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georgiapeach30513 · 7 months

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Kinktober 2023, Day 6

Take The Time

Summary: Every morning you wake up from your worst night. The entire night relentlessly being chased. And each night your will to outrun him was waning. He didn’t seem so bad. And every morning you missed Bucky even more. He had been gone for so long, with no thought of returning. So why were you running from your nightmare? And why were you so so exhausted? When he touched you, why could you still feel it? And why was the rose he gave you now in your bed?

Pairings: Bucky Barnes X Reader

Rating: explicit

Warnings: explicit language, explicit sexual content, implied non con (sleeping), chasing, stalking/obsession, kidnapping, brief bondage, voyeurism, unprotected sex, PIV sex, manhandling, taunting, creampie, 18+ ONLY

Word Count: 2.7K

Series Masterlist

You jolt up in your bed. Chest heaving as you take short shallow breaths. Looking around to find you’ve managed to be in your bed. The recurring dream — nightmare leaves you feeling disoriented in the morning. Everything seems so real. And you wake up breathless.

Rubbing the back of your neck, you take count of your body. Things are sore. Like you had really been running. Had been chased all night by some masked man. You were running less and less. Slowing down because you wanted to see his face. You couldn’t tell if he was chasing you because he wanted to kill you or if he just wanted you.

He didn’t seem angry as he chased you. He seemed…worried. He was trying to warn you of something, but what? The only thing you cared about was finding where your boyfriend has been.

Picking up your phone, you make the same call as you do every morning. His best friend’s voice groans as he answers, “We haven’t heard from him. I told you I would let you know if there are any leads.”

“Steve, I don’t think he’s that far away,” your voice trails off as you look at your bedside table. A single pink rose and no thorns. There was only one person who ever did that for you.

Steve repeats your name several times before you realize he had been speaking, “What’s wrong? Are you okay? Could you please answer me?”

“Steve, there’s…I have a pink rose, and the thorns have been pulled off.”

“I’m on my way,” Steve was well aware of Bucky’s favorite thing to leave behind for you. It was always a pink rose. Red was cliche, and harsh. Pink was your color. Delicate, feminine, sweet. And every time he painstakingly pulled off each of the thorns. No one would ever hurt you while he was around. Not even an inanimate object or a plant.

You walk into the bathroom, looking at yourself in the mirror, you look like shit. A few weeks without sleeping would do that to you. You wanted to tell Steve not to come by. What good would it do? If it was Bucky that left that rose behind, he didn’t want to be seen. If it was someone else, Bucky no longer cares for your safety. Your will in the real world was dwindling just as much as your dream self. You didn’t want to chase for him anymore. You just wanted to know he was okay.

——

You turn to look over your shoulder, and the masked man is gaining on you. A few more strides, and he would be close enough to capture you. You pump your arms harder, and run just a bit faster. It is exhilarating to know that the monstrosity of a man was putting up such a fight because of you.

Reaching out his hand, you swerve out of the way before he actually touches you. Giggling at the fact that he missed. He growls under his mask, and it causes you to slow enough that he pulls you into his body with body arms.

“You’re not fighting,” his voice is deep on your neck, and your body goes limp. You shake your head no because you didn’t care. The thrill was now gone, and replaced with something more. Lust.

There is something in his voice that was oddly familiar, and your body craved it more than you did. “Mmm,” he sniffs up your neck as his hands roam over your body. Dipping lower, until his hands wrap around your thighs. Jerking them apart, and his hands fully explore between your legs.

“Heaven,” he moans, and you lean your head back on his shoulder. This shouldn’t be as comforting as it is, but you’re prepared to let him have you. It was only a dream after all.

He palms you over your panties, because of course you’re just running around in Bucky’s shirt and panties just like you went to sleep. Letting you get good and comfortable in his embrace before slipping off his glove. His nimble fingers move under the elastic of your panties, and you moan when he enters three fingers into your body.

Giving you no time to adjust before his hand barrels into you. You have to bite onto his neck the harder he pushes. His moans and grunts add to your pleasure.

“Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine,�� ringing in your ear.

——

Your eyes burst open, and you take a haggard breath. A deep soreness in your core. Your face has been planted in your pillow, and now you struggle to get up. How tense were you in your sleep to cause this much tenderness?

You whimper, twisting your body over, and there lies another rose. This time with a glove. Not just any glove. His. You aren’t dreaming. And you want him. But he’s not Bucky.

You cover your face with your hands allowing the tears you have held in for too long pour out. Rivers of saline drift down your face when Steve rushes to your side, “What is going on?”

“You’ve been here?”

“All night,” he looks to the table, and grits his teeth, “Son of a bitch. Where did that come from?”

“H-h-he had to have left it, but who is he? Steve!” You scream as he storms off. “Steve!” He doesn’t turn back to look at you. “Who is he?”

“I think it’s Bucky,” you shake your head no, but he doesn’t see. “The rose. The glove. I think we found him, but not before he found you,” he spins around to look at you. Covering your face with his hand when everything fades to black.

——

Groggily you open up your eyes, and try to move. Stuck. This isn’t a dream. This shouldn’t be a reality. Roses. Gloves. Bucky. Masked man. Steve. Tied up, and stretched out. What was happening?

There was no way to get out of your predicament. The cuffs on your arms and legs are tight. Keeping you wide and spread for whoever was coming in here. The good thing is you have clothes. For now.

This is so stupid. Steve did this. There is a weird recurring dream, and Bucky is still missing. But Steve said…Bucky found you. Lights turn on into your hellhole of a room and your eyes clench close.

The person in the room inhales deeply before your bed dips down with your weight, and you peek your eyes open, “Steve?”

“You know, you have caused a lot of problems for us,” he begins. His hand taps you on your leg, and you pull it back. Hearing a low rumble outside of the door.

“Us?”

“His mind is just too powerful. Your stupid fucking rose alerted me of just why he can’t complete a damn mission because he keep going to see your pathetic self,” Steve’s hand slams on the bed, and a feral scream echoes into the hall.

“Ahh, shut up! I am not talking to you!” He screams, standing up to open the door, pulling in the masked man, and you retreat away. Being tied up was the moving difficult. “See, she’s not hurt,” the man turns and glares at Steve, pointing a finger at your restraints. “She’ll run away.”

The man shakes his head no, turning to look at you with the softest of eyes, and you know who he is instantly. “What did you do to him?” You pout, and Bucky tries to step towards you

“He’s a weapon,” Steve shrugs his arms. “But you — you invade his mind so much that he can’t even be that. And it wasn’t until he left that fucking pink rose for you that I realized where he was going when he wasn’t on a leash. My god, I should have known. You have poisoned him from the beginning. But I am giving the two of you a gift. I am allowing him to sleep in here with you when his brain isn’t being turned into mush. And when he finally forgets, we’ll dispose of you.”

Bucky growls, pushing Steve up against the wall. His forearm presses into his neck, but Steve laughs maniacally. “I can make you watch as we destroy her. Loosen your grip,” Bucky backs away immediately, keeping a protective stance around you.

“Sweetheart, if I let your precious boyfriend have fun with you, will you try and escape?” Those crystal blue eyes turn to look at you with the most pleading face. He isn’t as vocal as Bucky once was. He looks scared, and you can’t leave him.

“I won’t escape,” your lip trembles. You wouldn’t escape now. But you’re also taking Bucky with you.

“Good. Soldier, have your fun. Pump her full of cum, beat her, fuck her until she passes out, I don’t care. You understand he might not be the man you remember. He’s a machine.”

Steve turns on his heels, walking out of the room, “And you’re a monster. Bucky?” His head tilts to the side as he walks closer to you. Gently undoing your binding, and you sit up in the bed to remove his mask. Your hand presses gently up against his cheek, and you sob out his name.

“I thought I lost you. Won’t you say something?”

He struggles to say your name, and you brush away his hair, crawling into his lap. “It’s okay. I know what you mean. I got your roses. They can’t take away your heart, huh? Just your words,” his gloved hand pets up and down your back, and it infuriates you. “Take that off. I want to feel your skin.”

“Yeah — yes,” he says robotically, removing the material that keeps him from you. His hand touches your back, and you melt into him. He smells different, but that underlying musk of Bucky that was his natural scent is still there.

“Miss — you.”

“I missed you, too. Dreamed about you every night.”

“Not — dream. Me,” sitting back, you look up at him. Giving him the softest chaste kiss. “Me.”

“I did feel you. But you weren’t really chasing me were you?” He shakes his head smiling. “So I was dreaming, and you were touching?”

“Sorry,” his glove free hand pets up and down your sensitive neck before struggling to put it away. Bucky loved feeling his hand around your neck, and now there is a fear to touch you in that way.

“What if,” you lick your dry lips, eyes flitting around his face when you get the courage to speak. “What if I let you touch me? I’m not dreaming, or sleeping. I’m here. Apparently I am your toy to play with, so play. You…you can put me back in the restraints if you need to”

His brow furrows, and he shakes his head no. “You don’t have to hunt me. You don’t have to wait until I’m sleeping, I’m right here telling you I want you to have me. I’m leaving. But not without you. And…we’ll get out of this. We always do.”

Bucky lifts you off his lap to lay flat on the bed. Lifting up his shirt, he cheekily smiles at your covered core before rubbing the shirt in between his fingers. “Mine?”

You pull his hand down to your center. Letting him flatten his hand against you, “Yours,” a deep low growl rumbles up his chest, followed by a sigh. “It’s always been yours, Bucky.”

Sitting back up, you remove his shirt, and he looks over to the corner of the room, cameras. “Let them watch. I just want you,” you shimmy out of your panties, becoming completely nude while he is still in his gear. “However you want me,” you urge him closer. Taking off his other glove so you can weave your fingers in his.

Touch with Bucky has always been electric, and this is no different. He straightens up with your touch. Eyes opening up to show a bit more life to them. Getting to his knees, he undoes his pants, pulling them down just enough to free his cock, and you chirp at the sight of him.

“Yours,” he cocks his brow up, before using his thick body to spread you out further. Grabbing the base of his cock, he flicks your clit with his tip. Over and over again until you’re completely needy and squirming for him. Your arousal leaks out onto the bed, but this Bucky doesn’t stop. He wants to torture you with pleasure.

“Bucky!” Your fingers cling to his forearm as you urge him closer to you, but he still sits there flicking your clit, and teasing your entrance. “Bucky, take it. Take all of me. You already have.”

His breathing stutters, and your eyes blow wide open as he thrusts himself completely into you. Giving you seconds to adjust to his wide girth before he rails into you. There isn’t anything sweet about this moment. You’ve had sweet. This is Bucky reclaiming what was always his. Raw and forceful, and all James Bucky Barnes.

His hands slam above your head onto the bed frame. Wood splinters above your head, creaking under his pressure, but you only see Bucky. Much too dressed for your liking, but it was him. Powerful. Dangerous. Hard. But the softness in his eyes remains.

He is everything that you have ever wanted, and so much more. Even in this state, he is perfect. More than any man could ever amount to. He is Bucky. And he is yours. There is a fearful look on his face now. But he never gave up. He always finds you. He promised you he would, and he kept that promise.

Pulling himself out of you he wraps his arm around your waist, and forces you onto your knees, pushing your head down into the mattress before grabbing at your hips, and cramming himself back inside. You grip tightly to the sheets, centering yourself, and trying to remain present. This was always your favorite position. Letting Bucky use you completely, and it makes you a mess.

Squirting out how good it feels, and he goes harder. The bed lurches with every rock into your body. Eyes rolling into the back of the bed as you thank the stars above for giving Bucky back to you.

“And you think she is going to be the secret?” A man looks over towards Steve who was scowling at the monitor. He hated watching Bucky with you. He never deserved you. And no matter what he did, Bucky always found you. Desperation caused this, and he still found you.

“He’s not fighting anymore, is he?” Steve asks the man. Bucky just wanted you. You were his biggest weakness.

“Maybe he wouldn’t have fought, if you didn’t tease him. What was it you told him? You got to sink into her every fucking night? That you were going to breed her like your little bitch?” Steve shrugs his shoulders, trying to fight his impending hard on.

“I’m guessing you never got to fuck her?”

“It’s more complicated than that. She was only worried about Bucky. She didn’t even think about…I didn’t have time to try because that asshole kept needing to see her, and now she’s here, and…I hate him,” Steve grunts as Bucky smirks up at the camera.

Tilting his head back he lets out a guttural moan as he goes harder and faster than he ever has. Your body is completely flat on the bed now, trembling with pleasure as you look back at Bucky. He is different, and somehow still the same. He is enjoying himself, and your pleasure has always been his.

Hands hold tightly to your ass, spreading you apart so he can watch where the two of you connect. “I love you, Bucky,” your voice is barely audible, but he heard it. Crying out your name as he slams into yourself one last time before his thick cream paints your walls, and you moan at the warmth of his added seed.

“I love you, too,” such sweet sounds coming from him. Slowly he pulls himself out of you, and lifts up your ass, pointing to your gaping hole before looking back at the camera. “Mine. Not yours.”

“Who…who’s watching.”

“Him. Shh, go to sleep. Don’t worry. You’re mine.”

“And you are mine.”

“Forever and…”

“Always,” he would forever be yours. Nothing could ever change that. And nothing ever would.

Masterlist

Taglist: @tis-thedamn-season @marveloustaylortot @pono-pura-vida @missusbarnes-rogers @seitmai @smile1318 @andydrysdalerogers @cjand10 @midnightramyeoncravings @kmc1989 @floral-recs @buckybarnesisdaddy @magnificentsaladllama @tittittoee

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majorproblems77 · 1 month

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Linked maze updated which means I'm back! :D

Hello Linked Maze fans! :D

Linked Maze returns with scent pt10, which means I am back to ramble about the small details in the comic because I enjoy it!

If you dont know what Linked Maze is, It's a links meet comic. About the links in a maze.... Self-explanatory really, but trust me it's amazing and I love it. It's great! But also for more mature audiences, so do take care and heed the creator's warnings before going in!

Importantly - Linked Maze and all the art belongs to @linked-maze and its artist @frulleboi, this chapter also had a guest artist, so the second page's art is done by @marenwithanm. And thanks again for the permission to do this! I really enjoy making them!

With that out of the way, My timer is set, grab some snacks and a drink of your choice! And lets get started! :D

We begin with the small bean

He looks so happy, okay, I love him

Aww four, just wanted his sword back. Also here to straight up appreciate the detail with the little ticktacktoe on the scabbard of his sword i love him dearly.

