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#i use a different one now but i liked the borders so i kept them
dilemmaontwolegs · 4 months
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Irresistible || CL16
Pairing: Charles Leclerc x fem!reader Summary: A one night stand comes back to haunt you when your father plans to marry his mother. Warnings: 18+ only, nsfw, smut, cheating, time skipping, kind of taboo (future stepbrother) WC: 6.1k F1 Masterlist || One || Two
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December 2019
Two years ago you had spent an amazing week in Monaco during a European getaway. It was meant to be a once in a lifetime trip but now you sat opposite your father at the kitchen table in your family home trying to understand what he was saying.
“…the kindest woman. You’ll love her, just like I do.”
He fell in love so now you were expected to leave behind everyone you knew and just start a new life with his new family. You knew he had been happier since the trip but you never would have thought it was because of some long distance relationship. He had kept that to himself for a long time.
“Can’t you just have a midlife crisis like everyone else?” you asked. “Why are you moving us across the world for a stranger?”
“Did you not hear me? Pascale is not a stranger. Please don’t make this harder than it needs to be. I love her.”
Resentment built and you pushed your chair back as you stood up. “You loved mum too, and look how that ended.”
Your father sighed and you immediately felt guilty for the heaviness in that one breath. It wasn’t his fault your mother decided domestic life wasn’t for her and left when you were just a baby. It wasn’t his fault that she met a man who had a motorcycle and flirted with the wrong side of the law. And it certainly wasn’t his fault that they crashed in a high speed police chase when you were 15.
You sank back into your seat and picked at the chipped Formica table top. “I’m sorry, dad.”
A calloused hand from a life of hard work gently patted yours. “It’s a big adjustment, pumpkin, but you said Monaco was a beautiful place. I thought you would be happy.”
“It was, but I’ll never see my friends.”
“I’m not saying you can replace them, but you’ll make new ones. And even with the different timezones I’m sure you can make arrangements to video call each other.”
He was making an effort, you could recognise that at least. “Fine. I suppose it won’t be that bad.”
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August 2017
All of the streets seemed to look the same, the stonework buildings towering over you as the afternoon sun dipped even further below the mountains that bordered the place. You had no idea which way it was to get back to the hotel and you weren’t going to risk the international roaming charges to use the internet on your phone, you already spent most of your savings on the clothes in the bags that hung from your wrists.
You were too busy looking up and trying to get a sense of direction that you didn’t see the man getting out of his car. Pain flared in your knee as a door slammed into it and you dropped the bags to clutch your leg that throbbed and drew a groan from your lips. It was worse than hitting your funny bone and you grabbed the hood of the car to balance when you nearly teetered over.
“Mon Dieu, est-ce que tu vas bien?” 
You couldn’t understand a word he said but the accent was almost enough to make you feel better, until you looked up. The setting sun cast a golden glow around the man and you swore he was more beautiful than the godlike statues you had seen in Rome the week before. 
“I, I,” you stammered stupidly as he knelt down beside you and repacked the bags that had fallen to the street. His bright green eyes lingered on the red lace bra and panty set you had spent a small fortune on before he cleared his throat and shoved them in the bag. “I don’t speak French.”
“You should really be watching where you are walking,” he said as he stood up, his accent saturating his words and making the scolding sound sexy. And it was most definitely a scolding. “You could have been hit by a car.”
“I was,” you pointed out as you tested your leg and winced when you put your weight on it.
“I meant one that was driving past. It was a good thing I was parked.” He looked down his nose and shook his head. Somehow this stranger had managed to make you feel guilty for disappointing him, and it started to infuriate you.
“I really don’t think this is all my fault,” you snapped as you swiped your bags back. “This is a footpath, and that is a no parking zone. Maybe you should concentrate more on where you should be driving than how I should be walking.”
You narrowed your eyes at him and he did the same until his lip twitched and a smirk broke out. “You think I am a bad driver?”
You looked at the double yellow lined he was parked over and squared your shoulders. “Does a duck quack?”
He mouthed the question back before he understood what you were implying and laughed as he took a step closer. “I like you, you are funny, and delusional. What is your name, and what are you doing tonight?”
You were still trying to figure out if he had complimented or insulted you when someone called out and stole his attention before you could answer.
“Charles, dépêche-toi!”
You both turned to the group that had arrived, all of the young men looking almost as handsome as he did. They had to be from the same modelling agency, or there was something seriously strong in the water here.
“Well?”
You looked at Charles and found he was still waiting for an answer. “Probably still trying to find my hotel.”
“Funny,” he chuckled before waving his friends off. “Je te rattraperai plus tard.” He took your bags and stuffed them in the backseat of his car before offering his hand. “I can’t have you walking these streets all night, god knows what trouble you could cause.”
“I was doing fine, until you hit me with your car, and now you want to drive me in it? Nuh-uh, I would rather take my chances on foot.”
You stepped around him to get your bags back, or at least you tried to but your aching knee gave out. You would have fallen to the pavement but a strong arm curled around your waist and pulled you against him. 
“You could have just asked if you wanted to hold me, biche.”
“Excuse me?” You pushed away from him and gritted your teeth through the pain. “I’m not sure in what world you think that is flirting, asshole.”
Charles threw his head back with a laugh and easily caught up to you, his palm heating the small of your back as he guided you around to face his car again “Biche, not bitch, it’s a cute little deer. I can call you Bambi instead, I quite like that. Unless you want to tell me your name?”
You rolled your eyes, unsure whether the endearment was an improvement at all, but stepped into the car when he opened the door for you. “No thanks, I don’t know if you are some sort of stalker.”
He laughed again before walking around to the driver's seat. “What hotel are you staying in?”
“The Fairmont.”
The flashy car roared to life and you turned to face Charles when his laughter grew. “So you would tell a stalker where you are staying but not your name?”
“That sounds to me like you are admitting you are a stalker,” you shot back with a daring arch of your brow. “Besides, I’m staying with a man that would snap you like a twig if you tried to turn me into a skin suit. I don’t have anything to worry about.”
“Your boyfriend?”
You snorted at the question and shook your head. “My father.”
He smiled at the news as he pulled out into the traffic and drove the short distance to the hotel. Your meandering had only left you two streets away from it so it was probably more of a nuisance to drive you there but Charles didn’t seem to mind. 
“Are you enjoying the city?”
“It’s beautiful,” you said with a nod. “It’s almost a shame to leave tomorrow.”
“Have you been to Jimmyz?”
“Not yet.” You had heard of the club but most nights had consisted of a late dinner with your father and then bed. It was actually the first day you hadn’t spent hanging out with him, he had gone to get a haircut that was long overdue after all the travelling and you had used the alone time for a little girl shopping.  
“You should come tonight, my friends and I are going and I owe you for hitting you with my car.”
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January 2020
Your father thought it would be a good idea for Pascale to come and stay for a week before the big move. She owned a hair studio so it was easy to take some time off and she was due to arrive any moment. He had all but begged you to make an effort with Pascale before leaving for the airport. He had never brought a woman home, or at least while you were there, so it was strange to see how he fussed over the crumbs in the kitchen sink. 
You did a quick final inspection through the house but with most of the belongings already sold or shipped off to Monaco there was next to nothing that could make a mess. You only hoped all your things arrived in time at the other end. It was bad enough you were going to be staying with one of your step brothers to begin with but it was only for a few weeks while the renovations on the new house dad and Pascale had bought were finished. He promised that your room would have a view of the ocean and your own bathroom - it was absolutely a bribe but you were fine with that.
The car pulled into the driveway, past the large real estate sign with an unmissable SOLD sticker across it. You had seen a handful of pictures of Pascale on your dad’s phone but when she stepped out of the car you realised they didn’t do her justice. Despite being on multiple planes that never made for a decent sleep, she looked refreshed and even her hair was still in a perfect blowout. She was really pretty, or maybe it was the bright smile she gave your dad when he parked the car.
“Do I look alright, Peter?” she asked as she touched her hair nervously and straightened her blouse.
“It’s not an interview, sweetheart,” he chuckled as he grabbed her suitcase. “You look beautiful.”
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August 2017
The club was unlike anything back home. The music seemed to seep into your skin, the bass vibrating in your bones. Even the air was intoxicating with the promise of a night of bad decisions.
“Bambi, I didn’t think you would actually come.”
You turned away from the bar and found Charles drinking in the sight of your short, tight dress. His eyes followed every line, dip and curve of your body and he bit his lip as he dragged them back up to your face. For the price you had paid you were happy it had the desired effect.
With your confidence bolstered you sent him a smirk and grabbed your drink that had been placed down. “Well you did say you owe me, you can start with my drink.”
Charles didn’t look away as he reached into his pocket and stepped closer, his hand reaching past to slap a bill on the bar top. His scent reached you, the cologne inviting you to lean closer and inhale the decadence of vanilla and bergamot. “The usual, please.”
He could have stepped back while his drink was made but he chose to stay close, his eyes flicking down your cleavage to see the red lace set he had been daydreaming about all evening. “How about we get out of here?”
You had fantasised about a summer romance since the trip began, what young woman wouldn’t when they were going to Europe? But you hadn’t been able to conjure a face as handsome as his when you closed your eyes late at night and your hand drifted beneath the blankets. Now you had the opportunity in the palm of your hands and you weren’t going to let it slip from your fingers.
Tipping your head back, you met his green eyes that dared you rise to the challenge. “Lead the way.”
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February 2020
You were jet lagged and exhausted when you finally reached your temporary accommodation.
“Charles is just on his way back from work but he shouldn’t be too far away. Make yourself at home, sweetheart,” Pascale said as she helped you with your bags.
The apartment was bare with mostly blank white walls and a few framed pictures of Ferrari cars. It was a typical boy space that was in desperate need of soft furnishings to liven it up, but that wasn’t your problem to deal with.
“He just bought the place so he’s still finding his ‘vibe’,” Pascale noted when she saw you eying up the empty space, the words sounding like they were verbatim and not her own. “But there’s two bedrooms and two bathrooms so you’ll have your own space. The builder said our house will be finished in a few weeks.”
“It’s great, Pascale,” you assured her as you set your bag down on the bed with a long yawn. You were surprised to find it had a floral duvet and a sheet set already made up - something you were sure she had done for you.
She nodded and placed your other suitcase down before leaving, closing the door most of the way. “I’ll let you rest for a bit.”
You woke to voices down the hall and found a blanket had been draped over you at some point.
“Can’t she sleep on Enzo’s couch? I don’t even know her, she could try to sell my things. There have been stranger things done before.”
“Ah-ah, no, and she doesn't even watch racing. Peter said she had no interest in the sport.” Pascale sighed heavily, the same way your father did when he was having to repeat himself. “She’s a lovely young lady, and she’s going to be family so please treat her as such.”
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August 2017
“Where are we going?”
Charles just smiled and kept driving through the quiet streets before pulling into a hotel far nicer than the one you were staying in.
“You live in a hotel?”
He laughed and tossed his car key to the valet driver. “No, but I have a roommate who would probably not be very happy with me if we woke him.”
He already had a room and led the way to the elevators with the confidence of a man who had certainly been here before. You didn’t mind, you were hardly a saint, and you knew exactly what you were doing when you dressed for the night out. You knew how you wanted the night to end.
For a man who looked eager to undress you, like he had done with his eyes, he didn’t touch you until the door was firmly closed behind him. But once that door locked shut it was as if the leash he had kept a hold of himself with was dropped and he pinned you against the wall, his lips finding the hollow of your neck.
The temperature in the room seemed to swell as his kiss climbed higher and he finally reached your lips. You moaned at the feel of his hands roaming your body and his tongue slipped past your parted lips when he dragged the zip down your spine.
“J'ai envie de le faire depuis que je t'ai vu pour la première fois. You are so fucking sexy.” [I have been wanting to do this since I first saw you.] He stepped back and watched the material fall away to reveal the tempting red lace he had been dying to see.
Your heart skipped a beat at the hunger in his eyes and you reached behind your back to unclip the bra. It was thrilling to watch the colour of his eyes fade to black as you revealed more skin to him but when you reached for your panties he spurred forward to stop you.
“Mine,” he stated as he brushed your hands aside and hooked his fingers into the waistband instead. Falling to one knee, he dragged the lace down your thighs and let them tangle around your ankles before kissing your hip. Your head fell back against the wall with a thud as he nudged your legs apart and pulled one leg over his shoulder. “What’s my name?”
Your forehead crumpled as his breath warmed your cunt and you buried your hands in his hair to hurry him up, but he was too strong.
“What’s my name?” he repeated.
“Ch-Charles,” you stammered as his fingers teased your entrance without delving further, driving you wild with need.
“Good girl, remember that when I make you scream.”
The words left you drunk and you would have dared him to make good on them but his tongue found your clit and two fingers curled into your cunt. All thoughts left your head while he was knelt fully dressed before you and all too soon his name echoed across the room as he brought you to your first of many highs.
You could barely walk by the time you collapsed on the king bed and your head was spinning from the various positions you had found yourself in. You only bothered to move when a phone vibrated on the bedside table and you reached over to see if it was yours.
Giada: When are you coming home?
“Need a break, Bambi?” Charles teased as he returned from the minibar with a bottle of water, cracking the top off and offering it to you first.
You took the bottle with a grateful smile and swallowed a few mouthfuls to ease your dry throat. “Who’s Giada?”
His eyes flicked to his phone and he grabbed it, quickly replying to the message before tossing it aside and caging you beneath his body. “My roommate. Now, where were we?”
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You should have been in a dead sleep but something had woken you. It was an ungodly hour given the darkness that was still outside but it did mean you saw the light of Charles' phone. His soft snores were silenced by the pillow he buried his face in and you took a second to admire the sight of his toned body in the moonlight.
Giada: It’s so hard to sleep without you here. I love you xxx
You slipped out of the bed without waking him and hated how good the ache between your legs felt because of him. You should have known a man like him was bound to have a girlfriend. She was probably a model.
You quickly gathered your clothes and dressed on the way to the door, closing it silently behind you. No one had to know you were even there and in a few hours you would be heading to the airport, never to see Charles again.
It took far longer than you expected to find your way back to the hotel and your father was already awake when you entered the room.
“You look like you had a rough night.”
You continued on your way to your bedroom in desperate need of a shower before packing. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“Fair enough.”
You reemerged looking refreshed but you still felt contradictory inside. You told yourself that you did nothing wrong but it didn’t help when you knew there was a woman waiting at home for the man you had fucked. Fucked didn’t begin to cover what you had done - he had hung the stars and the moon, he had expanded your mind to the pleasures that could be sought with the right experience and partner. He had ruined you for all the men back home.
You fought to tug the zip of your suitcase closed, more than ready to leave the place behind, and growled in frustration. Your dad knew better than to bring attention to your mood but he gently moved you aside and closed the stubborn zip himself.
“How was your night?” you asked as you went to the kitchenette and made a strong brew of coffee.
He smiled to himself and picked up the suitcase to add it to the pile by the door but his smile dimmed when he saw how miserable you looked. “Nothing special, I just had dinner and a walk by the water.”
Normally you would have picked up on the lie, but you were too self centred to notice how happy he looked. He was glowing.
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February 2020
You followed the voices to the living room and found Pascale in the doorway saying her goodbyes. You couldn’t see the face of the man she was talking to, only a head of dark hair, but he turned when his mothers attention was drawn away. 
“You…” you breathed as you recognised the green eyes that had haunted your dreams for two years. Pascale frowned and you plastered a fake smile as you held your hand out. “You must be Charles.”
“I am,” he hummed as he looked at your hand before enveloping it in his much larger one. “It is a pleasure to meet you.”
“I’ll see you both for dinner tonight, Charles can drive you until we get you a car.”
Charles seemed to be hearing the news for the first time. “I can?” 
“Yes, you can. Now make sure she feels at home alright, maybe introduce her to some of your friends.” Pascale blew a kiss and left Charles to close the door.
His eyes sparkled with mischief as he locked it and you realised at that moment just how fucked you were because, despite the quick prayer you had sent, Charles had recognised you too. “Hello again, Bambi.”
“Fuck me,” you muttered beneath your breath.
Charles smirked and booped you on the nose as he walked past you and towards his kitchen. “No thanks, you’re going to be my sister soon.”
You hated that for a second you were disappointed before common sense returned and you went to your room to find your phone. “Dad, I can’t stay here.”
“Why not?”
“Charles is an asshole, that’s why,” you whispered angrily, your eyes scanning the bottom of your door to see if he was eavesdropping. 
“It’s only for two weeks, three at the most, plus he will be heading back to Italy for work on Monday.”
“Who the hell works in Italy and lives in Monaco?”
“He does, you would know that if you had a conversation with him and got to know him.”
“I don’t want to get to know him, I want to go home.”
“This is home now,” your dad said quietly as you heard Pascale arrive home at the other end. “I’ll see you at dinner.”
You flopped onto your bed with a groan as the call ended. Two weeks. Two fucking weeks. You groaned again as you realised that it may be just two weeks of living with him but there would be a lifetime of having him as your step brother. “Fuck!”
“I might have to get a swear jar to cover your half of the utilities.”
You surged upright and found Charles leaning against the balcony door, a balcony you apparently shared with his room next door. “Can I just make one thing very clear? As far as I am concerned, whatever happened two years ago - it didn’t. Nothing happened. I never saw you before today.”
“Nothing happened?” he chuckled as he walked into the room. “You still have that sense of humour because I remember a lot happening. Do I need to jog your memory?”
You hated how your body betrayed you, how your eyes followed his every step as he closed the distance between you. “You’re actually sick. Our parents are getting married.”
He stopped in front of you, his fingers brushing a stray strand of hair from your face and his eyes traced your lips. “You were gone when I woke up.”
“Giada wasn’t your roommate.”
“No, she wasn’t,” he admitted with that same smirk that simultaneously had you wanting to both slap it or kiss it away. “I have a new roommate now.”
“Not for long, I am gone as soon as the house is ready.”
“Oh, Bambi,” he laughed, swaggering his way back to the balcony door. “I wasn’t talking about you.”
“Asshole.”
“Biche.”
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“Charles, you should introduce Y/N to Charlotte,” Pascale said as she poured another wine for you. “That’s his girlfriend. You would probably get along with her, she’s about your age and a very nice girl too.”
You bit your tongue as you raised your glass to your lips and stared at Charles over the rim. Placing the glass back down, you smiled sweetly. “Is that right? I could do with making a girlfriend here, someone to talk about boys with. Maybe she can set me up with a handsome Frenchie.”
A foot kicked you under the table and you chuckled at the glare he was sending you over the greek salad. 
“We go to brunch on Sunday,” Pascale said with a pat to your hand. “You should come.”
“Count me in.” You stabbed a sweet cherry tomato with your fork before sealing your lips around it and humming in delight. “This was a delicious meal.”
Charles soon declared he was exhausted from the drive back from wherever it was he worked in Italy and Pascale looked a little disappointed that the first family dinner was cut short. Since he was your ride, you had to say goodnight to everyone too and followed him out to the car that was even flashier than what he had two years ago. His Ferrari fixation was more than just pictures of the cars in his apartment but he drove one too. 
“You are quite eager to leave,” you noted as you lowered yourself into the passenger seat, your skirt riding up your thighs as you settled into the leather. Charles inhaled sharply as he saw the hint of your panties peek out and slammed the door shut before storming his way around the car.
“I’m in half a mind to take you over my lap and turn your ass red,” he growled as he pulled out of the driveway. 
“Arthur is lovely,” you commented as you smiled at your reflection in the window. You were absolutely enjoying the way Charles gritted his teeth, but he had started this dance in your bedroom. “He offered to keep me company while you are away next week. I think I might enjoy his company more than yours.”
“Biche,” he warned as he broke the speed limit and practically skidded to a stop in his reserved parking spot. “You’re mine. No one else touches you. Ever.”
You slipped out of the car and felt his eyes on your ass as you climbed the stairs to the apartment. Though you had a key you waited for him to open the door and kept your voice low while he fumbled with the lock in his frustration. “Jealousy doesn’t look good on you.”
“Everything looks good on me,” he argued as he turned the key and shoved you through the doorway. 
“Is that what your girlfriend tells you?”
“No, she prefers me with nothing on.” 
You could understand why that was but didn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing you agree as you went to your room. “Goodnight, Charles.”
“Night, ma biche.”
It was still early but you refused to leave your room, instead opening your laptop to watch a movie. You were halfway through a stupid rom-com when you heard a feminine voice in the apartment and you paused it to check you weren’t hearing things.
“Oh, Charles, bébé, baise-moi!”
You rolled your eyes at the sounds of the headboard banging on the wall you shared and rifled through your bag to find a pair of headphones. It seemed that they grew louder or you became hyper aware of what was happening in the room next door, and a needy throb began between your legs when you heard Charles moan deeply. 
Your frustration built until you disappeared into the bathroom and doused yourself in a cold shower, cursing him the entire time you waited for your blood to cool. You could finally think clearly after drying off and recognised he was only making his next move in the game he had started. It was time to start planning yours. 
Charles' steps faltered when he emerged from his bedroom shirtless but he recovered quickly and walked past your position on the couch as he went to get himself a drink of water. 
“You should try Gatorade,” you suggested as you flipped through the channels leisurely. “I find it better than water after a good fucking.”
“What are you wearing?” he finally asked after emptying the glass in one breath and wiping his lips dry.
“This is how I sleep,” you said as you stretched your legs out onto the ottoman. “Is that a problem for you?”
His eyes followed the line of your legs to the edge of the black and red babydoll you wore and cleared his throat. “No, no problem.”
“Charles, who are you talking to?” A pretty brunette emerged from the room and scanned the room, taking in her half naked boyfriend talking to you who was barely dressed much more than him. 
You rose to your feet before Charles could recover and bounced over to the young lady, wrapping her in a hug. “You must be Charlotte, maman’s told me so much about you. I thought I would have to wait until Sunday to meet you.”
“Maman? Sunday?” she asked as she looked at Charles for the answers.
“This is Y/N, my step sister - or soon to be -” he added quietly. “Maman invited her to brunch.”
“We are going to be great friends, Lottie,” you sang as you stepped back with a grin. “I just know it.”
Charles nearly broke his glass as he tossed it in the sink and headed back to his room, returning a moment later with a sweatshirt and jeans on. “Allez, mon amour,” he called to Charlotte as he grabbed his keys. 
You pouted playfully as he led her to the door. “She can sleep over, I don’t mind - I have earplugs.”
Charlotte flushed pink and clearly had no idea you were in the house while they were getting down and dirty. It made it all the more entertaining as you waved goodbye. “I’ll see you Sunday.”
Charles waited until Charlotte had passed the doorway before following, casting a final glance your way. “Don’t wait up.”
You felt his presence in your room before you saw him step out of the shadows with just a towel slung low on his hips and the bed dipped under his weight. “Well played,” he admitted, flopping back and making himself comfortable. 
Rolling over, you turned to face him and tucked your arm under your head. “Did you think about me when you were with her?”
His lips twitched before he gave in to the smile. “Every fucking second.” 
“She’s pretty.”
He reached out and brushed your cheek with his knuckles. “You’re beautiful.” 
You could feel yourself falling to the temptation that his lips provided and it was getting harder to resist taking what you wanted. “You should go back to your room.”
“Your lips say one thing but these say another,” he teased as his touch drifted over your collar and down to your breasts, the thin babydoll doing little to hide your nipples that had hardened since he laid down in the bed. “They are begging for something else entirely.”
“Charles,” you whispered as you leaned into his touch before you could think better of it. 
“I forgot how good my name sounded on your lips,” he hummed as his hand slipped beneath the material, “but I like it better when you scream it.”
“This is a bad idea.”
It didn’t stop him from rolling your nipple between his finger and thumb and drawing a soft sigh from you. “Why is this a bad idea, biche?”
“Because you have a girlfriend, and you’re my step…step…fuck…” Your eyes fluttered shut as his hand slipped between your legs and he touched you over your panties.
“Let me worry about Charlotte, you just relax and spread those lovely legs wider for me.”
“This is going to end badly.” You knew it but it didn’t stop your knees from parting for him. There was something about him that threw caution to the wind, it had been that way the first time you met too. He was pure temptation. He was the apple and you were Eve, unable to resist taking a bite. “I’ll find somewhere else to stay.”
He bit his lip as he watched how your body danced for his touch. “But not tonight.”
“Not tonight,” you conceded as you watched his eyes darken with lust. “Now please fuck me.”
Charles woke alone for the second time after sleeping with you but he smiled when he heard music playing in the living room. “You stayed,” he teased as he walked down the hall, trying to tame his hair along the way. 
“Didn’t have another option but I have found some short term rentals to view next week.”
He froze and his hands dropped to his side. “Wait, you were serious?”
“Yes, this isn’t going to work because if I’m anywhere near you this will just keep happening, and it was a mistake.”
The pop music suddenly grated on Charles' nerves and he grabbed the remote, changing it to another channel before tossing the remote away. You knew he was sulking at the thought of losing his plaything but you ignored him and watched the French news that you couldn’t understand. 
Something on the tv caught Charles’ attention though and he sat up straighter, his arms unfolding as his mouth parted in surprise. The breaking news headline was one that was universal and you realised something big was happening. 
“What is it?” you asked as he remained fixated on the tv. 
“It’s that virus,” he murmured. You had seen it on the news at home before the move, the outbreak reaching all across the globe as it spread person to person. You had been worried about it on the plane with each cough you heard. “It’s spreading here.”
“Okay, and?”
 His hand found its way to his mouth and he bit his nails as he listened, translating and relaying the information for you in sporadic bursts. “You won’t need that rental, Bambi.”
“Why?”
He turned to you with an odd look that you couldn’t quite figure out, possibly apprehension or anticipation or a mix of both. “At midnight tonight the whole country is going into lockdown.” 
His phone started ringing almost immediately and he excused himself to take the call. “It’s work.”
“Shit, shit, shit.” You grabbed your phone and dialled your dad. “Did you hear what’s happening? What do we do?”
“Relax, pumpkin, it’s going to be fine,” he assured you. “It’ll all blow over quickly, I’m sure. They can’t stop the world from turning, can they?”
You laughed in agreement and felt a little better by the time you hung up the phone, but Charles returned looking stressed as he dropped onto the couch beside you.
“Good news or bad news first?”
You didn’t think it mattered either way and just shrugged.
“Italy is also going into lockdown so there’s no reason to go back on Monday.” He draped his arm over your shoulders and pull you into his side. “Looks like we are going to be seeing a lot more of each other.”
“Is that the good or the bad news?”
“Well, I like my job so not being able to do it is bad for me, but being trapped with you indefinitely certainly sounds good to me.”
“Indefinitely?” you laughed and shook your head. “As soon as the house is done I’m gone.”
Charles' laughter silenced you and his kissed your temple. “Oh, Bambi…The builders will be locked down too, nothing will be finished any time soon. You’re all mine.”
“Shit,” you groaned in realisation. It was going to be impossible to keep your hands off him and from the grin on his face he knew it too.
“This is going to be great.”
Click here for part two.
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livinghostly · 4 months
Text
miss me if you want to — megumi fushiguro x reader
a/n: happy late birthday pookie wc: 3.6k megumi ends up at his old middle school for a mission, and reminisces on his time there, with you. fluff/humor, happy ending, gojo being his dad self
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megumi kept his hands in his pockets as he scoped the halls of urami east middle school, desperately trying to ignore the entourage of sorcerers behind him and their barrage of questions. unfortunately for megumi, nobara just discovered a commonality. (“fushiguro, let’s go beat up that guy! for old time’s sake, you know!” “kugisaki, you can’t just point to every man and ask to beat them up. we don’t know anybody here! and you can’t say old times sake if you didn't even go here, right?”)
it took all his willpower not to turn around and curse them both back to jujutsu tech, their voices burning through his ears and building an irritation in his gut. any of his old classmates who recognized him seemed to gape, just before ducking their heads and scurrying down the hall. it didn’t give him much to work with regarding the assignment. his friends giggled, poorly hiding it behind their hands.
it was hard for the nostalgia of his middle school and the presence of old peers to settle in with the constant whispering behind him, even if part of himself wasn’t sure that he wanted to reflect on his time there. he remembered the cream-colored walls and tan uniform jackets being less harsh on his eyes, every memory he could recall was hazed over with a dark grime.
the smell of freshly waxed floors and chalk dust washed over him like waves, passing his old classroom’s doors that were propped open. he could hear the muffled lessons, and wondered the last time he really used any academics from–
“fushiguro, why don’t you have anything in the trophy case?” nobara pondered, dragging her finger along the glass border.
“they’ve gotta have one for the best stink-face, right?” yuji howled with laughter. “you’d totally win!”
“can you guys get it together? we’re not going to get anywhere if you keep messing around,” megumi said, not bothering to spare them a glance. he refused to prove itadori right with his stink-face. “go walk the south corridor, there’s a few offices for the staff, they might know something.”
“fushiguro,” yuji whined. 
“go.” 
reluctantly, his friends shuffled away. “yeah, i think we kind of pushed our luck that time,” nobara mumbled.
finally, he reveled in the silence. there was a bud of anxiety in his stomach, a nagging feeling that just around the corner would be a teacher to chastise him for his history of delinquency. on the other hand, the possibility of seeing one of the many faces he had beaten and bruised.
megumi rounded the corner that led to the library and various study rooms, keeping his gaze on the windows. he remembered the landscape being different, more sullen, but still captivating him as much. he remembered his frequent trips to the library when he wasn’t spending his time rounding together the bullies and failures that infested the school.
the library wasn’t special, but he could always–
“megumi?”
megumi’s eyes widened as he whipped his head forward. the voice, though unexpected, was unmistakable in his mind. his bud of anxiety bloomed when he saw you, your head tilted in the same bewilderment. out of all places, he didn’t expect to see you at the place you graduated, just over a year ago.
the fog that coated all his memories seemed to dissipate, recollection of you clouded with a glow that couldn’t compare to the way you looked now. your school uniform was haphazard, white button up untucked and rolled to your elbows and your dark jacket was discarded on the library cart you leaned on. your confusion washed away and your face was taken up by a bright smile, and with that megumi blushed furiously.
“y/n? i didn’t expect to see you here.” he cleared his throat in an attempt to regain his composure, and closed the gap between you so all that was left in the way was the cart. you craned your neck to meet his gaze, he’d grown a bit. “don’t tell me they made you repeat.”
shaking your head, you laughed. he missed that. “you’re telling me, you’re supposed to be all the way at jujutsu tech. what are you doing here?”
“i asked you first.”
you rolled your eyes playfully. always so combative.
“i use my free period to help out here, it’s only like a five minute walk from the high school.”
megumi hummed. so you decided to stay close. it was always a toss up. 
“so, how’s jujutsu tech so far? everything you wanted and more?”
megumi smiled, recalling the day he told you that’s where he would be attending, and you found it completely ridiculous. hilarious, even. a religious school, for him? if you hadn’t met gojo before you would have thought he was sentencing megumi there as some sort of punishment for his delinquency at school. unfortunately, you had met gojo, and the idea of him teaching at a religious school and dragging megumi with him only drove you to further hysterics. 
the humor you found in all of it almost made up for the lies he was feeding you. a part of him longed for you to have some cursed energy to see all that he did, so you could understand the life he lives. maybe if you did, you would go to jujutsu tech with him, and he could share more of his life with you.
but megumi knew you were much better off without it, and without him. here, in your home environment, you were glowing. you were living a good and safe life, and he would keep it that way.
so, he fed you more white lies. kept it all vague and lighthearted so you could sleep easy. the school staff was capable, his studies were improving, and his classmates were… tolerable, at best. or so he claimed. the lighthearted jokes at their expense were always followed by a compliment on their character, you knew he was fond of them.
before he knew it, the two of you were strolling around the campus together with your shoulders glued to each other like you were back in routine. everything about being with you again was timeless. you still exaggerated with your hands and paused at the ends of your sentences to enunciate with your facial expressions, and always stayed on his left side so he didn’t have to face down the beating sun when he was looking at you. and he was always looking at you.
every once in a while, your hand brushed up against his and his movements would stutter. he would wait for some sort of reaction, though he wasn’t sure why. confirmation, that it was okay? or to see how much he could get away with. you acted as if it was nothing, and he wondered if you’d stay like that if he closed the distance and finally grasped your hand with his.
megumi had your school blazer draped over his other arm. he wasn’t much of a talker, even with you. but it seemed once you were able to get his shoulders to relax and his guard slipped a bit more, he rambled on about the more trivial things in his life. his friends– “i wouldn’t call them that” – and their endless enthusiasm. it’s like they were born yesterday, and every day in tokyo they lived like a fish out of water. they dragged him into a lot of things, but also held him back. megumi rolled his eyes when you said it was probably a good thing, since you weren’t around to do that anymore. you also weren’t very good at it.
megumi couldn’t look at you when you smiled like that, like an all-knowing entity that can see through the cracks in his image. like you knew him better than he knew himself, because in some ways you did. he looked at the ground, his shoes, and the trees, anything that couldn’t perceive the blush that ran up his neck.
