#i will be huffing those vibes for weeks | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

pedantic-poison · 6 months

Text

Rulebreaker | CS55

pairing: fem brat!reader x brat tamer!carlos sainz jr

genre: smut, 18+ MINORS DNI, language, dom!carlos x brat!reader, spanking (mostly with hands, briefly with a belt), sir kink, degradation, a wee bit of praise, names used for reader (princesa, cariño, slut, good girl), fingering, unprotected p in v (use protection irl!!!), mention of safeword but no use of it, aftercare

requested: sort of based on an ask I got for another driver that I couldn't make it work for

word count: 5.3k

author's note: i hope y'all like this one! i've been working on this for ages now and it got really really long so as always feedback of any kind is much appreciated!

You knew you weren't supposed to.

You knew you really weren't supposed to.

But it had been weeks without seeing Carlos and at this point you felt like you were losing your mind, so you muster the strength to drag yourself upstairs to your bedroom.

Really it was Carlos' bedroom, since you were housesitting for him while he was gone. You weren't sure if that was making it better or worse - constantly being surrounded by his things, sleeping in his sheets, wearing his shirts because they smelled like him.

At least for right now, those last two were about to be very helpful, as you dropped yourself onto the still messy sheets you'd been sleeping in, inhaling the scent of him as you grabbed your vibe from your bedside table where you'd stashed it. You knew you weren't supposed to touch yourself, so you really didn't even know why you'd brought it in the first place, but you just needed some kind of relief - even without Carlos here to give it to you.

The fluffy pillows and sheets seemed to envelop you as you sank further in them, sighing with contentment as you started to trail your hands along your inner thighs, briefly teasing yourself through your panties before quickly discarding them, leaving you clothed only in an old t-shirt of Carlos'. His name left your lips in a breath as the vibrator made contact with your clit, tracing light circles around the bud before slowly applying more and more pressure.

You felt yourself getting wetter as you went, the shirt so oversized that it rested below your butt, meaning that when a drop of your arousal trailed down from your cunt, it landed on Carlos' shirt. It was so filthy that a moan tore out of you, harsh and unexpected, at the thought of your arousal mixing with the smell of him on the shirt, digging your face deeper into the pillow next to your head to inhale him as much as you could. Your back had started to bow off the bed, legs twitching around your hand as you fought to keep them open. Forcing your other hand to leave its spot latched onto the sheets at your side, you slowly sank a finger into yourself, just barely brushing that spot as you -

Heard your ringtone go off.

Huffing in frustration, you instinctively went to turn your phone off when you stopped to actually read the name on the screen. You dropped everything else you'd been doing, picking up the phone before it finished the third ring.

"Carlos!"

His chuckle came through the speaker first, deeper than usual, and a little bit scratchy, telling you that wherever he was (you'd lost track at this point), he'd just woken up. "Hi, cariño, how're you doing?"

"I'm fine, I miss you though," you inhaled deeper than you normally would've, the effort to catch your breath reminding you of what you'd just been doing, and just how much you were not supposed to be doing it. "A lot," you added belatedly, swallowing hard to try not to show your actions in your voice.

"I know, I miss you too. Are you taking care of yourself while I'm gone? Your voice sounds a little hoarse." He was only being sweet, but your mouth went dry at the question, mind racing to try and come up with a convincing enough excuse that- "Cariño? Are you still there?"

Shit. "Oh, um - yes! Sorry, I think the call cut out or something," you mumbled, hoping if you said it quickly enough he wouldn't think too hard about what you'd said. "But yeah, I think I might have a little cold. Nothing too bad, but my throat's been a little," you cleared your throat with a small (and hopefully convincing) cough, "sore for most of the day."

"Oh, well I'm sorry to hear that, princesa," Carlos cooed sympathetically, but there was a slight edge to his voice that you found a little odd, almost mocking. "You know how I hate it when you lie to me." Confused at how he'd found you out, you freeze, your lack of a response prompting him to explain, "I can hear your vibrator buzzing through the phone. Not that I needed that to tell what you've been doing, but that makes it pretty obvious, no?"

Your eyes went wide, darting to the vibe where it sat, abandoned and still buzzing away, where you'd thrown it down on the sheets. Shutting it off quickly, you shoved it away under the sheets, like that would make any sort of difference when he'd already heard it and knew what it was.

"Carlos, I-"

"Honestly, cariño, did you really think I wouldn't notice?" His voice had gone hard, still gruff and deep from having slept, and that ache in your core that you'd temporarily forgotten about returned tenfold at the sound of it. "Did you forget how much time I've spent memorizing all the little noises you make? The way your breathing changes when you're close? The way you either talk too slow or too fast because you can't think straight? The scratch in your voice when you've had your mouth hanging open while you moan?"

You could only clench your thighs in response, inhaling shakily at his filthy words. The idea of him being so occupied with thoughts of you and the ways you sounded when he touched you these past few weeks made you flush with heat, feeling it spread down your neck and chest, under the fabric of his shirt.

"You only had to wait a few more days, and you couldn't even manage that, could you? So disobedient, princesa," his breathing had deepened, and you realized with a start that your hand had returned to the apex of your thighs, trailing along the hem of the shirt laying atop your bare legs where they were tucked under you.

"I - I'm sorry," you finally breathed out. "I couldn't help it. You've just been gone for so long, and your rules are so unfair." Your voice took on a whine as you spoke, flopping down onto your back dramatically as you sighed. You'd been caught, so there was no real point in trying to behave anymore.

Carlos chuckled again, this time much darker than the last, "I know you think they're unfair, princesa. I can tell from how much you complain about them, and from how often you break them," voice tightening, like he was restraining himself. The sound of it sent your hand beneath the fabric of his t-shirt, creeping back towards your still exposed, still weeping cunt.

"Then maybe those rules should change," your fingers, still damp with your arousal, grazed your clit. "Since they don't seem to be working too well," the words rushed out of just a little too fast as you began to circle the bud again.

"Watch it, cariño. There's a reason you're not in charge," he warned, the exercise of authority making you whimper. "Now, be a good girl and get those fingers out of your tight little pussy."

You took a breath.

"Or what?"

Carlos' end of the call fell silent for a moment longer than you expected.

"You are playing with fire here, princesa."

The phone line clicked, and the call ended.

You tossed your phone to the end of the bed, frustrated in every way imaginable. If he was going to be such an asshole, the least he could do was let you get off to the sound of his voice while he was gone. Now, you were even more desperate than before, and in a few days' time when he returned, you knew he'd punish you.

A devilish thought occurred to you. If you were already in trouble, you might as well enjoy it then, right? Get as much out of the time before he came home as you possibly could.

You fell asleep right there later that night, satisfied (for now) and surrounded by the smell of Carlos and you mingling on his sheets. When the sun woke you, you'd slept so hard that for a brief moment the emptiness of the bed surprised you, before remembering that you still had four more days to go. And just like that, the frustration returned.

Completely undaunted by the disobedience now, you reached right down between your thighs, touching yourself to the thoughts of Carlos that had swum through your mind last night. You were so desperate.

So absorbed by the feeling of it.

So blind to anything but chasing that pleasure.

You didn't even hear the front door unlock.

Or the drop of a bag inside the doorway.

The sound of shoes walking through the living room.

Padding up the stairs.

Stopping in the threshold of the room.

Of his room.

"Dios, you are such a fucking brat."

The sound ripped you away from your fantasies, gasping as you sat straight up and nearly screaming out of shock. Carlos stood at the foot of your bed - his bed - watching you, dark eyes contrasting with the stark white shirt he wore, the first few buttons undone, and the sleeves rolled up his forearms. His hair was mussed (though probably not as badly as yours), like he'd barely slept on the plane, and his hands, hidden by the pockets of his dress pants, were undoubtedly clenched, judging by the bulging veins in his forearms. He looked furious.

He was furious. Had been ever since that phone call with you, after hearing your voice, breathy and full of attitude. He kept being furious during the pointless meetings he had to sit through for hours about god knows what, during the entire plane ride where his head swam with thoughts of you and what he would do to you when he got his hands on you, and during his drive back to his house where his knuckles went white from his grip on the wheel. And now, looking at you, sprawled in his bed, clad only in one of his shirts, moaning his name, he couldn't hold back the intense, primal feelings of possession that flooded him. With your face hot and breaths coming fast, eyes hazy with sleep and lust, and legs spread wide in front of him, leaving your pussy on display, glistening like you were welcoming him home, he knew he would've ruined you anyways, even without your constant disobedience. You couldn't follow his rules because you needed him that badly. Needed to feel his presence even when he wasn't there. He certainly had no issue with reminding you just how much he owned you.

"Carlos... you're... home early," you mumbled, out of breath from the shock of his arrival and the buildup of pleasure it ruined.

"Is that all you have to say for yourself?" He prowled closer to the end of the bed, and you subconsciously drew yourself closer to the headboard. You swallowed hard, clamping your jaw shut and refusing to give him any sort of answer. That would only make it worse for you. But you'd long since given up on staying out of trouble with Carlos.

That certainly wasn't new information to Carlos, either, but it still grated against him when you remained silent, the stubborn set of your brows as you tried your damnedest to stare him down only stoking his need to put you in your place. Glancing down to your still spread legs, Carlos allowed his eyes to trail hungrily over you once more, before reaching forward and grasping your ankle, tugging harshly. The force of it surprised a yelp out of you, bringing a grin to Carlos' face as he situated you at the end of the bed, legs spread to make room for him between them as he stood over you.

"Oh, princesa... you do know you're in trouble, no?" Fingertips grazed over your cheek, trailing down the column of your neck. When you remained silent, the light touch of fingertips became his full palm, hand wrapping around your throat, slowly applying the tiniest bit of pressure. "It's cute, this little act of defiance you put on. Makes me want to fuck the fight right out of you." The grip tightens briefly, before disappearing altogether.

Then your face presses into the bedsheets, Carlos flipping you onto your front. He does it so easily, manhandling you with such minimal effort that it sends a thrum of heat through you. Strong, large hands roughly grope your ass cheeks, spreading them apart so he can see your cunt clearly.

"Such a needy little slut," he tsks, laughing wryly as your pussy clenches from the cold of the air and the pure filth of his words. And then, the heat of his hands and body are gone. You whine, knowing that with the mood he was in, he would make you wait and wait and wait before he followed through on his promise and actually fucked the defiance out of you (or at least tried to).

Turning your head to the side, you watch as Carlos settles himself on the side of the bed, cock already visibly hard through his trousers. "Get up," he tells, not asks, you, voice stern. The doting, adoring Carlos that you loved had taken a backseat to this almost predatory side of him, and you had to admit you loved it just as much. Opting to listen (for once) you stand up from the bed. "Good girl," he hums, pleased, "now strip for me." It's an easy enough task, shedding his shirt and letting it drop carelessly to the floor. His eyes don't leave your body for a moment, raking over your naked figure as if he'd never seen you before. Wordlessly, he patted his thigh, beckoning you to him, and you went willingly. You knew what he was telling you to do, but you still optimistically went to straddle him, earning you a swift smack to the thigh you had raised up onto the bed. "You know exactly what you're supposed to do right now, cariño. Don't make me tell you."

The contact had ratcheted up your awareness, feeling his every breath as you laid yourself across Carlos' lap, ass in the air and hands already gripping onto the bedsheets in front of you, knowing what was coming. "There, was that really so hard? Always wanting to cause trouble," he mused, hands caressing your ass again. "Always so big and brave in the beginning," his left hand traveled up your spine, tracing its path to the base of your neck. "But by the time I'm done with you, when I have you begging and shaking and crying for me, you always remember who's in charge."

The hand at the base of your neck grasped the hair there, yanking your head up and back so he could whisper into your ear. "You remember your safeword, mi amor?" he asked, checking in on you before actually starting anything.

"Yes, sir" you managed, speaking for the first time since you'd first seen him at the foot of the bed. He nodded, placing a kiss to your temple before shoving your head back down into the sheets.

Returning his left hand to the small of your back, while his right groped your ass, Carlos' voice resumed its darker timbre. "I spent a lot of time thinking about what kind of punishment you deserve for your little stunt over the phone." The thought of Carlos stewing in anger and lust for hours and hours making you shiver. "But that was before I came home to find you, knuckles deep in this needy little hole," he lets his fingers brush just barely against your entrance before retreating. "Same rules as usual, princesa: you count out loud for me, and if you miss one, we start over. You tell me when you're close, and if you come without my permission, we start over. Understood?"

Your nod earned you a sharp pinch on your cheek from where his hand had been tracing circles. "Yes, sir," you breathed out quickly, knowing by now what he was looking for.

"Good." With one final, gentle swipe of his hand, you feel his right hand leave your body, tensing in its absence. You feel its impact land, firmly, but not too harshly - yet.

"One," you breathe out, head tilted to the side to ensure he hears you clearly. He lands another spank. "Two." Harsher this time. "Three." Despite bracing yourself, you still flinch with every smack, body jolting as the sound echoes in the otherwise silent room. "Four." Your voice has already grown weaker, breathier. Heat rises where the blood has rushed to your stinging skin, already sensitive. "Five," he lands the next slap as you're inhaling to brace yourself, speeding up suddenly. "S-six, ah." Without meaning to, you squirm in his lap, earning you another quick slap that shocks a gasp out of you.

"Stop moving, princesa, or I will tie you down and make you take everything I give you," he grits out. "Got it?"

"Y-yes, sir."

"And what number was that?"

For a brief moment, your mind scrambles, distracted and overwhelmed. "S-seven?" It comes out as more of a question than an answer, and you cringe at the uncertainty of your own voice.

"You sure?" his hand stills on your ass, making your panic grow. But you can hear the lilt of his voice, can tell that he's trying to throw you off.

"Yes, sir," you answer, more confident this time.

"Good girl," he praises, but it's short lived, as another smack lands.

"Eight." The spanks are harder than they initially were, building in intensity, your skin aflame from his rough touch. "Nine." You're doing your best not to wriggle, hands clenched in the sheets like you're fighting yourself to stay put, but that doesn't stop the shakes wracking through your body. "Ten." Relief floods your body, knowing that, on a normal day, this is where Carlos stops. At this point he's gotten you drenched, arousal slicking your thighs, and part of you wonders if you've left a damp spot on his trousers. That little relief goes out the window when you feel his hand against you again, landing two harsh spanks in quick succession. "Eleven," you heave, "twelve."

The sound of Carlos' belt clinking as he removes it makes you freeze. "Carlos?" you question, voice small and unsure.

"I told you, cariño, the punishment I had planned for you at first was before I found you touching yourself, again." His left hand wraps around the front of your throat, bringing your torso up so he can speak directly into your ear once again. "The punishment needs to fit the crime, and you've been very, very bad," he coos, grazing your ass ever so slightly with the belt in his right hand. You shiver. "I'm gonna give you two with this, and then we're done with the spanking, alright, cariño?"

After a moment, you nod, and the slight tick of a pressure increase on your throat reminds you to speak your answer. "O-okay."

The leather of his belt drags against your inflamed flesh, before he pulls his hand back. He allows your head to return to the bed, resting it back against the sheets, and you hear him wrapping the belt around his right hand.

When the belt cracks against your ass, you cry out, body lurching forward, nearly leaping out of Carlos' lap before he grabs you by the hip, holding you in place. "Thirteen," you whimper out, voice breaking. Carlos' free hand rubs soothing circles against your hip, calming you down from the jolt of the impact. "Fuck, fourteen." Your breathing has gone ragged, chest heaving in an uneven, staccato pattern. You feel Carlos throwing your body around again, tossing you onto your back on the bed as you try to catch your breath.

He stands over you again, a predatory glint in his eyes, not giving you time to recover before sliding a finger straight inside of you. It punches the air out of you, your moan silent without air in your lungs to put any sound into it. Carlos chooses a rapid pace, aided by how wet you've become, and the squelch of him pressing a second digit into you is the most obscene sound you've ever heard.

"God, you look so fucking good like this, princesa. Shaking around my fingers," he curls them, hard, to make his point, grinning at the way your body reacts to the touch. "Such a desperate little slut, aren't you? My desperate little slut."

The sting of his palm landing on your inner thigh forces your eyes open. "Yes, sir - oh, fuck- only for you," you squeak out. You realize with a start that there are tears forming in your eyes, most likely from your punishment, though the way your building pleasure mixes with the pain only intensifies the feeling. The tension in your belly goes taught as Carlos' thumb begins drawing circles on your clit, arching into his touch. Everything you're feeling is so overwhelming, you almost forget yourself. "C-close, sir, I'm - ah - close."

"Yeah? You wanna come, cariño?" His eyes glint at the sound of your pleas, incoherent as they may be. "Too bad," he growls, pulling his fingers out of you as you whine at the loss of contact, earning you another light smack to your inner thigh. "Don't be greedy, amor."

"I - I'm sorry, sir," you sob out, chest heaving for breath.

Rough hands grip you by the waist and harshly yank you to the edge of the bed, flipping you onto your stomach and letting your legs hang off the bed, toes just barely skimming the ground. Carlos traces patterns on the red, raw skin of your ass, and you flinch away from the feeling without meaning to. In response, Carlos digs his hand into the hair at the base of your neck, tugging you up to speak directly into your ear.

"I'm going to fuck you now, cariño, and you're going to take everything I give you, or you don't get to come, got it?"

"Y-yes, sir."

"You going to take it like a good girl, princesa?"

"Yes, sir, yes, whatever you want, I'll be good," you fought to keep the needy edge out of your voice, not wanting to sound too demanding of him.

"Good girl," Carlos left a series of searing kisses down your neck, trailing onto your shoulder and down your back as he let you fall back down onto the bed. He hadn't even fucked you yet and you had already gone completely limp, unable to hold up your own body weight.

A large, warm hand splays across your lower back as his lips reach it, touch gentle but firm as he holds you to the bed, standing to his full height again as he yanks his trousers and boxers down just enough to pull himself out.

"Look so beautiful like this, princesa, such a pretty little slut for me," Carlos rasps out, voice low and gravelly, and you can tell just from the sound of it that he's stroking himself. Trying to make you squirm, testing to see if you'll whine at the lack of attention, or do that thing where you wiggle your ass at him to try to get him inside you. But at least for the time being, you're done misbehaving. You need him too badly to risk it being taken away again.

"Just for you, sir. Only you," you whisper, just loud enough for him to hear so he doesn't think you're demanding anything, throwing a glance over your shoulder that you hope strikes the right balance between obedience and seduction.

Based on the way his eyes darken and the hand spread on your back presses done just the tiniest bit more firmly, you're pretty sure you succeeded.

You know you did when he starts to slide into you, eyes staying on yours as both of his hands land on your waist. The feeling of him pushing into you, on top of the thought of just how much of you his hands manage to cover, has your head dropping back down onto the bed with a moan.

Carlos' mouth tilts up in a grin at how quickly you fold, how immediately you become pliant once his dick is in you. Hell, he hasn't even bottomed out yet, and you're already squirming and whining and clawing at the sheets. "Taking me so well, princesa," he coos, just as he snaps his hips flush with yours, filling you up the last few inches suddenly. The combination of him completely filling you, and the praise makes your head spin, and he knows it. It's why he knows to hold back the praise, to mix it in with the degradation, because that makes it all the more potent when he finally gives it. When you finally earn it. Plus, you get off on disobeying him too much for him to not make you work for it - otherwise, you'd have turned into a little monster by now. The thought makes him grin further to himself, thinking that at least you're his little monster.

He knows your body too well. Carlos can tell from the way you're squirming that you're beyond desperate for him to move, but that you're trying even more desperately to be good for him, to hold still, to take what he gives you and not demand anything more. Kisses trail down your back and shoulders, and even though you can feel the smile on his lips, you don't have the mental strength to process what it means right now. Carlos likes it when you have to try like this, likes that he can do this to you, can make you this needy for him, and that despite all of that, your need to please him, to be good for him, overrides your own desire for pleasure. For all of your talk and pretended disobedience, the moment he's in you, you submit to him completely. When he thinks about it too hard, it makes his cock throb inside you.

The sound of your whimpers draws Carlos back out of his thoughts, the noises escaping despite your best efforts. "Being a good little slut now that you're full of my cock, huh? Fuck, princesa, I love those pathetic little noises you make." He bends over you again to speak directly into your ear, and you whine at the way it makes him shift inside you. "I want you to let me hear every single one, cariño. Don't hold back on me, no?"

"I w-won't, sir. I won't, promise," you babble. At this point, you were willing to say damn near anything as long as it meant he would start moving.

"Good girl," he purrs, staying bent over you as he slowly pulls out until just the head of his cock remains inside you. Again, he pauses there for a moment, relishing the way you whimpered as he moved. Then, after he's had his fill of making you squirm in need, he thrusts back in, hard. It knocks the breath out of you, forcing a sharp cry from your mouth at the sudden and harsh way he fills you back up. He continues the pace like that, pulling out slow and thrusting back in with as much force as he can, hips slapping your already raw and sensitive ass when they meet yours.

You keep your promise to Carlos, letting every little sound he elicits from you out unabashedly, your small ah-ah's turning almost into shouts each time his hips are flush with yours. His hot breath on your neck and his broad, firm chest pressed to your back make it impossible to think about anything other than Carlos, Carlos, Carlos. The way his body cages yours in while he manhandles you, pulling your hips to where he wants them, has your moans ripping out of your chest with even more force. As Carlos starts to snap his hips faster, not pulling out all the way in favor of increasing his pace, each thrust punches noises out of you, becoming increasingly embarrassing the more worked up he gets you.

"Fuuuck, that's it, cariño, let me hear you, let me hear how good I make you feel," he encourages, one hand snaking into the hair at the base of your skull to force your face out from its hiding place in the bedsheets. "Wanna hear how much you like it when I fuck you like this. You like this, princesa? You like taking my cock like a good little slut?"

You can only whine desperately, nodding as best you can with Carlos' grip on your hair tightening. "Yeah? Say it, then, princesa. Tell me how much you love taking my cock."

It takes you a moment to process his words, mind feeling hazy from the lust and from returning to the brink of your orgasm, and the delay has Carlos fucking into you just the slightest bit harsher. "Fuck! I - I like it! I love t-taking your cock, sir, love b-being your s-slut, please," you gasp out the last word, the air forced from your lungs by the combination of the force of his thrusts and his other hand landing on your clit.

"Please what? Use your words, princesa." At first, the only response he gets is your high-pitched squeal as his fingers press harsh circles into your clit. "Come on, cariño, you can do it, use your words and tell me what my little slut wants."

"P-please, sir, please let me come, please sir, please," you babble, words becoming incoherent shortly after, devolving into whimpers and keens that resemble words like please and sir over and over again.

