your shoulders.

“A few hours,” you repeated, taking a shaky breath.

You felt Haru shift behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist as he held you close. “You know he’s trying to find a wife?”

You giggled a bit at that, a small smile perking up on your lips that your fiancé seemed to share with you, “I pray for the woman who has to marry him.”

“So do I,” he laughed with you.

There was a knock on the door, the tension rising in your body again.

“Must be him,” Haru stated, eyes turning towards the direction of the door. “It’ll be okay.”

Haru tried to reassure you with a peck to your cheek but your body was already quivering with nerves, unable to shake the uneasy feeling.

A feeling that only grew as you heard his horrifying familiar voice.

Mandatory duties like this were a chore for Naoya.

Who cared whether he approved of someone’s marriage or not?

However, when he had seen your name on the papers alongside Haru’s, he had almost choked on the tea he had been sipping.

How had Haru found himself in such an unfortunate situation to be engaged to you?

Someone as disobedient as you, surely there must have been a mistake in what he was seeing. He remembered your last conversation years ago like a sour taste in his mouth that he just couldn’t quite get rid of.

You had the nerve to touch him, to look into his eyes as if you were his equal- No, not even that, you had seen yourself better than him.

Naoya had never shaken the rage at that, blood still boiling at the memory.

He had been merciful that day.

Something he wouldn’t be today, he had told himself as Haru greeted him at your front door.

“Where is she then?” Naoya asked, making sure his voice carried through your small home.

He wanted you to know he was there. Whichever room you were hiding in, he wanted you to be quivering at his arrival.

“Where’s your beautiful fiancé?”

He hadn’t expected you to step through a door in the hallway, joining your husband’s side. What was most surprising was when you bowed to him, not even uttering a word as you greeted him in the proper way.

His eyes scanned your form, running over you in your attire and admiring the way your yukata fit your body so well.

“Would you finish preparing the tea for us?” Haru asked you, gently pushing you back in the direction you came.

You bowed your head to him before returning back to the kitchen.

He couldn’t help but watch your frame as it disappeared into another room. He used to tease you about your wider hips, only now he was biting back the words as his cock twitched at the sight of them.

“What have you done to her?” There was humour laced in Naoya’s tone but all that met his eyes was a deep hunger. One that he was sure his old friend caught on to.

“She’s going to be a great wife,” Haru commented, giving Naoya a small smile before he directed him to another room. “Please, let's get you comfortable.”

Conversation flowed between him and Haru easily as if time had never passed. The only time his mind seemed to slip away from the conversation was when you entered the room, tray in hand as you quietly placed it on the table in front of them.

It’s also when he noticed how your delicate hands were trembling as they poured his tea, his lips curling up into a dark grin. There was something satisfying about seeing you so scared to be around him, especially after all these years.

“Thank you, Y/N,” Haru said to you as he took his tea from your hand, pulling you to sit beside him.

He looked at Naoya then, eyes squinting for a second as he placed an arm over your shoulders. Naoya knew that look, he had seen it on so many men before when their wives would sneak him sneaky glances.

Haru was acting possessive and Naoya actually thought it was cute.

“Such an obedient wife you have there,” Naoya spoke, only to tut at himself as he caught his words. “Sorry, I meant fiancé. You still need my blessing before that.”

You looked at him then, eyes glazed over, only for a second before your gaze returned to your hands.

There you are, he thought.

He saw the fear that seeped into your eyes at his words.

“You know Haru there’s a position that really needs filling,” Naoya changed the conversation. “It would get you more money than whatever you’re making now. Help you better provide for your future wife.”

“If you see me fit for the job,” Haru said, eyes widening with hope at his words.

Naoya almost felt pity for him.

Two hours in and you were excusing yourself to the kitchen, hand covering your mouth as you muffled your gasps of breath.

You didn’t understand how Haru could be so blind, not even noticing the sadistic grin on Naoya’s face as he toyed with the pair of you. He knew he had all the control, practically holding it over your heads like the dogs he thought you were.

Naoya was quiet as he crept behind you, so quiet you didn’t even notice him until his hands were playing with your hair.

You gasped at the touch but didn’t dare to move as he trapped you between his body and cabinet in front of you.

“There’s a good girl,” Naoya whispered, brushing your hair over your shoulder. You could feel his breath fan against your skin as he inched closer. “You are such a submissive thing, aren’t you?”

You swallowed, pushing yourself further into the cabinet in hopes to escape his grasp.

“All the lessons when we were teenagers really seemed to seep in, didn’t they?” He asked but you knew he didn’t really want a response. “I bet you’re even saving yourself for the big day.”

You didn’t want to give him the satisfaction of an answer but he could see it in your heated glare through the reflection of the window.

“You are.” He sniffed your neck, inhaling your scent as he pressed himself right up against you. “So pure, Y/N. You’re going to be such a great wife.”

You could feel every bit of him as he pressed his body against yours and you were horrified at the feel of his hardness rubbing against your back.

You bit on your lip to keep any noise buried, knowing he was already getting off on how docile you were being. You didn’t need him to get off on your fear as well.

At the sound of Haru’s footsteps coming down the stairs, he backed away but not far enough from your liking.

“I should be going to see your parents now, Y/N,” Naoya spoke to you before he turned to Haru, patting him on his shoulder. “I’ll keep in touch with you about the job as well, Haru.”

Haru saw him out, walking back to you with the biggest grin as he tried to cup your face.

You flinched away, turning back to the cleaning you had started.

“You heard him,” Haru said, wrapping his arms around you. “We are going to be fine.”

You wanted to scream at him, unable to understand how he just couldn’t see what you saw.

But you didn’t say anything, only biting at your bottom lip to keep your tears at bay as you hugged him back, knowing it would probably be the last time.

There was no surprise on your face when your parents broke the news to you.

Not until they had explained why Naoya hadn’t approved of your engagement.

You wanted to plead with your parents for them to take it back, to not allow you to go through with this.

But you knew the shame that it’d bring them and as much as it haunted you, it was something you couldn’t possibly do to them. There was nothing they could probably do anyway, who were they to refuse the head of the Zen’in clan.

You weren’t allowed to see Haru after that, Naoya had made that clear to your parents.

You had spent most of your days in your childhood room at home, not wanting your parents to catch on how truly sick this made you. You didn’t want to put that guilt on them, for them to learn how truly unhappy you would be with the match.

Even when you reached your wedding day and you felt completely numb to the core, you dragged yourself out of bed with a smile.

Everyone you knew attended the ceremony, the whole of the Zen’in clan being in attendance. Even your Haru standing in the second row.

You couldn’t even meet any of their eyes, gaze being glued to the floor.

For the first time in your life you found some solace in Naoya’s eyes, even if it was only to help you draw your attention to something other than the hundreds of other people watching.

But the way he was smiling at you, had you fighting with yourself to not turn away.

It was as if he was revelling in victory for a game you hadn’t even realised you both had been playing.

Once the ceremony was over, Naoya paraded you around like a doll, showing you to anyone and everyone that would stop to watch. People from your teenage years ogled their eyes at you in disbelief, clearly being shocked to see the pair of you being wed off.

It made as little sense to them as it did you.

Even as you sat next to him while you ate together, you still couldn’t piece together why he was doing this. It’s all you wanted to ask, still believing in your head that this was some sort of sick joke. That he’d eventually get bored and start laughing and this all would be over.

“Your parents served you well,” Naoya finally spoke to you, arm leaning over the back of your chairs.

You turned to him at this, not truly understanding what he was getting at.

“I’ll definitely make sure to thank them for bringing you up like this.” Naoya smirked, toying with his food on the table. “You’re going to be such a great wife.”

You were going to be sick, you were sure of it.

“You’ve barely touched your food,” he stated. “Something wrong?”

“No, I-” you swallowed, eyes flickering up to tables surrounding you. “It’s just nerves.”

In the sea of people you spotted him, looking back at you with a hollow stare.

Naoya’s eyes followed your line of sight, a wicked smile touching his lips as he noticed.

You felt him lean into your side, lips grazing your ear as he whispered, “As wife to the head of the Zen’in clan you must sever all notions of ever having a different life in your mind.”

You could see Haru’s face drop and it was almost like he couldn’t bear to watch you anymore, turning away.

You shuddered as Naoya’s next words brushed against your neck.

“You belong to the clan now and to me.”

He pressed a kiss under your ear, before returning to his meal.

“Remember that.”

#jujutsu kaisen imagines #jujutsu kaisen x reader #jujutsu kaisen x you #naoya x reader #naoya zenin x reader #naoya zenin #naoya x you #jujutsu kaisen smut #naoya zenin smut #jjk smut #jjk x reader

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fleurriee · 1 year

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— a routine of kisses ; neteyam sully

pairing ; neteyam sully x fem!reader

synopsis ; it’s routine for the two of you to tell one another i love you before succumbing to sleep, and neteyam can’t allow you to do so without uttering the words.

word count ; 1.8k

themes ; fluff, established relationship (mates)

warnings ; clingy neteyam if that counts but he’s cute so it’s kinda void??

author’s note ; i saw this & i couldn’t help myself so this fic is dedicated entirely to u, my lovely <3 @draiochtwrites

main masterlist request a fic!

You and Neteyam had just begun settling down for the night, the two of you moving from one side of the tent to the other, ensuring everything was the way it should be before leaving it for the entire night. The both of you moved with fairly sluggish movements, drained from the day you had just had - Neteyam had been strenuously teaching the younger hunter’s, a task that should’ve been easy but had turned out to be more difficult than he could’ve imagined, whilst you had been with the children of the clan, spending your time teaching and playing with them.

After the day the two of you had, nothing could stop you from falling straight into your mat.

With everything finally where it needed to be, your tent tidy and ready for its own rest, you exchanged a brief look with your mate, your tired expressions speaking for themselves. Huffing with exhaustion, you slowly made your way over to the mat, flopping down until your stomach was flat against the material and your face was smushed down.

You heard a faint chuckle from somewhere above you, your mate no doubt finding your actions amusing and dramatic. The next thing you feel is Neteyam’s stomach pressed firmly against your back, his warmth radiating into your system and making you bask in the comfort he’s offering. A smile makes its way onto your lips, sighing in relief at finally being able to succumb to your dreams.

Now settled in place, you feel content enough to let your dreams take you away to another place, a world where everything is perfect and euphoric... not entirely far off from your life you experience now. Though, your dreams are slowly but surely starting to add new, smaller additions into them alongside yourself and Neteyam.

Your mate curls himself somehow impossibly closer into your figure, his tail wrapping around your thigh like it always does, the end tapping against your skin in its contented excitement . His breath fans against your neck from where his face is squished, the sensation having tingles sent down your spine. “I love you,” he mumbles, words almost inaudible if it wasn’t for the fact you were expecting such a declaration of love.

It’s some sort of routine the two of you had picked up back after you had first mated, the both of you always making sure to say I love you before falling asleep. It wasn’t anything you had planned, it was just something that happened naturally, and now, you were stuck in such a pattern.

Well, stuck was probably the wrong way to describe it, because it wasn’t like you were annoyed by it. Except tonight, you were simply too drained. The day had taken a complete toll on you, practically knocking you out as soon as your head hit the floor, so your only response to your mate was an incoherent mumble that you hoped sounded a little like the words you meant.

You’re too tired to tell, but unknown to you, Neteyam is suddenly alert, wide awake. His eyes had shot open, furrowed in confusion whilst his tail subconsciously loosened its hold from your thigh. Completely puzzled by the entire situation, he’s unsure as to why you hadn’t said it back. You always said I love you back to him before falling asleep, a part of his days he arguably looked forward to the most, because there was nothing more thrilling, more special to him, than hearing his mate declare her love to him.

It wasn’t as though he needed the confirmation that you loved him - he saw the way you looked at him; the way you acted around him; the way you kissed him; the way you spent your nights with him. No, hearing you say I love you was more of a euphoric feeling he wanted to drown in for the rest of his life, and the next.

Not hearing you say the words after all this time since you’d been mated felt off. Neteyam props himself up on his elbows, slowly beginning to lean himself over your worn out figure, eyes raking over your features as you attempt to sleep. His mind screams how you look so beautiful even when you’re not trying to, but it’s too late now - he’s overthinking.

“Yawne (beloved)...” he starts, words just a hushed whisper, hesitant. He doesn’t want to wake you from you peaceful slumber you’ve so willingly fallen into, but he can’t seem to help himself. With a gruntled hum from you as his answer, his brows furrow, carrying on and leaning just slightly closer to your face. “You didn’t say it back...”

You hum again, your mind too foggy and out of it to really understand what your mate is saying from on top of you. All you can sense is that his warmth once radiating into you has slightly started to diminish, and it has you craving for the feeling once more. Instead, you snuggle for face in closer to the mat, your body squeezing against the floor for comfort.

Neteyam needs more than a hum. “Y/n, you didn’t say it back.” This time, his voice is a little louder, wanting you to grasp every word he’s saying, and why he’s saying them. He needs you say it back. Leaning all his weight on one elbow now, he brings his other hand up to rest against your arm, shaking it gently to garner your entire attention.

He can’t sleep without you doing this for him.

Grumbling, slowly starting to come to and bear your surroundings, you turn around, now lying on your back. Your squint your eyes up at him, the lids desperately wishing to close but you will them to open. His face is only inches from your own, eyes repeatedly fleeting from looking into each of yours, a mix of worry and confusion evident. “What?” Your voice is hoarse already from having only fallen slightly asleep for just a few moments, hand rubbing your face tiredly. “Didn’t say what back?”

He’s quick with his words, desperate almost. “I love you.” Once the truth is out in the open, you realise your previous mistake of having not said the words that are so precious to your mate. A small sigh escapes your lips, eyes closing for a moment, licking your lips in contemplation. You knew it was routine for the two of you, you just hadn’t realised it meant this much to him. However, before you can even begin uttering the words he’s aching for, he takes notice of your expression, and mistakenly takes it for something else, eyes now pooling with plead for you to see his reasons. “You always say it back. What if something happens and you never said it back? I know you love me - I mean, we’re mates - but it’s ritual for us. You have to say I love you back. I need to know that you love me-”

Another sigh falls from your lips, this one accompanied by a tired chuckle from your mate’s antics. Instantly noticing that he’s isn’t about to stop in his ramblings any time soon, you reach your hand up to press it gently against his cheek. At the feeling of you close to him, his words trail off, eyes gazing down into your own. “Neteyam,” your words are softer than before, now that you know his problem. “Nothing is going to happen to either of us - we’re just going to sleep.”

In your attempt to reassure him, you can see that it does something within his system, but it’s still obvious he’s waiting for more. A pout forms on his lips when you don’t say what he wants you to, and despite wanting absolutely nothing more than to fall back asleep and not wake up until the sun was beginning to rise, you can’t help but take notice of how adorable he looks above you. Your hand snakes its way from his cheek to the back of his neck, a smile full of pure adoration caressing your features as you lean yourself higher to kiss his childish emotions away. Pulling back, you keep your lips close to his, whispering against them. “I love you, ma’teyam.”

You drop back down against the mat, keeping your eyes trained on his as he starts to smile wildly now that he’s heard you say it. Feeling your heart fluttering within your chest at the sight above you, you feel content that he can calmly fall asleep beside you now.

But, Neteyam clearly had other ideas, for you can still feel his lingering presence as he doesn’t move. When you open your eyes again, expecting to find him saying something else, you only find him smiling dumbly down at you, seemingly lost within his own world.

“What-?” You begin to question, brows furrowing as you think what he could possibly want now, when you’re suddenly cut off by an array of kisses pressed forcefully all over your features. Neteyam doesn’t pause for breath, continuously kissing one side of your face to the other - from your forehead, to your cheeks, to your nose, to your chin, everywhere but where you want him to be the most.

His hands now holding their grip against your waist, thumbs pressing light indentations within your skin, giggles tumble from your lips at the overload of sudden sensations. He doesn’t cease, though - if anything, it seems to spur him on, too caught up in the love he wishes to scream out for the world to hear. You reach your hands out to lay them against his back, repeatedly tapping for him to move. “Neteyam, stop!” You yell as quietly as you can, small laughs lingering within your words, loving the attention he has for you.

Not once does he stop, but he does slow down. This time, his lips linger against your temple, breathing his words into your skin, making sure they truly find their way home. “Ewya, I love you so much.”

If you didn’t concentrate enough, you were sure your eyes would spill over with tears. It’s painfully obvious how much he means those words, just from the seriousness in his voice, and when he pulls away, face inches above your own as your noses rub against one another, his eyes speak more than words ever could.

Everyday, you thank your lucky stars that Ewya had chosen Neteyam for you, not knowing what you’d do without him by your side, even when he woke you up simply because you forgot to tell him you loved him - a fact the entire clan already knew.

Catching your breath, a giddy smile upon your lips, you push a fallen braid back behind his ear so you can have the view of his entirety. So beautiful, you thought. “Nga yawne lu oer (I love you).” This time, you bring him down to you, smashing your lips together in an intimate, clashing kiss.

Now, you know to not forget the words next time. Although, if it always ended up like this, whose to say you wouldn’t purposefully forget?

taglist ;

@bakugouswaif @andraga12 @draiochtwrites @teyums @neteyamslovrr @tinkerbelle05

#𝐅𝐋𝐄𝐔𝐑𝐑’s work ── ✎#neteyam #neteyam sully #avatar #avatar 2 #neteyam fluff #neteyam smut #neteyam x reader #neteyam sully x reader #neteyam x you #neteyam sully x you #neteyam x female reader #neteyam x fem reader

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disneyprincemuke · 5 months

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everything at 18, but nothing at 22

alternatively: times she finished in the points while he dnfs

in which the drastic difference in their performance in their career seems to finally be catching up to them

(series masterlist)

-> australia, 2023

she simply cannot wipe the permanent smile on her face. she runs into her garage, straight from weigh-in, immediately greeted by blythe and ciara who are quick to take her in for a hug.

"oh, i made the points!" she laughs, jumping in a circle with her sisters. "can you believe it? i made history just by finishing in the top 10 today!"

"i told you you'll be amazing!" ciara puts her hands on her older sister's cheeks, before quickly pulling her in for another tight hug. "you did so well on the track amidst all the chaos!"

"history in the making with you just being here!" blythe shrieks, grabbing her shoulder. "you were amazing on the track. half the grid retired - did seb tell you?"

"he did," she laughs, slowly settling down as she stands on her feet. "speaking of that, i've got to speak to logan."

"no need to look around, i've got him here with me," oscar's accent fills her garage. "good job finishing above me, mate."

another shrill shriek escapes her mouth as she hops over to the two boys still in their race suits. she is received by oscar first, whispering neverending praises into her ear as they sway in their spot. she rubs circles on his back as they exchange compliments, both proud at their feat of achieving points in arguably one of the more chaotic races they've found themselves in.

as she pulls away, she meets a forced smile and sad green eyes as she is pulled into a hug by logan. "i'm so proud of you today. i stayed and watched the race just for you."

"baby, i'm sorry for the dnf," she whispers, her smile faltering slightly as she wraps her arms around his neck. she's lifted off the ground slightly, the height difference making their public hug slightly awkward. "this is only the third race - i swear it won't stay like this all season."

"no, don't worry about me," logan grins, pulling away from her. with a tender hand on her cheek, he quickly pulls it away when a flash goes off at the corner of his eye. instead, he settles for a hand on her shoulder and shakes her slightly. "today is all about you, ms. record breaker."

"for what it's worth, the fia is under fire for the chaos of today's race," she frowns, rubbing his sleeves up and down to offer a sense of familiarity.

their dream of getting into f1 together has finally come true. it's just a shame that they've got to keep their romantic gestures on the down low, or kept under wraps in fear of the backlash she might get.

"stop trying to justify my race," logan smiles, squeezing a cheek. he takes a step back and huffs, tilting his head as he looks at her. "look at you - i could have sworn you were just that lonely girl oscar decided to befriend at karting. now you're in f1 making history."

her smile carves into something softer, and looks up at him with a glimmer in his eyes that he couldn't ever get tired of. "i wouldn't be here without either of you."

logan squeezes her arm. "sneak into my hotel room later? let's watch a movie."

"oh, max invited me for drinks at some bar tonight. celebrate my first points or something like that," she frowns. "come with us, please? oscar will be there."

"i'll be okay," he smiles. "then sneak in after the drinks. you're funny when you're drunk, anyway."

"i'll sneak some cocktails in your room so we can watch a disney movie together and cuddle," she giggles. at the call of her name by sebastian, mentioning something about an interview she has to go do now. "i'll see you later?"

"i'll see you later." logan bends down, closing an eye when he feels her lips pressed against his cheek. "love you."

she turns around, already being pulled away by an impatient sebastian. she twists her body back to look at him. she mouths, "love you."