“fushiguro?!”
he didn’t realize the lax in his composure until he tensed up again at the screech of his name not too far behind him. his smile dropped and he was brought back to the reality of his situation, being on a mission, scrounging for any murmurs about this curse he was meant to be hunting while dragging around two idiots with him. 
nobara and yuji were pale from shock, stiff as boards at the sight of their fushiguro cozy with some stranger. nitta was next to them, jaw agape as she stared and slithered her phone out of her pocket.
megumi’s eye twitched.
“fushiguro, is this why you sent us off to the teacher's lounge? to flirt?! with a girl?!” yuji cried, pointing an accusatory finger as he fell to his knees. the pavement cracked beneath him as he slammed his fist into the concrete in despair. 
“fushiguro, don’t tell me you’ve gone soft for some pretty girl? we’re here for business!” nobara claimed, crossing her arms.
“they’re your friends you were talking about, ‘gumi?” you hummed, looking at him. you batted your eyelashes with an amused expression. 
god, no. he couldn’t spit out the words when he was barely holding on to his composure at the nickname. these people, in the matching uniforms? never met ‘em.
a gust of wind weaved itself through your hair and yuji was at your feet, his incredible speed surprising you enough that you sidestepped right into megumi’s chest. his breath hitched, somewhere between a gasp at the sudden contact and a sigh of disappointment towards yuji’s behavior. nobara was quick behind him, her anger had dissolved into a teasing nature.
humiliation swelled in his chest and lumped in the back of his throat, in the back of his mind he was routing all the ways he could get back at yuji later for the way he was acting. 
“you told her about us?!” yuji said, his excitement warming the air around him. 
“‘course he did,” nobara smirked. “we are your best friends, aren’t we, ‘gumi?”
megumi sighed. he wouldn’t live that down. “y/n, this is itadori and kugisaki, they’re the other first years at jujutsu tech. this is y/n, we went to middle school together.”
you smiled and offered a finger wave.
“middle school, huh? and you’re still here?” nobara’s eyes sparkled. you wouldn’t admit out loud that the intensity in her grin made your stomach turn. she placed a hand on her chest dramatically, “you get in too much trouble? got held back? i understand the life–“
“you must have the funniest stories about fushiguro!” the pink-haired boy interrupted with his laughter. “did he ever–“
“i need to walk y/n back to her class before she’s late,” megumi cut him off sharply. “head back to the car and i’ll meet you there, after i get back we should get going anyway.”
without a second thought, he grabbed your arm gently and tugged you with him to turn around. you were able to call out a quick, it was nice to meet you! before you were pulled around the corner.
his steps were quicker than yours so his hand made its way to the small of your back as he ushered you to meet his pace and put the distance between you and the gawking seagulls behind him.
your heart stuttered at the contact but you didn’t stop him, and instead leaned closer to his side. that seemed to jolt some sense into him, his fingers tensing and relaxing again on the soft fabric of your uniform and ultimately deciding to stay put. that didn’t make him any less hyper-aware of it, though. he flickered gaze from you to the sidewalk, back to you, and the sidewalk again. 
“i’m sorry about them. they’re idiots sometimes,” he mumbled. “most of the time, actually.”
the path to the highschool felt oddly familiar. the trees waved gently in the wind and beckoned him back to his memories of walking you home from school, the warmth of the sunshine on his skin much the same as the warmth that sprouted in his stomach when he was around you. 
he always stood straighter when he was beside you, squeezing your hand tightly when crossing the street and tucked you under his arm when passing by anyone he deemed suspicious. which, to a young megumi who saw the world in black and white, was much of the population. in those times where his adrenaline was pumping, he never thought twice about protecting you. even against what you couldn’t see, like curses, strolling through the streets unchecked. 
“don’t apologize, ‘gumi. they seem like fun.” you chuckled, rubbing your knuckles gently. you couldn’t blame them for their reactions, nor could you blame your friend for not ever telling them about you. he was always a bit reserved. “i think they’re just excited to learn something about you.”
you had classes with him, and there were often times he would come in late with bloody knuckles and his hair tousled. most days he would tell you why, how they were smoking on school grounds or picking on someone in the cafeteria. other days he wouldn’t, he refused to even give you an idea of the things they said or did, and though it drove you crazy for a few hours you would eventually drop it. 
and he got to keep it to himself, the way other boys would talk about you. despite not knowing you, they made their assumptions and boasted about untrue speculations. rumors and comments were short-lived when he was around, and he wondered if it stayed that way after he left.
megumi carried the secret of the jujutsu world on his shoulders, all the unruly death he’d witnessed, his sister’s curse. despite the way he’d grown in the jujutsu world and how desensitized he’d become to some things, they still haunted him. he’d would’ve liked to keep something good a secret too, just for a little while longer. 
“yeah, well, i think i’d rather keep you to myself.”
“don’t tell me you’re embarrassed of me.” your teasing tone was in one ear and out the other for megumi. his tongue swelled in his throat as he tripped over his own words. you laughed, and he seemed to relax.
his hand had slipped from your back and rested between you. you found the confidence to grasp the sleeve of his uniform and keep a hold of it comfortably, watching his expression melt into a smile he couldn’t hide behind bitten cheeks.
you weren’t one to ever think you could change megumi fushiguro, though there were many times you were the one repeating in his ear to just let it go so you could go eat lunch together. (on the flip side, there were also times you were chanting his name off the sidelines watching it all unfold on your lunch period like an MMA fight). you never sought to make him a softer, more well-rounded student, nor did you ask him to ever open himself up to you.
but he did, and despite the time passed be still preened his vulnerability to you like an open wound seeking care. 
“i missed you, y/n,” megumi said suddenly. 
“those jujutsu tech kids can’t replace me, huh?”
he smiled, shaking his head. “it’s not even close.”
the roof of the highschool peaked over the trees ahead. 
“i missed you too, ‘gumi.” a question laid on the tip of your tongue, and you quickly swallowed it before it could tumble out. “do you think… that you’ll come by again? when it's not for some school project?” 
“i’m sure i could find a reason to.”
you looked up to him, meeting his amorous gaze. it was your turn to blush, scrunching up to hide the bashful smile that threatened to take over. “you have my number, you know. it hasn’t changed.”
megumi nodded. “yeah, things have been… busy, for a while now. it’s hard to get away.”
the two of you closed in on the school’s entrance, still tiptoeing the line of hand-holding. megumi faced you fully now, silent, and blocking the sun’s rays as he stared down at you with his eyes full of adoration. he looked at you like he did on graduation day– a heavy cloud of fear hanging above him, pouring down the terrifying thought he would never see you again.
“call me and tell me all about it, yeah?” 
he smirked. “i will.”
he always clung to darker clothes and aesthetics, but you thought he looked best in the sunlight. his dark hair was coated with a navy luster, similar to that of his eyes. you could see his reddening cheeks better, when there wasn’t any shade to hide them.
“thanks for walking me back,” you said, your gaze flickering around his face, soaking in his appearance while still in front of you. he had already changed so much since the last time you saw him.
“it’s not a problem, i’m happy to spend time with you.” megumi paused, reaching for the door handle with a pit in his stomach growing. “i hope i didn’t make you late.”
you smiled. “i think i’ll be okay.” 
a beat of silence passed, and your face twisted into one of concentration as you stared him down. a small sigh left your lips, one of surrender as you settled on your decision. he registered the shift in your demeanor and he narrowed his eyebrows as he observed.
you grabbed the lapel of his uniform suddenly and tugged him downward to connect his lips with yours. the initial impact softened when he registered his surroundings and relaxed, molding against your grasp and sliding his hands over the curve of your waist. relief washed over you and you ran your fingers over the nape of his neck. he paused briefly, to catch your reaction as you regained your breathing, and then nudged his nose against your cheek before kissing you again.
megumi’s breathing was quick, excitement drumming through his body as he focused on you, and only you. he never had the luxury of anticipating this, expecting such affection from you was reckless and selfish despite all the times he’d thought of it. here you were, before him, unknowingly giving in to his delicate fantasies.
you pulled away, breathless as you met his eyes. his smile was gentle, expression refrained while his admiration poured into his steel grip on you, keeping you close.
“call me, okay?” you let out a winded laugh, brushing your thumb against his flushed cheek.
megumi nodded, swallowing the desperation that clawed his throat. you stepped away, and he ached for your warmth on his skin again. he was still reeling from the interaction, helplessly watching with an emptiness in his hands as you slipped out of his grasp and opened the door for yourself. 
you disappeared, and he was left alone with the resounding click of the door. 
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bonus 
“y/n! oh, they grow up so fast.” gojo cradled nitta’s phone in his hand with a wobbly lip, wiping a theatrical tear from his cheek. a fuming fushiguro was pictured with all his focus aimed towards his friends, with you awkwardly smiling at his side, completely ignorant to nitta’s rapid clicking. gojo swiped through the photos quickly, watching megumi’s mouth snap open and closed over and over. he sighed longingly, “the one who got away.” 
nobara leaned forward on her crossed legs, tensely gripping the loungeroom couch. “i knew they had history, fushiguro was totally defensive over her.”
beside her, yuji was perched on the armrest with his eyes blown wide– bearing resemblance to a gargoyle. “yeah, he got all clammy and weird. i’ve never seen him like that before.”
“well,” gojo set the phone down on the coffee table, for all to see. “megumi can be a little rough around the edges, but he’s got his moments.”
“so, what’s she really like? was she shoving people in lockers like fushiguro? i bet they were some sort of sick power couple, she seems like she’s got a dark side.”
their teacher smirked, leaning back in the armchair as he listened to their conspiracies. ‘sick power couple’ was a quite generous interpretation of your and megumi’s younger days– gojo recalled the awkward preteens you were, bumping into each other and melting into a flushed state during study nights (strictly stated by megumi not to be referred to as dates). gojo never, ever helped such situations, often making them worse with a shove or teasing comment at the boy’s expense. 
“ha! i doubt it, she was way too nice to us.”
you were moreso a bystander to megumi’s antics, sometimes a cheerleader. but it was still like you to snap, or slap, him back to his senses whenever he got all ‘high and mighty’ like some ‘reactionary douchebag’ –stated in your own eloquence. gojo remembered the times you’d unlock the front door and throw it open with one hand, dragging a frustrated megumi whose physical bruises mirrored the ones on his ego. you’d throw him to the nearest chair and welcome yourself to the apartment’s amenities while he wallowed in silence, both of you waiting for the air to settle and ignoring the presence of his guardian and his amused expression.
“man, fushiguro must be pretty bummed right now.”
the loungeroom door swung open abruptly, the door handle cementing itself in the drywall. megumi presented himself in his rage, his cursed energy fiercely blazing around him and crackling at his fingertips. his expression was dark, eyes immediately drawn to the center coffee table with nitta’s own slideshow presentation of yet another humiliating moment for him. 
nobara and yuji were struck with fear, paling in solidarity with the wallpaper. nitta quivered behind them, crouching.
gojo let out a low whistle. “someone’s going through it. don’t tell me she left you on read.”
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vacayisland · 5 months
Note
I have the largest hyper fixation on Floyd right now. Funny little troll being way too cute for it to be legal.
do you think you could write a story where a male / Non-binary reader that's like, a large person thing, (You can make them part animal if possible, I like the idea of Floyd hiding in the readers fur for comfort.) is reunited with Floyd after he was stick in the diamond perfume bottle for 2 months. And they just give Floyd a bunch of comfort cuddles and other stuff.
Take all the time you need to rest and drink water, if you can't do my request, that's perfectly fine. I hope you have an amazing day / night!
-A non-binary bee 🐝
@!; Floyd with a part-animal Reader! Floyd / Half-animal! Half-Troll! Reader
"Summary"! Couldn't tell if you meant big like tall or big like cubby... so why not both? :D Anyways, there are more headcanon style with little stories in it. Dunno when I'll post this (I have like 5 other stories backed up b/c my mind can't decide what to write); But I hope you like it Bee! Tags! Floyd literally being everything, no pronouns mentioned so feel free to use your own, hurt-comfort, NOT PROOF READ... also wrote in one sitting... in one day. AND TUMBLR KEPT GLITCHING ON ME AND THE PITCTURE BORDER ISN'T WORKING ON DESKTOP-. anyways please enjoy <3
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@!; Floyd has known you since his band days, which was a shock to his brothers when they finally met you. Not only are you taller than an average troll (a foot or so) yet you're also different; and mostly in a good way, but take what you will about the fact that Branch noticed your differences first. When Floyd first met you, it was 2 months into his boyband career with Brozone. He went out on a walk to clear his head before a big show, anxious feels were never good to go on stage with and his brothers didn't help much. Mostly John Dory, who kept speaking about his "perfect" plan to the show. Just thinking about messing up anything made Floyd more nervous than preforming, he really didn't want to let his brothers down; as he's seen them preform before he was able to join on the scene. So while JD ranted, Spruce worked out, and Clay was fitting into his costume, Floyd went out on a needed walk. That's when he found you;
You were stood up top a mountain cliff near the Pop troll village, looking down with your majestic eyes and ears relaxed down by your side. Floyd stood by the village though hid in the shade of the plants nearby to watch. He didn't want to scare you off, especially since he's never seen anything quite like you. You seemed memorized by the lights of the Pop troll village, if not maybe a little intoxicated by them; like a moth to the flame. Floyd was memorized by your shiny coat, which he could barely see against the night sky and the bright colors of the village. You didn't seem to notice him at all as you laid down at that cliff, crossing your paws and laying your muzzle down on them. Floyd wasn't sure why but watching you watching the lights of the village calmed his nerves. Even though it was still a little nerve racking thinking that an animal so big knows were the village was; an animal who could possibly eat Trolls. Yet, that thought was quickly wavering out of his mind the more passive you seemed. @!; Floyd almost missed the show that night, Spruce had to go find him before JD blew a fuse. He was questioned like hell the few seconds before the show and then afterwards, yet he couldn't exactly tell his brothers that he saw an animal watching the village and that's what he was doing. They would be both over worried and a little relentless in scolding him for getting so close to something that could eat trolls. His absence of an answer, and his general dodging of the brothers questions (when that was so not like Floyd) led them all to assume that Floyd met a Troll that had caught his eye. Floyd tried to protest against this, yet was a little flustered at the fact that all his brothers seemed to jump on that conclusion train so quickly. So, that only solidified his brother's theories more and thus began the hunt. All his brothers kept an extra eye on Floyd, trying to see who the lucky Troll had been who caught there ever so sensitive brother's eyes. Despite all their "sneaky" tracking and slight stalking, they came up with nothing. Floyd was determined to let them not know what, or maybe who, he actually saw that night. So he didn't see you again until his brothers gave up on their little hunt and let Floyd to his own devices. Especially after he almost messed up a show due to nerves from not being able to go out on a walk without his brother's bombardment; JD wasn't happy. 3 months after first seeing you, Floyd was able to catch a glimpse of you again. Before a show, he looked out the window (not needing to go out on a walk that night) and saw your figure again in the distance on the same hill. You were relaxed again, laying down and looking intently towards the Village. In some weird sense, Floyd had a funny thought that you were here to listen to the concert; seeing as he didn't see you on any other night than concert nights. Yet, he shook that thought out of his head really quick, not thinking that you could like Brozone music. Not that it was because you weren't a Troll, but because he thought it was too loud for your ears; he's read somewhere that animal ears tended to be more sensitive than Troll ears. But then why would you be so close to the Village? The thought stuck in Floyd's mind all throughout the performance and when he checked if you were still at the cliff after the show, you were gone. He couldn't tell if it was because of the noise or because the show had ended; but he felt a little disheartened.
@!; Floyd would play this one-sided game of eye-spy for months before he spotted a night when you weren't you. He had began to make it a habit to leave you a little plate of food (well little for you) before every Brozone performance. His personal thank you for watching the show despite your (maybe) sensitives ears. He was going to go place the plate of food at the top of the cliff when he stopped midway through his hike to see a Troll standing at the top of the cliff. At least, it looked like a Troll? Yet they seemed taller, even more so when Floyd slowly approached closer. Your hair also was more abundant than other Trolls, even for adults. He was cautious as he approached you, keeping the plate of food close to him as he tried to scope out who you were before he interacted. Yet before he could figure out who you were, you snapped your head around to stare into the dead of night . . . directly at him. Floyd froze, not sure if you could see him or not and not wanting to find out. Though it was light you weren't even a Troll for a second, taking in a sniff before your hair stood up for a moment; prickling like a cat's hair standing up when frightened. Slowly you approached him with heavy footsteps, your height slowly growing in the moonlight as your shadow was drawn out. For a moment Floyd thought he was as good as dead. He didn't know what to do! Frazzled, he quickly shoved out the plate of food he had indented for his friend and not this stranger about to commit (possible) cannibalism. And that's when he heard your footsteps come to a stop and a heavy huff from someone's nose hit the top of his head, causing him to cautiously open one eye. And he felt like fainting as soon as he did that. Though he couldn't help opening both eyes in complete terror seeing a Troll tower over him in an unnatural height. Your eyes pierced down at him, their glow in the moonlight somehow familiar yet Floyd could not piece it together at this moment of panic. "Please don't eat me!" Floyd blurted out, the only thing between him and you being a plate of food. Yet you didn't answer, at least not right away. Your silence was as terrifying as your glare and staggering height. "I promise you I don't taste good!-" The words fell out before Floyd had even realized he had said them, watching with terror as you leant down. He wasn't sure what you were doing, but he hoped it wasn't serving your next meal's horror before deciding whether or not you should eat him. Yet there was something in your eyes that softened, a small smile that seemed to creep onto your lips. And for once after meeting you in this form, Floyd felt like he wasn't going to get mauled. Which was a good thing, a really good thing... For him at least. "So you're the one who's been leaving me food!" Your voice was not at all how he imagined it, as it seemed to carry some sort of friendliness he's not even heard from some Trolls. It was also a bit rougher, your English oddly unperfected for a Troll for the age Floyd guessed you were. "I-.. uh, what?" Though what did you mean Floyd was leaving you food? Maybe you were confusing him for someone else, or maybe you were eating the food he intended for his friend. Either way he tried to clear the confusion, "I'm sorry no, I don't think so. I've been leaving food here for.." "Yes, for me." You interrupted Floyd before he could finish, giving him a rather big grin. Yet, no matter how friendly you seemed, your words caused him to become that more confuddled. Even more so when you held out your hands flat, as though you were expected Floyd to just hand you the plate ... really incorrectly. He thought for a brief moment that you may be related to the animal that perches itself at the cliffside, though he didn't think too long on that possibility; as would it even be possible?
Either way, to save some trouble for now, Floyd carefully handed you the plate of food; watching as you held it from the bottom flat in your hands and grinned brighter before rushing off to the side of the cliff. He wasn't sure if he should follow you or not. "Come, friend! We eat to show!" You gestured for Floyd to follow as you sat at the iconic cliff he's seen the animal so many times. And despite his hesitation, and his logicality telling him not to, he deiced to join the Troll. I mean, what could be the harm? Floyd almost missed his performance that day. JD wasn't happy yet, oddly enough, something inside Floyd made him rather indifferent. Not uncaring, because he always cared about his brothers feelings and letting down JD was last on his list; yet, he didn't care as much as he should have. And that caught him by suprise. He wondered if it had to do something with you...
@!; The day the band broke up, Floyd went to seek you first. You two had grown close after the countless nights you spent upon the cliff, chatting and eating. Floyd just couldn't stand being able to leave without giving you a proper goodbye, you have been his closest friend outside his family after all. He found you lower on the cliff this day, still stalking in your animal form. Your ears were completely pinned back, and he was sure you had saw what had happened during that performance; it was the biggest disaster storm ever. "Hey! H-" Floyd didn't even have to call you twice before you perked up, snapping your attention over to him. He grew sheepish seeing your sudden smile, and he could only guess you had been utterly worried about him since the performance. Though he didn't expect you to be so worried you would bound towards him on all fours, causing him to yelp and quickly brace for impact. Yet, you never hit, and Floyd heard as you skidded yourself to a stop right in front of him and plopped down on your bottom. Letting out an excited yelp before licking him once, then twice. Causing him to laugh and try to push your snout away, a silent signal for you to turn back into a Troll. Which you didn't seem to get the hint for instantly, as you licked him thrice before standing up and twirling in a circle. Laughing, Floyd covered his eyes and let you turn back, opening them only when he heard your voice again; "Floyd! What in the hell happened out there?! One minute you guys were doing fine and it seemed like-" Your voice was as lovely as ever, and Floyd instantly felt a pang in his heart knowing he wouldn't be able to hear it as often anymore. His face became rather gloomy at that sudden realization he hadn't thought of before now. Maybe visiting you wasn't- no, he can't think like that! You deserved the truth as much as Branch did. He can't simply walk off and keep you sitting here, watching and wondering where he had gone for years on end. That wasn't right. "(y/n)!" Floyd jolted at the suddenness of his voice, and how firm it sounded. He didn't mean for his words to come out so harsh, though your ranting didn't do much to help his heart... or the decision he knew he had to make. Oh and your eyes, the way they shone in the moonlight. Floyd could see how startled he had made you, as he's never used such a voice with you; yet it had done the job and hushed you up, even for now. "I'm sorry.. I didn't mean to scare you. I just-" Floyd's lip twitched as he thought for the easiest way to blow this to you. The easiest way to let you down after all the nights you had spent together. The easiest way for him to accept everything that was happening and everything he had to do and everything that needed to be done.. but oh poor Branch and poor you, neither of you deserved this- "Floyd.. it's okay." Floyd was brought back to his thoughts, snapped back with the feeling of your hands grabbing his and your voice echoing in his ears. He opened his seized eyes and glanced up at yours; you were leaning down again, and Floyd laughed through the tears he didn't realize were spilling down. "You're doing it again.." Floyd mumbled, his voice wobbly. Your hands raced to his cheeks, cupping them and undoubtably feeling the hot, wet tears streaming down as you began to clear them. Floyd dropped his hands to his sides, they felt all to heavy right now. "No you're doing it again." Your voice was uncharacteristically steady, none if it's usual fluctuating like a dog excited to see it's owner. "You're overthinking and... and thinking of everyone else before you think about yourself! Floyd, whatever you're going to say to me, whatever you're keeping in that mind of yourself, you're going to tell me now, okay? And you're going to tell me and you're not going to worry about how I feel and you're going to be firm on your decision... because you're strong and we're friends and I won't be mad with you no matter what you tell me."
@!; That night, Floyd knew, for sure, that he was in love with you. And that made telling you all that harder as his heart yelled at his brain to stay, but his brain knew that they couldn't go back on their choice. He had to leave, even if for a week or month or year. He knew he needed space from the Village and everyone inside.. but not you and Branch. Defiantly not you. And oh the broken look in your eyes got him, but the way you tried to smile through it and agree that the space is what he needed made him fall even more in love. You were so strong, you kept to your word... Maybe Floyd could stay one more night. And he did, he cuddled up with you for his last night in the Village; you both watched the stars, all cozied up in your hair. And god, has Floyd never felt a Troll's' hair so soft. He almost couldn't pull himself out from it in the morning when you were still clinging onto him, trapping him with both your body and your hair. He felt tempted to doze back to sleep, yet knew he had to leave now (while he still had the will power) then wait before you woke up. He knew if he saw your broken look again, that look in your eyes that you could never hide, he couldn't bring himself to leave. So when you woke up in the morning, you found yourself alone; completely alone in a middle of your blanket made of your hair. Floyd had left before you had woke up and you would find yourself sulking in that position for longer than you would have thought.
@!; You didn't see Floyd again, yet you heard from him up till a few years into his exploration of the unknown; journeying to find himself in the chaotic world beyond the village. You didn't leave from the outskirts of the Pop village, as that's were you had figured out you could thrive the most without interacting with other Trolls or animals. So when Floyd's letters began to run dry, you knew it wasn't because he didn't know where to send it. No that's never been a problem before, especially with the bugs that were used to deliver the messages so they never went through Troll post. You had first thought that he had forgotten to write a letter that day and he would send you one tomorrow. He didn't. You then figured he was just somewhere where he couldn't right or get a bug to deliver the letter. But after a month of sitting and waiting anxiously, you figured that couldn't be the reason either. Floyd never stayed in a place for this long, and the letter he had sent you last made it sound like he was going to a place where he could continue to send letters. Another option came to mind, what if Floyd had just stopped sending letter because he just grew tired of you? He found someone else who captured his attention better than you did! Who could write in pretty cursive and spell words and speak correctly. Who could bake for him pies and cupcakes, who could sing and dance with him in the proper way that a Troll could. That was the first day you ever felt truly alone ever since Floyd left. Sure, you missed him dearly; Missed his smile and his caring ways and his company but never did you ever feel truly lonely. The type of lonely that made you upset and aggravated. The type of lonely that stung more than a throne in your paw, or a bee sting. The type of lonely that made you think back on all the memories you had with Floyd and made you think two different thoughts all at once: What was the point? Can I get those times back? It was torture. Two months of agonizing torture that ate you up inside with no remorse.
@!; Two months inside that horrible diamond prison, Floyd was finally free. Sure he had some white in his hair now, and felt fatigue come onto him easier when singing, but he was free; Free and with his brothers heading back to the Pop Troll village where Brozone (kind of reestablished) was going to chill for a minute before maybe going back their separate ways. "Oh my god, did we ever tell you that Floyd use to have a crush in the village when he was younger?!" JD turned around from the console of his caterpillar-like trailer, a snicker plastered right across his face. His comment instantly flipped the attention of everyone else, who had been lounging around the 'living space' of the trailer and chatting about nothing exciting. At least, nothing exciting to John Dory. "Oh! I almost forgot about that!" Bruce started as Branch looked between his brothers, noticing as Floyd let out a small groan and covered his face. "Oh not this gain..." Floyd mumbled, though not completely under his breath. "What?! JD you have to be joking right now!" Poppy jumped to a start, Viva seemed to be right beside her; jumping to her sister's side, placing her hands on Poppy's shoulders with such interest you would think JD had just brought up party plans. "Oh I'm so not joking." JD couldn't help but laugh, crossing his arms. "Floyd used to sneak off before the start of every show and see his little crush! It was so cute." And there was the teasing tone that Floyd could never forget. He hadn't hoped they didn't bring up this topic, but now he wished he had begged on his knees to anything above that his brothers had forgotten. "Oooh~ Floyd! Who was the lucky troll?" Viva questioned, mirroring her sister's excitement yet with a slight more mature feeling. "Well-" Floyd couldn't even begin before JD took over again. "We never got the chance to see them!" "Oh yeah, and we tried hard too. Stalked Floyd anytime he went out to see if we could find any sort of glimpse on who this Troll was. But we never found them." Clay informed, leaning back against the couch as an amused glint crossed his eyes; he glanced over to Floyd, who was still hiding his head. "Can we PLEASE change the topic?!" Floyd begged, but he guessed that his humiliation was much too entertaining to his brothers (mostly JD). "Nope! Never got the chance to see them. It was like- the biggest mystery in all of BroZone history." JD made this sound more ominous than it needed to be. More mysterious than a unclosed murder case that was more boggling than answerable. His serious tone didn't help it either. "Oh my god, Viva!-" Poppy turned to her sister, who held a knowing look. "To the clue board?" "To the clue board! Don't worry we'll find this troll." Poppy exploded like a star as Viva and her rushed over to the clue board that Branch had set up. They didn't waste time before they began to excitedly chat over possibly candidates and theories. Floyd felt more embarrassed than the day his brothers had started that whole mess, and he wasn't sure how that was even possible! Branch watched the two sisters for a moment before turning over to his brothers, thoroughly confused, "Wait... why did no one tell me this?!"
@!; Floyd wasn't sure how he would break this news to his brothers, but all he knew is that he needed to get to you first. He knew you just as you knew him, and he knew his disappearance would have a cause for concern... or maybe alarm or distress. Everything that Floyd didn't want you to feel when you thought about him because he should be your safe space and you had been his. "Guys! I'll be right back." Floyd shouted to his brothers when the caterpillar bus had came to a stop in front of the Pop village; And Floyd was sure he literally flew out the door with more force than necessary before he began to run down the village. "Bring them home for dinner!" Floyd could hear JD's sly remark before he was no longer in earshot of the van. Though he was sure he could hear something about "Kids growing up too fast" and some shared lighthearted laughter. Floyd couldn't care at the moment; not when all his brain buzzed about was finding you and making sure you were okay. What if you had gotten hurt during your time of no communication. What if you began to think that Floyd no longer cared for you or that something had happened to your or- Floyd's mind raced faster than he could keep up with and it felt like he was no longer racing against time yet against his own thoughts; not thinking about the fact that he had crossed the village in record time or that his brothers watched him rush straight into the woods by that cliff he had found a friend on and then love. That cliff where he had stargazed with you and shared thoughts he hadn't shared with anyone else. That cliff where you had showed him your way of life and let him closer than any other Troll had been with you. That cliff were everything happened in a secret silence that felt just right. That cliff were time seemed to stop. That cliff where he first found your eyes and saw your face last when he left. That cliff.. That cliff. That cliff!- Floyd was jolted away from the edge of the cliff, something he didn't realize he was just about to run off due to being lost in his emotion. A firm grip on the back of his pants had yanked him away, throwing him down onto the floor as now someone was between him and that cliff. "Are you crazy?! You were about to throw yourself off!-" Floyd didn't expect his baby brother's voice to shout at him and snap him out of his flurry of thoughts. He didn't expect Branch to be the one to stand there between him and the cliff. It was meant to be you. Not that he was meaning to throw himself off a cliff to find you, he would never put that type of trauma onto anyone or even think about such as thing. But you were meant to be here, meant to greet him on this cliff, meant to... where were you? Floyd didn't answer his brother as he scrambled onto his feet, numb from the running. He didn't care. He couldn't bring himself to care. He began to look around frantically, up and down the cliff, left and right. He rushed to some bushed and trees and tried looking more in depth as Branch stood there; never having seen his brother so disorientated and frazzled. "Floyd? Floyd!" Branch tried to get his brother's attention, "Floyd what are you looking for?" You. Where were you? Floyd didn't realize he didn't answer his brother; he had thought he had, but he didn't. He simply jumped off a rock and to the lower side of the cliff before he continued his search. Branch cautiously followed him, slowly lowering himself down from the rock and onto the ground. He watched Floyd look everywhere before Floyd jolted to a stop and stared in front of him. "(Y/N)!" It was a pained cry as Floyd rushed forward, pushing himself off of a tree to give himself a boost. "Floyd!" Branch yelled, following his brother in a panic. "Floyd you can't run into the forest around the village they're dangerous! Flo-" And Branch paused seeing who his brother approached. "Floyd!"