Wolfie looks both Done and worried at the same time.

Also, them discovering Sky's sailcloth! I'm so excited about this okay I want these two groups to find each other so bad.

Also, I was interested cause I dont think we've seen the sailcloth in the story yet. So it's fascinating that it's here. I blame Angel, she has shenanigans that I think work for this. Like imagine when we see Sky and he's like the fuck why do you have my sailcloth I've not seen it since I got here, type thing.

Wind taking charge as he should be.

There's a bunch to unpack here, so just give me a moment.

That's not Sky's sword.

That's Twilight's sword.

The wrappings on the blade and the markings we see on it later match Twilight's sword. (From the character reference sheets.)

Do you have any idea how excited I was when I saw this? Then saw Wolfie's face like

Why the fuck is that there?

I think this tells us two things.

Twilight/wolfie is now able to be armed. So he's got the capability to fight without the wolf form now. So he might transform soon!

Angel/ djævel are using the hero items to bring the groups together for some reason.

But now im considering the implications of having these specific items here. Like, Thats an item from a character from some of the major groups that we know off right now.

Twilight's sword(Twilight, wind) / Sky's sailcloth (Sky,wild,Time) / Four's sword (four, warrior)

Was the idea for them to find it, or for just one of the groups to find it so that they could find the others.

Something to think about.

Moving on!

Me too four... me too

Yes it does. He's sat about five feet from you

Look at his guilty face, he know's but he can't say and he's sad about it.

Warrior looks worried, you think he's thinking of war stuff right now?

A sword planted into the ground with an important item beside it... a sword who they dont know its owner. Its owner who to them could be dead?

Twilight is the only one who know's his sword after all.

Good call Mr. Captain Warrior sir!

Again with the sad wolfie ears, they give me life okay I love him.

Good on Wind for being the one to lead the charge, we need a good vibe like Wind to get us through the shenanigans that I'm sure are going to ensue.

Again Twilight is looking towards his sword. When you think he would be looking towards Wind at this point. But his eyes appear to be looking towards the markings on the sword.

I love his shocked face. He's like

I can't track myself...

Totally not me going to be using this reaction when someone asks me to do something.

Wolfie is the real MVP of this chapter let me tell you right now.

I love this lot they are wonderful

Yes, you look to your sword and think about what you've done.

Sniff sniff out the cinnamon roll wolfie, find him!

Oh man, this update was fun, I got so unbelievably excited about the sword like it's great to basically have a confirmation about something that's been rotating around in my brain since we saw it before.

Thanks again for listening to me ramble my way through another comic update! :D

And thank you again @linked-maze for letting me do this, i will be continuing them (as long as you let me:) ) cause this was so much fun!

Thats me done for this update tho, so I'll be headed out!

Have a great night! :D

#linked maze #linkedmaze #linked maze analysis #zelda au #lm twilight #lm four #lm warrior #lm wind #lm wolfy #comic analysis with major #ramble corner with major #man i am chatty today i love it #Twilights sword made me so unbelievably excited #i love this comic okay

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twilghtkoo · 1 year

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good morning and good night

pairings. haechan x reader (f)

genre. fluff! established relationship

warnings. yn misses her bf deeply, yn being lowkey horny

notes. haechan went live on ig and i’m still recovering so here‘s something short :) i had this idea after he went live and never finished it lol,, but this is just haechan and yn calling each other while they're apart

—

haechan sniffs, the serene noise of the soft pitter-patter of raindrops from outside and the sheets enveloping his half-bare body rustling from his stretching. the hotel room he's occupying was colder last night than he thought it would be, perhaps it was the absence of you, he likes to think.

"good morning handsome." your warm voice hits him.

the sheer curtains allowing a bit of light to seep through in the dark room, despite it being the afternoon. despite the poor weather and the dark clouds painting over the sky.

but you smiling with a bowl of kimchi fried rice in front of you, your damp hair falling over you shoulders and the patio door behind you showing the night sky in seoul. the patio light illuminating the few plants you bought for the new season to make your balcony more pretty. you had also mentioned you wanted the challenge to take care of some greenery for the new year.

"my morning just got better by looking at my favorite person," he says with a beaming smile.

you giggle, before taking a spoonful of your favorite dish.

"you're eating already? isn't it like eight over there right now?" he tilts his head, confused.

"i was waiting for you to call to eat, wanted to show you i was eating the huge ass container of kimchi fried rice you made for me." you responded with your mouth full, as you place your spoon down, stretching out your arms to show him your bowl to your camera.

"thank you for making me a life supply of your famous kimchi fried rice," you joke but he knows you're grateful as well.

he smiles at his screen endearingly, pleased that you are eating and that you saw the huge container sitting in your fridge with a note that had said, 'this should last you for a bit, don't eat it all at once! i love you baby and i miss you <3'.

"gotta make sure you eat real food bubs, cause i know you'd only survive on ramen and takeout." he points out, making you pause mid-chew at that fact. your cooking skills is about average, you can make simple things, but you tend to get overwhelmed at the amount of tasks you have to do for big meals. you usually like to help haechan in the kitchen though.

you swallow your food. "so what're you guys doing today?" changing the subject.

"we're going to be leaving soon, i have awhile to just rest a bit and eat something. then i have to pack up a few things and meet everyone at the lobby."

"don't forget your socks, you always forget a single sock or a whole pair when you travel." you remind him, chuckling at the amount of his single socks you have found in your laundry and you used to think it was your washer machine stealing them, but nope.

he eagerly sits up, his bare upper half on display for only you to see and the thought makes your insides flutter.

"you can stay on the phone with me while i pack. i should do it now while you're here." he props his phone against something, he walks off camera to roll his suitcase over in view for you to see. haechan fresh out of bed is one of your favorite versions of him, another favorite is seeing him beneath you and his face is scrunched up in-

"babe?"

he snaps you out of your lewd thoughts.

"huh?"

he smirks, at you as he folds his socks neatly. "what're you thinking about?" he asks, curiously.

you shake your head, taking another spoonful into your mouth. "nothing, what were you saying, sorry." you sheepishly apologize.

he doesn't mind repeating himself, saying how he has all seven pairs of his socks and that it's because you're on the phone with him that he won't lose any socks this tour and that he should've brought you with him in his pocket.

and you might actually consider traveling overseas to surprise him and awaken those lewd thoughts to life in a hotel room, with him shuddering beneath you.

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writeforfandoms · 10 months

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Warrior Song 7

Find the series masterlist

Okay we are still playing real fast and loose with canon. In fact, a lot of canon rules have gone out the window by now. Just roll with it. It’ll be fun.

Blue Team plus medic and Fernando experience some unintended side effects of an unknown pollen.

Warnings: Cuddle pollen, swearing, medical jargon, discussion of touch starvation.

Word count: 2.9k

Master Chief/John-117 x f!reader

Blue Team made surprisingly good company. Sure, they didn’t talk a lot, but they were all easy with each other, and took instruction well.

Because of course you took charge of making camp and making sure everyone actually ate. Since your expertise as a medic wasn’t needed, this was close enough.

It had been a week and a half since you all started on this quest. So far, there had been four more bases and some searching for clues. Despite the lack of actual progress, Blue Team didn’t seem disappointed.

If anything, they seemed to be relaxing a little, slightly more open with you and Fernando both.

“They’re heading back,” Fernando told you, standing lookout behind you.

“Okay.” You dug out one more wild onion and put it in your basket before you straightened. “At least we’ll have a good dinner tonight.”

“I still can’t believe you caught one of those things,” he muttered, referring to the rabbit-like creature you’d managed to snag for dinner.

“Just because they can eat MREs until the end of time doesn’t mean I want to,” you shot back with a prim sniff. You brushed off your knees as you stood, gathering up your basket. “Are they very far?”

“We’ve got time to get back to the Pelican.” Fernando smirked and started walking. “As long as you don’t lag behind.”

“Hey!” Pouting, you jogged to catch up to him. “Just for that, I’m not going to give you any of this delicious soup.”

“Aw, come on, you like me too much to deny me.”

“We’ll see about that.”

The friendly bickering continued back to the Pelican, where you set Fernando to chopping up the onions while you worked on the meat. This had turned out to be a good spot - quiet and open enough to see any potential problems coming, with a small river in the opposite direction the Spartans had gone. You’d even gathered up enough firewood to keep a fire going all night.

The meat was in the stew pot by the time Blue Team trudged up, all of them half-covered in bright yellow pollen. Your mouth dropped open.

“What the hell happened?” you asked, blatantly staring.

“Some flowers threw up on us,” Kelly answered, dry and vaguely disgusted.

“They ejected all their pollen at us,” Linda corrected, though she also sounded vaguely disgusted.

“We’re going to wash,” Fred added.

“You want some rags?” You were already standing to get some for them, poking the meat one more time to be sure it would be fine for a minute.

“Might as well.” Fred waited while you grabbed a handful of rags, tossing them over. With a lazy salute, he went after the others in the direction of the river.

“They look ridiculous,” Fernando said once they were probably out of hearing range.

“Right?” You couldn’t help but snicker. “Seriously, I thought they went rolling through a flower field or something.”

Fernando cackled. “I will cherish that mental image forever.”

You finished adding everything to the soup and gave it one more stir before you nodded. “Well, soup just has to sit and cook for a while, the longer the better. Think we should go help them scrub, or leave them to it?”

Fernando made an exaggerated thinking face, rubbing at his beard. “I suppose we should help,” he agreed on a sigh. “Or they’ll be out there all night.”

“Copy that.” You smirked at Fernando’s huff of laughter, and the two of you headed after the Spartans.

All four of them were in the river, scrubbing at the armor, which still had pollen clinging stubbornly.

“This might be easier if you take it off,” you said, planting your hands on your hips and surveying their progress critically. “Fernando and I can help that way.”

Fred waded back to shore, pulling his helmet off and handing it to you first. “Thanks,” he mumbled, looking faintly embarrassed. “The pollen is more… resilient than anticipated.”

“We’ll get it off. Eventually.” Setting down his helmet away from the potential splash zone, you and Fernando helped him take off the chest and back plates, and you each got scrubbing.

“The hell is this made of?” Fernando grumbled, glowering at the chest plate.

“Something very stubborn,” you huffed, raising your clean hand to rub under your nose briefly. You made a triumphant noise as you scraped the last of it off the back plate, and set it aside. “Kelly, I’ll get yours next.”

Kelly walked over obediently and helped you get her chest plate off, which was practically coated in pollen. You sat to work on it while she scrubbed at her legs.

“Joy, you made note of these flowers, right? And have labeled them as avoid at all costs?”

“I did,” the AI confirmed. “I’ll upload the information to your tablet as well.”

“Thank you.” You wiggled your nose as it itched again, dipping your rag in the water to get rid of the pollen before getting back to scrubbing.

“You’re up next, Chief,” Fernando said far too cheerfully. “And don’t object, Fred is helping Linda.”

John sighed but relented. He even took off his helmet, the last to do so, as he let Fernando wrestle the back plate off. You couldn’t help but snicker at the sight.

“Boy am I glad dinner is cooking,” you muttered.

“You cooked?” Fred whipped around to look at you.

“Look, I don’t know how you live off of MREs, but I refuse. Yes, I cooked.” You set the chest plate aside and motioned Kelly closer to help scrub the leg armor.

For a few minutes, everyone was silent. You noticed Fernando shifting closer to you until he was pressed back to back with you, and you pressed back into him. Oh that felt nice. You could probably nap like that.

And then Fred sat next to Fernando, armor off, radiating warmth. And he pressed into your little tangle.

That was even better, and you hummed a pleased note.

“Joy.”

The almost-sharp command from John made you look around, immediately wary.

“I’m on it,” Joy agreed. On what? You didn’t see anything. Linda settled near you, hands twitching.

"How do you feel?" John crouched in front of you, looking you over quickly. He even started to reach for you, but checked himself.

"Okay," you answered slowly, frowning. His concern was making you concerned and was quickly spiraling into outright anxiety. "A little jittery? A little cold? Kind of tired?"

Fred made a little noise behind you and pressed against you, very nearly toppling you with accidental strength.

"Everyone up," John snapped, getting to his feet. He hauled you up after with very little apparent effort.

"Chief, whatever this is, it isn't poisonous. Vitals are all holding steady," Joy piped up from his helmet.

"Back to the Pelican." John's voice was hard, allowing for no argument.

Nobody actually complained, just grabbed all the gear and started walking. You ended up carrying two helmets - John's and Linda's. There was also a gun. You definitely hadn't picked that up, and had no idea where it had come from.

That sounded like a later problem.

You were getting cold, shivering as you walked. Fernando, walking ahead of you, didn't seem to be much better off.

But it wasn't far to the Pelican, and everyone was quick to set things down.

You were the first to crack. You inched closer to John until you could lean into his side, and then you sighed as you started to warm up, already feeling better. Fernando nearly jumped to join you, squishing you just a little between the two men.

"The hell is that?" Fred asked, even as he was sandwiched between Linda and Kelly.

"Well, if I had to give it some kind of a name, it seems to be… cuddle pollen?" Joy sounded caught between amusement and sheer regret.

"Cuddle pollen?" The question from Fernando was slightly muffled because he refused to lift his head from your shoulder.

"Well, you all seem to need to be touching," Joy explained slowly. "But your vitals are all fine! Some minor temperature fluctuations, but everything else is within standard ranges for each of you."

You shrugged. "Cuddle pollen. Huh." You huffed a little. It was getting harder to actually think. "I vote dinner first, then bed."

Nobody actually opposed you, so you tore yourself away from the absolutely divine warmth of John's side to serve the soup. John very nearly grabbed for you, but restrained himself at the last moment. Fernando, on the other hand, was quite happy to take your place. Traitor.

Dinner was silent. Not the same kind of silent as usual, but the kind of thick silence that comes from a whole group of people who can't think straight enough to hold a conversation. You ended up on John's other side, with Kelly's feet on one of your thighs. Which did eventually make you grimace and pluck at the undersuit.

"You all should get changed. There's spare clothes for you."

"Spare clothes?" Linda lifted her head like a predator scenting prey.

"Uh. Yeah." Suddenly embarrassed, you ducked your head. "Thought people might need them. At some point."