-> hungary, 2023

she presses her lips together, rocking back and forth on her feet as she awaits the door to open. when it does, it reveals a clearly dishevelled logan with a towel hung around his shoulders.

he's already in his sweatpants, while she stood out in the hallway in a romper, ready to head out for the evening. she scans her boyfriend head to toe and slumps her shoulders. "baby, you're not going out with us tonight?"

he pokes his head past the door, looking left and right before he lets her walk into his hotel room. she sighs softly, following him further into the room.

he drops himself onto the bed and shakes his head. "i don't deserve to be out and about celebrating after the race today. you go ahead and enjoy yourself, babe."

"my love," she hums, climbing onto the bed with a hand finding his neck to massage the muscle. "just because the race didn't go your way today doesn't mean you should lock yourself up here and be by yourself."

he leans into her touch, turning to lie on his side. he slings an arm around her waist while she comfortably sits on his bed. "i just don't think i should be outside. i'm an embarrassment." he nuzzles his face into the side of her thigh. "good call to keep the relationship behind closed doors - you'll be ridiculed for being with me."

"what?" she says softly, never really getting used to logan's harsh words against himself. she hangs her head low, trying to meet his eyes. "please, don't say that. i'm very proud of you. dnf or not."

"you and oscar have gotten your first points this year. i still have not," he sighs, turning to lie on his back again. "trust me, you don't want people to know you're dating me."

"i do want people to know i'm dating you," she coos, running her fingertip down the side of his face. she moves down and props herself up on her elbow to look over him. "it's just complicated right now - you know that."

"but you get what i'm saying, right?"

"i do," she lays on her stomach, pressing a kiss on his bare shoulder. "okay, let me tell max i'm not feeling great to head out tonight for drinks. do you want to go and eat somewhere just the two of us?"

"what? (y/n), please. you don't have to do any of this. i'm fine being by myself tonight."

"i want to be with you tonight," she grins. "let's go shopping? it's our first time in hungary."

-> zandvoort, 2023

"mate, have you seen logan?" she asks, approaching oscar with a frown. with a pepsi can in hand, she sips on the straw as her bright eyes scan the paddocks for her missing boyfriend. "usually, he'd be right by my garage after a race, but i've yet to find him."

"i can't say i've seen him since before the race," oscar frowns, realising that it's been a while since he's seen logan. he also scans the crowd, hoping that it's just her height that's hindering her chances of finding logan. to no avail, he doesn't find logan either. "is everything okay?"

she shrugs. "i don't know. he retired from the race again, did you hear?"

"i heard. do you know why?"

"no," she shrugs. "seb's got no idea either. can you let me know if you find him, please? i've got an interview i need to go and do."

-> singapore, 2023

"seriously?" she cries, tears rushing into her eyes. she takes the bouquet of loud colours and holds it against her chest. "this is the sweetest thing ever!"

"you like them?" logan grins down at the flowers that clash against the dark motif of her race suit tailor-made for tonight. "i saw them in the mall the other day when oscar and i were out. i was banking on the fact that you'd make it into the points today.

"even luckier that you made podium."

"this is the cutest thing ever," she smiles, sniffling as she drops her head to smell the flowers. "thank you so much, logan."

"you deserve it."

"but i'm sorry for where you finished today," she frowns, dropping an arm and moving to his side. she puts an arm around his waist and squeezes him slightly. "was the car not good today?"

"i think it's the street circuits not being very kind to me," logan sighs, shaking his head. "but, please, enjoy your podium celebrations. i'll join you for drinks tonight?"

"oh, really? you're joining tonight?"

"of course! my girlfriend just made history again," logan says softly into her ear. he squeezes her shoulder. "i have to be there to celebrate with her, right?"

-> qatar, 2023

"fuck!"

"logan, please. just sit down - you're really dehydrated."

"no, god. i'm such a fuck up!"

"hey, don't say that!"

"i retired again because i couldn't take the fucking heat!" he tugs at the roots of his hair, tears threatening to spill out of his eyes.

meanwhile, his girlfriend sits in the corner on a plastic chair with her lips pressed together as he paces around the room against the medical advice of every personnel who's attended to him.

still in her fireproofs, the younger girl nurses her helmet in her lap as she tries to calm logan down. "it's okay, baby. you weren't feeling well. you couldn't have done anything else."

"i could have just sucked it up and raced like everybody else!" logan frowns. "even you finished the race despite your period! what's that say about me?"

she scoffs, eyebrows furrowed as his statement manages to hit her the wrong way. "what are you trying to say? that between you and me, you deserved to finish more because i was hindered by the fact that i've got my period?"

regret strikes logan immediately, and she can see it in the way his look softens and his shoulders slump. "no, that's not what i meant. i mean, like-"

"it sounds like the way it sounds," she says softly, hurt lacing her every word. she shakes her head as she gets up to her feet, helmet hanging off her fingers by the strap. "i'll call you tomorrow, logan."

"(y/n), please wait. i'm sorry."

"i just need to be alone," she frowns, turning her back on him as she heads for the door. "feel better and stay put until the nurse comes back with an iv for you. but i've got to go - i just can't believe you'd say that to me."

-> mexico, 2023

"god, i'm no better at 22 than i was at 18." logan holds his face in his hands, elbows propped up on his knees as he finds comfort in the beanbag in her driver's room after their media commitments. "i don't understand."

it's another race where he's forcibly retired and she's managed to climb her way into the points. despite starting in the back of the grid that afternoon, she managed to challenge lando climbing up the positions on the track.

while she lost out to the more experienced driver, starting 16th and eventually climbing to 8th is no easy task. with sebastian in her ear, it was a slightly easier task that had a lot of people confused and shocked at where she suddenly finished the race.

realistically, it helped that the car was just feeling much better with the upgrades that the team brought in for her this weekend.

but logan unexpectedly had to retire towards the end of the race. which, was disheartening after the point that he got just last week in austin.

"am i just not made to be in f1? i don't get it," he says softly. "something's not right."

all she can do is sigh. nothing about their predicament now is easy: she can't fully relate to the low he's feeling because- well, she's doing fine in her rookie season compared to him.

she knows that and so does he. they try not to talk about it, but it's something that looms over their head whenever they're on social media or are attending interviews together. it doesn't make it any easier that fans are easily gawking at her presence when they chance upon them together in public.

while logan loves being her boyfriend, the past couple of years being the best times he's ever experienced, it's easier said than done to be proud of your girlfriend's achievements when you're always in the trenches week after week.

"i don't even know if i'll still have a seat next year," he sighs, throwing his head back to rest on the wall behind him. "god. i don't know what to do."

"i don't even know what to say," she whispers, crawling over to where he is. she places a hand on his knee and rests her chin on her hand. "i'm sorry you're feeling like this, lo."

"i know you don't get it."

"i know i don't. but i'm your girlfriend."

"you being by my side means more than you think it does." he breathes out with a sigh passing his lips, a hand resting on her shoulder as they sit in silence. "you can boast about your achievements to me, you know?"

"i know." she turns her head to look up at him. logan forces another smile, her worried stare igniting something in him to make sure that she knows he's okay. "but i'm with you even in your darkest hours."

"i'm extremely proud of how far you've come this season."

"i'm proud of how eloquently you're trying to hold yourself around me," she frowns, tracing circles on the material of his jeans. "but you don't have to pretend around me. we celebrate my achievements when you're feeling better."

"we can do both." logan sits up, a hand cupping her cheek to lift it up to meet his gaze. "your achievements shouldn't be tucked away in some box just because i had a bad weekend. i'm happy enough seeing you make history."

"logan..."

"let's head out to dinner with oscar tonight. it's a celebration - you guys have done so well."

"we can just stay in if you want."

"no more of that!" he cheers, his lips meeting the tip of her nose. "we're celebrating tonight. let's dress up, let's go out and take pictures, and then we can post about them on instagram while people speculate about how too close we seem to be. i don't care.

"you've done so much for the sport, you should be celebrated, babe. if you don't want to, i will celebrate you."

she sighs, rolling her eyes. "you're an idiot."

"but an idiot you love, yes?"

"an idiot i love, correct."

#disneyprincemuke #disneyprincemuke imagine #disneyprincemuke imagines #logan sargeant x reader #logan sargeant x you #f1 fanfic #disneyprincemuke vr #disneyprincemuke f1 #disneyprincemuke ial

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d1xonss · 4 months

Text

Desert Rose

Chapter 30 ~ Three little words

✧ Pairing : Daryl Dixon x Rose

✧ Era : Season 3

✧ Word Count : 5.7k

⚠️TW : Mentions of scars and past abuse

In this chapter ~ After the long and painful day, the group returns to see the progress Hershel was making in this new adjustment they all had to grow accustomed too. But another unexpected thing seems to hit Rose directly in the face, hearing Daryl admit something from his past that she was completely unaware of. But she seemed to shock him just as much if not more with the confession that easily slips off her tongue.

The walk towards the cellblock was long and awkward, no one truly knowing what to say after we witnessed this man beg for his life, while the other slowly accepted it. But it only got more tense when we saw the state of the place they would soon be staying. There were dead bodies littered around everywhere, the inmates scanning each one and informing us sadly that some of these men were once their friends.

It was almost heartbreaking to see them grieve them all at once, taking it all in as they mentally prepared themselves that they would have to live in the same space where their ghosts lied.

"Let's go." Rick said eventually, seeing as they were on their way to getting settled.

"So you're just going to leave us in here?" Oscar asked as he gestured to the ground, spilt blood everywhere, "This is sick." he muttered.

"We're locking down this cellblock. From now on this part of the prison is yours, take it or leave it, that was the deal." he replied bitterly before slowly making his way out through the way we came.

Daryl and I stood side by side and he was the first one to speak up, "You think this is sick? Ya don't want to know what's outside." he informed, pausing momentarily as he ducked his head, "But m' sorry bout yer friends man." he said quietly.

The two just nodded in appreciation, Daryl turning to pull my sleeve to follow him out the door, but I stopped him, "Just give me a second." I whispered.

He hesitantly nodded, walking out of the space but still staying close enough in case anything happened as I turned back to look at them, "I was never going to let him kill you." I said, "I just figured you should know that."

They looked almost confused at my words as Oscar was the one to ask, "Why?"

I simply shrugged, "Because I'm good at reading people, and I know you were telling the truth back there. You didn't deserve that."

They nodded in appreciation, Axel stepping forward with a smile, "Thank you, miss." he spoke in a quiet voice.

I nodded and turned back around to leave, seeing Daryl lent up against the wall as he waited patiently for me. He offered his hand to me as I walked by, taking it in my own as we walked back to our cellblock a few feet behind T-Dog's frame just a ways ahead.

"Was gonna kill that guy for what he did." he mumbled suddenly.

I looked up at him and smiled, "I know."

"Rick beat me to it. Asshole." he joked.

I laughed lightly to myself with a shake of my head, "I know, how dare he take that away from you." I continued on playfully, "But that bastard's dead now, no matter who took care of him. That guy seemed out of his damn mind." I spoke, now turning serious.

He frowned down at me as he nodded, "Yeah." he quietly agreed.

The rest of the way back was filled with silence, my mind only going back to Maggie and Beth, desperately wanting to check up on them. But that meant walking back into the cell that Hershel was recovering in, subtly preparing myself to see the worst since everyone was panicking the last time I was in there.

I prayed that we were fast enough to be able to save him, but I still had a few doubts in the back of my mind. I mean hell, none of us have hacked a limb off before so the odds worried me.

When we finally made it back to our cellblock, Carl saw me immediately as he was standing right outside of the man's cell, quickly releasing a breath and running over to wrap me in a tight hug. We must've been gone for longer than I thought. I smiled as I let go of Daryl's hand, leaning down to hold him tight as he almost shuttered in my arms.

"You guys okay?" he asked before fully pulling away.

"We're okay." I confirmed before daring to turn my head to look into Hershel's cell and saw he seemed to be doing as well as he could be, but he still wasn't awake, "How's he doing?" I asked.

"He...stopped breathing for a minute, but my mom saved him."

"It's true." Glenn confirmed, coming out of the cell next to greet us.

I looked at him sadly and pulled him in for a hug, hearing him sigh before wrapping his arms around my shoulders. I knew how worried he was along with the rest and that scare probably didn't help anything in fact it only made things worse. But he was breathing again, thanks to Lori that meant everything.

Though I finally just bit the bullet as I couldn't help but stare at him over Glenn's shoulder, pulling away from him and walking slowly into the cell to gaze at his face, hearing Rick follow close behind me.

I saw the girls I was most worried about inside and placed my hands on their shoulders. They both turned around with sad smiles on their faces, and Beth turned fully to hug me. Maggie just grabbed my hand and kissed it lightly before she couldn't help but face his bed once more. We all just looked at him in utter silence and worry, hoping he would be okay, hoping the color would come back to his face and then soon he would wake from the unconscious state.

I examined all the medical supplies that were lying on the floor, most of the bottles were empty along with many used bandages he had bled through. Everything was left a complete mess as their scattered actions had to work fast to finally slow down the bleeding. My eyes trailed up to his face again, noticing the fact that one of his hands was cuffed to the bed in case...well in case he turned. That alone didn't give me much more hope.

But then, something happened that seemed to catch all of our attention. The man began to stir, scrunching his nose up at the bright light the window provided, and I could see his eyes moving just barely under his eyelids. Beth stood up a bit straighter, noticing his brief movements as well almost instantly. A sudden soft groan left his lips, before he then fully opened his eyes and I let out a heavy breath I had no idea I was holding in.

Beth let out a quiet gasp and slowly let go of me, making her way over to her dad, right next to Maggie. They whispered to him in disbelief, leaning over the side of the bed expressing how worried they were as they began to cry, but he gave them a quick smile to reassure them that he was okay. Rick made his way over quickly, taking the key he had to unlock the handcuffs, letting the man rub his sore wrist from being held up for so long. Hershel then took the man's hand, giving it a shake as Rick whispered something down to him I couldn't quite make out.

The older man's eyes then suddenly made their way over to me, gesturing me over towards the bed for me to come closer. My hesitant steps made their way over to the side of the cot slowly, squatting down low to his level. He took my hand in both of his own and I smiled at him while a few tears escaped from my eyes and rolled down my cheeks. He squeezed my hand gently in his own, giving me a genuine smile and a nod of his head, telling me a thousand things without saying a word.

He was thanking me. Maybe he remembered everything, my idea that led to saving his life, but I couldn't know for sure. But it didn't matter. I nodded back to him once as I watched him close his eyes once more, getting more rest as he breathed in and out deeply. I glanced over at Beth and motioned her to come over, placing his hand in hers while the two sisters took over my place as I stepped back, laughing and hugging each other in relief. I wanted them to have their moment as a family, so I slowly backed out of the space, knowing that he was truly going to be alright.

Daryl caught my arm the moment I got away and pulled me in for a hug that I desperately needed as I rested my cheek against his chest with a sigh, feeling him lightly run his hands up and down my back. We stayed like that for much longer than I intended before we pulled apart enough to quietly watch the sisters reunite with their dad. I was so happy everything worked out the way it did, Hershel was alive and the unwanted prisoners were dead. Today took an unexpected turn, but I silently thanked the universe it all worked out in the end.

In just a few hours, the sun had set fully and the stars shined brightly from outside the prison windows as I sat up in bed reading one of my books. I found myself reading this one over and over again for the past few months while we were on the road, but it was truly a fascinating one so I didn't mind too much. Though the talk about a potential library somewhere in the prison intrigued me.

After visiting with Hershel for a while, Rick eventually gathered us together quick to talk about a plan for the days to come. He spoke about exploring the rest of the prison considering how much ground there was left to cover, picking through each place with each passing day as much as we could. Scoping out each place until the whole building was completely clear and safe.

After we went over it, he told us to simply rest up for tomorrow, but Daryl stayed behind to talk to him about some things. So, I was just passing the time before he came in, scanning the words on the pages as the light from the small lantern illuminated the book.

My ears perked up suddenly when I heard footsteps coming closer to our shared room and I slightly lowered my book from my eyes. Speak of the devil.

I glanced up right as he stepped in the doorway, "Hey, love." I greeted.

He smiled, "Hey." he said before setting his crossbow down on the ground, walking over close enough to crawl onto the mattress and in between my legs before crashing softly with a small thud.

He managed to maneuver himself to where his head was resting on my lower stomach, causing me to pull the book out from under him and folded the corner of the page before placing it out of sight. His arms tightened around my waist while my hands instantly went to his head, massaging his scalp lightly.

I couldn't help but smile at his tired state, his eyes fluttering shut at the feeling of my fingers running through the tangles in his hair. He breathed in and out deeply, relaxing more and more under my touch with each passing second. We laid there in comfortable silence for a long while just like that, so much time passing by that I thought he had fallen asleep. Until I felt him move.

He lifted his head ever so slightly to the right, feeling him begin to bite at the skin of my inner thigh, igniting a small gasp from my lips. His movements didn't stop as he now placed light kisses over the teeth marks he created, before turning his head to do the same thing on my other leg. My heart felt as though it stilled for a moment as I swallowed thickly, loving the sensation he was creating. And just by his actions speaking louder than words, he loved it too.

He then suddenly pushed himself up onto his elbows, beginning to trail his lips up my stomach and towards my chest, working his way up impossibly slowly to my neck. I closed my eyes and sighed in content, leaning my head against the wall to give him better access as I felt his tongue drag across my neck lightly before his lips began to attack my jawline. He made his way up to my cheeks, my nose, before finally planting a heavy kiss on my lips.

I hummed in approval and kissed him back deeply, grabbing onto the collar of his shirt to pull him closer. His tongue slipped its way past my parted lips, licking wildly around my entire mouth as his pace quickened. I then slowly sat up, pushing him off of me to turn him over, straddling his hips now without breaking our lips apart once. He let out a sound of surprise at my actions but then smiled against my mouth, placing his hands on either side of me, running his fingertips up and down my sides gently.

That was enough to send a familiar tingling sensation through me as I began to rock slightly back and forth, creating a rhythm. His breath caught in his throat a little with a strain groan, before breathing deeply and ravishing in the new feeling it provided for him. I parted from him briefly to start to teasingly attack his neck, sucking lightly as I made my way further down towards just the beginning of his chest. He let out a grunt with rolled eyes, his hands falling to my hips as he gave them a firm squeeze.

I came back up breathless, "Tired?" I asked with a smirk on my face, my lips only inching closer to his once more.

He chuckled, "Hell no." he muttered before reaching up to grab my chin, pulling me down more to crash his lips onto mine once more.

Our lips moved in sync for a few moments, our hands moving around on each other's bodies almost desperately as if we somehow craved even more of each other. Daryl nearly growled as he broke away momentarily, going back to my neck again as his sharp teeth nipped at my skin gently, his hands moving slowly to the hem of my shirt. I was too engulfed in the feeling that I couldn't help the soft moan that left my lips when his mouth reached a certain spot on the right side of my neck. I could feel the stupid smirk grow on his face as he continued, not stopping or faltering once.

My hands moved desperately to the buttons on his shirt, slowly breaking them apart one by one before he quickly stopped what he was doing and jumped back as if he had just been burned. I looked back at him with sudden concern, confusion filling me as I gazed down to his chest counting I had only undone two, enough to barely see the start of his skin.

His breathing was heavy as he looked down to anywhere but my face, remaining completely silent. I slowly began to back off of his legs, sensing that I had done something wrong, but didn't know what.

"Are you okay?" I asked him softly, reaching out slowly to place a hand on his cheek.

He nodded absentmindedly but still wouldn't look me in the eye, his mind elsewhere as he thought hard about something clearly serious. I said his name softly after a few seconds, attempting to get his attention as I slowly took my other hand and placed it on his other cheek, lifting his head up to meet my eyes.

"Talk to me." I said.

He sighed and took my hands off his face, kissing my right palm softly, "M' sorry." he muttered quietly, almost ashamed.

I shook my head immediately, "No, don't be sorry. We don't have to do anything tonight, I just thought-"

"No, I want to," he quickly interrupted me, "It's just...there's something I haven't..." he trailed off, cursing under his breath as he couldn't find the right words.

I waited patiently for him to continue but he didn't. He instead only raised his hands to his own shirt, undoing the rest of them slowly himself. My eyes only narrowed in slight confusion as I watched, but made no attempts to stop or question him. When he was finally done with all the buttons, he slowly peeled his shirt off of his broad shoulders and I couldn't help but stare at him.

This was the very first time I had seen him without his shirt on and I let my eyes roam around his toned chest. He was beautiful. Nearly breathtaking as his figure was being illuminated by the lantern still off to the side. We had obviously had sex before but it was never at intimate as it was starting to be just now, never seeing each other fully naked as we were always somewhat in a rush. Some articles of clothing were just left on every time, but I never thought anything of it until now, seeing that he was clearly hiding something.

He then broke the silence, "I've been... meanin to show ya this because... I trust ya. But um... I haven't had a chance till... now I guess."