"Aw, look at you, cariño, using your words and asking so sweetly," he coos, causing your face to flush with heat even further at the mixture of praising and teasing words. "Alright, princesa, you can come. Come all over my cock for me, yeah? Come all over me so I can fill you up, wanna feel you clenching around me when I come in you," Carlos begins to ramble. Getting closer and closer, he tips over the edge as you come around him, walls squeezing tight around his pulsating cock as it throbs in you, marking you from the inside out.

Carlos doesn't pull out right away, basking in the feel of you wrapped around him, head resting between your shoulder blades as he gropes your ass. Occasionally, he squeezes particularly hard, and you whimper from the sensitivity, drawing a deep chuckle out of him that reverberates against the bare skin of your back. Carlos begins leaving kisses down the line of your spine, slowly drawing out of you.

Your body sags even further into the bed, completely spent, and you jolt away from him when you feel two large fingers at your entrance. With his other hand, Carlos grips your hip, holding you in place, as he watches his cum drip out of you, slowly pushing it back in with his fingers. "Can't let this go to waste, cariño. Got to make sure you remember who's in charge, no?"

You nod weakly, no energy or desire left to fight him (for now). Once Carlos is satisfied with his reminder to you, he rises, gently pulling you off of the bed and into his arms. He scoops you up easily, cradling you as he walks to the bathroom and gets the water running, kissing your head softly and murmuring praise as he sits on the edge of the tub, holding you to him tightly. Your body curls into the warmth of him, allowing yourself to be cared for since you're not even sure you could stand on your own right now. He says something about not falling sleep just yet, and then he's lifting you into the bath, smiling fondly at the pout you throw his way when he stops holding you. "Don't worry, cariño, I'm not going anywhere," Carlos hums, slipping in behind you and pulling you to his chest. "I'm staying right here."

1K notes · View notes

hopelesslyromanticshark · 1 month

Note

i don't know if you're taking requests (feel free to delete if you're not!!) but could you maybe do leo with a child of hypnos who learned morse code for him and yk, confesses like that??

⋆⭒˚.⋆ a sleepy sunday kinda love; leo valdez x daughter of hypnos! reader blurb

content: leo valdez x daughter of hypnos! reader warning: none, i don't think author's note: so so soft, i love this one so much. i also realized too little too late that you said child, instead of daughter. but i had kinda already written it in a female manner, which i feel so bad about!!! and i almost wrote this as hcs when you said blurb ugh this ask has taken so many turns lol AND I WAS SO EXCITED FOR THIS ONE BC I AM BUT A SLEEPY GIRL IN A NOT SLEEP WORLD also i should wait to post this one for sunday bc like the vibes, but i dont have that kinda patients

sunday mornings were set aside for lovers, that much you were certain. so many songs sang of it, so it must be true. 'a sunday kid of love' by etta james. 'sunday morning' by maroon 5. i mean, you get the point, right?

those were the few mornings you allowed yourself to actually sleep in before another long week, cuddled up on leo's chest. waking up slowly and softly felt like going to church; something scared that even the gods couldn't touch, some repetition that kept away the mundane and boring. something holy to believe in, to dive head first into.

"morning, sleepy head," leo mused, in that early morning voice that always left you buzzing. you didn't reply, just squeezing closer to his side as he pressed his kisses to your temple.

"whatcha want for breakfast?" he breathed out, his eyes resting closed but a soft smile on his lips as his fingers flirted with your sleep tank top and the waist band of your matching shorts. even though you were a daughter of hypnos, it never failed to amazing leo how many matching pajama set you had or how you always managed to look godlike in them. he's never seen someone make sweatpants work as well as you do.

"you already know what im gonna say," you muttered against leo's neck and he could feel as your lips twitched upwards into a tiny smile.

"pancakes coming right up, princess," leo hummed, though he didn't move an inch. he wasn't quite ready to leave the soft bed or, more importantly, you.

"i make the coffee and tea, you make the pancakes?" you offered, eyes drooping as you continued to lay against his chest. these positions in the kitchen were already set in place, but you always asked. and leo always hummed back, like he did today. still, no movement from either of you in the bed for a few more minutes.

"we gotta get up," you yawned out, forcing yourself to sit up and attempting to escape the bed but leo jolted forwards, wrapping his arms around you and dragging you back into the bed. not that you gave much of a fight.

"in a few. shush, sleeping boy here," joked leo, pressing a kiss to your shoulder before snuggling back into his pillows. you brought your fingers up to where leo's arms were, ghosting them over the skin there before smiling to yourself, determined to show leo your new trick.

.. / .-.. --- …- . / -.-- --- ..- / -… ..- - / .-- . / --. --- - - .- / --. . - / ..- .--.

(i love you, but weve gotta get up)

you could feel leo shift from behind you as you tapped this pattern, smiling to yourself as you could basically hear the cogs in his brain turning.

"we don't have to do anything, this is our house," leo huffed but you could hear the smile in his voice as he leaned over you, looking into your eyes with so much adoration in his own, "and when did you learn that, huh?"

you just smiled up at him, reaching your hand up to his cheek and beginning to tap your fingers there.

.. / -.. --- -. - / -.- .. … … / .- -. -.. / - . .-.. .-.. / …- .- .-.. -.. . --..

(i dont kiss and tell, valdez)

"whatever, keep your secrets," leo mused, rolling his eyes, before leaning down and capturing your lips in a soft and gentle kiss.

yeah, soft sunday mornings were your favorite. especially with a boy like leo valdez.

#postcards from covey ౨ৎ #return to sender ౨ৎ #hoo #heroes of olympus x reader #leo valdez #leo valdez x reader

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twisted-wonderland-shenanigans · 11 months

Note

Hey so I just found your account and omg?? it's literally so amazing 😭✋

Anyways-I was just looking through a bunch of the twist monster au headcannons/stories, and I thought of a scenario that could be done!

Basically the cast reacting to gender neutral or female reader/yuu acting stuff out in their book they are reading like poses, dialogue, just genuine reactions to the text itself

ex. Throwing the book across the room and them being genuinely concerned that something happened bc reader is just staring off into space or cursing but what actually happened was either a character died/did something embarrassing/the mc and love interest finally kiss

Anyways that's all I had in mind hope you have a good day/night! <3

Omg thank you! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the content! QvQ

Ah, books. Such a wonderful creation humans made to fill us with raw, pure emotion or shattering our hearts and souls into a million tiny pieces—only for us to read it again and again! Don’t you just love those moments as a reader? UvU

Except for cliffhangers. Readers have a love/hate relationship with it, writers adore cliffhangers! ÒvÓ

So, what happens if we take a bookreader!Yuu (they/them) and throw them into Twisted Monsterland where even the history books read like a world guide/omnibus to a game or TV series? Oh, and I took a bit of inspiration from a Disney princess comic and a Bill Watterson “Calvin and Hobbes” comic for two of these scenarios. 😂

/-----------/

“Jeez, you sure you’ve got enough books, Yuu?”

“The librarian wouldn’t let me check out more than ten at a time,” Yuu replied, their backpack and arms filled with thick books. “Wish I could’ve gotten ten more at least, but this’ll do for now.”

“Are you sure you can even read all those before next semester?” Deuce asked in concern. “Those look pretty…dense.”

“Oh, I’ll be done in a week. Maybe a week and a half if we get a lot of homework.”

“Funya?! You gotta be kidding me!” Grim said. “Can humans read that fast?”

“Not everyone. Some people are slow readers, but that’s okay since they enjoy it at their own pace while I enjoy it at mine. Only problem for me is choosing which one of these I want to read first!”

/Later that night/

“Yuu? It’s time to eat!” Grim called out. Silence greeted him as he stared at Yuu, who was sitting on the couch with their face practically buried in a book. Frowning, the chimera padded over to the couch and repeated, “Yuu! I’m hungry!”

Still the human didn’t seem to respond, their shoulders hunching as they turned the page.

“Yuu? Yuu!” Huffing, Grim crossed his arms as he glared up at them. “You’ve been reading for the past three hours! How much longer are you gonna read that book?”

“What’s going on, pal?” one of the ghosts asked as the trio appeared.

Gesturing his paws at Yuu, he said, “They’ve been reading ever since we got back from the library today, and now they’re not reactin’ to me. It’s dinner time and they haven’t made any food yet!”

Before anyone could even think of what to say, a loud, shrill squeal filled the dorm.

“Eeeeeee!!!” Yuu squealed, a huge grin on their face as they flopped to the side and kicked their legs like a nervous rabbit while holding the book against their chest. “Omg it happened, it happened!!”

“Mrah!? What?! What happened?!” Grim yelled, wings flared out defensively while his fur bristled. “Why are you yelling!”

“My new OTP!! They finally kissed!!” Yuu said, their eyes wide as they rocked from side to side. “They kissed!! Yes!! Yesyesyesyesyessssss!!!”

“OTP? What’s an OTP??” one of the other ghosts asked.

“It’s what we like to call the ‘one true pairing’ in a story,” Yuu explained, a positively giddy expression on their face with eyes shining brighter than the stars as they struck a dramatic pose. “It’s two characters who vibe with each other on a level that you just can’t help but want them to be together—and the author brought these two together!! Yeeeeeeeee, I’m so happy!!”

“And loud,” Grim grumbled, paws clamped over his ears. “Why are you standing like that?”

“It’s how the main character professed their love for the other!”

“…are all humans as weird as you?”

“Trust me, there are people out there that are way crazier in their excitement than I am right now.”

“Really?!”

“Oh yeah. Don’t even get me started on the fanfics people write.”

“Fan…fics?”

“Oh, you sweet summer child…”

/Two days later/

“Heeeey, lil’ Shrimpy~!”

“Mm…”

“Eh…? Hey, Shrimp…why are you ignorin’ us? It’s not very nice.”

“Now, now, Floyd. One mustn’t interrupt a reader when they’re indulging in such a riveting story.”

“Shh,” Yuu muttered, their brow furrowed as they hunched closer to the book. “I’m at the best part!”

Floyd frowned as he laid his head on his arms, the basilisk slumping against the table. “Man, this is lame,” he said. “You promised to come play basketball with me today!”

“Once I finish this part, we can go do whatever you want, okay, Floyd?”

Jade hummed in amusement as he said, “A rather daring proposition you just offered, Yuu.”

“We have to do a buncha reading for class anyway,” Floyd said with a bored expression. “And Crabby and Mackerel said you finished two other books already, so what’s the point of thi-”

“AAAAIIIIIEEEEE!!?!?” Yuu shrieked, leaping out of their chair as Jade and Floyd recoiled in shock. Before the twins could react, Yuu had ducked back into their chair and pressed the book even closer to their face than before.

“…lemmie see that,” Floyd said, leaning over the table to grab it.

“No, no! It’s fine, go do something else!” Yuu said all too quickly, sinking even lower and turning away from Floyd’s reaching claws. “I think I heard Riddle in the hallway.”

“Lemmie see it!”

“No! You can’t read it!” Yuu cried out, bolting away from the table holding the book tight to their chest.

“Get back here, Shrimpy!”

“Noooo!!”

“Oh my,” Jade uttered, eyes wide for a moment before he chuckled. “Perhaps I should look into this book when they’ve finished it.”

/The next day/

“Oh no…oooh noooooo, I hate this so much!”

“Then why are you reading it?” Jamil asked, the naga curled around them. “If you don’t like it, just take it back to the library.”

“I can’t! It’s soooooo good!” Yuu said, practically throwing themselves backwards onto Jamil’s snake half with the book pressed against their face.

“Eh? But wait, you just said you hated it,” Kalim said in confusion.

“I hate it, but I love it so much,” Yuu told them with a whine, their head now touching the floor on the other side of Jamil’s snake body yet still draped over him like a cat. “This book will ruin your heart and shatter your soul into a million pieces!...you should read it too!”

“Given how dramatic you’re being, it might not be wise,” Jamil said with a sigh.

“Read it!”

“It’s okay, Yuu. We can read together! It’ll be more fun that way!”

“Kalim, no. You still need to study for the next potions exam.”

“Augh, I need someone to talk about this story with so we can lament in solidarity!”

“…have you been taking lessons from Rook lately?”

/Three days later/

“Um…is Yuu okay? They’re looking a little…tense.”

It had been several days since Yuu borrowed a stack of books, and already they had gone through nearly half of their hoard. Between classes and on breaks or after finishing tests, it wasn’t hard for students to notice the lone human with their nose between the pages of one book after the other. Even the researchers had taken note of Yuu’s behavior in between tests, making note of their expressions and how their body changes with each scene depicting their emotions. It was noteworthy how they reacted when a character in the story did something “cringeworthy and stupid” (as Yuu would explain when asked), it looked as though the human had swallowed a lemon.

At the moment they were sitting in Heartslabyul, yet another book in their arms as they sat on one side of the lounge. Cater had taken progression snapshots of Yuu’s body slowly curling into itself, eyes steadily growing wider and wider to the point it looked as though they’d bolt away in panic.

“They’re fine,” Grim told Trey as he munched on a snack. “They’ve been like this since they got all those books. That’s the pose they had last time when their Ohteevee smooched or somethin’.”

“Oh, you mean ‘OTP’, Grimmy,” Cater corrected with a smile. “That’s so cute! Our human has an OTP already~!”

“I’ve heard of hitting the books, but this is ridiculous,” Ace commented with a sigh. “They’ve been reading so long that I forgot what half their face looks li-”

“GRAAAAH!!!!”

SLAM! Fwump!!

“Gyah!?” the boys yelped, everyone staring at Yuu as they sat on the couch with a dark scowl.

“Yo, what the heck? Why’d you throw the book like that?” Ace asked, pointing at the large tome on the other side of the couch now.

“Um…Yuu?” Deuce began when they didn’t respond. “Are…you okay?”

“……I’m mad,” came the response, Yuu’s expression growing more annoyed as they stared off into space.

“About what?” Riddle asked in surprise.

Yuu’s gaze turned to the discarded book, their expression as though they had been betrayed by a trusted friend as they said, “Because my favorite character died, and I refuse to read how the book ends when there’s literally two freaking pages left! That’s not enough space to bring them back in a satisfying way!!”

“Y…you’ve gotta be kidding me,” Ace grumbled with a sigh. “That big of a reaction just because a fictional character was killed off?”

“You weren’t there to see the struggles they went through! I saw them change from an annoying bully into a fully developed and vulnerable character who wanted to take charge of their life—and the author killed them off!” Jumping to their feet, Yuu marched towards Ace and Deuce’s room where they’d left their stuff and said, “Where’s my notebook? I need to fix this!”

“What are you gonna do?” Grim called out.

“Write a fanfic, because my scrunkly deserves to be happy!”

“Huh? Scrunkly??”

/Final day/

“Oh, Great Seven…what happened in your book this time?” Vil asked with a sigh.

Yuu sniffled as they tried to dry their tears, though it was difficult as more continued to flow down their cheeks. “I…I just finished my last book,” they said, their voice cracking a little with emotion as Grim pat their arm reassuringly.

“All ten books in a week?” Vil said in surprise. “That’s…impressive. Even so, why are you so upset? Was the story that horrible?”

“No…it…it…it was too good!” Yuu cried out, clutching the book so tight that their knuckles turned white as the tears flowed freely now.

“Ah…such pure, raw human emotion,” Rook crooned. “To express it so freely without fear…beaute!”

“Was the book really that good?” Epel asked.

“Yes!” Yuu wailed. “Now that it’s over, I…I don’t know what to do with myself now…”

Peering at the title, Vil gave a thoughtful hum and said, “Oh, that story. I hear there is supposed to be a spin-off book series. The first one should have released just the other day.”

“Really?!”

“Mrrr…now you’ve done it,” Grim grumbled with a sigh. “Here we go again.”

#twisted wonderland #twst #twisted wonderland monster au #twst monster au #ace trappola #deuce spade #trey clover #riddle rosehearts #cater diamond #jamil viper #kalim al asim #jade leech #floyd leech #vil schoenheit #rook hunt #epel felmier #i had a lot of fun with this once i figured out where to go with it!

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mrs-illyrian-baby · 4 months

Text

How Like A Winter Your Absence Has Been, What Freezings Have I Felt | Loki x Asgardian!Reader

Learning that Asgard has been destroyed you follow the Asgardians to Midgard, crash landing in a Norweigian forest. When Loki is sent to collect you old hurts are raised, new hurts are healed and an understanding is found.

Warnings: soppy snow based shinanigans, sort of friends to lovers with an enemies to lovers vibe, hurt/comfort, reader is hurt and needs stitches. Kissinngggg.

Loki calls reader 'Vennen' which is a term of endearment, between friends and lovers, but can be seen as patronising in the wrong tone or context.

Divider by @firefly-graphics

Masterlist | Loki Masterlist

The sullen silence filling the cabin of the car weighed heavy on Loki’s shoulders. It’d been years since you’d seen each other, before Ragnarok, before Odin had left Asgard. Years. And yet the familiar awkwardness of your presence still ate at him.

In the passenger seat you fidgeted. Frustrated that your return had ended like this, helpless in a Norwegian forest you’d never visited, returning to a home you’d never seen. News had travelled slowly across the galaxies, but as soon as you’d heard that Asgard had fallen you’d been trying to return. Your ship had fought you all the way, trying to set a course to a world that existed only as errant space dust and you’d floated there, fighting off the creatures that crawled among its ruins, until you’d received word of a new settlement, here on Midgard.

It hadn’t surprised you, both brothers had always been obsessed with the place and, driving through the night, flashes of snow carved out of the darkness by the moon, you could understand why. Norway was a beautiful land.

“So, you still can’t pilot your ship.” Loki’s voice cut through the silence and you huffed in response.

“I’m not the one who blew up a planet. It’s not built for landing in Midgard’s atmosphere, how was I to know it’d start burning up.” You looked out of the window, how dare he make jokes about Ragnarok, how dare he.

“I doubt the builders will be able to salvage it.”

“I don’t care, leave me alone.”

It was Loki’s turn to huff out a laugh, “you intend to walk back to New Asgard, vennen? Be our guest, I care not.”

He slowed down as the endless skies opened and a new flurry of snow swirled around the car.

If he could’ve chosen a way to spend a cold, snowy night before Solstice Loki would’ve chosen reading by the fire or drinking with Val and Thor. Maybe even an evening’s walk on the cliffs. He certainly would not have taken Thor’s Avenger’s issue Land Rover to trawl through miles of empty forest, but looking for you, that was a task that he had felt was his and his alone. So why was spending this much time alone together, in a confined space, when you hadn’t seen each other for eons, making his skin feel tight.

“Then why did you come?”

“Because despite Thor’s abdication I still owe a duty to my people, I would never leave an Asgardian stranded.” He kept his eyes on the road ahead, he knew if he turned you’d be looking at him with those beautiful eyes, studying him in that way that always made him nervous, and his eyes twinkled at the thought of you rattled. “Besides, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to tease you mercilessly while you have no escape.” He chuckled, but stopped abruptly when you made a noncommittal noise in return and turned back to your window, sliding a hand into your jacket. .

The car jostled again, wheels catching in the patchy road. You’d been able to land your ship well enough outside of New Asgard to not hurt anyone, somewhere in the vastness of the forest, but it had been a bumpy landing after a harrowing few weeks free falling through the devastation of your home. You were in no mood for teasing, even if you had missed that glint in Loki’s eye, the way his smile twitched at the corners of his mouth. It had been too long to dwell on that now, you were here to settle with the rest of your people and that was the extent of it. It was nothing to do with Loki at all.

Another noise escaped your lips as the road took a sharp turn and this time Loki noticed, turning his head slightly, you refused to think about the way the upturned collar of his coat emphasised the sharpness of his cheekbones. Why would you care about such a thing anyway?

“Are you injured, vennen?”

“No.”

“Are you certain, you made a noise?”

“Do you not think me capable of assessing my own bodily needs?” You snapped, digging your fingernails into your palms in an effort to stave off the groaning pain in your side.

“As you wish.” He sighed, holding a hand up as if in surrender and turning his eyes back to the road, now turning this way and that as it made its way back down the mountainside. At each turn the wheels of the car span in the mud and snow caked along the side of the road, and each time you stifled your pain.

The road evened out again and Loki put his foot down, slush and snow spraying up the sides of the 4 x 4 as he sped through the night.

“Careful, Loki, we’ll -” your warning was cut short, the back two wheels fishtailed, dragging the car across the road in a wide circle before coming to a stop. Loki hit the steering wheel with the palm of his hand.

“By the norns, this infernal fucking machine!” He griped.

“I told you to - “

“Yes, yes.” He lowered his forehead to the wheel and took a deep breath. “Let me inspect it.”

He opened the door, bracing against the gust of wind whipping up the open path the road made through the otherwise dense forest. The door closed with such finality that for a moment you were alone again, suspended in the debris of a former life and wishing for home. You couldn’t take the silence and, though your skin stretched painfully around your injuries, you opened your door too.

Loki ran his fingers through his hair, leaving the long dark waves spiked and tangled to be played with by the wind. There was a huge patch of ice in the middle of the road leading back up the mountain. He placed one hand on the back window to steady himself, his mind reeling, he could’ve hurt you. In his haste to get back to the village he could’ve hurt you.

The slamming of the door echoed through the trees and he looked up to see you shivering in the snow. You were dressed for space, not for Norway, fitted leather leggings and tunic hugging every familiar curve of your body, he only had to glance at you to remember the feel of you when you’d last sparred in Asgard, your waist corseted beneath his palms, the beat of your heart so close to his, your breath, ghosting over his lips before you’d pulled away abruptly and left him lying there in the dirt.

Your only sensible clothes were your boots, heavy and solid, and your jacket, padded and warm against the cold of your spaceship, but not the biting ice of a Norwegian winter.

Loki looked away, the car wasn’t buried in the snow or stuck in the mud, it would be fine with a shove. But when he looked up you had gone, your footprints leading to the edge of the forest.

He followed, concerned, despite your warrior training. Loki breathed a sigh of relief when he saw you brushing snow from the needles of a fir tree, pressing the flakes into a small ball. His mouth lifted at the corner, so it was going to be snowballs, he could play that game. Loki’s magic shimmered as he gathered snow into a perfectly formed sedir built snowball, but paused. Instead of turning and throwing it, as he expected, you lifted the ice to your face, wincing. His hand opened and the snowball fell to the permafrost with a dull thud.

“Loki,” you looked surprised, dropping your ice as well and wiping your face with the sleeve of your jacket.

“What happened to your face? Why are you icing it?”

“Nothing, it’s nothing. Can we leave? Is this thing broken? The carar?” You eyed it warily and it occurred to Loki that despite all your time travelling in space, you’d never actually been to Midgard. “It doesn’t appear to be very sturdy considering the conditions.”

“The car,” he smiled, “is fine. Your chariot awaits, my lady.” He opened the door and you allowed him to help you back into the passenger seat, if only to hide your other injuries.