A moment later you were lifted off the ground in a bear hug. Fred didn't set you down again for a few moments, and then he lumbered inside to change.

Joy definitely had to prompt you and Fernando to put out the fire and to change into dry clothes, but that was fine. Actually, that gave Blue Team time to rally, and rally they had. Every pillow, bedroll, and blanket had been combined on the floor of the Pelican into something resembling a comfy sleep space.

Fernando was quick to cuddle up between John's back and Linda. John himself was sitting up, watching you.

At least until you got within grabbing distance.

One moment you were trying to figure out where to join the cuddle pile, the next you were in John's arms being manhandled with your back to his chest. With a satisfied rumble, John laid down and curled around you, a protective barrier between you and the rest of the world.

Well. A protective barrier between you and the Pelican, since the ramp was up and the ship was entirely closed off.

"Was that really necessary?" Linda asked, sounding more amused than aggravated.

John didn't answer, just tucked his head against the back of yours, clearly intent on holding you.

There was a bit of almost drunk-sounding giggling from… Fernando? And a grumble from Fred.

And then a soft snore.

Warm and relaxed and utterly content with this arrangement, you laid your hands over John's arms and closed your eyes.

Soft talking woke you, and you blinked rapidly. You were warm, your head pillowed on something surprisingly firm and warm. A careful shift of your weight confirmed that there was someone behind you.

“Morning, sunshine.” Fernando crouched in front of you with a shit-eating grin.

You made a rude noise at him and rolled away from the person behind you to lay flat on your belly, hoping to ignore everyone and everything for a little while longer.

“You need to drink something.” Fernando set a bottle down next to you. You knew it was a bottle because he put it right next to your head, so the chill of it seeped to your skin.

“Why.” You didn’t lift your head.

“Prevent dehydration. Also, I bet Chief needs to get up by now.”

That made you squeeze your eyes shut. “Tell me I didn’t cuddle him all night,” you whimpered.

“It was adorable.” That came from Kelly.

You swore softly but sat up, grabbing the water bottle and refusing to meet anyone’s eyes. Movement to the side of you got you to glance at John, still dressed down in the shirt and soft pants you’d picked up for all the Spartans.

“Don’t worry, Linda is an aggressive cuddler,” Fernando stage-whispered to you. “I’m just glad nobody kicks in their sleep.”

“Fred used to,” Kelly piped up. “As a kid.”

“Not for long,” Fred grumbled. “Why do you even still remember that.”

The two bantered back and forth, and the bantering helped to put you more at ease. Although, really, now that you were awake you felt great. You didn’t feel tired or achy at all. That was quite possibly the best sleep you’d had in… months.

Which got you thinking about why. Human contact. It had been ages since you’d cuddled with anyone, let alone the human heater that was John. You still didn’t get a lot of hugs, not on the Halo with things as they were.

A quick look showed Fernando looked better too, the circles under his eyes already fading, shoulders more at ease. The Spartans were harder to read, but they certainly seemed more relaxed this morning, willing to banter.

Everybody in the Pelican seemed to be suffering from touch starvation to some degree, and the cuddle pile had actually helped. You hadn’t even thought of it, had never even considered, and yet. Proof sat before your eyes.

Setting your water aside, you focused on Fernando. “How do you feel?”

“Fine. Good, actually.” He shrugged. “Good night’s sleep will do that.”

“And you?” You looked at Kelly next.

“Fine.”

“Fine, or better than fine?”

She hesitated, which was as good as an answer. So you looked at Fred, who shrugged but also looked down as the bridge of his nose went pink. Linda met your gaze with a little smile.

And John… John held your gaze, something warm and affectionate there.

“Huh.” You chewed on your lower lip for a moment before you stood. “Joy, where were those flowers?”

“You’re not going to find them?” Fernando leaned closer to you, squinting at you. “Did you overheat? Are you feeling okay?”

You waved him off, turning away. “I feel great, actually, which is what I’m trying to investigate. That cuddle pollen actually seems to have had a positive effect on all of us, even if only through lowering barriers so we could sleep in a pile and put a dent in our undoubtedly massive touch starvation debt.”

“Touch starvation?” This time Linda asked, watching you with interest.

“Humans are pack animals,” you told her, searching for your shoes, one of which had vanished. “Hugging actually reduces cortisol, among other things, allowing for better sleep. Helps block stress hormones. Boosts oxytocin. All that good stuff.” With a triumphant noise, you grabbed the wayward shoe and stuffed your foot in it. “There have been dozens of medical studies about the positive health impacts of hugs, cuddling, all of that. So, conversely, people who go without touch for a long time become touch starved, it can be pretty serious.”

“Still doesn’t explain why you want to go find the plants.” Fernando put himself between you and the ramp, arms crossed over his chest.

You paused, tapping your fingers against your thigh. “I’ve never seen anything like that pollen. I don’t know if it could be helpful, medically speaking, but probably. I’m not on the R&D side, I don’t know. What I do know is it’s something new and therefore worth documenting, at least.”

“You’re not planning to sprinkle it in our food or anything, are you?” He eyed you almost warily.

You jerked back, honestly hurt. “I would never! Look, I may do some ethically questionable things, like shouting my more stubborn patients into submission, but I would never do anything like that.” You hit the button to lower the ramp a little harder than normal, turning away from Fernando. “I want you all to have breakfast and drink a full bottle of water, just in case.”

And then you left, stepping around Fernando and ignoring his verbal stumbling, hopping off the ramp before it had even finished lowering.

You didn’t slow down until you heard footsteps behind you. You paused and then shrugged. Whoever it was could catch up to you if they wanted.

Of course, you’d also left without a way to talk to Joy. So you just… wandered off the way you’d seen Blue Team go yesterday, and hoped for the best.

“You need to head more west.”

You paused long enough to let Linda catch up to you. She was without armor, since you’d left so hurriedly. Come to think of it, you had no way to even gather some of the pollen if you did walk to the plants.

“Sorry.” You grimaced. “This is silly. We should go back.”

She shrugged. “In a bit.”

You let your shoulders drop, looking away. “Well. I’m glad you lot slept well, at least.”

She nodded slowly. “It was… nice. Odd. But nice.”

“Maybe you should make it a new Blue Team tradition,” you offered, half-joking.

“Pretty sure John won’t want to restrict it to Blue Team.” The look she gave you quite clearly indicated something you weren’t ready to admit just yet.

“Yes, well.” You shrugged. “That sounds like a John problem.”

Linda dipped her head to acknowledge the current stalemate. “Take your time,” was all she said.

You weren’t sure how to respond to that. So you didn’t, not really, just turned away to see if you could find any other useful plants here.

And if you desperately wanted to crawl back into that makeshift bed with John, you kept it firmly to yourself.

#warrior song #master chief x reader #john-117 x reader

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novasintheroom · 3 months

Text

005. Simplicity

♡ Pairing - Vash x Reader

♡ Word count - 0.5k

♡ Warnings - none

Part of the 150 Bullets drabble series on AO3!

The tumble of machines is quiet. Surprising, for a large city like April. But, you suppose that was a perk of a hole-in-the-wall laundromat – no one is coming here to party.

Swirls of water and color dance along the wall. Dryers shake against each other. An oldie station plays overhead, a song crooning out tunes from a long-dead artist. You stand by a dryer, waiting anxiously for it to signal that it’s done.

BEEEEEP. It slows to a stop, and you open the lid. With a sigh of relief, you tug out Vash’s red coat. The blood stains are gone. There are no new tears, just the ones you’ll have to sew up when you get back to the inn. You hold it up to your nose and breathe in the fresh cotton scent from the soap you’ve bought. It doesn’t smell like him anymore. You’d need to fix that.

After checking on your washer for yours and his spare clothing, you trek back to the front. Vash sits on a chair in front of the windows, idly leafing through one of the old magazines the laundromat stocks. Without preamble, you toss the coat over his head.

Vash sputters a yelp, then gently draws off his coat. “Oh,” he says, and takes a big sniff. “That smells good!”

“Right?” You sit next to him and fiddle with the sleeve. “Now all we need to wash is you.”

Vash guffaws and gives you a look. “Are you saying I smell?” When you make a face, he gasps. “That’s so mean!”

“Stinky,” you say, then lay your head on his shoulder. He forgives easily and lays his head on yours. “It’s got another fifteen minutes before I can switch it to the dryer,” you tell him.

He hums. “Do you want to go get something to eat? Are you hungry?”

“Are you hungry?”

“I asked you.”

“Yeah, but you only ever ask when you’re getting hungry.”

Vash laughs, caught. “Yeah, I’m getting a little hungry. But we can wait ‘til the loads done.”

You shift to push your head a bit more onto his shoulder. “What kind of food do they have in April? I smelled some ramen, I think.”

“They have all kinds. We should try all of them while we’re here. Especially the chocolate-and-raspberry donuts.”

You laugh. It’s a treat to be in a big city. Not often do Plants cry out in them – they have plenty of Plant engineers ready to aid their power supplies – but one called to Vash, and he needs to answer. The laundry facilities and real, cooked street food are a plus for the journey. You pat his thigh. “We’ll get some good treats, don’t you worry.”

It’s nice to sit and rest. No running, no bounty hunters (yet), just the hum of drying machines and the splash of cleaning water. A woman sits in the far corner, turning her own magazine while her little boy presses his nose to one of the washer windows. A trolly rolls by outside. The simplicity of it all is not lost on you. Not today.

Vash must feel it too. He presses a kiss to your head and mutters, “Love you.”

You smile and whisper back, “Love you too.”

#trigun #trigun stampede #vash the stampede #tristamp #writing #reader insert #self insert #vash x reader #nova writes #vash the stampede x reader #trigun x reader #150 Bullets

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katsukikitten · 7 months

Text

Pure smut and sad hours. Master list here.

You feel stupid, so fucking stupid. Opening the distasteful gag gift someone has given you after your break up. A knock off cock in the shape of your ex boyfriend after some fan analyzed a picture of him in gray sweats one day.

They were close, it felt right in your hands and they guessed about his tattoos on it but had them wrong, didn't have the forking veins you used to lick in the right spots and missing something you just couldn't put your finger on. Desperate in your drunken haze for intimacy that your string of other drummer fuck buddies couldn't supply. Couldn't never fucking dream to provide like he could.

Placing the suction cup base on an old candle plate as you desperately try to ride it in the shroud of night in your bedroom. Accidentally edging yourself like you would have done riding the real thing, expect he'd plant his feet into the mattress and fuck so hard up into you your tits would bounce and your eyes would roll.

Only furthering your frustrations, tears in your eyes as you try to listen to very old voice memos from when he was on the road. Lewd sounds of him spitting on his hand or cock before he fisted it, groaning to the pictures or voice memos you sent moments before. Seeking his comfort and needing it as your drunk hazy thoughts try to ruin your good buzz. Stupidly hitting the little mic icon to record a small voice message.

"Hakuji." Breathy and desperate before a small whine leaves your throat. Sticky sounds echoing back as you slide down the silicone with a pout.

"Jiji, I can't stand it. I can't cum without you either. You've ruined me." You sniff, another breathy moan, "Gave me so much princess treatment and no one can fuck me like you. Or hold me."

The end of the sentence is so quiet, phone still recording and all that can be heard are your fan, the soft sniffles of your pout and the clicking slick as you bounce.

"This is so stupid." You hiss, going to delete the recording from the message box before a fat tear falls just right onto the glass and hits send. Making you clench around the toy as you frantically Google search if an android can unsend messages and it can't. Figuring out the airplane mode trick far too late and horror paints your features as you see the message is not only delivered to your ex.

It's on read.

Frantically typing back in caps that he should just delete it that it was a mistake to send it but just as quickly as you do you receive a voice message back that opens with a growl.

"Princess, can't believe yer playin with my pretty pussy without me. Need my help? I can talk ya through it or I can show up. But first put those pretty clawed fingers on yer clit for me okay? Better right?"

The sound of his voice makes you arch and stupidly you listen to him, carefully placing the pads of your fingers on your clit and going in slow circles.

"Y-yes much better." A quick voice memo back heart beating out of your chest and you keep thinking of his offer that he'll show up.

"Good fuckin girl."

His praise makes you gasp and shake, shudder running down your spine when you play it a second time.

"Not fair. Not gonna let me hear ya moan?"

One escaped your throat before you record a small memo of you moaning loudly, part of it his name, although it's his stage name he doesn't care. He's more than happy to help you, "Akaza! Akaza!"

"Careful princess, one more time and you'll summon him."

Purposely, louder than your others on the cusp of cumming as you record your down fall, "Akazaaaaa!"

And just like that he's checking if you're home, smiling when he sees your little red dot there before he's speeding over on his bike. The roar of the engine heard from the comfort of your bedroom before you hear the tires bump against the lip of the sidewalk. Sound of the engine dying quickly before your balcony door is sliding open.

"You should really lock this princess." He almost purrs as he locks it behind him, putting in the wood to keep the door from being jimmied open.

Worst part is he isn't even winded, not from his sprint from the parking spaces nor from the way he had to scale to the third floor.

Stopping at the foot of the bed as he drinks you in. Eyes aglow in the low light commiting the sight to memory. You were in one of his old shirts, sitting so pretty as you try to bounce on some sort of silicone cock before he decides to rid you of your misery. Inked fingers digging into your ribs as he pulls you from the toy, lying you down on the bed beside it before he's picking it up.

"Hmm? This mine?" Smirk growing on his lips as he weighs the toy in a broad palm, "I've held the real thing enough times to know it's mine."

"S-stop. Don't tease Kaza." Trying to pull down the hem of his shirt to hide your body but he just smiles. Puts the toy to the side, working at pulling his gray sweats down freeing his heavy aching cock.

Pressing his palms on to your knees to make room for his imposing body, "Aw but ya get so fuckin wet when I tease ya."

"Sides I'm the only one that can fix yer problem right? Can't cum without me huh?" But there's no malice in his voice, no smugness or tease like his words suggest, if anything he sounds a little sad, maybe even relieved.

Squeezing the base of his cock as he runs it through your folds, heart racing as he debates if this is a good idea. Icy eyes flicker up to your face and how desperate you look, needy and ready.

"Girth's a bit off, that's why it's not helpin. Still want my help princess? Gotta use your words." He tries not to feel numb, tries to focus on everything that's happening between the two of you now as he comes down from the high of a fight.