I nodded my head slowly, "Okay... I'm a little confused." I admitted.

"M' sure ya are, just...just gimme a second." he said while again, not being able to meet my eyes as his head ducked down lower.

I didn't push him, I didn't question him, I was only silent as I waited for him to open up to me about something that was clearly very nerve racking for him. When he finally got the courage, he turned around slowly with his back facing me and I couldn't help the soft gasp that escaped my lips at the sight I didn't expect.

There were huge scars covering almost the entirety of his back, crisscrossing over each other as they were all equally long and deep. My eyes followed each and every one, noticing a medium sized tattoo that was on his right shoulder, one that I couldn't make out in the darkness. But the other things I could see very clearly, almost too clearly.

I could see his shoulders slump slightly and he hung his head low with a heavy sigh, as if he were ashamed about them like I am about mine. The moment at the farm those many nights ago was now making perfect sense, seeing now that he understood the embarrassment I felt. I slowly found myself inching closer to him once I had processed every mark, raising my hand to gently place my hand on his back, feeling him slightly flinch.

"Oh honey, I'm so sorry." I said just above a whisper.

I began to lightly rub his shoulder in attempts to comfort him as he continued to speak, "They're from my old man. He uh... used to beat the shit outta me and my brother. Merle took most of em but... when he left to join the military...I-" his voice cracked.

I shushed him quietly, letting him know he didn't need to say another word. I hugged him from behind and placed my cheek on his shoulder, feeling his back move as he breathed in and out deeply. He relaxed almost instantly under my touch, placing his hands over mine that rested on his stomach. We sat in silence, not moving or speaking for a matter of minutes before I suddenly had an idea.

I slowly picked up my head from his shoulder and began to kiss the scar that was left behind there. I heard him gasp lightly at the action, and I continued to kiss the ones along his back, his other shoulder, making sure I didn't miss a single spot as he sat up straighter at the feeling.

When I was done, I placed my hands on either of his shoulders and lightly turned him around to face me fully again. His eyes looked into mine deeply, watching me intently as I opened my mouth to speak.

"You once told me that I didn't have to be ashamed about anything around you, right?" I asked.

He slowly nodded his head, "Well, you don't have to be ashamed about anything around me. Especially not this." I said softly.

He sighed deeply without looking away from me, silent for a few minutes before saying, "M' sorry for not... showin em to ya sooner. M' just...embarrassed of em, was scared..." he tried to explain the best he could.

I shook my head immediately, "Don't apologize. It's a hard thing to do, showing someone. I would know." I winked.

He smiled small, leaving a certain glint in his eyes. He looked so utterly stunning sitting here in front of me, and he had just shown me something that he was the most insecure about. I had only hoped I made him feel just as safe and protected as he made me feel that night on the farm. I think in that moment we both knew that we weren't alone when it came to this. Which brought me more relief than you could possibly imagine, having someone who understands you.

A thought then popped into my head for a moment and I wanted to act fast, I felt if I thought about it too much then I wouldn't say it. He needed to know. He needed to know how much he truly meant to me, even if he didn't say it back. I wanted him to know.

"Fuck it." I muttered quietly as I grasped his hand softly and dared to look him in the eye, "I love you."

His eyes widened ever so slightly as my words echoed in the quiet air around us. When he didn't say anything, I feared that I hadn't thought it through enough, that I had suddenly messed up what we had worked so hard to build. I began to overthink everything. But as soon as I saw a huge smile break out onto his face, I was instantly relieved.

He brought my hand up to his mouth, kissing my knuckles lightly before saying, "I love you too."

I felt my eyes light up, "Really?" I asked softly.

"Really, really." he assured as he placed a few more light kisses against my hand.

I let out a breath, placing a hand over my chest dramatically as he chuckled, "Christ, we gotta work on how you space things out because-"

He immediately shut me up as he captured my lips in a soft kiss, gently pushing me back down on the bed. I gasped softly at the feeling on his tongue slowly entering my mouth, his teeth coming out to bite my lower lip gently as he pulled back.

"Tired?" he asked quietly.

"Hell no." I breathed before kissing him deeply again.

It had been a few days since Tomas had been taken care of, a few days since Hershel woke and found himself recovering, and a few days since we both said I love you. It's safe to say we couldn't keep our hands off each other. This was the happiest we both had been in a very long time because of all the recent events. We had a safe place to stay, we had the group, and most importantly we had each other. I felt very hopeful.

Currently we are still trying to clean up the prison, burn the remaining walkers and move the cars up closer to the building along with Daryl's bike. Rick was giving instructions on what we needed to get done today to a few of us who gathered outside to listen, but we all noticed quickly that a few of us were missing.

"Where's Glenn and Maggie? We could use some help." Carol pointed out.

"They're up in the guard tower." I said suggestively with a small smirk.

"The guard tower?" Rick questioned, "They were just up there last night."

I glanced over at him, "Rick." I said to get his attention. He looked over at me and I looped my arm through his, "Anyone ever had the talk with you?" I asked.

He immediately smiled and shook his head at me once the dots finally connected in his head.

"Glenn! Maggie!" Daryl yelled up towards the space.

We stood there in a line waiting for a response, looking up at the nearest guard tower, waiting for them to poke their heads out with disheveled hair. Glenn came out only a few seconds later in a rush without a shirt on, trying to quickly button his pants back up.

"Hey! What's up guys?" he yelled back a bit sheepishly.

"You comin?" Daryl asked.

He stood still there for a moment, halting his movements before asking, "What?"

We were all trying our best not to laugh at Daryl's choice of words but were failing pretty miserably as we watched the fearful look on Glenn's face. My forehead rested on Rick's shoulder as I tried to shield my face, stifling my laughs as I heard him chuckle lightly.

"You comin?" he asked one more time, "Come on! We could use a hand." he gestured as he began to turn around.

"Yeah, we'll be right down!" he finally said, fumbling with his pants once more as he made his way back inside in a rush.

With the confirmation of their help, the five of us then began to walk down the gravel road towards where the cars were parked in the front, wanting to move them first before anything. I nudged Daryl's side once he had caught up with me, catching his attention before the others could hear.

"You know, I think I'm taking watch in the guard tower tonight." I spoke quietly.

His eyebrows raised slightly at the suggestion, "Is that an invitation?" he asked in a hushed tone, a lazy smirk crossing his lips.

I just shrugged my shoulders but winked at him knowingly, watching him chuckle. But something out of the corner of my eye caught my attention, making my smile drop as I looked back towards the front. It was the prisoners coming over to talk to us which surprised me, seeing as I didn't expect them to be out walking about with the way Rick had talked and acted towards them. They practically walked into that cellblock with their tails in between their legs that day, I didn't know why they were coming back out to talk now.

Rick saw this around the same time I did, looking back at us with a nod of his head, "Follow me." he muttered.

I was about to take a step forward, but Daryl stopped me, "Hey, stay here this time. Please." he said softly.

"Really?" I deadpanned.

"After what that asshole said to ya the other day, yeah really." he said before turning around and following the others.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes a bit as they continued to approach the men, but didn't make any effort to argue as I knew he kind of had a point. I would never admit that out loud to him, but the guys that we had kept alive were still unpredictable. We hadn't had the chance to trust them enough for them just to be walking around the gates with the rest of our people. And Rick looked like he was about to make that crystal clear right now.

A huff passed through my lips as I leaned up against the car behind me right beside Carol, watching as Glenn and Maggie made it out of the watchtower to join in the hushed conversation. Though it wasn't that hard to tell what was being said with all the gestures Rick seemed to be throwing. Really enunciating how pissed he was to see them.

"I never got to say I told you so." Carol suddenly broke the silence with a smug smile.

I glanced over at her, "What?"

She laughed quietly, "I had about eight months to say it to you, but I guess never really found the right time. Too busy running for our lives, right?"

"Yeah, I guess... but I'm still not following." I said.

She gave me a certain look before saying, "He likes you. I told you so."

I then let out a laugh, now knowing exactly what she meant as she gave me shit about it time and time again back on the farm. "Hey, I guess you're right. Man, you sure know everything."

"Not everything," she corrected, "...almost everything." she winked.

I smiled and bumped her shoulder with mine before glancing back ahead towards the group, seeing it get a little more heated than before. After a few minutes Rick locked them back up behind a fence and came back over with a determination in his step to discuss what they talked about. We kept going back and forth whether or not to let them into the group, though I thought the answer was pretty clear.

T-Dog wanted to give them a chance when everyone else seemed weary about it, noting the fact that these were complete strangers that we didn't know from Adam. It was true that I felt sorry for them, they had just lost a lot in the past couple of days and seemed like good men, but I wasn't just thinking for myself. I had to think about the rest of the group, Carl and Beth especially. I couldn't let anything happen to them, so I leaned more towards Rick's side when it came to this, trying to ignore T-Dog's disappointment.

The group then fanned out towards the vehicles we had to roll up through the gates, parking them in a line so they would be easy to grab and go when we needed. But just the walk down towards them was a chore within itself, the sun baking every part of me as I subtly wiped the thin line of sweat off my forehead.

I looked down at my arm in the process, eyeing the long sleeve shirt that I relied heavily on to hide every insecurity that I had. I thought about it for a few minutes while I sweat my ass off in the heat, before biting the bullet and rolling up the thick sleeves up past my elbows, offering me some kind of relief.

If I was being honest with myself, I was tired of hiding them, knowing that no one would even bat an eye or notice them at all if I began to actually wear what I wished. I wanted to start feeling more comfortable in my own skin, more confident in myself in general, but it took pretty big and uncomfortable steps to do that.

But I was willing to try.

I breathed a sigh of relief once I felt a breeze pass by, opening the car door I was standing in front of to get in before noticing Daryl was coming up to me once more, stopping my movements completely.

Although I expected no one to really notice the change that my mind seemed to focus so hard on, Daryl took notice almost instantly as his steps faltered once he got close enough. But I tried not to let that get to me, knowing that the man was observant as all hell and knew me better than anyone, knowing how this was unusual for me.

His steps then stopped when he was right next to me, glancing down momentarily, "Rose-" he started.

"It's hot." I said simply as I let out a nervous laugh, "And I don't know, I figured it was time to start being a little more confident in myself."

He nodded quickly in agreement, "Yeah, course." he muttered, "Just...wanted to make sure ya-"

"I know." I smiled, "Just want to feel comfortable in my own skin for once...and I figured this is where you start. Baby steps."

His lip quirked up in amusement, "Baby steps." he agreed before placing a kiss on my cheek, "Just came over to see if ya wanted ta help bring some firewood back after this."

"Yeah." I nodded, "I'll just be a few minutes."

After we parted ways, I watched him walk towards his bike to follow the rest of us up while I started up the car I was in. We followed each other in a straight line as T-Dog walked backwards up the road, waving us on to guide us.

After moving all the cars up closer to the prison, a few of the guys started to head out of the fences towards the woods like Daryl mentioned as the rest of us were finishing up. I hopped out of the car I was driving with a slam of my door, heading towards the area to help them like I promised, before stopping suddenly when I saw Maggie pause her movements from beside me.

My gaze followed hers to see Hershel making his way out of the building to get some fresh air, using the crutches we found as best as he could with Lori, Beth, and Carl by his sides. A smile was brought to my face seeing how well he was recovering, hearing Maggie laugh in pure relief as she watched him.

"Well, look at you go!" I called to get his attention.

He looked over upon hearing the sound of my voice and smiled, turning suddenly to try and make his way over to me, leaving me quickly jogging the rest of the way so he wouldn't push himself. My steps slowed down to a stop once I was close enough, watching as he spoke before I even got the chance.

"I never thanked you for saving my life." he stated.

I waved him off, "You don't have to thank me. Besides Rick was the one who did that I... chickened out." I said bluntly.

He placed a hand on my shoulder, "But it was your quick thinking, wasn't it?" he asked, leaving me silent as he nodded in confirmation, "You were the one who gave me another opportunity, more time with my girls...so thank you Ro." he said sincerely.

My heart warmed as I nodded my head instantly, "Of course...I'm just glad you're okay," I admitted before taking another long glance at him, "Did I ever tell you you're looking more and more like Santa Clause?" I motioned to his white beard, trying to lighten the mood again.

He laughed and squeezed my shoulder, "You've reminded me every day."

"Just checking." I shrugged.

He carefully lifted one of his arms and pulled me in for a hug, which I gladly returned as he balanced. I was so happy he was okay and seemed to be doing great with moving around so far, silently thankful that he had made it this far. We both pulled apart from each other and I gave him another smile before a sudden, frantic yell caught our attention.

"Walkers!" Carl called out.

It was like after he screamed, everything started to move in slow motion.

~ Thanks for reading!

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euovennia · 1 year

Text

widow | CH. II

pairing: soap x fem!reader

a/n: i decided to change up the bar scene at the end of the game because this is my story and i'll do as i please. regardless, the boys are finally here, woo!!! there'll be more interactions between them all next chapter (that's probably gonna be the majority of it tbh) but please enjoy this semi-awkward meeting for now <3

friendly reminder that this work is written with a fem!reader in mind, but with no specified features

PROLOGUE, CH. I, CH. III, CH. IV

Four Years Later

It had been just a few short hours after Ghost had saved Soap from what would have otherwise been a certain death by the hands of Hassan Zyani. The past few weeks were nothing short of grueling but as Ghost, Soap, and Gaz all made their way through the bustling streets of Chicago to meet Price and Laswell at a local dive bar, they couldn’t help but want to give themselves a little pat on the back for a job well done. As well as it could have gone at least, there was still the issue of Grave’s death and Shepherd's betrayal on Los Vaqueros and the 141. Perhaps that would be their next mission.

Finally approaching the dingy bar, the three men began filing inside the bar as they each made a beeline over to Price and Laswell who seemed to be having a rather serious conversation if the looks on their faces were anything to go by. Upon seeing the team approach however, Price simply gave them a small nod before taking a swig of this drink. The boys take their seats before each ordering a drink of their choice. With everyone now settled in, Laswell decides to speak.

“You boys did your job and you did it well. Congratulations,” She raises her glass and the four men follow in succession, a sense of pride and accomplishment lingering in the air. The group sits in silence for a few moments before Gaz breaks it.

“So what now?”

“We find Shepherd,” Price announces firmly.

Laswell sighs, “That’s not what we agreed on.”

Price looks at her out of the corner of his eye, “We never agreed on anything, Laswell.”

“We’ve got bigger issues than just finding Shepherd.”

“I reckon that’s the reason you’ve got other teams then,” He lamely states as he takes another sip of his drink.

“Trust me, this is something you’ll want to be involved in,” She says before reaching inside her jacket pocket and pulling out a photo. She plants it face down on the bar counter before sliding it over to Price.

He stares at the photo for a few seconds before taking the photo in his hands and flipping it over. He sucks in a sharp breath upon seeing the familiar dark-haired man. Lips pressed into a thin line, he passes the photo over to Gaz. He studies the photo for a few moments before his eyes flicker up to Price's tense frame. Not wanting to ask quite yet, he hands it over to Soap who tilts his head in confusion upon holding it in his hands. Finally, he gives it to Ghost who merely diverts his attention back over to Laswell and Price after staring down the photo for a few seconds.

This time it’s Soap who speaks up, “Who’s that?”

Price lets out a sigh as his grip on the glass in front of him gets tighter.

“Ivan Volkov.”

“What's he done,” Gaz questions.

“We’ll get into that later. Right now, I need you four to head back to the safe house.”

Ghost speaks up, “What are you gonna do?”

“I have a contact completing a mission out in France at the moment to get the last bit of info we need to go after Volkov. I’ll be awaiting their call.”

“What if they don't get it?” Soap chimes in.

Price finishes off the rest of his drink.

“I’ve got a feeling that won’t be an issue.”

Paris, France

A woman watches as the man lifelessly falls back onto the ground, a bullet firmly nestled into his forehead as a steady stream of blood begins to ooze out of the wound.

“Hah…And they said I couldn't be a sniper,” A familiar German accent rings out through her comms.

A small smile comes across her face as she focuses her attention back on the laptop screen in front of her.

“You did well, König. Perfect shot as always my dear friend,”

“Just living out my dreams,” He pauses for a moment, “Do you think I would've made a good sniper?”

“You are a good sniper.”

“But they said I was too tall and couldn't sit still,”

“Doesn’t change the fact you have yet to miss a shot while you’re with me,” She responds as she attaches a small black hard drive into the side of the computer, leaning back and watching as various files upload to the drive.

“Why do you have Laswell request me for these missions?”

“So you can live out your dream.”

She pays no mind to the small ‘thank you’ that flows through her comms.

After all the files have been copied onto the drive, she quickly detaches it and stores it in the small tactical sling bag she’d brought with her.

“I’ve got the intel, I’ll meet you down at the entrance.”

“Copy that.”

The woman promptly pushes herself up from the raggedy desk chair and makes her way over to the grey metal door before pushing it open and walking out the small office. She steps over the lifeless bodies of the various guards she’d taken out prior to making her way into the office. She had quickly come to find that it was quite easy to get through the dead man’s so-called security detail but she knew she couldn’t take all the credit. König was rather handy with that sniper of his after all.

Finally approaching the exit door, she pushed her way through it to reveal the sight of König mindlessly kicking pebbles around with his feet.

“Having fun?”

“Just wanted to make sure you got out safe.”

“Well I’m here,” She motions over to the car sitting a few feet away from them, “Go start it up. I’ll be there in a moment, I have to make a quick call.”

He simply nods before walking away. The woman pulls out a small burner phone from the side pocket of her bag and flips it open before typing in a number she knew all too well by now. She waits patiently for a few moments before she hears Laswell’s voice ring out through the phone.

“Shadow?”

“Target has been eliminated and I have the hard drive. K and I are gonna start making our way back to the safe house then we’ll be on our way to transport at dawn.”

“Actually there’s been a change of plans.”

The woman tilts her head, “What kind of changes?”

“You’ll still make your way to the safe house but you won’t be spending the night there. Instead, I want you to go four klicks north. You should end up in an open field. A short plane will come down and get you.”

“I take it we’re not going back to Germany?”

”Affirmative. You’ll be flown into Chicago and dropped at base. From there, you’ll be escorted directly to me.”

“What about König?”

“I’m going to reach out to KorTac and let them know he’s ready for transport once you two arrive at base. He should be reunited with them late tomorrow afternoon.”

“Alright. See you then I suppose.” “See you.”

The woman flips the phone closed before walking over to the car and sliding in the driver’s seat upon seeing the passenger side occupied by König.

“Didn’t feel like driving?”

He shakes his head.

“The seat doesn’t extend back far enough…It hurts my knees.”

She gives him a small nod as she begins driving.

“You should have more leg room in the plane.”

“Plane?”

“Yeah. We’re heading to Chicago.”

“Scheiße.”

“I like this one.”

“Yeah? What do you like about it?”

König goes quiet for a moment before speaking once more.

“It’s not too loud and it’s not too quiet. It’s simple.”

The woman mulls over his words for a short while before nodding her head.

“Yeah…It is rather simple isn’t it? Just a man playing the piano.”

“Just a man playing the piano,” König parrots back.

They sit in silence for a few moments before he speaks up once more.

“What song is this again? I know you told me, but I think I blacked out for a bit.”

“Nocturne Op. 9 No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin.”

“What do you know about him?”

“He was a Polish composer born in 1810 known primarily for his solo piano pieces. He published his first composition at the age of seven and began performing when he was eight. Even so, he didn’t make his official debut until 1829. People were enthralled by him and so his fame only grew with time. He eventually passed away at the age of thirty-nine on October 30, 1849. His official cause of death isn’t known, but some theorize it was pulmonary tuberculosis.”

König lets out a hum of acknowledgement.

“How do you always know so much about these people?”

Her mind drifts off for a few moments, memories of ballet shoes and leotards flashing in and out of her mind before she eventually shakes her head and lets out a small sigh.

“I like to read about them when I can’t sleep.”

A lie, but he doesn’t know that.

“Hmm…Maybe I should give it a shot.”

She opens her mouth to respond, but is cut off by the co-pilot shouting over to them through the opening of the cockpit door.

“We’ve touched down, we’ll be parked shortly!”

She and König spare each other a glance before he’s taking out the earbud she lent him as she quickly wraps the cord over her 7th gen. iPod Nano. Despite the black music player being rather dated, she had found an odd comfort in downloading songs off the internet and storing them onto the small device. It was simple and she’d come to like simple.

True to their word, the plane eventually comes to a complete stop as the pair slung their tactical backpacks on their shoulder with König sporting a hefty duffel hand in his right hand that was filled with various weapons he’d brought with him for the mission. They both stand up from their seats with König having to duck his head due to his massive frame as she goes over and slides the plane door open before beginning her descent down the stairs of the plane with König following right behind her.

Her eyes scan over the layout before eventually landing on Price who was currently walking toward the pair who were now standing still on the tarmac. He eventually comes to a stop in front of the pair as he gives a nod of acknowledgement to König who returns an awkward wave.