Loki kicked the snow from the tires and used a gust of magic to blow the snow from the solid mud beneath before returning to the car.

“I have become accustomed to the ways of this planet over many years and I forget that for you, this is your first visit.” he said, quietly, as soon as the road evened out again,

Loki never took his eyes from the road, but you saw the subtle twitch in his jaw, knew the movement all too well, he couldn’t say sorry, but he would admit his faults in his own way and hope that you forgave him.

“Everything is new here.” You answered, quietly, an acceptance of his statement, no acknowledgement of his apology.

The next bend was more gentle and Loki took the angle slowly, but you still hissed, biting your lip to hide the pain.

“You have hurt yourself.”

“It’s nothing.”

“If it were nothing, you would be silent.” Loki raised an eyebrow, peering ahead into the dark night and spotting a gravelled area away from the road with a picnic bench, bin and parking space.

He’d spotted it on the way out too, there’d been a few cars parked there with their headlights on, a group of friends in huge coats and hats sharing a flask of something steaming hot and toasting each other. Now, in the darkness, there was none of the warmth of their gathering left, but at least there was a quiet.

Loki put his arm over the back of your seat, his palm flat on the wheel as he reversed the Land Rover into the middle space, and you pressed your knees together at the memory of his hands on the tiller of the flying faerings as you raced them between the pillars of the bridges on Asgard. He had the same easy grace, his fingers dancing on the metal as they did over the leather of the wheel. You squeezed harder, ignoring that same building of fire and need you’d experience then as well. This was nothing, there was nothing, between the two of you. He had been sent as a courtesy, you had arrived because you had nowhere else to go.

“Let me look.” He ordered, removing his seat belt and pushing his seat back so he could turn to face you properly.

“No, it’s under my shirt.” You protested, pressing your hand harder into your rib. “Besides, it’s probably just broken. I’ll bandage it when you take me to my lodgings.”

“Move your hand.” His voice had dropped slightly, more akin to the Princely demands you were used to him making, his eyes were dark, the sharp angle of his cheekbones picked out by the harsh interior light.

“You can’t order me about, Loki, you’re not in charge here.”

“I am still concerned, please, let me see.” Those dark eyes softened, and he reached his hand out to pull your jacket away from your body. Between your fingers the soft brown and bronze of your tunic had turned maroon, the bloom of blood soaking through like watercolour. “You’re bleeding.” His eyes roved from the poppy shaped stain emerging from beneath your fingers to your face. “You’re bleeding and you kept this from me.”

“It’s nothing, I’ll fix it later.”

“It’s not nothing, please let me help you.” He tugged on your sticky fingers, the residue of your blood staining his own long digits and for a moment you allowed his hand to hold your own and then -

“I don’t need your help,” you snatched it back.

“Please, let me -”

“No.”

“I can fix it for you, I can help.”

“I don’t need your help, Loki. I don’t - I don’t need it, I learned to live without you.” You stormed, tugging your coat back around you to hide the evidence of your injury. Even facing the window you could see his stunned face behind you, reflected in the darkness beyond.

“You learned to live without me?” Loki sighed, his shoulders sagging under the weight of your words. “Vennen -”

“Don’t call me that, don’t call me that when you know we are not friends, I am nothing to you and -”

Loki reached across the centre console of the car to touch your shoulder but you flinched, eyes staring out at the road again, unable to look at Loki or his reflection.

“How can you say that?” Loki withdrew again, brows furrowed, “how could you think you are nothing to me?”

“Where were you?” You rounded on him, “where were you that was so much more amusing than being with us, I thought you dead and gone, I thought you buried on some fearful planet far from Valhalla for all eternity, I thought I would never see you again in this life or the next and - and - and you have the audacity to collect me like some lost thing on this planet and expect me to fall in step beside you as always, well. No more. No more, Loki. I don’t need you. Take me to see the King and leave me there as you always do.” Tears spilled over your cheeks, dropping in heavy splashes on your hands as you bent to hide your angry sobbing. But the movement only caused further pain, blood spilling from under your tunic onto your lap.

In a moment Loki was by your side, the car door open and his arms wrapped around you, holding you close to his chest as he carried you to the back of the vehicle. He set you down gently, opening the door at the back and sitting you on the open ledge.

“I must tend to this wound now, before it gets worse. They don’t have the same technology here yet, our doctors -” he paused, swallowing down the guilt that he couldn’t have saved more of his people during Ragnarok and quashed the feeling for another day, “we are short on doctors, should something happen to the wound -” he trailed off, opening a small green box that had been hooked onto the door.

He warred with himself, fighting down the urge to defend all that he’d done, the pain it had caused him to leave his friends and family for so long.

“Fine.” You conceded and pulled your tunic up as high as you could, revealing the large gash in your side. Norns, it was worse than you’d thought, curving around your side, over a rib or two and down towards the top of your trousers.

Loki’s touch was gentle as he mopped up the blood, wringing the cloth clean with his magic until he could see each side of the cut clearly. Every touch made goosebumps erupt on your skin, the tingle of his magic mixing with the softness of his touch, the warmth of his fingers.

“What happened to you?”

“I told you, my ship is supposed to stay in space, it’s not supposed to enter the atmosphere.”

It had begun burning up on entry, flames licking up the sides of the small craft and you’d squeezed your eyes shut, bracing against the inevitable fall. You didn’t remember the landing, only waking up with your own blood on your hands, shards of metal surrounding you and feeling colder than you ever had before.

“We should have sent someone to meet you, I - I apologise.” Loki kept his eyes cast down, long fingers fiddling with a needle and thread.

“Yes, you should have.” You looked down at him, crouched by your legs in the snow, the ice no doubt biting through his leathers already and he looked up, eyes wide and wet with unhushed tears.

“I am, truly, sorry, for what I made you go through. Please, will you forgive me?” He set the now threaded needle down on its sterile tray and placed his hands on your thighs instead, his hands were cold now, but a wave of warm sedir washed over you, brushing away the shivers wracking your body.

“Maybe, Loki -”

“I know, I have a lot of apologising to do, I don’t deserve your forgiveness-”

But he was considering it, it was the first time you’d ever heard the words uttered from him, and it made your heart yearn for the safe harbour of his friendship again, even if you knew better than to believe the storms were over.

“It’s not that, it just, it still hurts, I want to forgive you, but it still hurts.”

A frozen tear held steady in the corner of his eye, but he nodded in understanding.

“Can you at least forgive me the pain this will cause,” he tipped his head towards the needle, “I can numb you as much as possible, but I have no doubt it will sting.” With a flourish he produced a cut glass with a healthy measure of whisky inside, “drink this first.”

You downed the burning amber in one gulp, allowing it to warm you deeply and nodded. Loki stood, that familiar glimmer of gold and green drying his wet legs and knees, removing the snow that clung to his coat.

“Lay back,” he removed his coat and folded it, placing it under your head as he helped you lean into the boot of the car. Prone and cold with your tunic shucked up to your armpits you felt ridiculous and exposed, but there was no teasing when Loki asked if you were happy for him to start.

The first stitch was the most painful, but his cold fingers made your skin numb as he worked quickly and steadily until the aching pain was at least unaccompanied by the hot seeping of your blood through your fingers.

Loki stood back, surveying his work in the cold white light from the tiny bulb in the car’s interior, and brushed his damp hair back from his face. “Does that feel better?”

“Yes, thank you.” Swiftly you pulled your tunic down, and shuffled to sit on the ledge of the boot again, feet hanging off the edge.

Loki left you like that, pacing away from the car and surveying the road ahead. The snowfall had increased since you stopped and the drifts were now encroaching further into the already narrow track. It would be a treacherous trip back down the rest of the mountain.

“I think we should camp here tonight.” He said, steadily, though his heart beat wildly beneath his sweater.

“Loki, it’s freezing cold, below freezing.”

“It’s one of my brother’s friends’ cars.” Loki said, flippantly, as if that explained anything at all instead of raising a hundred new questions.

You raised your eyebrows, waiting for him to elaborate.

“It has - things - inside. He spent some time with the Avengers? You must have heard of them, terribly annoying, but I must say their accessories are very helpful.” He stared at you waiting for you to understand.

“You and Thor and your little Midgardians,” you laughed, “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but let's see these accessories that will keep us warm in a car in the snow.”

Loki stretched out his hand, helping you get your feet back on the ground. You felt dizzy after your stitches and the no doubt centuries old whisky Loki had conjured for you, but he held your arm politely while he walked you over to a picnic bench.

“Settle here and all will be revealed.”

He allowed himself a smile and, unbidden, you smiled too. It was hard to remain angry when this was all you’d wanted for so long, this adventure into the unknown was exactly what you’d been missing.

Loki ruffled his hair again in thought before pushing the long, icy strands away from his face. He examined the car, then pushed the rear seats down flat. With a hum they fell forwards, creating a wide flat platform. He pulled at another lever and the carpeted floor flipped over, revealing a padded mattress beneath.

You laughed in shock, what funny contraptions these Midgardians had. Loki allowed his smile to linger, listening to the tinkle of your laugh in the quiet woodland, it echoed and returned to you both ten fold until you were both laughing. He pulled again and a second mattress appeared so that the entire back of the car was now a bed.

He shut the door to conserve the heat inside and used the step at the side of the car to reach into the roof box, pulling out a metal box.

“That’s quite the trick, Loki.” You conceded, still smiling at the simple joy of it. To hide a bed inside a vehicle, you couldn’t help another giggle.

“Well, it comes in very handy when I find myself stranded in the wilderness,” he winked, opening the tin box and extracting an odd metal item, cups, a small pan and what looked like powdered food.

“What’s that?” You wrinkled your nose as he flicked something on the side, pumping a few times and then allowing a spark of magic to dance across the circular top. Fire erupted from between the spokes of the circle and you jumped backwards in shock before bursting out into another uncontrollable laugh. “Loki! What is that?!”

“It’s a camping stove, I thought we could make hot chocolates.” He looked over shyly now, a peace offering.

“That doesn’t look like chocolate,” you picked up one of the brown packets, on the front was a picture of a steaming mug, but inside was definitely powder and not solid chocolate.

“It’s a sort of powdered drink, I need to get some water.”

“Not cream?”

“That would spoil the fun, would it not?” He grinned, pouring water into the pan from his canteen.

As he worked you wound your jacket tighter around yourself, wondering if your nose was frozen or if it was normal to not be able to feel it. After a few minutes he lifted the pan from the odd round fire and poured the contents into the enamel mugs, handing one to you.

Warily you sniffed it and then took a tentative sip, it was fine, you supposed, “it tastes nicer with cream.”

Loki’s smile turned indulgent and, in a swirl of green, a silver bowl appeared settled in the snow atop the picnic bench, laden with heavy, whipped cream. Delighted you spooned out a generous helping and stirred it into your drink. Sipping it slowly before turning your eyes back to Loki.

He looked resplendent in the moonlight, snow glittering over his night black clothes, the sweater only accentuating his broad shoulders and lean waist. You longed to wrap your arms around him and press yourself into his embrace, to feel as close as you once had. Everything felt different now, you had spent so much time apart that the idle games of your shared youth were just a distant memory.

“We should get back in the car.” He announced. Now that he’d accomplished all the practical tasks that he could think of to help you, he found himself lost for words. Your admission that he had left you, failed you, somehow was a deep and painful wound. He hadn’t intended to leave and never return, he had always meant to stay and yet some force always dragged him away. It had even dragged him here. Loki had been distraught when he realised you were not on the transport out of Asgard, only reassured by Valkyrie’s insistence that you were safe, travelling.

“I’m going to put my boots by the seats, so we don’t get snow in the beds.”

Loki didn’t look around as you made your way slowly back to the car, politely angling his head away so that he didn’t see you slide out of your wet clothes either.

“You can enter.” You called, now wrapped in the thick sleeping bag that lined the mattresses.

Loki opted for magic to create his own privacy, his black sweater and jeans vanishing in favour of black sweat pants and a long green t-shirt. You smiled again, so Midgardian, he looked nothing like the swaggering prince you knew, always bedecked in silk and sumptuous fabrics. He looked, normal.

“Do I have chocolate on my face?” He asked, climbing into his own sleeping bag.

“No, it’s nothing.” You sighed and, with a flicker, the cabin light went out plunging you into darkness.

In the vastness of the night, cold fingers sought your own, the fingertips pressing into your palm.

“I truly did not mean to leave Asgard for so long.” Loki whispered, “it was a fate not of my own making.”

You sighed, rolling onto your back and away from his hand. “I believe you.” Focussing on your tired limbs you attempted to sleep, closing your eyes and exchanging one darkness for another. But sleep refused to take you, dangling you on the precipice of unconsciousness, only to remind you of all that you had lost, before you could plunge into oblivion. You woke again, your heart in your throat, your stomach in knots, and Loki lay beside you.

His features were relaxed, his breathing even, the lines of his cheekbones looked softer, somehow, now that his lips were partially open. The temperature must have cooled, for each breath was like a will-o-the-wisp, dancing from between his plush lips and fogging the windows. How you wished you could join him in sleep again, you couldn’t remember when your dreams had taken you, but the moon had moved around the car so sleep must have found you somehow.

Betrayed by your own hands you reached out for him, touching his arm with a single finger, just to make sure he was still there.

“If you are cold, vennen, you have only to say.” His voice startled you, your hand jumping back as if burnt.

“I - I didn't mean to.”

Eyes still closed, lashes brushing his cheeks, he held his hand out and you took it. Snow had covered the little glass window in the roof of the car, so you could no longer see the stars. All was gone, yet Loki lay here with you, his fingers laced with your own.

“I did not wish to cause you pain, truly, it was not your doing nor did you deserve to suffer because of it.”

“I know, Loki.”

“Will you let me make it better for you?”

You turned to meet his ice blue eyes, still sparkling, filmed with tears he was too scared to shed.

“There is nothing to be done to bring Asgard back.”

“I am aware,” he smiled, “but I wish to heal you nevertheless.”

“You have stitched me, that is all that can be done.”

“Vennen,” you looked at him again, his face serious, “let me heal this between us.”

You stared back, confused, and then his free hand reached out and cupped your bruised cheek and that was all you saw before his lips were on yours.

Loki tasted like expensive whisky and dark chocolate, his lips like velvet, warm and soft as they brushed against your own. You fit together so perfectly that you couldn't help but roll closer, pressing a hand to his chest and feeling the warmth of his heart beat beneath.

But then the stitches over your ribs pulled, your hiss of pain swallowed by Loki's protective kiss. With gentle hands he rolled your back, hovering over you and blotting out the darkness with his smile.

“If you hurt yourself more, I shall have to continue to heal you.” His lips skated over yours, so tantalisingly close.

“Then I suppose I’ll need to crash my ship again,” you smiled up at him, your Loki, and for the first time since you’d landed you didn’t feel the pain or the cold or the fear of a new place. Only Loki’s lips on yours and the knowledge that he would never leave you again.

The title is from Shakespeare's Sonnet 97:

How like a winter hath my absence been From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen! What old December’s bareness every where! And yet this time removed was summer’s time, The teeming autumn, big with rich increase, Bearing the wanton burden of the prime, Like widow’d wombs after their lords’ decease: Yet this abundant issue seem’d to me But hope of orphans and unfather’d fruit; For summer and his pleasures wait on thee, And, thou away, the very birds are mute; Or, if they sing, ’tis with so dull a cheer That leaves look pale, dreading the winter’s near.

#loki fanfiction #loki laufeyson #loki fic #loki fluff #loki x reader #loki x female reader #Loki x Asgardian!Reader #Loki/Reader #loki/female reader #loki hurt/comfort

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sparkles-and-trash · 3 months

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dabihawks silly, birdy fluff!

"Next week we're moving into the PLF mansion," Dabi said drowsily.

"The PLF mansion," Hawks repeated.

At first, Dabi figured Hawks' little habit was just a way to confirm intel. It was quite annoying, but the intel he got in return was good, so Dabi ignored it for the time being.

But then, as they moved into the PLF house and Hawks started being around more, Dabi realized it definitely wasn't an intel thing, and worse so, it seemed like he only did it with Dabi.

Dabi would say something like;

"Move over Pigeon, big ass wings don't give you the right to take up the entire couch."

And Hawks would chuckle and repeat;

"Big ass wings."

Dabi just rolled his eyes. It was just banter, after all, which was sort of their whole thing.

Until it wasn't.

The night had started out normal enough, just Dabi and Hawks being the last two to sit around the in one of the lounge rooms in the LOV part of the mansion, the casual vibe oddly disarming.

They're watching some stupid reality show on Sceptic's account (that he has no idea they have the password to), and Dabi, as usual, could not keep his mouth shut.

"You cannot tell me you think that guy is there to find someone to marry?!" Dabi exclaimed loudly as he gestured to the TV, and Hawks chuckled.

"Why else would he be there?" the hero asked,

and Dabi rolled his eyes.

"Fame and attention, obviously," he replied.

"Obviously," Hawks repeated and Dabi huffed.

They're quiet for a few moments again, just watching the show, before Hawks speaks up again.

"Why would people want fame and attention, anyways? It kinda really sucks, no?"

Dabi looks over at the hero for a while, trying to decipher if this is genuine or not.

"Thought you love your fans," Dabi says with a side eye, and Hawks shrugs.

"Most of them are nice, but I'd love to just be..." the hero trails off for a second.

"Just be?" Dabi asks, and Hawks nods.

"Just be."

Dabi cleared his throat to buy him some time before he figured out how to pry a little further.

"Maybe when we're all done here, you can," he finally says, and Hawks lights up at that.

"Maybe when we're done!" he repeats, and Dabi looks at him for an extra beat.

"Okay, what gives dude?" he finally asked.

Hawks just looked at him with those stupid, wide eyes.

"What gives?" he asked, and Dabi threw his hands out in frustration.

"Why the fuck do you always repeat something I say back to me?!"

The realization hit Hawks' face so suddenly it almost made Dabi feel bad.

Golden eyes widened, freckled cheeks blushed, and his pretty mouth fell open slightly, before he somewhat got himself together and and rubbed the back of his neck self-consciously.

"You've noticed that,

heh?" the blond awkwardly asked, and Dabi rolled his eyes.

"Kinda hard not to."

Hawks hummed, but didn't elaborate right away.

"It's... it's a bird thing, alright?" the hero finally admitted, and now it was Dabi's turn to be taken by surprise.

"A bird.. thing?" he asked.

Hawks nodded and chuckled awkwardly.

"Mimicking is like, a natural part of my brain?"

Dabi huffed.

"Then why do you only do it with me?" he asked, and Hawks sighed.

"Dude, I don't know, okay? It just happens."

Dabi looked at him suspiciously.

"I'm gonna google it," he finally decided, and Hawks laughed.

"Sure, do that Hot Stuff."

Hawks went back to watching their show, and Dabi googled. It was quiet for a while, before a smirk started growing on Dabi's face.

"Birdie," he said, getting the hero's attention.

"Hm?" the blond said, not looking away from the tv.

"Are you like... courting me?" Dabi asked with a grin, and Hawks whipped his head around to look at him.

"What?!" he squawked, and Dabi laughed.

"Mimicing is a way for birds show their potential mate that they find them interesting and -"

"It does NOT fucking say that!" Hawks gasped as he threw himself towards Dabi to grab his phone, but Dabi was quicker and moved away in time.

"Yes it fucking does!" Dabi laughed, not missing the way Hawks' face was turning very pink again where he was laying half way over Dabi's lap in his failed attempted at grabbing the phone.

"Well I am NOT courting you!" Hawks huffed as he sat up and pouted slightly, face growing redder by the second.

Dabi felt a weird warmth in his chest that he wasn't quite ready to decipher.

"That's a shame then, pretty bird," he said with a slightly softer smirk, and Hawks looked over at him with a mix of embarrassment and curiosity.

"Why?" he asked, still slightly pouting.

Dabi smiled.

"Maybe I'd be a little flattered by a traditional bird courting," he said with a shrug.

Hawks finally looked over at him properly again.

"Are you making fun of me?" he asked with a small smile.

Dabi laughed softly.

"Oh definetly," he said with a grin, and Hawks rolled his eyes.

"But... I also kinda mean it," Dabi added, and Hawks's face lit up slightly again.

"Good to know," he said in a failed attempt to sound chill, and Dabi chuckled as he moved a little close to the hero and brushed his hand up against his wing gently.

"Good to know," Hawks chirped back, and for once Dabi didn't find It annoying at all.

#dabihawks #hawks #dabi #hawks x dabi #dabi x hawks #keigo takami #touya todoroki #toukei #dabihawks fluff #mha #bnha #my hero academia #boku no hero academia

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wingedhallows · 3 months

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traitor - ch. one; sirius black

pairing: sirius black (golden trio era) x fem! oc | 0.9k words warning: dark themes, death, torture plot: Fourteen years ago, Hecate Hunt, a valuable member of the Order and once a Death Eater gave her life for her friends and the man she loved, at least that's what was believed. Now she's done hiding, ready to fight alongside her old friends and her godson. Ready to return to the life she once had, ready to once again be a traitor. authors note: hi there! I've been meaning to write this since it's been wandering around in my head for weeks. Thank you for reading and let me know if you liked it! :) ps.: this is the first work of mine in years, i wrote a lot of fanfics in highschool but somehow this helps with taking my mind off things. thank u <3 btw, things aren't absolutely accurate so don't come for me, let's just vibe, ok? ok.

navigation | chapter one ; chapter two ; chapter three

then

"I want you all to meet a new member to the order. I believe her to be trusted, however you might think." from behind the old wizard a young woman emerged. Hair dark and long, a solem look on her face as she stepped infront of him. "Nice to meet you." she spoke, voice deep and firm. Her eyes were dark, almost black in the dim lit kitchen of the Black residence. Sirius felt himself lean forward, determined to catch a glimpse of her face.

"This is Hecate Hunt, a powerful witch and-"a Death Eater." Alastor Moody spoke, his eye skimming from side to side, mouth in a smarl. "Felt it minutes ago." The other members let their shock be known. Gasps and whispers present. She knew the members, of course. How could she not know the legendary Marauders, for one.

"Why would you bring a Death Eater to this place, Albus?" Minerva spoke, voice almost too quiet to hear. Hecate let her gaze wander to Lily and James Potter who held hands, thumbs stroking each others hands. She had known the younger members, as she visited Hogwarts the same years they did. They were hard to miss. Remus Lupin just stared at her, hands in fists. Sirius Black on the other hand had his jaw clenched, mouth in a scowl and his wand in his hand. She knew of the older Black all too well. She had listened to the Dark Lord complain about Walburga and Orions incapability of turning their own son to the dark side multible times.