"Yes, please help me Hakuji." And that's all it takes before he's sliding his cock in nice and slow. Making sure you feel it, inch by inch of him sinking into you, him making you arch off the bed to meet his hips more, him making you claw and fist the sheets.

Him making you feel this fucking good and that there was no fucking person or thing in this world that could imitate him.

"Thaaat's the stretch you needed. Feels just right doesn't it, princess?” Finally after a few more moments he's perfectly nestled into you. Feeling you clench around him making him squeeze his eyes shut.

You feel just as wonderful as he remembers, maybe even better thanks to his celibacy he's had since the two of you separated over a very big misunderstanding but Hakuji couldn't blame you. Would never.

Relishing the moment the two of you were reunited even if he knows it's temporary. That the clock is winding down yet still he forces himself still despite your whines and desperate claws digging in the sheets. Moving for his skin as you squeeze your legs around his waist making him smile. Hooking the back of your knees as he leans forward. Forcing your calves to rest on the crook of his arms so he can be closer to your face.

Pushing down into your slowly and roughly as his fangs find your throat. Nipping and sucking as he lets his cock head drag over that spongy spot that has you clawing up his shoulders and back. Already you feel close to cumming, throbbing in how he folds you, pressing you into yourself before adding his own body weight. Crowding your vision as he lets his lidded gaze hold yours not even hiding what you do to him as his eyes flutter when you clench around his cock. He leans his head down by your ear so you can hear him moan and growl.

"Such a good fuckin girl. Stayed molded to me." Your toes cramp from his praise, legs shaking as you cum the first time as he goes on, "Made for me aren't ya princess? Made for me to have and hold. To protect always til I fuckin die."

Your divine cunt always had that effect on him to get in to ramble praises and possession into your ear but it always made your vision spot when he did as you arch again, creaming around his cock that he fucks you through.

Those agonizingly slow thrusts that still somehow don't give you a chance to breathe as his pelvis grinds into your clit with each rocking motion.

Eyes rolled to the back of your head as he selfishly starts to chase his own release only after he's sure you've cum a minimum of three times, counting four when he sticks his tongue in your mouth so he can taste your sweet moans one more, or last, time.

"Cause ya love me most right? That's why ya need me. Fuck cause I love you." Hips starting to snap as he fucks into you roughly, wrapping his arms right around your middle forcing your legs that much wider from his grip as he hooks his fingers on your shoulders for leverage. Listening to your moans and feeling how you try to milk him after another body wracking orgasm makes you shake in his hold. As if his strong arms were the sole reason you hadn't completely fallen apart.

"Fuckin- God I love you I love you so much Princess." He's moaning trying to pull out in time before you look up at him with the saddest, most pleading eyes.

"Cum in me. Please, please Hakuji." And he's never been one to tell you no as he shudders. Painting your walls in his sticky hot seed as you whine from how good he makes you feel.

He tries to keep his full weight off of you, thinking he doesn't deserve to feel your comfort as he pants. Even with your nails raking over his scalp, slowly releasing your legs from his hold before he tries to pull away all together.

"Don't." A warning bite as you glare up at him, "Don't be like the others."

"They don't stay?" Growl back to his voice, how dare they, how fucking dare they use you to their content and then have the audacity to not pamper you.

"Never." Tears welling in your eyes that have Hakuji seeing red, that have him wanting to tuck away his spent cock quickly, just so he can beat the shit out of them. Hospitalize them at the very least. But first he had to take care of you.

Because you always came first.

He doesn't even ask if you want him to stay, just pulls you to him as he lies back down. Palming your skull so you'll nose his throat as inked fingers trace up and down your spine. Until he's sure you're asleep, forcing his tired eyes open despite how much comfort you bring him. Unable to miss a second of contact with you but fate had other plans.

Pulled undertow quickly, falling into a deep restful sleep for the first time in over a year. Only for him to wake up in your bed a few hours later.

Alone.

#kitten writes 🖤🐈‍⬛

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xerith-42 · 4 months

Text

My Inner Demons Stoner Headcanons

Part 3 in my Stoner Headcanons series!

Fuck you I love this show and think it's the perfect setting for stupid shenanigans like this

Leif learns what weed is from TV (mainly cop shows) and knows Ava won't answer if he asks so he just asks Mrs Oats when Ava isn't around and she gives him some because she just has a medical card.

Leif fucking loves it. My man has such a hard time relaxing because he is always ready for a threat, always ready to kill, that he's honestly forgot what real relaxation feels like until this funny little plant turns his brain off.

He shows it to Asch first, who quite enjoys the ability to actually lower his guard. That and they don't have to use the lighter that still doesn't make sense. They can just have Asch light the blunt.

Rhys catches them smoking one time, but Leif is so chilled out he just passes the joint to Rhys and badly explains how to use it. Rhys does not have a good time initially, but he eventually settles into it. He decides he likes second hand smoke more than ingesting it directly

Noi is scared of smoking because his body is already considerably weaker due to his lack of magic. He's too scared to bring this up because he doesn't think there's an alternative, but Mrs. Oats leaves them a goody basket one day, saying she made too many sweets to eat on her own. There's a bag of "special" gummy bears for Noi.

Now I'm imaging Noi eating like 20 of them and not realizing they were edibles and going straight to god. Like he's just lying in his bed thinking about Ava, he blinks and then he just sees the portal of truth.

Pierce is the last to discover it, and he never voices an opinion on it. If he happens to walk into the room where it's being smoked, he'll join the rotation for a hit or two, but then he just leaves. He lies to lie on the floor of Ava's apartment with Johnny on his lap and just relax. Ava's caught him, but he's usually asleep, so she doesn't realize he's baked as fuck in his dreams.

The plot twist is that Ava has a medical card she just has to keep it hella on the down low for her dad's campaign. He wants to make it legal recreational, but until then, she has to be fuckin chill about it. One time Leif walks into her room without knocking to ask her something and despite everything seeming normal, he stops and then sniffs the air. And then he sees Ava's slightly bloodshot eyes.

I feel like Lorelei isn't an active stoner, she's the kind of person who only smokes around her friends who smoke. She never smoked it with Ava (because Ava's actually really good about hiding it), but one time she visits Ava's apartment and catches Leif about to duck into the portal to their place and he has a fresh joint in his hand. Instead of just smoking it on his own, Leif actually smokes it with her and hotboxes Ava's bathroom.

Oh god Ava getting sick at the festival because she took a hit off a vape before going on a roller coaster the fuckin dumb ass.

When they're forced to go back home Leif is pissed for a lot of reasons, but partially because he doesn't have his stash on him :(

#text post #aphmau #i dont support aphmau #my inner demons #aphmau asch #aphmau leif #aphmau pierce #aphmau rhys #aphmau noi #how the fuck do you tag for this fandom #MID Leif #MID Asch #MID Pierce #MID Rhys #MID Noi #MID #stoner headcanons #ganja #cannabis

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dyns33 · 10 months

Text

Chico

a long Vaas and little pirate story

__________________________________________

Unlike most souls who resided on Rook Island, Y/N was not born there, she did not choose to go there, and she had not been captured by pirates.

No, she was just on a boat passing by the island, which had sunk due to an explosion in the poorly constructed engines, and she had managed to survive by clinging to debris and swimming to the beach.

No one had seen her. No one knew she was here. Without money, without a phone, without an identity card, but with enough intelligence to understand where she had landed, Y/N had accepted that she had to be discreet and wait for the right moment to leave the island.

For the first few months, she hid in caves and the jungle. It was not easy, because there were many poisonous plants, wild animals, in addition to the pirates and natives.

The natives weren't mean, but a bit stupid. Talkers. They could speak about the foreign girl who wandered near the villages, and Y/N would have became a prey for the pirates.

Then, after nearly dying of starvation, thirst, freezing, or being eaten by a tiger, Y/N wondered if the best hiding place wasn't staying right in the lair of Rook's most dangerous creature.

Vaas camp.

Y/N had seen the leader of the pirates several times, from afar. He was quite scary, especially when he stopped in the middle of the forest to sniff the air and stare at the bushes, as if he could sense she was there.

There were also the stories she had heard about him. It looks like he was as mad as he was violent, uncontrollable, unpredictable. Always on drugs. Thinking only of money and control.

It was for these latter reasons that Y/N thought she had a chance hiding among the pirates.

Maybe she was small, and didn't really know how to fight, but she was good. Smart. Polite and disciplined. If she did the tasks the leader demanded, and didn't piss off the other pirates, then she would find herself a safe lair.

With some regret, she cut her hair, hiding her face as much as possible with two bandanas and sunglasses. Red bandanas, like the t-shirt she had taken from a corpse, covered by a bulletproof vest. With the headband that flattened her breasts, the oversized pants, the gun at her waist, and boots, she looked like a little man.

A little pirate.

As if everything was normal, she joined a group of pirates patrolling the north of the island. They didn't comment, asking her if she wanted some rum, and snickering that the new one was tiny.

They laughed less when a wild dog tried to attack them and Y/N killed it. Living in the jungle for months was learning to survive.

When they offered her rum again, it was with gratitude and respect.

Y/N first stayed in an outpost. It was simple, it was easy. She wandered far into the jungle to urinate or wash herself. She slept little, and in inaccessible places. Conversations were minimal, only when necessary.

No one seemed to suspect anything or care about her.

Nico and Benny were funny. Almost sympathetic, if she forgot that they tortured and killed the people the group caught.

Carlos was a bit scary. He didn't stay at the outpost, he only came by from time to time, to check that everything was fine.

The first time he had seen Y/N, he had made a funny face.

'Who's the little guy ?' he asked.

"New recruit. He's good with a knife."

"... I didn't know we had a new recruit."

But he had left without adding anything, and everything had gone well.

Until it's time to switch teams. It was hard and boring to guard the outposts and those who did a good job were rewarded by being able to return to camp for a while.

Vaas camp.

Contrary to what Y/N had hoped, not only was the pirate leader there when she arrived, he noticed her right away.

"So, you're the new little recruit with a knife ? It's true that you are small, hermano. A real baby. Easy to eat. You know I could easily eat you, huh chico ?"

"Yes, boss." decided to answer Y/N, staying calm and looking at him in the eye.

This seemed to surprise him, before he burst out laughing. He pulled out his gun, pointing it at her.

"Do you think you're funny, chico ? Do you think I'm kidding ?"

"No, boss."

"... No ? You're just a calm and polite little chico then ? Hmm. We'll see about that."

It was seen very quickly. Like at camp, Y/N found a quiet place to sleep, and she avoided everyone when she had to undress. For the rest, she obeyed orders, she was silent, polite, calm, discreet.

Which did not escape Vaas, who seemed to have eyes everywhere, and who seemed to appreciate this unusual behavior.

His fascination didn't lessen after she saved him from a large stone. Chico, as he decided to call her, had become his hero, his little favourite.

"There was the rock, there were the caves. Mi chico is like a lucky charm, hermano. I can't stay away from him, or I'll be screwed. And he's so cute. Isn't he cute, Carlos ?”

"Yes, Jeff."

"You sound like him. So fucking polite. I love it when he calls me boss. Huh, chico ?"

"Yes, boss."

"That's right, my little chico ! My lucky charm."

Everyone knew that Vaas loved chico. The pirates kinda laughed at her because of that, kindly. They could have been cruel, or jealous, but Y/N didn't really get any special treatment, and the boss was calmer since the arrival of the little guy, whom they really liked.

That didn't stop the jokes.

Some spoke of the fact that Vaas was in love. Y/N didn't believe it. It was just stupid remarks about the fact that two men couldn't be close in being gay. Vaas visited the whores of Bad Town. He wasn't looking at any man.

No, he was simply fascinated by his chico, nothing more.

Another joke, very amusing, was invented by Juan.

To tell Y/N that the boss was asking for old and very expensive bottles, abandoned in a cave that is difficult to access by sea, and that he wanted his chico to go get them.

It was not true.

Vaas hadn't asked for anything, and there were no bottles.

On the other hand, the cave was indeed difficult to access, and once inside, Y/N was unable to come out from where she had entered. She wandered the dark tunnels for hours, days.

There was no water. Her flashlight eventually died. And despite the fear of ending up like this, Y/N was still thinking of the bottles, and of Vaas who was waiting. So while looking for an exit, she looked for the imaginary bottles.

She only found an exit, after almost a week, having to climb against a wall, slipping several times, falling, breaking her fingers and a few ribs, but Y/N managed to get out.

First reflex, drink. Second reflex, find bottles. Any kind of bottle, before returning to camp.

It was almost as hard as getting in and out of the cave. The camp was far away. She was exhausted.

When she arrived, she didn't even notice the silence. The bodies near the door, including Juan's. Bullet and burn marks on the walls. Y/N didn't understand at all the looks and whispers of the other pirates when they saw her coming.

Vaas also looked at her weirdly, as she placed two bottles in front of him.

"Sorry, boss, I couldn't find your bottles." she muttered before trying to go to her little hiding place, to sleep. She fell after taking ten steps.

"Chico !" shouted a voice. "Chico, wake up ! Carlos, give me some water and call the doctor ! Chico, no, stay with me. My chico. Mi cielo."

Y/N was really too tired to move, or even open her eyes. She felt hands on her face, a mouth on hers, liquid in her throat, then nothing.

When she woke up, she didn't recognize the room she was in. Pink. It had been months since she'd seen that color, it wasn't a color that lasted long on Rook.

Children's toys. And Doctor Hernarch.

The good doctor, who made the good pills, according to Benny.

He sighed when Y/N tried to move, then when she realized that she no longer wore her bandana on her face, nor her bandage around her chest.

"Are you all right, young lady. Young man ? Vaas brought me a young pirate boy, and he still thinks I'm treating a young pirate boy. I haven't told him, and I won't tell him."

"... Thanks."

"Don't thank me. It's my job. You might have preferred not to wake up. He seems to like you very much. You hold his heart and his madness in your hands. He threatened me a lot, saying he'll kill me if you don't wake up. Maybe he'd like to know your secret, maybe not. Maybe it would be worse, for everyone. I won't say anything, rest."

Y/N lay down as long as possible, so no more than a few minutes, before jumping out of bed to get her things, and cover herself.

Then, holding her stomach, she went downstairs.

Like a lion in a cage, Vaas walked around the living room in a circle, biting his fingers until they bled. He often did this when he was nervous, or when he had taken too many drugs. It could be both. He looked really worried.