Bless him.

Price then turns to Shadow as he offers her a small smile.

“Good to see you again, kid.”

“Likewise, but what exactly are you doing here?”

She watches with increased interest as his smile appears to falter just slightly before speaking, “We’ll get to that in a bit. You’ve still got the phone on you?”

She nods as she places a hand over the small bag, “In here.”

He gives her an approving nod before turning to König, “KorTac won’t be here until late this evening. Something about inclement weather. You can do as you please until then.”

König gives him a firm nod before leaning down to Shadow as he gives her arm a small squeeze, “See you next mission then.”

She returns the small gesture before he stands up straight once more and stalks off toward what she assumes is a quiet place for him to sit back and decompress, she knows missions take a lot out of him.

She turns her attention back to Price who is now holding out two granola bars to her.

“It’s not much, but I figure you haven’t eaten in a good while.”

She takes the small snack from him.

“Thanks.”

“Come on, Laswell’s got some water in her office. You wash those down there,” He states as he begins walking forward with her following beside him.

She rips open the first bar and begins munching on it before speaking, “Am I gonna get any context on what’s happening here or do I have to go in blind?”

Price purses his lips, “I think this is something you should work out with Laswell.”

“Is she finally kicking me to the curb?”

“What? No. Where’d you even get that idea from?”

She takes another bite of her granola bar, “Sooner or later she’ll realize she doesn’t need me anymore and toss me to the side. It happens all the time.”

Price gives her shoulder a firm nudge with his arm as he speaks, “You know I don’t like when you talk about yourself like that.”

She shrugs, “Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean it’s not true.”

The older man releases an exasperated sigh, “You’re a lot darker than I originally thought.”

If only you knew.

She takes one last bite of her first granola bar before tearing open the packaging of the second one as they both approach a door. Price leans forward and pulls the door open and allows her to walk in before taking the lead once more as they weave through the hallways of the building. They eventually come to a stop outside an unmarked door and Price looks down at her.

“Do me a favor and try to hear Laswell out before you make any decisions, okay?”

She narrows her eyes at his words before he pushes the door open and walks inside. Taking a bite of her bar, she follows behind him before coming to a stop by his side as her chewing comes to a halt as she sees Laswell sitting at a circle shaped desk with multiple manila folders sat in front of her. She gulps down her bite of granola as she looks up at Price with a questioning gaze to which he merely gives her a pat on the shoulder before taking a seat beside Laswell. Her eyes dart over to Laswell who simply gestures to the empty seat sitting directly in front of them. Sucking in a small breath, she reluctantly walks over and pulls out the chair before sitting down in it.

She swallows, “What’s this all about?”

Laswell is the one to speak, “The drive. You have it with you, right?”

Upon seeing her outstretched hand, the woman unzips the main compartment of her small bag and grabs the drive before sliding it across the table over to Laswell who picks it up.

“Excellent. Once I get my team to look through this, we should be ready to go ahead.”

“Go ahead on what exactly?”

Laswell looks up at her, “The past four years of your life have been solely dedicated to finding any bit of information you could get me on Volkov and his current whereabouts,” She holds up the drive in her hand, “This will offer us the last piece of the puzzle. We can finally go after him and take him out.”

The woman points a finger at Price.

“Then what’s he here for?”

“His team is going to help you.”

The woman’s hand falls onto the table as her gaze hardens.

“No.”

Laswell sighs, “You don’t have a choice. If I decide I want Price’s team on this mission with you then they’re going on the mission with you, no exceptions.”

“But there’s no need for them to be here. Every piece of information you have on the Red Room is because of me. I don’t like working with teams and you know that.”

“Then what about all the times you’ve worked with König?”

“König is a single person, not a group of four. There’s a difference. Teams only offer more opportunities to fail.” “But they can also offer more opportunities to succeed. Why are you against them anyway? You haven’t even seen them.”

“I don’t want to see them.”

“Well I’m sorry to say this, but I don’t care. Either you work with this team or I pull you from this mission entirely.”

Shadow scoffs, “You can’t do that.” “I have every right to do so and you know it.”

The pair fall into a loud silence before Laswell lets out a soft sigh.

“I know you can do this by yourself, there’s not a single doubt in my mind about that…But I don’t want you to do this by yourself.”

Shadow looks up at her.

“Why not?”

“Because out of every mission you’ve gone on, this is the most dangerous. Ivan Volkov is a dangerous man and the last thing I need is you out there on the field trying to take him out by yourself. I–”

She pauses as she spares a glance to Price out the corner of her eye.

“–We care too much about you to let you do that to yourself.”

Shadow has to refrain from rolling her eyes. “Then send König out there with me, I don’t care! Just don’t stick me with a random team who I know nothing about.”

Laswell shakes her head, “Various members of KorTac will be sent out on missions of their own within the next few days, König is one of them.”

“So that’s it then? Either you stick me in a group with a bunch of random people or I don’t get to go after Volkov at all?”

Laswell nods.

Shadow lets out a humorless laugh, “No offense Las, but you’re a real piece of work.”

Her lips tick up in a small smile, “You’re starting to sound like my wife.”

Shadow goes quiet for a minute before sighing, “You’re not gonna let up on this, are you?”

“Not this time.”

The younger woman seems to bounce a few ideas around her head for a bit before giving a reluctant nod.

“Fine, but if they suck I’m shooting them first chance I get.”

Price offers her a smile, “I’ll hand you the gun.”

“Good. Now that we’re all in agreement, you’re free to go for now. I’ll have my team look through the hard drive to extract any useful information we come across. We’ll meet here again tomorrow at fifteen-hundred hours to go over everything. Does that sound alright?”

“None of this sounds alright, but I’ll be a good little soldier and say yes.”

“Mercenary,” Price corrects.

This time she doesn’t hold back her eye roll.

“Same difference.”

After the short meeting she had with Price and Laswell, Shadow had managed to snag an empty shower long enough for her to scrub away all the dirt and bits of blood that had dried and hardened to her skin. She’d changed out of her kevlar bodysuit and instead opted for some simple leggings and a hoodie with a plain tank top tucked underneath. She didn’t bother switching out her black boots for anything else, they were clean and comfortable enough for her so she didn’t see the need to. Once completely clean and changed, she mindlessly wandered around base for a just over an hour before eventually finding König tucked away in an old conference room as he let old reruns of ‘Modern Family’ play out on a small tv screen just a few feet away from chair he sat in. Not quite wanting to leave him alone, she decided to keep him company.

Seeing as they originally touched down just after twelve pm, that had been more than a few hours ago, considering the sky was now gradually turning into a mix of yellows, oranges, and reds. Not that it felt like it had been that long. She enjoyed spending time with König, whether it be on missions or sitting in an old dusty conference room having hushed conversations where he freely talked her ear off. She didn’t mind though. Despite his sometimes manic and hyper demeanor on the field, she’d come to find he had great difficulty trying to connect with others on a more casual and friendly level, but she and König had spent so much down time together on their missions together that the bond they had formed rather quickly. She was grateful for it.

As much as she enjoyed the time she spent with König, there eventually came a time where one of them would have to depart from the other and this time, it was him. After having received word that his transportation back to KorTac would be landing in ten minutes, he decided it was best to start heading back to the tarmac.

He’d given her a firm hug that was made only slightly awkward due to his massive frame, but she enjoyed it all the same.

“I’ll see you around, Shadow.”

“Until next time, K.”

With König now departed from base, she had taken it upon herself to wander around aimlessly before eventually settling down on a table outside near a building that she could only assume was a training area if the workout gear people wore while filing in and out was anything to go by. She quietly watched everyone from a distance as the soft notes of Debussy’s ‘Claire de Lune’ spilled through the small speakers of her earbuds.

She sat with her legs crossed on the chair and hands clasped in her lap as she watched one soldier narrowly avoid running into a metal pole after being so caught up in whatever app is currently lighting up their phone screen. Her eyes began to drift over to the entrance, but stopped when her ears picked up on the quiet string of footsteps that were growing closer and closer. She whipped her head around, body tense and glare ready, but quickly fell back into her previous semi-relaxed state as she saw Price approaching her with a sandwich and a bottle of water in his hands. She untucked her right leg from its crossed position and used it to push out the spare chair that sat a few feet from hers. She let her leg dangle off the chair she occupied as Price took a seat in the chair and slid the sandwich and water over to her.

“Didn’t see you in the mess hall for dinner, thought you might be hungry.” She gives him a nod of appreciation and removes her earbud before reaching forward, unwrapping the sandwich, and taking a bite. They sit in a comfortable silence as she finishes off the rest of her sandwich and washes it down with the water. She balls up the wrapper and shoves it in the pocket of her hoodie to throw away later. Price looks at her.

“Where have you been all day?”

“Holed up in an old conference room with König. We just watched some TV and talked before he had to go. He left a couple hours ago.”

Price nods as he continues, “How’d you two meet?”

“I met him three years ago when I was doing a mission of my own for Laswell. Apparently he’d been stationed in the same area. I almost shot him until I saw the KorTac emblem on his uniform. He just took that as an opportunity to start throwing punches and yell at me in German,” She responds, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she replays the memory.

“Bloody hell,” He runs a hand over the side of his face in an exasperated motion, “How’d you get yourself outta that?”

“I started yelling back at him in German.”

Price huffs out a laugh, “Sounds about right. I assume you two get on well now though, right?”

She nods, “Yeah, he’s a good guy. Real talented with a sniper too believe it or not.”

“I have a hard time believing a bloke as big as him takes the time to steady up on a sniper rather than ram into everything like a bull.”

She shrugs, “Hasn’t missed a shot so far.”

Price nods as if absorbing the information. He remains quiet for a few moments before speaking up again.

“So…If you can warm up to a man twice your size, surely you can warm up to the idea of working with my team, right?”

She lets out a huff as she looks over to Price.

“No offense, but I want nothing to do with your team.”

“Oh come on, kid. They’re not that bad! A bit on the cheeky side some of them, but they mean well,” He defended.

“Anyone who can work with you long enough to look past that god awful thing on your head shouldn’t be trusted.”

Price’s hands go to touch the edges of his boonie hat.

“It’s a good hat!”

“It’s a disgrace is what it is.”

He huffs out a breath of air as he returns his hands to rest on the table in front of them.

“Unnecessary disrespect to my hat aside, I mean it when I say they’re good people. I’ve fought alongside them and I can firmly say I’d trust any one of those muppets with my life. You’ve just gotta give ‘em a chance.”

She sighs as she fiddles with the crumpled up wrapper in the pocket of her hoodie, “Must’ve put a spell on you if you’re willing to stick your neck out like this for them,” She mumbles.

“No spells, just quality work done by quality men.”

She doesn’t respond.

Price’s lips falter into a frown before he decides to make one last effort.

“Look, I know you’ve gotten used to workin’ alone these past few years save for König and I understand that, but you’ve gotta see where Laswell and I are coming from here. You’ve made yourself one of our most useful assets, not just as an employee, but as a person.” He stops to think about his next words for a few moments before continuing.

“Look, ever since you told us about that emblem you managed to snag off one of those Red Room assassins, the three of us have spent a lot of time together. I’m not sure when it happened, but somewhere along the way Laswell and I–” He let out a sigh, trying not to fumble his next words. “–We started to care about you. Probably more than we should’ve,” He pauses, “We just want you to be safe, and we feel the only way to do that this time around is to pair you up with a team. My team. It’s not a punishment or us doubting your abilities, we just wanna keep an eye on you. That’s all it is.”

The woman remains quiet for a while before looking up at Price, a small smile tugging at the edge of her lips.

“I knew you two liked me more than you let on.”

Price rolls his eyes as he leans forward and gives her shoulder a nudge before settling back into a more serious expression.

“Just tell me you’ll at least try to work with them, even if you end up hating all of us by the end of it.”

She lets out a sigh, “I’ll try.”

He smiles at her, “Good, because I’m not sure what I would’ve told Laswell if you said no.”

They share a small laugh and Price stays with her for a while longer before eventually leaving to get some rest, but not before making her promise him that she would also leave to get some rest soon. She refrains herself from rolling her eyes and offers the most disarming smile she could muster before agreeing. While he was able to detect the steady wave of slight annoyance radiating off her, he decided not to pry any further. She was an adult after all and so, he left as he wandered back in the direction of his room.

She watched as the silhouette of the man who had practically saved her from the life she lived before got smaller and smaller the more he walked into the darkness of the night. She tried telling herself it was just to make sure no one snuck up on him despite being within the relatively safe confines of the base, but she knew better. The pit of guilt that had been festering inside of her ever since she did nothing to stop the steam of lies that fell from her lips four years ago seemed to make itself stronger than ever. It was eating her alive.

Shadow takes in a deep breath as she slowly makes her way toward the two before stopping beside Laswell. She stares at the buckle sat in Laswell’s hand before bringing up her right hand and placing her own object on the bed.

Laswell’s chest tightens as she places the metal buckle in her hand beside the one Shadow just brought.

“They’re the same,” Price remarks.

Laswell looks at Shadow, “How do you have that?”

Shadow keeps her eyes concentrated on the tri-colored hourglass emblem that had been burned into her mind for her entire life. A deep pit growing in her stomach, she looks up at the attentive pair.

“It’s the Red Room symbol.”

Price and Laswell spared each other a hesitant glance before turning back to the woman who seemed to be in some sort of trance as her eyes remained glued to the buckle she’d placed on the bed just a few moments ago.

Laswell decided to speak.

“How do you know it’s their symbol?”

Despite feeling herself tense up at the question, Shadow knew she brought this on herself. The moment she set the emblem on the bed, she practically backed herself into a corner and there was nothing she could do about it.

Well, there were a couple things she could do about it.

On one hand she could come clean about her past and potentially get the chance to aid Laswell in her mission to put an end to the Red Room, but there was also the chance she’d get killed, maybe something even worse than death. Neither Price or Laswell knew the full extent of all the things she’d done in her life and she wasn’t too keen on them finding out, much less telling them herself. Who knows what they could do with such information?

On the other hand, she could just try and leg it out of there in hopes of avoiding any further questions. She didn’t completely hate the idea, but she knew it wasn’t worth the trouble that’d come along with doing such a thing.

Having eliminated both of those ideas in the few moments she took to think about them, she knew she had to think of something quick. Nothing that could get her deemed as an immediate threat and imprisoned, but nothing that would raise too many alarms.

She almost cursed herself for revealing the emblem that had been burned into every aspect of her life.

Almost.

She looked up at Laswell, a small sigh falling from her lips as she quickly tried to sort out the story in her head.

“I’m not who you think I am.”

Laswell tilted her head.

“What do you mean by that?”

“I’m not part of the Red Room.”

Laswell narrowed her eyes as she pointed to the emblem.

“Then why do you have that and how do you know it belongs to them?”

She took a few seconds to sort out the last few bits of her fabricated story before beginning to speak.

“I kill people for a living–”

“We know,” Price bluntly states, seemingly not bothered by his rude interruption.

The woman fights back the urge to jab her fist into his injured side and instead opts for a pointed look in his direction before continuing.

“–But I don’t work for the Red Room.”

Laswell’s look of suspicion morphs into one of confusion.

“What? But I was so sure–”

This time it’s Shadow interrupting.

“Just because I don’t work for them doesn’t mean I don’t know of them.”

Laswell’s gaze hardens, “Elaborate.”

“Look, the whole purpose of the Red Room is to produce assassins who can execute any and all targets without getting themselves caught. While the targets can be virtually anyone, it goes without saying that a lot of them are political figures.”Price speaks, “What’s that got to do with anything?”

“Different people have different political agendas. What may benefit one person may be detrimental to the next. So while one person may hire an assassin to get rid of someone, another person may hire another assassin to ensure the safety of the original target by going after anyone set to kill them. Kind of like a bodyguard.”

“Is this your way of telling us you were employed as one of these bodyguards?”

“Not exactly. I never took work based on politics, I took it based on the paycheck. Whatever the highest bidder wanted, they’d get.”

“And how does this tie in with the Red Room?”

Shadow points over to the emblem, “I managed to snag that off one of Volkov’s girls while trying to protect my target. I hadn’t seen it before so instead of killing her, I knocked her out and took her back with me. I managed to get a few details I think you may be interested in before I eventually had to get rid of her.”

Laswell straightened out her posture as she looked at Shadow with great interest, “What details?”

Time to strike.

“Details you won’t get until you can promise me a few things.”

Laswell scoffs, “You do realize you just admitted you’re an assassin, right? You’re in no position to be making demands of any kind.”

“Normally you’d be correct, but seeing as how you won’t be able to connect me to any crime as little as shoplifting I think your hands are a bit tied at the moment.”

“And how can you be so sure of that?”

Shadow’s gaze settled back on the hourglass shaped emblem that represented all the pain and suffering she’d inflicted on the world.

She hated it.

She hated herself.

She looked back at Laswell, willing herself to be more brave than she felt.

“A part of me always knew there’d be a time where I wanted to get out. I didn’t want anything to hold me back when I got the chance, so I always made sure things were perfect, that no one could ever prove anything.”

Laswell nods before speaking once more, “And why is it you think I can give you an out?”

“You want the Red Room gone and at this point I think I’m your best bet. You lay off me and I’ll help you take it out.”

Shadow watched with bated breath as Laswell and Price exchanged each other looks of apprehension and hesitation. She could only hope she played her part well enough.

After more than a few moments of them staring each other down, Laswell turned back to Shadow with a particular glint in her eye she hadn’t quite seen before.

“Tell me what you have in mind.”

The woman was ripped away from her thoughts by the loud laughter of a man. She whipped her head to the direction it originated from and was met with the backs of two men hunched over what she assumed was a phone. Letting out a small sigh, she grabbed her iPod and water bottle before deciding to stalk off in the direction of the barracks in hopes of finding an empty room she could claim for the night.

The woman tapped her fingers on the glossy surface of the desk she sat at with Price and Laswell the day before as the lively notes of ‘The Blue Danube’ composed by Johann Strauss plays through her earbuds. She’s gotten to the conference room fifteen minutes early and seeing as she now had nothing better to do than wait, she pulled out her trusty iPod and tapped shuffle on her classical playlist. Despite classical being most of what she listened to, she did have a few other playlists containing various other genres such as pop, jazz, hip hop, and rock. She was simply raised listening to classical so that’s what she often favored despite more than a few pieces having been tainted due to the unpleasant memories she’d come to associate them with. Even so, she still managed to enjoy every song she listened to.

As the last few notes of the composition died out in the left earbud currently lodged in her ear, her eyes shot up to the sound of the creaky door to conference room opened to reveal a tall man clad in an all black outfit paired with a skull print balaclava with black warpaint swiped around his eyes. He paused as he caught sight of the woman already sitting at the rounded table while she simply stared him down with a blank expression. He gave a quick glance to the room number printed on the door and upon confirming he was in the right place, he slowly stepped in and closed the door behind him before taking a seat across from the woman. Once settled down he returned her blank stare with one of his own, almost willing her to say something.

But she didn’t.

She simply looked back down at the small black music player in her hand as she scrolled through her list of songs. After a few more moments of silence, she looked up to see the man idly tapping away on his phone.

The two of them settled into a rather tense silence filled with unanswered questions, one that was only broken by the sound of the door creaking open yet again to reveal another tall man who sported a grey cap that had a Union Flag patch sewn into the front of it. Her eyes roamed over his lean frame that was clad in a long sleeved grey shirt paired with khaki cargo pants and black shoes. It faintly reminded her of an old photo Price had shown her of himself. She watched as he grabbed a seat that was one over from the man who arrived just a few minutes prior. After all three of them exchanged silent glances, they directed their attention to their own devices.

Just a few minutes had passed before the door opened once again, this time revealing Price who had a small stack of manila folders in his hands whereas Laswell carried a laptop. Upon seeing their superiors enter the conference room, the three strangers quickly tucked their electronics into their pockets as Price spoke.

“Glad to see you lot are getting on well with each other,” He remarked, sarcasm practically dripping from his voice.

The three of them avoided making eye contact with each other causing him to shake his head in mild amusement as he handed them each a folder of their own. Upon getting to the empty chair, he spoke.

“Where’s Soap?”

Soap?

Suddenly, the door practically bursts open and a prominent Scottish accent breaks through the room.

“Sorry I’m late, got caught up at the mess hall!”

The woman’s gaze turned to face the direction of the door once more as her eyes landed on a muscular man with a mohawk.

“Settle down Soap. Just take a seat,” Price spoke as he tossed a folder to where the unoccupied seat was. Her eyes followed the man as he quickly walked over to the empty chair and nabbed himself the seat. His eyes settled on the folder in his hands before looking up and facing the woman. Expecting him to redirect his gaze like the other two, she maintained eye contact but was surprised when he offered her a wide smile. She tried to reign in the look of confusion she was sure was apparent on her face before breaking eye contact and opting to stare down at the folder, effectively missing the way the man’s face fell at her actions. Her attention, however, was quickly redirected once Laswell began to speak.