Floyd had no hesitation rushing over to an enormous beast that laid in the middle of a field, soaking in the sun. The beast had clear patches of its fur bitten off, and Branch couldn't tell whether it was self inflicted due to nerves or if it was from a fight. It perked its ears, then its head as it heard Floyd' shouting. It scanned the field and Branch felt himself rushing over to his brother. "FLOYD!" Branch's yell fell short as he saw the beast jump to its paws and rush over to his brother. Branch felt adrenaline rush through his body as he was sure he was about to watch his brother get eaten by a rapid animal. And Branch wasn't in range to catch the beast's muzzle with his hair, and Branch was sure that Floyd wouldn't attack it for whatever reason, and- wait... what? Branch kicked up dirt as he skidded to a stop, watching at the beast popped into an unusually tall Troll who grabbed Floyd in bear hug before spinning the two around. Branch watched with so much bewilderment that he questioned what JD had put in the drink he had given him. He had to be seeing things. That beast didn't just transform into a troll, right? Branch let out an airy bit of laughter as he watched the taller Troll trip on their own legs, causing the two of them to crash down and laugh loudly. Laugh like long lost lovers or crushes who had just found each other again, some sort of star-crossed lovers situation you would only find in books. Branch let out a small huff before carefully walking over to Floyd and you on the floor, laughing like maniacs. "What happened to you?!" Floyd reached up to cup your cheeks, worry rushing to his eyes as he noticed the bits of your hair that were fried and clearly chewed off. "No! No what happened to you?!" Sure, maybe you should have answered Floyd's question before asking one but you were too worried! This man disappears off the face of the planet for 2 months with no explanation then comes back like nothing ever happened?! You wouldn't stand for it, nor would you sit or lay for it either. Your hands rushed up to his, cupping over his hands which were cupping your cheeks. "I asked the question question first!" Quipped Floyd with a cheeky, beaming grin. Oh, how you've missed that grin so much. You could just squish his cheeks and kiss him at this moment. "I'll tell you what happened to me when you explain what happened to you." "Dea-" "How about you both explain what is happening?" Branch cut in, standing nearby with crossed arms and an amused smile. Floyd shot his head up, you simply turned to the side, to see that smile and oh- Floyd for a moment thought Branch was about to use this for some sort of blackmail against their brothers. "Branch!" Floyd sat up with a startle, having forgotten his brother had been here... and that he kind of saved Floyd from running off a cliff earlier. "Who are you?" Floyd heard you ask from under him and he knew he had a lot of explaining to do in that moment. But hey, if all he had to do was introduce you to his family, and hope they would accept you for your differences, then he would do that. He would do that and more to be able to be next to you, in your arms and in your reach. He would do anything to be able to keep you close. And next time he left the village, Floyd was not leaving without you.
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@!; BONUS SNIPIT
"Wait, so you're telling me you got captured by some evil green-haired people who put you into a glass bottle made of diamonds and the only way you escapes is because your family made the 'perfect family harmony'?" You asked Floyd with a childlike wonder and a mature skepticism. You both were laying in Floyd's bed, inside his bod, as crickets chirped outside a sweet melody of the night. Floyd knew it sounded unbelievable but, "I'm telling you, this story is 100 percent real." Floyd couldn't help but keep in his laughter at your expressive wide eyes. Taking advantaged of your bewilderment of the situation, Floyd attacked you by snuggling closer; wrapping his arms around your waist and pulling you closer, resting his head against your chest. He didn't have to look up at you to know you were cocking your eyebrow up in a questioning way, trying to think the logistics of the story over in your head. Yet you still wrapped your arms around Floyd's back, your hair stretching out to wrap the both of you in its fuzzy and cozy warmth. Floyd let out a deep sigh, you felt it against your chest; he missed these moments, and you did too. Moments that seemed to stand still, yet not in a boring way. In a way where Floyd got to soak up every second of being with you, and you got to soak up every second with him. Where you could feel like time was racing by, yet checked and it had only been a few minutes and you had more time to cuddle and just talk and be together than you had thought. Moments like these were the best feeling in the world. "I still don't believe you." You jokingly poke Floyd in the back, causing him to yelp and arch away from your pointy nail. You watched as he looked up at you with the most playfully challenging look; an eyebrow cocked upwards and his eyes glittering in the small light of the dimmed lamp. "Well it happened! I don't know what to tell you." He sassed back, rolling his eyes in a playful manner before he laid his head back against your chest. You tightened your arms around Floyd, which caused him to smile softly. No matter what happened, what had happened. Floyd was back now and neither of you were leaving each others side again; at least not now or in the near future unless it was forced.
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.ᐟ this work is published and owned by @vacayisland. please do not plagiarize, copy, or steal this work; like, reblogs, and saves are appreciated :D
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teaboot · 1 year
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True facts about my home town that I think about sometimes:
Nobody knows how big it is or what the borders are. There is some general consensus on what buildings are inside the town and which buildings are outside the town, as well as which buildings are definitely a different town entirely, but there is no clear "You are now in" or "You are now leaving" type locations you can point to on a map.
Tangentially, there are people one or two towns over, less than a 45 minute drive away, who will regularly ask "where is that?" Or, "I've never heard of that place" when you mention the town by name.
There are so few people that it is technically classified as a Village.
For many years, our only gas station did not sell gas. Once it began selling gas, I remember that they had to patch up the giant hole in a nearby billboard and use it to declare, "We Have Gas!", which was hilarious.
The whole place is mostly just woods.
There is some disagreement among locals as to whether or not there are wolves in the area. That being said, I have absolutely seen wolves in the area.
There is a public transit system that passes through. That said, it only stops by three times a day, and there are no set stops, so you kind of just have to pick a spot on the side of the road and hope for the best. If you are already on board and want off, you have to ring the bell and tell the bus driver where to pull over, which they may or may not do depending on the driver, the weather, traffic conditions, and general vibes.
I had three neighbors and I didn't even see any of them until about fifteen years in. One property across the road was a farm where I never saw anyone outside, but cars and equipment would move places throughout the day.
There is a post office. The woman who operates it is generally regarded as either incompetent or genuinely malicious, as she will often send mail back where it came from  with the justification that she doesn't believe your address is real.
The nearest actual city, with schools and a library and a hospital, famously has absolute dog shit cell service to the point that it is locally famous for it.
My childhood home specifically had a reputation for being a bad traffic spot despite being along a strip of straight road with no turns, and we regularly had to patch up holes in the fence from cars going through it. Most notable was one crash that woke me up as a child on Christmas morning, which I received a lovely thank-you card for noticing after I fetched my parents to assist.
Another time when I was a kid I went outside to find a car with the rear wheels in the air, nose-first in a ditch. I was home alone, so I went inside to call 911 on the landline, where I was immediately put on hold.
Someone stole our church and kept it for several years before inexplicably bringing it back and leaving it behind town hall. Just lifted it off the foundation and trucked it away.
The whole place is just around 100 years old and if you go into the woods you can still find hundreds of humongous tree stumps with foot holds carved into them from when the first white people came in and started settling down.
Apparently an entire family was axe murdered here in like the 80's and nobody talks about it
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fuckyeahisawthat · 8 months
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Thinking about Heaven and Hell and how Heaven has vastly more resources at its disposal. When Hell wants to spy on Aziraphale and Crowley they have to send an actual demon Upstairs with a physical camera and zombie henchmen to take one (1) picture. When Heaven does it they can effortlessly pull receipts on all of human history without leaving the C-suite.
And that’s by design, isn’t it? Because Heaven is not the good side, they’re the victors. They won the war. They kept the executive floors, literally and metaphorically, and Hell got kicked down to the crappy basement.
Hell is defined by scarce resources and the behaviors an environment of scarcity produces. It’s shitty and dark and crowded; everything is old and broken and frustrating to use. Scarcity engenders infighting, scrabbling for resources because there isn’t enough to go around, backstabbing and deal-cutting and shoving down anyone weaker than you to get a slightly better position. Taking out your anger over your shit conditions and what you lost on human souls and on other demons alike. Demons are crabs in a bucket, constantly pulling each other down. (And, like the crab metaphor, their situation is manufactured. Crabs do not naturally occur in buckets. Someone put them there.)
We see that Gabriel, separated from the memory of his power and privilege in Heaven, is not fundamentally an asshole. The assholery is instilled by the system he lives in. In the same way, we don’t really know what any of the demons would be like outside the system of Hell. Beelzebub experienced the most modest amount of friendly camaraderie and understanding and decided it was worth risking everything for. Crowley, who has spent the most time outside the environment of Hell of any of them, is not vicious and cruel toward humans the way we see many of the other demons being. And it’s not because he’s special; it’s because he’s been able to spend time in an environment where his compassion and kindness and admiration for humans can breathe a little when no one is watching.
I highly suspect that the structure of Heaven and Hell and their current relationship to Earth and humanity (and Aziraphale and Crowley) is not going to survive s3 intact. There is simply no way for Aziraphale and Crowley and Earth to be safe and free from metaphysical threats with the system the way it is now.
There are several ways I could see this resolving, but the most metaphorically rich and theologically bananapants option would be…something that permanently heals the rift between Heaven and Hell.
Not undoing the Fall so that it never happened. That can’t be done on a societal level any more than on an individual one. The war still happened; the damage was still done. But some kind of mutually agreed disarmament. A radical redistribution of ethereal resources. Taking down the metaphysical border wall. Unrestricted fraternization between demons and angels who are really more alike than they are different. Maybe abandoning the executive floors and the basement entirely, and meeting…somewhere in the middle.
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moongothic · 1 year
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MY BLANKET OF DARKNESS HAS BEEN COMPLETED
✨👁️✨ I AM SO COZY NOW ✨👁️✨
So I started working on this blanket around June of 2022. Got like, maybe half-way through the blanket and then the yarn I needed for the blanket went out of stock at my local yarn shop. Now I didn't know the yarn would be completely unavailable for like 6 months (until the stop closed permanently), so I just kept on waiting, hoping for it to come back in stock-- but it never did, so in January I finally looked online if I could find the yarn elsewhere and I did, I got the yarn I needed, and finished the blanket. So it kinda took me 6 months to make this blanket but also not
What made this blanket a truly exciting and fun project for me is that this has been the first blanket I actually made for myself and designed for myself. Like I've enjoyed every single blanket project I've had so far, but having a blanket that's Just For Me is just. It's nice
I originally planned the granny squares out digitally because I wanted to have a fun pattern of different granny squares, something that wouldn't be too busy looking and was carefully planned, and here's what I came up with
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I had two versions of the square pattern, one with moon phases right in the middle of it and another without them. I do like how the moon version looked and part of me kinda regrets not making that one, but I'm not sure the moons would have really gone well with the eyes... So I did go with the first version
(Sidenote, it's not on the pattern above but I added extra rows of just black squares at the top and bottom of the blanket, so there's two rows of black instead of just one)
(Sidenote 2, although I knew I wanted the blanket to be mostly black from the begining, I wasn't entirely sure what accent color I wanted to use, it really was depending on what colors the shop had available. Like I used yellow as kind of a default color since it worked nice with the stars and eyes, but I could've gone with some other color too. In the end, because I didn't like the color options for the yarn at the shop I ended up going with a yellow anyways) (Also I tested out a reverse color version with the pastel purple and white base and no eyes, just for funsies, it looks kinda neat)
But yeah, that's how the planning of the blanket went.
The blanket is made of 231 squares in total, 11x21 rows. 186 of the squares are plain black, the rest are patterned. The star squares were the worst to make because of how many strands of yarn I had to weave in, 0/10, would not reccommend.
I used the Cedro 100% wool yarn (reccomended hook size 5, 50g=100m), and it took me about 38 balls of yarn to finish the blanket (including crocheting all the squares together and doing a single round of double crochet around the blanket to finish it off)
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This is literally all the yarn I have left from this blanket; one untouched ball of black and three partially used balls.
I gotta admit.
I'm kind of shocked by the size of the blanket. Like I very carefully measured it to make it the exact size to fit my bed, and it fits perfectly. But I'm still kinda shocked how big it is. (Which is why I didn't make the border of the blanket any bigger, even though I could've with the yarn I have)
Also
It's HEAVY
Like, of course it's heavy, it's 100% wool and thick, but MAN I didn't expect it lmao
But that kind of makes it perfect for cold winters especially, it's super warm and the weight makes it cozy- like who needs a weighted blanket when you can have one of these lmao
Now I just need to figure out how to protect the blanket from being covered in my white cat's hair...
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its-the-pilot · 7 months
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Waves | 2 | Rooster x Reader
| 1 | Waves Masterlist | Masterlist |
I hope you enjoyed the first chapter! Here's some more angsty drama!
Summary: Bradley follows you out of the bar to talk and gets an idea of how much he hurt you. (Mav's niece!reader)
Warnings: swearing, adult banter
Length: 2.4k words
Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader
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Chapter Two
Coronado in the summer bordered on miserable. It was hot and sticky, even after the sun had set, even on the beach with the cool Pacific Ocean only feet away. Bradley tugged at the collar of his white uniform in the oppressive humidity as he scanned the beach, spotting you almost immediately. You were walking in the sand, stopping after a few hundred feet to take your wedge sandals off, struggling to untie the ribbons that held them to your ankles. 
“Dimples, wait up,” Bradley called, stepping off the Hard Deck’s patio and onto the sand before jogging toward you. 
You cursed and finally got your other sandal off, picking them both up and walking further away from him now that you were steady on your feet. “Don’t call me that,” you said, spinning around to point a finger at him, your voice shaky, but firm. “You don’t get to call me that anymore.”
When he caught up with you, he tried to take your hand but you shrugged him off. “Please,” he begged, continuing to follow you when you walked away again. Seeing you in pain was hard enough, but to know it was because of him made it unbearable. “I just want to talk.”
“How long has it been?” You asked, sandals dangling from one hand as you kept walking. When he didn't respond, you stopped and turned around again. “How long, Bradley? Do you even know?”
Of course he knew. It was the biggest mistake of his life, one he knew he'd never be able to make up to you. “Fourteen years, twenty three days,” he responded, his voice rough. His eighteenth birthday. 
At the time it had seemed like a good idea to him, the thought being that it would hurt you less if you didn't have to say goodbye. So he said goodnight after having an amazing birthday celebration with you, telling you that he would see you the next day, and in the middle of the night he left, taking only what he could carry out of the house in one trip. He'd never forgiven himself for the way he left things, knowing that if given the chance, he would do it all differently today.
Tears stung at the corners of your eyes and you fought hard to keep them from falling. You hated that this was the reaction he was having on you, especially after having pushed the feelings down and away for so many years. The first year, your Senior year, had been the hardest, his departure still fresh. It had been an open wound that damaged your relationship with Maverick, blaming him for Bradley leaving because he had pulled his Academy application. But he was the only family you had left, so when he asked you if you wanted to move to California with him so he could make it up to you, you agreed. Then there was college at UCSD, graduate school, specialized training all over the country… all things you did to keep your mind occupied, to keep yourself from thinking about him. 
When you chose this career path you had known a reunion would be a possibility one day, knowing Bradley's desire to be a pilot. Subconsciously maybe that's why you did it, letting Uncle Ice help you secure a spot at TOP GUN knowing you would be the most useful there. But in the process you suppressed your feelings further, fooling yourself into thinking that even if you did run into him again, if he did come to TOP GUN, that you would be able to tell him that you had moved on. 
Clearly that worked out well. 
“Fourteen years, twenty three days,” you repeated, wrapping your arms around your body, suddenly feeling even more exposed in your sundress than you had with Hangman earlier. “No letters, no calls, no visits… the only reason I didn't think you were dead is because Ice lets me know you're okay.”
Bradley bowed his head slightly, ashamed of himself. So many letters and emails had been written but never sent, so many phone calls made where he hung up after one ring. So many times he drove by the house you lived in with your uncle before you both moved to California, desperate to stop but unable to bring himself to. He couldn't follow through, afraid of not knowing what to say. His fight was with Maverick, not you, but you got caught in the crossfire.
“I couldn't. Maverick--”
Anger rose in your chest again as he brought up your uncle. Yes, he had made mistakes, there was no denying that. You knew their relationship was fractured, possibly irreparably, in those last few months before Bradley left, but it didn't excuse anything, especially how he had treated you.
“You're both to blame!” You cut him off, your words dripping with frustration as you closed the gap between you, a neatly manicured finger poking him in the chest firmly to drive your point home. “You left! You! No one forced you, no one…” a broken sob escaped, derailing your tirade, and before you were able to turn and walk away, Bradley's arms were around you, gently pulling you against his chest. 
You couldn't stop the sobs now, they racked your body as his large, calloused hands ran up and down your spine in an attempt to comfort you. Years of pent up emotion were escaping now that he was in front of you again, and in the back of your mind you admired him for standing there and taking the beating you were giving him. 
 “I'm sorry,” he whispered, his lips against your hair, taking a deep breath of it, letting the memories take over even though he knew he didn't deserve them. “I know it's not enough, but I am so, so sorry.”
His body was solid against yours, even more so than you remembered. It made sense, you knew the kind of physical strength you needed to be a fighter pilot. You buried your face in his coat, his scent invading your senses, the same as you remembered, sandalwood and salt water, but somehow more mature. Nevertheless, it was comforting, and when you felt yourself beginning to relax against him, it took every ounce of strength you had to pull away and put distance between the two of you. 
“I can't do this,” you whispered, barely audible above the waves as you looked anywhere but his dark hazel eyes. The damp spot on his coat from your tears, his hands doing the same nervous twitching he'd done when you were kids, his dress shoes covered in sand. It was too much, overloading your brain and emotions, turning everything up to eleven. 
Turning away, you continued to walk down the beach, hearing his voice behind you as he followed, trying to get you to stop, to talk to him. You ignored all of it until he said your name, finally halting your stride, though you kept your back to him. 
His long strides made quick work of the distance between you, coming to a stop with his body as close as it could be to yours without touching, and he was sure you could feel the heat radiating off of him. It took all of his patience and restraint to not reach out and wrap you in his arms, knowing that was the last thing you wanted right now. Instead he stood there, closing his eyes as he took a deep breath. He was just about to speak when Hangman's voice called out from where he stood on the deck of the bar behind you.
"Rooster, last call! Hit it or quit it, everyone's leaving!" He knew the blonde was just looking for gossip at this point, one more thing to prod him about. But he also knew it was getting late, and he had an early start the next morning with his first day of training.
You heard him curse under his breath after Jake called to him, your own eyes closing as you waited to see what he would do next.
Dropping his head just enough to land a soft kiss on your temple, his mustache brushed against your skin as he frowned. More time was needed if he wanted any kind of resolution to this, and he didn't know when he would see you again. "I'm sorry," he repeated for what felt like the millionth time since he joined you on the beach. It would never be enough. "I gotta go."
"Go," you whispered, afraid that if any more words left your lips you would lose what little composure you had left. You didn't move until you felt his warmth disappear, hearing his heavy steps move through the sand as he got further away from you. Once you glanced back and saw him entering the bar with Hangman, you closed your eyes, silent tears streaming down your cheeks.
After a minute or so you wiped your tears and pulled out your phone, sending quick texts to your coworkers and Penny, letting them know that you were okay and heading home. As you started walking, you knew that no matter how hard you tried, you wouldn't be getting any sleep tonight.
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"Quit it, huh? Disappointing," Hangman commented, leaning against the railing of the patio and watching you walk away with his beer in his hand. The smug look on his face made Bradley want to punch him as he climbed the stairs, not wanting him - or anyone - looking at you, especially not in the state you were in. "She's a complete smokeshow."
"Shut up, Seresin," Bradley sighed, brushing past him. He snuck one last look back over his shoulder as he re-entered the bar, watching you disappear down the beach.
Jake just laughed, following him back inside the bar which was mostly cleared out as everyone finished their last drinks of the night. "After seeing her reaction to you, maybe I should take another shot. At least I didn't get slapped."
Rooster didn't even think before he threw Hangman up against the nearest wall, his forearm pressed against the man's throat. "I said, shut the fuck up," he growled, his eyes dark.
There was a sharp whistle behind his back, but he didn't loosen his hold on the other pilot. "Boys, you better knock it off in my bar," Penny scolded. Hangman raised his hands in surrender, giving a chuckle as Bradley finally released him, pleased with himself for pushing him as far as he had.
"Forgive us, Miss Penny, Rooster here's a li'l sensitive tonight," he apologized with his Texas drawl, bowing his head and retreating when she jerked her head toward the door, signaling that it was time to go.
Once he was gone, the bar was empty except for Bradley and Penny. "Sit," she commanded, her arms crossed over her chest as she watched the younger man take a seat on the piano bench facing her. She hadn't seen him since he was a kid, probably fourteen or fifteen, when he last came out with you, Maverick, and his mother Carole for one of Iceman's promotion ceremonies.
She hadn't recognized him earlier in his uniform and with that mustache, but when the scene unfolded, she put the pieces together quickly. You had told her everything years ago, when you were in school and bartending with her part time at this very same bar before she bought it, so she felt she needed to advocate for you. "Does Pete know you're here?" she asked, looking down at him as he fiddled with his cover absently.
"No," he said simply, not looking up at her, though his knuckles went white when Maverick was brought up. "At least, not as far as I know."
Penny sighed, uncrossing her arms and pulling a chair over to sit in front of you. "And you didn't know she was here." It was a statement, rhetorical based on both Bradley's reaction and yours. She reached out and gently took his cover from his hands and set it beside him, wanting his attention fully on her. "She's family to me, Bradley. She's my kid's favorite person. I don't want to get involved here, but if you hurt her again..." she trailed off, the threat gentle but clear.
He raised his head and met her eyes for the first time, glad to hear that you hadn't completely isolated yourself in his absence. "Yes ma'am." He gave a sharp nod, years of military training and being raised by Carole showing through. "I never wanted to hurt her in the first place." 
"But you did. Now you have to fix it." She confirmed what he had already been thinking, standing and sliding the chair back to the table she had pulled it from, content that she had gotten her point across to him. Since her husband had left her a few years earlier, she had gotten a lot closer with you, accepting your help with Amelia when she needed it.
Rooster stood as well, running a hand through his wavy hair and mussing it a bit unintentionally. "How do I do that? I don't even know if I'm gonna see her again."
"You will," Penny assured him, looking over her shoulder as she finished collecting bottles and glasses from around the bar. She knew when he reported for his first day at TOP GUN, your office would be one of the first stops, as all the new pilots had to undergo a psych eval before they could officially start training. "And when you do, take it slow. Don't push her. She's had too many people betray her trust. Don't be one she has to add to the list." The again at the end of the sentence went unsaid. 
He took the warning to heart, picking up a few bottles himself and carrying them to the bar for Penny. "Thanks. It was nice seeing you.”
"You too, kid," she offered a warm smile. Pulling the rest of the bottles he brought her across the bar, she pointed a finger at him in warning. "And if you wanna fight, next time take it outside."
"Yes ma'am," he repeated, returning her easy smile as he headed for the door, making sure it was closed securely behind him as she was alone inside. He let a ragged sigh escape as he looked around the empty parking lot, the weight of the night's events settling on his shoulders. Rooster had come to TOP GUN focused, prepared to graduate first in his class, and seeing you had thrown him for a loop. Heading for his Bronco, he climbed in and headed back to base knowing that he needed to get his head on straight before training started, no matter how difficult that would be.
Chapter Three
300 notes · View notes
jellyveesh · 2 months
Text
oh, paw-lease!
fandom ## hazbin hotel (dog-sinner reader)
characters ## charlie morningstar, vaggie, alastor, angel-dust, husker, lucifer morningstar
prompt ## it would seem a new sinner has arrived at the hotel, sporting a set of bouncy ears and an eagerly swaying tail. how will this new canine companion fit into the dynamics of the hazbin hotel?
contains ## SHOW SPOILERS, gender-neutral reader, canon-typical character behaviours/habits, reader is annoyingly bubbly but in a puppy-dog way, reader is gen z, no one in this show is morally good (obviously), NO ROMANCE, autistic-coded lucifer, fan theories are used, stereotypical 'dog' characteristics, brief mention of valentino (cringe)
masterlist part two potential - open to writing for more characters
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when you first arrived at the hotel, you were pretty much fresh-meat in hell, and definitely of a different generational variety to the other residents (much to their confusion and mutual horror).
charlie welcomes you to the hotel with open arms and a huge smile - and everyone is blinded by the two balls of sunshine chatting happily in the doorway. vaggie convinces her to let you in, and you settle into the hotel extremely well.
you get along well with everyone... well, nearly everyone!
CHARLIE MORNINGSTAR
for obvious reasons, charlie adores you - your bubbly nature sharply contrasts the mellowed nature of husker, the over-the-top nature of nifty and the sneakiness that alastor maintains
but charlie isn't stupid and she obviously knows you're down here for one sinful reason or another, so she doesn't think you're harmless...
no matter how much that fluffy tail thumps against the floor, YOU ARE NOT HARMLESS
she enjoys using you as the focus point of redemption exercises - mainly because most of the residents like/are indifferent to you, and you just like everyone
planned a group fetch session one time, ended up with you passed out in the entryway the second they entered the hotel
you are her therapy dog sinner at this point, whenever she feels like she's bordering a panic attack you just poof magically appear and comfort her - using some very interesting jokes (gen z humour is honestly more traumatising than comforting, but it works in charlie's case), and allowing her to play with your tail and ears.
bought you tons of squeaky toys...
overall, is extremely happy you arrived at the hotel, and wouldn't change you for the world
VAGGIE
vaggie enjoys your presence - especially considering you seem to be about as sane as you can be, considering you're in hell and you're a sinner
like, she can have an intelligent conversation with you and then NOT feel the sudden urge to smash her head into the nearest wall (*cough* alastor *cough*)
you're her excuse to get out of the hotel, even if it's for five minutes
"i need to walk the dog" type excuse - you go along with it, because like... who doesn't enjoy walks?
despite you being a sinner, you have a lot of dog features - it's honestly hard to tell you were ever even human once upon a time, under all that fluff and fur - and you LOVE those shitty little squeaky dog toys
vaggie hates those squeaky dog toys
definitely hides them around the hotel so you can't find them
too bad you've got a sensitive sniffer and find them everytime
you stayed outside hers and charlie's room the first time she hid them, obnoxiously squeaking the toy just to be petty and kept her awake
now you just enjoy it looking for the toys, it's like a game
overall, vaggie enjoys your company - you can be very energetic and sometimes overwhelming, but you can be equally as soft and silent
she thinks she wouldn't mind you hanging around for a little while longer
ALASTOR
alastor can't stand you.
you're a dog, he HATES dogs - for many obvious reasons, of course
not that you've explicitly done anything to him, so he tolerates you - just keep an adequate distance between the two of you, and you'll be just peachy
overtime, you become accustomed to the fact that alastor will probably never like you - and you definitively become softer around him in order to accommodate to his needs
you don't necessarily know WHY he doesn't like you, but the way his eyes shift tell you that he's uncomfortable
you soften your tone of voice, make all of your movements extremely predictable and slow, and make sure to keep your pesky tail in check
overtime, this 'submissive' tactic (it's not really, but it's better to say that than to say alastor is fearful of this cheery little puppy) begins to break down alastor's carefully crafted walls
the first breakthrough was when alastor invited you to go to the library with him - you had to physically hold your tail down as it began wagging excitedly
you guys sat in the library for hours, mere inches apart from each other - your tail softly thumping against the couch, and the soft static of alastor's radio filling the air as you both read your respective books
you guys cook together (more like he cooks and you just watch excitedly, having no thoughts behind those beady puppy-dog eyes) - you have so many questions, and he answers each one with endless patience, and tells you you're a 'good dog' whenever you hand him a kitchen tool he needs
you love being called a good dog :3
overall, he's not used to you yet - but he's getting there
complete avoidance has turned into greetings, light touches here and there, and invitations to join him in his endeavours
i'd say that's a job well done
ANGEL DUST
angel had a temporary urge to taint your giddiness - it didn't last long, but long enough that the guilt of it eats him alive most days
but he adores you, and you quickly become fast friends - you act as an escape from his job, your personality so contrasting from his day-to-day
angel buys you tons of cute outfits, most of which contain chokers or pendants after you expressed that you used to wear them when you were alive - and wearing them brings you a strange sense of comfort
definitely got you a charm that said 'if lost, call angel dust xxx-xxx' and hooked it onto a little doggy collar as a gag gift
you still wore it though, and he just became absolute putty at the way your tail wagged
angel sometimes wakes up to you curled up at his side, with fat nuggets mirroring you on his other side - he doesn't mind, he actually loves the fact that he's your first comfort-call
no one snitch, but he wraps all of his arms around you and your tail thumps softly against the comforter in your sleep
in regards to angel's job, you're extremely understanding - hell is hell, and people get by in different ways
but you are FIERCELY protective of your newly found friend
in the episode where angel stands up to valentino for nifty's sake, you are trembling at husker's side - not out of fear, but out of pure anger and the desire to protect your own
however, when valentino lays hands on your precious friend? you're between them in seconds, teeth bared, ears flat against your scalp and low rumbling growls coming from your mouth
you make it very apparent you are no bark and all bite when valentino tries to bypass you to approach angel, snapping your jaws at him, and watch with mixed triumph and disgust as the moth-man scoffs and turns away
as soon as valentino is no longer in 'threat' distance, you turn to help angel to his feet - no words needed, and simply pressed your cold snout to his cheek as you felt his trembling hands in yours
from that day onwards, you pick angel up from work everyday without fail - even if it means sprinting across pentagram city just to get there on time
your consistent presence discourages valentino from keeping angel overnight, which fills you with pride - at least you rattled the fugly moth during your last encounter
overall, you're best friends - angel would burn the world for you, and you'd do the same for him, and that mutual respect for one another makes you a force to be reckoned with
you'd be surprised at how downright dirty the 'innocent' little pup could get when with the spider
HUSKER
frenemies through and through - but it's more like one-sided frenemies, because you simply have no enemies (except valentino. fuck you valentino.)
you and husker were not close AT ALL when you first arrived at the hotel, and instead opted for the stereotypical dog-cat relationship... a relationship built on pure contempt just for each others species, and spent a good portion of the first few days growling and hissing at one another
so, how did you two become fast friends considering your clear hate?
you.
you did the one thing that proved to husker you understood how cats functioned...
you brought him a mouse!
a dead one. a dead hell mouse.
now, to everyone else in the hotel, the display was disgusting - and several of them scrambled away from the bar with shrill screams - but, to husker, it was a sign of peace
and, from that point onwards, you became friends
that's literally it
husker wouldn't mention it to anyone, but he is an absolute cuddle bug - and having you, someone with no regard for personal space, around and jumping into hugs actually soothed his stolen soul
oftentimes, you two are found comfortably lounging on the couch - limps tangled together (and tails coiled around each others)
the two of you have a habit of falling into your more animalistic urges when it's just the two of you - so mutual grooming is not uncommon, and you've woken up several times to husker's tongue dragging across your head
he definitely pretends it doesn't happen after, but you both know
you make sure to return the favour, much to his distress - considering you just kind of... slobber, everywhere
when you two fight though it's actually vicious - biting, scratching, clawing, etc. absolutely scaring the hell out of everyone
but then after like two minutes you two are like "well, that was fun!"
husker is ultimately more playful in your presence, but he's still grumpy and if he asks you to go away - you will listen, because you understand not everyday is a cuddle day
overall, husker hate-loves you - you're a solid consistent in his day-to-day afterlife now, and he can actively become more relaxed with you around... and whilst that's why he loves you, it's also why he hates you, because you make him weak
LUCIFER MORNINGSTAR
lucifer has definitely hyperfixated on several animals during all of his years in heaven and hell - so i have no doubt he hyperfixated on dogs, or some kind of canine, at one point
and you're about as humanoid-ly doggy as it gets, or as humanoid-ly doggy as he's seen
and when you show interest in his hyperfixation on ducks, you instantly become his new favourite sinner at the hotel - although you enjoy ducks simply for dog-related reasons, you also enjoy how happy lucifer seems to get when speaking about them
you make a note to yourself to never harm another duck in your entire afterlife
with lucifer being autistic, and you seemingly having adhd qualities, you perfectly compliment each other
your friendship is the definition of "he asked for no pickles" with a tiny lucifer all teary eyed in the background
after lilith left, lucifer has had difficulty in maintaining his wings - and, much to his displeasure, you walked in on him trying to preen them, and struggling to reach the harder to get places
i mean, he has 6 wings, i wouldn't look after them either
but when you offer to help, he melts - guiding and directing you on what to do and what not to do, smiling adoringly at the look of concentration on your face and the way you stick your tongue out the corner of your mouth
as a reward, he preens you in return, expressing his thanks through the subtle gesture
preening is a sign of affection with birds, and i feel he would give into those mannerisms the more he hyperfixates on ducks
overall, lucifer absolutely adores you - and although the goal for the hotel is to redeem sinners, he lowkey hopes you're never redeemed
he'd simply miss you too much
and he definitely treats you like a little kid sometimes (theoretically, you are the youngest, generationally...)