"Hecate has changed her mind in light of recent events.-"I don't buy it. Once a Death Eater, always a Death Eater." Sirius interupted Albus, his fist connected with the dark wooden table as he spat the words. Anger rose inside of her, she knew of his temper, had seen it first hand in their school days. "Oh you would know all about it, right? Since your familiy's swamped with'em and all, Black." Hecate spat, hands now crossed over her chest. She stooped low, she knew, but she had to get in, she had to make a change. She wouldn't let Black ruin it.

Sirius was fast to jump to his feet, wand raised and his body shaking with anger. "How dare yo-"Sirius, please." Remus tugged him down to his chair. Hecate didn't back down, ready to take whatever would jump from the purebloods wand. It wouldn't be worse than to stand against the Cruciato curse, which made its way passed Lord Voldemorts lips all too often.

Albus huffed a sigh as he eyed Sirius. "If i could continue what i was about to say." Hecate shifted her weight from one leg to another, uneasy with the mood in the room. "Hecate was the witch who freed Alice and Frank Longbottom from the clutches of Death Eaters." he paused, looking at the woman next to him. "Delivered them right to me. I believe that no real Death Eater would've shown them mercy. Therefore, after careful thinking, i recruit Hecate Hunt to be a member of the Order." she gave him a curt nod before taking a seat. She had freed them, too late though. Barty Crouch Jr had broken their minds when she arrived. She'd just spared them from their death. Her eyes once again connected with those of Sirius.

"The reason why i want to help you, is my sister."

now

Harry made his way passed the table, to the cabinets filled with plates and mugs. Sirius sat at the head of the table, a mug in one hand and the daily prophet in the other. "Morning, Harry." he spoke, a hopeful smile on his bearded face. Remus Lupin sat to his right, a little notebook placed on the table in front of him as he looked up at Padfoots godson. "Morning." he spoke as he saw Harry. He also greeted Lupin with a small smile. "Good Morning." They didn't mind Harry looking around, it was an old and interesting house after all. Harry thanked Kreacher as the house elf scrambled to make the kid a cup of tea. His eyes locked on a picture frame. The only picture frame there was.

There he saw Sirius and a woman he didn't know. Sirius looked younger, twenty maybe, the woman next to him was beautiful. Her dark long hair hung down her shoulders, shimmering in the warm sunlight as a bright smile spread across her pale face. Sirius gave her an adoring look before he smacked his lips on her cheek. The moment repeated, as every foto in the wizard world does.

"Sirus." he spoke, voice quiet. "Who is this?"

He turned around to look at his godfather. His face had frozen up, the shadow of a tear in his eyes. "Harry.." He could hear Remus say, an attempt of pushing the matter away.

"That's.." Sirius had to take a breath, his voice failing him. "Hecate Hunt." he spoke. He took a sip of his mug, the daily prophet long forgotten on the table in front of him. "Your godmother." it was merely a whisper as he spoke. Harry couldn't believe what he was hearing.

He had a godmother, somewhere out there-"She's dead." his voice rang in Harry's head. Harry placed the picture on the table, hand on his hip as he tried again. "How-"That's enough, Harry." Remus said, before Sirius rose to his feet and left, a quiet sob sounded in the distance.

"You-Know-Who killed her, there's nothing more to it." Remus spoke before he walked after his best friend. The boy once more stared at the picture in front of him. The woman, Hecate, once again gave the camera a warm smile. Just as young Sirius planted another forcefull kiss on her cheek he could hear a loud rumble upstairs.

Sirius had just blown something to bits.

#harry potter #harry potter angst #harry potter fanfic #sirius black angst #sirius black imagine #sirius black x reader #sirius black fanfic #hp fanfic #the marauders #marauders imagine #marauders era #voldemort #death eaters #remus lupin #lily potter #james potter

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sihtricfedaraaahvicius · 7 months

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Note: this happened when I started to write at 1 in the morning to see if anything would come out. eh, happy spooky season?

Warnings: bickering, lots of eye rolls and sighs, some fluff, some suggestive stuff.

pairing: Modern!Sihtric x you (f)

summary: You started a new job in October and were tasked to plan a Halloween party at the office with Sihtric, your colleague, who was a control freak and Halloween fanatic.

wordcount: 6,7k

Masterlist

'I didn't mean to call you ugly, indirectly.'

'And because you're new here,' your boss, Uhtred, said with a grin on his face, 'you'll be planning our office Halloween party with Sihtric this year.'

'Oh,' you blinked, 'o-okay.'

And with those words, your first week at your new office job had come to an end, and you weren't sure how you felt. You loved the job, it was perfect for you, sitting behind a desk all day and answering emails about insurances the company you worked for offered. Your colleagues were all nice, for the most part. You just weren't sure about Sihtric, who sat at the desk across from you. He would roll his eyes or let out an annoyed sigh each time you asked him for some help. You were new at the job, afterall, and everyone was kind to help, except for the annoyingly hot Dane. And to make it worse, you now had to spend hours with him to plan a Halloween party all of the sudden. And you hated Halloween.

Still trying to process the idea of your new job as party planner, you grabbed your bag and walked up to the elevator. There, you nearly walked into Sihtric, who was waiting for the elevator already, as you walked around the corner.

'Oh, hey,' you said awkwardly, 'so, eh, Uhtred just told me I am to plan the Halloween party with you.'

'What?' Sihtric snapped his face towards you, stared at you, and then groaned, 'no.'

'No?'

'No.'

You stared at Sihtric, with his handsome, scarred face, his well-kept goatee and his long, wild hair. His mismatched eyes stared down at you, his jaw clenched and his lips pursed.

'No,' he said again as the elevator arrived, and he stepped inside.

'I'm sorry,' you scoffed and quickly followed, 'what do you mean, no?'

'I mean no,' Sihtric said sternly, 'you're not used to being told no, are you, little girl?'

'Excuse me?' you scoffed again.

A few days ago you found out Sihtric had a problem with you because you got your job through Finan, a mutual friend it turned out, who had put in a good word for you with Uhtred. While Sihtric had fought his way into the company years ago, and constantly had to prove himself until last year, when he finally got a permanent contract. A contract which you had gotten right away because of your experience in the insurance business. Sihtric was bitter about that. He simply hated people who fucked, or used someone else, to get to a good job position with a nice pay. And Sihtric felt you had done the latter, using Finan to get you inside the company. But Sihtric didn't know that Finan had suggested he'd put in a word for you on his own. You never asked anything from anyone, and you had also worked really hard to get where you are today.

You had a bad impression of Sihtric, and Sihtric had a completely wrong view of you. And since he already disliked you, he was not interested in getting to know you better, and he made no attempt to hide that. Beside the contract issue, you were both total opposites, mindwise and stylewise. You always dressed colourful and were bubbly, while Sihtric was always dressed in dark clothes and was rather quiet. You were a bit messy and all over the place, whereas Sihtric was a control freak and got upset when someone took something from his desk without asking. In conclusion: you just didn't vibe.

'You heard me,' Sihtric said, and raked his tattooed fingers through his hair.

'Look, it's not like I'm excited about this either,' you crossed your arms, 'I think we share the mutual feeling of not liking each other.'

'So it seems,' he mumbled.

You huffed when the elevator doors opened again, 'And I fucking hate Halloween too,' you said as you made an attempted to walk out.

'What?' Sihtric nearly yelled, and he quickly pressed the button to close the doors again, locking you in the small space with him.

'What the fuck?' you turned to face him, heated.

'You hate Halloween?' Sihtric asked, disgust on his face as he looked you up and down.

'Yeah, it's stupid. I'm a Christmas person,' you threw your hands up, 'who cares? God, I just want to go home and forget about this for the day.'

You pressed the button to open the doors, and Sihtric was quick to close them again.

'No, no, no,' he said, 'this is a problem.'

'What?'

'First of all, I always plan this party on my own. Alone,' he said, 'I like to be in control, okay? Second of all, now that we are apparently doomed to work together, you tell me you hate Halloween? This is just unbelievable. I thought you couldn't possibly get worse.''

'Well, you better believe it!' you hissed, and opened the doors again.

You finally got out of the elevator and stormed into the parking garage, and Sihtric followed.

'I take this very seriously!' he snarled, 'you will not mess with my plans!'

'I have no intention of messing with your plans, Sihtric,' you scowled.

'Lady,' Sihtric sighed, and grabbed your arm to stop you from walking, 'next monday, after work, meet me in the lunchroom at five, because the planning starts then. You better be there and bring your Halloween spirit.'

'Fine,' you shrugged, broke free from his grip and walked to your car.

'Bring that Halloween spirit!' Sihtric yelled after you, then sighed, annoyed, and walked to his car, 'witch,' he mumbled as he got in.

'Himbo,' you muttered as you drove towards him, and you both flashed each other a fake smile in passing.

Monday, 5pm.

You found Sihtric in the lunchroom after work with his laptop open. His phone, a notebook and a pencil next to it. You mumbled an awkward hello and Sihtric reluctantly returned the greeting.

'Okay,' he said and leaned back in his chair, 'every year we have a theme. So that's the first thing we have to come up with.'

'Okay,' you pretended to be interested, 'zombie theme?'

'Nah, did that a few years ago already.'

'Vampires?'

'Done that last year.'

'Unicorns?' you already gave up.

Sihtric smacked his lips, 'It's a Halloween party, princess. We want scary, not cutesy.'

'Well, if you show up I'm sure it'll be scary enough,' you rolled your eyes.

'If I were you, I'd wear a mask,' Sihtric snapped back, 'so people won't run away screaming and crying.'

You gasped, offended, and were actually so shocked at what he just said that you had no comeback.

'Jesus,' you scoffed, 'you must be a real hit with the ladies with that rude mouth of yours.'

'Can't complain,' Sihtric said with a sly smile, 'maybe you should get a man to treat you well some time, you might become more fun to be around.'

'Okay, that's it,' you said and got up, 'I'm not working with a douchebag like you. I'm done.'

'Oh, come on,' Sihtric said, then sighed as you walked to the door, 'okay, I'm sorry,' he said quickly, knowing it would make him look bad if you went to Uhtred to say you wanted out of the party planning because of his remark.

'You don't even mean that,' you side-eyed him and his half assed apology.

'Maybe,' he shrugged, 'look, we have to do this together whether we like it or not, okay? Just sit back down.'

You knew Sihtric was right. It was only your second week at the new office, you couldn't just storm out like that, it would make you look bad. And so you sat down at the large table again.

'And come here,' Sihtric said, annoyed, pointing to the empty chair next to him, 'it's easier if we can both see my screen when we search for decorations.'

While you cursed internally, you sat down next to him. Sihtric scooted his chair closer to you, along with his laptop, and you got a sudden whiff of his pleasant cologne. At the same time you took in his scent, you looked at him, and he looked at you, eyes lingering on each other for a moment too long.

'I didn't mean to call you ugly, indirectly,' he said as he looked back at his screen, 'sorry,' he mumbled.

'Thanks,' you mumbled too, 'I also didn't mean to.'

You looked at each other again and a faint smile tugged at both your lips, but you both refused to let the other see it, so you both looked at his screen again. Sihtric cleared his throat and told you to write down whatever cool ideas you saw as he scrolled through an endless list of Halloween themes. The research went quite okay, for an hour, but then you became hungry… and irritated at the fact that you were hungry.

'How much longer do you plan on staying here?' you asked and sat back.

'Oh, we're just getting started,' Sihtric said, and he tied his loose hair back in a bun, 'I often spend half a night here. Why?'

'What? Well, I'm… I'm hungry. It's dinner time basically.'

Sihtric looked at the time and realised he also felt rather hungry, he just hadn't noticed it yet as he was so focused on his research.

'We'll order something,' he said and grabbed his phone, 'what are you up for?'

'Order something?' you grimaced, 'no, I don't order food, sorry.'

'What?'

'What?' you frowned.

'What do you mean you don't order food?' Sihtric asked, confused.

'It means I always cook my own food, you know, healthy food.'

'Not all take-out is junk food,' Sihtric said, 'but you mean to tell me you never order a pizza or something? Or a kebab? Fries? Burgers? A fucking salad?'

'No, I like to prepare my own food,' you shrugged, 'and most of those places seem quite… shitty.'

'Hey,' Sihtric chuckled, 'the crappier the place, the better the food usually.'

'I doubt it,' you said with a disgusted look.

'Oh, come on. Loosen up a little, doll,' Sihtric nudged your shoulder, 'come order a pizza with me. Go wild for once,' he taunted with a grin.

'I don't like pizza.'

'You can't be serious right now.'

'I'm serious.'

'Okay, a kebab then?' Sihtric asked.

'Never had one,' you said, 'they don't look nice anyway.'

'Oh,' Sihtric laughed, 'I'm ordering you a kebab. Wait, no, actually,' he put his phone down, 'we're taking a break. Come,' he said and got up, putting on his leather jacket, 'I'm taking you to the best kebab place in town.'

'What? No,' you gave him a disapproving face, 'absolutely not.'

'Absolutely yes,' Sihtric said, 'come on.'

'Sihtric-'

'Nah-ah,' he hushed you, 'come, let's go, princess.'

You dragged your feet towards the elevator. Going out for a kebab? With Sihtric? This had to be a nightmare. Sure, the fact you hadn't bickered for about five minutes was a good sign, but you had no desire to spend more time with him than was necessary. Whereas Sihtric was simply curious to see how you were when you weren't at work. Yes, he also hoped he was riling you up, but he truly thought you were missing out on some good food. And some fun.

Apparently the best kebab place in town, according to Sihtric at least, was a place called Kebab Corner, and it was located two blocks away from your office. Sihtric ordered you a bun with extra garlic sauce, the same as he always ordered, and he ordered some fries as a side dish too, as well as a drink for you both.

'We're taking our food back to the office, right?' you asked as you waited in the small, warm food place.

'No, we're eating it here,' Sihtric smiled, 'you gotta have the full experience.'

You rolled your eyes and took off your coat with a sour face, taking a seat at an empty table in the corner. Sihtric did the same and sat across from you, then also took off his hoodie, under which he was wearing a black shirt that really showed off his biceps. You couldn't help but stare at his arms, as he placed his sweater on the chair next to him, and let his arm rest on the chair's backrest while he sat back and stared around the kebab shop.

'How did you get those scars?' you suddenly blurted out.

'Which ones?' Sihtric asked.

For a week now you had wondered how he got the scars on his face, and when you saw his arms had a few too, you had wondered out loud by accident.

'A-all of them?' you asked, suddenly feeling shy, 'sorry,' you said quickly, 'you don't have to answer that-'

'It's fine,' Sihtric said, then took a quick sip of his drink, 'the ones on my arms and back are from my father, he didn't like me very much. Those on my face are from my half-brother, he really took after my dad.'

'What? I…,' you stammered, 'I- oh my god, I-I'm sorry.'

'They're both dead,' Sihtric shrugged and fidgeted with his rings for a moment, until he saw your wide eyes. 'Don't worry,' he chuckled, 'I didn't kill them. Wish I did though.'

Before you could speak, your food was served. Sihtric wasted no time and devoured his kebab right away, while you inspected your bun with a disgusted face. Sihtric stared at you, his mouth stuffed with food, and he was clearly amused when you hesitantly took a small bite from your food.

'And?' he asked, while garlic sauce dripped down his chin.

'It's… better than I thought,' you confessed, to which Sihtric grinned, and you thought he looked like a savage caveman, with his mouth full of food as sauce covered his facial hair.

'Can you believe it? Something we both enjoy, who would've thought, huh?' he said as he finished his food and began to eat the fries.

'Why are you always so mean?' you hissed.

'I'm not mean.'

'Yes, you are. You always seem to treat me like I am some stuck up bitch. Just because I like to cook my own food, doesn't mean I'm a snob, or that I'm better than you. I'm not. And I also had to work hard and survive growing up. I had issues with my mother, she completely broke my confidence, and I still struggle with that,' you suddenly spilled, 'so, yeah, maybe sometimes I may come off as cold, but that's only a coping mechanism. And I never asked Finan to get me this job, you know. He did it on his own, because he knew I was perfect for it. I always took care of myself, because no one else did, so let me just have this one time where someone helped me out by getting me a job. You and I,' you said, 'we're maybe not that different, you know? Except that you really are a jerk.'

You then ate your kebab in silence while Sihtric didn't say anything, he just continued his fries and looked at you, with a soft gaze and a half smile. Maybe he was starting to like you after all, in a weird way.

Back at the office you both finally agreed on a theme. You suggested something from a movie, but when Sihtric asked you which movie, you shrugged and said you only watch Christmas movies. Sihtric made a face but then started to smile, and said he knew the perfect movie to use as a party theme; Nightmare Before Christmas.

The next afternoon Uhtred had sent you and Sihtric to go shopping for the decorations. You were not in the mood and just wanted to continue your work, as you were already annoyed that you'd be behind on your emails by tomorrow morning.

'Look at these!' Sihtric said with a beaming smile, pointing at a gigantic skeleton which could be placed in a garden.

'Ridiculous,' you mumbled and continued to look around.

Sihtric got on your nerves as he had to press every "try me" button to find out what sound something would make or what it would do in general. You thought he was being a manchild right now, but something inside you forced you to keep your eyes on him, because it was kind of adorable, in a stupid way. After nearly an hour, your shopping card was still empty. Because every time Sihtric showed you some decorations, you found something to complain about.

'Gods,' Sihtric huffed, 'do you even know how to have fun?'

'I beg your pardon?'

'You don't like anything,' he said, 'it's all too dark, too spooky, too gory, too childish,' he mocked your voice, 'what do you like?'

'I'd like to leave this awful place,' you grimaced at the gigantic fake spider Sihtric picked up, 'ew,' you said as he held it up to you.

'What? You don't like spiders?'

'I don't, put that thing down- No!' you suddenly screamed and started to run when Sihtric ran towards you with the fake spider, 'stop it!' you cried out while being chased.

'It's only a fake!' Sihtric laughed as he hunted you through the Halloween store.

'I don't want to touch it, it disgusts me!' you yelled, 'stop! Please!' you became out of breath.

And Sihtric only stopped because he was laughing too hard at your reaction. You gave him a disapproving look and disappeared into the Halloween outfit department, hoping to find the exit.

'What are you dressing up as?' Sihtric asked after he had followed you.

'I don't know,' you shrugged, 'I didn't even want to go.'

'You have to.'

'I guess,' you sighed, 'maybe this?' you grabbed a Snow White dress off its hanger.

'Try it on,' Sihtric encouraged you.

'I don't know, I'll probably look stupid. I'm just not into this whole dressing up spooky thing.'

'I know,' he said, 'but it doesn't have to be spooky. Of course, spooky is fun, but there's nothing wrong with this dress either. Try it.'

Sihtric somehow persuaded you, and you had a blush on your cheeks when you looked in the mirror and realised you needed help to zip up the, rather sexy, princess dress.

'S-Sihtric,' you shyly called from inside the dressing room.

'What?'

'I… I need help to z-zip up the dress.'

'Oh,' he cleared his throat, 'eh, let me find an employee.'

'Okay,' you said and waited.

When Sihtric returned after a minute and told you he couldn't find anyone, you sighed.

'C-could you…'

'Eh, yeah, o- okay,' Sihtric chuckled and entered the dressing room when you gave permission.

He stared at you in the mirror as he stood behind you, his eyes were big and his lips slightly parted, while his gaze was soft. He smiled sweetly and then carefully zipped up the dress, letting his hands linger on your for a few seconds before he pulled away.

'There,' Sihtric said as his mouth had gone dry.

'Thank you,' you mumbled, 'is it… too slutty?' you asked, insecure at how much skin it revealed.

'No,' he chuckled softly, 'it's… you look pretty.'

'So I won't scare anyone off with my face?' you furrowed your brow as you turned to him.

'Lady,' Sihtric smiled and shook his head, 'you drive me insane, yet for some reason I enjoy it,' he said and licked his lips, then left the dressing room.

You were left speechless, with a smile tugging at your lips and a pleasant sting in your stomach. After you had managed to get out of the dress again, zipping it down was easier than zipping up somehow, you put it back where you had taken it from.

'Not buying it?' Sihtric asked as you made way to the store exit.

'No,' you said, and Sihtric sensed a hint of insecurity in your voice.

And you left the store without buying anything.

Back home, you received an email from Sihtric, late in the evening.

I ordered decorations online, whether you like them or not. You'll see them next week when we have to start decorating.

Ps. you should've bought that dress, princess.

The next day you were surprised to see Sihtric was not at work, but you didn't think much of it. When he didn't show up the next day either, you asked Finan if something was wrong. You were kind of worried, but you wouldn't tell anyone, instead you said you needed to speak to Sihtric because of the Halloween planning. Then Finan told you Sihtric struggled with a form of depression, situational depression, and it acts up out of nowhere and knocks him down for a few days in a row. Everyone at work was aware of it, so they always gave him time.

'Another nice treat his father left him,' Finan sighed and went back to work.

You felt bad and decided to email Sihtric when you were still in the office.

Hey, I heard you're not feeling too well. I wanted to let you know I took care of the food and drinks for the party. Anyway, I hope you're doing okay. Look after yourself and remember to eat. Did you eat anything today? In case you need anything, here's my number.

You closed the email with your number and pressed send. And about ten minutes later you received a text from an unknown number, which you quickly understood was Sihtric.

Sihtric: thanks for checking on me

Sihtric: and I didn't eat, no…

You: I'm almost off work, I could cook you some food?

You: actual healthy food, no kebab…..

Sihtric: i'd like that, could use some company I guess

About an hour later you entered Sihtric's apartment. It was cosy, but quite messy, and you hated the Halloween decoration he had up. And Sihtric looked like shit, yet still handsome, you thought. His face was pale, hair even messier than usual, and he looked like he hadn't slept in several days, while that was actually the only thing he had done.

'Thanks for coming,' he said, his voice a little raspy.

'No problem,' you said and looked around the kitchen, 'so, eh, I'll need your help to cut some veggies.'

You dragged Sihtric to the kitchen, knowing that if he'd help you out, he might feel a little better as he's doing something productive. You both didn't speak much as you prepared the food for an easy, quick and healthy oven dish. And while the dish was in the oven, you started to clean up the messy kitchen and a part of his living room.

'Please,' Sihtric said, 'you… you don't have to-'

'I insist,' you said, 'you'll feel better when your home is more tidy, trust me.'

Sihtric stared at you as he sat on the couch, desperately wanting to make you stop, or wanting to help you, but he couldn't. His mental health had him in a chokehold and he couldn't seem to fight it. He felt embarrassed, and worried you probably thought he was just lazy, or worse; just weird.

'Do you have someone who looks after you?' you suddenly asked.

'What?'

'Like… family, friends, a partner of some sorts?'

'Oh,' Sihtric shook his head lightly, 'not really. I'm quite... lonely. Girls leave when the depression kicks in. And I mean, yeah, some friends ask me how I'm doing but they don't come over, unless I ask, but… yeah, I don't know.'

'Asking for help is hard, huh?' you said mindlessly.