“Task Force 141, meet Shadow. Shadow, meet Task Force 141.”

TAGLIST: (if i missed anyone or it didn't tag you properly, please let me know!)

@deadpoolsluvrr @simonsbluee @scaredknight @swissy23 @niawritesbs @ethanhawkelovers-blog @watermaylon-writes @ravenhood2792 @shoxji @griimreaperr @galacticstxrdust @cptmaverick-marvel @comedinewithmeyeh @fluffysteampunkd @callmenoiselul @isissakibbs-blog @urfavsunkissedleo @decaffeinatedmom01 @23victoria @silveroak-art @untoldshortsofthefandoms @deadbranch @ella-error505 @water-hemlock18 @abbiesxox @queen-of--roses @kiriki45 @desxr-fx @emrzennn

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userheng · 1 year

Text

𓆩♡𓆪 meeting dan heng.

synopsis: meeting dan heng.

warnings: slight spoilers from dan heng's character story. bros bold, march playing wing woman no 1, the reader has hot men disease

a/n: writing after almost two years i've lost my groove rip n e ways hope u enjoy!! pls lmk ur thoughts! <3 rb if u enjoyed :)

DO NOT REPOST/TRANSLATE.

As soon as you step foot in the Astral Express, your whole body lights up with excitement.

You’re finally starting your journey to other planets and your joy couldn’t be contained. Your eyes take in your surroundings, a beautiful view of a bed of bright stars—you have to hold yourself back from almost reaching for them.

“Hey!”

A voice breaks you out of your reverie, you look for the source of the voice not finding anyone in front of you.

“Down here!”

The voice speaks once more and you finally look down, coming in contact with the most adorable thing you’ve ever seen.

“Oh…hello?” You say with hesitation, taking note of the unfamiliar creature.

“I’m Pom-Pom, the conductor of Astral Express,” The unknown creature introduces themselves. “You can come to me whenever you need help! But don’t cause trouble!” Pom-Pom expresses with a fiery passion, and you don’t know whether to coo or actually be scared of the little thing.

“Well, alright, you’re the boss.” You simply nod, trying to hold back a laugh at the adorable entity.

“The Passenger Cabins are that way so you can keep your bags there. And the archives are the first door but um…” Pom-Pom pauses for a second. “There’s a guy called Dan Heng that practically lives in the archives but you’re free to visit that area! I have no clue what he does all day in there.” Pom-Pom’s petit body seems to deflate in defeat which once more makes you want to let out an audible coo but you refrain.

You recognize that name easily—Dan Heng. After all, he’s one of the people you’ll be accompanied on your first journey, the other one being March 7th. You’ve never met these people but you trust Himeko’s judgment, after all, she’s the one who paired you with them. The only piece of information she gave you about them is that “You’ll have fun,” which excites you but also worries you, but you push that away for now.

“Thank you, Pom-Pom, I’ll be mindful of that.” You smile before bidding Pom-Pom goodbye, they wave back telling you to follow the rules.

You make your way toward the cabins, locating yours fairly quickly. You settle in nicely. You feel a bit lethargic already but the enthusiasm of finally being on the Astral Express keeps you from getting a shut-eye. Rather, you decide to explore different parts of the Express. Freshening up quickly you venture out of your cabin, taking in the sites of the surroundings around you. The view of the vast shimmering galaxy almost bought you to tears. You’ve finally reached your goal. You’re a Trailblazer now. After working meticulously for years and honing your skills, you’ve achieved your aim and you couldn’t be happier.

Walking around for a bit more, observing the decor around you, you head for the main compartment, and as soon as you descend down the stairs you’re greeted by a cheerful voice.

“Hello! You must be our new companion, I’m March 7th!” The girl with bright pink hair and blue tips introduces herself and her cheerful demeanor brings about a smile on your face.

“Hello, March, it’s lovely to meet you.” You say, holding out your hand for her to shake and she does so with enthusiasm.

“So you’re coming with us, huh? Are you ready for some fun?” She asks with a wide grin on her face, clasping her hands to the front, and it makes you feel at ease.

“Born ready, I’ve been waiting for this.” You reply, patting your prized polearm, a proud smirk on your lips. March nods in response, and suddenly she takes out her camera.

“I have some pictures—wait have you met Dan Heng yet?” She asks, pausing her original question.

“Oh no, not yet, I think he’s in the archives, Pom-Pom told me,” You respond and March lets out a sigh.

“He’s always coped in there. How about you go introduce yourself to him?” She suggests and you think it over for a moment…you don’t really know what this Dan Heng character is like so you feel slightly nervous, but ready to meet him nonetheless.

“Sure, I’ll see you after then?” You say, smiling warmly at her, and she nods back with eagerness.

“Come back soon! I’ve got awesome pictures to show you!” March shouts as you leave for the archives room, you wave back, giving her an affirmative nod.

You knock on the door of the archives room, even though you don’t really need to but after Pom-Pom information about how he practically uses the place as his room you deemed it fit to knock before entering

You enter, immediately met by Dan Heng’s figure standing towards the bookshelves, nose buried in documents. You clear your throat, hoping to get his attention, all you receive in turn isーwell nothing. He doesn’t turn around like you’d expect him to.

“Hello, are you Dan Heng?” At the mention of his name, he turns around, and suddenly you’re met with one of the most attractive men you’ve laid eyes upon. His eyes look captivating, one of them lined with the colour red, and some of his hair fall over his forehead.

“That’s me.” He curtly nods. “Do you need something from me?”

You’re completely taken away by him. His cadence sounds so…enticing. His attire makes him look dashing, and of course, this Dan Heng is easy on the eyes—you can’t seem to pull away your gaze from him.

You hear him clear his throat, your blatant staring as been caught red-handed.

“Is there something you need?” He repeats, facing away from you, finding the carpet of the express far more interesting—Dan Heng hates how his cheeks are tinted slightly red. Your staring definitely did not go unnoticed.

Your skin warms up, embarrassment flooding your veins.

“Oh yes—I’m, Y/N, I’ll be accompanying you,” You answer. “I thought I’d introduce myself.” Dan Heng seems satisfied with your response, nodding in silence.

“You should take a look at the data bank to familiarize yourself with the upcoming surroundings, so you know how to protect yourself…although I will be there as well to protect you,” He pauses for a second, before clearing his throat, a faint blush once more spotting his cheeks. “I’ll leave you alone for a while.” Dan Heng states, and leave the archives before you can get a word one. His behaviour startles you a bit, but you don’t pay much mind, you already pegged him as more of an introvert from the descriptions of March 7th and Pom-Pom. You seat yourself comfortably, pulling up the archives to research just as Dan Heng advised.

As soon as Dan Heng leaves the room, he takes a deep breath to calm himself.

He knew you.

Dan Heng remembers you from his days in the IPC. You didn’t seem to recognize him and he’s thankful for that. He’s changed a lot, so he didn’t expect it either it. But he remembers you quite clearly. He saw you working diligently from the sides, always getting along with people and helping people whenever you can—him also being one of those people. You showed him kindness and he’d always appreciated it. But meeting you again was never on his agenda. He walks to the main hall of the express, seating himself on one of the couches for the jump that will commence soon, it was uncommon for him to be in the main compartment during jumps but today he had a change of heart.

Soon enough, Pom-Pom made the announcement for the jump, which bought you out of the archives room as per the conductor’s orders.

“Y/N, over here!” March’s cheery voice calls you over, and she quickly grips your hand dragging you over to where Dan Heng was seated and she pulls you down to sit with her.

“Are you ready for your first jump, Y/N?” March inquires, “It feels weird the first time around but it’s pretty fun!”

“I’m a little nervous honestly,” You answer honestly, lips curving into a timid smile. You’ve been preparing yourself yet, of course, fearful thoughts reside. It’s your first trailblazing expedition after all.

“You’ll be okay, as long as you hold onto something since it’s your first time, I assure you. How about you hold Dan Heng’s hand? I’m sure he’ll help out a fellow partner right?” March suggests, a broad wicked grin on her face. You can’t tell if it’s you she’s messing with you or Dan Heng—you audibly hear him heave a sigh. You shake your head at March, her smile matching that of a Cheshire cat, while you feel the heat rise to your cheeks.

“Oh no, that won’t be necessary I’ll be fine—”

“You can hold onto my hand if you feel comfortable. I do not mind.”

Dan Heng’s answer leaves you both flabbergasted. March’s mouth falls open but she recovers quickly, her lips stretching into a teasing smile once more.

“Well, then I’ll leave you alone!” March leaves without explanation and you’re about to call for her to ask where she’s going but Dan Heng answers for you.

“She does this every time. Trying to stand throughout the jump, trying not to fall.”

You simply nod, not knowing how to respond, you’re embarrassed to say anything simply put. March’s suggestion and Dan Heng’s agreement put you in the spot.

“Would you like to hold onto my hand? If you feel comfortable, of course.” Dan Heng shocks you once more by holding out his hand for you.

His cheeks have a rosy tint, the dark eyes not meeting yours.

Well…he is cute, isn’t he? Nothing wrong with holding a cute guy’s hand, right?

Boldness overcomes you, and you slip your hand into Dan Heng’s. He’s startled, his blush darkening, the tops of his ear matching his crimson cheeks, he didn’t actually expect you to do it, even though he offered.

“Thanks, Dan Heng, I feel protected already.” You express, tone flirtatious, a lingering smirk on the corners of your lips. Dan Heng nods, tearing his gaze away from your face—definitely to hide his flustered self. His hands are rough, but they’ve also got a certain softness to them. Despite being calloused, his hand looks delicate. It feels good. Your hand intertwined with his feels lovely. Dan Heng’s thoughts aren’t far from yours—he’s never felt such things before, holding your hand…it wasn’t what he expected. He feels at ease as your hand rests in his.

Only a few moments later Pom-Pom’s voice blares through as they announce the jump, as they count down. You see March steel herself, chanting some sort of mantra that sounds something along the lines of, “I won’t fall over,” on repeat.

“Don’t be nervous, you’ll be alright,” Dan Heng’s voice suddenly rings in your ears, he’s closer to you than before, his husky yet gentle voice whispering in your ear.

“Thank you.” You express your gratitude in the form of a smile. Dan Heng returns it with a tender smile of his own.

Pom-Pom’s countdown finishes and you’re about to be sucked into the vortex, grip tight on Heng’s hand.

“You’ll be alright, just hold on to me.”

That’s the last thing you hear before the jump, before the start of your new journey and endless memories. With your newfound companions and the one that’ll occupy your mind for a long time—Dan Heng.

Yeah, you’ll be alright.

#dan heng x reader #dan heng x you #dan heng x y/n #dan heng #dan heng fluff #honkai star rail

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twstfanblog · 6 months

Text

*~ Halloween Hijinks ~*

A/N: Silly little thing I thought up and managed to finish on time. Happy Halloween everybody!!

Sam had agreed to let Yuu come to town with him, even offered to take a few of their friends if they wanted to come along. He needed to be at the docks by mid afternoon to pick up the massive order of props and materials for the upcoming Halloween Fair the school hosted. It’d take a while for him to get everything checked and settled, so Yuu would have plenty of time to explore the town until it was time to go back to campus. So, with permission from Crewel (And Crowley, but who cares.), Yuu and a select group of friends were set to accompany Sam.

But of course, Yuu could not just simply do things. They loved to have a theme, a motif, a little funny trick to enjoy at the expense of the masses. So in the ‘Freshest Firsties’ group chat, Yuu proposed a simple addition to their outing just to make it more fun. Seeing how most of them agreed, the plan was set.

Crewel had a massive roll of black fabric that was ‘The wrong shade’, so Yuu was free to cut and play with it as they wanted. They had made not only themselves and Grim, but also the rest of their friends matching simple cloaks and witch hats to wear to their outing on the town. Fastening the cloak, Yuu made sure it was completely covering their body, smiling once they saw it was. Looking down at Grim, the cat monster merely a black mess of fabric and a witch hat, Yuu picked him up, “Welp, let’s go distress the masses.”

Grim tilts his head, allowing his grin to be shown, “Yeah!”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Riddle was concerned.

He stood at the window outside of his office, Trey and Cater on either side of him. Outside, Yuu was twisting their body in a jerking motion that he supposed could be called dancing. He hoped that the bouncing shape on their head was Grim, but it was hard to tell when all any of them could see was a glimpse of blue fire under the oversized hat.

“Should…we go out there?” Trey looked at them, eyebrows creased in worry, his expression only deepening when Yuu started to add more movements to their strange dance.

Cat looks away from his phone, filming the weird performance for his own amusement, “Do you wanna go out there? #I’ve-Seen-This-Movie…”

Riddle sighs, folding his arms and raising an eyebrow, “Well, we can’t just let them…Wait…”

Two new figures were racing out from the dorm, matching black cloaks making them seem like they were merely floating instead of running. Once they reach Yuu, they all turn in a circle, revealing the new figures to be Ace and Deuce. One more brief twirl and hop dance later, the four of them raced off to the mirror, disappearing from view.

…

“...” Trey turned back to them, opening his mouth, “-”

“No.” Riddle turned around, walking away from the window and back toward his office, closing the door firmly behind him.

Cater and Trey stood in the hallway, sharing a glance before Cater smiled and shrugged. Tapping at his phone, he walks away as he starts to post the odd video, “Eh. I’m sure they’re fine…#Cult-Things-With-The-Boyz.”

Trey stood at the window, sighing softly, “I need a glass of milk…”

~*~*~*~*~*~

Leona laid in bed, glaring at the ceiling while the phone in his hand rang. Ruggie was late, later than he normally was anyway. He not only missed Leona waking up, but he had been awake for nearly 15 minutes and the hyena hadn’t shown up yet. He should have been there already with his lunch. In a move that wasn’t worry, he started to ring him up, and even that was taking forever.

Ruggie finally picks up the call, speaking in a nonchalant tone, “Y’ello?”

“Where the hell are you?”

“Uh…In the dorm.”

“Well, get up here already.”

“Uuuuuh…Can’t.”

“...” Leona sits up in his bed, looking at his phone with a puzzled expression, “What the fuck do you mean ‘Can’t’?”

“Just…Just come to the lounge and you’ll see…”

Leona kept on the call, walking out to the railing that looked over the lounge area, freezing at the scene before him. There was Ruggie, one hand holding the phone to his mouth and the other gripping the bag containing their lunch. But, circling around him like a group of over-sized vultures were three black-cloaked figures, a smaller shape skittering around the circle at a faster pace than the others. They walked in a tight enough circle that it seemed Ruggie wasn’t able to move freely enough to use his UM. Not to mention they’d every now and again do some weird movement that Ruggie would have to lean away to dodge.

“...Ruggie, what the fuck am I looking at?”

“Just come down here to get your damn food. I think I’ve been chosen for a sacrifice or some shit.”

“I’m not going down there-Oh.”

“What? What? You can’t just say ‘Oh’ and not-AH, WHAT THE FUCK!?” Ruggie threw whatever half caution he had to the wind, dipping lowing and shoving past Deuce once he saw a massive figure in black speeding toward them.

Leona gripped the railing, hoping his laughter was echoing and giving Ruggie a headache as Jack joined who he suspected to be Yuu and their other little friends. A brief greeting was only given in a matching full-body shake before the flock was off toward the mirror, leaving behind a heavily breathing Ruggie, a confused mass of bystanders, and a cackling Leona.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Um, Azul?” Jade peeked his head into the backroom smiling before he bowed lightly, “There’s a bit of a situation happening in the lounge.”

Sighing, Azul put his pen down to give Jade his full attention, “And you need my help with it why?”

“Well, it seems your date-mate has descended upon the lounge with a coven of their dark brethren.”

“...” Azul reached up, pulling off his glasses as though that would help him clearly hear what Jade just said to him, “...What?”

“Your date-mate. In the lounge. Descended like a dark omen. Come see?” Jade clearly was enjoying himself, the wild look in his eye showing just how hard he was fighting back the laughter he wanted to release.

“...” He put his glasses back on, standing up and wordlessly following Jade out the door to the lounge. A part of him was thankful they had the sense to wear all black. All black was tasteful and he could maybe add a charge to the current patrons' bill for a floor show. Or, what he could claim was a floor show.

He supposes they were dancing, Yuu and their friends. It was an odd shifting movement that they seemed to time in perfect opposite sync. It was oddly hypnotic, but also clearly starting to distress the crowd. He steps closer, standing next to Yuu and whispering, "Darling? My sweet pearl, salt to my sea? What is this? Literally, what are you doing right now?"

Azul watches in mild annoyance, and a smidge of adoration, as a small smile crosses Yuu's face as they clearly gained amusement from whatever this event was. But they still don't stop dancing or speak to him, “Yuu…What are you doing- HEY!”

The biggest cloaked figure, that Azul could only guess was Jack, suddenly picked him up, moving him farther away from the group before returning to his place in their dance.

He was poised to start dealing out fines, heavy ones, when Floyd exited the kitchen. The tall mer had a note clutched in his hand that he passed to Yuu. The prefect held the paper high, signaling the others to stop their odd ritual and rush out of the lounge. Yuu takes a brief moment to run to him, kissing him on the cheek before running after their friends and out of sight.

"..." Azul turns to Floyd, calling out as he walks back to the kitchen, "Floyd what was that?"

"Oh. Shrimpy’s doing me a favor." With a shrug, he walked past the swinging doors, giving no further explanation.

…

Azul turned to Jade, the other Eel-Mer clearly struggling to hold in his laughter, "I'm serious, what was that?"

~*~*~*~*~*~

Something was wrong. Not at the moment but something was coming, Jamil could feel it. In the kitchen, he stood and judged Kalim’s knife cuts. The Asim heir wearing cut-safe gloves and muttering under his breath to remind himself of the proper grip and position for the knife. All in all, a very normal and calm cooking lesson…Something was wrong.

He sighed heavily, rubbing his temple, trying to think what could be bothering him. Kalim was standing in front of him, his homework was completed, and dinner was well underway (If Kalim would hurry up with cutting the peppers). What could it be…?

The door clicks open, calling both of their attention to it. Yuu stood in an all-black floor-length cloak, only one arm shown holding Grim up. Funnily enough with the cat monster in a matching outfit. Yuu stood silently, simply looking at the two of them.

Kalim and Jamil look at each other from the corner of their eyes before moving them back to Yuu. Kalim smiles, placing his knife down and walking closer to Yuu, “Hey, Yuu! You wanna stay for dinner? I’m helping.”

Jamil rolls his eyes briefly, crossing his arms, “That’s a word for it…”

Yuu didn’t speak, only holding Grim higher, letting the cat monster be in clear view as he clapped his paws together twice.

The kitchen was flooded by other cloaked figures, the three of them quickly descending on Kalim while the house-warden screamed in confusion. Jamil just barely grabbed at his pen before the other figures fled the room, leaving a frazzled Kalim lying on the floor.

Yuu rushes over to Jamil, pressing a kiss to his cheek before they run off, leaving the two Scarabia students in the silence.

…

Jamil looked at Kalim, after making sure the dark posse wasn’t coming back, “Are you alright?”

“Yeah…?” He pats himself down, standing up slowly as he checked himself over, “Yeah I-...” Kalim’s hands pat at his pocket, pulling the hidden seam of his poofy pants to look inside directly, “Oh. They stole my wallet.”

Well, at least Jamil knew what that horrible feeling was…

~*~*~*~*~*~

Vil stood at the main window of the Pomefiore lounge, wine glass in hand as he swirled his sparkling water. It took so much of his self-control to not scowl. He looks at the pack of idiots in the courtyard flailing around and scaring his dormmates. Rook had warned him that Yuu was doing 'something', the Florian saying as such with a smile before pointing toward the window.

He was busy, he really didn’t have the time to be dealing with…whatever this was. As of now, he was trying to make the decision on whether he should sic Rook on them or not. While he would probably take all day with it out of the pure joy of getting to hunt down the first years, Vil needed him for their site planning. Sighing, he turns to Rook, the Florian smiling and filming the odd performance, to order him to remove them from Pomefiore. Only for them both to look in surprise as a new dark figure flew down from the roof.

Only briefly seeing, potentially unbrushed lilac locks, did Vil realize that Epel had flown from his bedroom window to join the others in their dancing in the form of flying over them. The Pomefiore first year sprinkling what looked like glitter onto them in rather aggressive throws. The two third years watch as Epel dismounts his broom, the others circling and waving their arms over him before grouping together and rushing off.

Vil and Rook stood at the window, looking at the group of black fabric scurrying away and out of the dorm building's fenced area like a flock of confused deer. Blinking his eyes, Vil finally scowls and sips at his water, walking away from the window, “I should have just had you shoot them...”

Rook smiles, clapping his hands and opening the window to shout at the fading figures, “Beaute! 100 points!”