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itbmojojoejo · 8 months
Text
Indelicate Tenderness | Sihtric x Reader
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Pairing: Sihtric x Ealdorman's Wife!Reader
Summary: Your marriage to a much older Ealdorman was a political move and the inability to produce an heir in the traditional manner leads to your husband suggesting you look to another man for assistance. The rules? He must be the right sort, keep emotions out of it, and no one can learn of the affair so that he can claim the child as his own.
Wordcount: 5.7k | Other works.
Warnings: MDNI18+ Content. No use of y/n. Talks of having a child, Infidelity, Unprotected PinV(I will not write about medieval contraception methods.) If I have missed anything please let me know!
Authors Note: A certain book/film has given me brain rot and I've decided to make it everyone's problem by spinning it into this mess. Enjoy. HUGE THANK YOU TO @arcielee FOR BETA READING THIS AND OFFERING HER WISDOM AND FIXING MY AWFUL PUNCTUATION XO
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Straightening the muscles in his back, Sihtric effortlessly instructed his horse to ease from a trot to a slow walk as he, Finan, and the band of men they had been ordered to bring to a struggling estate owned by the ageing Lord Eadwold approached the large oak gates on the edge of the walled property. 
Dismounting in the courtyard, he took in the mixture of stone and wooden buildings while guiding his steed to the stables as directed by a household guard and the group were met by Eadwold. The Lord’s hair was starting to grey and thin in places, with almost translucent papery thin skin that was beginning to sag under his light eyes. Sihtric imagined he was the type of man who had not shied away from battle in his younger years, but now a strong gust of wind could be all it took to knock him off his feet. 
“How were the roads, gentlemen?”  The old man greeted them croakily. 
“Very quiet, lord.” Finan offered with a polite smile. 
“Ah, I doubt a ruckus would bother you fellows too much.”
Sihtric willed his face to remain as neutral as he could listening to the old man ramble on about the raids ravishing the borders of his lands and how the men of his guard and fyrds could do with some decent training, but as he removed his packs from the horse he felt eyes on him. 
What was supposed to be a quick glance, expecting only to find a curious servant sneaking a peek at the strangers in their home, he found you. Lingering on the edge of the stables with curious eyes, the sun glowing in your hair and glinting off the ornate pendants hanging from different chains around your neck and rings adorning your delicate fingers. 
“Ah! There you are, my dear. Look at what the Lord Uhtred has sent our way, as promised by the king!” Eadwold’s smile met his crinkling eyes. 
With the sentiment of dear spoken Sihtric thought you may have been a daughter, or another relative due to the blatant difference in age. You were one of the prettiest women he had seen in these lands, he thought it a crime that you would be kept inside the walls of a distant estate far away from anyone to admire your beauty. 
“This is my lady wife,” Eadwold gestured for you to come closer with his proud-like introduction and Finan shot a quick side glance to Sihtric, they had heard that the Lord’s wife was younger but they were still surprised, “Off on another one of your walks?” 
All the mens eyes darted to the muddied leather boots just visible at the elegantly embroidered hem of your dress, belted at the waist with a sheathed dagger, its hilt intricately decorated. A fine little weapon for a fine woman, Sihtric mused. 
“Yes, I think I need the air.” You laughed lightly, but Sihtric caught the way your smile fell from your lips all too quickly to be genuine.  
“Perhaps you could show the men down to the lodgings in the woods?” Just as you opened your mouth to respond to your husband, he cut you off, turning back to look at Finan, “Wonderful stonework left behind by those clever Romans, I think it will suit your needs.” 
Your hand reached out and gently touched Eadwold’s arm covered by rich blue robes to divert his attention back to you. “My Lord, perhaps the men would like to be fed? Given some ale too, possibly? I imagine they have had a long journey.” 
“That would be delightful, lady.” Finan enthused, the promise of ale was always enough to make him forget a sore arse from travelling. 
“I shall have Osgar show you the way after you are rested, then.” Eadwold nodded to the two men then looked expectantly at his young wife, 
“Lord, gentlemen.” You half bowed and took your leave. 
Where is your escort? Does he really let something as lovely as you wander freely? Sihtric’s inner thoughts spun as he watched your graceful steps carrying you off, but then you glanced back and he was unable to look away. 
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The reason for your walk that afternoon wasn’t just for physical air, but an attempt at clearing the tangled thoughts in your head. You had been cooped up inside that hall for such a long time now it felt as though you were being slowly suffocated with a strange sense of loneliness, surrounded by people yet feeling the most alone you ever had. 
It’s not that your husband was cruel, although it certainly felt that way sometimes with his dismissive comments and not allowing you to take leave so you may visit with your family. He had his rule of you always having to stay close and watch over him playing Lord of his lands, but in reality you were merely a decorative possession.
A pretty young woman gifted to him by another ealdorman to bolster the wealth his lands needed as well as a son so that he might have an heir, but therein laid the issue, as your husband was an older man who had some difficulties when it came to marital duties.
Your husband had his fears and worries, he knew that it would not be a traditional marriage with his ailment, as he referred to it, but for all appearances people must believe it to be so. With the pair of you coming to terms with what your marriage was, a sort of trust was built where you could share your thoughts openly with one another, an attempt at companionship and a life lived together.
A discussion that Eadwold had begun over a game of Tafl had taken you aback, 
“Perhaps there is another way you can give me a son.” He rasped, twisting one of the Muscovites between his fingers. 
“Another way?”
“Yes, I am certain a man would not say no if you were to...” Eadwold said, gesturing his hand towards your body with a sway to his shoulders.
“Offer myself up like a piece of meat?” You laughed at his audacious suggestion. 
“Aren’t we all just sacks of meat?” He questioned, probably imagining himself to be wise, “We wouldn’t be the first to raise a bastard.”
Even with freedoms most Lady’s were not given and permission to have an affair for the sake of a son you had an air of sadness around you, one that would linger in your wake for others to see but your husband remained blind to it. By ignorance or choice you did not know, and as the days turned into weeks you came to the conclusion that motherhood would at least give you a sense of purpose, something to pour your unspent love into. 
You still had a sense of unease at the entire suggestion, the shame that would befall you if it were ever discovered how you came to be with a child. There must have been rumours about you or your husband whispered in corners due to the lack of a shared bedroom and a child, you had been married for long enough that you should have at least had one by now. 
And so as you walked out the large doors of the opulently decorated house you were beginning to despise, into the afternoon sun for a moment's escape, the sound of your husband's raspy droning accompanied by the voice of an Irishman caught your attention near the stables. 
Who your eyes landed on did not belong to the bearded man of Irland, but the quiet man looking as bored as you felt during most conversations with Eadwold, who was removing packs from his horse. He had dark curls shorn to the scalp on one side, with bronze arm bands glimmering against the dark blue short sleeved tunic covering his biceps, and to your surprise a pagan pendant hanging from his neck. 
He had not spoken a single word as you suggested the men be allowed to rest before being escorted to their lodgings, which only fuelled your curiosity of who you were to play host to until the lands were able to defend their own borders without the assistance of the other Ealdormen. 
After taking your leave to continue with the walk and risking a peek over your shoulder, you found the unknown pagan still watching, the sun glistening in his hazel eyes, causing you to quickly avert your gaze with a warmth blooming in your cheeks. It felt girlish to have a reaction like that to a stranger, and a heathen at that, but you couldn’t deny that he was handsome. 
Later that evening at supper you asked your husband why he had put the men all the way out in the woods and not allowed them to remain within the walls, there was plenty of space available for them to use in the barracks after all. He admitted he was not trusting of them, 
“Some of them are Danes themselves, I find it hard to believe that they actually fight against their own… but who am I to speak on the simple mind of a heathen, they go where the silver takes them I imagine,” Eadwold mused, swilling his ale tankard. 
“They are here to keep your land safe, you could show a little gratitude.” 
“Those are fine lodgings they’ve been given, as well as food and ale! I would say that’s enough gratitude shown,” he croaked, and you simply picked at the meat on your plate with a sigh. 
Over the next few days you found yourself watching over the training yard from the high walls surrounding the perimeter of the estate. The name of the Dane your eyes always landed on was still unknown to you, and no matter how hard you tried to take in the other people down below practising their sword work, it was him who always held your attention as he guided footwork and techniques.
Every so often his gaze would flicker up and meet your own, and at first you thought yourself to be imagining the slight quirk of his mouth, yet the next time his eyes wandered up he wet his plump bottom lip as a smile grew causing the warmth to hit your cheeks once more. 
In the late afternoon you were found by your husband lacing up the leather boots you kept solely for walking, the luxurious silk slippers you wore for general use discarded to the side.  
“Another walk? All this sun will be doing you no good.”
“The sun has passed its highest point, and I shall keep to the shade.” You huffed pulling the laces tight.
“In the wood?”
“Yes.” You clipped. 
“Oh, well if you must. Uhtred’s men are going to squash a band of raiders, if you pass that way be sure to offer them a prayer.” 
“Of course,” you stood, checking if your dagger was secure.  “Did you need something before I go?” Eadwold stepped closer and spoke in a hushed tone to you, 
“No, but I do wonder if you had thought on a particular issue?”
“I have, lord, but I do have some concerns.” 
“Speak freely, my dear.”
“Are you certain that this is what you would want? I am your wife after all.”
“Well I would not want you to yield yourself to another man completely, and if you were to govern your emotions accordingly this can remain uncomplicated.”
“Uncomplicated.” You scoffed, nothing about any of this was uncomplicated. “And you would not mind which man’s child I bore?” 
“He has to be the right sort, but I do trust your judgement with that, I highly doubt you would let just any man touch you. There is a matter of discretion of course, these lands depend on it.”
These lands, but what of my wellbeing? What if I wish to just spend my days here until you pass on so I may turn myself into the Order? Is what you wanted to say, instead you continued attempting to give him the responses he wanted. 
“Would... would you expect me to tell you who the man was?”
“Best that I do not know.” And he took your warm hand in his bonier, cold grasp. 
“Does an heir really mean this much to you, my lord?”
“It means everything. I know you can do this for us, for our legacy as leaders of lands. You do understand the importance of this, do you not?”
Trying your best to soften the almost pained expression gracing your face and managing a weak smile, your hand slipped from your husbands and youturned on your heel, taking a few deep inhales as you stepped over the threshold out into the warming sun, leaving the outlandish conversation behind you. 
As the birds chirped overhead, skipping along full branches in their song, you toiled over the emotions rolling around inside the depths of a caged heart letting your feet blindly carry you further and further through the trees. Walking through the undergrowth with muted steps, you stumbled upon the stone outbuildings; all was quiet, except the wildlife and nearby stream lightly bubbling over its rocky bed. 
Walking a little further past the group of small houses used by different attendants of the estate, you came to one that stood alone on the edge of willow trees, and beneath your feet myriads of bright wildflowers blanketed the ground. Unsheathing the dagger at your side you crouched and delicately began to cut them away so that you may take them home to decorate your room. 
The sound of someone clearing their throat caused you to flinch and snap your head towards the noise. 
“Sorry my lady, I did not mean to startle you.” The unnamed Pagan held up his hands with a soft smile, instantly putting you at ease. 
“It’s quite alright, I should be paying more attention to my surroundings,” You responded, awkwardly carrying on with your cutting. 
“Are you... Does your lord husband know you wander this far from the house all alone?” 
“He does, actually.” You huffed at the mention of Eadwold, but you regretted the tone you had used, as it was a simple question from a person who does not know you,  “I, uh, hear you are off to deal with some raiders?”
“We are, lady, I was just going to the stables to meet the others now.” 
“Then I will pray you all return safely.” You stood, eyes flickering over the hammer pendant hanging from his neck and internally cursed, “if that does not offend you, of course.” 
His tongue quickly flicked out wetting his lips before pursing them to crush the small smile playing on his mouth. 
“You can pray as you wish. I can escort you back?” 
There was a distance between the pair of you as you strolled back through the woods, taking in the scent of moss and fauna, occasionally looking over to the man whose eyes always seemed to be averting yours with every glance. 
“I have just realised you are helping my house yet I do not know your name?” You asked, fiddling with the flowers you grasped. 
“I am Sihtric, lady.” He revealed in a smoky tone that had your brows flit up briefly. 
“And the loud Irishman?” 
He chuckled at your comment, stepping over a fallen tree you chose to walk around. 
“Mm, Finan.” 
Two days later, upon the return of the men, Lord Eadwold had agreed to the idea of letting the men feast in the hall with the two of you, as a thank you for all that they were doing. Sat beside him at the top of the table, you phased in and out the conversations around you; there wasn’t anything you could offer to the talks of war and swordsmanship. 
It was as Eadwold was enthusiastically retelling the story of him fighting Britons to Finan, occasionally spilling ale from his tankard as he waved his arms around, that your eyes skirted over to Sihtric. He was smiling at Osgar who sat to his side locked into his own discussion, and you focused on the dark inking that decorated the side of his neck disappearing into his hair. 
Eyes wandering further, you spotted the line work on each of his fingers that held his own ale tankard, what those hands could do you thought, and quickly sipped at your drink, willing your mind silent. Even so, your eyes drifted back to meet his, he gave a simple nod and smile returning to his conversation. 
The following day, you decided to venture back to where you had found the wildflowers, collecting thin twigs of hazel and willow as you went. Making a sizable pile of flowers you settled against the trunk of the willow tree close to the little Roman lodge you had thought remained empty, only to be pulled from the therapeutic process of weaving your flowers by its door opening. 
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Having been gifted a couple of days rest by the Lord Eadwold, Sihtric decided he would take some time away from his group to sharpen his sword and seax in the confines of the humble one storey house he had claimed for himself. He liked the little crumbling mosaic pictures that adorned the walls and floor tiles, and he thought it a peaceful place.
As he slid the whetstone down the edge of his blades, the sun was temporarily blotted out by someone passing the window and caught his attention; he paused his movements to focus in on any sounds that might indicate who it was, but none came. 
Carefully placing his sword on the table and sheathing his seax, he made the short distance to the window, sneaking a look with his head tilting to the side, and there you were again. The long branches of willow with their full leaves cascading from the sky around you, casting just enough shade to keep the sun from warming your soft skin too much. 
Three times Sihtric told himself to move away and leave you be, but the first time he made the attempt, your brow had furrowed together in concentration and he felt the urge in his finger tips to smooth the crease away. The second time you had wet your pretty lips and leant closer to your hands, making the chains around your neck swing drawing his attention to the round cut of your dress just exposed your collar bones. 
It was his third attempt that gave him pause for a different reason other than to secretly admire you, wondering if he should interrupt the very clear thought process you were having. Holding out the half completed wreath your fingers nimbly worked on, you held different flowers near it, trying to choose a pattern you didn’t seem entirely happy with. 
Taking a deep breath and exhaling with a low grumble, Sihtric approached the door, making sure to open it with enough force to create sound so as not to startle you by silently appearing at your feet. Rounding the corner he met your gaze, your eyes sparkling and lips parted greeting him with a silvery tone, 
“Sihtric.” 
“Lady, I hope I’m not disturbing you?” He stepped closer as you shook your head at his question. 
“No, I was just, busy hands mean a quiet mind.” You fiddled with the twisted twigs of the wreath in your hands. 
“It looks pretty.” 
“Hmm, I only wished I had some different flowers.” 
This is why you came out here, tell her. He urged himself. 
“There is more on the other side of the stream.” Sihtric gestured to bubbling water that could be heard through the willows. 
“In the tall grasses?” 
“I can show you, if you’d like?” 
Keeping an arms distance between the two of you, Sihtric took you a little further through the willow’s to the edge of the stream where the water flowed slowly and after explaining that the brook wasn’t deep, he took a step down from the bank, only to realise he was wrong. 
The cool waters soaked through his trousers in an instant to just below his knee, slowly turning with his brows raised and lips pressed together to prepare himself for a refusal and telling off that he would even suggest such a thing he was relieved to see you stifling laughter at his misjudgement. 
“Uh, it is shallower near the other houses, lady.” He laughed. 
“This is fine, just give me a moment.” You smiled. 
Watching how you unlaced your boots to reveal bare feet felt like an oddly intimate thing for Sihtric to witness, and he struggled to avert his gaze as you gathered up your dress, holding the fabric up to your now exposed, luscious thighs. 
He swallowed the lump growing in his throat and offered up his hand as you stepped closer to the edge of the bank, your skin felt warm against his and the squeal you let out at the cool water rushing up your legs followed by a hearty laugh that was music to his ears. 
The smile on your face he could tell to be genuine compared to the others he had seen you so bravely try to wear around your husband, and as he hoisted you up into the tall grasses on the other side of the stream you placed a hand on his chest to steady yourself, making you pause and look from your hand to his eyes, followed by your quiet voice, 
“Thank you, Sihtric.” 
Lightly clearing his throat, he stepped aside allowing you to walk into the green grasses littered with an array of purple and yellow flowers, watching your fingers lazily dance atop the greenery under the warm sky. 
It was amongst nature that you sat quietly for a while, gathering up violet tulips and he was close by, leaning back propped up on an elbow watching little beetles clamber over the ground on their unknown journeys, occasionally stealing a look at you.
“May I ask you a question, lady?” He risked breaking your peace, his curiosity winning. 
“You just did.” You smiled at him from under your lashes. “Ask it.” 
“Why do you come all this way? Are you not needed at the house?” 
“That was two.” You had criticised, eyes falling back to your lap, carrying on trimming stems with your dagger. 
He quietly sighed and plucked a blade of grass thinking that he would not get a response from you, until you spoke up again with a slight frown and not looking at him. 
“I am given the freedom to speak my mind, but my voice is not truly heard. I have no say in how that house or these lands are run, my presence is only missed when Eadwold wants advice on a matter he has already decided how to settle.” 
A decoration to talk at, Sihtric thought, then his mind drifted to the thought of you having to survive the old man seeing and touching your nakedness. A painful existence, someone as pretty, no, beautiful as you having to let a wretch paw at you. 
When you were ready to leave the peaceful meadow, he carried your bundle of flowers and clutched your hand helping you back through the stream; he watched your mood change as you readied to make the journey home, like someone had walked through a house blowing out candles as they went. The light has disappeared from her eyes. 
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The rare happiness that had swelled in your chest littered with fleeting thoughts of Sihtric had kept you moving through the next few days with ease, only dimming at the dinner table when your replies fell on deaf ears; Eadwold was carrying on his droning as if you had said nothing at all, or changing the topic when you were mid sentence. 
Normally you could swallow it, but this evening as you sat at the table with him and his brother, Eadwig, it came to be too much. 
“Perhaps you should have some of the younger lads trained with swords and shields now, pull in the servants' children too as a backup should you need it.” Eadwig’s equally raspy voice carried over the table. 
“They are just boys, Eadwold,” you commented, not liking the idea one bit. 
“They started much younger than they do now, you should have seen it! What were we? Not even 10 years of age when handed a real sword in place of the wooden things they use now,”  Eadwig added. 
You argued further. “The mothers will have a fright, you cannot.”
“Here comes the dramatics of a woman,” Eadwold griped. 
“Caused by the ridiculous ideals of days long past.” You now fumed. 
Abruptly leaving the table, you hurried through the corridors with no real sense of direction; it wasn’t until you were slipping out of a forgotten gate at the back of the estate with a cloak fastened around you that you realised you had not bothered to change your silk slippers for boots. 
Looping around the perimeter close to the wall so as not to be spotted at this hour, as the deep golden sun hung low above the treetops, your feet carried you to the only peaceful place it could think of, the willow trees. 
Walking with your eyes to the ground, you finally looked up at seeing the familiar wildflowers surrounding you, stopping in your tracks and a breath hitching in your throat. 
“Lady.” Sihtric greeted with his look of surprise matching yours, chips of wood all around him and an axe in hand. 
“What...” You fell silent taking in the sight before you. Three chopped trunks now sat in the stream, creating a dry pathway from one side to the other. 
“I didn’t want you trying to cross it alone so I...” Sihtric started but your furrowed brows and parted lips made him stop, “Have I offended you, Lady?” 
“No, this is wonderful.” Your voice came much quieter than you had liked. 
Gingerly stepping to the edge of the bank, you toed the lump of wood and it didn’t budge; a smile crept onto your face as you stepped onto it, following the others to the opposite side and skimming your hands over the top of the long grass as you walked further into it. You had not noticed Sihtric silently trailing behind until he spoke up, 
“The tree had already fallen, I thought it would have better use here than the forest floor.”
This act of care and a kindness shown hit your chest heavily, your mind ran wild with all the different emotions freely flowing in your veins for the first time in what felt like years. Before thinking it through you spun, throwing your arms around Sihtric’s neck, pulling him into a tight embrace. 
He remained still with his arms held at his side, only bringing them around your waist when he felt you sob and whisper a small thank you to him.There was a gentle warmth emanating from his body and into your own; your grip dug into his shoulders, not wanting to let him go. It was only in this moment that you realised how desperately you ached for the touch of another person. 
“My lady?” 
“I’m sorry I just...” You reluctantly pulled back, wiping away tears that had fallen with the back of your fingers, avoiding his concerned gaze. 
“I’ll give you a moment...” 
“No,” you protested grabbing at his arm, and as you met his hazel eyes brought his hand up to your face. “Stay?” Your voice trembled against his knuckles as you ghosted your lips over his skin. You knew you shouldn’t be asking what you were, or in this manner, but you needed to be touched. 
You watched the way a conflicted frown appeared before quickly disappearing; he cupped your cheek with the calloused hand you held and with a sigh you leaned into his touch, pressing a light kiss to the base of his palm. He shifted closer towards you letting his other hand brush along your jaw, his thumb gently skimming over your lips. 
Standing head to head, noses barely nudging each other, you guided his hand down your neck to your chest, silently asking for more of his touch and he gave it freely. You pressed into him as he palmed at your breasts with a whine, lips grazing one another but never locking in a kiss.
With a desperate and sinful heat blooming between your legs, you pulled at the laces of Sihtric’s trousers and he didn’t stop you, allowing you to stroke at his hardening cock with your eyes squeezed shut. He nipped at your cheekbone and ear lobe with his hot breath fanning across your skin, gracing you with the sound of a low moan as your hand gripped his shaft. Guiding you to move to the grassy floor of the meadow, you braved meeting his lust blown eyes full of want mirroring your own. 
You quickly hiked your dress up to your hips, exposing your wet core to the cooling air of a summer evening as he freed himself and settled between your thighs; you hesitated with your mouth on the side of his and nodded for him to give you what you so badly needed to feel.  
You held your breath in anticipation feeling the head of his cock nudging at the entrance of your cunt, a short sharp exhale escaping you with the first shallow thrust, his grunt meeting your high pitched whimper as he then fully sheathed deep in your tight walls. 
Gripping tightly at his shoulder and tugging harshly at Sihtric’s hair, he fucked you into the warm ground with a merciless rhythm, feeding the wanton hunger that coursed through your body and filling the air with lewd sounds of skin slapping skin.
The gravity of your actions were forgotten underneath his body, losing yourself completely to a desire being sated and leaving you feeling near drunk with utter bliss washing over you.
Chasing a release you madly wanted, you tilted your pelvis enabling Sihtric’s thrusts to stroke against your sensitive clit just right, and he understood exactly what you needed by changing his movements to a deep rolling that had your eyes fall back and the tell tale tremor to start in your thighs. 
The open sky was full of the sweet broken cries tumbling from your lips into Sihtric’s ear as you fell apart beneath him and he spilled his hot seed into your pulsing walls with a pained groan. As he collapsed onto your chest, both panting erratically, you untangled your fingers from his hair and loosened your grip on his shoulders. 
The loss of Sihtric’s hand on your hip and him pulling away from between your legs brought you back to reality, his top lip curled up with a flicker of a frown on his face as he laced his trousers and turned away. Your mouth moved in an attempt to say something, anything, but no words could find you and so you stood, readjusting your dress in silence. 
“I’ll escort you back.” 
Unlike the last time he walked you back towards the estate the silence was not full of a curious tension being in the company of a stranger, but one that felt awkward as you tried to have a coherent thought about what had just taken place. Even though Sihtric’s eyes were on you the whole time as he trailed a little behind you he didn’t say a word. 
“It’s best I go on from here alone.” You stated, glancing quickly at Sihtric over your shoulder as the walls came into view through the treeline. 
“Goodnight, lady.” 
“Goodnight.”
Eadwold had not even noticed you’d ventured out for a walk, he was deep in his ramblings with his brother beside the hearth of the main hall and hadn’t even bothered to speak to you as you headed up the stairs to your room. 
As you laid in bed staring up at the rafters your thumb ran over your lips in a poor imitation of how Sihtric had, the ghost of his touch lingering on your skin with a satisfied ache between your thighs. If only I had kissed him, you thought; falling asleep with your mind full of the Pagan you let have your body in the meadow. 
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Sleep struggled to find Sihtric that night, the sweet scent of you had been burned into his senses along with the feel of your soft skin on his hands. It shouldn’t have happened, I have lowered her, and other such thoughts swam through his mind until he drifted off. 
Throughout the next morning he was distracted and let Finan take control of the training as he walked around the border of the yard, hoping to catch sight of you, but you never appeared. Not in any of the windows, nor up on the walls watching over them as you usually would, and you weren’t lingering in any open doorways either. 
Sihtric’s mind drifted to you again as he trundled over the moss covered ground with birds flitting through the trees above him, and a hope filled his chest as rounded the corner of the old stones wanting to find you beneath the willow trees but you weren’t there. 
Sighing as he approached the door he paused, he had not left it open before leaving this morning so why was it now ajar? Placing his hand on the hilt of his sword he shoved it open, not expecting to see you sat on the edge of his small fur covered bed. 
“I’ve been waiting for you.” Your silvery tone greeted, he took his hand away from his sword and his tone was sharper than he wanted it to be with his response, 
“Is that wise? Will people not become suspicious if you keep walking off into the woods when they know us men are down here?”  
“Are you afraid?” You asked, your eyes searching his. 
“Yes, but not for me lady, for you.” 
He watched you wet your lips with an incredulous smile on your face and you quickly pushed off the bed walking towards him and cupped his cheeks, crushing your lips to his taking him aback. 
You sighed against him as he began to kiss you back slowly, letting his hands roam your waist.
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maklodes · 1 month
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I feel like I barely have the right to get into “Star Wars would be so good if it were good” posting given that I haven’t actually watched VII-IX, but I keep thinking about the myriad plots and subplots that could follow VI, after the fireworks stop, all without slamming the reset button.
Like, as of Episode VI’s end, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, and Grand Moff Tarkin are all dead, but much of the rest of the Imperial bureaucracy and military are still intact. Maybe there’s a legal chain of succession that establishes who’s next, but probably it’s pretty weak, because tyrants generally don’t like saying “you know who would benefit greatly if I were to ‘accidentally’ drink poisoned blue milk and die? That guy!” So there’s a likelihood of power struggles, different factions emerging among moffs and admirals. How would the Alliance respond to two moffs waging a brutal war against each other, extorting civilians to death for supplies, bombarding civilian population centers that are not logistically accessible enough for their side to extort but that they think the other side will, etc? Can the Alliance afford to intervene to help the innocents suffering in this conflict, or is it best to just let their enemies weaken themselves and clean up afterwards?
Meanwhile, some moffs and governors see the writing on the wall, and are approaching the Alliance and saying “Yes, I was a high official in the Empire, but I was one of the good ones, working within the system to make it as humane and decent as possible. Now I am preparing to join the New Republic, and preparing to hold free elections on my planet(s) (supervised, of course, by the erstwhile-Imperial bureaucracy under my control – who else is around that could competently manage such an affair?) Yes, there are a few incidents during my reign that can be classified as atrocities, but I can assure you that if anyone else in the empire had been in charge, they would have been more numerous and severe (anyone harsher than me would’ve been worse, and anyone gentler would’ve been force-choked to death by Darth Vader and replaced), so let’s just leave those in the past and work together toward a better future.” Can the Alliance accept such a defector on those terms? Can the Alliance afford not to?
At the same time, former members of the senate – dissolved at the beginning of IV – are saying “Alright! With that tyrannical emperor gone, we are ready to get back into the action and help rebuild the Republic,” while more radical members of the Alliance are like “no, FUCK those old senators. Those were the guys who elected Palpatine chancellor. Then they kept giving him more and more emergency powers. Then they voted to make him emperor. Then they stuck around as a rubber stamp Imperial Senate for like fifteen years legitimizing the Empire, before the emperor finally dissolved the senate. A few of them may be okay, but they are all on probationary status in the politics of the New Republic at best, and many of them should be charged with corruption/oath violation/etc and barred from politics and maybe incarcerated/executed.”
Some people might even question the whole idea of One Galaxy Government going forward. Sure, there are advantages to having a singular Republic/Empire coordinating things, but there are risks. Maybe local control – with the risk of the occasional local dictator, or local border war – is safer than putting all eggs into one basket? Coordinating the resources of a galaxy has proven useful in destructive massive scale projects like planet-killer battle stations. Is there a more productive use case for that much broad scale coordination? 
As more systems democratize and lift censorship and restrictions on holonet, you get paranoia and rumors going around that this or that office-seeking politician is the Next Palpatine. When a planet’s leading candidate for senator faces rumors of being a Dark Sider, the runner-up currently polling at 48% clears her throat and says “The threat of the Dark Side is too serious to be turned into a political issue, and unfounded rumors and partisan smears do nothing to help us re-establish our still-fragile democratic norms. At the same time, any credible allegations of Dark Side influence merit a thorough and independent investigation. After all, recent experience has shown just how destructive the Dark Side can be: whole inhabited planets got destroyed! Once we establish a transparent, impartial process to examine these claims, we can move beyond all this baseless speculation about my opponent (and the baseless speculation that the first anonymous rumors were traced to a holonet account belonging to my campaign’s chief of staff).” You could have HUAC / McCarthy hearings type shit.
You could have some genuine (aspiring) Dark Side guys – no one who knows the true Sith teachings, but maybe some force sensitives who see the force as a Will To Power thing. (The Jedi haven’t been abducting children who show force potential for decades, and the Sith had no room beyond two, so I guess force sensitives have mostly sorta been figuring out what they could of this stuff themselves for a few decades? Most of them are probably pretty weaksauce compared to trained Sith/Jedi like Yoda or Palpatine, but maybe they can influence weak minds and shit) You could have any combination of actual Dark Side influence and rumors: have some people correctly accuse real Dark Side guys, have Dark Side guys spreading false rumors that their innocent opponents are on the Dark Side, have two different candidates both being Dark force sensitives, spreading rumors about each other (or one spreading rumors, being a down and dirty political fighter, and the other refusing to stoop to that and going for the Stately Above the Fray vibe, but secretly being comparably ruthless), or (perhaps most common) rumors of Dark Side influence being spread in politics when no one involved is actually even Force sensitive let alone in touch with the Dark Side.
You could go a little deeper: some people in the aftermath of the Empire might think  that the Force – both the Dark and Light sides – has held the galaxy kind of kind of technical and moral cul-de-sac, accounting for the ways in which the whole setting combines backwardness and advancement:
Why is it that in spite of having overcome the light barrier many millennia ago and being able to build small planet-sized battle stations, they seem to have made negligible progress against senescence and death generally? Because the Force provides a frame in which you either embrace the Dark Side, in which case triumph over mortality is a personal achievement to be hoarded and lorded over your inferiors, or you adhere to the Light Side, in which case you reject the “unnatural abilities” of Dark immortality. Progress against mortality at a collective, civilizational level doesn’t make sense from either of those perspectives.