"Boss, your fingers." Y/N said, staying near the stairs.

"Chico ? Chico !"

He ran over to hug her, kissing her neck, cheek and forehead over and over, muttering insults and tender words.

"Mi chico... Don't ever do that again. Ever ! Fucking Juan, motherfucker. He thought he was funny, and now he's used as fertilizer in my garden. Asshole ! I could have lost you because of him ! You shouldn't have listened to him, chico. I'm the one giving the orders, directly. You don't leave the camp without me anymore. I should put a leash on you."

"Yes, boss."

"Ah, my chico. Always so polite, always so calm. You worried about my fingers ? It's okay, the doc is going to give me some meds, and you could kiss them better. We're going home !"

In the car, Carlos was silent, glancing at Y/N in the rear view mirror. At Vaas too, who refused to leave her, hugging her tightly. The big pirate had been worried too, for her, and for everyone, because during his absence, the boss had started to lose his head completely.

It was a miracle and a relief that she came back.

Purring, Vaas started rubbing against her again, smiling, repeating how happy he was that his chico had returned.

Y/N then thought that the doctor was not wrong. She held Vaas' madness in her hands, and perhaps his heart, and she couldn't decide if it was a good thing or not.

"I missed you, chico. I feel dead inside without you."

"Me too, boss."

"Mi chico." he whispered, laying his head on her shoulder, relaxed at last.

She had answered to be polite, as always. But also because she meant it, and that too, she didn't know if it was a good thing or not.

#far cry 3 #vaas #vaas montenegro #vaas montenegro x reader #vaas montenegro imagine #vaas montenegro fanfiction #vaas and the little pirate

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ooppo · 11 months

Text

My Highschool Weed Story

I grew up in a household that grew a lot of pot. For reference, here is my cousin standing next to a marijuana plant my dad grew a few summers ago:

That thing was fucking awful to harvest. Anyways, so growing up as a teenager I always smelt like weed, but the nice emo and goth kids I hung out with didn't care because they were weed-starved and would sniff my clothes like a pack of starved beasts. So this one time I go to school and that day I apparently absolutely REAKED of pot. So I go up to my emo friend and I'm like "🥺 Marlana, do you have any perfume I could use...?" And she was like, "Um, yeah actually here!!"

Then Marlana handed me a can of Axe Body spray, which did nothing but amplify both smells somehow. So I was sweating hard in math in a class full of like 40+ students hoping to god no one says anything because I was so paranoid that I would get in trouble and then my parents would get in trouble because we certainly were going over the legal limit of plants. I was sitting there trying to convince myself that I just needed to make it through the day and eventually the weed smell would air out of my clothes. However,

Suddenly, from the back, this kid jets up and shouts "IT SMELLS LIKE WEED IN HERE‼️".

My life flashed before my eyes. I was already making up excuses to take the fall for my parents like how I joined some random group of kids at the back of the school to smoke a joint or some shit. Btw I didn't smell a little like weed, either. I was wearing the jacket that was in the same room they were drying the weed branches out in. I smelt even worse than a dispensary. My parents were super hippies that didn't buy regular fucking deodorant, either, they MADE me WEED DEODORANT that only smelt a little like weed but it was "all natural" and were great for some fucking gland in your armpit or some shit. Idk they were hippies and my dad was an unmedicated bipolar. He convinced us all he cured cancer and asthma once.

I shit you not, this kid rounds up his little posse of friends and they start SNIFF checking every single student and INTERROGATING THEM. My absolute worst fear made real. Literally my most paranoid nightmare giving birth to reality.

I would like to pause to show everyone what I looked like back then when this happened. Here is my school ID from around that time:

This but I wore nerdy black rimmed square glasses and a frog hoodie. This is important information for later.

This kid and his group go down every fucking isle smelling every kid and accusing them like "John, do you smoke pot??" "Jessica do YOU smoke pot???". Eye contact. Calling them by name. Everything. Now I don't only have to lie to the teacher and principal, now I have to lie to my classmates and my god I was never a good liar back in highschool.

The kids get to the girl in the seat next to me and ask her if she smokes pot, which she proceeds to just tell them to fuck off, which was inconceivable to me as an option.

They make eye contact with me.

They see this sweaty little big glasses cringefail artist white girl shaking like a Chihuahua at her desk and I for sure think I'm about to get laid into hard with questions. But, no. They take one look at me and WALK PAST ME‼️‼️ TO THE STUDENT SITTING NEXT TO ME AND CONTINUE THEIR SEARCH.

That point forward it was absolutely ridiculous what I could get away with. Once I sat on the opposite side of the class as literally everyone else by the open window and a kid said it smelt like weed and they all looked up AT ME and then one of the kids said "it must be coming from outside". LIKE BITCH. On my last day in French class I leaned over to one of my class-friends and I told her that I was the one who smelt like weed and she could hardly believe it even though I sat next to her every fucking day.

And that's how I got away with smelling like weed for all of highschool. By looking like a complete fucking loser.

#ooppostories #it always stressed me out because i was nose blind to weed by that point so i could never tell how bad i smelt until one of the emo or goth #kids pointed it out to me #so yeah #there is a lesson in here about stereotypes

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silverskye13 · 2 years

Text

“Playing a dangerous game, aren’t ye, laddie?”

Ren hangs the anvil BDubs had bestowed upon him over the throne. It’s a heavy, dangerous thing, meant to represent the weight and power behind his responsibilities. Or at least, that’s what he figures BDubs was trying to get across when he hit him with it. BDubs is a little hard to decipher when it comes to these things sometimes. Ren thinks maybe all the moss has gotten to BDubs’ head. At least this time the infection just instills a sense of adventure, instead of dragging him off into the jungle like his last plant-based infestation.

Ren’s spent the better part of a hour replacing the diorite floors and wall of his new throne room with deepslate tiles. It matches his colors better. Red and white is a palette he’s been intentionally avoiding, though not hard enough, apparently. He catches his reflection in the polished deepslate tiles. They’re too dark to be a true mirror, but the massive form of The Red King is unmistakable. His blood-soaked legacy sticks to the bottom of Ren's shoes like a shadow, always following just a step behind.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ren sniffs.

"I notice you've neglected a proper crown this time," The Red King continues, undaunted. "Ye fear being a target even still. Even among friends."

"I was among friends last time," Ren answers defensively. "It was just a game. Besides, this is Hermitcraft."

"Aye."

"Yer wars here are bloodier."

"They're not." Ren steps back from the throne, nodding to himself when he decides the anvil is hanging straight. "And even if they were, they're more inconsequential. All anyone will lose is, what? A few hours and a few levels, maybe some gear if the pranks get crazy."

"The magician kens not what he asks of ye," The Red King insists. "Ye are falling for the same pitfalls ye did before lad. Was not Dogwarts the product of wishful thinking?"

"Why do you care?" Ren snaps. He's losing his patience. "You hate me, remember?"

"I'm trying to help ye, Rendog." The Red King's voice growls low, a whisper that feels like it comes from the depths of the earth. It fixes Ren in place like a knife to his throat, like a threat. The Red King's voice is beside his ear, like instead of speaking from a reflection in the tiles, he's standing right behind him. "Heavy is the crown bestowed on the unwilling, lad. Or the unworthy."

Ren tries to find his voice. Tries to come up with some digging reply. He could point out this is just another trick to make him feel bad about himself. See? You think I'm unworthy. Drop the facade of help and care. But he can't speak, because The Red King's voice begins again, so low Ren almost can't hear it over his own breathing.

"A good King rules in the interest of his people. He makes the hard decisions so they aren't burdened with them. He commands, because he is just. He revives peace in the corners of the world where it struggles to breathe."

The room is suddenly silent. Ren feels stiff, like he's locked in place. He's still staring at the anvil over the throne, but it looks less like an anvil and more like an axe head.

"Do you have what it takes to be a good king, Ren?"

Rockets sound overhead, and the freeze in Ren's limbs melts like a candle under dragon fire. Doc swoops onto the landing pad, beaming.

"Ren! There you are! Bro, oh my god, you've got to see what me and the hivemind came up with." Doc slaps his hands together and offers a maniacal grin. "Operation Skyfall on that Pesky Bird is ready."

Ren laughs nervously. Doc tells him about a death machine he's made like a kid discovering a new candy store down the street. This doesn't have to start a war. That's what they've said for the past three seasons. And even if it does start a war, there's no real loss.

He tells himself this as he flies after Doc, watching the red and white flash of metal and redstone grow closer.

#the barking writer #The Red King Hels #Rendog #The Red King #yeahhh we all knew i was gonna write something

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lewkwoodnco · 7 months

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Cruel Summer (Part 2) - Lockwood x Reader

A/N: continuation of the cruel summer fic! Also refer to the gif in the first part for the bit where Lockwood looks up at the reader :))

Chronological order: timeless cruel summer (pt 1, pt 2) august (tsitp version) the alcott

After much effort Lockwood had surprisingly managed to secure the agency invitations to the Fittes ball, even after the ruckus they had caused the previous year. He walked in and presented them with a flourish, practically skipping around the room.

“I don’t know how you managed it, but these are very much real,” said George, after examining them carefully. “Pity it was all for naught.”

“All for naught? Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I already told you before you left; I’ve looked over our plans and there is simply no way we can sneak past the guards swarming the place after the stunt we pulled last year.”

“Come off it, George, there has to be a way.”

“We can’t, not with them watching.”

Lucy broke in. “What if we don’t go? We can scale the walls, everyone else will be occupied at the ball, no one would even notice.”

“After I sold my soul for these tickets? Fat chance. Besides, Fittes would sniff it out if we don’t turn up.”

“As interesting as all this is,” she yawned, standing up, “I’m going up to get some rest.” She was still injured from her fall a few days back, and she hadn’t stopped wincing enough for Lockwood to let her come on any new missions. Part of her liked to think it was because he worried about her, and another part knew it was probably some sort of punishment for not being completely honest that night.

She was thinking of the puzzle she would break out while the rest went over to Fittes when she caught Lockwood’s eye. His expression was that infuriating mixture of daring and smugness that made her want to plant her face on his. He quirked a smile, and the shadows outlining his face made her breath catch, which she tried to pass off as a cough. For a man who prided himself on saintly values which bigger agencies lacked, it was remarkable how good being devilish looked on him.

“What? What?”

————————————————————————

“We’re going to get caught.”

“No, we won’t, because we all know what to do. So quit it.”

“I’m going to get caught. They’re going to take one look at me and head straight for the library.”

“Which would be fine, since we’re not going there anyway.”

“Then where?”

“Like I’d tell you, Miss Blab-a-mouth.”

“That’s just as well. I’m going to get piss-drunk and make a fool of myself.”

With that, she let out a desperate wail, burying her face in her hands while Lockwood unsympathetically walked around the room, collecting chains.

“No, you won’t, because there’ll be mocktails.”

“Just hurry, please?”

“We’ll be quick.” Lockwood stood up from the dusty corner he was huddled in with a little streak of dirt on his cheek. Without thinking, she reached out to wipe the dirt off, tracing his cheekbone delicately. His lips parted, and the ghost of whatever he was about to say hovered, but then they heard George’s footsteps getting closer, and they shifted away, the tension melting. All summer long, it was just one disappointment after another, she thought bitterly. She knew he felt something, he had to, but he would never admit it. It was irritating.

The plan was that only she would go to the ball, claiming the others had fallen terribly ill with chicken pox, and the only reason she was here was out of gratitude for the invitations. The others would go in, find what they needed, then signal her to leave to ‘check in on the poor things.’

They wanted to arouse as little suspicion as possible, so they rented a car instead of flagging down a cab this time. George was driving, scolding Lockwood for fiddling with the radio, who defensively insisted that he was ‘only playing around,’ which was more than enough entertainment for her and Lucy. But her laughter didn’t last long - Lockwood didn’t seem to know much beyond ‘playing around’ in general.

That must have been where the bitter feelings started. They parted ways at the back of the Fittes building, Lockwood winking at her as they started scaling the wall, but for once she didn’t feel all fluttery on the inside. It felt like a weak surge that fizzled out quicker than it had started, leaving behind the resentment brewing over the past couple of days, ever since that night at the library. Lockwood was so stupid, acting like he actually cared about her bruise, something she hadn’t been able to get him out of her head, something that made her want more with him. More than whatever two-step they engaged in, always dodging any real signs of affection or desire.

She had started with the mocktails, but they were too diluted to have any real sort of flavour. Besides, it just wasn’t doing it for her, not after the past couple of days she had, and so it was time for the cocktails. She had to pause occasionally to remind herself what signal she was supposed to be looking out for. Unfortunately for the poor waiter she had accosted, she began dumping all her emotional agony on him.

“Listen - Jeeves, is it? - imagine this hors d’œuvre is, say, the light in your life, the burning sunset you never want to end…”

As the night wore on, she grew drunker and drunker at such alarming speed that there was simply no room for suspicion towards Lockwood and Co. she had reached a point where her words had started to slur, not that it stopped her from talking the waiter’s ear off.

“His eyes, they shine like summer, or like that glint on the wall…”

The glint shifted back and forth sharply. It was almost too intentional for it to coincidentally look exactly the same as the signal they had agreed on.

“Oh-oh! Jeeves! I have to go! You did distract me with your chatter. Bye now!”

Jeeves glumly waved at her as she rushed down the narrow stairs, as mute as he was when he first sat down. She gripped onto the banister for dear life as the floor shifted below her feet. What felt like just a few seconds to her had apparently been a full half minute.

She didn’t exactly remember how she ended up in the car, just the relief of getting off the stairs and the panic that set in when the floor continued to swim, and suddenly she was in a cushy woollen seat with the blurry image of Lockwood on her left.

————————————————————————

“Wha- where’s everyone?”

“We had to split up in the end; George and Lucy exited on the other end of the building so they’re probably taking a cab from there.”

She nodded, trying to cool her rosy face with her hands, watching Lockwood drive out of the corner of her eye. That feverish feeling was back, and she was beginning to think Lockwood was some flu she could never recover from, a bad habit she didn’t even want to kick. He drove her crazy, and it was all his fault.

That’s all she’d ever to be to him - crazy.

It was like a dam broke, and she started sobbing a bit too noisily, sending Lockwood into a confused panic.

“Hey, hey, what’s wrong? Did something happen? Are you feeling okay?”