'Heh, yeah,' Sihtric said, and he suddenly choked up when he saw you fold his piled up laundry, and realised what he needed all this time.

He needs someone to look after him when times are rough, someone who stops by and offers help without him having to ask. Someone who seems to not judge him and knows what would truly help him to snap out of it again. Someone he enjoyed having around. Someone like… you? Sihtric cleared his throat as he walked over to you, as he wanted to thank you again but couldn't bring it out. And you looked up at him to find his teared up eyes staring at you.

'Sihtric?' you frowned lightly.

And hearing his name from your lips was all he needed to finally burst into tears.

'Oh, no,' you whispered and threw your arms around him.

'I'm sorry,' he sniffled.

'It's okay,' you said and squeezed him when he finally hugged you back, 'it will be okay, I promise. These days will pass.'

You held him for a few minutes until he composed himself again, just when he oven ringed. And then you ate in front of the tv, on his couch, and you actually even enjoyed being with him right now. Sihtric tried to keep his eyes off you, but struggled gravely, and only looked away quickly when you looked at him.

'Food okay?' you asked, 'I know it's not a kebab or whatever.'

'It's the best meal I've had in years,' Sihtric chuckled, 'thank you, really.'

'Don't mention it,' you smiled, and both finished your food in silence.

When you cleaned the dishes, Sihtric asked if you wanted to watch a movie or something. He didn't want you to leave yet, but he wouldn't admit that to you. You accepted his offer, as you wanted to make sure he was feeling a little better before you'd leave, but you didn't admit that either. And soon, you found yourself on his couch watching Paranormal Activity, which happened to be shown on tv.

'This is so dumb,' you complained, smiling.

'Oh, please,' Sihtric rolled his eyes with a smile, 'just admit it scares you.'

'Yeah, right,' you huffed, but scooted a little closer to him not much later.

Sihtric grabbed a blanket and invited you to join him under the warm fleece fabric. You accepted, as the movie actually did scare the shit out of you, and you felt oddly comfortable as your shoulders touched. But your own feelings scared you as much as that movie. There was no way you could actually start to like this guy. You were total opposites. There was just no way, you convinced yourself, while Sihtric was apparently trying to convince himself of the same. When the horror movie was finally over, Sihtric seemed in better spirits, and you left his house after he had showered and promised he'd text you if he needed anything. But you were the one to text him first later that night.

You: can't believe that stupid movie scared me, thanks a lot!

Sihtric: wuss ;)

You: very funny…

Then Sihtric called you.

'Are you okay?' he laughed.

'No, this is so embarrassing,' you sniffled on the phone, 'I've been in bed for an hour and I'm terrified to move.'

'Hey,' Sihtric said as he heard your soft sniffles, 'it was just a movie.'

'I'm just not good with those things- oh my god, what was that sound?' you suddenly gasped when you thought you heard something.

'Hey,' he said again, 'everything's fine. There's nothing there, okay?'

'Easy for you to say,' you said with a soft whimper, and hid under your blanket.

'I promise, you're safe,' Sihtric said when you sniffled again, 'listen to my voice, okay? I'm right here, baby girl. Nothing will happen to you, I promise.'

'I can't believe I- I'm saying this,' you scoffed and suddenly chuckled, 'but I… I actually wish you were here right now.'

'Yeah, me too,' he whispered, and you heard a soft chuckle, 'I'd come over if I could, but I took my meds after you left. I can't drive when I'm on them, I'm… I'm sorry, princess.'

'It's okay,' you said, 'I'm glad you took your meds though.'

'Yeah,' Sihtric said, and cursed himself for having to take medication sometimes, as he would've wasted no time to come and see you otherwise, 'I'll stay on the phone until you fall asleep, okay?'

A few days had passed after the movie night, and Sihtric was back at work again and you both decided to never mention that evening at his place, or the way he had stayed up, talking to you on the phone when you were scared, until you fell asleep. And today, it was time to start decorating after work. You met up in the main hall, a floor up from your office, and you walked into a huge mess. Decorations were scattered all through the hall, and you now understood why Sihtric needed nearly a week to prepare the festivity.

'Fucking hell,' you said as you walked towards Sihtric, who turned and greeted you with a smile.

'Here,' he said and pushed a bag with paper bats in your hands, 'if you hang these up over there,' he pointed to a large orange orb he had painted, which was a moon, 'I'll start putting up the tombstones.'

'Tombstones?' you made a face when you saw the decorations he had purchased, but decided against arguing.

As you hung up the bats, you felt Sihtric's eyes on you. He tried to bite his tongue, but he was going crazy and how you decorated the wall.

'Don't forget to put them up higher too,' he carefully instructed.

'Yeah, yeah,' you sighed.

Sihtric kept checking on you, and he only had to bite his tongue harder each time he did. The way you didn't seem to care about the distance between the bats, or how they were not all facing the same way… he couldn't witness it anymore.

'Can you, uhm, maybe… try harder?'

'Try harder?' you scoffed, 'I'm doing my best here!' you looked at the dozens of bats you had placed on the wall already.

'Yeah, but, like,' Sihtric stammered, 'they're not… it's not good.'

'What?'

'Bats fly together in the same direction,' he said, 'you can't have one bat go left and five others go right.'

'Are you serious right now?' you asked, nearing your boiling point.

'Yes,' Sihtric said and adjusted some of the bats, 'it's not that hard, okay, princess?'

'You know what, princess,' you shoved the bag of bats in his arms, 'you go and decorate the place, okay? I'm not going to listen to your constant nitpicking.'

You turned on your heels and walked away.

'Princess?' Sihtric mumbled after you.

His eyes darted between the wall, the bats in his arms, and you walking out on him. Then, he dropped the bats and ran after you as you left the hall. He caught you just when you stepped into the elevator, and stopped it from closing by standing in the door censor.

'Who are you calling princess, princess?' he asked and clenched his jaw as he stared down at you.

'Oh, please,' you rolled your eyes, 'I'm not doing this anymore, okay? Decorate the way you want, I'll see it when it's done.'

'Fine,' Sihtric shrugged.

'Fine,' you hissed.

He took a step back, out of the elevator.

'You really make my blood boil and my cock hard,' Sihtric said just before the doors closed.

And then you stared at your reflection in the empty elevator, wide eyed and… aroused?

Sihtric: look… I really need your help with the decorations

You: are you going to be a little bitch about it again?

Sihtric: I swear I'll…

Sihtric: fine, I won't complain.

The Halloween party was tomorrow, and Sihtric desperately needed help with the finishing touches. Your love/hate relationship had only gotten worse since you walked out the other day, and the tension between the two of you was sharp as a blade. But you still showed up and helped him out.

'Are those balloons not too far apart?' you taunted as you looked around the hall, hours later.

'Don't push it, lady,' Sihtric muttered, and you grinned.

You both studied the decorations. The full moon with the bats was perfect, the tombstones made for a nice graveyard dance floor area, and the walls were decorated with Christmas lights and thick, fake cobwebs. The ceiling was full of black and orange balloons, and the tables had vases with black roses in them. To make it complete, candles graced the shelves throughout the hall, giving it a strange, spooky romantic vibe, you thought.

'I'll admit, the place looks cool,' you said.

'Really?' Sihtric smiled at you, 'thanks. And, eh, thanks for your help too.'

'You're welcome. But I hope we'll never have to do this again,' you said and grabbed your bag.

'Yeah, well, me neither,' Sihtric said and followed to the elevator.

You both tried to hide a grin as you entered the elevator, and Sihtric asked what you were dressing up as tomorrow.

'I don't know,' you sighed, 'I still don't want to go.'

'Oh, come on, you have to!'

You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms, 'I don't have to do anything.'

'Gods,' Sihtric chuckled, 'you're such a nightmare.'

'Yeah, well, so are you.'

'Really?'

'Really!'

'Gods, will you just shut up?' he mumbled.

'Fucking make me,' you huffed.

Then, Sihtric suddenly took your face in his hands and kissed you firmly. And he didn't let go until the elevator doors opened.

'I'll see you tomorrow,' he said, and walked out, leaving you speechless once again.

The Halloween party.

You stepped into the crowded, noisy hall on the third floor. The smell of alcohol and apple pie greeted you, as well as some cheap perfume from your already drunk colleagues. You felt out of place and wanted to turn around and run home, until you saw Sihtric, who helped himself to a drink at the other side of the party. You fought a smile when you saw his outfit. He was dressed as a warrior, complete with tunic and leather armour, and even his hair was braided. You thought he looked ridiculously handsome, even more handsome than usual, if that was possible, and you felt your cheeks heat up when you locked eyes with him.

Sihtric stared at you from across the hall, with a drink in his hand, and his jaw slightly dropped. You had listened to him and had actually bought that rather revealing Snow White dress, and he couldn't believe how drop dead gorgeous you looked right now. Well, you always did, he thought, but there was something different tonight.

You both smiled at each other and wasted no more time to get closer, pushing through the few dancing people as you both crossed the room. And then without thinking, you wrapped your arms around each other and held each other tight for a moment.

'So glad you came,' Sihtric said in your ear as he held you.

His pleasant scent made your knees weak, as did his smooth, honeyed voice. And his grip on you was pleasantly firm.

'I had to, hadn't I?' you chuckled and looked up into his mismatched eyes.

Sihtric smiled and took your chin, and then the music changed to a not so spooky song; the Elvis cover of Unchained Love, and couples ran to the dancefloor. He chuckled and asked you to dance, since the entire moment was cheesy already anyway. You laughed and accepted, and next thing you knew, you were slow dancing in a foggy graveyard, with Sihtric, in the middle of the hall.

'You don't know what you've been doing to me lately,' he suddenly said, halfway through the song.

'Like what?' you smiled as you kept your face pressed against his armoured chest, and your arms around his waist.

Then, Sihtric took your hand and shoved it underneath his leather armour, onto his tunic covered chest, and he took your chin again, pushing your face up to meet his eyes. And then he leaned in, slowly, capturing you in a kiss and not caring who'd see it. And this kiss was very different from the one he had given you in a sudden rush yesterday, in the elevator. This time it was sweet, soft, gentle and tender, but still firm enough to make you feel his heartbeat quicken underneath your hand. And when he broke the kiss, you looked up at him.

'Well you've been doing a lot to me lately too,' you said with a smirk.

'Like what?' Sihtric asked with a cheeky smile.

'Making me want to do things with you I can't possibly do here.'

'Is that so?' he grinned, then took a step back and pulled you with him off the dancefloor.

'Where are we going?' you asked when he guided you out of the hall, to the elevator.

'A secret spot,' Sihtric smiled as he pulled you in the elevator.

And as soon as the doors closed, your lips found each other while your hands moved up to his neck, keeping him close, while Sihtric's tattooed fingers slid up into your loose hair.

'Tell me, lady,' Sihtric breathed as he pinned you against the wall, 'what are the things you want to do with me?'

'I think you know,' you murmured as your lips pecked his neck.

'Mhm,' he hummed with a smile, 'but I want to hear you say it, princess.'

You chuckled softly before you kissed his lips again. And when the doors opened at the top floor, Sihtric pulled you with him out the elevator, into the hallway, where he was quick to push you up against a door.

'Say it,' he almost growled while shoving his hands up your short dress, squeezing your thighs as he kissed and sucked your neck.

'I want you to treat me good,' you breathed as you started to untie his leather belt.

'Mhm,' Sihtric hummed again, 'I'll treat you good, don't worry,' he mumbled in between kisses, and searched for a key he kept in a pouch that was attached to his belt.

He opened the door you were pushed up against before, and pulled you up the stairs to another door, which he quickly unlocked, and then you suddenly stood on the large roof terrace of the office building. The place had an amazing view while being sheltered from other buildings, as they were not as high as the building you worked in. Sihtric took your hand and pulled you with him to some lounge chairs in the middle of the roof, near a fireplace, where he made a fire and pulled you down on the furs in front of it.

'Why the fuck does this place have a roof terrace like this?' you chuckled while you continued to work his leather armour.

'It was supposed to be a lunch spot for employees,' Sihtric said in between the wet kisses he left on your shoulders and neck, 'but last year I found out I'm the only one who actually has a key to go up here.'

'What?' you snorted, 'are you serious?'

'Very much so,' he laughed, 'so I have been sneaking around to make it a cosy place. I often go up here when everything's too much, or,' he snorted, 'when you had been getting on my nerves and I couldn't stand you anymore.'

'Such a gentleman you are,' you joked.

'You couldn't stand me either,' Sihtric furrowed his brow, then nuzzled your nose, 'don't lie. Anyway, I intended to keep this place a secret, actually,' he said with a wink, 'but now it's our secret, I guess.'

'I won't tell anyone,' you promised, and pulled him in for another kiss, 'and yes, I couldn't stand you either,' you grinned and finally took off the leather piece he was wearing.

'Good,' Sihtric unzipped your dress and pushed you down on the soft fur.

'Good that I won't tell anyone or that I couldn't stand you?'

'Both,' he said with a cheeky smile and pulled his tunic off, exposing his insanely toned torso.

'Oh my fucking god,' you whispered under your breath at the reveal.

'Still can't stand me?' Sihtric asked as he positioned himself between your thighs.

'More wondering if I can handle you,' you chuckled, moving your hands up his muscular chest.

'I'll be gentle,' he whispered, 'I promise,' he said and pecked your lips, 'you on birth control?'

'Yeah, don't worry,' you smiled and pulled him close, impatiently, after he had slid down his boxers and you kicked off your panties.

'Tell me, princess,' Sihtric whispered, then kissed your lips softly as he held your face, 'do you want me to make love to you and take you home with me after, or fuck you numb before we return to the party and pretend nothing happened?'

'Both.'

taglist: @clairacassidy @finanmoghra @uunotheangel @hb8301 @bathedinheat @neonhairspray @anaeve @bubblyabs @travelingmypassion @sylasthegrim @bubbles-for-all-of-us @andakth @chompchompluke @willowbrookesblog @lady-targaryens-world @skyofficialxx @diosademuerte @elle4404 @alexagirlie @sweetxime @solango @gemini-mama @cheyennep3107 @little-diable @jennifer0305 @drwstarkeyy @mrsarnasdelicious @verenahx @urmomsgirlfriend1 @moonchildrenandflowercrowns

#sihtric kjartansson #the last kingdom #sihtric x reader #sihtric x you #sihtric #sihtric fic #the last kingdom fic #tlk #modern!sihtric

111 notes · View notes

chiquititaosita · 1 year

Note

if you can, could you write op monster trio with a sick reader? (pre-chopper joining the team)

ive been sick for the past week and one piece has turned into my comfort anime, and i still have a lonv way to go haha

thank you in advance, hope you're having a nice day!

i got you my darling! im just recovering from being sick three weeks ago. (Sinus and chest congestion) please get some rest and remember to try and rest as much as possible. good luck (I’m still getting there with you :) )

Fluff, cute shit. And just vibing

Monster trio with a sick reader (pre- chopper joining)

Luffy

- don’t get me started 😭

- he’s going to want you to rest. Even if you’re feeling fine. He’s going to make sure you’re being taken care for by sanji (since luffy says his soups can help a cold)

-“ NO y/n.. rest.” he’ll say it in a stern like tone

- Out of the times he was serious outside OF FIGHTING

- he’s only harsh on you when you’re sick because he loves you that’s why.

-“I want you to rest! So you can get stronger!”

-“so when you’re strong enough ! I’ll be able to protect you.” He grins as he’s nuzzling your face.

- “hey y/n! how are you feeling?” He’ll walk in with a happiest grin on his face.

- if he doesn’t sleep in your quarters that night or during those nights. When he wakes up you’re the very first person on top of his brain.

-he’ll sometimes surprise you with drawings (I think he draws stick figures sometimes lol) “look what I made you!”-

-“see it’s you me and the treasure we found!”

-“what’ are those other people right there?” You pointed at that pft of the drawing.

-“oh that’s zoro with his swords and sanji smoking a cigarette, nami is there stealing the money. That’s ussopp shooting a cannon. Oh look that’s robin not giving a-“ you love how creative he is.

- when you get better he lets you do more tasks just to stimulate your brain.

- recovery is just him being excited because he knows you’re being loved and cared for

Zoro

-“woah you okay?”

- “y-yeah I’m fi-fine.” you replied in between coughs.

-ngl zoro will drop everything to protect you.

-“you have to rest.. dummy.” he’ll flick in your forehead because you’re a stubborn pendeja

-“noooo i Can get up..” you fell as he picked you up for almost fainting. It had been a few hours since you passed out, and zoro periodically checked up on you everyday. but today felt different.

-zoro went to go and see you. That was until he noticed a blonde male with curly eyebrows humming and holding a dish going into the same direction he’s going to.

-“what’s that for?” Zoro referred to the dish

-“oh this is for Y/n Chan! I heard she was sick, so I made her some soup to cheer her up” he mentioned, and asked why zoro was going to see you

-“I’m checking on her… that’s all.” He blushed lightly, looking away.

-“ you know ever since she came on the sunny. You’ve gotten soft.” Sanji snickered as he was keeping his laughter down.

“Why I outta—-“ he’s just going to argue with him usually but today he had no energy for that.

-“forget it. I guess you’re right I just really care about her you know .” The moss head huffed as he was given the dish.

- “shit I gotta finish dinner!- give this to y/n chwan will you?!” Sanji literally ran off to the kitchen just as zoro made it to your door.

“Oi, y/n Can I come in?” zoro poked his head out of the door.

-“ it’s open.” you mumbled as you were bundled into the blankets. You smelled the soup and poked your head out.

-“hey.. how are you feeling?” he placed the dish of soup down on the little table near you, and gazed upon you. Zoro had missed your face. He hated seeing you feeling unwell, and miserable.

-“I’m okay. Just bored…sick and out of my mind….what’s that for.?” You pointed at the soup

-“curly made you dinner and wanted you to eat first. He said he hopes you feel better.” He rolled his eyes over the words about a certain cook. You couldn’t help but chuckle

-“awe that’s sweet of him. But what about you?” You gestured him to come lay with you, and he plopped himself onto your warm body, clinging onto you like a little koala.

-“ why did you come back? I thought you were training.” you hugged him as he laid on top of you, he hadn’t thought about it like that. Zoro just missed hearing your voice motivating him to keep going, seeing your smile, hearing your voice, especially seeing you looking adorable when mad or yelling. Annoying him while training.

- Literally you were like his personal chihuahua. It just didn’t feel the same without your presence near him. Especially when y’all took naps together after training or if y’all just felt lazy.

-“i- well- um. I finished early. it was just..that I like- training with you more. It was annoying to not hear you yell my name ‘zoro this zoro that zoro can we take a break my boobs hurt?’ ‘Zoro carry me. Zo-Chan hold my hand. ‘“ he mocked your voice and it made you laugh as you nuzzled into it.

-“Awee so you did miss me..” you nuzzled him, as he pulled himself up to hug you in the bed.

-“don’t push it..” he rolled his eyes as he kissed the top of your head.

-“I love you.”

-“ I love you too you big goof.” You sighed happily as you knew you were the luckiest woman on earth.

Sanji

- now him HEHEHEHE OMG

- the minute he noticed you were sick, you missed breakfast and you never EVER MISS BREAKFAST! You get up around the same time as sanji.

- “y/n- my loveee! It’s time to get up!!” He sang as he tried to wake you up from you quarters.

-“ really? It’s too early .” you coughed into your fist. You sounded very congested, and your eyes looked so puffy. Your natural bed head with your textured mane, all over the place. he was in awe of how beautiful you sounded in the morning!!

-Sanji immediately gasped as he heard your voice. “Oh no! My Angel! You’re sick!! please lay down to rest! Your prince is going to take care of you!!” he kissed the top of your head, placing your tea near the night stand.

“S-sanji i’m f-fine!!” You tried to push him off your shoulders that was until you ran to the bathroom. acid reflux! or even food poisoning DUN DUN DUN. You must’ve felt like your guts were being rearranged and not the good kind. Luckily it was not sanjis cooking. Because he would’ve been crushed. It was someone else’s leftovers from the previous island you brought in.

-he immediately ran after you, patting your back. “It’s okay, darling. Let it out. you’ll be okay.” He’ll gently pull away your hair out of your face. when you finished throwing up you began to wash up. You went to the kitchen to see if you could put up your cup of tea and wash it.

-that was originally the plan until your blonde man put his hand over your hand, disposing his cigarette immediately after seeing you in sweatpants and a big baggy tshirt. His eyes go into heart shapes.

- “You look adorable as ever.” He coos and pinches your cheeks. you rolled your eyes at him.

-“oh hush your face babe. ..” you mumbled as he embraced you.

-“let me wash that cup for you. Go sit down I’ll make you a plate ” he kissed your cheeks, and booped your nose then forcing your stubborn ass to sit down, after taking your empty cup of tea away from you. you just loved how he shook his hips and sang a little song about you making your plate. it’s one of the reasons you fell in love with him.

-“are you singing [song name]??” You giggled

“Yup!!! Because it’s your fault! You got it stuck.in . My. Head.” He poked you jokingly and lovingly at the end of each syllable. Serving you a cup of fruits and sweets.

-“oh shut up you!! how was breakfast?” You asked him as you were tracing the table cloth, sitting in your seat. You’re not even used to the princess treatment that he’s been giving you.

-“ it was good, I already told everyone you weren’t feeling well, they went off the ship already to gather resources and meds to make sure you feel better” you smiled at him already as he made you some avocado toast, taking a bite of the dishes your face lit up, as you did a little happy dance.

- you know when the food is delicious when you do a happy dance when you eat.

- “Oh my how this is amazing.I’m so happy I can taste your food!” you smiled at him with a little sniffle

-“oh y/n merolineee! the way you compliments me takes me a few steps from ascending into heaven.”

- yes overall Sanji best boy to take care of you during pre chopper era.

#one piece imagines #sanji x fem reader #sanji x latina reader #sanji fluff #one piece x reader #sanji x y/n #zoro x reader #pirate hunter zoro #luffy x reader #roronoa zoro #zoro imagine #zoro fluff #luffy fluff #straw hat luffy

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vee-beeee · 6 months

Text

(Part one) Robo Road Trip

HIIII

This is PART ONE BABY (edit I FINISHED COOKING right here)

Okay the last dbh post was KINDAA giving depression so heres a FLUFFY fluffy one thats been bouncing around my brain for a couple days, part one as im going to make a continuation that shows what camping is like with the boys.

Premise: Road Trip to the West coast with Conner, Nines and Sixty

Imagine those roads with trees surrounding them, thats the vibe

Also first time writing for SIXTY whoooo hope im not trash, he acts like a smug dramatic guy so idk

Conner, Nines and Sixty x reader

I believeee this is around 3k lol i went ham

Warnings: maybe a bad word because sixty, fluff with a capitol F, part one

I also recommended listening to ANY Lord Huron song while reading this, that is basically the road trip music

(Hey sidenote, I know some of the ecosystem is TRASHED in dbh but lets pretend thats not happening LOL)

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You were so happy to get out of the city.