Why is it that in spite of apparently being fully sentient in many cases, droids are still treated as chattel property without rights? Why is it that they still seem to have widespread animal agriculture? Maybe because the Force doesn’t notice forms of sentience that have no or negligible midichlorian counts or force sensitivity or whatever. Obi-Wan could probably walk past a droid refurbishing facility where droids are getting reset to factory settings, or a slaughterhouse, and not feel any “disturbance in the force, voices crying out in terror and suddenly being silenced” etc, and when the Light Side is treated in some respects as the moral arbiter of the setting, and when a big part of the Light Side is “trust your feelings,” and when the “force feelings” don’t really apply to beasts or droids, they don't get a lot of consideration.
Why is it that the only visions of authority are somewhere on a spectrum from “centralized, despotic autocracy” (the Empire) to “decentralized, semi-feudal oligarchy” (the Republic, with a Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth-style weak senatorial authority, proliferation of local nobles like counts and princesses, etc, and, perhaps to an even further extent along that spectrum, the Confederacy of Independent Systems)? Maybe because it reflects  how the Force tends to structure itself: the Dark Side tends to concentrate power in the hands of a couple of megalomaniacs. The Light Side tends to distribute it across a broader order of Force-wielding elites, but still very rare as a fraction of the  population.
You might say that these ideas don’t really get to the essence of the core appeal of Star Wars, which is more like stuff like starfighter battles and lightsaber duels and such, but I’m not saying these themes would necessarily be debated in great detail to the exclusion of action and stuff. They just could be the reason for the lightsaber duels and starfighter battles and such. Consider: in Episode I, the pretext for a lot of the action was a dispute over tariffs. Stated baldly, I think that’s drier than anything I mentioned.
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When you touch me, I am where love is born
Young!Mihawk x reader.
Prequel of the short series that began with Built a haven for your love (until I let you fall apart). Title taken from yet another song by Beast in Black, One night in Tokyo.
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The man is attractive, if you like the burly type, with rough features and a full beard - which you occasionally do, even though you are slightly put off by the fact that your would-be victim, a former pirate who is now working solo as a robber, has killed twelve people, all of them but one defenseless civilians and including four children, to steal their valuables. Your grandfather, who put your first gun in your hand when you were only nine and taught you to use it, and a number of other firearms, to perfection, told you emotions are often a shooter's worst enemy, a cause of confusion and inaccuracy and worst of all hesitation, especially when the target you are shooting at has a weapon of their own; still, in your heart you feel satisfaction, even joy, and not guilt, at the thought that you will rid the world of this lowlife and protect his future potential victims.
Your target has no permanent residence and is notoriously proficient at putting pursuers off his tracks, but you were able to track down an accomplice of his who, for a small price, told you he would be in a certain island, on a particular day.
He is, and you are as well, having reached the island yesterday by ferry under the guise of a normal, innocuous tourist eager to enjoy the island's luxurious beaches and night-life. The truth couldn't be more different, and as you check for the twelfth time your gun is loaded and ready to shoot, you order yourself to keep your cool and stop your heart from beating twice as fast as normal. Yes, this is your first assignment as a mercenary; yes, you are still very young, and a woman, which would lead many of your fellow killers for hire to look down on you and doubt your ability; yes, you have never killed anyone before, which could make you hesitate once you will have to actually pull the trigger, not at a clay pigeon or another target prepared by your grandfather for your training, but at a living, real person.
But you can do it. You want to do it, because you have trained so much and so long for this, and that man does deserve to pay for what he has done, and you want to prove, to the world and more importantly to yourself, what you are worth, how strong and clever and resilient you are, beyond the family you were born in and the role you will take on one day. Your grandfather, an excellent gunslinger who had been a mercenary himself in his youth, expects you to put to good use everything he taught you and succeed, and your mother, while naturally worried for your safety, raised no objections and allowed you to begin a career as a killer for hire, knowing you felt the need to put yourself to the test beyond the comfortable, tranquil borders of your island. They both count on you, and you'd rather eat glass than disappoint them… and yourself, the harshest, least forgiving judge of all.
Also, if I don't kill that guy, he will probably kill me. That's also something I should keep in mind.
Having kept watch on the old barn, in the middle of the countryside, your target had spent the night in, you have seen him leave soon after dawn, the long sword he used to kill most of his victims as usual by his side, and set out towards an uninhabited corner of the island. You followed closely, careful not to lose him and, at the same time, not to be spotted, and three miles later you saw him reach an old abandoned mine; there is no sign of life for miles all around, which makes you suspect that, more than preparing an heist in a bank or a shop, or to attack an unsuspecting traveller to rob and then kill them, the man is meeting with an accomplice to organize an hit, or perhaps he has chosen the mine as his new hideout, to lay low for a while.
But all things being equal, the reason that has brought him here doesn't really matter; he might be looking for a safe place to store his stamp collection, or planning to transform the place in an ice cream shop for all you care. The only thing that counts is that you will kill him today, provide justice for all the people he has murdered, and begin making a name for yourself as a mercenary. You don't care about the bounty money, that you plan to donate to the less affluent families of your island (after, perhaps, you have treated yourself to a good dinner) and even becoming famous as a killer for hire is a side issue; you only want to do what is right, and prove yourself you are more than a privileged young woman, born with a silver spoon in her mouth and destined to a life of tranquility and power.
Even if it means risking your life.
Your target has reached the entrance of the mine, securely boarded up and surmounted by a large KEEP OUT sign; he walks back and forth, clearly nervous as he smokes a cigarette, fingering the hilt of his sword. Hidden in a small ramshackle building, perhaps the old foreman's office, no more than ten paces away, you look at him through a crack in the door, kneeling on the dirty floor; your heart is pounding, a feeling of tightness constricting your stomach, the hand grasping your gun (a good, reliable and lethal model; not the derringer you will one day receive as a gift from your father and that you will treasure for the rest of your days, but still perfectly up to the task) sweating. Despite all the time and effort you dedicated to prepare for this moment, you are a nervous wreck, which is not completely a bad thing, since the last thing you should do is underestimate the danger you are in. Your target is still alone, busy smoking and apparently unaware of your presence, but any moment you waste could be the one he decides to leave, or he is joined by someone else; after all he does look as if he is waiting for someone. You can't hesitate any longer.
You stand slowly, grimacing at the pain in your knees, retrieve a second gun from the bag you have left on the floor, to use should the first one jam, and slide it in the holster hanging from your waist; you have chosen comfortable clothing, for obvious reason, and soft-soled boots, that allow you to walk as noiselessly as possible… and, in turn, to make it harder for your target to hear you approach.
The man has turned his back to the shack, busy lighting another cigarette after the one he has just put out under his foot; it's your moment, you decide, and you waste no time in slipping out of the splintered door and take one step, and then another, towards him.
Years and even decades later, as the list of your victims grows longer and you get used to the tension and the danger your job entails, you will still remember this moment as clear and vivid as if it had taken place yesterday, down to the smallest detail. The glowing yellow-red of the sun barely raised above the horizon; the natural vegetation rustling in the gentle wind; the russet colour of the unsown earth under your feet; the expectant, charged silence broken only by the distant call of a carrion crow. You are only partially aware of your actions, your instinct and training taking over, as you take a third step, which brings you at maybe six from your target - more than close enough for a clean shot. Your gun is aimed, your finger already brushing against the trigger. You are about to talk, but the man, still turned the other way, anticipates you.
"I was waiting for you." he says, tense but calm, and the shock is almost enough to make the gun slip from your hand; you have been very careful to remain hidden, making sure he had no idea you were keeping a close eye on him, and you were absolutely sure you had succeeded, and would easily sneak up on your target. Apparently the truth is different… or at least so it seems for a moment, before the man finally turns, sees you, and goggles.
"What the… who the hell are you?!"
"I…"
"Where is Mihawk?" he insists, which is a question you have no answer for, but that at the same time is enough to dispel your doubts: he had no idea you were coming, and was actually waiting for someone else - perhaps an ally or an accomplice.
It takes your target half a second to notice the gun you are aiming at him. "What the…?!" he exclaims, letting his second cigarette fall to the floor and grabbing his sword.
It is already a full second to late.
"Jack 'The Tiger' Vespertine." you begin, mimicking the formal tone you heard your mother use so many times; you will decide to do away with the declaration of intents by your third assignment, like virtually all World Government-sanctioned mercenaries and killers for hire do, especially when the target is already aware of the danger they are in and armed, but since this is your first time you deem appropriate to follow the rules to the letter "You have been found guilty of twelve counts of murder…"
Vespertine's sword is drawn with a movement too fast for your eyes to follow, but thank all the Gods you are fast as well, and ready; a battle-cry fills the air, and half a second later, when the man has barely had the time to raise his blade above his head, your finger pulls the trigger, and the bullet explodes out of the gun's barrel, opening a hole in the middle of his forehead.
Vespertine is not an heavy man, but the thud of his body hitting the ground is deafening, the ground shaking under your feet. He doesn't move, and for a full minute you don't either; you stare at the body in front of you, your gun still pointed at him even though you know he is most likely already dead, as you push his sword away with your boot. You can't see his face, since he has fallen on his belly, so, for safety's sake, you shoot him again, in the back; the man doesn't move, which is proof enough for you.
Somewhere in the distance, the carrion crow cries again, a sound vaguely similar to an acid laugh; you glance all around you, making sure you are still alone and no one witnessed your actions, and then cautiously crouch down, using your free hand to turn the body on his back and look at it -at him- in the face.
This moment is the reason why you decided to do it like this. Up close, looking at him in the face and making sure he saw you and, within reason, knew you were going to kill him, instead of finding a safer way, hidden among the shrubs or from a moving vehicle or even at the third floor of a building, so that your target would have no way to know what was going to happen, and to defend himself. You had to let him know; not because you owed him (he was a killer, scum like that was entitled to nothing) but because you needed it.
"There is nothing wrong with aiming from a distance, and shooting at someone who doesn't expect it, at least if you're a mercenary and chasing a certain sort of people; in a fair duel, or when the person you are shooting at deserves to know what is going to happen to them, different rules apply." your grandfather told you one day, as you walked together in the fortress' gardens, at the end of yet another training session; he was an honourable man, your grandfather, but he was also smart and pragmatic, and he knew honour was something a person could not always afford to care for, and that when you didn't leave someone else to pay for your actions there was nothing wrong with running away to fight another day "We are not swordfighters; we don't duel for supremacy, for a grandiose title or so that everyone in the world knows our name. The gun is a weapon; if you want to kill someone, use it and it will do its work. It's not your friend, or a talisman that endows you with some arcane power; it is a tool that you need to learn to use, otherwise you will be the one getting hurt. It is a bloody business, a raw and practical one, devoid of heroics and ethics, but it can protect you and help you make your way in the world. It all depends on you. Just..."
"Just?"
Your grandfather had stopped, contemplating the rose bushes your mother tended to personally, and that ran all around a tiny plot of grass, where your family had enjoyed so many outdoor breakfasts.
"What I'm trying to say is that using firearms, especially for a deadly purpose like you mean to, is something you mustn't take lightly." he continued as he looked at you; he loved you dearly, but in that moment there was sternness in him, as if he were warning you against a terrible danger, or a grave crime you were about to commit. You liked it; he was the first person to treat you like an adult, years before you could even vaguely call yourself that "It... goes to your head; the power to kill with a simple press of your finger can make even the most rational and moderate person feel all-powerful. And the risk of forgetting it is people you are shooting at and killing, not clay pigeons or game to serve at dinner, is high."
You looked at him; he was probably the person you loved the most in the world behind your mother, and he was wiser than even her. You trusted him completely, and you knew he only wanted what was best for you; had he said bathing every day in olive oil would make you immortal, you would have believed him.
"And you think this could happen to me?" you asked, afraid of hearing his answer; evening was approaching, flames of red and purple painting the darkening sky above your heads "I... I don't want it to, grandfather; I only want to kill bad people, like you did. I don't want to become bad myself."
Suddenly he smiled, as he took your hand in his like he did when you were still so young you needed to be guided as you walked. "I have faith in you, (name); I know there is no kinder girl in all the four seas, and I am sure you will one day rule over our island with justice and mercy." he told you "But if you really want to become a gunslinger... you have to promise me something: when you kill a man, you have to look at him in the eyes; not necessarily before, as I told you, but at least after. Take responsibility for what you have done, and face the consequence of your actions. Especially the first time."
A sudden gust of wind passed over you; the evening was warm, but you suddenly felt chilled.
"Promise me, (name)."
"I promise, grandfather. I will do as you said."
And you do, contemplating the body of the man in front of you, now truly alone in that isolated corner of the world. You feel no guilt; rather, you are proud of yourself, and you know your grandfather will be as well, when you'll call home to reassure him and your mother you are all right. You have proved yourself, punished a vicious murderer, and given justice to his victims. All in all, a good day... even though you do feel a bit upset, even if you couldn't exactly say why.
You can't tear your eyes away from Vespertine -or rather, from his mortal remains- even longer than what your grandfather would deem necessary. The bullet you have killed him with went right through his cranium, but the hole it created is no bigger than a bean at the centre of his forehead, and his face is still perfectly recognizable... which is good, since you wouldn't be able to collect the bounty if you can't prove you killed the right man. You saw another body once, an inexperienced guard on your island, who had shot himself in the face with his service pistol as he cleaned it, and the bullet had completely erased his features, so much that even his parents couldn't formally recognize him...
Vespertine's old bounty poster, from the time he was still part of his old pirate crew, is folded in the inside pocket of your jacket; you take it out, open it, observe it carefully comparing the man in the picture with the one lying on the ground in front of you, and finally sigh, relieved. You had already checked it for the third time twenty minutes ago, as you waited for the right moment in the foreman's office, to make sure you had actually found the right man and were not about to kill an innocent who simply resembled him, but this is obviously the first time you can examine him up close and yes, this is undoubtedly Vespertine himself. You killed him... but your work is not over yet.
Still, you can't stop looking at him. His eyes, of the same colour of your mother's, are still open, a single drop of blood that slid down from the wound leaving a tiny blood trail along the side of his nose. He had had time to realize you were attempting to kill him, but his expression betrays neither fear, nor rage, nor the pain he must have felt as he died; rather, he seems... surprised, as if he really hadn't expected to see you, to be attacked, and that that quiet, still morning would be the last of his life.
I'm doing it, grandfather, you think; you will make sure to tell him in person once you're back home, to let him know you haven't forgotten what he had taught you, but for now, mentally addressing him is the best you can do. Just like you told me to. And now I know what you meant; I feel exactly as you thought I would. I killed him; and all it took was pulling a trigger. He wasn't a good man, and he deserved this and even more. But still... But still...
It is sudden and violent, like a punch (or a bullet) to the stomach; the bounty poster falls from your fingers, and you fall to your knees, your legs unable to support you. Your head swims; your heart beats fast enough to hurt; cold sweat covers your back, your arms, your whole body...
A disgusting sound (bleeeaarrggghh) escapes your lips, followed by everything you had eaten in the last twelve hours.
*****
You start feeling a little better fifteen minutes later, and thank all the Gods you have water and paper towels in your bag, which allows you to clean yourself at least a little bit.
After a brief rest, you get to work, retrieving other tools from your bag: a knife, a sturdy sack, the sort you use to store grain or flour, and a tinderbox. You bit your lip, ordering yourself not to feel sick again, as you cut Vespertine's head, sawing through skin and tendons and bone and separating it from his body; consequently, you put it in the sack. Collecting wood takes you only a few minutes, since the countryside abounds with fallen branches and twigs; lighting a fire is equally easy, since you have been taught to use flint and steel since you were a little girl. Dragging your victim's body over the (still unlit) pyre is the hardest part, since he must be twice as heavy as you, but in the end you succeed, and soon Vespertine's remains are burning and then reduced to ashes, leaving no trace of his passing that an eventual friend or ally could trace back to you. Unsure of what to do with it, you finally bury the man's sword near the entrance of the mine, digging with your bare hands since you don't have a shovel at hand and making sure it cannot be found.
You then place the sack containing your victim's head in your bag; the idea of carrying that thing around is more than a little disgusting, but doing the same with the entire body would be much more tiring, and your grandfather said it will be more than enough to claim the bounty, since a severed head is clear proof of a person's death.
Soon after, you set off. You haven't lowered your guard yet, in case Vespertine hadn't come alone or had friends and allies nearby, not to mention that watching your back will now have to become the norm, but you feel relieved you have completed your task, and you can't wait to reward yourself with a good meal, cash the bounty and return home to tell your mother and grandfather about your first success as a mercenary.
You have started whistling a popular song of your island, the warmth of the blooming day kissing your skin, when suddenly you are not alone on the road anymore; a tall man is walking purposefully towards you, and towards the mine... a man with a large sword hanging from his belt.
Shit. Vespertine did say he was expecting someone, and while you cannot be sure this guy is (was) a friend of your victim and would want to avenge his death, the best, safest thing you can do is to get away as quickly as you can, before he realizes what has happened and that you must be responsible for it. Is it cowardly? Perhaps - no, it surely is, and your grandfather did tell you the honourable man is very often the dead man as well, and you are a mercenary, not a warrior, you are not bound by a code of conduct and it would be very stupid to risk your life when you have nothing to gain from it, but...
But...
"Excuse me." you call to the man who has by now walked five or six steps behind you, turning to look at him and thinking back to your brief conversation with Vespertine "Is your name... Mihawk?"
The man turns, clearly surprised to hear a stranger mention his name. He is very tall, slim but strong, dark-haired, practically but elegantly dressed.
"Do I know you?" he asks after a moment he has spent observing you.
"No, but perhaps we have a mutual acquaintance. Did you know Jack "The Tiger" Vespertine? Were you meant to meet him today?"
You grimace, realizing you have used the past tense when this man -Mihawk- still has no idea Vespertine is dead. This is probably the stupidest, most dangerous thing you have ever done, a leap in the dark, because your gun is still charged and nothing would stop you from at least trying to kill your second swordsman of the day, but you could simply keep walking, and he would have no way to know what has happened, since there is no trace of Vespertine's remains and by the time Mihawk may suspect he had been killed, you would be long gone.
Still. Something in your heart tells you you are doing the right thing, because you are not a coward, and because this man will not prove to be a danger for you. You don't know why, but you are sure.
"Is he a friend of yours?"
Mihawk brings his arms to his chest; he is still staring, and there is something in his gaze that makes you squirm - in his gaze, or perhaps in his eyes, which are of a very unusual colour...
"Why should I tell you?" he asks in the end.
"No reason, actually." you admit "It's just... well, I hope you were not close friends, or related, because he is dead."
Silence. You tense, ready for whatever his reaction will be, but the man lets his arms fall to his sides, without touching his sword - a good blade, he will tell you in time, but still largely inferior to Yoru, that will not come into his possession for a few years still.
"You killed him?"
"I did. Less than an hour ago, at the mine he was waiting for you at."
"Are you a pirate?"
No, just the daughter of one, you are for a moment about to answer, before quickly stopping yourself. You have been sworn to silence regarding the identity of your father, for the safety of your family and your own, and you have never been tempted to break that promise until now. What is happening to you?, you wonder, feeling strangely numbed all of a sudden, why do you instinctively feel able, or even eager, to share your secrets with a man you had never met before...?
(You will understand it; in time. And you will be happy of it.)
"No; I'm a mercenary working for the World Government." you answer in the end, trying to pull yourself together; it is technically not the truth, at least until you cash your first bounty, but the Marines do have a number of killers for hire on call, and who knows, perhaps one day you will be part of that selected circle... "Vespertine left a long list of victims behind him, there is a bounty on his head."
"I see."
You wait for him to elaborate, to express rage or regret or joy at the news of Vespertine's death, but Mihawk is clearly not the loquacious sort, because he keeps his emotions for himself, and "Thanks for telling me." he simply says.
"No problem. Why was he waiting for you?" you ask again, cocking your head; you have no idea of how dangerous he is, even now that he is little more than a boy, but even if you knew, you wouldn't be deterred. You are curious... and fascinated, somehow, by this stern and hermetic young man.
Mihawk looks at you, clearly disapproving of your curiosity, but in the end he sighs, and finally gives you the explanation you wanted. "We were meant to duel, Vespertine and I. He had challenged me a month ago, and we were meant to meet this morning at the mine. I... am running late, unfortunately, because the ship I took to reach this island clashed against a larger one and for a while it seemed it would go under."
"Oh, that's... scary."
He shrugs, clearly unconcerned. "I would have managed, I am a capable swimmer. I was just afraid Vespertine thought I had decided not to meet him because I was afraid."
"He... was a capable swordsman?" you ask again, still eager to learn more; the only bladed weapon you have ever handled is the knife you use at the table and, now, the larger one you took with you from home to separate your victim's head from his body, but you have always been fascinated by the world of the swordfighters, bound by a strict code of behaviour, who often have to prove themselves before a more experienced fighter accepts to train them and among whom most serious duels end with the death of one of the two opponents. For them, the weapon is not a tool, of defense and offense; it is... an art. A cult, almost.
"Above average, from what I saw, which is not saying much. But he had challenged me, and refusing would have been a stain upon my honour."
Just like you expected. "I see. Well." you add, suddenly embarrassed "I'm sorry I took your opponent away from you."
Mihawk shrugs, marginally more inclined to chat. "If he let you kill him, it means he wasn't a worthy opponent." he reasons; he has no facial hair, but his sideburns are long and neatly trimmed, and while already tall he's still a few inches away from his full stature "I should thank you for saving me a futile effort."
You cock your head, an eyebrow raised. "Are you saying I am less capable a markswoman than you are a swordsman?" you inquire; you don't care if Mihawk will propose to see for yourselves and challenge you, forgotten is the guilt you felt for ruining his morning. Who the hell this smart-ass thinks he is, especially considering you must be the same age? You don't care how actually powerful he is, you wouldn't even care if he were the world's strongest swordsman, no one can insult you and get away with it "Is it because I am a woman? Or because I use a gun and not a sword?"
"No, I..."
"I'll have you know I've been trained by one of the most capable former mercenaries of the four seas, and that Vespertine didn't even have the time to attack me before I put a bullet through his head."
"I'm sure you are more than capable." Mihawk says, clearly aiming to pacify you but, fortunately, without sounding patronizing "Forgive me; I meant no disrespect."
He seems sincere - he is, he will confess to you years later, and deeply embarrassed for the gaffe he just made; it is rare for him to admit he had erred... but, he will confide you with the shadow of a smile, he is happy those words didn't make you hate him, then and in the years to come. Because of this you decide to forgive him, and
"If you want we can split the bounty." you propose, feeling generous; you intended to donate the money to someone who needed it on your island, but you can take another assignment soon "Or, you know, there is Verspertine's sword, I can tell you where I buried it..."
Mihawk shakes his head. "I can only take another swordsman's blade if I am the one who bested them; in any case, I doubt a man like Vespertine owned a blade I could be interested in." he points out "And I don't need compensation; you killed him, you deserve to keep the money. Well, I... I suppose I should go back."
"Right..."
Silently, you both set off once more, walking side by side along the only path towards the nearest village. You are still on edge, both happy for your first success and shaken by the fact that you have, after all, just killed a man, but soon you find yourself focusing on something else... namely, on the young man walking next to you. He is undoubtedly handsome, but it's something else that piques your curiosity... a depth, and complexity, unusual for one so young, and that you can perceive behind his apparently impassible façade.
"So." you begin conversationally after a while; you have almost a mile to walk to the village, and maybe chatting will make you reach your destination faster "Are you any good with that sword?"
Mihawk grunts, the tiniest hint of amusement in his voice. "I like to think I am more than good."
"Really? Are you famous?"
"I am... becoming famous. This is why Vespertine wanted to duel me."
"And you think you would have beaten him?"
"I know I would have."
He speaks matter-of-factly, as if describing an undeniable truth and without the slightest hint of arrogance or overconfidence; you usually appreciate humility, and you have no way to know whether he is as good as he thinks he is, but you like the self-assurance he carries himself with.
"So this is what you do? Go around, duel other swordsmen so that you make a name for yourself as a powerful fighter?"
"I do." Mihawk easily acknowledges "When I'm not too busy fighting the Marines and looking for a loot or another."
"You're a pirate."
"I am. A wanted one, in case you were thinking of claiming my bounty as well."
You smile, aware you are both involved in a game whose rules are still undecided. "Is that a challenge?" you inquire, and Mihawk shrugs, looking straight in front of him.
"If you want to consider it as such."
"I see. Luckily for you, I intend to cash Vespertine's bounty before looking for another assignment, so I will not challenge you today."
"Luckily for me..."
Silence falls between you, an unexpectedly companionable one considering you have known each other only for a few minutes. As you glance sideways at Mihawk, you can't help noticing his eyes, yellow like the ones of a hawk; you have never seen anything of the sort, but there is beauty in his gaze.
"What about you?" Mihawk asks "What has brought you to become a mercenary?"
"Are you surprised?"
"Women are a minority in the trade, those as young as you even more so. You are wearing clothes of good quality, which means you are probably not doing it for the money. Am I right?"
"You are."
Mihawk grins. "As I thought. So what? Are you following in a relative's footsteps? Or were you simply bored?"
"Both things, in a sense." you admit, walking leisurely along the mud-smeared path; the fact that a virtual stranger is able to read you so easily should upset you, but it doesn't, maybe because you can perceive Mihawk poses no danger to you, or maybe not "I... simply needed to test myself. Growing up, I never had to worry about money, or fear for my safety; I'm not saying I was spoiled, or that I spend my days idling without duties and responsibilities, but I feared letting things go like they were meant to, I would become indolent, content with what I had but unable to aim higher. I never needed to prove I was strong, and clever, and capable of taking care of myself; but I wanted to make sure I was anyway."
You are not sure your reasoning makes sense, especially to someone who barely knows you, but Mihawk nods in understanding - in approval, even. "That was brave of you. And clever."
"I just wanted to do what I thought was right."
Twenty minutes of sporadic but pleasant conversation later, you have reached the village, actually little more than a handful of houses and little shops and a tiny harbour, connected by a regular ferry service to a larger island from where you can easily catch another boat to return home. Perhaps, you reflect, you should think about buying a small ship of your own; experienced sailors are not lacking on your island, and you could ask someone to teach you...
"You want to join me for a meal?" you propose as you walk past a tavern; you know you and Mihawk are destined to part soon anyway and will probably never meet again, but he is the most interesting person you have met in a long while, and you like talking to him "After all it's breakfast time..."
Mihawk hesitates for a moment, taken aback by your offer. "I'd... like that." he answers, and you could swear that surprises him as well "But I need to depart soon."
"I see. Well..."
You are both standing in the village's tiny, almost empty square. This is good-bye, then, you're about to say, but impulsively you step closer to the man in front of you, who tenses. "What...?"
"Your eyes." you murmur without realizing. You were right, they are yellow, their gaze piercing and deep, intense albeit not necessarily cruel "They are... beautiful."
"... you think?"
"Of course; I had never seen anyone with eyes like yours! They make you look like a bird of prey. Like an hawk."
Something in your words makes the man in front of you smile; he is flattered, and still not as good at hiding his emotions as he will be in twenty years. "I've been told that before."
"Is it hereditary? Do you have a particularly sharp vision or...?"
"I... don't think so; no one I have ever met has them, and I see normally."
"Amazing..."
Silence again; you face each other, both still so young, full of dreams and ambition, unaware of what the future has in store for you - individually and not. Neither has any idea you will meet again, and how your relationship will change and grow, but in that moment, both of you are sure, a sort of quiet, clear certitude: you will remember that brief encounter forever.
In the end Mihawk takes a step back, both literally and metaphorically. "I should go." he softly points out nodding in the direction of the village's harbour "So... good-bye."
"Good-bye, Mihawk." you answer, intimately saddened for reasons you can't fully explain even to yourself; it is not like you to get attached to people you barely know, but there is something interesting in this young swordsman, something special, and you wouldn't mind having the time to discover exactly what...
A nod, the hint of a smile, and he's walking away. You look at his retreating figure for a minute, his dark hair gently swaying in the breeze, his hand elegantly resting on the hilt of his sword.
"Maybe one day we'll meet again." you call out to him, making Mihawk turn "Maybe I'll be asked to bring you in to the Marines."
He smiles; once again, amused, but not patronizing. "I look forward to it." he answers, raising an hand in farewell "What is your name?"
"It's (name). (full name)."
"I'll be seeing you then, (full name)."
A minute later he has disappeared, hidden by the buildings across the square. You smile to yourself; something tells you Mihawk is destined to make a name for himself, as a pirate and even more as a swordsman, and you can only hope that, by your next meeting, you will have done the same.
Still, that could take years, and in the meantime you have a couple of more pressing matters to attend to: breakfast, since your stomach has started growling, and calling both your family, to let her know you're all right, and the Marines.
You decide to take care of that first, to get it over with. You glance once more at the tavern, hoping the coffee they offer is better than the one you drank on the ferry, retrieve your transponder snail from a side pocket of your bag, and dial the number you had learnt by heart before setting off from home. You could technically cash Vespertine's bounty in any Marine base of the world, but you decided to do it at their HQ, especially since it's your first time; you hope it will be easier to get noticed, and make a name for yourself as a capable mercenary.
"Good morning. Who do I have to talk to in order to claim a bounty? Vice-Admiral Garp? Yes, put me through to him, please..."
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auspicioustidings · 7 months
Text
Lost Boys
Summary: Shameless COD Lost Boys AU as an excuse to try writing some smut because @ohbo-ohno has been killing me.
Words: 3.7k
CW: Dubcon bordering on noncon, rough sex
One thing about Santa Carla she could not stomach? All the damn locals.
She was used to working in Coney Island and she had thought this boardwalk out in California wouldn't be much different. She had been immediately proven wrong when she had arrived a week ago, moving in to a falling apart cabin out on the edge of town that Keegan had sworn up and down would be her dream home if she was willing to fix it up. He hadn't really explained how he came to own the place, but then he was the definition of a carny if she ever knew there to be one. She was pretty sure there wasn't one amusement park that man had not worked at, although conversations always seemed to draw back to Santa Carla.
It wasn't like his charming convincing had been the only reason she'd found herself here. She loved Coney Island, had practically grown up on the Thunderbolt, was damn near inconsolable when they shut it 5 years ago. But Coney Island now was not the same as the one she grew up with, everyone who worked there felt it. The rides were falling apart, closing or being torn down. Two people she knew had been shot this year alone. The place turned into an open air brothel at night it felt like, and not in the fun way back when it had all been music and moonlight and sex and rock and roll. It was sad.
Plus she was dirt poor, the decline of the amusements meaning she wasn't picking up as much work. If Keegan had wormed his way into her head with all his talk about how dangerous a neighbourhood she lived in, how much safer an actual house would be, how if someone would renovate it he wouldn't even charge rent because it would really help him out since he was currently travelling, well then she had been stupid enough not to pick up on the obvious trap.
Falling apart and very eerily decorated cabin aside, her first day on the Boardwalk felt like a series of increasing red flags. She loved the scent of the place, the bright cars grinding against their chains as they were dragged bodily up to the summit of the coaster under the hot sun, the sticky sweetness of candy apples being cut through with the salt the surfers dragged with them from the sea, the slight undertone of something mischievous, something even sinister. Any boardwalk she had been to had that same undercurrent, the same lurking sense of danger that sent her heartbeat running in excitement. This one it was dialled all the way to 11.
"Oi chiquita! I've not seen you around here before."
She turned. Surfer, well 2 of them actually. The one who had spoken was older than her in a way that really made his handsomeness cause her to scold herself. No sleeping with older men on your first day in a new city, even if the accent was like molasses. The one next to him was younger. Both incredible looking if she was honest, Keegan had not been kidding when he had said the people in Santa Carla were deathly attractive.
"Maybe I'm a tourist" she replied.
"Ah a pretty thing like you visiting all alone? You'll get eaten right up" said the other, both of them looking at her with an amusement over a joke she was not in on.
"Good thing I'm so bitter then, reckon I'll get spat right back out."