“I’m fine.” Her voice cracked even as she bit the lie out, as if Lockwood was forcing her to lie to him. But in a way, wasn’t he? He couldn’t expect her to just come right out and say it, could he? That just stressed her out even more, making her dissolve into more sobs.

The rest of the drive was silent but fraught with tension, interspersed with the occasional hiccup from her. When they finally pulled into the driveway, he switched off the engine and cut the headlights, but made no intimation to exit the car. She could almost see the balmy air outside, hear the cicadas chirping, a world so peaceful and happy - so very different from the world inside this car. She wished it was simple and easy and comfortable, but just looking at Lockwood was a stab in the gut.

“Okay, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“You’ve been acting…off, lately.”

She rolled her eyes; it was so like him to be purposefully vague. Lockwood never was a man of details, just vague plans which tore her apart and always kept her waiting for him to cut deeper, say something that actually mattered.

“I don’t know what you mean. Off how? If you have something to say, then say it.”

He bristled. “Fine. I don’t like it when you lie to me.”

That was the last straw. She opened the car door and was through the gate, halfway up the stairs by the time Lockwood caught up to her.

“Y/N- wait! I didn’t mean it like that, you know it.”

“You think I’m just going to sit there and listen to you talk to me about lying?”

“Y/N, you’re being ridiculous.”

“You make my mouth dry and my head spin and you won’t even acknowledge it, but I’m ridiculous?”

Lockwood presses his lips together, but she was too far gone to stop now. Loving him was electrifying, terrifying and so, so cruel.

“I see the way you shrink, the way you return to whatever shell you’ve made for yourself the second things get too real. And I’m tired of it. I don’t want to keep secrets just to keep you. And maybe it’s my fault. Maybe I’m the one who sealed my fate when I started sneaking around with you, dancing around us. Loving from balconies, in the glow of vending machines, in the dark of the night…t’s exhausting and makes me delirious, but I’ll probably keep doing it anyway.”

And then there was nothing left to say, except for probably the worst thing. “There’s no other explanation. I love you, Lockwood.”

#fanfiction #anthony lockwood imagine #anthony lockwood x reader #anthony lockwood x you #fanfic #lockwood & co #lockwood and co #lockwood and co netflix #lockwood x y/n #cruel summer #taylor swift #lover

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bimboamyrose · 2 years

Text

Unfamiliar (Ch. 13)

Ch. 13 - Equinox ☆ Unfamiliar - A Metamy Fanfic

First two chapters ☆ Previous (Ch.12)

♥ Artwork by @mmm-asbestos ♥

(Left some notes at the end in regards to the updating the fic)

Ch. 13: Equinox

As her coffee brewed, Amy set out two home-baked muffins for breakfast, adding a small bowl of fruit to share. Sonic had plopped himself on the couch the moment they walked through the door and she’d offered to share some breakfast as long as he was there. Now, as she poured them each a hot mug and called him over to eat, she received no response. Amy peeked ahead into the living room to find Sonic fast asleep on her sofa. She clicked her tongue in annoyance. But he hadn’t slept all night, which worried her, so she thought it best to let him lie there a while. She didn’t have anywhere to be until past noon, anyway..

Amy stepped outside to enjoy breakfast on her back porch so as not to disturb her snoozing friend. She looked up at the clear sky and wondered vaguely why Metal hadn’t yet returned. The main issue on her mind, however, was the conversation she’d had with Sonic on the way home. She couldn’t remember a time when he was so high strung- not that he would ever let on. But Amy could feel the anxiety in his dialogue and body language as he seemed to get ahead of himself, frequently outpacing her and hardly taking a breath between words. It was ironic, asking him to slow down; but he’d wanted to walk, after all. So he would apologize, take a breath, and continue speaking until he steadily got too quick to keep up with again. It was making Amy tense.

They discussed what they thought Eggman could be up to. Mostly, Sonic shared a dozen increasingly dubious theories until Amy finally managed to get a word in. “Why don’t we just ask Eggman?” she suggested.

“And you’re calling my ideas crazy,” he chuckled in response. “You think he’ll just tell us? What if he traps us?”

“He’s avoiding trouble for now. Maybe we can sniff something out even if he doesn’t tell us the truth.”

Sonic pondered on it for a moment before snapping his fingers. “I bet we can get him to lead us to his real base. Then we can plant one of Tails’ data reader things on his computer.”

Amy nodded. “That might actually work. And Eggman’s not exactly the hands-off type, I bet we’ll find him at the construction site at some point.”

“Let’s ask around,” Sonic nodded, before proudly adding “Pretty good idea, Ames.”

She giggled back at him humbly, somewhat flushed over the compliment. They agreed to work out the details the next day as Amy still had to get ready for the festival. Sonic looked surprised. “That’s today? Is that why you were up that hill?”

“Yeah, I was doing this silly ritual,” Amy replied as indifferently as possible. “You really didn’t know? How’d you find me?”

It was Sonic’s turn to look sheepish. “When you weren’t home, I kinda just ran around the valley looking for you. I know you’re an early bird and all…”

“Not that early. Well, not usually,” Amy laughed. It was a shame, though; she thought Sonic had at least remembered that she’d told him about the equinox and perhaps had some clue of where she would be.

With that, Sonic offered to carry her the rest of the way home in his usual impatient manner. Once there, he sleepily asked for a cup of coffee but was out like a light before he could drink it. It had been ages since Sonic crashed at Amy’s house. Normally, she enjoyed his company in the morning, but it felt awkward now that she no longer lived alone. Staring off into the sparkling sea, Amy sipped from her mug absently and tried not to think about how much her feet ached from the downhill hike in her questionable footwear.

The familiar electric buzz of Metal’s engine could be heard above. Shielding her eyes as she looked to the sky, Amy waved him down to join her. “Hey Metal. Wanna sit?” she called out as he landed. He was headed for the back door when she continued, “Wait! Sonic’s napping! Let’s hang out here so we don’t wake him.” Metal marched over incredulously and sunk into the seat with crossed arms. Amy pouted back at him. “You okay?”

He looked ahead into the ocean with a slight shrug. The interruption earlier had left him irritable. What’s more, he had questions and wanted to get something to write with, but Sonic was somehow getting in the way of that, too.

“Don’t be so grumpy,” she chuckled. When he refused to acknowledge her, Amy scooted her chair closer to him. “Come on, it’s such a nice day,” she sighed, resting her head gingerly on his shoulder.

It caught him off guard and Metal stiffened at her touch, stifling his whirring turbine in the hopes Amy wouldn’t notice. If she did, she made no mention of it, only continuing to lean on him gently. “Maybe I’ll take one later, too,” she yawned. Metal relaxed his body gradually and turned his head in her direction.

He wanted to bring up what she had begun to tell him that morning, but he wouldn’t push Amy in her groggy state. Her heart rate had been decreasing steadily and her eyelids fluttered as she rubbed her arms against the cool breeze. He would have let her sleep if he thought she’d be comfortable, but he recognized his exceedingly firm shoulder wasn’t much of a pillow. Before Amy could fall asleep completely, he rose, picking her up in his arms. The sudden movement surprised her, but she was too tired to complain. Even growing used to his care, however, Amy couldn’t keep herself from becoming at least a little red-faced when she was met with such tenderness. She hid her face away and her words came out muffled. “Are we going inside?” He nodded as he made his way toward the back door. “Don’t wake Sonic…” Metal was glad she couldn’t see him rolling his eyes. Fair enough; he could be quiet if he wanted to.

Sliding the door open slowly, Metal tiptoed across the house into the bedroom, somehow keeping from expressing his displeasure as he passed Sonic snoozing on the couch. Amy smiled affectionately as he lowered her onto her bed. “So warm!” she kicked off her sandals and buried herself under the sheets immediately. “Thanks for taking me everywhere,” she murmured. “I hope it’s not too much trouble…”

Metal took a seat on the floor at her bedside, leaning on the nightstand and waving a hand flippantly; as if carrying such a lightweight would be cumbersome to him. Besides, he felt it was the least he could do, but opted not to start a dialogue with her while she tried to rest. It was almost 9:00 AM when she was asleep, and Metal set his alarm for 11:00. He needed to recharge as well, so he went idle, thinking it best to conserve what energy he had until he reached Tails later. He expected to come back online just before 11:00- but a voice awoke him about half an hour earlier than that.

“Amy, you here?” Sonic called from the other room. Metal shot up and past her doorway to address him. “Oh, Metal. Where’s Amy?” he asked, rubbing his eyes. Metal held a finger up to his own face as if to shush him.

Having Metal scold him for making noise in his friend’s home was surreal, but Sonic couldn’t deny how strangely pleasant it was to know Metal was taking care of Amy, just as she’d done for him. It didn’t mean he’d let his guard down, however.

He stretched silently under Metal’s unblinking gaze. The breakfast Amy had set out earlier caught his eye, so Sonic snatched up the muffin as he headed out the back. “Gotta get going. Tell Amy thanks for me,” he mumbled. Metal followed him, determined to shut the door quietly himself. Halfway out, Sonic paused and turned back to him. “Got a question. Are you gonna stick around? Since you and Amy keep looking out for each other...”

Metal’s eyes darted before settling downward, looking bitterly toward the ground. He had no answer.

“Hmph. Well, think about it.” Sonic took a bite of his breakfast and gave a wave of his hand before darting off. Metal softly slid the door closed after him.

Think about it. All Metal ever did was think about it, but there were questions that needed answering. He intended to ask Amy to continue her story later, and the sooner the day went by, the sooner, he hoped, there would be answers. It was 23 minutes before the alarm went off. Then Amy would get ready. Then he would take her to her event. Then he’d see Tails. And then-

“Did Sonic leave?” Amy murmured sleepily. He turned to find her leaning on the bedroom doorway, wiping the sleep from her eyes.

How dejected she looked. Sonic left without a thank you or a goodbye even after Amy dropped what she was doing to attend to him. She’d done it without hesitation. What’s more, she inconvenienced herself to keep the house quiet and he couldn’t be bothered to do the same. Metal felt aggrieved on her behalf- he knew the importance that morning’s ritual had for Amy, didn’t Sonic? Weren’t they friends? All Metal could do was nod back at her.

She rested her cheek against the doorframe. “I guess he had somewhere to be....”

Metal watched as Amy rubbed her sore feet together when a resentful thought came to mind; She would have been better off coming home with him. He wished she hadn’t left his side so readily when Sonic showed up.

“I should freshen up.” Amy disappeared into her room once more and Metal snatched his book from the coffee table, making his way outside in a huff. He just wanted to get the day over with.

He was just finishing the last pages of the novel when Amy emerged some time later with her shawl in one hand and a threaded needle in the other. She nestled herself into her chair and greeted Metal with a silent grin.

Metal turned his attention to her mending. She ladder-stitched her way up the tear slowly, neatly- yet the stitches remained visibly all the way up. When she got to the end of the torn part, Amy pulled her thread tightly and brought the fabric together, the stitches disappearing under the fold. Metal cocked his head toward her work upon seeing the technique, causing her to giggle. “Neat trick, huh? Told you it was an easy fix.”

Metal understood the trick now. It was an interesting procedure, but simple all in all. He laid back again slowly, considerably calmer than he’d been when Amy came out of her room.

Amy finished the mend with a knot, snipping the thread with a small pair of scissors. “Sorry about earlier. Sonic can be a little…” she waved her hand around vaguely with a sigh. He looked ahead with a shrug. “You finished the book! Interesting, huh?”

After a long journey, the hero returned home and eventually reunited with his family. It’s a happy ending if one chooses to ignore the epilogue where he’s killed in battle sometime later. Metal sank down further, tossing the book aside as Amy stifled a snort. “Nothing’s as simple as it seems, I guess.” They sat together another few minutes, enjoying the scenery and tepid weather before heading off.

-----

Amy’s eyes widened as she took in the sights of the equinox festival. Vendor booths offering jewelry, crystals, and enticing snacks lined one side of the large forest clearing while a series of colorful tents lined the other. Several small groups of people sat in discussion circles and exchanged items. Some young girls hung garlands and lights from the trees, presumably to be used in the evening for the closing ceremonies. Amy had never seen so many people practicing in one place. “They have- oh, and look! Don’t those look cool?” she didn’t know where to start.

It intrigued Metal to see her so excited. They’d arrived early, so he gestured for her to take the lead. Amy took hold of his outstretched hand and skipped toward the booths with such zeal that she pulled him along without his input. Something about her fervor really seemed to increase her strength.

As she perused through the first handful of booths, Metal could hear some people whispering and noticed as they gestured toward him. He was ready to feel annoyed over the situation, but their enthusiastic smiles and looks of interest were certainly… different from what he’d experienced in town days earlier. No one here appeared taken aback, just excited.

“Hey, what do you think of this?” Amy picked up an earthy, leather-bound journal and held it up to him. “Touch it! It’s so smooth.”

He hesitantly brought his palm up, gently making contact with the book. It was surprisingly pleasant to touch. Metal carefully rubbed the cover between his thumb and forefinger, enjoying the supple texture.

“It smells so nice- oh, I guess you can’t really tell, though…” Amy sheepishly replaced the journal on the booth when the girls who had been decorating the trees earlier skipped up behind them in a fit of giggles. Amy beamed back at them. “Well, hi! Aren’t you cute?”

One of the girls bashfully handed Amy a white daffodil. “To match your dress!”

Amy strained to keep her composure. “Oh, my… Thank you!” She took the flower with a grateful smile- It was all she could do to keep from squealing and tearing up joyfully.

“This one’s for you,” another girl said, reaching up to hand Metal a long stem of bluebells.

He froze, eyes shooting back toward Amy nervously, who nodded keenly back. Metal reached down, mindful of his claws, and took the stem in both hands with some bewilderment. Now what? He looked back to Amy, who was giggling at him playfully.

The first girl clapped. “He likes it!”

“Can you help us, mister?” another asked, already pulling on his leg.

“You’re so tall!” the girl who’d handed him the flower pointed a finger up at Metal.

Overwhelmed at all the little hands, Metal looked from one girl to another before relenting. His vision shot back towards Amy a final time as he made his way across the clearing with the children laughing and hopping around him. She held her face in her hands merrily- He supposed it was meant to be encouraging.

That was so cute… Amy thought. She took a deep breath and turned back to the stationary booth. The woman who stood at the other side leaned in to address her.