~*~*~*~*~*~

If he ignored the knocking they’ll go away. Idia knew he could only turn his game up so loud to drown them out without his own ears starting to hurt. But, whatever Yuu wanted he wasn’t gonna give. But he couldn’t deny that the knocking was starting to finally annoy him. He growled under his breath, the knocking throwing him off on his rhythm game enough to break his combo.

Idia throws down his controller, hair just barely flickering into red as he yells to the door, “Fine! It’s unlocked! Just come in like a- what the fuck?” Idia curled into his chair, trying to make himself smaller as way more people than just Yuu crowd into his room. Why were they all in black? What kind of curse game event did he trigger? Oh god was that glitter? He saw this movie with Cater, he knows how this is gonna end.

His hope rises at hearing Ortho’s update capsule hiss open. Now looking at them all together, Idia now realizes why Ortho asked him to make a simple cloak shell for him. Oh god, Yuu’s weird cult got to his poor little brother…

Ortho flies up to Idia, his hat in hand as his eyes creased in a smile, “Nii-san! I’m breaking my agreement with Yuu to tell you I’ll be gone for a few hours! Please make sure you eat and I’ll keep my text channel open for you to check up on me!”

“...” Idia’s eyes glance at the lightly swaying group of the other first years, each of them adding in their own various movements like some type of hivemind boss. Looking back to Ortho he nods, “Okay…Be safe…Have fun…”

“I will, have fun in your game Nii-san!” Ortho puts the hat on his head, his sclera blacking out and his arms come out to form a perfect T-pose.

Idia watches in muted horror as the others copy Ortho, leaving the room in a single file with Ortho floating behind them. He didn’t care to figure out who double-backed to shut his door, even though he was thankful.

“...” Turning back to his computer he opened his chat window and sent out a message to Cater.

‘can you cm ovr? was jst swatted by a cult.’

‘LOLZ. They got ya huh babes?’

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Should we do something?” “But they look like they’re having such fun!”

“What’s happening- WHAT ARE THEY DOING TO WAKA-SAMA!?”

Sebek looked out the window, eyes wide as he watched his ‘friends’ circle around Malleus in black cloaks.

Lilia giggles, looking out in amusement, “It seems Malleus has been kidnapped by a dark coven. Silver just came back with a letter detailing their demands.” He gestured to Silver, signaling for him to hand Sebek the hastily written note.

Sebek snatches it from Silver’s outstretched hand, reading it over before his frown somehow deepens, “So we have to fight them!? That’s what we’re going to do right!? We can’t let them just keep Waka-Sama!”

Silver shakes his head, “I highly doubt Malleus is in any actual danger, Sebek. I think he’s just happy to be included in their game…” Looking outside, Silver couldn’t help but smile at how calm Malleus appeared to be in the middle of the circle.

“But their demands!”

“They only stated they would ‘take’ Malleus if the proper person doesn’t fulfill their promise.” Lilia joins Silver in looking out the window, “I must be honest, though. I may just let this game continue to see what happens. Plus, Malleus would love to spend the day with your friends.”

Sebek pouted, taking a glance out the window before sighing and leaving the room. Silver and Lilia sharing a look before shrugging. Only minutes later to laugh at seeing Sebek stomp out of Diasomnia with a matching black cloak and oversized witch hat. Lilia down right cackling seeing Epel throw a handful of glitter directly at Sebek's chest.

~*~*~*~*~*~

Sam braced himself on his knees, having stopped his laughter but still needing to catch his breath. Standing back up, he wipes a tear from his eye. Catching breath, he looked at the students in front of him, "...I'm guessing y'all are all set?"

The glitter-covered black hats all nodded, though Sebek merely grumbled and tried to brush the offending dust from his hands.

Shaking his head, Sam prepped the mirror for their trip, "The second we get into town, you kids scatter. I don't wanna be a part of whatever cult thing you got goin' on."

#twisted wonderland #twst #disney twst #twst wonderland #yuu oc #night raven college

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thrawns-babygirl · 1 year

Text

Get You Home (Crosshair x GN!Reader)

Posting this fic on behalf of a good friend at their request. Crosshair/GN!Reader angst

No smut and no warnings outside of intense feels. Let me know what you think so I can pass it on to them.

Word Count: 2900+

Ironic, isn't it, how someone could be created by another just to destroy themselves?

It was the general theme of the various thoughts that swam fervently through your mind, plagued by a vain concept of low boiling anger that managed to settle into reluctant relief before it surfaced.

You didn't want Crosshair to see anything in you that was more than what he needed for this last leap of the journey, a cautious balance of crafted care and reservation of the truth, presented through a gentleness that was far too desperate and pleading as it lingered. Yet he didn't seem to give any indication he took notice of the way you spoke your words as if sending them to him on paper wings, how your touch stayed on his arm so to give him the warmth that you hoped he hadn't already forgotten; and if he did, he certainly didn't speak it. He didn't speak at all once the silence took over, actually.

There was a small exchange of words when you first appeared, clarifying your intentions to free the captive clone and speaking then only when needed to give orders for the escape- though as soon as you pushed the throttle that pulled the ship free of the barrage of lasers and pursuing forces an eerie silence quickly settled, taking place in the air where your shared frantic breaths had left open. Everything seemed to come to a complete halt when the rush of stars that stretched across your vision in such vivid streaks returned to simple dots scattered around the walls of the universe.

"We have to wait here a bit for the others, once they've made it out they'll send us coordinates," You had spoken in a sort of voice you would use on a wounded animal, delicate and fragile and willing to falter if it spared the smallest of harsh tones.

He didn't speak.

Not with words in the least, though there was a story desperate to spill into a sea of tears as his eyes scanned the environment around him. It wasn't one you imagined he knew, but it was evident he saw the symptoms of his brothers in every little out of order detail that scarred this ship, and you could see the moments that took him as he stood and put the refined senses of a sharpshooter to practice.

You saw the way he paused as he noticed a scuff of paint on the piece of durasteel that hung just low enough for someone of Wrecker's height to hit in a rush, leaving behind a streak of white from the drawn face plastered in pale paint on his helmet. You were pretty sure the mark was still there on the armor, would Crosshair look to see if the evidence aligned when he saw the brute again?

Then the clone turned and saw the control panel that was still open with half a scomp sticking out, not that there was any physical memento needed to remember how Echo got stuck when the ship's power faltered and something or another went wrong in just the right way that you had to cut him out. Never really got around to removing the blatant jam in what would be an otherwise useful port, much to your droid's adamant displeasure.

Stepping back now and moving his sights as the man noticed a thin black wire that stuck out from the panel snake up and around until it brought him to the other side of the ship where a signature Tech project had been sitting untouched for a few days. It was a small device that required your input as well as his understanding of the skills needed. At this point you weren't sure if it was work being done for the payoff or simply the time to spend with one another.

Then, finally, Crosshair turned and saw a sight he hadn't seen since they had still called their barracks "home": a board with clear holes and a sloppily drawn target that Hunter often used to hone his accuracy with throwing knives, or even just pass the time when days grew too slow. But this was different. On one side was his clear mastery with a concise series of streaks, and the other one with far more scattered results- even some marks on the walls of the ship- with very few holes decidedly on the target.

"Hunter's been trying to teach me, I'm not that good at it, he said you were the only one who would ever entertain a challenge with him until I came along," An attempt to ease into a conversation, seeing something flash behind Crosshair's eyes as he remained fixated on the board.

The Crosshair described to you was so, so far from the one that stood here now. This wasn't a fire that burned when touched, it was a frost that lost the will to bite. Not the man who would speak slyly with a slick insult as he crossed his arms and looked smug. Not the sniper who never missed a target else he would live down his reputation and have it reflected on the foundation of his purpose. Not the soldier who fought for a cause that he believed in for it was the inspiration for his creation so how could he not?

The way his brothers spoke of him was marred by the rift torn between them, but no matter how muddy the waters became there was still such a clear affection they had for the man that couldn't be drowned by their anger, for it was this reaction alone that lead you to understand that it wasn't just anger it was also hurt and it was quelled questions and it was a desperate plea to the universe for an answer that didn't sting so sharply as the image that it was Crosshair's choice and his alone.

It had been such a subject of debate, recurring and spiraling into a series of speculation until Hunter finally announced the end of it and set everyone to a task to keep the peace. You never understood it much, why they felt the need to ask one another when it was apparent none of them had the grounds to claim to know for sure, unsure if anyone other than the Kaminoans would have such knowledge to begin with. Was it because they wanted to understand the truth that they asked in this way, or because they were too scared of what it could be?

"What did they say about me?" Crosshair had managed a few words, and despite the way they were shaky and weak and falling before they could fly it still took you by surprise.

"Well… a lot of things," Trying to recount something that wouldn't come off as harsh as it had been spoken when one of the boys had let it out with a burning ire. You didn't doubt Crosshair would understand their hatred stemmed from their feelings of betrayal, but there was still no need for that to be spoken now. It wasn't what anyone needed. There would be time to talk, and that could be saved for when the wounds were treated and healed into scars that could withstand what hadn't been said without tearing the stitches.

And it was then you realized that it wasn't inherently what they had said about him that should be shared, but what they hadn't.

When Omega said something in her silly, naive little way that had a mutual feeling flash through the soldiers you could see the way their hearts still bled for their brother. How when they explained it to her it was as if they were rationalizing it for themselves as well. Taking the much softer perspective they created to give the child and finding comfort in it as well.

That time you were on a roof scoping a location and Wrecker accidentally shouted up to you and called the name "Crosshair" out of habit, and how he tried to claim it was the shadow of a snipers pose that just had him caught in the moment and how it didn't matter at all and how you couldn't help but see such a strange emotion weep from his words as he defended his actions to nobody but himself.

Or the way Hunter's eyes found themselves stuck on a small jar of toothpicks when you went into a cantina to ask some questions to the tender, the confliction you could see as soon as he registered the objects and the way his focus kept flickering to what should have been just another something in the background.

The fact that any time one of them was given a task that used to be Crosshair's assigned job in the squad there was a complaint. Sometimes followed by usually Hunter barking about how that clearly couldn't be done by the original performer, sometimes it just fell silent as the memories played in their minds too. And even when it was your given task one of them would be sure to inform you that yes, it was Crosshair who usually climbed to the top of a perch and scouted ahead with the binocs, as if you had ever asked or had any doubts.

It was the way they snapped at you when you tried to move his weapons kit, the fact that you noticed them all visibly tense and grow shy when you first asked for the story of what happened, how when you asked about scope specifications it was as if everyone glanced around the room for him just to realize he wasn't there. That just like he noticed the signs of them in this ship you saw the signs of him in them.

But how did you share something like that?

When you turned to face the clone he was still standing with his eyes locked onto the targets littered with tears and holes. He was still but he was shaking but he didn't move but he was falling through the fabric of reality itself.

"They miss you. I guess that'd be a good summary of everything," Your voice took a risk, words extending hands and hoping that he'd reach out to take them.

Crosshair turned to you after his eyes fell and closed for a moment, a shaken breath having to fight itself to be regained before he looked and for what must be the first time it felt as if you were truly looking at one another face to face.

You could see through his gaze that he mirrored the sentiment, unable to speak it only from the words twisting and tripping and toiling with one another until they simply became stuck in his throat as nothing more than a weight he used to keep his guilt down. What used to be vivid and vivacious in his eyes had since been bled of their valiance and left nothing more than a ghost that haunted bittersweet memories. And the look that usually presented itself with a furrowed brow and a frown was too reduced to what remained when everything was stripped and bones were left bare.

Perhaps it was this unrelenting vulnerability that allowed the clone to venture into a territory he had always feared. He had already dug himself down to bedrock, what was the harm in seeing if there was anywhere else to go? It wasn't as if he could go any further south from here with the only tools at his disposal being his own worn hands.

"Even after it all?" A sincere request that was hesitant as it came to light, words drawled but not with intentional emphasis for dramatic effect more than a fear strong enough to slow them down but not strong enough to stop them.

And you couldn't help but smile and huff at that.

"You think that the brothers you were created with, raised with, trained with, and fought with would leave you behind like that?" You crossed your arms, still floating on a cloud of caution and care as you allowed your demeanor to shift just the slightest amount, "You think they didn't talk about how they would save you if they could? That they didn't tell Omega stories about all of you, as a team, and end it with a wish it could happen again one day? Do you really think they would have just… let you go if they had the option to bring you back with them?"

Your own voice wavered as you finished, finding a surprising amount of emotions starting to bubble up from beneath you, rising through your chest until they were at your eyes and you had to blink to keep them at bay. A task that became increasingly harder as you saw the way your words struck the other. Recoiling slightly as if you took a gun and pulled the trigger slow enough that it slowed time as well as the bullet struck him.

He looked at you in such a pleading way, asking a question neither of you knew but you knew it was there and that it needed to be answered, but how do you answer something that can't be asked with words that need to be spoken? And what little humor had taken hold of you drained from below your feet as you saw the first tear fall.

It was almost instinct that brought you closer, pulling the soldier into an embrace and holding him together before he fell apart in the absence of a strength he finally lost his grasp on. Slipping from the control he had placed himself under when he convinced himself of his loyalty and threw away what he was pretending wasn't what he had wanted, what he needed.

When he fell weak you brought him to the ground gently, pulling him to lean his weight onto you, sheltering him as you felt his breath on your neck and his hands trembling as they latched onto what was left for them to, finding solace in gripping your arms and using that hold to keep the distance from tearing you apart as if he was afraid of what would happen if he let go.

You hadn't thought much of it until this moment. Not his side of it, at least.

Countless nights of yours since joining up had been spent pondering this particular clone, but it had always been through the eyes of his brothers. From a thick lens of red that hazed everything through it to a velvet that could scream as it drowned, altering any other color to the same fate and sparing few alternatives. In this way it was more strategic in understanding, emotions running behind in close second but never pushing past to take the lead.

But what of him? What of the one who was left behind? The one that you heard of but never knew, only knowing him now that he was cracking and falling apart into pieces in your arms; not when he was a sheep in wolves clothing, or even the original side of him that had simply been the clone soldier with a bit of an edge. And what did all these mirrored versions of him reduce down to behind the smoke from the flames he used to burn them?

Through every strained breath from the man you could feel a quake in your own heart, the loneliness that he wore as a badge of pride and honor seeping through his touch and into yours and showing their true colors. Nothing more than a masquerade, a delusion he dressed up and decided was his fate because it was easier to say it was fate that chose your twisted path instead of your own two feet.

And again it became ironic, or maybe poetic if the word catches a peculiar fancy, how it was the disobedience he was known for prior that finally set him free now. Did he still believe that things were a certain way because he was created to fit into a place? Or has he remembered that even when he was supposed to submit himself to the aforementioned he never did, that he always broke the mold he wouldn't be cast into and finished the mission without following the orders.

And how, you can't help but think, will he unfold now that he has been free of all the shackles that have had him bound to what he believed to be loyalty?

What kind of man would he turn into when he patched up his relationship with his brothers, when he met Omega on equal ground and spoke her name, when he got the chance to exist as something more than a shadow of a soldier still fighting a war that had already ended?

Time would only tell as it was the teller of all tales, and as if summoned by thought the comm device strapped to your side beeped twice before a muffled voice gave the confirmation that you were to expect coordinates in the upcoming moments for your rendezvous.

"Hey," You whispered, holding the man just a bit tighter as you felt his breath hitch and hold itself, stilling for just long enough for you to say what he needed to be told, "Let's just get you home, yeah?"

@where-is-my-mind-tho @starborncyare @antishadow2021 @healingskywalker @crosshairlovebot

#crosshair x reader #crosshair #tbb crosshair #tbb x reader #bad batch crosshair #the bad batch crosshair #bad batch x reader #the bad batch x reader #crosshair x gn!reader #the bad batch

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andreafmn · 2 months

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I'm Not Afraid | Chapter 17

Word Count: 3.5K

Story Description: (Y/N) Argent arrived at Beacon Hills to put to rest her father’s sister, Kate Argent. For the first time, her family has decided to settle down and sustain a life in this interesting small town. After 17 years, (Y/N) has the opportunity to establish interpersonal relationships but will she be ready to face the complications that come with relating to her cousin’s, Allison, friends; especially, the infamous Derek Hale. She will face the adventure of being associated with the Derek and McCall pack, as well as being faced with the discovery of certain aspects of her life she never imagined.

A/N: uh oh, things are changing...

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There was a tense air between (Y/N) and Derek as they reached her house. He helped her off the bike and kept his hand on her lower back as they walked to her front porch but did not say a single word. His stare was a million miles away, and she could tell his thoughts had been running rampant in his head.

“Are you okay, Derek?” the girl finally broke the silence as she slid her key into the door. “You feel weird. Like, distant.”

“I’m fine,” he said, his stoic façade still plastered on his face. “I just need to make sure you’re home safe before I get my pack.”

“They’re fine. They’re hiding up in my room.” She pulled out her phone from her pocket and showed him Isaac’s text confirming that they had locked themselves in her house. “But I need to know what you’re hiding right now because I know something’s up.”

“Everything’s fine,” he huffed. “Why are they here?”

“I thought they’d be safe here,” she responded. “Don’t change the topic, Derek. You know you can’t lie to me.”

“I just… we gotta stay away from each other for a while, okay? Believe me when I say, it’s for the best.”

The answer took (Y/N) aback. She stepped away from his touch, as though suddenly it burned her. His words had seemingly come out of nowhere. They were in a good spot, she thought. They weren’t exactly in a relationship, but they weren’t not in one either. They had been speaking consistently for the past couple of weeks, they had seen each other when they could, and they had kissed. God, did they kiss. “I-I-I don’t understand,” she stammered as she blinked away her confusion. “I thought we were good. I mean, I know our situation isn’t exactly ideal, but I didn’t think it was going bad.”

“It’s just not the time to deal with feelings, (Y/N),” he sighed. “I have to focus on how to get rid of the Kanima and why Scott would betray us. I simply don’t have the bandwidth to focus on you too.”

“Oh, I didn’t know I was such a distraction,” (Y/N) scoffed, putting another step of distance between them. “You know, it was only a few weeks ago that you were saying you wanted this to work. No matter how long it took or what hurdles we had to go through. You said I wouldn’t have to go through life alone, not while you were here. Was that all just bullshit?”

“It wasn’t… It isn’t…” He ran his hands across his face in frustration, letting out an infuriated groan. “With everything that’s going on, I can’t risk being close to you, (Y/N). The more time that passes with the Kanima here, the more hunters will arrive. Especially now that I have a target on my back, thanks to your cousin. Being with you only makes that target bigger, and it puts it on my pack too. I have to make the right decision for them.”

“So, everything I’ve done to help you guys out means nothing?” she cried, biting down the tears that threatened to spill. “I’ve stuck my neck out for you on more than one occasion. I think I’ve proven to be an asset to you and your pack when it comes to my family.”

“You have and I’m grateful,” he said. Derek took a beat before continuing. It seemed he knew the next words out of his mouth would drive a wedge between them that he wasn’t sure would ever be removed. “I just don’t know if one day you’ll turn on us like Allison has done to Scott, or even like Kate did to me.”

If there was anything he could say that would drive (Y/N) away, it was that. Her fears of one day becoming like her aunt still haunted her to that day. It was a quiet but haunting rumble in the pits of her mind, fed by her insecurities and her fears, and very much alive.

“A-are you serious?” (Y/N) wanted to appear confident and confrontational. But she couldn’t help the way her voice broke. “Do you really think I’d be capable of doing something like that?”

“I can’t be sure, (Y/N). I want to believe that you won’t and that you and your father are truly on our side, but I have to take precautions. It’s not just my life that’s at stake.”

(Y/N) didn’t know if his words stung more than the unchanging expression on his face. There was no care, no compassion. She wasn’t talking to Derek, her sour wolf. She was speaking to Derek, the alpha. “What brought this on, Derek?” she asked. “What made you change your mind all of a sudden?”

“It wasn’t anything specifically. It’s just… the situation we’re in is basically unheard of, and I need to make sure that I’m putting a hundred percent of my brain into resolving this,” he said. “And if Scott isn’t going to help, then I have to find a way to end this once and for all. I can’t be worrying about the hunters coming from your side too.”

Words died in the girl’s mouth as she tried to conceal the hurt that coursed through her veins. It was a betrayal like no other. “Is that really how you feel?” (Y/N) asked, her resolve quickly coming undone. “You once told me that you knew that I would never be like Kate. That there was no way I could be that heartless. Does that mean you lied? Have you always felt this way?”

And with determination like she had never seen from him, he said, “Yes.” By then, she couldn’t hold back the tears, but she wouldn’t let him see her hurt. She couldn’t keep the drops from falling, but she could keep her sobs inside. “(Y/N)…”

“Go,” she said sternly, facing her door and giving him her back.