They laughed and she kept a light look of friendly amusement on her face, internally thinking that these guys were rude as fuck. She near jumped out of her skin when she felt a breath at her neck, whipping her head around to find a female surfer had sniffed at her throat.
"Ella huele dulce, ella sabrá más dulce" the newcomer purred.
"Atrás Valeria" the older man snapped.
"You're so up tight Alejandro" Valeria laughed meanly before turning to look at her, eyes dragging up and down in heated appraisal. "If you get bored of them, you'll come find me won't you dalzura?"
With that the woman sauntered off towards the beach, all arrogance and sex appeal. It wasn't like she hadn't heard her fair share of pick-up lines and come ons, it was practically a given when you worked at places like these, but it was rarer for a woman to come on to her and rarer still for the woman to have such an aggression about her. She'd be lying if it didn't cause a little spark of excitement to zip up her spine.
Alejandro and the other man watched Valeria go with something like suspicion.
"Be careful after dark, the boardwalk gets crowded with all sorts" the younger man said with a knowing wink.
"If you're still around tomorrow in the sunshine, me and Rudy will be on the waves" Alejandro added before they both took off after Valeria, seemingly intent on getting into some sort of fight.
Odd trio she thought, but most people who lived near places like this were. The locals only got odder as the day went on.
An absolute giant of a man in a hood whose eyes had narrowed in on her when she passed him, an exhibit in a freak show. The chains on him must have been for show, but the way they strained when he had lunged at her actually did make her jump.
The Southern man who seemed to have some sort of control over all of the game stalls, told her when she had tried out the ring toss that his shadows had been telling him she had won most of the games she had tried but not taken any prizes. It ran a chill up her spine the way he eyed her when he introduced himself, the name Graves spilling off his tongue like whisky.
The one who actually gave her a job, Alex, seemed normal enough, the only thing out of the ordinary being a false leg. Well normal enough until it became apparent he was very knowledgeable about Santa Carla being the murder capital of the world. She didn't like that he spoke about it like it was something exciting, but as long as she had money in hand to operate a carousel she could overlook his quirks. He told her she could work the evening shift after watching her carefully run through things, proving that this was all familiar to her. This one had brass rings, she knew she'd probably spend her evening ducking out of the way of them when rowdy ride goers decided they would rather hit someone than redeem the ring for a free ride.
--
With the last wash of sunlight she wandered the shops around the area, sliding into a video store just as night fell to see if she couldn't find something to watch when she would get home after her first shift. Maybe Hellraiser was out on VHS now, she had missed it in the theatre and Keegan had told her it was fun.
"Hello there. John Price, how can I help?"
Back in New York it wasn't uncommon to hear a British accent, but this was the first one she had heard here. The man it came from was tall and had a hell of a beard. Bit eccentric looking with a fishing hat on his head, but with the people she was coming across today that seemed par for the course.
"Hi sir! Is Hellraiser out yet?" she asked as politely as she could muster. She knew that she was as much a carny as Keegan and that it tended to make respectable older people intensely dislike her from the get go if she didn't do everything to assure them she was an upstanding young lady.
"Horror fan?"
"A friend recommended it, to be honest I'm not sure what it's about."
She heard the bell going off, more people coming into the store. Her eyes caught on them, not least because one of them was in a skull mask. Tall as well, God so many people on this Boardwalk dwarfed her. Mr Price reacted very much like he knew them and was keeping an eye on them. The one with the mohawk was staring openly at her, leaning over to whisper something to the one with the moustache. Probably trouble makers, young men who lived in the area and were generally a nuisance on the Boardwalk. It got her back up a little, she had always hated people like them bullying everyone else, menacing businesses in the area because they were bored.
Mr Price had his arms crossed as him and the masked one stared at one another. To try de-escalate whatever this was she put a hand gently to one of his forearms.
"I'm happy to take any recommendations from you though."
Her attempt both worked and failed. Mr Price did turn his attention back to her, giving her a soft smile that all but made her melt. He seemed like a genuinely lovely man, the first one of the day. It was somewhat ruined by the boisterous laughter of the one with the mohawk.
"Look at this wee lassie, speaking all bonnie" he laughed, his rumbling accent and mocking putting her firmly in a place between annoyed and aroused.
He took a few steps forward, getting into her space. God he didn't half loom over her and he was not even the tallest man here. With him on one side of her and Mr Price on the other she felt like a prey animal. She could not tear her eyes away from the Scottish man as he grinned down at her. He was magnetic in the way watching an acrobat was, it felt like someone could die at any moment but she couldn't help but look. His rough hand carded through her hair and settled at her neck and she was sure he was about to kiss her. There was something terrifying about his presence the more she was in it, if he kissed her she thought her fight or flight might fail her and go instead to freeze.
"That's enough" Mr Price said, snapping her out of the odd trance she felt she was in. "You have a shift to get to love, on you go" he continued, putting a firm hand to the small of her back and steering her a little to get her moving towards the door.
The other man only moved when the one in the mask wrapped a gloved hand around the back of his neck, squeezing like she imagined someone would do to an errant mutt. It wasn't until she was out in the open air and gulping in breaths that she realised she had never told Mr Price she had a shift that evening. Word must travel fast here she supposed.
--
Her first night on the Boardwalk had put her out of her mind. God it was like being punched in the face with the ghost of what Coney Island should have been; swarmed with bodies that choked out all the oxygen, making it difficult to breathe anything that wasn't thick with the taste of the writhing masses. It made her sick in a way that bordered on delirium.
The carousel was always full, the music throbbing all the way into her molars. The bright colours flooding with artificial light meant she couldn't see much beyond the machine, feeling like she existed on a tiny island of horses and bodies. Touch was the only sense she felt she could trust now, a sensation that was what made her fall in love with this line of work in the first place. She would drag her hands past the horses, grip the brass rings so tight it made her knuckles white before returning them to the dispenser for the next person to try their hand, walk against the direction of the floor just to feel the breeze prickle goosebumps on her skin.
The hand on her arm felt searing hot.
"There you are, didn't even introduce yourself before you were running off like a scared little doe."
The man in the skull mask had a voice like gravel, speaking right into her ear to be heard over the music. It made it feel intimate knowing that the sound of him would not travel to anyone else, that it was only for her. She could not let him know that she was scared of him, of any of them. If she was going to work here, she needed the locals to know she could hold her own, that she wasn't someone for them to mess around with.
"I'm not scared, certainly not of you" she lied, puffing out her chest.
"Prove it."
He left her standing there dumbstruck, shaking and feeling slick between her legs from the way he had growled it into her ear. The moment he was off of the carousel it was like he had melted into the crowd beyond. Alex showed up at some point, she didn't know how long it had been, and told her that he would take over. His eyes were bright and excited and it made her want to throw up.
--
He was waiting for her, the skull mask man. Her stomach was doing flips at the sight of him on a bike. She thought it might fully turn itself inside out when the Scottish man materialised behind her, pressing his nose to her pulse point before tugging at her earlobe with his teeth. Sharp, they felt sharp.
"Ghost says yer naw a fraidey cat, reckons you'd be willing to prove it" he cooed into her ear, big hands wrapping around her waist and lifting her onto the back of the bike behind Ghost. "Better hold on, he's naw going tae go slow."
Before she could get herself right back off of the bike one of Ghost's hands grabbed her arm, wrenching it around his waist and holding it there in a vice grip. When the bike took off she had little choice but to wrap the other arm around to avoid being thrown off, screaming into his ear to let her go. He did, putting his second hand back to the handles. At the speed they were going it didn't help, she had to keep clinging. She heard the howling of the Scottish man, on his own bike speeding along next to them.
She was scared out of her mind but the solidness of the body she was wrapped around and the hard vibrating of the seat between her legs was torturous in a way that was so sickeningly incompatible with her fear.
When they stopped she was dazed, trying to resist the whine that wanted to escape when the engine cut out and the bike stilled beneath her. The body in front of her shifted, moving until he was sat facing her. She put her hands to his shoulders, meaning to use them as leverage to push herself up and off the bike but instead The Scottish man pushed her back down from behind, his hand quickly moving from her shoulders down her front.
"Fuck baby, ye enjoy that huh? Could see ye grinding down whenever Si revved up" he groaned, groping roughly at her tits.
This was wrong, she should not be here. She should not be doing this. The adrenaline was so she could get out of this situation, not so she could moan loudly when his fingers found her nipple and fucking twisted.
"I already know you're soaked, can smell it pet" Ghost said, almost cruel, before biting off a glove and shoving a hand into her pants. He stroked two fingers up the length of her cunt, making sure his nail caught her clit the second time and laughing at her when she cried out at the sensation. Watching him withdraw his hand and show his glistening fingers to the man behind her made humiliation burn through her.
"Open up Johnny."
She was caught in the middle of them as Johnny took Ghost's fingers in his mouth, moaning as he messily suckled her off of them. There was no music here, no crowds to cover the noises of Johnny sloppily choking himself on Ghost's fingers, his saliva dripping onto her shoulder.
"Please Si, please let me eat her" he begged around Ghost's fingers and fuck if that didn't make her clench.
"Patience Johnny" Ghost scolded in response, withdrawing his fingers and grabbing at her jeans, pulling them off of her. It was a little awkward with how they were positioned, but once he got one leg off of her foot he just left her jeans dangling from the other, not bothering to get them all the way off now that he had the access he wanted.
The cool night air smacked onto her bare skin like an open palm. He rucked up her shirt next, pushing her down until her lower back hit the bike in the process so that her head was hanging off the end, lined right up with Johnny's dick which was visibly straining against his pants.
She tried to bring herself back up only to scream when a hand slapped hard onto her pussy, the thin fabric of her soaked panties doing little to soften the blow.
"Stay fucking still doll unless I tell you otherwise" Ghost growled at her.
He didn't take her panties off, just shoved them out of the way so he could spear two fingers into her. She yelped, trying to move back but only managed to grind her face against Johnny who growled long and low.
"So fucking tight" Ghost hissed, pumping his fingers in and out, "Johnny get her to relax would you?"
She could hardly breathe when Johnny leaned over her, clothed dick pushing relentlessly against her face, so that he could grip onto her hips and start lapping at her clit over her panties. She weakly pounded her fists against his thighs but if he could feel it then he wasn't reacting, seemingly lost in the task at hand.
"That's it, such a little slut for it, making a fucking mess of my bike."
It was overwhelming, the lack of oxygen, the feeling of Johnny sucking and licking at her clit like he was made for it, the fingers pistoning in and out, Ghost's degrading. Her hips tried desperately to buck up but Johnny only growled like an animal and held them roughly down as she came, not letting up for even a second.
The tears were streaming from her eyes by the time they made her cum again, a delicious stretch coming from Ghost adding a third finger. Johnny was rock hard against her face, rutting into her and starting to whine.
"Si, please. Please I'll be good. I'll be so good. Need her bonnie mouth around my cock or I'm gonna die. Please" he begged incoherently.
She was boneless when Johnny stood, giving her some breathing room. The pathetic whine she gave when Simon's fingers left her cunt should have been embarrassing, but she was barely able to formulate a full thought. The sound of clothing being adjusted should have been the first clue that they were nowhere near done. The sight of a throbbing cock at her lips was a pretty big second one.
"Come on, there ye go lass, fuuuuuck that's it" Johnny hissed as he pushed himself into her mouth. Nobody had ever been in her mouth at this angle, her head dangling upside down. He kept pushing in even when her panic response set in at the intrusion, hands battering against his legs and she gagged around him and tried to shift away, further towards where Ghost was sitting.
She screamed around the cock in her throat when Ghost rammed himself into her.
"I said stay fucking still!" he growled, leaving no time for adjustment before setting a hard and fast pace, every thrust sending her jolting back onto Johnny's dick.
Fuck it was so much, she was so full, she couldn't fucking breathe. Johnny had a hand around her throat, feeling his own bulge there as he fucked in and out of her.
"Steamin' Jesus, you take cock like a fucking dream bonnie."
The reverence he said it with sent her hurtling towards another orgasm, the pain still just on the side of pleasure.
"Fucking slut, trying to milk me aren't you? Want me to cum in this pretty little cunt and knock you up doll? Is that it?"
"Fuck Si, need tae cum, please let me cum."
Ghost was growling, not giving her a break as he fucked her through her orgasm to the point that the overstimulation was painful. Johnny's thrusts were erratic now, making it even harder to figure out when to breathe.
"Earn it, make her cum again."
She was pretty sure she would die if she came again, but Johnny leaned over her body and went right back to work, slobbering all over her clit as Ghost continued to mercilessly piston in and out of her. She tried to squirm, tried to do anything to get Johnny's mouth the fuck off of her. The hand around her throat squeezed.
"Fucking take it" he growled against her clit, a sharp sting from an incisor grazing against it jolting her before he sucked hard. She howled around his cock and felt herself squeeze hard against Ghost's as she saw stars.
"That's it, good fucking girl" Ghost hissed, burying himself to the hilt and letting that delicious squeeze milk him dry inside her.
She was so thoroughly fucked out that when Johnny came down her throat she couldn't swallow, just choking and sputtering as she hung limply off of the bike. When hands gently pushed her back up so she was sat upright the blood all rushing back down from her head made her pass out.
It could have been seconds or hours later when she screamed herself back into consciousness, feeling the sharp sting of teeth sinking into the flesh of her throat.
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eeunoia · 11 months
Text
ENHYPEN Mini Series
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E N H Y P E N as Greek Myths
NARCISSUS & ECHO
pairings: kim sunoo x reader
synopsis: you’ve always been love struck with kim sunoo’s beauty. your love for him is undying and once said, its like echo that kept on repeating and repeating. what happens when finally, you caught his attention? this time in a good way.
word count: 10k
important note: i originally planned to write enhypen as greek gods but then i didn’t find some love stories that i like so i end up using some love stories that aren’t greek gods. also these are like modern versions of greek mythology love stories.
warnings: grammar errors, not proof read, very rude kim sunoo, curses and foul words, angst. let me know if i missed some!
note📎: inspired by a walk to remember movie. if you haven’t watched that yet, check it out! i hope you guys liked it! it really means a lot to me whenever you let me know what you think about them, re-blogs and comments are well appreciated. btw, i love you guys and thank you for supporting me up until now. have a nice day/night! 🤍
permanent tag-list:
@rubyanne @map-of-border @hwangjangmi @crjwon @love13tter @classicroyalty @angel-hybrid @bridgebridgebirdiebridge @hime98 @moonsclover @ddeonubaby @yeoungie @acciomylove @mymeloem19 @jvngw0n @dreamyenskz @minamoons @clar-iii @herasalvatore @nyfwyeonjun @rcveribin @yizhoutv @one16core @soobin-chois @kyutiepeachy @chareadingpurposes @hwalllllllelujah @solelyenha @90sni-ki @nourhan-8 @nikipedia07 @yangbreads @drunkjazed @kimmchijjajang @hoonbrry @axartia @all4haru @hiqhkey @sta-rie @purplepuppychild @iceeee @wtfhyuck @tobiosbbyghorl @edensgardenn @nikililmj @ayayiiie @moonlightisland @simpforniki
© 2023 eeunoia — all rights reserved.
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"Good morning students of Hybe University. This is the president of your Radio club wishing you a wonderful day. And for that I have a short message for everyone." you have a small smile over your lips as you read those lines for the morning message for the students. It was a project of the audio-visual club to have this messages at morning to spread good vibes.
"Quote of the day, 'Love the person inside you.'" after you utter those words, one of the club members then played a short sound as an effect.
You are the president of this club and was voted to be the voice behind it. The first time it was announced to you still lingers over your head. It was a memorable one. You feel really honored.
"And to end this, I want to leave a special message for our sunshine Kim Sunoo," a bigger and warmer smile appears over your lips after saying his name.
A lot of students, if not everyone yet, knows how head over heels you are to the campus crush. Of course, a lot of students admires him and the line is just up to the mount everest. So you do these routine in order to somehow cut in that line. Work smarter, not harder, that's what they say.
"Remember to smile!" you said hoping that short message do remind him to smile like how thinking of him makes you smile.
‘✓ Give short messages for Sunoo.’
You had this list you made that consist of things you wanted to do. There’s a lot of them and most of it involves Kim Sunoo. You’ve read somewhere that having this lists can help you feel more motivated in life. To have things to look forward for.
The session got wrapped up like how it always do. You complimented your team for doing such an amazing job for assisting you and they did the same thing back to you. As you all walk back to your own classes, you try to roam your eyes around to look for someone.
Your eyes found him too easily as he have this different aura from anybody else. It was too easy for you to tell that it was him even if he's not facing. Just by looking at his hair, the way he stands, his broad shoulders and good body proportions. Not to mention the eyes of the students around glued at him completely. Some people who passes by even greets him just to catch his attention even just for a while.
"Hi Sunoo!" your tone sounded too energetic. He glanced at you and his eyes were emotionless as always. His stare didn't even last for a long time and it teared off of you then back to his friend who greeted you back.
You gave him a wave and focused on Sunoo once again. He's back on getting his morning books from his locker to prepare for class.
You trapped your lower lip over your teeth and hesitated whether to talk again or not. In the end, you decided to try and bother him once again.
"How was your sleep last night?" you asked and even rested over the lockers to get a grip over his stare.
"Terrible."
'He responded!' you almost scream in joy. It was just one word and he was definitely pissed, but who cares? The fact that he responded to you is already a progress.
You cannot hide your smile. "Why? What happened? Do you need anything?" you said continuously, questions followed by another questions.
He lets out a strained sigh before facing you. His cold eyes intimidated you, but you kept your stand. He was always like this and you're already used to it.
"Do you want me to get you anyth-"
"I want you to fuck off." his rude remark made your smile fade. You can feel your eyes starting to water and your mind slowly floating out of embarrassment. Eyes of students around that heard what he said watched you with shame and pity.
Jungwon, Sunoo's friend, quickly grabbed him over his shoulder to calm him down. "Hey, don't be rude." you heard him whispered over his friend.
Sunoo shrugged his hold off while keeping his cold stares right at you. He rolled his eyes and then started walking off. Jungwon tries to call him, but as expected he didn't listen. He turned over you and smiled apologetically.
You quickly flashed him a soft smile despite the tears forming at the side of your eyes.
"I'm sorry about him, Y/n. Seems like he woke up in the wrong side of the bed." he said.
You gave him a nod, "No problem! I'm at fault to for being too pushy. I should've gave him space after he said that he slept terrible."
Jungwon smiled a little, "No, he still have no reason to be that rude." he draws in a sigh, "Anyway, see you at class." and he waved before he exits himself.
You waved and your smile slowly faded after he started to walk away. The words Sunoo said kept lingering over your brain. He's always rude to you, yes. But he seems to be get more rude as days passes by.
Your friend arrived minutes after and you both walked towards your class without her knowing what happened. You decided not to tell her to avoid any more commotion. Your friend is a little troublemaker and she hates it whenever you're getting bad treatment from anybody. She will mess with them with no hesitation.
When you entered the room, your eyes darted automatically at Sunoo's chair. He have this serious face while girls from your class surrounds him. They were giving him some things they probably prepared for him. He seemed uninterested and just trying to kept his cool.
"Ooh, Mr. Popular is surrounded by hyenas again." your friend commented and even pointed his direction. You put her hand down and shush her.
"What? You won't go and join?" she teased. If only she knows what happened a while ago, she's probably storming over Sunoo to start a fight without and not like this. But you guess this is better than having her fight with Sunoo.
"Kim Sunoo really do look like an angel, right?" your stares remained at the said boy while waiting for what's your friend is going to say.
She scoffed lightly and took another sip from her juicebox before talking. "Angel with evil inside?" she says.
Your smile faded at her remark and slowly turns your head at the side to face her. She doesn't seem bothered by your glaring eyes and just kept this innocent looking face like as if she didn't just bad mouth the love of your life.
"He doesn't have evil in him!" you defended the poor, innocent kim sunoo.
She gave you this unamused look, "Come on! He's so rude to anyone and you know that." she puff out a sigh then looked back at him. "Having a face like that is not an excuse on having a foul attitude. I don't even know why you like him, Y/n."
You pouted and rested your chin at the back of your hand then resumed on admiring him from afar. The view from the third floor sure is perfect for you to watch him play soccer without getting noticed or mistaken as a creep. It's p.e and you are excused due to medical issues. Your friend here gave an excuse that she's having terrible menstrual cramps just so she can skip it and be with you. Best best friend in the world, everyone.
"I wish he can notice me." you mumble, eyes not leaving Sunoo. He's to busy focusing on that stupid ball that you bet he doesn't have time to give care to those girls gawking at him.
He's indeed if not the most then one of the most popular guy here in your campus. He came from a good family, like the having multiple businesses and living in a big mansion type of good family. He's also pretty talented and active on school activities. Smart and to top it all up, he's drop dead gorgeous. No words could make a justice on how he looks good. Some people even says God really took his time on making him. You will surely agree. He's so perfect for you. Only, he's not that friendly and like what your friend already said, he's a little evil.
"What do you mean you wish? He does notice you, y/n. He already rejected you for.." she raised her hand and started counting with her fingers. You rolled your eyes and swat it away to stop her.
She chuckles, "..so many times! Just enough with him."
As obvious as it was, your friend is really not that supportive of your undying love for Sunoo. Ever since you made her aware of this feelings, she's already against it. Insisting that he will cause you nothing but pain. So far, you must say she's right. He's been so rude to you.
But your mother didn't raise a quitter! You will keep on trying and trying. After all, life is short. You just have to live it how you want it. Live it the best way you can.
After the p.e class, your classmates storms inside. They all looked exhausted and freshly showered. You pulled your warm smile when you see Sunoo walks inside beside Jungwon. His friend was busy talking about something while he's attentively listening.
Without wasting any time, you marched towards him while holding a water and gatorade just incase he wanted something with flavor. The class gave no care for your approach to the said boy as they were probably used to it. This isn't the first time you'll be doing this and honestly, it still make you nervous.
"Hi Sunoo! How's p.e?" you say full of energy.
Both of them snaps their head at your direction. Jungwon kept his smile and waved at you while the other one shows no expression over his face.
"Uhm, water or gatorade?" you asked and even raise both of your hands to show him the things you prepared for him.
Jungwon looked at Sunoo awkwardly then back at you. He didn't respond right away, but later on lets out a sigh before rolling his eyes.
"I already had water." he coldly said then walked away from where you are. He even slightly bumped over your shoulder.
You got stoned from your position and your shoulder fell together with both of your hands. You looked over your shoulder and saw him heading straight to his chair.
"Sorry about him, y/n. You know he's always grumpy after p.e class." he's giving you this apologetic smile for you.
You shake your head to let him know that its totally fine. You raised your hand and offered him the drinks instead. His eyes grew and shine after what you said then accepts the gatorade. He said thank you before you head towards your seat.
"What? You like Jungwon now?" your head snaps towards your friend when she asked that.
You frowned at her.
"No! Sunoo already had water so I offered him the drink."
She scoffed, "Why don't you go for Jungwon instead? He's nicer and looks so cute!"
You raised a brow at her, "(friend's name), you can't dictate what the heart wants."
She showed this disgusted face and roamed her eyes all over you.
"Wow. That's disgusting."
You draw another sigh and settle the bottle of water just beside your table. The next class pretty much started a few minutes after. It somehow made you occupied. Honestly, you aren't the studious type, but since Sunoo is so smart and always part of the honor students, you don't want to be left out. You try to study as hard as you can. Hard work sure pays you off since you aren't at the top of the class.
"Sunoo! Are you going to eat at the cafeteria today?" right after the bell rang, you quickly went to approach him.
He didn't glance at you, but you heard him let out a strained sigh. He fixed his notebooks neatly, "I always eat there, you don't even have to ask that every time." he answered with full sarcasm.
You pursed your lips and fidgets with your fingers. You felt embarrassed and hurt with the way he respond to you, but you try hard to shove it away. Pulling another warm smile, you nodded your head.
You saw a slight glint of amusement over his eyes. It vanished right away, but you saw it.
"O-Okay. Eat well, Sunoo!" his stares remained at you for a while before he tears it off from you.
He left the room without saying anything to you again. Your eyes followed him silently and you felt a presence behind you.
"You know what? I wish he choke on his food-"
"(friend's name)!" you shouts her name. She quickly raised both of her hands then lets out chuckles.
"Just kidding! Let's go eat already." she threw her arms over your shoulder then leads you back to the garden at the rooftop.
It was decorated by your batch and you are confused why no one spends time here. It's cool up there, have the best view of the school field and also peaceful. So in order to give justice in the beautiful place, you and your friend usually spends your breaktimes and vacants there.
"How was your check up last saturday?" your friend asked after you both open your lunch boxes.
Your eyes dropped to your food and unconsciously start to play with it. Her eyes remained at you and watches you carefully.
"Y/n..."
You puff a small sigh then smile at her. "Its still the same, (friend's name). I don't get why you guys still hope that something will change. We just need to accept it." you can feel the air slowly being stripped away from your lungs.
You hate talking about this thing as it always kills the mood. It makes your chest tightening as you saw sadness flickering through her eyes. You understand how she feels and all the people close to you. But these things aren't something you can control.
You sighed and lets go of your utensil to reach over her hand. You gave her a small squeeze then smiled at her assuringly.
"Please, let's just accept it and let me live the rest of my life happily. I don't want you guys sad, please." she gulps and the corner of her eyes started to water.
She closed her eyes and tears started streaming down her face.
"I just.." she says, "..don't understand why it has to be you. You're too kind and perfect. Why... you?"
You pursed your lips then reached over her face to cup it, "Everything happens for a reason."
"Whatever that reason is, its unexpected."
You chuckled and tears streams down your eyes as well. "Let's stop crying and just eat."
She sniffs and wiped off the tears a little aggressive. "You're the only one who made me cry." she mumbles before starting to eat her food.
You chuckles, "I'll take that as a compliment."
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"Do you want to walk together?" you approached Sunoo's table after dismissal.
‘— Walk home with Kim Sunoo.’
This is honestly one of the hardest things written at your list. Not just because Sunoo doesn’t like you, but also because its impossible for him to walk with people other than his friends.
He was putting his things inside his bag before he glanced at you, eyes emotionless. He seemed unbothered and bothered at the same time by your presence.
"No." he coldly rejected you.
You pursed your lips. "Why?"
"Why do you have a lot of questions?" he started to sound pissed.
"I just want to walk with you." and you lower your head.
He stood up towering in front of you then smoothly hangs his bag over his shoulder. You raised your head to look at his pretty face. The corner of his lips slowly lifts, "Well I don't." his response make you feel like someone prickled your heart using a needle.
"Sunoo! Let's go?" his eyes shifted over to the person behind you. Probably one of his friends. He nodded his head and started going to that person without even glancing at you.
Your eyes silently follows him like old times until he totally disappears from your sight. The only thing that snapped you back to reality was when an arm suddenly rest over your shoulder. When you twist your head to look at the person, it was your friend.
“If he doesn’t want to walk with you, then I will!” she says, her tone sound a little pissed but you’re just glad she didn’t caused a scene. She must have been watching from a far.
You two then headed home, starting to chat about random things. It was always like this with her. Just pure fun and all. Whenever you’re with her, you don’t have to worry too much or feel awkward because she treats you differently. This is what you want. For everyone to act normal and not weird around you.
When you arrived at your street, your laugh slowly faded along with your smile when you saw a familiar built. He isn’t alone. A girl is smiling brightly while walking beside him. He still have this serious face, but it seems like he’s listening to her.
Your friend notice the sudden change on your mood and quickly followed your line of sight. She rolled her eyes and scoffed before gently grabbing your arm to pull you towards a different direction.
“Hey, calm down.” she says in a soft voice and handed you a water.
Your mind was still full with the memory of Sunoo and that girl. To some, it may seem like its just normal. But for you, its already a big deal. Sunoo isn’t the type of person who walks home together with someone other than his friends. He isn’t that friendly.
So to see him with her right after rejecting you really made you upset. Your friend sighs and taps your shoulder. “Don’t overthink it, y/n! I’m she forced him or something! Did you see his face? It was obvious that he didn’t like it.” she tries to comfort you.
A pout appears over your lips as your eyes slowly trails towards her. “At least she managed to walk with him.”
She sighed and rolled her eyes. “So? There’s always tomorrow! We have a lot of days left for school so don’t get down over it. Hmm?” she hummed and tried to encourage you.
A small smile slowly creeped over your lips. You are very thankful that you have her. Yes there are times she obviously shows how she disagrees with your craziness over Sunoo, but she still tries to be supportive whenever you need it.
You two walked towards your home after you finally calmed down. Thankfully, she managed to divert your attention towards something else. It didn’t spoil your whole evening.
The next day, you went early to school like usual and went straight towards the audio-visual room to prepare for your morning broadcast. You pull the paper containing your speech then you added your daily quotes and your message for Kim Sunoo.
When the clock strikes 8 am, you started the broadcast with some reminders for school activities and ended it with a short quote.
“And to our sunshine, Kim Sunoo. You’re four days away from your quizbee. Keep going and I know you can do it!” a small spread over your face after you finished your short message.
You wrapped it up and told everyone that they did a good job before you exits the club room to head over the lockers area. A lot of students are scattered around the hallways, but it was easy to spot Sunoo. You don’t have any idea how you can manage to do that all the time. Maybe it was a skill you developed for always looking for him.
“Hi Sunoo!” you greeted full of energy and with your bright smile. You act like as if you didn’t saw him with that girl yesterday and proceed on greeting him.
He didn’t spared you a glance, but you heard him letting out a strained sigh while continuing getting something from his locker. You shrugged it off and kept your smile.
You remembered the cookies you baked last night for him.
“Sunoo, please accept my—”
“Didn’t I rejected you already? Get lost.” your hand was stopped midway when he once again turned you down. It wasn’t something new, but his words still sting like a bee.
A small smile made it your lips, chest tightening. Even you yourself think you are no good for Kim Sunoo himself. It’s just, you wanted to feel something while you’re still here, while you’re still alive.
“I made this just for you. I figured you may be hungry while studying—” he snaps his head at your direction once again and glared. His jaw clenched.
“What language do you speak that you can’t understand a simple ‘no’?” he rudely hissed at you.
Here he is again, being rude to you. Just today was a little bit more harsher. It’s fine, you kept telling yourself but deep inside you know, it’s not okay.
“Get lost, I say!” he said.
You kept your eyes darted straight to his cold ones. They didn’t show any remorse despite the tears forming at the corners of your eyes.
Someone then interrupted and tugged him over his shoulder. “Dude! Say sorry to her.” it was Jungwon. His eyes looked so worried and apologetic when he glanced at your direction.
Sunoo clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes before closing his locker. “Whatever.” he mumbled then started walking away.
Your eyes followed him while still standing at your position. You are in shock. Embarrasment and pity plays through your mind. He’s always snobby with you, but this is actually the first time he’s been this rude towards you.
Jungwon walks closer and handed you some tissues. You quickly flashed him a smile and chuckles to make the atmosphere lighter.
“I’m sorry about him, y/n. He’s just really tired because he stayed late last night.” he said looking really sorry for what his friend did.
You shook your head after accepting the tissues he was handing. “It’s okay! Maybe I am really pushing myself too much.”
Jungwon pursed his lips, amused at how kind and understand you can be. He sighed and just smiled a little.
“Still, he shouldn’t be rude.” after he says that and comforted you for a while he left to go to class.
Your smile fell the moment he turned his back. You really don’t want to give up on Sunoo and you did said you aren’t the type who gives up easily but it sure hard. Really hard.
Just in time your head snaps over to your back when you heard someone screaming your name. It was your friend and she was running towards you. Chuckles escaped your lips while watching her struggle and almost stumble across the floor.
“Phew!” she sighed heavily and tried catching her breath. “I thought I'm going to be late!” she exclaimed with relief.
You help her get her stuff before you two head towards the classroom. When you arrived inside, you saw that girls from your class are around Sunoo. They’re trying so hard to get any response from him. You pouted a little, thinking that you probably looked the same.
You let out a small sigh then head towards your table that made her tilt her head in confusion. She took quick steps to catch up with you.