“Don’t believe I’ve seen you around before. Welcome!”

“Oh! Thank you,” Amy returned. “Yeah, it’s my first time.”

“What do you practice?”

“Tarot, mostly.”

“Oh?” The woman raised a brow. “I thought you might be a mind-reader.” When Amy’s confusion made its presence aware on her face, the woman continued. “That tall fella that was with you, you have a psychic connection, no?”

Amy was confused. “No? I’m not gifted with telepathy or anything...”

“Ah.” The two looked at one another awkwardly for a moment. Then, suddenly, they both burst into laughter and the tension disappeared. The woman’s initial reaction was strange, but Amy was just thankful that people were being kind to them here. “So you’re just close friends, then?” the woman asked.

Amy beamed at the question. “Getting closer by the day. We’re kinda roommates.”

“Where does a gal even find a mechanical roommate?”

“It’s a long story,” Amy chuckled. “Hey, do you think you could point me in the direction of the wisest tarot reader here? I kinda need some advice…”

“Wisest? Well…” she raised her chin toward the line of tents. “Check that light purple one. I think you’ll find what you need there,” the woman winked.

They chatted for a while longer and Amy thanked her, promising to come back later in the day to take another look at her supplies. She spotted Metal at the other side of the clearing, the gaggle of little girls cheering as he extended an arm to hang a floral garland far higher into the tree than anyone expected to see one. She approached them with a bemused expression. “I don’t think it has to go that high…”

Metal made a sarcastic head-bobbing motion before bringing the string of flowers down to a reasonable height. The bluebell stem was now tied around his wrist, secured with a daisy the girls must have wrapped around it to form a chain. He reeled his arm back in and tapped a finger against his opposite wrist.

“Right,” Amy turned to the girls. “Metal has to get going. Why don’t I help you with the rest?”

The kids groaned with lament as they said good-bye to their new friend. Metal waved back at them as he backed a safe distance away from everyone. He looked to Amy last, who’s cheerful face seemed to do more to brighten the space than any amount of light and decor they could place around the clearing. It was… uplifting? As he took off, many of the guests made bewildered noises and gestured to him happily, impressed by the sight. Very different from his last encounter. A relief, to say the least.

Amy kept true to her word and helped hang up the few garlands that were left before excusing herself. The shopping and conversations were enjoyable, but the main reason she’d come for the first time was for guidance. She nervously approached the small, lilac-tinted tent with a deep breath. A small bell hung outside the entrance. She pulled on it and as it tolled, a motherly voice beckoned her to enter from within.

“Welcome, dear! Come in.”

The inside of the tent was much brighter than Amy expected- the interior was white, with sheer curtains lining the walls and a faux fur rug topped with a low table. An elderly woman sat on the floor with crossed legs, facing the entrance. “Don’t be shy,” she encouraged. “Please, sit.”

Amy’s nerves let up a little when she entered the friendly atmosphere. She knelt across from the woman and introduced herself. “Hi, I’m Amy. I heard you’re the best around here with tarot.”

The woman bellowed with laughter. “I don’t know about the best- probably oldest!”

A smile spread across Amy’s face as she became more comfortable. “Well, I heard you’re very wise.”

“You could say that,” the woman beamed. “But you’re not here for a reading, are you?”

“Well, not exactly.”

“You’re gifted, yes?”

Amy’s brow curled apologetically. “I don’t think so...”

“Nonsense, I can sense it on you. How long have you been reading?”

She was taken aback at this. Amy had never really considered herself gifted in fortune-telling- she just interpreted what the cards told her. “I started almost ten years ago, but I was just eight. Actually, that’s what I wanted to ask you about-”

“Show me your deck.”

“O-okay” Amy pulled the box of cards from her satchel and handed them to the woman. Rather than take them, she held up a palm and pointed to the table in front of them. Amy placed the box atop it. “This is actually-”

“Your very first deck! How wonderful that you’ve kept it.”

“That’s right!” The excitement in Amy’s voice grew. “You’re so knowledgeable- oh, I don’t think I’ve gotten your name?”

The woman placed her hands on her knees and raised her chin confidently. “Call me Madame.”

-----

The two spent the next hour going over the hand Amy had drawn almost a decade earlier. She recounted her adventure on Little Planet to Madame, pointing out how each of the cards made sense to her at the time, but now she was second-guessing her interpretation. Amy’s confidence waned the more she spoke about the last several years spent with Sonic- constantly chasing after him, the frequent rejection, and how her crush was even waning as it approached its 10-year mark. She left out any details about her encounter with Metal for the sake of time, but thoroughly went over every detail she thought relevant. “We’ve actually become really good friends over the years, and I know he cares about me a lot, but…”

“He hasn’t reciprocated your affection,” Madame concluded. Her kettle suddenly whispered from atop a small camp stove rigged behind her. She poured the hot water over a teapot full of green tea leaves.

“Right…” Amy sighed.

Madame rubbed her chin pensively as she waited for the tea to brew. “This is a bit of an unusual spread for such a young girl, but much of it is accurate.” Amy had recreated the spread on the table, and Madame studied it intensely as she thought. “Certainly the Ace of Wands and Tower manifested- you met someone on this adventure, and it was more than a bit chaotic as you’ve explained it. And the reversed Hierophant seems to describe this man well enough. And as for the Nine of Wands- well, I suppose asking the cards whether embarking on a task is ‘worth it’ can be tricky- it told you there would be trials, but hints to success, of which you haven’t seemed to achieve yet. Now, I am wondering about this…” She placed a bony finger on The Moon. “Bit of a wild card, if you’ll pardon the expression,” she grinned. “You asked the cards what the relationship would be like, correct?”

“That’s right- I took this to mean that there would be a lot of surprises- and there have been! We’ve gone on a lot of adventures together, you could say.”

“And he hasn’t been dishonest with you?”

“Trust me, he’s been plenty honest,” she replied. “He’s not one for ambiguity.”

“I see. Well…” Madame poured Amy a cup of green tea and slid it to her. “The Moon is very mysterious. It can represent surprises and unexpected events, but it could also manifest as a sort of a coping mechanism. It can represent fear- such as the fear of being rejected- and the illusion you use to hide it; A little lie you tell yourself to protect your feelings. Now, you’ve spent a lot of time on the notion that if you hold out, a relationship will manifest. Is that correct?”

Definitely not what Amy was hoping to hear. “I guess so,” she replied unhappily.

Madame nodded. “I have a theory, but I’d like to see if the cards agree. Did you pull one this morning?”

Amy took the cup in her hands nervously and looked down at her reflection in the murky tea. She hadn’t- the morning’s excitement and subsequent exhaustion had kept her from the daily ritual. “No, something came up…”

“That’s alright. Why don’t you do one now?” Madame pushed the deck back into a neat stack and sat back.

“Okay,” Amy nodded, starting the ritual. Madame watched her prepare and shuffle the deck with intrigue. Amy’s connection to her cards couldn’t be denied- she knew them like she knew herself. Resting her hand atop the stack, she inhaled and exhaled deliberately before turning over the top card. The Seven Of Swords sat reversed before her.

Madame smirked at its sight. “I thought so.” Amy groaned to herself softly. The woman was right- the card told a story of honesty, confession, and regret. “Now that I have backup, my dear, I would like to offer some advice- but I believe you should keep an open mind.”

Amy looked bewildered as she swirled her tea around, unable to think of what else to say. This was what she had come for- of course she should be open-minded! She just wasn’t sure if she was ready to hear whatever this wise woman had to say. With a reluctant nod, Amy took a sip of tea and listened attentively.

“This man, he knows how you feel about him, but he hasn’t shown the same interest. It could be that he’s just shy about those things, but…” the woman softened her tone as she leaned in closer. “Have you ever asked him directly?”

Reluctantly, Amy thought about the question. Abundantly clear though her affections were, she couldn’t recall actually asking Sonic if he was interested in her- she admittedly felt like that should be his role. It was possible that he just wasn’t the best at expressing those emotions, but that was probably all the more reason to be direct. “No, I haven’t,” she said finally.

“I believe you need to face this fear of rejection head-on. If I were you, I would ask him explicitly how he feels.”

Amy sighed. And maybe confirm those fears. “It’s just been so long, I never know when the right time is to get serious, you know? I mean, I’m seeing him tomorrow, but-”

“Then there’s no time like the present,” the old woman smiled wisely.

“No time like the present,” Amy repeated. She nodded anxiously, knowing it was time.

“Also… I am sensing there is perhaps something else you need to get off your conscience. Am I wrong?”

It annoyed Amy how accurate the assessment was- she was beginning to see why her friends avoided her readings.

She had every intention of speaking to Metal that morning about a particularly sore memory when Sonic interrupted them. In truth, she was relieved to get out of the situation, feeling ashamed at her own past actions when she remembered; But it was clear she wasn’t getting out of revealing it. “Yeah… I need to, uh, clear the air with a friend.”

“You had a fight?”

“Sort of. It was years ago, and-”

“And?” Madame leaned in, gesturing to Amy encouragingly.

“And… There’s no time like the present,” Amy exhaled.

“I think you know what you have to do then.”

The disheartened girl couldn’t seem to get another word out, so Madame continued gently. “You are very gifted in the divine arts. To learn so much about your future at such a young age? Incredible! But reading for yourself can be… near-sighted. Just remember to think outside the box with your interpretations. And don’t keep putting off important conversations! Your time is as valuable as anyone’s.”

There was much for Amy to process. She sat hunched over the table, eyes fixed on her deck as she thought about Madame’s analysis. Amy wanted to protest, to say that the woman was overstepping and to cast doubt over her qualifications, but there was simply nothing to deny. She placed her teacup down and stood from the soft rug.

“Thanks for the kind words, and for your wisdom.” Picking up her cards, she started toward the tent entrance. “I should really get back out there. What do I owe you?”

Madame nodded with a soft hum. “Hm, of course, dear. It was just one card- the conversation was payment enough. Please enjoy yourself. You know where to find me.”

Amy thanked her sincerely and pushed herself through the parted tent opening. She squinted in the afternoon light. A hundred thoughts raced through her mind as she then paced around the gathering site aimlessly. Am I really that scared of rejection? she asked herself. Amy feared she already knew what Sonic’s answer would be, but resolved to find out for good as soon as she had the opportunity. As for Metal, it wasn’t fair to leave him hanging regarding his own memory -she would have to finish what she’d started that morning.

Amy marched several times around the perimeter of the clearing in deep thought until the rumbling in her stomach snatched her from her daze. She hadn’t eaten in far too long. Taking a look around, there were a good number of lunch options, and she really should enjoy the festival while she could. Anything to distract from her vexation.

With that goal in mind, Amy spent the rest of the afternoon partaking in whatever activities she could. She sampled a few offerings from several lunch stands, sat in on a meditation session, and even joined a group of young women discussing several supernatural topics. By the time evening began to fall, Amy had all but forgotten her session with Madame. She genuinely enjoyed herself there.

Amy finished her shopping, noticing that many of the vendors were closing as sunset approached. Just as she’d welcomed the day, most of the guests sat quietly, observing as the sky changed from pale blues to bright, fiery shades, and finally darkened to a deep navy as night fell. This was about the time Metal had agreed to pick her up, so she made sure to be ready to go once he arrived. To her delight, however, it appeared that the festivities were just beginning.

A bonfire was lit in the center of the clearing as guests gathered around and arranged mats and blankets for guests to rest on. A band seemed to form out of nowhere and began to play festive tunes while several people formed a chain around the bonfire, skipping around it melodically. Then the chain broke and many more joined in on the dancing as others cheered and sang from the mats on the ground. Amy was in awe- It was her first time witnessing such a thing in person. She was just contemplating whether she should join in when she heard Metal’s engine overhead.

She swung her arm up at him merrily for a moment before the sight of Metal jerked her back to reality. A knot formed in Amy’s stomach as she remembered her conversation with the old woman, but she did her best to appear normal as her friend landed. “Hey- good to see you.”

Metal held up a palm in greeting. “Did it go okay?” Amy asked him. He responded by bringing a sharp index finger to his forehead. She hadn’t noticed at first, but the paint job on his forehead was now spotless. “You look great, Metal. I’m happy for you.” Amy clasped her hands in front of her demurely. Normally, she would be compelled to take his hand in hers or go in for a hug, but Amy felt self-conscious about it now. The old woman’s words rang in her head when she looked at Metal; she was embarrassed to have kept him wondering about it all day.

Unready and desperate for a buffer, Amy invited him to join her in watching the festivities a bit closer, already inching herself in that direction. “Why don’t we hang out for a little before we go home?”

It was certainly new to Metal, if a bit unusual. He followed her along, surprised she wasn’t more tired after such a long day. Her heart rate seemed slightly… elevated? But she was probably just excited about the festival.

Amy sat on a free mat closer to the fire. It was pleasantly warm at that distance, combating the cool night air. She rubbed at her arm, unsure if the chill she felt was due to the weather or her nerves. Metal joined her soon after, stretching out his legs as he sat next to her. Staring starkly ahead, Amy tried to focus on the fire and music in vain. But all that ran through her head was the search for a tactful way with which she could bring up the subject again. She stared silently into the flames. Her vision was fuzzy.

The loud music and crowd of dancers were new to Metal. He doubted he’d ever been close to this type of atmosphere even before he lost his memory, and it was a bit overwhelming seeing everything that took place at once. Even as large groups danced together, others twirled around in pairs, and still more people chatted and laughed as they observed. A young man was weaving between groups big and small, and Metal saw him taking a close look at the palm of a woman’s hand. And there he and Amy were, sitting quietly on a mat, observing. It was strange to him that Amy was so hushed when he fully expected to hear all about what was happening around them. He nudged her on the shoulder with his elbow and she practically jumped.

“Ah- you startled me! Sorry!” the flustered girl fidgeted with the front of her shawl, avoiding eye contact. This shouldn’t be so hard...

Metal was somewhat startled himself. It was worrisome to see Amy so jumpy; she hadn’t even acted that way when she was nervous about the team meeting. Perhaps the loud atmosphere was making her skittish? The young man Metal had seen earlier came up behind them just then, offering Amy a hand.

“Would you like to dance, miss?” he inquired politely. Turning to Metal, he continued. “I hope you don’t mind if I borrow her for a bit.” Metal looked at him with some skepticism. He wasn’t sure what the man had been doing when he was making rounds, but he didn’t seem to be asking anyone else to dance.