And into the car for a 35 hour drive.

You really wanted to show your boys the mountain you would always camp at when you were on the West Coast. They all hadn't been outside of Detroit, being made to do one job IN Detroit, but now they were all deviant.

And you wanted to show them a taste of the outside world.

It took a while for you all to get packed, the droids really wanted to try experimenting with their wardrobes on this trip. They sought to explore their inner human as much as possible.

You all needed the appropriate gear, so you guys went on a little shopping spree to find a tent and basic camping stuff. Hank had actually tagged along to coach you guys on what to get, having gone camping a couple times himself. (he mostly talked with you and Conner while sending glares to Sixty and Nines)

You ended up getting a pretty fancy tent that was big enough for all of you, and some essential equipment for cooking and cleaning. You also snuck in some board and card games, even though you knew they would beat you. But you could probably win ONE time...

Right??

After buying the gear, you guys got planning. You could only stay camping for 5 days, as the station didn't necessarily enjoy losing 4 cops. Especially 3 of the 4 being advanced detective androids. But it had worked out, (the boys having saved an astronomical amount of sick days) and you planned on going sometime in the fall. You decided on a week and you remember hurriedly running to your calendar and circling the date and also drawing a bunch of small doodles around it. The boys had all watched you fondly, getting excited themselves.

It all lead up to this moment, where Conner sitting next to you in the driver seat and was setting the location in his new GPS, Nines and Sixty where packing the car, and you were making a road trip playlist. (Hey that's very important!)

"Hey Conner?" He hummed in response and didn't look at you, too busy trying to figure out a new gadget he got for his car.

"Do you like Lord Huron?" You were trying to decide what the perfect music to play was and realized that Lord Huron existed. You weren't really sure how androids experienced music so you thought of asking. He huffed out a sigh directed at the troublesome device and turned to look at your phone, where you also had your eyes glued.

"I don't really listen to music as such, but Hank has introduced me to heavy metal. Is it like that?" You giggled remembering Hanks music taste

"No its more gentle, relaxing. It reminds me of walking in the woods." Out of the corner of your eye Conner looked away, LED blinking amber and blue. He looked back at you with a soft smile and this time you met his gaze.

"That sounds delightful, my dear. Perfect for this occasion" You flushed at the nickname, and he chuckled seeing your reaction. He leaned in and kissed your cheek before exiting the car, hearing Sixty's call that they were almost done. You sat in the vehicle, skin heating, and raising a hand to graze the place he kissed you. You loved when he did that. A steady knock at the window startled you and you whipped around to see a familiar face (sixty) smirking at you, seeing that you were flushed. You stuck your tongue out at him and he reciprocated, sticking his tongue back at you.

"If you two would stop behaving like children, we would be done much sooner." A booming voice cut through your contest with sixty, and you watched him roll his eyes and face an annoyed Nines. You got out of the car to go help the RK900 with what he was carrying. He was still grumpy so you smiled softly at him and mouthed an apology. He relaxed slightly, but still shot a glare at sixty, who chuckled and went back into the apartment and get more bags. You then took the time to appreciate Conner's awesome Bat Mobile car. It had a huge trunk that managed to fit all of your stuff, tent included. It was truly a miracle machine.

You walked over to the car and gave the suitcase to Conner who situated it nicely in a perfect space. You were also lucky to have android boyfriends who were amazing at managing tight spaces and fitting things into them.

After a couple of minutes, Sixty emerged with the last of the bags. He informed you all that he locked the house up and engaged the security systems. The final step. You were really going.

You all piled into the car, both Nines and Sixty insisting you take the front seat. You accepted, but promised to swap with them when you got to the next stop. Most rest stops would be for you, needing to get food or use a restroom. The droids didn't need anything but told you they needed to get up and stretch their legs once in a while ( but you think that was just their excuse so they could follow you around and make sure you were safe at suspicious gas stations.)

After a while of driving through the city, Conner was getting on the highway when you announced that you would be playing a Lord Huron song and see how everyone liked it. You turned on "Meet Me in the Woods" and leaned back to look out the window.

"I took a little journey to the unknown,

And I've come back changed I can feel it in my bones

I messed with the forces our eyes cant see

Now the darkness got a hold on me

Oh, the darkness got a hold on me"

You had closed your eyes and started to quietly sing along, and realized you should see what the others thought about it. You turned your head slightly to Conner staring out at the road ahead, his LED blinking yellow and blue. He had a soft, lingering smile on his face and his posture was relaxed.

Sixty had his eyes closed, leaning his head all the way back on the seat and seemed to be absorbing the music.

Nines was also leaning back, arms crossed. He was staring out the window with his LED a soft, stable amber. He turned slightly to just catch the end of your gaze and his lips twitched in a cute, endearing way. It was a Nines smile. You smiled back at him and turned around to look out the front windshield. It was raining slightly, and you were just leaving the city and into the unknown. It was perfect.

After the song had finished, you tore your eyes away from the road

"Did you all like it?" you hopefully gazed at each individual and noticed they all looked at peace. Conner spoke first

"Do you have more music of that energy? I think I enjoyed it."

"I agree. More please"

"Indeed"

You looked around to see everyone nodding their heads and you beamed. And so, your playlist made it past the android enjoyment test. You settled in as it started the next song, feeling content. You could totally do 35 hours.

(4 hours in)

Update: why would you do this to yourself. 35 hours? Were you crazy? You loved road trips as much as the next guy, but you were dying. You guys were currently stuck in traffic, and the boys had gotten involved in a pretty intense "dad stuck in traffic" fight.

"Nines, going on I90 would have taken us to the heart of Chicago, do you want more traffic?"

"No it wouldn't if we took the round about. Whose the more advanced android here Conner."

"Woah, low blow"

"Be quiet Sixty"

This started as Nines getting mad at Conner for taking them down a road that had high traffic at that hour, and Conner defending himself. Sixty had no argument, he just liked being included.

"I took 294 because I knew it would keep us out of the worst of the traffic. No matter what, traffic is inevitable."

"It could have been avoidable had you followed my instructions"

You were sitting in the passenger seat, eyes squeezed shut listening to them argue. It was infuriating.

So you did something.

"Guys I'm going to jump out of the car and sprint down the street like a crazy person if you don't stop arguing. I'm dead serious" You snapped and stared them down. Or a least you tried, because your face betrayed you and you broke out into a smile giggle.

Conner looked guilty at first, but saw your grin and started chuckling, envisioning you running down the street like a madman. Nines bristled, still annoyed. Even if your giggle made his lips quirk. You made eye contact with Sixty and he was smirking at you, taking out his coin to mess around with.

You eventually sighed, a couple minutes having passed. You turned around to address Nines.

"Traffic was inevitable" then you turned to Conner "No arguing". You took Conner's hand in yours and held it. Another smile broke out onto his face and he turned to look out on the road. You felt a hand graze your neck and you twisted around to see Nines reaching out. He moved forward to peck your temple and then quietly apologized to Conner.

Mission Successful.

But that was mission one. Mission two was figuring out how to go to use the bathroom. Because you were currently stuck in traffic. That wasn't great. After a couple minutes of fidgeting your legs, Conner took his hand away from holding yours and looked toward you. His gaze was steady, as his LED blinked and you knew in the back of your head that he was scanning you.

"Do you have to use the lavatory?" You gasped and shoved his shoulder, watching him bite back a laugh, and then started sinking in to your seat.

"Conner! That's so embarrassing."

"Did maybe someone tell you to go before we left? Oh wait, that sounds like something I would say" Sixty spoke up from the back of the car. You turned around to gape at him, and he just sat there looking smug. You could hear Conner and Nines subdued chuckling behind the music that was playing.

You ended up holding out, absolutely refusing to go in the woods by the road, insisting that someone would see you. Conner pulled over at a gas station and you all but flew out of the car and bolted through the store until skidding to a stop right outside the bathroom.

When you got out, Sixty was buying your favorite snack and you saw Conner and Nines fueling up the car out the window. They were seriously so thoughtful.

After Sixty was done paying, you came up behind him and hugged his middle. He laughed and held your hands still on his middle, and spun you. You squeaked and he laughed harder. He stopped and unwrapped you to kiss your head and hand you your prized snack. You pecked his lips and left, both of you saying good day to the amused employee working there.

(17 hours in)

It started getting really late so you guys stayed at a motel for the night. You guys all relaxed on a fluffy bed, all party's included were happy to stretch their legs. You and Nines had been switching front seat and back seat, and Sixty had repeatedly old you he was fine where he was. Nines had revealed to you later that Sixty just wanted to sit next to you.

You got up from the bed first, eager to get ready and sleep. When you came out 30 minutes later, Conner was laying still under the blankets, staring at the celling. Nines was also under, and had rolled over to face the window. And Sixty had apparently, at some point while you were in the bathroom, been knocked off the bed. He was currently face down on the floor. You giggled and nudged his side. He rolled over, clutching his heart.

"They, (fake coughing) their so mean. They shoved me off the bed" you shook your head and leaned down on your knees to kiss his cheek. He accepted and rolled back over on his face. Conner then spoke up from the bed

"I wouldn't kiss his face, this floor is filthy." You stood up and laughed, making your way to the bed and crawling over him to slip between him and Nines. Nines stiffened until he got comfortable, and Conner wrapped his arms around you to spoon you.

"Just say your jealous she kissed me Conny" came a voice from the floor. Conner scoffed and replied with another rhetorical comment hidden in a nice tone. Nines joined in just when you started slipping into sleep, and the last thing you heard before you left to dream world was Conner whispering goodnight into your ear.

In the morning you woke up covered in androids. Very snugly droids. You all then got packed up and set off. During the drive, You found out Sixty had crawled into bed after you and shoved Nines off when he was in rest mode. Nines woke up very alarmed, and decided to continue his rest in one the the chairs in the room the motel provided. You had felt so bad afterwards, but he insisted it was fine.

You guys were driving through North Dakota today, and you were currently knitting. The boys were discussing a case that was giving them a hard time. You would have joined in but you believed in not talking about work on your precious vacation time. You were sitting in the back seat now, Sixty at your side, and it was very domestic. You felt a hand wrap itself around your knee and you smiled, continuing your stitch.

(30 hours in)

You were totally knocked out. The boys wanted to continue driving to beat traffic, and were currently talking through their android Verizon service (using their minds) as to not wake you up.

But you still accidently woke up with a start when Sixty had rolled his shoulder, unintentionally dropping your head off him. You had apparently drifted off resting your face on his soft puffy jacket.

To which he did NOT mind.

You squeaked awake, being surprisingly shoved off your pillow. Sixty immediately said a quiet apology, but it was too late. 2 angry droids turned there seats around to glare down the accused RK800.

"We told you to stay still" they said that almost in synch

"I was reaching for a blanket! I didn't know a small movement would wake her!"

You sleepily giggled at their little argument and passed out against him once again.

When you woke up for real, you were informed that you guys were almost three hours away. You breathed a sigh of relief, but still begged to pull over so you could get some air. You were in a beautiful parts of the woods and you desperately needed a stretch after sleeping on Sixty. No offence, but snuggling with androids is like snuggling with a very sturdy pillow. Your happy for it, but its not very squishy.

Nines had chuckled at how desperate you looked and obliged. You popped out and basically ran halfway down the road and back. You were huffing when you came back to the car. Conner rolled his window down, eyebrow raised. You wheezed

"Sorry, needed to run" He nodded in understanding, and actually got out himself to stretch his android joints and put on his cute little beanie. Sixty got out and straightened his tie, and Nines choose to stay in the car and work on coordinates. Sixty walked around the car to join you and Conner, and looped his arms around your waist. You yelped as he picked you up slightly to sling you back in forth.

"How are you enjoying the road trip?" He punctuated each word with a swing of your body. You were laughing when you responded "Good, but I'm excited to get there" Conner had been watching you fondly when he stated

"Nines says its 3 more hours, but we might get delayed depending on traffic." you nodded and Sixty set you down. You then went up to go hug Conner, making sure he wasn't missing any affection.

After more standing and stretching, you got in the front seat with Nines next to you, setting the car to auto drive. Conner and Sixty were sitting in the back, playing one of the card games you brought and starting to get very competitive with each other. You beamed and turned back to look at Nines. His eyes weren't on the road, however. He was staring at you with an expression of absolute love. You both sat and stared at each other until he leaned over and grabbed the back of your head, threaded his fingers into your hair, and kissed your temple. You shivered as his fingers rubbed your scalp and he grinned against your temple.

(5 minutes away from campsite)

You were bouncing off the walls excited. It had been years since you visited this spot, having been to far away after moving to Detroit. The boys had been enjoying the scenery outside the city, but now the were enthralled. The woods were huge, and the air was fresh. Moss hung from the arms of the trees and you could see your mountain peeking over the top of the forest. You guys were waiting in line at the entrance of the campsite to check in, and you were gushing about how pretty your spot was. It was nestled in the corner of the campsite, leading into a trail into your own personal forest. Complete with a little stream.

The androids were amused watching you talk about the park, but they were almost as excited as you. When you were sleeping, all they talked about was this new experience, and how happy they were to share it with you. It was interesting seeing all the new environments and experiencing what its like outside of the city. Detroit was so advanced, and they had never really been deep in the woods.

After patiently waiting, you finally got all checked in and remembered to buy some firewood.

Then, you were off.

Starting your very first camping trip with your wonderful android boyfriends

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PART ONE YALL

Hope its okay, had to really crack at this one to fit all my ideas in. Its also hard to write the dynamic between 4 people LOL

Hope I managed to capture their personalities okay

Part 2 is all about them camping so stay tuned

It might take a bit so hang on and let me cook 🔥

Sorry for plot holes or if this has been done beforee

#dbh connor #dbh connor x reader #dbh rk800 #detroit become human #dbh nines #dbh rk900 #dbh rk900 x reader #dbh sixty #dbh sixty x reader #road trip

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slippinninque · 5 months

Text

A Lil' Bit Special

The upcoming holiday has you feeling brave, so you decide to take a change.

Fontaine x black reader

warnings: long-fic, bad attempts at seduction and flirting, cursing, smoking, rambling and my horrid attempts at writing humor lol

::::

It was one of those days in autumn where it was just pleasant enough to hang outside. The sun was strong through the few clouds that grazed the sky, the breeze more cool than crisp.

Stacy decided that you needed to "get out more" so it somehow led to her low-key kidnapping you. Apparently there was a kickback happening with "a few friends already coming".

"It'll get you all ready to play hostess later on, trust me." Stacy offered as an excuse to your rolling eyes.

Wasn't long before you were parked, you two leaving the car to meet up with the rest of your girls.

It definitely became worth it when you saw a familiar Gran Prix not too far away.

You were playing the long game, but this was a beautiful opportunity.

To the knowing smiles and grins from your friends, you pardoned yourself to begin walking over to Fontaine's car.

You faltered when you were close enough to see him speaking with someone bent through the passenger window.

You weren't brave enough to have an audience. Another time then.

'Another time, then.' You thought, turning to retreat to retreat when you heard the soft bop of a horn.

Fontaine crooked his finger for you to come over and you huffed to hide the smile creeping on your face as you did.

"Huh, so you're honking at me like I'm some sort of peasant?"

"My bad, Lil'Bit, my bad. It looked like you wanted to talk to me about somethin'."

Your face warmed at his nickname for you, "I do, actually! Real quick, I know you're busy an' all that. I didn't want to interrupt."

Fontaine smacked his lips and gestured to the passenger seat.

"C'mon in here and talk to me, don' be standing out there."

Your heart squealed but you played it cool, "Can't do that--I'm hangin' with the ladies right now, but I do need you to say 'yes' to something."

He huffed a laugh, "And what's that?"

You leaned into the car a bit through the driver side window, propped onto your elbows and wore your best smile.

"I'm here to invite you to my Friendsgiving soiree later this week."

Fontaine paused, eyes going a bit narrow, "Friendsgiving?"

The butterflies returned under his scrutiny but you busied yourself, reaching out to run your index finger along the ridges of his steering wheel's grip. As far as your finger could reach before going back tracking on the opposite side.

"I don't have any family here, so I host one for all my people that can come through. ."

When you looked up, you saw he was watching your fidgeting with rapt attention.

"I would like to see you there. Big Moss too, if you can bring 'em. Anyone really--there's going to be enough to feed an army."

This was a bit of a risk for you. After all, he could consider you more of a familiar customer if anything.

You could have the vibes all wrong. Misread the looks, the small but thoughtful gestures. The few but pleasurable conversations they've had thus far...

You watched his eyes slide from your fingers and up to meet yours, the most expressive pair of eyes you've seen, your favorite part of that man.

"Yes."

You couldn't help but to smile. You were down bad but if there was a chance that Fontaine would like to join you, fuck it. You wanted to burrow in that.

"Wonderful! Bring anything you like, but it's not mandatory or nothing." You spotted a dude walking up through the passenger side window and straightened.

"I'll see you later, 'Taine, yeah?"

He nodded and when you turned to make your way to your friends, you could feel them warming your back.

::::

You spent the rest of the week getting ready to host. You did all of the prep and cooking of the essential sides, just in case plans changed. You would rather have too much food to end up giving away rather than too little to share.

When thanksgiving finally rolled around, you allowed yourself to get swept up in the festivities.

There was a lot of food. Friends who couldn't make it sent forward a dish to be shared the next day. Coworkers who came through to get something on their stomachs before going to the company's booze-only party.

Neighbors who lingered and played a few hands of Spades, bringing fruits and plants as gifts. There were drinks and smoke flowing with the easy togetherness that you were grateful for.

You were in a bit of a difficult standing with your family at the moment. A lot of silences, hesitant texts. It just needed some work, when you were ready to do it. Until then, you still reached out to the fam to let them know you were still thinking of them.

The evening came and your core crew began dispersing. You felt floating and full yourself, tipsy from the good time you've been having since the afternoon. Your apron was filled with messes and you long ago slipped on your slippers.

While farewells happened in the front room, you went into the kitchen to make a few to-go plates and map out exactly how all the left over were going to fit in your fridge.

"You wasn't fuckin' around, Lil'Bit."

Startling, you looked over your shoulder and saw Fontaine standing there with a few bags in hand. You felt your face flame, knowing how much of a mess you looked.

"You're here already?" You checked the time on your phone, "Of course you are, you'd said you'd be a little later. Sit, sit. I'll make you a plate."

"I ain't trippin', I can make it--"

You turned, walking right up to Fontaine and for some reason found yourself grabbing the zipper of his jacket.

"I'm glad you're here, Fontaine. Show me what you brought while I make your plate."

Silently, Fontaine put the bags on the island. Putting the assorted fruit platter and wine bottle onto the kitchen counter.

Bless his heart, he brought paper plates and plastic silverware too. You cooed, grabbing the big count of assorted utensils and immediately tearing into them.

Before long, Fontaine was leaning against your fridge with a hefty plate as you returned to the to-go plates.

"Is 'Moss with you?" You just remembered with a jolt.

Fontaine hummed a positive, "Out there talkin' to Stacy."

You laughed a bit, making an extra plate. With the finished plates, you went to the front room to pass them out. You greeted Big Moss and wished safe travels to your departing friends.

There was only Big Moss, Stacy, yourself, Fontaine. You should have stayed in the front to get Stacey to put away her pretty little eyes, less she get involved in the whirlwind of Big Moss and his baby mama--but...

You switched on your radio and lowered it, asking them if they needed anything.

"Girl, sit yo' tail down." Stacy admonished, shuffling a deck of cards while Moss poured something for them both, "You've been standing all day. Eat something too, while you're at it!"

"Eek, alright, you can't fuss at me in my house!"

Stacy made a show of narrowing her eyes and you hightailed it out of there. You took one of the stools with you, plopping it next to the one already pulled to the island.

Fontaine was rolling a blunt next to his plate. When you finally took a seat, you took a deep sigh. The kitchen would have to wait until morning, you would put all the food away the best you can.

'A happy trouble.' you told yourself as you took in the spread on the island.

A bunt being set in front of you brought you out of your head. Fontaine rounded the island to take a seat on the stool before you. Taking out the lighter in your apron, you fired up in one flame.

"My bad for comin' so late. Big Moss' Mama roped us into cleaning up after her and her gang."

"Her...gang?"

You passed the blunt to him as he nodded, "Somethin' about a knitting circle potluck. I ain't even sure, but she was laughing...so..."

He shrugged but you understood. So long as Mama Moss was having a good time, it didn't matter what she needed.

"Not the Mama Moss Gang." You giggled at the image of Fontaine and Big Moss chaperoning knitters going wild.

He grinned, chuckling a bit. You both fell into easy conversation, comfortable and familiar as you passed the blunt back and forth.

In the background you heard Stacy and Big Moss talking shit and a Lauryn Hill song played. Fontaine glowed in the low light of single kitchen light.

"You want somethin' sweet?" You asked him, your appetite perking up. Fontaine made a low noise, considering?

He tamped out the blunt, "Whatchu got sweet, Lil'Bit?"

"Ugh, I demand a new nickname." You leaned over to grab the top of the cake container settled in the middle of the chaos, "How'd you feel about pound cake? I made the frosting too."

You didn't wait for his response. You cut two generous slices and put them on the same paper plate.

Fontaine passed you a plastic fork, "Can't do pound cake, I ain't lettin' no one else call you that shit."

You stared at him blankly for a moment before you scoffed, soon trying to smother your laugh into your hand. You stood to pour two glasses of milk,

"Well, I don't like Lil'Bit. It makes me feel like you don't take me seriously."

"I take you serious, 'Bit. Trust an' believe. I'm tryin' not to take you too serious."

"What's that mean, Fontaine?"

He tilted his head and gave you one of those faraway looks that meant he was choosing his next words very carefully. You sliced your cake into little squares and waited.

He reached out and took one of your hands it began to fidget, "That came out crazy. I dig you. I think you're somthin' special. I don't...want to run you off. 'Cause you ain't seen it all yet."

Turning your hand so you'd meet his palm to palm, your stared into his eyes.

"What is it that you think I need to see to make me not want you?"

That was a bit heavy handed, but you couldn't make yourself feel regretful if you tried. Especially when you saw his eyes train onto where you still held hands, not able to say anything.

"I don't mean to force you," You said softly, "I just wanted to let you know how I feel. That I like what you've let me see so far and...I would like to show you more of me too."

His brows rose and you sighed, "Alright, I'm a few double-shots down---Okay? I can't dismantle every innuendo."

You were glad to see his face soften, the hand around yours holding a bit tighter.

"It's all good. I'm looking forward to what we'll show each other next."