“(Y/N), I…”

“I said go, Derek,” she restated, raising her voice. “You can call your pack after. But you need to get out of here right now.”

Before he could say another word, (Y/N) slipped into her house and locked the door behind her. Shuddering cries threatened to break through, so she clasped her fist into her mouth and bit down. She did not want him to hear her. He’d been able to shatter her heart with a few words, but he did not deserve to know her pain. Not anymore.

As the tears fell, she remembered the cuts on her face. Every time another drop fell, it sank into the open wound, mixing blood and salty water down her cheeks. The sting was enough to subside the pain in her chest, but not enough to make it go away. And all she wanted was for it to go away.

Suddenly, soft steps on her stairs forced her head to snap forward to see a witness to her despair. Erica wore a sympathetic smile on her face, something that surprised (Y/N) out of her tears. It had been the first time she had even held a kind gaze toward the girl, always throwing sarcastic comments or unnecessary jabs her way. But at that moment, she came to her as a friend.

“Let’s fix up that face,” she said. “Where’s the first aid kit?”

“Uh, um,” (Y/N) cleared her throat. “There’s one under the kitchen sink.”

“Let’s go.”

The blonde helped her up from the ground and followed her quietly into the kitchen. She didn’t throw snarky remarks her way or make fun of the way her face was most likely a disaster. All she did was remain silent and try to help.

Once the first aid bag was on the counter, Erica patted a stool to instruct the girl to sit. Something she very much obliged to before the werewolf set to work. She put on a pair of black gloves and set to clean the wound with cleansing wipes, clearing away any debris or tear that might have mixed with her blood.

“This is gonna sting a bit, okay?” Erica announced as she uncapped the liquid stitch bottle. “Do you need something to bite down on?”

“No,” (Y/N) smiled softly. “Go ahead.”

The girl winced softly as the liquid touched her skin, but it was quickly replaced with the comfort of Erica’s soft hands pinching the slash closed. She repeated the step two more times before cleaning the area once more and covering it with a gauze bandage. “There,” Erica said as she finished bandaging her arm as well. “The wound should breathe during the night to help with the healing. Try to keep it dry or without direct water contact for about five days, and you should be good.”

“Thanks,” she said. “You’re good at this.”

“I’ve had one too many falls not to be,” the girl chuckled as she put away the kit. “It’s actually the reason I’ve always wanted to become a doctor. I wanted to make sure no one else went through what I did.”

“Why can’t you?”

“At first it was because I was so behind in school, I’d never get the grades to get into a good school,” she shrugged. “Now, with the whole werewolf thing, I don’t think I could.”

“Why not? I think now it’ll be so much easier for you,” (Y/N) offered. “Now, you don’t have to deal with the seizures, and you can focus on your schoolwork. Later on, I’m sure any school would be begging to have you go there.”

“I don’t know,” the blonde sighed. “I guess, after seeing everything I have and going through what we have in such little time, I think med school seems stupid in the grand scheme of things. I would love to live a normal life, but I don’t think I was ever meant to. I mean, at first, it was epilepsy. Now, it’s the fact that I’m part wolf, part human, and I have yet to get that under control.”

Seeing Erica be vulnerable and sweet surprised (Y/N), and it was a welcome distraction to whatever it had been that had gone down with Derek. “You know this is going to end someday,” she tried to comfort her. “We’re gonna beat the Kanima, and the hunters will go back to their own lives. Life won’t always be like this.”

“How can you be so sure? Something tells me there’s always gonna be something in this town,” she chuckled dryly. “The only way to go back to normal is to leave.”

“Is that what you want? To leave Beacon Hills?”

“I mean, it’s a plan,” she shrugged as she sat beside (Y/N). “I didn’t think it would be like this. The constant looking over my shoulder, the fear that I’ll be caught, the fear that I’ll be killed. I wanted the strength, the power that came with being supernatural. But I didn’t really measure the danger that came with it. Unfortunately, not every hunter can be like you.”

“I think that’s the first time you’ve ever complimented me,” (Y/N) chuckled. “Don’t know how I feel about it.”

“Don’t get used to it,” the girl grinned. “But seriously, you have no reason to protect us like you have. I mean, apparently, even lovesick Allison turned on lover boy.”

“Yeah, grief makes you do unthinkable things,” she sighed. “Especially when you have a monster like Gerard whispering in your ear.”

“And he doesn’t whisper in yours?”

“God no. I don’t think he particularly likes my family. At least my dad and I.”

“Ooh, family drama?”

“None that I know the details of, but I know it has something to do with me and some woman from my dad’s past,” (Y/N) explained, remembering the not-so-hushed words from her parents. “Also, my dad sort of sides with the wolves rather than the hunters. He thinks their methods are too extreme and cause more harm than good. He told me he wants to change the group from the inside out, but it’s hard.”

“And you believe him?” Erica inquired, biting the skin from her fingers. (Y/N) could see she hadn’t noticed yet. It was something she did before turning, a way to calm her senses when everything seemed too much. “Do you really believe he’s on our side?”

“He helped me find Derek tonight, and he covered for me about the rave. I don’t think he would lie to me about that. My mom on the other hand…”

“Can’t stand us?”

“Yup.”

“Well, you can tell her the feeling is mutual.”

“Hey,” (Y/N) exclaimed with a smile. “That’s my mom you’re talking about.”

“No offense,” Erica laughed as she threw her arms up in surrender. “But seriously, I don’t think I’ve ever said this, but thank you, (Y/N). I’ve unnecessarily been a bitch to you, and you don’t deserve that. So, I’m sorry.”

“Am I really getting an apology from Erica Reyes? I think I might be dreaming.”

“Oh, come on,” she chuckled. “I’m trying to be serious here—vulnerable. I am grateful for what you’ve done for me, even when I was horrible to you. You didn’t have to.”

“Well, you got the bitch part down, I didn’t think I needed it, too,” (Y/N) grinned before she took Erica’s hand and smiled warmly. “But it means a lot that you apologized. Thank you. Maybe from here on out, we could be friends. I honestly need more in this town.”

“I think that would be great,” she beamed. “I’ve been needing a dose of estrogen after so many months surrounded by testosterone.”

As the girls laughed, footsteps came down the stairs and quickly joined them in the kitchen, followed by the pitter-patter of claws against the hardwood floor. “Well, look at these two fraternizing,” Isaac told Boyd. “Never thought I’d see the day.”

“I would be rude not to when it’s her house,” Boyd shrugged. “Which, again, thank you for letting us hide out here. We haven’t really received any other instruction from Derek.”

“Yeah, and I don’t think you will anytime soon.”

“What do you…?” Isaac’s words died in his throat as he noticed (Y/N)’s bandages and the smell of iron in the air. He was quick to rush to her side, inspecting her visible skin for any other wound. “What the hell happened?”

“Ah, just a small run-in with Jackson,” she shrugged as she knelt to pet Brody, scratching him on the spot behind his ears he loved so he wouldn’t worry about her. “I’ll be fine. I just don’t heal as fast as you guys do.”

“How serious was the cut?” Isaac asked Erica, knowing (Y/N) would only wave him off. “Was it deep? I knew I should have gone with you to the station.”

“It wasn’t deep enough to need stitches, Isaac. She’ll be fine.”

“Dude, calm down,” Boyd chuckled. “She’s tougher than she looks.”

“Thank you, Boyd,” she smiled toward the boy. “I really appreciate the vote of confidence. You should learn from him, Lahey.”

“Yeah, it’s all fun and games until you get seriously hurt,” he grumbled, crossing his arms across his chest. “I can’t believe I let you go there by yourself. I should have been there.”

“And risk getting caught by my grandfather? Absolutely not,” she reprimanded. “As a matter of fact, all of you need to lay low because while Jackson is still the Kanima, more hunters will keep flooding into town, and I don’t wanna risk any of you getting caught. If you need a place to stay, I think I can talk to my dad and help you guys out. Maybe tell my mom the basement flooded and keep you guys there?”

“Thanks, (Y/N),” Boyd smiled. “We’ll talk to Derek first. See what the next steps will be.”

“Yeah,” she scoffed lightly. “And if you can find out what the hell is going on with him in the meantime, I’d greatly appreciate it.”

The four of them spent the next hour in her kitchen, talking and laughing like normal teenagers until Erica and Boyd said they were too tired to still be awake and headed to (Y/N)’s room. But not before the girl turned and thanked Argent for giving her a night where she felt normal. After that, only Isaac and her were left downstairs.

They had moved into the living room, where (Y/N) rested her head on his lap, and Brody curled up right beside them. Henry had texted her that he and her mother would be staying over at Chris’ house and that he’d keep her posted on anything that would be going down.

“I don’t understand what happened, Isaac,” she sighed as she felt his hands running through her hair. “Everything was going great until just an hour ago. What made Derek change his mind?”

“Honestly, I wish I could tell you,” he said. “But Derek’s not one to really talk about what’s going on in his head. The only time he’s ever been nice to me is when you’re around. He’s quite a dick when you’re not around.”

“But he’s still your alpha.”

“It’s not like there are many options here,” he chuckled. “And I guess I feel a bit indebted to him. If it hadn’t been for the bite, I’m pretty sure I would have ended up in the hospital, or even worse…”

Isaac couldn’t bring himself to say the words, instead taking in a shuddering deep breath. (Y/N) could see his eyes getting cloudy with tears as fear overtook him. Even if that part of his life was buried, there was no way to repress the memories.

“I’m sorry you had to go through that, Isaac,” she responded quietly, taking his free hand in hers. “And I’m sorry you had to go through it alone. I wish I could have at least been your friend back then.”

“I think you came at the perfect time,” he smiled softly. “Just long enough to get my shy and adorable side and stay to see my resurgence into an amazing and confident werewolf teenager.”

“You know, some people would say cocky and self-absorbed.”

“Well, those people would be wrong,” he chuckled. “But you did come at the right time. Those last couple of months, you actually gave me hope. If we had spent more time together, I think I may have even refused the bite.”

“Would you have, really?” (Y/N) mused. “Would you have given it all up?”

“I think so,” Isaac shrugged. “I mean, people around us don’t seem disturbed by what’s going on in this town. All I would have to worry about is whether or not I could pass my classes, and well, social services I guess.”

“Not funny,” she reprimanded, slapping him softly on the chest. “But the supernatural does suit you.”

“It does, doesn’t it?”

“Oh, calm down, Lahey.”

“I’m just kidding, Argent,” the boy laughed. “As for Derek, all you have to do is give it time. He can be a moody one.”

“Something feels different this time, though,” she sighed. “I don’t know what it is, but something’s just off.”

The last thing Derek had wanted was to make her cry. Hearing her sobs through her door made his heart wrench in his chest, and all he could do was get as far away from her as he could. His legs took off in a soft run at first but quickly turned into a supernatural sprint that had his lungs aching for air. All he could do was run.

Soon enough, the scenery of houses and cars turned into trees and bushes. Leaves crunched under his feet, and branches snapped as he stepped on them. Even when a rock stood in his way and threatened to make him lose his balance, he simply kept running.

He wished (Y/N) knew that what he did had been for her own good. If she wasn’t by his side, there was no way she could be used as a bargaining chip. Especially not with Peter back. He didn’t trust his own life in the hands of his uncle; how could he entrust him with (Y/N)’s?

By the time he had reached his family’s house, his body ached all over. Frustration filled his veins, and his limbs ached with the need for violence. He let out an exasperating scream before his fist went through a wooden board. He didn’t know if he wanted to keep breaking down the house or just sit down and cry. As much as he wanted to be by (Y/N)’s side, he knew that the best thing for her would be for him to stay as far away as possible. He had lived long enough with loneliness, though none as hurtful as this one for a long time. (Y/N) would soon enough move on from him, and he’d be the one to carry the hurt. As long as Peter was in town and her family would punish her for her affiliations, he’d just have to stay away.

Next ->

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blueaetherr · 1 year

Note

thank you for letting me know can you do the gender neutral one with trent then thank you! <3

to love and to be loved

pairing: trent alexander arnold x gn!reader [they/them]

warning(s): slight angst

summary: the one where they want to be loved (by trent) and he wants to love (the reader)

author's note: hi anon, sorry this took so long (again). currently working through writer's block so hopefully i might be able to write more in the coming days.

now playing: this is what falling in love feels like by jvke

After hours, Y/N and Trent were sitting together in his back garden. And on this particular night the two decided that there was some silence to share and so they peacefully indulged in it together; appreciating the sounds of nature at night for the first time in forever, taking notice of one's breathing to keep it at bay, and unknowingly, enjoying the time the two were able to spend together, no rush or anything to it.

The thing is, there was purpose behind their silence, the pair's lack of talk and simple discussion. There was nothing to speak about, nothing to bring up to conversation. Or, at least, that was what Y/N wanted and Trent couldn't help but accept their wants. Following a break up not too long ago, there wasn't much for Y/N to talk about with Trent, silence itself was enough noise and chaos for Y/N's mind to handle.

Soon after some time, Trent let the silence subside. He turned to his friend, offering a sincere look. "I'm sorry things didn't work out with you and your ex."

Y/N took in a long breath, leaning further back in their place. "Eh, it's all cool. We ended on good terms so I can't really complain," they leaned over and patted Trent's leg, "I gotta move on, right?"

When it came to Y/N and their previous relationships—from the first partner to the last—they really couldn't complain. Never were their partners malicious or mean and simply unkind; honestly, all of their exes had been great partners and Y/N never had real problems with them. All the break-ups, unfortunately, only happened as a result of innocent fallouts like logistics issues or differences in wants in life.

Their facial expression dulled, their lips forming a straight line as they looked towards the sky. "Though I do wish it could've worked itself out, you know?" Their problems never lied with their ex-partners but rather with the relationships themselves. Y/N has been in a few relationships—not too many yet also just enough but it always felt like something was lacking in all of them.

Finally, they set their eyes on Trent. "Do you think we were good together," they asked, referring to themself and their ex, "or was I at least good with any of my exes?" They didn't want to seem insecure or full of doubt, but Y/N wanted some outer perspective on their previous relationships.

"Um," Trent scratched the nape of his neck. He let out a small huff, tilting his head in simple thought. "I think... I think there's always hope for everything. There always was hope for all your relationships, every single one... so I don't think I can say no."

Being there from the beginning, Trent got to witness his best friend in all of their relationships. He watched Y/N's relationships form and unravel, watched them shift from immature to sensible, judged all their partners for their content and personality and... he never found anything flawed to say about anything or anyone.

That was the problem with all of Y/N's relationships; they all always seemed so perfect, too perfect to even criticise. Their ex-partners were perfect, judging by their appearances, intentions and personalities. Y/N's relationships held some flaws here and there, but they weren't enough to ruin something great for a couple. In his eyes, Y/N was too perfect in every aspect and that fact alone let Trent believe that there had been hope for Y/N to settle in whatever relationship they found themself in.

Y/N hummed, running their hand through the grass. "I find that hard to believe when I can never seem to stay in a relationship."

In their eyes, their partners were always perfect but perhaps the relationships weren't. The start and end of their relationships remained the best stages; there was that deep understanding and wanting the best for each other. The middle was the stage of every relationship for Y/N where things would happen quicker than they could realise, leaving the lines and everything else to become far too murky to the point where it was quite hopeless to maintain what barely remained of a relationship.

And seeing their ex-partners over the years moving onto different relationships, some in the early stages of marriage and others starting families– and because everyone viewed all their ex-partners as the perfect partners– even though no one said it, Y/N did feel like all their relationships failing, one after the other, was entirely their fault, that they were the burden every time they chose to be with someone.

"Everyone for me kinda just comes and goes, and I'm used to it at this point... but a bit of lovin' never hurt anyone," Y/N said, a sad smile appearing on their face. 'Cause that's all they could do—smile in hopes of retrieving some happiness in all the internal sadness they were experiencing. "Just seems like something really nice to have."

Witnessing all of their previous relationships fade away really did raise some questions for Y/N: were they really unlovable? If so, what was it about them that was apparently so unadorable and unpleasant to be shared and admired by someone else? What was it that deemed them only worthy of temporary love, that till death do us part kinda love was out of their reach?

It was unfair, and Y/N found it unfair. That they wanted something so small and inexpensive, something everyone around them had rightful access to but them. The thought itself felt like heartbreak.

Oh to be loved must be amazing.

"It doesn't hurt anyone, no. But," Trent offered his hand to Y/N, knowing his friend needed some comfort which he could present through trustful physical touch. In time, Y/N looped their fingers with his own. Trent patted the pair's intertwined hands with his free hand. "You'll get there in time, Y/N. I guess it just takes some time to find someone. You gotta be patient with this one."

Y/N thought for a moment before nodding, voicing a small okay. Trent didn't speak many words yet they were meaningful and kinda heartfelt; there was ease and trust in his words and voice, and that was enough for Y/N to listen to him and maybe indulge in his advice. "If that's the case," they sighed, "you have anyone in mind for me?"

Despite in fact having someone in mind for his best friend, despite the ease he had when thinking about the answer (he didn't have to think), Trent remained hesitant when it came to answering their question. Just let it be me— "Yeah, but I'm not telling you," he said, shrugging and laughing a bit. There was slight confidence despite his shyness towards the approaching conversation.

"You're not telling me?" Y/N's face fell further, encouraging Trent's laughter.

"I don't think you realise this is you basically trying to force fate."

"Okay, okay, I forgot: I'll get there in time," Y/N chuckled as they laid back on the grass, probably one of their first moments of euphoria that night. And Y/N accepted it; it was a start for tomorrow and the later days that would follow. "But c'mon. At least tell me what this person's like. Maybe I can guess. I gotta know something."

And so Trent went to describe this person he had in mind for Y/N— himself. He made sure he was vague yet precise with his descriptions, talking about himself in a way that others would describe him as such too but also speaking loosely so that any other guy could fit the descriptions too. There he was, putting himself forward without exposing himself, without putting pressure on a friend who had just left a relationship.

Trent was someone who was caring and sensitive and accommodating to others, especially others like Y/N. He had always seen them receive and receive from previous partners, but never did Trent think it was enough for their value. He thought they deserved so much more than temporary love, deserved more than feeling unwanted after every relationship ended; they were undervalued even if it was unintentional.

That observation came with the thriving feeling that Trent could, potentially, be the better partner to Y/N over the others. He didn't know it, or he wasn't ready to openly admit it, but Trent wanted to be the one to love Y/N (if they would accept it).

And as he spoke, their face was full of smiles and laughter and real positivity, their enjoyment stretching beyond the conversation itself. Even though he was describing someone for their benefit, even though they were the one who requested Trent to talk in detail about their dream person or soulmate, Y/N wasn't really listening to whatever he was saying. Honestly, they were thinking about Trent.

Y/N had been in a few relationships—not too many yet not too few—and through all of them, Trent always remained. Whenever they entered a relationship, Trent was there to encourage and hype them up; whenever they left a relationship, Trent was there to comfort and assure them that there would always be someone else out there as long as they kept the hope alive.

He was their first call after every breakup, the pair's time together was almost synced. Their parents loved all of Y/N's previous partners but evidently, their parents loved Trent a bit more in a more personal way. Everything he did for them (willingly and unwillingly) were simply acts of love and they wanted all of that for themself: to be adored and admired and loved and beyond by Trent.

Sitting under the night sky with silence now discarded, Trent and Y/N continued to share hushed discussions with timid laughter to ease away the misery of a breakup. And even though no one brought them to conversation, it remained a wonder and a wish if one could love or be loved by the person beside them in future days.

part 2

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lyramundana · 9 months

Text

Since @whatudowhennooneseesyou wants more and I’m a people pleaser, here’s another version, again based on another convo we had.

This time is about my man, the icon, love of my life and the only person that makes me want to have children. His children only. My bias and the reason I got into Stray Kids.

Christopher Bang

Now here’s the thing:

This man is a fuckboy. That much it’s obvious. Just look at his interactions with Stay and his messages on bubble. Not to mention he’s an aussie (and a former eshay) this men are the definition of “danger”, For fuck’s sake, his nickname among friends was “Mr Steal your girl”, which fits perfectly with a Libra’s description because that’s what they usually do: Stealing girls (and make anyone question their sexuality).

Now there’s a wrongly extended misconception that fuckboys have to be “cold, sarcastic, too-cool-for-love type” type of dudes. That they go around wearing leather jackets, riding motorcycles and spend their days fucking everything that moves. But this isn’t it. A fuckboy is simply a man that gets off from being desired and having the people he wants at his mercy, specifically in bed. There’s not a settled manual of dressing and general behaviour to be one, the name says it all: A boy who fucks. Easy.

Christopher it’s exactly that. He fools us with his good boy persona, acting all shy with pick-up lines but still fishing out for more. Showing off his muscles at every single opportunity he has (like that one concert where the members went to lift his shirt and he just let them, putting his hands behind his neck in surrender), but if you pay close attention, he doesn’t really hide his fuckboyish manners. I can’t explain it, but there’s something in his attitude, the way he speaks sometimes and acts, that screams “i make girls orgasm every week to relax”.