“Uh, I’m not much of a dancer,” Amy lied. In truth, she was just too uneasy to enjoy it.

“The moves are simple,” he insisted.

She shook her head. “I’m okay…”

With a coy smile, the young man squatted next to her. “How about a palm reading, then? You look like something is vexing you.”

Amy clicked her tongue incredulously. She didn’t want to be rude, but what a presumptuous thing to say- even if it happened to be true. “No, thank you. I prefer the cards.”

“Ah, a tarot reader. Well, come find me if you change your mind,” he said as he stood up. Before long, he had moved on to solicit another girl.

“Pft. Palm reading…” Amy hadn’t meant to say it out loud. “I mean, not that I’m judging.” She was absolutely judging.

Metal tilted his head with a confused look. “Oh, it’s just another form of divination. I don’t really get it- not like the lines on your palms change at all. What’s there to read?” Metal found the uncharacteristically snarky response amusing. He held out his own palm to her assertively. “You want me to give you a palm reading?” she chortled. “Okay…”

Hesitantly, Amy took Metal’s hand in one of hers, observing the uniform grooves that made up the interconnected plates in his hands. “Well, you have quite the lifeline,” she smirked, using her finger to trace where the base of his thumb was attached to the palm. “It means you’re going to live a long, long life. Maybe forever,” she shrugged playfully. Metal made a long tone that made him sound interested. It made Amy laugh a bit as she continued the ruse. “I guess that would make this your heart line- ah-” An arbitrary thought introduced in her mind. Robots don’t have hearts, how would he have a heart line? She scoffed aloud softly. They don’t have any palm lines! Don’t be stupid, she reasoned with herself. Metal leaned his head closer to hers inquisitively and she continued, more timidly. “A-also long… I don’t really know what that means, though, sorry.” She let his hand slip out of her palm gently and went back to avoiding eye contact.

It wasn’t what he’d become used to with her. Metal scooted closer and nudged her softly with his shoulder. She could rest her head if she was tired, he thought, but he didn’t get an immediate response out of her.

It’s time. Amy looked to him hesitantly. “Do you want to head home? I think we should talk.”

The words made Metal nervous. He had an idea of what was coming next. Agreeing, he offered a hand getting up. She pretended not to see it and rose on her own.

Once they’d gone past most of the celebrating people and reached the edge of the clearing, he offered her a hand once more. Amy looked to it, wrapping her shawl tighter around her shoulders. “Actually, do you mind if we walk?” Amy wasn’t confident she would be able to convince herself to speak again if she had to wait until they got home. She flexed her feet, still sore from that morning.

The two continued through the forest path. Amy kept looking straight ahead as she eventually began. “I’m sure you remember I started talking about it this morning- how you went on your own and all.” She glanced at him just momentarily. “Well, it wasn’t anything like now. Um…” It took her a moment to form the words. “So… A few years ago, you lured a bunch of us into a huge battle. We thought Eggman was stringing us along, but when we got to you, we found out that you’d imprisoned him and taken over his whole deal. Sonic, Tails, Knuckles- even Cream and some others came along. So much happened in three days…” Amy went on to recount some of the events that lead up to their encounter, not wanting to leave anything out.

Somehow, the knowledge that he’d endangered Cream was sickening to Metal. He already knew about fighting the others, but she must have been so young then; even younger than Amy was when he met her. It felt heinous.

Amy had reached the end of the adventure- she took a few breaths before mustering the courage to recall their battle. “When we finally got there, you looked nothing like yourself. Eggman didn’t even know how you’d transformed. I remember you could speak- I mean, you mostly threatened us... I thought you were all talk, honestly, until…” She stopped in her tracks. It was surprisingly painful to remember, especially now. Amy couldn’t believe she was speaking to the same being who had threatened the lives of everyone she cared about all at once. She looked up to find Metal’s crimson eyes staring through her. “I can stop, if you want.” It was more of a hope that he’d want her to.

There was feeling conflicted, and then there was this. Metal hadn’t anticipated Amy would be this uncomfortable, which in turn made him feel the same. But he needed to know. He approached her slowly, reaching out to take her hand in his, his normally whispering engine now beginning to hiss. She tightened her fingers around his and went on reluctantly.

“Okay… So, you kept changing. You turned into this huge... monster... you went on a total rampage.” Amy instantly regretted her choice of words, but there was no going back. “If we hadn’t all been there to stop you, I don’t know what would’ve happened.”

Monster. It was hurtful to hear her describe him that way- but if the story was true, he couldn’t blame her. Metal could feel his body reacting inhospitably, his thoughts scrambling. He tried to take his hand away but Amy stopped him, tightening her grip.

“Wait, Metal- I want you to know that I don’t blame you. You were just... unrecognizable, filled with so much rage. I know that wasn’t really you, and I don’t want that to happen to you again. I feel so guilty... I wish I’d helped you back then instead of chasing after Sonic like always...”

She felt guilty? What a cruel joke. He remembered now; The intense, bitter hatred that drove him to transform. He thought about Sonic, how he longed to destroy him, and the objective Metal had self-imposed to eliminate his copy- but, wasn’t Metal the copy? Did Amy get the details of their meeting right? He pulled away from her harshly, bringing his hands up to his forehead in panicked confusion. A sharp ring broke out in his head. It must have been what a headache felt like.

“Metal-” Amy gasped. He looked like he was in pain- something she didn’t think was possible. “Did you remember?” He nodded, still cradling his head in his hands.

Pure static rushed through Metal’s circuitry. It wasn’t just the memory of his malformed plan that came back to him, but his vicious motivation as well. Malice blazed in him when he pictured his defeat at Sonic’s hands. The unwavering hostility was like a curse- how was it possible that he was still the same being that Amy described so tenderly just days earlier? The existential guilt that accumulated in the dark corners of his mind was suddenly unrelenting, weighing on him as it increased tenfold. And then he remembered another defeat from his past. And another. And the looking anger from the aftermath of each. He became buried in an avalanche of memories.

His system overwhelmed, Metal sensed himself about to shut down,his body screeching as every fan struggled to spin fast enough; And knowing he’d been made to withstand worse, he couldn’t have felt more pathetic.

Amy’s hands clasped around his face compassionately.

“Metal,” she pleaded. He struggled to lift his view, but once there, he stared at her for far too long. Amy held firm, locking her gentle eyes with his fiery ones as fans and engines eased steadily. Slowly, Metal loosened his hands away from his head, and the corners of Amy’s mouth raised assuredly. “You’ll be okay,” she affirmed, her hands moving from Metal’s face to behind his back, pressing her body to his. He was warm. “I’m sorry... if that memory is painful.”

It felt selfish, but his body demanded her comfort. Metal immediately returned Amy’s embrace, holding her firmly to him and clutching the back of her hair eagerly. Painful. What a devastating thing to feel in a body that shouldn’t have the ability. But why should it have been? He wasn’t the one who’s life had been threatened- and yet he was the one being consoled.

His system was returning to its usual state, but the past still echoed in Metal’s mind noisily. As he remembered the details of that day, Amy’s fierce countenance in the heat of battle appeared before him. Metal hadn’t felt anything for her then- she’d been just another hurdle in his scheme, someone he’d have no qualms with striking down if she got in his way. And he’d tried to. It felt impossible that he didn’t remember the compassion she’d shown him then, when it weighed so heavily on him now. But he couldn’t forget her again; he wouldn’t allow himself to. It was more than a promise, it was an objective to impose on his every action from that moment on. Metal rested his head on hers warily, combing his fingers gently through the locks at the back of Amy’s head. She closed her eyes with a gentle humming sigh at the pleasant sensation.

“Let’s go home…” Amy spoke softly and serenely. She felt him nod, his cheek nuzzling the crown of her head. She began to put some distance between them, but didn’t make it far as Metal hoisted her up in his grip. “Oh, I meant we should walk…” He returned with a look as if to ask if she was joking. “Come on, I feel bad that you carry me everywhere; it’s not that far.”

The hike would take close to an hour from where they were. Metal denied her request with a shake of his head.

“Why not?” He simply glanced at her blistered feet momentarily, suggesting that she should stay off them. “Hmph- I’m fine... Put me down.” Amy pouted, her cheeks on the verge of glowing.

Stubborn, he remembered. Metal hiked her up higher against his chest, strengthening his hold around her. She was practically pinned to him now. Rather than continue to protest, Amy crossed her arms in front of her and relented. “Fine… I guess it’ll be faster…” It was strange- she always assumed that being held by those steely arms would be cold or unpleasant, but Amy had grown to find it comforting- warm, even- and that was what felt wrong about it to her. It felt… inappropriate, she thought.

Unbeknownst to her, Metal was similarly at odds with the behavior. He could hardly admit to himself how pleasurable he found the task of carrying her home, let alone to Amy. Capricious, perhaps, and he wasn’t sure if it was so appropriate, either; But holding Amy brought Metal such solace that he chose to ignore it, convincing himself that he only squeezed her against him for her sake. The closer the better.

Amy’s simple “Thank you” were the only words exchanged between them on their way home. Metal tried not to let his thoughts wander too much so that he did not become overwhelmed again. He knew he couldn't hold it back for long with all the information pouring into his memory at once.

It suddenly became difficult to think of Sonic without becoming enraged. Though Sonic's mere presence irritated him, Metal thought he was over the intense loathing from the first time he encountered Sonic after losing his memory. But it was all too logical now, and so he struggled to ignore it. The memory of his meeting with Amy that seemed so clear just yesterday was also jumbled- he remembered their conversation and his defeat, but something about his impression of Sonic was… off. Metal was beginning to gain an understanding that he was superior to his rival, so how could it be that he was created in Sonic’s image and not the other way around? And there was Amy- supposedly one of Sonic’s best friends, but it often appeared to Metal that he didn’t treat her as such. Metal was undoubtedly a better companion to her- Sonic himself suggested that Amy and Metal “keep looking out for each other”- perhaps Sonic was jealous.

Before he could fixate too much on his rival, Metal came up on the valley and slowed his descent. He glanced down at Amy, comfortably resting in his arms with heavy eyes. He wasn’t ignorant- he knew the reason she pursued Sonic. It must have been the same reason Metal couldn’t bring himself to leave Amy’s side and why he found her presence so soothing; friendship didn’t exactly describe it. He was reminded of the second film they’d watched last night; the warm and compassionate manner in which the lovers handled one another. Like the kind way Amy spoke to and about Metal, or how he caressed her tightly when they traveled together. He wasn’t sure how he processed the conclusion, if it was even possible, but… he loved her.

But it stood to reason, then, that if she could think of Sonic that way with all the deficiencies in the way he treated her, that Amy could feel that way about Metal, too. He wondered if their time spent together now would make up for how he’d wronged her in the past. He loved her; he wanted to tell her.

Metal didn’t quite land, instead reaching close to the ground and propelling himself forward, just hovering off the ground. Amy noticed the change. “Oh, I haven’t seen you do this, since…”

Since before he’d lost his memory, probably. He didn’t know why he moved that way either, but something about it clicked. Almost as if it was natural. Walking never really felt innate to him, he simply mimicked what Amy and Tails did when they’d “met.” This just made more sense to him now.

He put Amy down slowly, bending forward to give her the opportunity to stand on her own gradually. She didn’t expect her feet to throb when placing them back on the ground after a rest, so she hobbled to the couch to kick the lousy sandals off. With a sigh of relief, she sunk back into the cushion. Metal took his place on the sofa next to her.

“Thanks for bringing me home… my feet really were killing me,” she admitted sheepishly. “Probably should’ve chosen better shoes, but they looked cute, so... you know.”

Metal was barely listening to her words, trying instead to decide how to make his confession. He feared it was too impulsive, calculating all the possible ways in which she could react. He barely understood it himself. He felt his body tense again at the thought of confessing.

“I mean it,” she turned to him, reaching out to place her hand on his. “Thanks for everything today. It’s weird, but… I think we’re starting to become best friends. Don’t tell Cream,” she giggled and gave his hand a small squeeze in her customary way. “Metal, even though you’ve done hurtful things in the past, you need to know that I forgive you. I hope you can forgive yourself, too.”

Forgiveness. That was one thing he hadn’t begun to process. He assumed the guilt would just continue to well inside him and that pushing it to the depths of his memory would be enough. But hearing her say that she forgave him made his shoulders feel just a bit lighter. He lowered his eyes to view her hand atop his.

Amy did the same, her lashes curling down toward her cheeks. “I’m still here for you if you need me.” Though her shame was fading, Amy regretted the unsympathetic attitude she’d taken toward Metal after that battle. She thought about the vulnerable, insecure state he must have been in and how things could be different if she’d taken the care back then that she did now. Seeing how docile, how warm, how normal he could be gave her hope. It was clear now that he wasn’t so one-sided.

Metal sensed her calm heartbeat, her relaxed breathing. He made sure to record her reassuring words and the mannerisms he found so enchanting, the added memories compelling him toward the new objective he’d created. He still had work to do in understanding his past and making decisions for his future, but he knew he wanted to make room for Amy in that future somehow. He loved her, but it wasn’t the time. Enjoying her friendship was enough.

----

Somewhere in a dimly lit room, a map appeared on a wall-sized monitor behind a man’s broad shadow. The speaker upon his desk chimed and a robotic voice came through with a message.

“Metal Sonic- active. Initiating systems.”

A small dot began to blink on the map and the man swiveled in his chair to face it, grinning.

“Finally,” he responded sharply. “Make the announcement.”

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Wow that only took uhhhhh 19 months? ksjcjhsUmmm let’s just say I had a very complicated 2021. My living situation became pretty weird and I started a different role at work that came with a lot of new responsibility. I was even published professionally in an industry mag so I can't say I haven’t been writing I guess lolI also happen to be in the process of moving which coincided with like the first vacation I’ve taken with my family since. ever? I leave in a week and I have to be moved out a few days after getting back but you know it’s fine i’m fine hahaAnyway I appreciate everyone’s kind comments over the past few months! But I’m overall in a good state (knock on wood), so I’m trying my best to keep updating after I’m back and settled in my new place. Which is to say, not for another two months at least (sorry!)Thanks again to whoever is still reading. Besos ♥ ~

#metamy #unfamiliar #amy rose #sth #i'm back babeyyyyy #metal sonic x amy rose #ch. 13 #metal sonic

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