He lifted your hand, paused a bit, then pressed a kiss to your knuckles.

He promised to think of a name that would 'better suit you'.

Your heart sang at the nearly bashful look he shot you and suddenly you couldn't wait to see how many nights you could get this man to kiss you over dessert.

You kept yourself present, though. Fontaine seemingly done with words as he turned back to his cake. He was content to hold your hand, rubbing his thumb along your knuckles.

There was still more words to be had, but there was always tomorrow.

This, right now though, was one exciting start.

-----------

notes: PHEW! this one was a longer one. thank you for reading all of this, i just really wanted to write something holiday themed for Fontaine. Any feed back is welcomed!

#fontaine x black reader #they cloned tyrone #soft fic #they cloned tyrone fic #this took so long but i'm so proud lol #i may still edit some things lol

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hoshinoyozora · 1 year

Text

The Red Darling

🖤 Pairing: Yandere! Vil Schoenheit x Female! Reader

💛 Word Count: 2,7k+

❤ Warnings: -

[Edited]

Do not re-upload my writing to another website or use it without my permission. Also, don’t ask for a sequel unless I like the story enough to write one. Please reblog so other people can see my stories!

***

I’ve been obsessed with Luz’s song called Darling Blue. The storyline is still confusing to me, but the old song vibes is just *chef’s kiss* I might just write the Neige version. Also, Epel here isn’t/wasn’t Vil’s junior.

“Honestly, how could she neglect her own health like this?”

Vil sighed as he exited the Magicam that once showed the video of you signing your albums to the fans. It wasn’t the first time he’d watched it, nor was it the first video he’d ever watched, but it wasn’t what he focused on the most. It was your sluggish movements, your droopy eyes, your stifled yawns, and your fatigued smiles. Your fans might not see those signs, or they might choose to ignore them, but he did see and he did pay attention.

After all, Vil Schoenheit was your biggest fan.

Despite your imperfect voice, he admired how you always strived to improve yourself. He, out of all people, knew perfection didn’t exist yet he chose to be the best version of himself anyway. Although, there was a lingering regret that Vil wasn’t able to find and support you from the beginning of your career. Regardless, he wasn’t too late. He was there when you performed in a small stage, and he was there when you performed in a bigger stage.

But it seemed that you tried too hard this time.

Pressing a certain number, Vil put the phone to his ear.

“Hello, Adella. When is [Name]’s next concert?”

“Huh? This is the first time you ask that kind of thing.”

“Just tell me already.”

“Wait, let me check.” There was a momentary pause, and Vil tapped his foot impatiently. “It’s on the second week next month. Why?”

“I need the VIP ticket.”

“What?!”

“Do not make me repeat myself, Adelle.”

“O-oh, of course. I’ll purchase the ticket and send it to you as soon as possible.”

“Good, thank you. I’ll be sure to repay the money.”

He turned off the call before she could utter another word and huffed. Honestly, why was she so surprised? It wasn’t as if he’d ever hidden his fondness for you, even if he didn’t particularly gush over you like many of your fans did.

Stroking the photo of you smiling to the camera with a microphone in hand, while the crowd was cheering on you from below the platform, Vil leaned forward and kissed your face. It was his favorite photo due to the perfect mixture of spotlight and sweat that illuminated your glowing features.

And very soon, he’d be able to see it from up close.

***

You sighed wistfully as you stared at the photos of you and your ex, Epel. Your relationship used to be a secret, as it should, due to his status as a mere apple juice merchant. But, suddenly, a news broke out that one of his products was apparently poisoned and it froze the victim until morning. They sued him, and although it was fortunate that he didn’t get imprisoned, Epel still lost a significant amount of money and fame. You tried to help him, because you knew he was planning to propose you, but Epel feared for your futures.

And, thus, he decided to break up with you.

You were devastated, although deep down, you were still in denial of his charges. Epel was the type to pick a fight with someone if they pissed him off rather than poisoning them. Not ‘manly’, he’d say. And yet, even that wasn’t enough to save your relationship. Wasn’t enough to make him believe in you the same way you did in him. Not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t. Too much was at stake here, and no matter how much you tried to convince him that you could be the breadwinner later on, he still refused. For him, a job was another part of his pride.

And now, not even his apple cutting skills could save him from shame. Internally and externally.

So, you threw yourself to work. You practiced day and night, all to forget the depression that crept up on you when there was no music as a distraction and to avoid your manager’s scolding. There was only so much she could tolerate from you, and isolating yourself in your room might just be the end of her patience. The exhaustion shook your body, worsened by the starvation caused by your diet, but you forced yourself to smile. To your fans, and now…

“Vil Schoenheit will be attending your concert later as a VIP. Please show your best self.”

To him.

It wasn’t as if you hated him. Oh, no. If you looked at it from another angle, his perfectionism was admirable. He showed and deserved nothing less. In fact, you could even say you preferred him than Neige. But today was different. Today, you were at your worst self. You didn’t even know if you could survive five minutes on the stage. What would the Vil Schoenheit think of you, then? Being the second most famous actor in Twisted Wonderland was bound to sway some opinions easily, and after all the hard work you’d put in, you didn’t know how to handle the breakdown should you fail to impress him later on.

And you succeeded, even if it was just barely. Otherwise, your manager wouldn’t have told you that he was waiting for you at his private room. At the very least, you managed to stand and smile at the crowd and cameras earlier. It was still an achievement in itself, no matter how petty it seemed.

“Excuse me, Schoenheit? My manager said you want to talk to me.”

“Oh, yes. Come here, and don’t call me Schoenheit. It looks like you’re calling my father instead.”

You tittered and sat down beside him with enough distance to be appropriate.

“So, what do you want to talk about?”

“I’ll be honest, you didn’t reach the high note in your first song.”

You flinched, not expecting the abrupt comment. You knew you made a lot of mistakes, especially recently, but it still stung.

“I-I see. I was trying, though.”

“I know, but your exhaustion has hindered your performance. I expect you to take care of yourself the same way you do to your work.”

He was right, but it didn’t mean you could accept it easily. It wasn’t as if you overworked yourself because you wanted to, anyway.

“… Yes, thank you for your advice, Schoen– I mean, Vil.”

“Don’t just thank me. You should apply it from now on.”

“Of course.”

Somehow, he made you feel as if he was your manager. Or, worse, your mother.

“Therefore, I decided to bring you to dinner with me. Regardless of your mistakes, you still did your best for the sake of your fans. So you deserve a nice meal, at the very least.”

You wondered how many whiplash you’d get from him. First, he suddenly attended your concert as a VIP. Then, he judged your performance so harshly. And now, he invited you to dinner? No, you realized, it wasn’t an invitation. It was an order. And the restaurant wasn’t a typical five star one, either.

No, it was the kind that took months just for a reservation.

Luckily, Vil didn’t talk much during mealtime. He ate calmly and gracefully, savoring each bite. You felt even more conscious of your table manner, and you clumsily tried to follow everything he did. You weren’t sure if you should be flattered or embarrassed when he huffed in amusement.

“Let’s go to my house. I just bought [flavor] tea and I want you to taste them.”

You wondered where did he find out that you liked that particular flavor. Did you tell it to your fans and you happened to forget? If so, then did that mean he was your fan too? The thought flattered you. Of course, it was only logical considering he came to your concert. Still, all of his invitations had been startling despite being a fan. Maybe because he was also as popular as you, if not more.

“You have a lovely home.” you remarked, glancing around the spotless living room.

“Of course. A tidy house reflects a tidy mind.”

You smiled bemusedly, too accustomed by forced humility that his confident answer surprised you a bit. And yet, you found that it suited him very well. He wasn’t lying, anyway, so he deserved to feel proud of himself. You could learn a thing or two about not putting yourself down too much.

“Sit down. I’m going to prepare the tea for a moment.”

The couch was plush and comfy, and after all the whirlwind of activities and the fatigue that came with it, you might as well be falling asleep here.

Luckily, you had a stronger self-control than that.

Your back immediately straightened up when Vil returned with a tray of porcelain cups depicting the poisoned apples. Despite his conduct befitting that of a queen, his elegance when he poured the tea from the teapot was no less amazing.

You sipped the tea as silently and slowly as you could, savoring the flavor and warmth as if it was your last drink. You’d refused the wine from the restaurant earlier, fearing that you’d make a fool out of yourself by getting drunk. It didn’t matter if you could hold up your alcohol well; Vil’s presence demanded only perfection.

“How does it taste like?”

“Refreshing. The scent really calms down my nerves.”

It wasn’t a lie; it did recompose you, even slightly.

“I’m glad you think so. I’ve been wanting to taste this as well.”

You wondered why he didn’t do it himself, but you supposed that drink, just like food, was more delicious and memorable with company.

“Um, may I use the restroom?”

“It’s the third door on the right.”

You passed the kitchen, where the window displayed the darkening sky. Not from the moon, but from the upcoming rain. Hastily, you did your business in fear of being staying over for too long. It smelled vaguely of apple, and the yellow light illuminated the sparkling bathroom. Branded toiletries lined up neatly in the cabinet, and the towels were meticulously white.

It wasn’t until you spotted a slightly ajar door did you stop on your tracks.

Now, of course, you knew curiosity killed the cat. And, in this case, the cat was your job. But when your gut feeling compelled you to approach the room, and see your pictures pinned on the dressing mirrors, you knew it was simultaneously a good and bad thing to do. One of them was you smiling to the camera with a microphone in hand, while the crowd was cheering on you from below the platform. There seemed to be a few lipstick marks on it, cementing Vil’s position as your fan. While the other was a photo of you and Epel, with an X sign crudely slashed onto his face.

It was your anniversary photo, and you wore your best camouflage outfit at that time, so how did he have it? Did the paparazzi stalk you without your knowledge and send it to him somehow? It had to. You couldn’t think of any other possibility.

But the question was why? Why would he have that? You thought he’d at least understand how hard it was to date someone, being a celebrity himself. And yet, the sign on Epel’s face suggested that he didn’t understand, let alone accept it.

He couldn’t accept it.

“Don’t you know that it’s rude to peek into someone’s room?”

You froze, and for a split second, you were tempted to rush inside and slam the door on his face. But that would be a suicidal move, wouldn’t it? It was his room, after all, and he could easily find a key to unlock the door.

“V-Vil,” you tittered. “I’m sorry. Did you wait long?”

The said man squinted at you.

“Long enough to catch a mouse lingering near a place where it shouldn’t be.”

“I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to be rude, I swear! I was just–”

Curious? Nosy? There was no point in defending yourself, and he knew that. So, you sighed heavily as your shoulders sagged in resignation.

“Why… do you have my photo?” you asked, almost whispering. “The one with my… friend. It was supposed to be a private event. You–” you paused, already doubting your impromptu decision to confront him. Was it even worth digging your grave for the sake of your practically nonexistent privacy? “You shouldn’t have that.”

Vil was quiet for a moment, but you didn’t dare to look up. He didn’t criticize your composure, either, or your posture.

“… Sometimes, I wonder about that too.” he mused softly. “When I first saw that photo, I should’ve burned it to ashes and stomped on it with my heels. But, instead, I let my hands shake and ultimately hang it on the mirror, if not as a source of… motivation.”

Somehow, you had a feeling it wasn’t a good kind of motivation. Your stomach churned at the thought.

“I did a background check on him, and was thoroughly disappointed in your choice of men.”

You flinched instinctively and opened your mouth to defend Epel, but his withering glare silence you quickly.

“I mean, an apple merchant from a small village?” he scoffed. “It was all just too easy, honestly, to set him up. I just needed to have someone buy one of his products, used my unique magic on it, and ordered them to give it to someone so they could have a ‘taste’.”

Your stomach plummeted, and you wished you could run back to the bathroom and puke all of that fancy food earlier.

“I almost pity him, really. He went from poor to destitute, but I suppose it’s still a lot better than death.”

“Why…?” you asked breathlessly, eyes stinging at the upcoming tears. “Why did you do that to him?! What did he do to you until he deserved that kind of fate?! Answer me, Schoenheit!”

His eyes darkened at the name usage just as the thunder boomed outside.

“Because a queen deserves a king by her side.”

You gaped at him. A king? Who was the king? Was it you? If so, didn’t a king deserve a good, sane queen by his side too?

Why did you feel more like a girl under the queen’s unfair wrath instead?

“… It’s getting late.” you mumbled. “I have practice tomorrow. Excuse me.”

Vil grabbed your arm, and you wondered if he could crush an apple with his grip.

“Where do you think you’re going? Can’t you see that it’s pouring out there?” he scolded as if he hadn’t just dropped a bomb on you. “You’re going to get sick, especially in that kind of condition.”

“It’s fine. I always have a painkiller ready…”

Suddenly, everything started to blur and move upside down. You clasped a hand over your mouth and collapsed to your feet, resisting the urge to vomit all over the marble floor.

“See? I told you.” Vil’s voice sounded distant despite him crouching beside you. “You’re sick, because you’ve been avoiding your much-needed rest. Don’t worry, I’ve told your manager that you’ll be staying with me for a few days.”

You were too weak to fight him, let alone escape from him. So, you allowed him to carry your body inside and lay it on the bed. He pulled the blanket to your chin and stood there for a moment.

“I won’t let you neglect your health anymore, especially over that pauper.” he hissed. “Under my care, you shall return to your best version. And I’ll be there as your number one fan and man.”

Deep down, you knew that your predicament wasn’t just because of your fatigue. He did something to you, to the tea, and you’d been too naïve to believe that the queen couldn’t be evil as well.

And his crooked smirk proved your suspicion.

#twisted wonderland x reader #twst x reader #disney twisted wonderland #yandere twisted wonderland #twst imagines #yandere vil schoenheit #yandere vil x reader #vil schoenheit #yandere twst #female reader #vil x you #vil x reader #twst vil #vil x y/n

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thesugarclubs-blog · 17 days

Text

Ace of Hearts - Bucky Barnes x OC

warnings: enemies to lovers, secret feelings, late night confessions, new Avengers

word count: 7.8k

WP: https://www.wattpad.com/1438059900-ace-of-hearts-alicia

vibe: "I'm testing something." Alicia whispered.

His brows furrowed in confusion as her hand crawled slowly up his arm until it stopped just below his elbow. "When was the last time you kissed someone?" She asked softly.

Masterlist

“Why are you like this?” Bucky asked following behind Sam as they headed towards the hangar. The last thing he needed on this mission was to be partnered with her.

“It’s one mission, Buck.” Sam laughed, “Besides, if we’re all going to be a team and play nice with each other, you have to learn how to communicate with Alicia.”

Bucky huffed as he glanced to the side as they walked. The building is much quieter nowadays. Well, as quiet as it could be. Both Parker and Bishop moved in a month ago and within a week Bucky had moved to the quietest hall in the building. The only probably now? His quarters were two doors down from hers…and that red hair… and those blue eyes that rival his own.

“I’m not the one with the communication issue.” He muttered quickly, earning himself a look from Sam. Bucky frowned. “I’m not! I’m her superior,” he started but the word felt foreign on his tongue and distasteful, “Ace hardly listens to any orders that I give her and when she does it’s her way.”

Sam sighed and stopped as they reached the Quinjet. “You know she hates it when you call her that.” His eyes darted around behind them checking for any of the other team members before speaking. “Listen, Alicia is a good addition to this team, a great one even. She’s got the skills you just refuse to see through whatever machismo front your putting up to hide the fact that somewhere deep down in that robo-brain of yours you actually like her.”

His heart started to race and it was one of the many times that Bucky was thankful Sam didn’t have super hearing. “I don’t like her.”

“You do.”

“No, I don’t.”

Sam rolled his eyes and shook his head, “okay argue with me all you want, but she’s still your partner on this mission so learn to actually listen to what she has to say.”

“I wouldn’t need to if she would just listen–”

“Reporting for Duty sir.” The sound of her voice carried through the hangar. Soft yet commanded the space around her. Chills ran down his spine the moment her footsteps stopped behind him.

“Agent,” Sam nodded, “you’ll be with Barnes today.”

Bucky turned just in time to see the slight fall of her features before she caught herself and pinned her shoulders back with a nod. “Great.”

Sam let out a chuckle and patted Bucky on the shoulder before climbing into the quinjet without them.

"Where do you need me, Barnes?" Alicia asked.

"Everywhere," Bucky thought, but managed to hold his composure in front of her. She looked at him with a raised brow, blue eyes boring into his with an intensity that he had to admire.

Alicia knew how to stand tall in front of him, shoulders rolled back so every vibe coming from her screamed confidence.

"You can go over the weapons once more, while I get the baby in the air. Make sure everything is as I taught you," he eventually answered. Alicia nodded, spun on her heels and stepped into the Quinjet.

"One mission," Bucky mumbled to himself while driving his fingers through his hair. His heart was galloping and he couldn't understand why. Maybe it was because her red hair and the confidence, that could easily be misjudged as arrogance, reminded him so much of Natasha.

Bucky had thought long and hard about the similarities the two redheads shared, but Natasha had inspired his confidence in his colleagues, encouraged him to embrace the team and fit in, Alicia's presence unsettled him. What was that phrase the kid used? Oh yeah, she set his spider sense tingling. He'd never really got over losing Natasha, both her and then Steve, and even Iron Dick at a push, had left him adrift.

As the Quinjet took to the air, Bucky could hear Alicia, talking herself through the weapons check routine he'd taught the new recruits. She might make him feel like there were ants under her skin, but he had to give her some credit, she was a quick learner when she put her mind to it. It was her damn fucking mouth, which she put into gear before fully engaging her brain, that made her so damn infuriating. And then that damn look, like the outcome had actually been planned and wasn't down to sheer pissing good luck. And for her then to have the cheek of accusing him of neither being an effective communicator or listener.

Bucky could feel the hairs on the back of his neck raise and realized he's got goosebumps on his arms, as he turned to look over his shoulder he realized his nemesis was standing inches away.

“What?” He asked, moving to reach for his locket to check on his own weapons, not meeting her heavy gaze.

Alicia smacked her lips loudly, “You need to cut the Winter Soldier out of your hair again.”

Bucky stilled, stunned into silence for a few heartbeats.

“I mean—“ Alicia blurted out. “Your hair— it’s getting longer!”

And there she was.

How could he become a better listener if she was always spitting nonsense at the most random times?

“You need to focus on our mission,” Bucky sighed, his already low patience level dropping drastically in a matter of seconds. “And my hair is completely fine.” ‎

“Alright,” she mumbled, resuming her task and clicking in place the barrel of her most trusted handgun. Then, in a venomous whisper to herself: “Not my fault you’re starting to look like Elvis.”

“Do you always just blurt out every thought that pops into your head?” Bucky asked, “or do you do it purely just to piss me off?”

He knew his mistake the second the corner of her pouty lips turned upwards into a shit eating grin. His heart thumped against his chest reminding him that maybe Sam wasn’t completely wrong.

“I’m not responsible for your feelings Sergeant Barnes.” She quipped, going back to checking her weapons. “I was just simply informing you that your hair makes you look like you’re about to break out in song while you gyrate across the ship's platform and while I would pay good money, really good money to watch you impersonate Elvis, we don’t have time for that.” Alicia’s bright blue eyes found his with that smirk he so badly wanted to wipe off her face.

“You’re pushing it Ace.” He said slamming his locker shut. Heat flickered in her eyes at the nickname, the jab a perfect hit. His own smirk crawled over his features as he sat down at the head of the quinjet. “Quit daydreaming and make yourself familiar with the layout of the warehouse.”

“I’m already familiar—“

“Do it again.” Bucky barked, keeping his eyes forward on the clouds. A huff sounded from behind him with a muttered “yes sir,” before her footsteps disappeared away from him. He swallowed hard, guilt and frustration making an angry mess in his chest but this wasn’t a game to him. It never had been and taking precautions was important. If she didn’t understand that then he would make her.

"Twenty minutes 'till arrival," the Quinjet informed Bucky, so he took a deep breath and went once more over his own equipment, securing multiple guns and knives on his tactical suit.

Alicia returned with a large blueprint in her hands, slamming it on the table in the middle of the lockers with a loud thud.

Bucky turned, seeing her studying the paper in front of her with concentration.

"Let's go over the mission one more time."

"But I'm just coming out of the briefing..."

"I know, but as you've probably realized, I was busy getting the jet ready for our departure, so I wasn't at the briefing."

"Right. I'd never miss the grumpy vibes radiating from you," Alicia mumbled under her breath. A normal man wouldn't have heard it, but Bucky's super soldier senses allowed him to hear more than he'd liked to. He clenched his teeth in disapproval, but decided to ignore her.

"The documents are secured in an old wood factory, located in the middle of the forest underneath us. The factory has been abandoned for a few years now, but it's not our target anyway. Scans showed that there is an extended tunnel system under the area, reaching from the factory all the way to another house that was supposed to be the forester's home," Bucky started.

"We're entering the tunnels through one of the ventilation shafts that end right next to the main building of the factory. Redwing's scans this morning showed that there are only a few men guarding the factory, so we should be easily able to reach and enter the shaft without distraction." Alicia pointed her finger on the X on the map that signaled the entrance point through the shaft, showing off her burgundy painted fingernails.

"Never call a mission easy. You'll jinx it," Bucky growled.

"Wouldn't have seen you as the superstitious guy, Sergeant Barnes," she commented with a smirk.

"I'm not superstitious, just very fond of my life."

"Suuuuure," Alicia mumbled under her breath.

Bucky patted himself down, one last check that his favorite knife was in his most accessible holster, and eyed Alicia’s tactical suit too.

“Move your glock, Ace—”

“That’s what she said.”

Bucky blinked slowly, flicking his tongue up to his top lip as a beat of silence passed between them before he continued, nonplussed.

“That gun is your strength and you’ll never reach it quick enough if it’s holstered on your less dominant side.”

Surprisingly, Alicia did as she was told and Bucky thanked the high heavens for at least one win today. His gaze flicking to her slicked back ponytail — not a hair out of place — and her suddenly serious expression as he gave her a nod.

“Lead the way, Sarge.” Then she beamed, big and bright, and Bucky groaned, swiping his metal hand over his face.

The forest wasn’t very thick, with large gaps between the trees. Bucky wasn’t sure if it would help or hinder them but the broad branches of the canopy were enough to disguise the quinjet in the clearing they touched down in.

They stood side by side at the ramp, eyes alert for any threat but there were none and the two Avengers made their way out of the clearing and into the forest in the direction of their factory target.

Quietly, the Quinjet closed back up behind them. He took a deep breath, listening, watching, trying to gauge just how close the guards were. "Should be through this area of forest," he said quietly, pointing straight in front of him.

The two Avengers tracked silently through the forest, only stopping to check their bearings and to listen for signs of life. Redwing had shown that there were few patrols in this area, which is why they'd chosen that particular landing site.