“Does that mean I’m your daddy? MOvIng oN”

“You know what else is big?”

“Say please”

Do you need any more proof? I think not. Now back to my delulu intepretation of him:

Christopher is the type of bf that would feel that he must be the "caregiver" of the relationship. He's the one who leads, who provides, who looks after you. That's his role and you shouldn't ever take that away from him. You can take care of him for a change sometimes because he also needs some coddling and attention, but most of the time, he's in charge. I think raising his members by himself for so long has enhanced this side of him. He's very protective, very picky and a perfectionist, so his partner has to learn patience because this man can be mentally and emotionally exhausting for them.

In his toxic version, he's extremely controlling and possessive. He doesn't let you hang out with other boys, or anyone he doesn't approve of. He makes big decisions over your own life for you because "he knows what's best". He'll treat you more like an accessory that needs to look good on him rather than a person. In his mind, you belong to him and that's final. If gets hit on, he’ll accept it with zero regrets and may return the gesture. He’ll show it when he likes someone’s physically and may flirt with them, but you’re not allowed the same behaviour. He expects you to be always at his beck and call, but he’ll most likely never be completely loyal to you. Funny thing is that he truly believes he loves you and you should be grateful for all he does for you. He simply wants his partner to be the best version of themselves, and if that casually fits his standards of perfection, well, does it matter? Every single thing you do has to pass through him first. He’s the type to end fights with angry sex and call it “talking things out”. He’ll make sure you never move on from him. If you break up, he’ll be the ex that still calls you “his” and sabotages your love life. He’ll manipulate you to the point you’re totally dependant of him, his perfect delicate doll. Remember this guy is one perfectionist dude and he has very high standards, and as his partner, he expects you to meet at least some of them.

As a yandere, he’ll be pretty much the same, with the difference that he won’t look at anyone else and he’ll never be unfaithful. He’s a smooth motherfucker, and so he knows how to keep you with him subtitly without you noticing. He’ll isolate you from everyone else, planting seeds of suspicion in your mind and pushing you to overthink stuff and doubt everthing around you, becoming almost paranoid. He’ll deliberatly create situations than can be easily misunderstood so you come running to him for comfort, believing he was right all along, while he hugs you tightly and kisses your hair, smiling to himself at seeing you right where you’re supposed to be. He’ll use every dirty asshole trick during arguments to win. Gaslight, pulling out insecurities, emotional manipulation, everything. He’s mad at you for not behaving the way he wants to but he doesn’t want you to leave him either. He’ll start fight with you with the twisted purpose of getting you to be vulnerable and having the excuse to put you in your place. He does everything for you and gets angry if you try to do stuff for him. Your autonomy is taken away and you can’t leave him. Ever. He has a way to make you feel so loved, so cared for, so desirable, that you won’t notice the darkness closing around you until it’s too late.

As a normal person, he’s also territorial, but in a relatively healthy way. His caregiver complex is still off the roof tho. He feels like it's his duty (and also his joy) to take care of you and make sure you're content. This man, when he loves, he does wholeheartedly. He worships the ground you walk on, he sees you as a heaven sent angel just for him, he adores you and would give you the world if he could. He hates when you go to other people for comfort or advice, because in his eyes, who's gonna help you better than him? He lives off feeling needed, of having you rely on him. He doesn't let it get to the toxic point because he's mature like that, but there are times that he wishes he could hide you from the world and keep you to himself. If he's in a bad mood, the members know they only have to bring you where he is and suddenly it's all good. The bad mood might not always wear off, but at least he wouldn't snap at anyone if you're there.

He gets shy with other people's compliments, but with you? He pulls out the fuckboy manual. He loves to make you blush, push your body against him and whisper the most indecently, spiciest pick-up linea. Those wicked pick-up lines he's not allowed to use with Stay? You've heard all of them. His incessant need for control purrs when he has you all flustered and nervous under his hands, submitting for him. We treat it as a running joke but I truly believe this man is an Alpha in an alternative universe.

The type of bf to assert his claim over you by physical contact. Throwing an arm around your shoulders, grabbing you by the waist, pushing his hand in your lower back to guide you. He makes sure you're never far from him when you guys are out. Another dude staring at you too much? He moves right by your side or behind you to send him a message. He's another one that loves seeing you wearing his stuff. The type to place his coat/jacket on your legs or shoulders, not only to keep you warm, but also to mark you even further as his person.

Honestly most of your fights are because of his jealousy, because when it comes to other problems, he talks it out like a champ and communicates his feelings. The only thing that makes his blood boil is the idea of losing you, especially to someone else. He can't stand people getting close to what he considers his. Like I said, an Alpha.

If I don't stop here this post will never end. Feel free anyone to add your own opinion about the matter.

#i didn't intend for this to be so long #but this man is my bias for a reason #ops #bang chan headcanons #skz headcanons

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doublerainbow-if · 7 months

Note

How would the RO’s react to seeing somebody ask MC out on a date during deep crushing stage?

M doesn't know what to do. They want to pull you close to them and take you away to somewhere the two fo you will be alone. But their self hatred stops them. What right do they have to dictating your love life? None with how much they hurt you. But despite that thought, their hand holds yours firmly. A dark look now settle on their face as they stare down the would be suitor. They won't let you go. Never again.

L feels petty when they drape themselves dramatically over your shoulders. Pulling your attention away the question so you will focus on then. They glare down the person in front of them but making sure you won't see their intimidation tactic. Despite their whole ideology of free will and making your own destiny, they won't have somebody take you away from them. Maybe it makes them a bad friend but as the saying goes, "I saw them first."

B would quite literally confess on the spot. They found someone who completes them just like those stories their parents. You might not be their "true" soulmate but they wouldn't want another. They spill every once of love they have in their heart, hoping that maybe you will pick them. They didn't want this to be the way they finally confess but they will to so you can be theirs. You are their modern fairytale and happily ever after.

J is a tad bemused. They don't let their emotions fueled then like their cousin and simply wait for your answer towards the question. But their expression does give the interloper some pause as it feels like J is laughing at them. A dark amused look for even daring to pose the question. J might be calm on the outside but they will not let you go too easily. If this person wants you, they have to go through them first.

V loses their compusure, their self ensured attitude breaking at the idea of you actually accepting the proposal. You are surprised to see how frantic V looks when they run up to the two of you. A pained look in their eyes as their mouth tries to speak. V can't get the words straight as they hope you can how desperate they are to stop this from happening. Tears starts streaming down their face as all of the words died in their throat.

C is just staring at the little admirer, perching their head on top of your head or shoulder (depending on how tall you are). Their arms hold you possessively around your waist, making sure to let this person know that you are not available. They know they are acting immature but they don't care. They will take any form of punishment you give them for their actions. As despite their laid back nature, they will fight for their love.

Avery won't let this stand. A wave of something dark comes over them as they kiss firmly on the lips in front of the person, making sure they and everybody else knows you belong to them. They never felt something like this before, their kind nature bewildered at the rash action they've just taken. Avery will instantly beat themselves for how selfish they are, putting their needs over yours. They shouldn't have done that, they shouldn't have.

Kahula is, not surprisedly, not happy about this. They found their muse, somebody who changed them in ways that you probably don't even know. They placed a kiss on your cheek, staring down the one who asked you out as they hold you close to them. They hate themselves for behaving so childishly by marking you like this. You would probably hate them as well for doing this without your permission. But they wont let you disappear from their life again.

#double rainbow- if #ros #thanks for the ask!#some of them don't react great #red flags #massive jealousy #they know this isnt right but dont care

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oxydiane · 2 years

Text

on AO3 too!

Ron watches, always watches, Ron can only watch.

Ron can only watch the way Harry’s hair falls into its usual calculated mess, he can only watch the chaotic way he eats pudding, always getting some of it on the corner of his lips. He can only watch his soft features as he sleeps during History of Magic. Only watch, never do, never touch.

Logically, he knows he could touch Harry, if he wanted. He was possibly one of the very few people Harry allowed to touch him, one of the only people that had the right.

But he can’t. Wouldn’t dare. Ron can’t take advantage of Harry’s trust simply because he feels the need to brush his fingers over his best friend’s lips all the time.

Watching Harry sleep had quickly become one of Ron’s favourite past times; going from simply checking every now and then to make sure his best friend wasn’t being shaken by nightmares to actually staring at his long lashes and pillowy lips and letting his mind wander to a world in which Harry wanted him back.

His gaze meets emerald green and no matter how much time passes, Harry’s eyes continue taking his breath away. He smiles.

Harry yawns. ‘Binn’s done?’

‘Not even close.’ Ron replies and grins when Harry groans and presses his forehead against the parchment they had been playing tic-tac-toe on.

‘Come on, almost over, and then there’s Quidditch.’ He tries to cheer Harry up and in that moment he dares. Ron’s hand finds a place on the back of Harry’s head and gently strokes his hair, the boy enjoys that infinitely.

‘Ohh, keep doing that,’ he pleads and Ron’s cheeks colour just a tad bit. ‘And wake me up when this agony is over.’

The boy doesn’t speak again, but Ron never takes his hand off the back of his head.

Ron is not stupid, he is aware of the rows of girls giggling and talking amongst themselves about Harry. He is aware most of the people looking over at their desk only have eyes for his friend. He is aware the reason the Quidditch pitch is always so full for training sessions is students wanting to get an eyeful of Harry, he was one of them once, too.

He is awfully aware, just as he is aware of the involuntary nasty looks he sends each and every one of those far away admirers. Just as he is aware of the way his heart does backflips each time Harry leans into his space.

‘You’re so dumb.’ Hermione tells him one evening they find themselves alone in the library, Harry off to one of his lessons with Dumbledore. ‘You should just tell him.’

‘Yeah, like hell I will,’ he spits back. ‘I don’t like a gold rush.’

‘Excuse me?’

‘You know!’ His voice echoes in the silence of the library and Ron realised he should probably lower his voice. ‘Everybody wants him. I can see it, you can see it.’

‘And how on Earth does that relate to you telling him you want him?’

Ron groans. ‘Don’t be daft, ‘Mione.’

‘How am I being daft?’

‘You know,’ he looks down at his feet. ‘Everybody wants him —‘

‘Yes, I believe you’ve made that clear,’

‘Merlin! He could be — he could have anybody he wants, why would he want to settle for me?’

Hermione stares at him for what feels like minutes, her eyes studying his face as if he had spoken gibberish.

‘You can’t be serious.’ She concludes finally. ‘You’re a lot more observant than this, you’re fooling me.’

Ron is speechless. ‘What —?’

‘You can’t —‘ Hermione puts down her quill, bringing her hands together. ‘You can’t be suggesting that Harry would consider you settling? Surely, you are fooling me?’

‘Uhm… No?’

‘So,’ she sighs and starts collecting her scrolls of parchment. ‘Let me get this straight. Harry is constantly by your side, always all over you, back in fourth year you were kidnapped because you were the thing he would miss the most —‘

‘That wasn’t in a —‘

‘Shut up! Let me finish!’ Ron winces, Hermione doesn’t like being interrupted. ‘You were his most treasured person, and you still think he would consider you settling?’

‘I mean… You know, he’s always liked pretty people who were good at stuff, you know? Pretty boy Diggory, then that Seeker Chang, now he has this weird obsession with Malfoy —‘

‘Harry does not like Malfoy!’ Hermione screeches, now collecting Ron’s parchment and books. ‘And why would that matter? You’re pretty amazing too.’

Ron looks up, surprised. ‘You think that?’

‘Of course I think that, and Harry does too. Harry adores you. Now let’s go,’ she stands up. ‘We can go get some dinner, you talk stupid on an empty stomach.’

Ron grins at her and they head down to the Great Hall together.

The room is not as chaotic as it would be at dinner time, but it’s not quiet either. Despite the bustle of people coming and going and talking, Ron can spot Harry’s black mop of hair immediately. The grin he had been wearing all the way from the library was wiped from his face when he noticed a Hufflepuff boy sitting beside him, laughing heartily at Harry’s words and leaning way too close into his space.

‘I bet that git is not going to shower for a week.’ He mutters through his teeth, nodding at the way the Hufflepuff boy was clinging to Harry’s arm.

‘Well, look at it this way…’ Hermione tries, ‘you can shower whenever you want, because Harry touches you everyday and doesn’t look like he wants to jump into the Great Lake when he does.’

Ron laughs and the sound makes Harry turn. He gives them both a pleading smile that makes Ron’s heart ache and Hermione nudges his side lightly, urging him to move.

Without thinking, Ron takes a seat beside Harry and easily slides an arm around his shoulder. The Hufflepuff boy gives him a nasty look but backs off quickly and Harry leans into his space, muttering a ‘thank you’ against Ron’s shoulder that makes Ron’s head spin.

After all, he may do like a gold rush.

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ao719 · 2 years

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The Family Squabble

This is a submission for @choicesflashfics, using prompt #3: “Neither one of us is drunk enough for this conversation.”

A/N: A while back, @dcbbw sent me an ask for this little dispute to be set in my Moirai AU. Thank you to her and @burnsoslow for looking it over! Please excuse any errors.

Pairing: Liam x OC (Alina)

Warnings: none but some mild language

Word count: 1558

Gathered in the living area of their quarters after dinner one evening, the King and Queen smiled as they watched their bundle of joy being doted upon. Liam had his arm resting across the back of the sofa, and nestled into his side was Alina, watching her parents coo and awe over their granddaughter.

“Aplós tin agapó tóso polý,” Alina’s mother grinned, looking down at a sleeping baby Eleanor snuggled in her arms after she had managed to wrestle her away from her husband.

“She’s hard not to love,” Liam said with a proud smile.

Crown Princess Eleanor made her grand debut into the world two weeks earlier than expected. At a month old, Alina’s family, save for her brother and three cousins who lived in Cordonia, were finally able to come and meet the tiny princess in person.

The whole family.

Liam sent the jet, flying in Alina’s parents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and her yiayia and papou. Five third-row SUVs met them on the tarmac and shuttled them all back to the palace. They were taking up half of one of the guest wings. It had been a week since their arrival; tomorrow they would be heading home to Mykonos.

Alina had always been very family oriented. With her role as Queen, she didn’t get to see her family as often as she once did or as much as she wished she could. So she was soaking up every moment she had with them. And Liam was being his usual charming self, welcoming her large and loud family with open arms and a smile.

Despite having so many people around all at once over the past week, Liam and Alina were both enjoying having them there. For Alina, getting advice, tips, and tricks from the women in her family on how to handle a newborn was much more comforting in person than over the phone. For Liam, he always wanted a big family, and he got exactly that when he married into Alina’s. He loved every minute of the chaos, not to mention yiayia’s baklava she made sure to bring.

As the chatter in the room began to pick up, Alina glanced over at Liam with a knowing look as she pressed her hand against her chest; he nodded in understanding, and she looked back at her mother as they rose from the sofa. “Mamá, I need to feed her, and then we’re going to put her to bed.”

Alina’s mother pouted her lip through a smile before nodding. She placed a soft kiss on the baby’s forehead, whispering that she’d see her in the morning before gently passing her to Liam. The rest of the family bid their goodnights to the princess before the pair excused themselves and disappeared down the hall toward the nursery.

****

After going through their nighttime routine, Liam and Alina returned to the living area and plopped down on the sofa. Alina began speaking with her mother and aunts while the others were lost in chatter of their own. In the chair beside Liam, Leo glanced around the room; there were so many people, all talking all at once, some louder than others.

Leo leaned over, dropping his voice down so only Liam could hear. “I can’t believe you’ve dealt with this many people all up in your space for an entire week.”

“They’re not that bad. Plus, I deal with you all of the time,” Liam teased. “This is a walk in the park,” he chuckled.

“I’m not a whole Greek family,” Leo scoffed.

Liam shook his head. “They’re more laid back than you think.”

“No Greek family is simply laid back,” Leo chuckled. “And you forget, I knew most of these people before you. I bet I could get them riled up,” he smirked.

Liam cut his eyes over to his brother. “Let’s not.”

Leo’s gaze had already settled on Alina’s yiayia, who was uncovering a container of her famous homemade baklava to pass around for dessert. “Too late,” he whispered before perking up in his seat and raising his voice. “Hey guys, is it true that baklava originated in Turkey … or was it Armenia?”

The entire room fell silent as everyone snapped their shocked gazes toward Leo.

Liam and Alina’s eyes went wide along with her parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Nikos, Cy, Matteo, and Theo’s mouths hung open as their gazes flickered between their friend and their grandmother. Alina’s grandfather sat expressionless as he eyed Leo carefully.

And Yiayia … her eyes were narrowed with her lips pursed in a thin line as she took a small step forward. “Ti eípes mólis?” she ground out, asking what he just said.

Everyone knew it was a rhetorical question; she was giving him a chance to correct his mistake.

Next to Liam, Alina grabbed a bottle of wine from the table; she uncorked it and took a giant sip straight from the bottle. “What are you doing?” he asked.

Alina shook her head. “Neither one of us is drunk enough for this conversation we’re about to witness. Trust me—” she handed Liam the bottle “—have some.”

This may have been a bad idea, Leo thought as he stared up at the woman from his seat. If looks could kill, he was certain he’d be dead on the floor of the royal quarters. “I was only curious, Yiayia, ma’am,” he choked out. “I’m, uh … very into history. Yes! So into it. And, well, I’ve read that there’s a … controversial history regarding the origins of baklava.”

“Eísai anóitos, agóri,” the old woman grumbled, calling Leo a foolish boy.

Leo watched her continue to slowly advance on him. I could totally take her if it comes to that. “I meant no disrespect, Yiayia, ma’am.”

Yiayia flew off the handle. “Thélete proélefsi? Ti tha légate gia tin proélefsi ton asevón mikrón skatá! Den xéreis típota! Ópos kai oi Toúrkoi! Kánete láthos! Ftiáchnoume baklavá apó ta vyzantiná!”

Liam watched Alina’s grandmother continue to lay into his brother; her voice was raised and her arms were flailing. For a woman her age and petite size, she was lowkey terrifying.

“Perhaps what I read was wrong,” Leo’s voice shook, now trying to backtrack on his statement. “Ya know, come to think of it—” he snapped his fingers, pulling a lie out of thin air “—I believe it said it was the Romans.”

“Oh god,” Alina breathed.

At Leo’s words, Liam covered his face with his hand, not so subtly peeking through his fingers at Alina’s grandfather; he was tensing his jaw as he gripped the arms of the chair to use as leverage to help himself stand. That was one of the first rules Liam learned when he met Alina’s family for the first time: Do not, under any circumstances, mention the Romans to her papou. “Eínai állo prágma pou mas éklepsan! Kataraménoi Romaíoi!” he shouted as he shook his fist angrily in Leo’s direction. He remained standing, scowling while mumbling Greek obscenities under his breath as his wife continued to scold Leo.

Liam finally took Alina’s suggestion and raised the bottle of wine to his lips, taking a long pull before handing it back to her. “Drink more,” he whispered.

“Maybe you should step in,” Alina said quietly.

“No way! He chose to pick that battle, not me.”

“He’s your brother!” Alina said, fighting back a laugh.

“She’s your yiayia, and the one yelling. Why don’t you step in?”

Alina giggled. “Are you afraid of my yiayia?”

“That is …” Liam scoffed. “Just ridiculous.” They both stared at one another for a moment; it was a member from each side of their family, and they were in their home. One of them had to say something. “Is that … yup! I hear Eleanor.” Liam shot up from the sofa, dodging out of the way of Alina’s hand as she went to grab his shirt.

“Liam!” Alina whispered through a laugh, but he kept going, disappearing around the corner and into the hallway. She looked back at her yiayia; she was now going on about the Byzantine Empire, and she was doing it with gusto. She sighed as she stood from the sofa. “Papou, sit down,” she said, helping him back into his chair before turning to her grandmother. “Yiayia,” she put her arm around her shoulder. “He gets it, I promise.” Alina shot her brother-in-law a look over her shoulder as she started to guide the old woman away. “Right, Leo?”

“Yes!” Leo nodded vigorously. “Absolutely! Baklava, it is most definitely Greek.”

“Min to amfisvitíseis xaná!” she yelled as Alina guided her toward the kitchen.

“The fuck, man?” Nikos said once his grandmother was out of earshot.

“What the hell was that?” Theo questioned.

“I’m sorry!” Leo held up his hands defensively. “I was just trying to have a bit of fun! I didn’t think asking about baklava would become my villain origin story!”

“It does when you question where it came from to an 87-year-old Greek woman!” Cy chided.

“And then you brought up the Romans in front of papou?” Matteo shook his head.

Nikos chuckled. “They’ll never look at you the same again.”

As Alina walked with yiayia past the opening that led to the hallway, she saw Liam cautiously peering around the corner. She rolled her eyes. “It’s safe now.”

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