“Wait, you’ll just let them?” she sounded so surprised.
“I feel a little tired.” you tried to reason out and gave her a small smile.
Thankfully she read the room and diverted the topic to somewhere else.
The whole day was pretty much busy for you since you had a lot of things to do. Even if you want to approach Sunoo, you tried your best not to for two reasons. One, because of what happened at the locker’s area and number two, he’s busy preparing for the quizbee.
At the end of the day, you still asked him if he wants to walk home with you. The answer was the same so you just walked home with your friend. You have no problem with it because you do enjoy every time with her, but a small part of you really wants for him to walk with you. If he do it once, you’ll be more than happy. Not just because it was on  your bucket list, but also because you really like him.
“Cheer up! You can always try tomorrow, y/n.” your friend threw her arms around your shoulder to start pulling you towards the direction of the gate.
You just smile a little and nodded your head. That’s the point. How long will you waste your time? You don’t have a long time remaining to this world. You are not sure if this whole idea is still wise. Is Kim Sunoo worth it?
After spacing out a little, you shrug and shove that negative thought away. You let out a big heavy sigh before smiling again.
Of course Kim Sunoo is worth it! He will always be worth it.
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Weeks passed by with the same routine. And today, you ran a little late because you weren’t feeling well last night and slept too much. Thankfully, you made it before you morning broadcast. As always you read some reminders for the day and then your short quote for everyone.
“And to our sunshine, Sunoo. You make my dopamine levels go silly.” and with that you wrapped the broadcast then bid your clubmates to go at the locker’s area.
You pouted and glanced at the direction of his locker. He’s there surrounded and talking with his friends. You wanted to go approach them, but you have no enough time since you need to get your books for your class.
Someone approached you that made you tear your gaze away from Sunoo and his friends. You smiled brightly at the sight of your friend and she had her hand laid in front of you. Like as if asking you to lend her something.
You gave your a confused look and she did stared at you for a while before letting out a sigh.
“Give me your locker keys so I can get your workbooks for you. You can go and approach Mr. Popular.” she said in almost a monotonous way.
You giggled and hugged her before giving her your keys. She just shoo you away, acting like she’s not that affectionate over you.
You didn’t waste any time and just go approach Sunoo. He was listening to what his friends are talking about. He doesn’t seem bored, but he also not a talker.
The first one to see you approaching was Jungwon who quickly smiled and waved at you. That caused everyoneof them to turn and look at you, making you feel shy. Sunoo’s stare didn’t last long and he teared it off to go busy himself with rummaging through his locker. You sent Jungwon a small wave then looked at Sunoo.
“Hi Sunoo!” you greeted happily before trailing your eyes back over to his friends who are now watching you two.
“Hi guys!” you greeted them so just it wouldn’t be awkward and also to avoid being rude.
“Y/n, can you give me messages tomorrow as well?” your eyes darted Sunghoon when he said those words. He have this smile that makes you wonder if he’s teasing or being sincere.
Either way you gave him a smile, “Sure! I will surely read one for you tomorrow.”
“Me too! We have a basketball match tomorrow. Wish me luck, y/n.” this time it was Lee Heeseung, the captain ball of your basketball team who requested a message from you.
Even before you can say yes to his request, someone talked once again.
“Me too! We’re also part of the team!” Jake and Ni-ki said in unison that made you chuckle. They’re so cute.
‘✓ Make new friends.’
You smiled widely as you crossed that out of your list. It was so happy to have these type of conversation with new people.
“Sure! I’ll wish you good luck tomorrow.” you said with a sincere warm smile. The boys even cheered together that made you laugh once again.
While you are busy interacting with his friends, Sunoo suddenly felt irritated for an unknown reason. You are annoying already, but when you are like this around his friends you get more annoying. He isn’t sure why and he doesn’t know if he wants to know the reason.
You jolted when he abruptly closed his locker. It was a little aggressive that made you jump a bit. You followed him with your eyes as his friends tried to call him. He ignored them and just proceeded on going to class.
“What’s gotten into him?” Jake asked, totally clueless.
Jay shrugged his shoulders off then smoothly hangs the strap of his bag over his shoulder, “I’ll go to my class. See you at class, y/n.” he says and even playfully winked at you.
It made you chuckle and you bid good-bye to them too so you can go to your friend. She was done when you saw her and is watching from afar. She have this smirk over her lips that made you confuse.
“What’s with the smirk?” you asked curious.
She shakes her head side to side, “Nothing! I just realized its more fun watching from a distance because you get to observe things better.”
You didn’t totally get what she said, but she quickly dismissed the thought and start telling you about this movie she watched last night.
When you arrive inside the room, the whole class is still rowdy. Your eyes automatically searched for Sunoo and you saw him leaning over his table. No girls are around him. They probably realized he’s tired and doesn’t have the energy to deal with them today. You pouted and can’t help but to feel worried for him. Maybe that’s the reason why he reacted like that a while ago. He must’ve been tired. Being a smart student sure is tiring.
You sat down over your chair and your friend follows, still talking about her movie. You listened to her carefully and even comments from time to time. It was interrupted when your homeroom teacher went inside holding a folder over her hand. You looked at your friend and she did the same thing.
For some reasons, you felt a little nervous and curious of what’s inside the folder. The whole class was curious as well as they try to take guess of it. Some says that its your quarterly ranking. It made your heart stop for a while. ‘Isn’t it too early for that?’ you thought to yourself.
The teacher roamed her eyes around the room like as if checking if everybody’s present. When she finally make sure that you are complete she flashes a warm smile.
“I have here the list of pairs for your prom.” she announced that quickly made the whole class noisy. All of you cheered in happiness and relief.
“Omg! Y/n! This is really it! I wish my partner would be Ni-ki!” your friend exclaimed and even dramatically put her hands together then closed her eyes.
You laughed at her and also after seeing how the said boy turned his head at your direction. He probably heard his name being mentioned.
“I wish Sunoo is my partner!” you copied your friend and put your hands together, but unlike her you kept your eyes open then looked at Sunoo.
After a couple of seconds, your heart dropped when your eyes met. He didn’t break your eye contact and just stared at you. Later on, he rolled his eyes then looked away. You couldn’t stop yourself from smiling in victory while your heart thumped loudly. That was so far the longest eye contact with him!
Now, you really wish he will be your prom partner. You know the chance to get him is so small, but you will still hold on to it even if its just .03 percent.
‘— Dance with Sunoo at Prom.’
If you two became partners, this is already sure to happen. That will be the best night of your life. You bet its wonderful to be paired with him. You wanted this because you want to have the most memorable prom. This will only come once in your life and you don’t even know if you’ll ever get the chance to have a dance with Sunoo while wearing a pretty dress.
You jolted when your friend suddenly held your arm and shakes you continuously. She got this excited look on her face while you have this confused look.
“W-What?! What is it? What happened?!” you asks a bit in panic. You roamed your eyes around to see if there’s something odd, but nothing. Some of your girl classmates are eyeing you with their mean look, but you didn’t give much care about it. The teacher in front are also busy reading the pairs for your class.
“You got paired with Sunoo!” she announced that caught you off-guard.
You gave her this look like as if you’ve been casted a spell and couldn’t react anything. She chuckled, finding you funny.
“You’re shitting me..” you said to her, trying to wait for her to say that she just got you fooled.
She rolled her eyes. Even if she hates Sunoo because of how he treats you, she still wants you to he happy and if it means having him as your prom partner then be it. She will always be supportive of you.
“I swear with my life, you are paired with Sunoo!” she even pulls Jay’s uniform who's sitting in front of her to catch his attention.
“Please tell her that her partner is Sunoo. She doesn’t believe me.” she says then smiled at Jay.
The boy looked confused at first, but then he gave you a smile. “You are paired with Sunoo. Good luck with that.” and he even lets out a taunting chuckle.
Your friend shoot him glares and even kicked his chair lightly causing him to stop laughing.
On the other hand, your mind is slowly going blank and you feel like you are floating. You couldn’t believe it. Maybe God really listened to your prayers and gave you this opportunity to finish your bucket list.
That explains the glares you are getting from the girls at your class. They proabably envy you for having him as your partner. A victory smile flashes your lips. You are so lucky.
Your have this smile on your face all day and you feel like nothing can even make your day bad. Just by thinking about having him as your pair is enough for you to be in a good mood the whole day.
Kim Sunoo as your prom partner. The Kim Sunoo. Wow. You are very excited.
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Smoothly the week passed and now, you are very excited because its time for your prom practice to start. You are even hopping cutely on your way to the audio-visual room for your morning broadcasts. It was very obvious how happy you are.
“And to our sunshine, Kim Sunoo. You give me feeling I can’t put into words.” and then you wrapped the session up like usual.
Your friend was already waiting for you by the locker’s area when you arrived. She couldn’t help but to roll her eyes after seeing how wide your smile is.
“Well someone’s in a good mood.” she said in a taunting way.
“Of course! The practice for prom starts today! I can’t wait for it.” you sounded so excited as you start to go get your things.
She lets out a frustrated groan and leaned over the lockers beside you.
“Don’t even remind me about it! I feel so heart broken that I am not paired with Ni-ki.” she says, pouting.
You mirrored her face and slightly taps her shoulder, “Awe! That’s all right. You can just go and ask him to dance with you!” you tried encouraging her.
She smirked, “You are right! I won't let him rest. We’ll dance all night!” the plan of her made you giggled and shake your head side to side. The sound of determination made it even funnier.
“Oh poor Ni-ki’s feet. I feel bad for them.” you joked. She glanced at you then scoffed.
“Oh poor Sunoo’s feet. I feel bad for them too.”
You both laughed and teased each other even more, time slipped out of your mind. When the bell rang, your eyes grew and head looked over your shoulder to check if Sunoo was there. No. He’s nowhere to be found. Maybe he already went to class. A pout makes it way your lips when you realized you didn’t even greet him.
Your friend dragged you towards your classroom and your class then started. It went by too slow for you.
Finally, your most awaited time of the day came. The whole class was asked to go to the auditorium to go meet the dance instructor for the prom dance. You went there with a big smile and your friend couldn’t help but to tease you about it. Upon arrival, the instructor asked you all to listen about the orientation for the dance.
She walked you guys through the whole plan she have for the dance. It was wonderful. For you, its perfect.
“Okay! Everyone please go to your respective partners!” she says and even clapped her hands to make you move.
You stood up and started roaming your eyes around to look for Sunoo. It was easy. He’s heading your way as well, eyes looked serious and both of his hands inside his pocket. He looked handsome as always.
“H-Hi.” you greeted after he managed to get close to you.
He draws in a sigh then nodded at you. It was enough to make you feel crazy inside. Both of you listens to what the teacher will ask you to do next.
“Now hold your partners hand. You have to get used to it from now on because you’ll be holding that for a long time.”
The first task made you feel like you’re up in the clouds already. It was unexpected. You gulped feeling very nervous. You’ve never held his hand. It is one of your dreams to hold it tho and also part of your list.
Your eyes slowly trailed over Sunoo. When he faced you with that bored look, you couldn’t help but to bite your lower lip. He sighs and laid his hand in front of you, waiting for you to take it.
Carefully, you lift your arm and placed your hand on top of his. He rolled his eyes and held your hand tightly making your stomach churns, butterflies flying all over.
“Just try not to be annoying.” Sunoo mumbles and glanced away to avoid the awkwardness.
You giggled, “I promise to do good, Sunoo.”
‘✓ Hold Sunoo’s hand.’
And you are trying so hard to do that. While the instructor starts to teach you guys, you have your whole focus on her and to the dance. You shoved away the thought of having Sunoo as your partner for a while so you can give your whole attention to the dance.
On the other hand, Sunoo’s the one to give his attention towards you. He can’t help but stare at your serious face. A small smirk appeared his lips before he rolled his eyes off of you. He couldn’t believe what he’s thinking right now. He actually think you are pretty cute.
And that’s how the first day of your practice ended. The whole week, you just practiced and as day passed by, Sunoo came to observe you silently while you are too occupied by the dance. You are totally unaware of it. You are unaware that Sunoo, the cold hearted guy from your class starts to notice you more often.
“Where’s y/n?” he asks his friend when he noticed that your chair was vacant again for the fifth time. It was odd for him because its nothing like you to skip school for a long time.
“Worried?” Jungwon asked in a teasing tone.
Sunoo rolled his eyes at him then settles down to his own chair. “No. Its because I don’t have a partner again.” he made it sound so believable that his friend just nods his head.
As the class starts, his friend’s attention drift off of him. He trailed his eyes over to your empty chair feeling something in him missing.
The following week, your ranking was announced and sadly Sunoo’s rank went down. He seemed down because of it. You feel bad and wants to cheer him up so bad.
“And to our sunshine, Kim Sunoo. For me, you are sill the best.”
After the session, you bid good-bye to your club members and head over the lockers. You waved to your friend and quickly get your things to come and greet Sunoo for a bit.
“Hi Sunoo!” you greeted that made him glance at you.
Before he can shoo you away you raised your hand, showing your palm at him. He looked confused.
“Before you can send me away, I just want to personally tell you that you are doing really great. I am proud of you!” you said that made him surprised.
He’s been wanting to hear those words from someone for a long time. He was totally stunned. He looked at you, feeling this unknown emotion that occupying his chest after seeing you again.
You smiled, “I’ll take my leave now! See you at class Sunoo!” and you started heading towards the class without even glancing back.
Sunoo kept his stares at you, feeling a warmth that he was searching for. A smile made it over his lips and he closed his locker.
The discussion started when you arrived and you tried to focus hard because you missed a lot. You groaned lightly staring at the clock too often to check if its time for practice already.
“Ouch.” you gasped and quickly moved away from Sunoo when you heard him utter that for the third time now.
Its your prom practice again and you’ve been messing up the dance because you are out for a while. You glanced at Sunoo with a worried face.
“Sorry! I’m so sorry, Sunoo!” you said.
Normally, he would’ve been so pissed right now. But Sunoo doesn’t feel like that, instead he’s starting to get bothered by how you really got more pale after you missed school for a while.
He gulped and tried to shove it off your mind. Since when did he became so good at observing?
“That’s what you get for missing practices.” he says in a low tone.
You pouted and lowered your head, feeling guilty. Its not like you have a choice. You are sick. But of course, you didn’t told him that. You draws in another sigh to apologize again, but suddenly a pair of hands gently tugged yours. He held them placing one hand to his shoulder, then holding the other one.
When you lift your head, you saw him staring down at his hand that was holding your waist. His cheeks and ears red. You bit your lower lip, admiring Kim Sunoo.
“Next time, don’t leave me alone.” he mumbled and slowly stares at your eyes.
You blushed like crazy as you smile widely at him.
“I won’t!” you exclaimed.
He rolled his eyes then looked at the instructor to wait for the next step. Your smile then fell when something dawned on you. He may not mean to not leave him forever, he may just meant about the dance, but your heart aches after realizing you are leaving. You are leaving Kim Sunoo and everyone else in this world.
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“Y/n! Sunoo is downstairs.” you heard your Mom said.
You abruptly stood up from your bed and eyes grew big at what she said. Did you really heard that right? Kim Sunoo? He’s outside your house?
You quickly head towards the window and you really saw him in front. With hurry, you checked yourself in the mirror and slight grunts after you notice how pale you looks. You grabbed your tint and put some on your lips.
“Sunoo! Hello!” you greeted him with a big smile.
Sunoo licked his lower lip and stared at you seriously. “Are you okay? You skipped school again.” he says straight to the point.
Your smile faltered. Its been three days of you skipping schools again. Sunoo can’t wait anymore and just went to check on you. He doesn’t care what you think about this or if you think he cares for you. He does! And he’s going crazy because you aren’t attending class.
“U-Uhm, sorry. Am I giving you troubles for prom practice?”
He didn’t respond right away and just stared at you. “Do you want to walk around?” he asks, licking his lower lip. He can feel his throat getting dry.
You roamed your eyes and it was dark already. “Okay, I will just get my jacket.” and he just nodded his head then waits for you patiently.
Sunoo tries to calm himself down. Its been a whole month after he starts feeling this way with you. At first, he tries to ignore it and tells himself that he’s probably just misunderstanding things. He can’t like you, moreso fall in love with you. He’s annoyed with you. That was the last thing he remembers. How come he’s here to come see you just because you skipped school? Why does he looks for you all the time? Why does he feel incomplete without hearing your short messages for him every morning?
“I’m here!” you announced happily and walked your way towards Sunoo with a big wide smile.
Sunoo gulped, ‘Yep. He’s definitely in love with you.’
You two walked towards the park and since it was already dark, there are less people around. Sunoo asked you to sit down by the swing beside him which you quickly obliged.
As you both stares at the sky above, you can feel your heart hammering. You can’t believe you are here with him, staring at the stars. You should’ve included this to your list.
“Sorry again for the practice. It must have been hard to learn the dances without a pair.” you apologized again after you remembered about it.
Sunoo seemed unbothered tho, he’s just staring at you with this unexplained expression. You tilt your head to check on him.
“Sunoo?” you tried to call his attention.
He gulped, “Do you want me to teach you what you missed?” he asked that made you excited.
“Sure! Is that okay?”
He nodded and stood up from the swing so he can stand in front of you. He laid his hand in front of you then you accepted it. Both of you stood at the middle part of the playground. You are smiling and blushing so hard at the moment.
He hums and placed you in front of him. Making sure he holds onto you very gently. It made your heart flutters and like butterflies flew out of your stomach. You can’t truly explain what you are actually feeling.
He continues to teach you the dance steps you ‘missed’. At one part of the said choreo, he turns you and then tugs you closer right after. He takes you over his arms, your distance were not evident anymore. Your nose almost touching his and if he leaned an inch closer, you are sure that your lips would touch yours. The thought made your heart thumper in both anticipation and fear. Anticipation because its Kim Sunoo. Fear, because you’re afraid once you get a taste you’ll crave more of it.
Sunoo stared at your eyes then he gulped, “I n-need to tell you something.” he says that made you nervous right away.
You are uttering a silent prayer that what he was about to say is not what you are dreaming and hoping for. It may sound weird, but that will seriously make you happy and sad at the same time.
“W-What is it?” No. You are not ready to hear it. Suddenly, a rejection sounds more okay, than an actual confession. Silly you, you thought to yourself, how can you think that Sunoo will actually confess and have feelings for you? He wouldn’t, right?
“I love you, Y/n.” he says that made your ears rings and your heart fell.
It happened. It did happened.
Your eyes burns of tears at the sides as you try to compose and get a hold of yourself. This isn’t what you planned for. And this is definitely what you expected for.
You slowly withdraws yourself from his hold, making the color drains out of Sunoo’s face. It made him wonder if he had said or done anything wrong for you to act like how you just did.
“N-No. Tell me you’re joking.” a pool of tears can be seen at your eyes and its honestly making Sunoo worried.
“I am not.” he says too firmly as he tries to get a hold of you once again. He didn’t succeed as you shove it away, making a small but hurtful emotion prickling over his heart. He couldn’t understand.
You stepped away with horror on your face.
“Y-You can’t love me.” you manage to say.
Sunoo furrowed his brows and his jaw sets, “Why not? Tell me!” he demands and grabbed your arm, this time succeeding.
“I am sick!” you burst out to him, tears now flowing freely over your face.
He was stunned and just stared at you, waiting for what you’re going to say next.
“I am sick and I am dying, Sunoo. Y-You can’t...” you cried, unable to even finish the words you are saying.
Sunoo on the other hand was at complete shock. Couldn’t find any words to say. His mind wanders off to somewhere far, but his hold over your arm didn’t loosened.
He shut his eyes after he snapped back to reality with your soft cries. He sighed heavily, trying to get rid of that heavy filling over his chest. He slowly takes you over in his arms and pressed his lips at your head, eyes starting to water as well.
“I am not going anywhere. You can’t tell me I can’t love.” he uttered seriously that made you cry even more while wrapping your arms around his waist.
The next morning, you haven’t slept good because what happened last night still lingers to your mind like as if it was a dream. Sunoo knew about your sickness. He confessed.
Your heart aches at the thought of it. How come one simple thing can change your view in life? How come one person can affect you this much?
“Took you long enough.” your eyes softens when you saw him waiting outside of your house.
He smiled and walks closer to come get your things from you. You watch him silently, wondering what he’s doing here right now.
“If you’re doing this out of pity—”
“What do you mean? I literally said I love you last night. What I’m doing is mainly an act of love and not for pity.” he says and gently grabs your hand.
You two started walking towards the school and your eyes can’t leave your intertwined hands. For some reasons, you have always imagined you two doing these things and now that it is happening beneath your eyes, you couldn’t believe it.
“Are we really walking towards the school while holding each other’s hands?” you can’t stop yourself from asking.
Sunoo scoffed, “Yes. What? Dreams really do come true, huh?” he tried teasing you.
To his surprise, you didn’t take offense out of it and just nodded your head. He smirked and caress your hand softly.
“We’ll do this every time you want.” and he leans in to place a soft sweet kiss at your forehead.
You arrived at the school and he walks you over to the audio-visual room so you can do your broadcasts.
“And to our sunshine, Kim Sunoo. You’re the best thing I have ever waited for.” and this time you felt your heart tugs. There’s this unknown satisfaction right after you said those words. Like you are very certain that he is the best thing, because he is.
When you went out of the audio-visual room, your eyes grew big seeing him leaning over the wall. He was waiting for you. He pushed himself off then walks towards you to get your things again.
“Hi.” he greets and then held your hand tightly. Your heart beats so fast and unconsciously roamed your eyes around the hallways. Students are eyeing you like they’d seen a ghost. Who wouldn’t be surprised?
Arriving at the locker’s area, he accompanied you and then you two walked towards class hand in hand. Everyone who you walk pass by are shock of the sight they are seeing. It was overwhelming for you.
You can’t believe you are capable of being this happy. Too happy, that you are slowly becoming more scared of tomorrow. Slowly you are starting to ask God of what’s his plan, what’s his reason for taking you the opportunity to live and long and spend it with your love ones. His reason why he let you meet Sunoo and fell in love.
The time came. Your body drops down and you are taken to the hospital. It was dreadful. Not only for you, but for your family and the people who cares for you.
Sunoo didn’t left your side. He just stayed there with you, accompanied and helped your parents to take care of you. They were beyond thankful. They can see how genuine his love for you.
“Hey, pretty.” he greets when he arrived your hospital room. He went close and dropped a quick kiss at your forehead then at your lips.
You smiled and his eyes roamed around, confused why your things are packed.
“You’re moving rooms? Are you all right?” he asked, alarmed of the situation.
You smiled and caress his face, “I’m going home. I’ll be resting there until...”
Your mouth hangs and words can’t come out of your lips. He pursed his lips and you can clearly see that he’s scared. Very scared. He sighed and cupped your face then pressed his forehead at yours. You raised your hand and pressed your hands over his.
“I love you. I love you so much.” he mumbles softly that made your heart crack.
“I love you.” you responded.
You stayed like that for a while before you’re ready to go move at your house for home medication. He helped you and your family settling down. Now, he comes visit you at your house every time. You are starting to be worried of his own health because he seemed to sleep less. He even have school.
“Sorry I can’t be your partner at prom.” you uttered one afternoon while you two rests at your balcony, staring at the stars.
He caress your shoulder while staring at the pretty stars above. His tears slowly forming at the corner of his eyes.
“Its fine, baby.” he says and kissed your forehead. “Its fine.”
The next day, it was prom night and you are brushing your hair in front of your mirror. Your mind is filled with nothing but Sunoo. He’s probably off to school for your prom night. He wanted to skip and just be with you, but you insisted for him to go. Its a one in a lifetime experience. If you can’t have it, at least he should.
Your head snaps over to your door when it opened. Your Mom enters and you can see that even if she’s smiling she have tears at the corner of her eyes.
“Hi Mom.” you smiled, just so she can feel better.
She approaches and just then, you noticed this pink lower part of a dress. Your brows furrowed as to why she have that thing with her. She asked you to stand up, and with no further questions you did. She made you wear that part of the dress. It was a detachable one. It’s your favorite color too.
You both looked over your full length mirror and she stared at you through it. This time, a tear successfully escaped her eyes.
“I love you sweetheart.” she mumbled that made you want to cry as well. If you’re having a hard time, you bet your parents did as well.
You hugged her and told her that you love her too. After calming down a bit, she asks you to come with her. Slowly, she guided you towards the backyard.
Your mouth fell when you saw that it was decorated. Some pretty lights surround it and a couple of tables and chairs were placed around. Its like as if there is a party.
Sunoo then appeared at the side and you couldn’t find a word to say. Sunoo, who supposed to be on his way to prom is now standing right in front of you. He’s wearing his tux and looking so gorgeous as ever.
“W-What...” you managed to say.
He smiles, “I wouldn’t go anywhere without my partner.” he says and put this flower over your wrist before kissing your hand.
Then his friends and their dates appeared too. They are all smiling and you can’t help but to tear up even more.
“Our prom is where you are, y/n!” Jungwon says happily. When you glance at your best friend, she was waving crazily while crying. Ni-ki is standing behind her, towering over her.
Sunoo guided you at the center and the familiar waltz you practiced back then played. Thankfully, you managed to remember the dance.
“Thank you so much, Sunoo. I love you. You make me the happiest. You are my angel.”
He smiles, “I love you, y/n. You make me happy.” and he leans in to seal your love for each other.
‘✓ Dance with Sunoo at Prom.’
The days and weeks after are magical with Sunoo. You can’t ask for more. You are contented and happy with him. Somehow, you’re slowly understanding why all of these happened.
Love made you question God’s plans for you, and its also Love that made you realized what its meant for. You are meant to meet Sunoo because he’s the one who can make you the happiest on your remaining days, and Sunoo met you because you are the one to heal him. You are each other’s soulmates.
“I will be part of them once I leave this place. I will be always pretty and looking out for you.” you utter, even if you are feeling very weak.
Sunoo caress your shoulders and trying to look at the stars you are pointing at. He smiles, but tears formed at the corner of his eyes.
“You are always beautiful.”
You turns your head and look at him. You stared at his face, trying to memorize each and every inch of it. You don’t want to miss anything.
“I love you so much.”
Sunoo cries gently, couldn’t hold it anymore. He placed a kiss a your forehead before pressing it to yours.
“I love you more than words can say.” and with that he kissed your lips.
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Everybody else already left and only some of your family members remains, but Sunoo didn’t mind. He sat there silently. He promised you he won’t be sad all the time, but that promise are already broken right after the day you left him.
He pursed his lips and caress your gravestone gently. A light taps over his shoulder sends a little comfort for him. He received those from your family, his family and his friends.
“Here, Sunoo.” he glanced over your friend when she’s handing him this c.d. Her eyes are puffy from crying too much, just like him.
He accepted it and stared at it blankly.
“Y/n asked me to compile all her morning messages for you before and she records more. She said so you can have something to listen to. She knew you’ll be very sad for a while.” she said, crying more.
Sunoo smiled a little and caress the thing that will be his savior and comfort while you two are away from each other. He stood up and once he was home, he went to play it.
First time he heard your voice again, days after you left was heartbreaking for him. He mourning and nothing can really comforts him, but your voice.
This audio record of your messages has become his source of strength. Your voice that he used to hear everytime, but now only an echo that serves as a reminder of your undying love for him.
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phenomenalgirl9 · 9 months
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Wonwoo x Reader: Night and Day
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Summary: Where you find the quiet waiter working in your father's in really cute, however he's not so quiet and shy all the time.
A/n: First Seventeen fic!!! Btw Wonwoo is kind of a cultivator (from chinese ancient dramas) but idk if everyone will get the reference so I used the word "demon hunter" not "slayer" cause that a whole different concept. This was a request from my friend, and I hope I could do justice to him and the idea :)
W/c: 2.6k
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You were sitting on your father's inn's roof to watch people, it's your normal routine on quiet days. If this was around meal time the restaurant area would be filled with borders and visitors and you'd have to go down to help your mother in the kitchen. You looked down as the quiet guy that works for your father as a waiter and shook your head when you found him getting bullied by one of the regulars, again. You walked to the stairs and got down, and greeted the customer, eyeing the new woman he brought in today. "Sanghyeon ssi, I hope your wife is doing well" you said, cocking your head and looking him in the eye and he shut up. His wife was one of the main vegetable suppliers of the inn. What a shame his wife was probably working hard in their fields while here he is roaming with Adultresses and bullying poor waiters. You thought to yourself "May I know what's wrong" you then asked and he simply shook his head. You looked to the side to find Wonwoo standing there small and quiet, with his head down. His white robes tied and tucked nicely under his grayish blue half robe. His white sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, round glasses sat on his nose bridge that compliments his face. 
"Let's go" you told him "Please enjoy your meal," you said with a light bow and walked off. "Don't let them bully you like that. Speak up" you told him and he simply nodded and almost ran off. You didn't notice but his ears were already red with his interaction with you. 
He snuck a glass at you from behind the kitchen blinds and you sat down on one of the empty tables to read a book. He watched the way your eyes shone as you read with a hint of a smile adorned on your lips. He noticed the way you pulled your hair behind your ear as your new haircut always covers your eyes, hair coming in the way while you're reading. 
"Wonwoo~" he heard a name call from inside the kitchen and he rushed to work. 
You were reading a romantic book to find some inspiration. However, the protagonist kept reminding you of someone, someone you love to watch. His intent gaze, wordless nods and silent eyes, sometimes he sits and stares up at the sky and you wish you could know what he was thinking of. You blushed when you realised all this you have been thinking. You walked back to your spot in the roof and started writing:
In a world of vibrant voices echoing afar,
There lived a quiet boy, like a distant star.
His soft-spoken nature, an enigmatic grace,
Embracing silence, with a gentle embrace.
He wandered through life, a thoughtful observer,
Immersed in solitude, an inward explorer.
His mind a sanctuary, where dreams would unfold,
And secrets whispered, like stories untold.
You smiled when you were done, and you suddenly heard some commotion from downstairs. Now, this was unlikely because it was over dinner time, by now the inn should have been closed and your mother, father and you were supposed to be off on your way home as it's your brother's turn to stay the night. You got down to find a noble man and his wife and attendants checking into the inn. 
"Y/n go home, we'll have to stay and attend them, they're paying great" your mother whispered, you didn't want to stay back so you set off for home. Your home is a cottage just on the extended end of the market. You love it as it's surrounded by nature away from the hussle of the town. But today the walk was rather eerie and extremely quiet, as if the general sounds of the forest were also silent. Suddenly, you heard rustling, you looked around to not find anything. Again, the sound was heard and it's from the trees and bushes just in front of you to the left. Only if you could go a bit more you'd reach home, but now you're alone in the middle of nowhere and helpless, the only minus point of your house decides to come into play the exact night you were walking home alone. A lot of missing people and dead people have been reported on the other part of town since the last two weeks, you remembered and shuddered, you don't really want to end up on those missing posters. 
You heard the sound of footsteps and strain your eyes to look through the darkness to see a figure standing, still as dead, it was as if surrounded with darkness, the eyes (or at least where they supposed to be) show red. Everything in you screamed RUN but you couldn't, your feet felt heavy and tears stung your eyes. Is this how you die?
"Get back!" You heard a sound of a heavy voice and a man in black hanbok literally jumped in front that thing and you, his back faced towards you. He ran at that thing and engaged with it attacking it, a sword in hand. What is going on?, you thought as you tried to step back, when your feet could finally move. The man was finally able to piece his sword through that thing(after receiving lots of blows and scratches) and it started to shudder and burn from within. What is happening?!
The man then suddenly turned and the face shocked you, Wonwoo? He came extremely close within the blink of an eye and you heard his voice clearly as he said "don't roam alone in the night, it's unsafe" right into your ears as you were too stunned to speak. You felt a pressure on your neck and suddenly saw darkness. 
The next thing you know is opening your eyes in your bed as your brother called your name repetitively. "What is it Mingyu?" You asked, "Were you drinking last night?" He asked trying to sniff bard into the air, "why are you in your good robes, sleeping in the living room?" He asked with an amused expression. "I was feeling tired, so I thought to…. Rest a bit here, but I fell asleep. How was the night?" You asked trying to change the subject. "It was so tiring! That man is so demanding and he's gonna stay for three more nights. Mom has already gotten fresh and gone. You go and help them and let me catch some sleep" he said and you rushed to get freshen up and go to the inn. As you entered the inn you saw Wonwoo and Jeonghan serving. Suddenly, last night's occurrences flashed in front of your eyes and you were stunned. Was that all true or a dream? You don't even remember reaching home? What was that thing? What is Wonwoo? Before you could think any further your mother called you inside to help. You and your brother worked as your parents rested to work through the night as the Noble man might just want a baked duck in the middle of the night.  
Thus, here you were walking home with your friend Seungkwan telling him all about the previous night and how Wonwoo has been very smartly avoiding you the whole day and Seungkwan asked "Are you sure you were awake? You didn't chug a peg or two or six?". "No!" You refused "I know what and whom I saw" you said "besides you saw the way he was walking slowly and those scratches on his arm he was trying so hard to cover, they all match I saw him fight" you added. "You're parents and brother won't be home right?" He asked and you nodded. "Then let's go investigate" he said and pulled you towards a different road. "You know where he lives?" You asked as you whisper-yelled."Girl, I know everything" he said "and by your description it was a demon, if what you said is true then it means Jeon Wonwoo is a Demon hunter. Why would he hide it?" He said and suddenly you pressed a hand on his mouth, a figure stepped out of the house. It was actually nobody other than the person in question. In a black hanbok, his wide shoulders were evident. The intricate golden thread design all expanded and his back held his sword. You looked at Seungkwan who's eyes were wide in shock, he removed your hand from his mouth and lipped 'you were right?!' and you shrugged. Before either of you realised Wonwoo had disappeared. "Where did he go?" You both stood up and looked around "He's a hunter, of course he disappeared" Seungkwan said and suddenly you heard a thud and before you could turn you felt a metal on your neck "Gotcha" he whispered near your ear sending chills down his spine and then there was darkness.
When you felt water sprinkled on your face you jolte up! "You!” you told him "you keep knocking me out!" You complained, then looked around to find yourself on the river bank. Wonwoo calmly sitting beside you at a feet distance. "What?" You asked, as you found him looking at you wordlessly. "Some bravery you have to be in the middle of nowhere at night again alone. That too with that sword bearing good for nothing lover of yours" he scoffed. "First Seungkwan isn't my lover he is my friend and second don't say it like that" you frowned. "I didn't mean to offend you. And I didn't know, I just heard the villagers-" he stopped. "Yeah, me and Seungkwan grew up together, his house was the closest one to mine and the only one on this path, the village children used to call us weirdos and never played with us, so it was pretty much me, him and my brother. And he's not into swords, it's just a family thing for him" you said "Wait. Where is he?! Is he safe!" You suddenly remembered and panicked. "Don't worry he's inside my protected circle of talismans nothing can cross it" he assured you, something within you trusted him. You noticed his features more clearly now that the specs are gone. His handsomely sculpted face and the gravity in his eyes. "Why do you hide?" You asked him finally, "I don't hide, I just try to blend in well so I don't stand out. I don't want to gain attention" he said shrugging and you nodded. 
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You watched as Wonwoo walked around serving, the way his demeanor is so different from what you saw the previous night. He passes by you in the same manner he always does in a shy way, you can't help but think how he is both the shy boy with glasses, but also an intimidating man with a sword. 
In the realm of passion, behold a boy,
With stormy hues in his wistful eyes,
Where lightning sparks, an infernal joy,
A tempest within, no disguise.
In those depths, an untamed tempest brews,
A wild force, relentless, undeterred,
The raging winds dance, their primal cues,
Unleashing power with each whispered word
You wrote, you couldn't help but feel warmer now that you know him more than the others, you've seen him more. You met him by the river two days later, you talked about the sun and the moon, the Ajjhumma's tasty mandu that you get in the town's square, your favorite poems by Lan An. You told him about your childhood and he told you how he was, and how he ran away from home 3 years ago and never returned. He had walked you home that night, you had a smile on your face the whole time the next day. He was still shy in front of people, he told you he feels nervous in front of people, but you bring in a sense of comfort in him. 
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1 month later
You often met Wonwoo at night by the river, Mingyu had once asked you where you were going one night and you made up an excuse and bribed him to keep his mouth shut. Since the past week there have been many missing cases so Wonwoo had told you not to leave your house at night, there was a demon on loose in the woods. However today Wonwoo himself didn't turn up to work, it was around midday and he still hadn't come to the inn and your worst thoughts were taking control. Seungkwan tried to calm you but it didn't work, you finally told your parents that you weren't feeling well and left. You speedily walked towards his house with Seungkwan following close behind, and found his door unlocked, tears stung your eyes as you rushed inside, you found Wonwoo lying motionless inside and you ran to him. He was breathing, it was light but his pulse was there. You quickly tried to pick him and made him lie on his bed, you checked and he was running fever, he had several scratches on his arm. 
"Kwannie! Do something" you said in panic. "I'll get a doctor," he said but you stopped him. "You said you knew everything and I know you know about medicines. We can't let anybody know about him, he didn't want that" you said and tears flowed down he was in pain, it was evident on his face. "Wait wait, take off his robes, I know a few herbs that could help him," Seungkwan said. You couldn't think you followed his instructions. You whispered an apology and undid his robes and found more bruises, and then noticed one wound on his stomach that was turning blueish, demon poison, you had heard from Seungkwan that some demons had poisons. Seungkwan quickly came back and prepared the medicine, and you pulled the unconscious man up and applied the concoction. You applied cold wet cloth on his forehead and Seungkwan kept a check on his pulse, by sunset it was steady, Seungkwan promised to sneak you out of the house in the morning and sent you home. "He is sleeping, I'll keep a constant eye in him, trust me, go home before your mother arrives and we're both in trouble, I'll make some excuse at home tomorrow" he assured and you reluctantly went back. 
You couldn't sleep even for a moment, your mind was clouded with thoughts, the wounds, bruises, his face when he was in pain. Your heart had stopped for a moment when you first found him lying on the ground, your heart still aches and something told you it will stay that way until you see him awake.
Its been 2 days, since you and Seungkwan took turns and looked after Wonwoo. You felt your heart empty when you looked at him, you sat at a corner of his cottage and leaned your head on the wall. You didn't realise how tired you were and fell asleep. You woke to the sound of shuffling and opened your eyes to scream. It was the man Jeon Wonwoo himself back from almost his death. He slowly brought his hands and brushed off your bangs out of the way from your eyes. "I don't like this haircut, your eyes are always hidden, I can't look at them from far" he said and tears welled up in your eyes. You stood up and hugged him as you sobbed into his chest as he caressed your hair. "Don't scare me like that" you scolded him as he apologized to you. That was when it clicked what situation you were in and you jumped back away from him. For so long he was unconscious and you never noticed his actual wide shoulders, that seemed so strong. His strong muscular arms and the many old scares that told stories of his bravery. Jeon Wonwoo was a beautiful man, you concluded. 
"Hey Y/- AAAAHHH OH MY GOD!" you heard Seungkwan curse and screech as the two of you broke into laughter. 
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corvusalbus93 · 5 months
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Wish Rewrite
Once a year my aunt and her family come to visit the rest of us and we do something together. Her little daughter really wanted to see the new Disney movie, so we all went with. I have thoughts, but everything that needs to be said, probably has somewhere and that’s not why I’m here.
Just for fun I started to come up with two complete rewrites, however. One is committing to Magnifico as a sympathetic antagonist, by fleshing out his backstory and motivations more. The other is him being a more classic villain, along with the earlier concept of his wife being evil as well. Still working out the classic villain version, besides there are already several rewrites based on that premise from what I’ve seen, so that version I upload some other time, if I find the time to write it down.
One other thing to note, I feel Asha should have been a princess; of all the callbacks to classic Disney movies that would not have felt shoehorned in, how was she not a literal princess. Her family is half Iberian, half North African? Okay, Magnifico is from Iberia, we change Amaya’s design a little and have her be from Northern Africa, done. Now we can cut out grandpa and mum, who really didn’t do much in the movie, the conflict gets even more personal and we have a bit more time to flesh out the characters.
Wish with a Sympathetic Antagonist
Let’s start with the backstory:
Once upon a time, a region on the Iberian Peninsula suffered under a horrible drought. The citizens begged for rain, until one night a star fell from the skies, to which the people felt drawn to. It seemed like their prayers had been answered, as even their deepest wishes began to manifest in close enough proximity and people figured out, the star’s power could also make them come true. But not all wishes were benign. Some people were suddenly forced against their will to love another, others became incurably sick as if cursed, others yet wished for power and soon fought those with the same ambitions. Or to claim the star for themselves.
A young Magnifico left to find a way to stop this madness and save his home, but when he returned a sorcerer his country had already gone up in flames and was completely devastated, all but abandoned. He trapped the star in a crystal, vowing to safeguard it until he found a way to be rid of it for good. Since the star is sentient, he was unwilling to simply destroy it (that’s more of a last option), but people were literally going mad over this power, so something had to be done, or other kingdoms would suffer the same fate. He moved to an island in the Mediterranean, but people found their way there, feeling drawn to the place, because the star’s powers were not completely concealed, it’s too powerful, more so than Magnifico actually, and even wishes still manifested as the orbs we’ve seen in the movie.
Magnifico kept the star itself a secret, and decided to collect the wishes, carefully granting only those he deemed safe, without dooming the island, haunted by what had happened to his home. It borders a bit on paranoia, like when seeing a wish, his first thought is “how can this be harmful?” and more often than not, he comes up with a scenario in his head, where even a benign seeming wish has some horrible consequence. He honestly doesn’t like fulfilling them, as a selection process is usually unfair in some way or another, aside from being time-consuming, while granting everything or the wrong thing could lead to disaster. Plus, he only has very limited control on how the star fulfills the wish, which means that in some cases the star acts like a monkey’s paw. Like you wish for money, but there is a difference between finding some hidden treasure in your backyard or your parents suddenly dying and leaving it to you in their will.
The star isn’t a malicious spirit though; it simply does its thing, granting the wish, but just like water, seeking the way of least resistance. It doesn’t have an understanding of good and evil. Best Magnifico can do is find specific enough wishes, or use his own magic to make them specific enough, so the star has less room for catastrophic interpretations. When granting wishes he does it as a show, and he knows how to put one on, to keep the people happy/content, so they let him continue his work in peace, rather than beg for every little thing, and pretends like it’s his magic doing it, to preserve order. He’s worried that if he loses control, or others learn of the star, everyone will go mad over this power again.
Still, he loves the adoration he receives. He was too late to save his home country, he failed in what he set out to do, when he first became a sorcerer, but here not only does he get to use his powers for their intended purpose, but is also celebrated for it.
However he needed help. After all, now there was a country to run; not his area of expertise, so Magnifico reached out to the nearest realms. He eventually made friends with a king/sultan in northern Africa, who helped him build his island into a proper kingdom and soon Magnifico fell in love with the sultan’s daughter, Amaya. Lucky for him she was also quickly smitten with him and after one of his visits returned with him to the island as his wife. Rosas soon thrived, developing into a trading hub, Magnifico could focus more on the star again, even began collecting other dangerous artifacts for safekeeping. And eventually, the happy couple had a daughter, Asha.
Now to the real meat, the actual story:
Asha grew up quite happy, but with very busy parents. They run the country, her mother actually being quite involved as well, to give Magnifico more time to deal with any magical problems that arise (and I very much include mythical monsters in that list) and his studies around the star. They still love her (and of course each other) dearly, but their parenting leaves something to be desired, in some areas.
Her dad, who is afraid of what will happen if he himself messes up, can be a bit perfectionistic and thus has little patience for his own or other people’s mistakes. That, along with him not trusting people that much (aside from his wife), leads to him having a “I know best”-attitude and a bit of vanity. Her parents do also have somewhat high expectations, when it comes to their daughter, teaching her early on how to act proper and starting to prepare her for role as princess and future Queen.
Let’s cut down the number of close friends (two or three will probably suffice), animal side-kick optional, and have the rest of the supporting cast be adults, mostly members of the castle’s staff, some of which spent more time with Asha as a kid than her actual parents. Now, once Asha is old enough, her father begins to teach her a bit of magic, something she was always fascinated by and honestly she just wants to spend more time with him. But since she’s still a kid she uses it in more playful manners, like concealing herself during hide-&-seek-games, which would also be a great opportunity to show Magnifico’s sillier and caring side. A scene to really show us that he loves his daughter and spending time with her, when he isn’t preoccupied with ten other things.
Once Asha becomes a teenager (still younger than she is in the movie), she’s ready to learn more and her father shows her what he’s been working on all these years. A spell that will banish the star back to the heavens. His work is almost completed; he only needs to figure out the final lines of the spell he’s been creating, one capable of overpowering the star, which has been able to resist his magic so far. Remember, he trapped it using a crystal, not via spell. He tells her what the star does, enticing people when they sense its presence, drawing out the deepest wishes to the surface until they manifest as one of those whish-orbs. Only then you can use the star’s power directly to make the wish within come true, though it’s not always certain how it comes true or if there will be a consequence, which finally explains to her why her father doesn’t make more wishes come true, something that had always bothered her as a kid.
The orbs are also the reason why most adults in the kingdom seem complacent, as many are simply waiting for theirs to come true during one of the ceremonies. They haven’t forgotten their wishes though, just lack the drive to pursue them, but returning them to the people is fruitless anyway, as soon enough the wish only gets drawn out again. So, they need to be kept save; destroy an orb and the wish within is destroyed as well, forever, and that’s when they forget. She now also understands why the star’s room was always so alluring, despite only know learning about it; until now, she, like the citizens, thought it was Magnifico’s own magic.
In addition he warns her to be careful, when she studies, as there are plenty of dangerous books that either hold unsafe spells, evil spirits, or harm those using or even just reading them. They are locked up in their own room for a reason, no touching, better yet, don’t even enter that section. Asha is certain she can hear something whispering, before he closes the door again, but hopes she’s imagining it. When she asks, why he keeps them in the first place, he explains that there are saver here, than out there in the wrong hands. He sees them as a similar threat to the star, so he collects any he finds. Unfortunately, destroying them would only unleash the powers held within, which could be devastating, so it’s a problem he can focus on, once the star has been dealt with. He tells/teaches her, in case he should not be able to finish his work in his lifetime and needs someone he can trust to continue in his stead. He doesn’t want to pass this burden on to her, but he has to prepare for that eventuality.
Asha is determined to meet all lofty expectations her parents have and continues studying, learning more spells and how her father managed to trap the star in the first place. Seeing her father continue to struggle with his research, even seeing him fail in sending the star back and literally losing sleep over it, Asha eventually gets the idea to wish for the star to return to the heavens (remember she younger in this version); surely such a simple wish won’t have consequences or will be fulfilled in a convoluted way. She also hopes that once the star is gone, her dad will finally be free from this burden, and maybe in the end both her parents will have more time to spend with their daughter…as a family. So, one night she sneaks out, to the room where her father keeps the trapped star, dispels the wards (using her father’s books/notes) and breaks in.
However, as she tries to draw out that one specific wish by force, so the star can fulfill it, she messes up. At first she draws out the wrong orb, as her deepest wish is technically her family being together, sending the star back is just a means to it. Which is also why she doesn’t use that orb; if the star fulfills that wish by making her father just forget or not care about the star, it would be bad for everyone.
Thus, she lets the orb float away for now, but as she tries harder, she accidently draws the star out of the crystal instead and it disappears into the night. Asha panics and is terrified to tell her parents, especially her father, as many kids are, when they mess up. Therefore, she gets her best friends to help instead and goes after the star, hoping to recapture it in another crystal before it can do any damage, or people go mad over it.
Magnifico of course is alerted about the break in and doesn’t suspect his daughter, because he can’t believe she would be that foolish (he hasn’t been around kids that much) and panics when not only the star is gone, but Asha as well. His conclusion is that someone, possibly another sorcerer, broke in, stole the star, and has his daughter as a hostage, because evil magic-wielders kidnapping princesses is kind of a thing in fairy tales. He begins his search, enforces a lockdown, so no one can come across the star or whoever stole it, and creates a spell-circle around the island, like a seal, so no one can enter or leave without his say-so. Amaya tries to calm him down, tells him how he’s rushing to the worst possible conclusions again, but he’s already having flashbacks to what happened in his home country, his family there, and now not just the kingdom is on the line, but his daughter…rational thinking is becoming difficult. He lost everything once already, and that was before he was a parent. He departs promising to get their daughter back and claiming that he would destroy the star before letting anything happen to her. Amaya flinches at that, since she also knows that the star is a sentient being, but knowing that in this state arguing with him won’t help, just reassures him in the calmest possible manner (despite her own worries/fears) that she trust him and has no doubt he’ll get Asha back safe.
Meanwhile, Asha and friends catch up with the star, which is granting wishes to random people in the countryside and it’s causing a bit of chaos. They even see what happens when an orb gets destroyed; one man grabs another’s wish and literally crushes it in a fit of anger, the other person suddenly collapsing, looking absolutely distraught, color draining from their face like they just lost a loved one. Asha uses some of the spells she knows to make them fall asleep, stopping them from fighting each other, hopefully until she can sort this mess out. But in trying to calm those people down, the star escapes again and the hunt continues. Her friends also suggest maybe just telling her father, because he is the expert in dealing with magical problems, but Asha is determined to handle this, to proof herself. And she’s still scared/ashamed for betraying his trust.
Magnifico arrives a bit later and wakes up the villagers, trying to get some information, but they can’t tell him much, other than the star passing through, and he has those altered by the wish-magic brought to the castle, so they can be fixed up at a later point. Right now he needs to find that star and his daughter. In the meantime, Amaya finds Asha’s wish orb floating in the corner of the star-room, and sees her daughter’s deepest wish, taken aback to see the three of them just united, though quickly admits to herself that they haven’t been the best/most attentive parents. And she starts to suspect that Asha was responsible for the break in, wondering how desperate she was.
Outside the cat-&-mouse game continues for a bit (probably a good place for a song & montage); star makes random wishes true, Asha fixes what she can, Magnifico arrives to see the aftermath. He’s getting ever more frustrated, because he can’t find the thief, the star or his daughter and he sees many rather selfish wishes having come true. There are also some actual positive wishes, like someone having recovered from a long illness, but since it hasn’t harmed anyone/is causing chaos, he doesn’t notice it.
Eventually, Asha catches the star and tries to get it back into a crystal she brought with her for just that purpose…but she can’t bring herself to do it, as during her pursuit she’s figured out the star isn’t merely some magical object, but a sentient, shape-shifting being, which is really happy to be moving freely again. Though as cute and friendly as it is, she’s certain it would be happier in the skies, not trapped and used by humans. Her friends by now are also convinced that the star is too dangerous to stay around, and they discuss how many of the good things it has done, could have been done without its magic. Still, Asha tries talking to the star and though it can’t talk back, it can communicate via shape shifting, and she finds out the star is actually scared of Magnifico, since he trapped it, and has always resented it.
Shortly after, Asha notices her father nearby, and uses her magic to hide them (call-back to the hide and seek games),because she feels so close to fixing this mess, and doesn’t want to confront him until she’s made up for her mistake. She’s surprised her spell was powerful enough, once he’s gone again, only to realize that the star helped her out. Asha now plans to sneak back into the castle and use her father’s spell herself, hoping the star trust her enough not to fight the magic like it did when her father attempted it.
Unfortunately, Magnifico becomes so desperate that he goes back to the castle, arriving first, and gets one of the really dangerous books out. He hesitates, but assures himself that the spirit bound within only demands a price from the person using it; better him than the entire kingdom and his family. Besides, it’s only for one night, if all goes as planned.
The spirit trapped within the pages demands to know what he wants, and Magnifico tells it that he needs the spells to summon the star stolen from him, and get rid of it. The spirit explains that this requires power; it will share its own with Magnifico, until the star is dealt with and as a price will take some of the sorcerers powers away. Magnifico hesitates for a moment, before glancing at a picture of his family that he keeps in his study and agrees. The spirit merges with him and they conduct a ritual, capable of overpowering and summoning the star. But it’s draining Magnifico both physically and mentally. His hair changes from greying to the pure white we saw in the concept art, and the spirit’s malicious side begins to poison his thoughts.
Since Asha is holding star, she gets dragged along with it, leaving her friends behind. Magnifico is shocked and disappointed, when he finds out his daughter is responsible for the whole mess and didn’t tell him, which then turns to anger, amplified by the spirit. Queen Amaya, who has been informed that Magnifico is back, joins the two, and noticing the change in her husband, tries her best to get through to him, getting between him and their daughter. Unfortunately, he locks them both up, before she has a chance to show him Asha’s wish, while he “fixes” everything, speaking with a voice that isn’t quite his own. The deal was to summon the star and then get rid of it, after all, and the spirit is intent on upholding its end of the bargain, acting very much like the metaphorical devil on Magnifico’s shoulder.
Locked in together mother and daughter have a much needed heart-to-heart, during which Asha apologizes for everything and explains why she did what she did. Her mother also apologizes for spending so little time with her and the pressure they put Asha under. Amaya shows her the orb she found and as they both hold it promises her daughter they will make this right together (hugs, tears, all the good stuff). Asha’s friends have made it back to the castle by then, free the two and together they go to get Magnifico back to his senses.
They find him in the library, where he’s preparing a spell that will destroy the star. At this point he’s so done with the star, with all of it, after wasting most of his life on that thing. It destroyed everything and everyone he cared about, when he was young, now its keeping him from his family, a constant threat that is stealing away his life, forcing him to deal with everyone’s wishes but his own (yes, he too has a wish orb, because he’s been closer to the star than anyone else and for longer…and different from the citizens he sees it daily, is constantly reminded of what he can’t have). He sacrificed everything to keep them all save and in return he constantly has to worry about people abusing the star, betraying him…even his own daughter. Magnifico doesn’t know what her true intentions were at this point and the spirit is whispering in his mind to keep him on track, also reasoning that destroying the star is the only way to make sure it can never cause harm again…and with all the resentments and trauma Magnifico has, he listens. It ends tonight.
 As he begins the spell, the star quivers and so do the wish orbs, causing the people they belong to (among them Asha herself) to experience pain. He does too, but fueled by the spirit he pushes through. Asha tries to reason with her father despite this, apologizing to him, reminding him how the star is a living being, but he’s dismissive, his voice even more alien to her and as she approaches he pushes her aside with magic, knocking her into one of the shelves. Her mum cries out, also trying to stop her husbands, but fares no better. He doesn’t even seem to care he’s hurting people, just coldly states that everything is better than have the whole kingdom burn down or worse countless others, should the star get loose ever again.
(You may have noticed the escalation of the “better x than y”-argumentation)
Amaya shouts to him that he’s hurting their daughter, which makes him hesitate just long enough to interrupt the spell. But it doesn’t last.
Meanwhile, a friend helps Asha back on her feet, but she notices one of the books she crashed into, the one containing the spell her father used to trap the star, which gives her an idea. At first she uses it to try to get the star into the crystal she still has, but Magnifico’s grip on it is too strong. So, desperate to save the people of Rosas, their wishes, the star, seeing her father so twisted that he’s hurting everyone he cares about, she heavy heartedly decides to trap him instead. She casts the spell, her mum hugs Magnifico, so he can’t raise his arms for a counter spell and a friend wrestles the staff from his hand.
Asha succeeds despite the pain she’s in and her father is now trapped in her crystal.
Asha tells the star that she will send it home now, not sure if it really understands, so gestures to the night sky to make her intentions clear. The star trusts her, thus doesn’t fight the spell as it did with Magnifico, and so, using her father’s staff, she sends it back to the heavens, reappearing in the night sky for all to see. This also causes the wish orbs to return to the people, as nothing is keeping them manifested any longer. Asha and Amaya also get to see Magnifico’s wish, before the orb merges with the crystal he’s trapped in…and it’s the exact same as Asha’s. The three of them together. Happy.
The people get their drive back, the kingdom turning into a much more vibrant place, in the weeks after, as people now strife to fulfill their dreams on their own. Asha keeps studying to help the people affected by the star’s magic and she vows to find a way to free her father from the corruptive spirit that has taken hold of him. Something she feels very much responsible for and due to the bargain the spirit won’t leave, since Magnifico wasn’t the one to deal with the star. Amaya is supporting her daughter, assuring her that this wasn’t all her fault, how all three of them allowed things to get to this point. Now it’s up to them to make their shared wish of a united family come true together.
It’s not an entirely happy ending, but sometimes actions have long lasting consequences. Sometimes it takes time to fix everything, you have to keep working on it and not give up. 
This would also keep the door open to a sequel, in which a now older Asha (pretty much movie Asha in age) could go travel, searching for a way to save her father and set him free.
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captain-mj · 1 year
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Can we get a part 2 for that Ghost and Soap muzzle fic I think I started drooling
Of course! Previous part though its not necessary to understand this one
Despite taking the original muzzle with them, Ghost refused. At first, Soap thought he had backed out and he understood. Even if Ghost promised, he'd never ever force him to do anything. Of course he was disappointed, but he let it go.
Ghost asked him to come to his room one night, which wasn't unusual, but he seemed a little nervous.
Soap walked into the room and froze.
Ghost had a new muzzle on. Different leather, black instead of brown, clearly higher quality and it fit better. The studs on them were silver and Ghost was undressed to his underwear. Black boxers that hung to his hips. Pale skin covered in pale pink scarring. He was laying on the bed but propped up on his elbows so they could still make eye contact, as if Ghost was not avoiding it.
"Making good on my promise." Ghost fluttered his pretty eyelashes. The muzzle had fabric that kept the bottom part of his face covered which was devastating before Soap realized that meant it would be used multiple times. "I... just couldn't stomach the old one."
"Simon, if you're uncomfortable," Soap started but Ghost cut him off.
"No, I... I kinda..." He didn't look at him but Soap got it. Maybe other times, he'd tease him for it. Hell, Ghost would definitely tease him for it. But right now, Ghost was undressed, vulnerable and looking very pretty. His hair had grown out recently, but it clearly looked freshly bleached. Soft, almost platinum hair curling around his ears.
Soap moved closer and gently pushed him down into the bed. Ghost looked up at him, skin turning pink.
"You know my boundaries. I trust you." He put his hands above his head like before.
Soap hummed and reached down and off the bed. He found the ropes Ghost usually used to tie him up and grabbed the silk one. "Just your wrists, okay? I love testing your self control, but I'm planning on making you lose it."
Ghost shifted higher up the bed and put his hands next to one of the posts. Soap pretended that was his original idea and quickly Ghost's wrists to it, double looping it a few times to make absolutely sure he couldn't just snap it. The knots were sturdy, but not complicated. Enough Ghost couldn't brute force it but could easily untie.
Ghost stayed silent until Soap pulled his attention back to him. The tiny shuddering breath that came out of him was addicting.
Soap leaned down and kissed his neck, grabbing the muzzle and forcing his head back. Soft, open mouth kisses before he bit down. "Always bruise me up yet you never let me. Rather unfair of you, Lt."
"Johnny..." Ghost sounded entirely to... together. Soap sucked hickeys on to him before moving down, biting at his pecs and feeling him tense. His mortuary scars were sensitive, usually Soap wouldn't touch them at all, not because Ghost would mind, just because he had better places to put his hands. But he had so much time.
He slowly ran his tongue along them and Ghost whimpered. It made Soap's head spin. Still gentle, they were scar tissue after all, he sucked a few hickeys along the large scar on his ribs. Ghost trembled, body arching just a little before he quickly relaxed and went still again.
"Simon."
Soap felt the shuddering breath underneath him, even though he didn't hear it.
"Yes?"
"You're gorgeous."
"Johnny..." Much better. He sounded breathy, bordering on whining.
Soap continued. Not just on Ghost's scars. Any sensitive place he could find really.
Once Ghost's chest felt adequately ravaged, Soap moved down to his thighs. Ghost clamped his legs together as if to keep him from touching him, but as soon as Soap put his hands on him, he spread them again. He ran his nails along his inner thighs, reveling in the soft sound that got from him.
Soap slowly pulled off his boxers, noting how damp they were. Good to know Ghost really was enjoying this. He leaned down and gently kissed the tip of his cock, feeling him jerk just a little. Soap trailed kisses down his cock and darted his tongue out to trace a few of the veins he could see.
Ghost groaned and relaxed, in much more familiar territory. His hips stayed pressed to the bed but there was a strain in them now, a desperate need to stay down. Soap rewarded him by taking all of him and holding him in the back of his throat, sucking softly.
He pulled off with a wet pop. "Simon, shift up on the pillows a little." It was a bit difficult for him but like always, Ghost managed. Soap could now see his face and more importantly, his eyes. Pupils blown and they kept shifting around. Focusing anywhere besides Soap.
"Look at me." Ghost slid his gaze to him, making eye contact. Soap dragged his tongue up his cock, careful to keep it. Well, until Ghost's head tilted back and he came. Soap trailed up and down using his fingers. "Huh. You must've been pent up. Or are you just that sensitive?"
Ghost turned bright red. "My uh... My thighs have always been a bit of a... sensitive area."
"And you never thought to tell me? How mean." Soap grinned ferally. He could see Ghost trying to squirm, either from embarrassment or because Soap was still touching his cock. He leaned down and sucked dark hickeys into his inner thighs, scratching down until he felt Ghost start to pant again. Worked like a charm, he was soon back to being hard and flushed.
"This is why I didn't tell you." Ghost panted out but Soap paid him no mind. He grabbed lube and glanced at Ghost. After a second, he timidly shook his head and Soap nodded. He straddled Ghost and slicked his fingers to start working himself open. Unlike before, he took his time, hand splayed on Ghost's chest. They kept staring at each other and he could see the tendons in Ghost's neck from how hard he was clenching his jaw. Every muscle in his arm tensing and for a brief moment, Soap thought he might just snap the post. But it held firm.
Soap pulled his fingers out, wiping the lube on Ghost's chest who immediately huffed at him. He slid down on him, groaning at the delicious stretch.
"Wish I could kiss you right now."
"You could take it off?" Ghost grumbled.
"Nah. I like this too much. You, unable to do anything other than take. Finally letting me take care of you, ya bastard." He took his time. Careful to keep control. It took a longer amount of time than he was expecting, betting on overstimulation and desperation to get to Ghost, but Ghost did start to crack. His hips jerked up and he let out more of those adorable whimpers. At one point, he even yanked the ropes as if they'd snap.
Soap slid his hand up and then around his throat, watching Ghost's eyes widen as he stared at him. He didn't apply pressure at first. But then Ghost bared his throat to him and gave the smallest nod and Soap put both his hands there, squeezing just enough for Ghost to feel the pressure. Ghost swallowed and Soap could feel his throat bobbing under his hands.
Ghost growled and tried to press into him more. Into his hands, into his body, into him. Chasing what Soap was dangling in front of him. He taunted him a little more, lifting up slightly so he couldn't do much. Soap laughed at the snarl that got out of him.
"Feral huh?" He leaned down and kissed Ghost's temple. Ghost stared at him helplessly. Both so angry and so desperate and so wanting.
Soap couldn't help himself. He started to ride him hard and fast, squeezing his throat every time he felt him bottom out. Ghost's eyes glazed over and all the tension relaxed but he never quite took his gaze off Soap.
Soap finished first, all over Ghost's pretty chest. He made a gorgeous picture. Pale skin covered in red and purple bruises and teeth marks now marred with white. He'd need to draw this later. Maybe now. Ghost would probably let him. He completely ignored that his own thoughts were getting fuzzy and that he was struggling to keep a rhythm, focusing only on how gorgeous his lover looked.
Ghost came silently, the only real indication being the feeling of it inside Soap. He looked at him lazily and Soap quickly cut the rope. He slid the muzzle off, noticing it didn't leave marks like the last one. He rubbed at his skin anyway. Ghost made something akin to a purring noise.
"Absolutely perfect."
"Johnny." Ghost said sweetly.
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