Bucky had to admit that, when her mouth was shut and she was focussed on the mission, the girl could potentially make a half decent agent. She was light on her feet and her eyes were constantly monitoring the terrain whilst still.being watchful for danger and able to clock his position. He spotted movement ahead and was impressed that when he turned to signal their stop, she was already signaling the alert back, nodding her agreement.

Alicia’s dominant hand reached for her holster, hovering over it as she made a first step sideways to cover Bucky’s side. She clenched her jaw, her focus unwavering.

His gaze lingered there, following the motion of her throat as she swallowed.

Funny how a single, innocent action could derail the train of thought of even the best soldier on the field.

In a matter of seconds, a sliver of light passed right by him. The air thickened as his senses fired up with danger signals.

In front of him a guard fell on the soft layer of leaves with a deaf thud, an all too familiar blade handle standing straight from his chest.

“Did you just throw my knife at him?” Bucky asked, almost giving himself whiplash from turning in Alicia’s direction.

“You just dropped something, Sarge,” She blinked up at him. “Your jaw.”

"Don't touch my knife." He grumbled pressing his foot to the guard's chest and pulling it out in one swift motion. He wiped the blood on his pant leg before putting it back into his holster. "Did you bring any of your own?" Bucky glanced up at her watching as her eyes scanned the treeline around them.

"Your's was closer." She muttered her blue gaze flicking down to his before she readjusted her grip on her gun and pushed forward. Bucky stood there, staring at her with a thousand thoughts running through his mind. It was impressive, her speed and aim. He had seen her in the training room, plenty of times throwing daggers at foam forms but never quite like that. "You coming?" She asked, cutting through his thoughts.

He narrowed his eyes at her and nodded.

It wasn’t long before they made it to the factory. The building looked decrepit, surrounded by rubble and rotting wood.

“This looks safe,” Alicia muttered, shuddering as a large bird landed on the roof and more brick and stone fell to the ground by the rusted iron doors.

“We’ll be fine. Stay alert, watch my six. We make it to the vent, that’s half the job done.”

“See, how can I not say it’s an easy op when you make it sound like a piece of cake?”

Bucky glanced at her over his shoulder, two seconds away from an eye roll as he brought his fingers to his lips and mimed zipping them shut.

“Shut up, Alicia. Got it, Sarge.”

Bucky couldn’t contain the eye roll that time, choosing to ignore anything that came out of Alicia’s mouth that wasn’t mission imperative. He raised a hand, pointing two sharp fingers towards the entrance and made a mental note to knock Sam upside the head.

On the lightest of steps, both Bucky and Alicia crept silently to it and swiftly pulled it open, careful not to make a sound to alert any guards. With a confirming nod, Bucky went it first and then felt as Alicia went in after him.

He sent a silent prayer nothing would give out from underneath their weights as a low creak sounded.

Thankfully it was a short distance and they reached the end of it without trouble, checked their surroundings and headed for the hidden lab.

“This is it,” Alicia muttered, approaching an unmarked and nondescript door.

She stood to the side, her hand on the door handle and then nodded to Bucky, awaiting his confirmation that he was ready. One brusque nod in return and they were entering and sweeping the room with a syncopation that belied the short amount of time they’d actually worked together.

Bucky stared at her, rifling through paperwork, her bottom lip pinched between her teeth in concentration. Maybe he’d been too hard on her, maybe she deserved…

“You ok there, Sarge?” She asked, shaking him from his reverie. “You look a little dazed. You didn’t touch any of the bottles did you? Didn’t breathe in any powder or gas? ‘Cause I’ve read things and as much as we’re teammates there ain’t no way I’d assist you in-”

“Can it, Ace, just keep looking,” he grumbled, his brows drawn into a frown.

Bucky watched as she rolled her eyes and continued her search. He turned and looked out of the door, looking side to side, making sure they weren't followed. He could hear every step, every shuffle of paper, every drawer and folder she opened. "Any luck?"

"Nothing," she shook her head, turning towards him. "And the intel was definite that the formula was still here?" She asked.

"You know as much as I do," he retorted, "you being in the briefing and all." He blew out a frustrated breath, turning away from her his eyes focussed on the bench at the far corner of the room. The drawers were all closed, with individual keyholes in each.

"Over here," Bucky suggested, covering the distance in a few strides.

Her footsteps behind him were careful, calculated and he counted each one until he knelt in front of the bench. Warm vanilla and lavender flooded his senses as she squatted next to him, running her fingers over each key hole. "Think you can get this open?" He asked, his voice strained as he tried to not let her sweet smell overwhelm him.

"Maybe," She said with furrowed brows as she glanced closer. "You think they're in here?"

"It's the only one locked." He said plainly.

"It could also be a decoy." Alicia frowned, pulling out a small tool kit. "Use those ears of yours and listen for more guards while I do this."

Bucky scowled, "you ain't the boss here Ace."

"And you don't have the lock picking skill I do." She quipped back scooting closer to the drawers. "Have my back for once."

Bucky grumbled but took watch, glancing back at Alicia every few seconds. She hummed under her breath as she worked and he tried to drown it out, focusing his ears on the faint sounds beyond the door, picking out noise in the wind and footsteps too far away to worry about yet.

“How’s it looking?”

“My pick keeps jamming, but I can feel it loosening. Just give me a moment,” Alicia replied, “I’ve got this, Sarge.”

“I know you do, Ace,” Bucky mumbled, pacing towards the door on light feet.

“So you do trust me to do my job?”

“Never said I didn’t. I just—” he was cut off when something clicked loudly and the sound of metal sliding on metal had him spinning on his heel.

“Ah-ha! I’m in!”

"Careful!" The order came out quickly from Bucky, startling her as he rushed to her before she could touch anything.

Alicia's hands were raised away from the drawer, apprehensive as he approached her and braced himself to open it.

"It could be booby trapped," Bucky felt the need to explain. Even if he knew that she understood without saying the dangers possibly lurking everywhere.

"Step back, let me handle it." He ordered firmly.

With a raised brow, Alicia stood back on her feet and gestured to the drawer in a sweeping motion.

"I don't think it's fair that you'd take a possible hit but.. all yours Sarge."

“Nice,” he nodded, a small smile gracing his features. “Now let’s get the hell out of here.”

Bucky watched as Alicia rolled the paperwork and stowed it inside the zip of her combat gear.

"What?" She asked, feeling a scorning judgment brewing behind his hooded gaze. "This way I've got both hands free in case we need to fight our way out."

"Well we may well need to do that. Come on, shift gears," cocking his head towards the door back to the tunnels. Checking the coast was clear before stepping out, Bucky took the lead, heading back in the direction they had entered the facility. Alicia followed close behind, watching to ensure there were no surprises from the rear.

"Oi!" Two men rounded the back corner of the building, stopping both Bucky and Alicia in their tracks.

Alicia spun around, flashing a smile he had never seen before but sent a burst of butterflies through his stomach. "Hey boys!" She grinned, "Interesting place you've got here. Any renovations planned?"

The two men shared a confused look before looking back at her. "Why don't you unzip that suit and show us what you have underneath it."

A low snarl from his left almost made him turn to look at her but before he could even stop it, she took a step forward.

"I tried being nice." She said before going straight for the one who made the comment. Bucky let out a sigh as the other man made eye contact with him and grinned before charging at him.

"Son of a bitch." He whispered as fists started flying.

The fight was quick but messy. Bucky ended up with more blood on him than he would have liked, caught off guard just once when his eyes were on Alicia, holding her own but visibly tiring as she took on the other man.

It ended with two unconscious goons dumped in the woods and the two Avengers making a run for the quinjet, a little bruised and battered but with the papers still secure in Alicia's pocket.

"You did good back there, Ace," Bucky murmured as he fired up the jet. He set the nav system to autopilot before joining her in the rear, plopping down beside her with a heaving sigh. "Any injuries that can't wait?"

With a shake of her head, Alicia pulled the documents out and handed them over.

"All good, Sarge. You'll need these for your report later, right?"

"Oh, uh. Yeah. Thanks, agent."

"I'm gonna take the bunk, wake me when we're back?" Alicia murmured and all Bucky could do was nod before leaving her to it, making his way back up front and knocking one of the books he kept hidden for long journeys down from the locker above the control panel.

A four-note whistle dragged Bucky abruptly from his book and he cursed under his breath at Alicia, who stretched languidly after her nap and joined him in the co-pilot seat.

“What the hell was that?” He grumbled, more in embarrassment at being so distracted as to not hear her moving around in the back.

She repeated the whistled tune and Bucky’s gaze homed in on her pursed lips and the teasing glint in her eye.

“You keep doin’ that but I still don’t know what-“

“It’s from the movie, dumbass. Sorry, I mean Sarge” she chuckled, crossing her legs up on the control panel and gesturing to his copy of The Hunger Games.

“They made a movie of it?” He asked, his eyebrows raising in pleasant surprise before he caught himself and scowled once more. “I like books better.”

“Course you do,” Alicia sighed. “Old man.”

Bucky shot her another ornery glare and grunted as the autopilot signaled their approach and began to facilitate landing. He barely managed to ignore the way she ran through the co-pilot checks in synchronicity with him, as if they’d always worked so closely.

As soon as they docked Bucky was up, out of his seat, and stalking down the ramp as if the hounds of hell were after him.

“Thanks, Sarge, good mission, great company,” Alicia called after him, with a barely audible “asshole” added at the end but, thanks to the damned serum, he heard it anyway.

Bucky sighed as he made his way to the locker room nearby before he stripped down, wanting to take a shower. He ran his hands over his face as he stood beneath the hot spray. Why couldn’t I fucking focus today?

It didn’t take him long to shower and get dressed but by the time he did the halls were dark and the tower was quiet aside from the sounds of Parker and Bishop arguing over some video game. They tried to teach it to him and it lasted about ten minutes before he almost threw the controller into the wall and stalked off. He made his way down to his quarters tossing his clothes into his room before heading into the small kitchen shared with the other rooms on this wing.

Flickers of red hair and blue eyes filled his mind, sending feelings swarming in his chest that he wasn't familiar with. Ones he didn't know how to deal with. She was a pain in his ass, tenfold but she could also fight and held her own against his unruly attitude.

Bucky reached for the bottle of whiskey on the top shelf of one of the cabinets and poured himself a glass.

Parking himself at the marble-top kitchen island with his drink and a bag of chips, Bucky laid the papers they recovered out in front of him. He wasn't going to sleep any time soon, never has done after a mission, even one so simple. His mind often reeled, flashbacks and what ifs and all the fears that he still harbored. They were training young people to fight, to put themselves in danger and he couldn't help but feel responsible for them.

Settling in for the night, he looked over the documents, making notes for his report and draining one then two glasses of whiskey. It wasn't until he heard footsteps, soft and sleepy, padding into the kitchen that he realized he'd let himself zone out, get lost in his work.

Alicia rounded the island and made a beeline for a clean glass on the draining board. Bucky glanced up, noting her rumpled pajamas and ponytail, now loose and slept in, and silently pushed the bottle of whiskey towards her.

“Thanks,” she murmured, her voice rough from lack of sleep.

He huffed an acknowledgement and went back to staring at the paperwork, mindlessly swirling the amber liquid in his own glass.

A stool scraped across the floor and Alicia pulled herself up next to him, her head tilted as she perused the documents. He could smell her shampoo. The scent was…familiar, comforting, although he couldn’t quite put his finger on what it was. He found himself leaning closer to her and managed to pull back before he ended up with his nose buried in her scarlet ponytail.

“You should be asleep.” He muttered, glancing back down at the paperwork in front of him. The irony of that statement was he should be too. But lately the nights were long and a sick game of roulette on whether or not he’d get a peaceful sleep or be haunted by the nightmares of his past.

Alicia tufts softly and leans back against the stool. “And let you have all the fun?” She said with the corner of her mouth turned upward as she reached for another small stack of paperwork. “Don’t think so, Sarge.”

His eyes trailed to her profile. Button nose, pouty lips and eyes that even in the dark still seemed to shine a bright blue. “Can’t sleep, Ace?”

It was small and quick but he caught how her body tensed for a brief moment at his question. It was the first inclination he’s had outside of her smart mouth. “Still wired from the mission I guess.” She said softly trying to recover that brief moment of silence after a question like that and not knowing how to answer.

He was all too familiar with that.

"Wish I could tell you that feeling goes away," Bucky replied, taking a sip of his drink, "but you're lookin' at a man who'd rather bore himself with a mission report than close his eyes so I guess that tells you everythin' you need to know."

With her chin planted in the palm of her hand as she leant forward on the island, Alicia leveled him with a heavy stare before she bumped him softly on the shoulder.

"You want to play a game?" She asked quietly, not what Bucky was expecting. "Twenty questions or something?"

"Can't say I do, Ace."

"Ah, come on. It'll be more interesting than reading those for what, the twentieth time?"

"Fifteenth," Bucky murmured and Alicia cocked her head, pretty eyes knowing and convincing as hell.

He tried to ignore her stare and his jaw ticked as his face heated. A second passed, and another.

“Fine,” he huffed, shuffling around on his stool and taking a fortifying swig of liquor. “But I’m going first.”

“I wouldn’t expect anything less, Sarge. Fire away.”

Bucky hummed and took the opportunity to appraise her without having to pretend he wasn’t.

“Cute pyjamas,” he grunted. “They your favorite color?”

“No, it’s blue. Why do you drink if it doesn’t affect you?” She retorted, firing straight back with a question of her own.

Bucky grinned at the quickness of her question. "Reminds me of the old days and I like the taste."

"No one likes the taste." She quipped.

He chuckled, "you've had shit whiskey then. Favorite drink?"

"Tequila."

"Tequila? Like mixed with some--" His brows raised when she shook her head cutting off his question.

"Good old fashioned salt and lime." She smiled widely. "Does that surprise you?"

Bucky thought about it for a moment and shook his head. "No. You're quite the spitfire, it's actually...quite the match." He chuckled.

"Thank you," Alicia grinned, "when did you lose your virginity?"

Bucky blinked but rolled with it, "not pulling any punches, huh? 1933, Lucy Hargreaves. She was two years older and her Ma hated me."

"Ooh, why?" Alicia shifted in her seat, big eyes earnest and her lips curved in interest.

"Nice try, Ace, it's my turn," Bucky chuckled, reaching for a handful of chips and pushing the bag in her direction. He munched happily as he thought of another question, surprised by the way the load of tension in his shoulders was lightening and his whole body was turned towards Alicia now, open and comfortable.

“Tick tock, Sarge,” she teased, popping a chip into her mouth and firing a wink in his direction.

“Alright, alright. Why don’t you date?” He asked.

“I date,” Alicia protested, stiffening in her seat, her smile growing tight.

“Nah, you don’t. Or if you do it was before you moved in here. I ain’t seen you go out and there sure as hell ain’t been no-one havin’ a sleepover with you.”

“You keeping tabs on me, Barnes?” She grated awkwardly. “I didn’t realize you cared enough to notice.”

“I don’t, I mean, I do…I mean, not like that, I-“ Bucky blustered himself into a corner.

"Easy there," She said, grabbing his bicep. "Don't force yourself into a reboot."

Bucky took a deep breath and glanced over at her his own body tense under the weight of her touch. "I'm not a robot." He frowned which only made the soft smile on her features grow.

"Tell that to Wilson." she laughed and pulled her hand away and his heart fell with the loss of contact. "Who's turn is it?"

"Yours, and I feel like I'm gonna need more whiskey for this," Bucky muttered, topping up both of their glasses.

"Why don't you date?" Alicia asked and it sounded as sincere as it did in retaliation to his own question. He should have expected that really. Bucky screwed his face up and gulped back his drink, wishing it would affect him for once.

"I just don't," he replied, "next question."

"Woah, no. I'm not letting you get away with that one, Sarge," Alicia said quickly. "Give me one honest reason why you don't, just one?"

"You've met me," Bucky shrugged, a poor excuse for an answer and clearly not the one Alicia was expecting as her face fell.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He saw her face contort into a mixture between contained anger and utter despair as she voiced her question, her voice going an octave louder in the silence.

She didn't wait for him to form a response to her question, not that he had much to say. He knew how people looked at him.

"Sarge! You may be a pain in my ass and also excel in riding my ass in training but," there was quiet determination in her eyes that had the chuckle that threatened to slip from him die down.

"You're kind, and smart, and you care about us. Your team.. your family."

Bucky tried to swallow down but it felt like his throat closed up. He didn't dare look her in the eyes even as her icy pools swept over his face.

"Anyone would be lucky to have you," she shrugged. Alicia's voice was much softer now as a tinge of red spread across her face and she turned away from him, picking up her drink.

"Anyone who makes you think otherwise is a fool." She ended quietly while avoiding his eyes and took a large gulp of the amber liquid.

“You been keepin’ tabs on me, Ace?” He managed to croak, ending on a chuckle that sounded forced even to him.

Alicia huffed a little and picked at the rim of her glass with one finger.

“I used to hate that nickname you know,” she muttered. “Always felt like you were putting me down, belittling me, like I wasn’t good enough for the famous Avengers.” Bucky opened his mouth to apologize but she waved her hand to cut him off. “I said I used to. Don’t mind it so much anymore.”

“Why?” Bucky asked, conscious of the tension that was building; like the air before a thunderstorm.

“‘Cause you’re the only one that uses it,” she admitted, looking across at him, a flush creeping across her cheeks.

"Everyone needs a nickname." He muttered feeling those butterflies swarm in his belly again. Her eyes flickered up to his and it was like a bolt of lightning struck him.

"You don't have nicknames for the others." She said quietly with a hint of hopefulness that sent his heart into a frenzy. He did, but they weren't nice and mainly consisted of picking on Parker. "You also don't ride the others as hard as you do me in training."

"What are you gettin' at Ace?" He asked softly, picking at the label on the whiskey bottle trying to avoid looking at her because if he did again, if he found those ice blue eyes he was going to be a goner and she was one thing he wasn't going to allow himself to ruin.

Alicia let out a breath. "I just think maybe you don't dislike me as much as you put off."

Bucky huffed out a soft chuckle, half hating that she’d put the words out there and half pleased he didn’t have to say them himself.

“You’re—” he paused and dared to glance up, forcing himself to look ahead at the kitchen cabinets but even seeing her blurred in his peripherals was almost too much.

“I’m what, Sarge?”

“You’re somethin’ else, Ace.”

The laugh that left her lips was surprised, melodic and a hint of delight danced across her features as Bucky felt that sound hit somewhere deep in his chest. A cascade of feelings he didn't want to put a name to yet filled him.

His hand twitched to rub at his chest where his heart was but he forced himself to only grip the glass in his hand, if a little tighter than before.

"I'll take that as a compliment, Sarge." She said after her laugh had gently faded. A quick wink following.

“You should,” he said, tossing back the last gulp of whiskey and pouring himself another helping.

“I’ll take another, too.”

“Compliment, or whiskey?” He asked, making the mistake of actually looking directly at her.

“Both?” She grinned, sliding her glass towards him. “Although if you carry on with the compliments I’m gonna start to think you actually like me.”

Bucky froze. It was only for a split second but he knew Alicia had noticed. Cursing himself he tried to downplay his reaction but it was no use.

“Sarge?” She asked quietly, warily, almost…hopefully?

He didn’t respond and when she reached to retrieve her whiskey she stilled him by wrapping her fingers around his on the glass.

“Bucky?”

Bucky's entire body tensed at the feeling of her warm soft skin.

"Bucky." She said again and this time he cleared his throat with a nod but his gaze remained on their hands. Her fingers loosened their grip on his hand but lingered there for a moment before they trailed up his wrist.

"What are you doing?" He asked, his voice low and raspy as he tried to calm his racing heart.

"Is that one of your questions?" She asked just as softly.

Bucky's gaze finally found hers and he nodded.

"I'm testing something." Alicia whispered.

His brows furrowed in confusion as her hand crawled slowly up his arm until it stopped just below his elbow. "When was the last time you kissed someone?" She asked softly.

“Couldn’t tell you,” Bucky murmured, unsure if he liked the new way his heart was thrumming hard and fast against his rib cage. It wasn’t the scared thundering he was used to, no overwhelming roar in his ears this time.

His breath hitched as Alicia’s hand traveled further, up to his bicep where her fingertips pressed lightly into the muscle. Bucky glanced down and he found himself unable to tear his eyes away from how she was holding onto him, warm and gentle and foreign to him now.

“What would you do if I were to kiss you now?”

“Alicia.” If he meant it to be a warning, it didn’t come out that way. Her name sounded soft on his lips, a breath of syllables rolling off his tongue in a way he rather liked.

"Tell me," her voice was breathy, soft even though her breathing was starting to turn a little shallow in front of him.

He couldn't help it, couldn't control the way his hand let go of the glass it held and inched its way closer to her while the other clenched and whirred under the strain of his nerves. Both their eyes tracked the movement before locking on each other's faces.

Alicia's face was flushed under his gaze, inching slightly closer to him with every breath she took.

"I think..." he hesitated. "I would kiss you back."

The confession hung heavy in the air they shared, Bucky's eyes tracing her face as he dared to touch her back and placed his hand on the curve of her hip and felt her breath hitch.

Alicia was so delicate underneath his careful touch.

"Can I kiss you, Bucky?"

His tongue darted out to dampen his bottom lip and he drew in a shaky breath. “Y-yeah.”

Her hand on his bicep moved again sliding gently upward to curl around the back of his neck, her thumb stroking tenderly along the curve of his jaw. His pulse thrummed beneath her fingers, which tightened with the smallest amount of pressure to draw him forwards.

“You’re gonna have to meet me halfway, big guy,” she whispered, her mouth curving into a smile as she leaned towards him.

He wouldn’t have been able to stop himself even if he’d wanted to, bending his head down to her, and then her lips were pressed against his so delicately that he almost didn’t believe it was happening. He felt the slight tremble in her kiss, as if her heart were beating as fast as his. If he concentrated he could actually hear it, pounding out a desperate rhythm.

Knowing that she was just as nervous or anxious as he was made him feel less like a hundred year old who couldn’t remember the last time he kissed someone and more like a man desperate for touch.

He slid his arm around her waist turning fully into her and took her top lip between his deepening the kiss until by sheer instinct he pulled her closer.

Alicia whimpered slightly as his arm wrapped around her and it forced him to break the kiss, wide eyes and terrified that he had done something to hurt her. “Why did you stop?” She breathed, her breath warm against his.

“Did I hurt you?” He said the words tight and strained.

The warmest smile spread over her face as she shook her head. “No, but I can take it.” She whispered.

This made him chuckle and nod softly as he dipped his head once more. “Okay tough guy.” He rasped before slotting his lips over hers once again.

As they kissed, Alicia toyed with the soft tufts of hair at the nape of his neck, longer than usual just like she'd pointed out earlier, but the fizz of warmth it sent through him as she twirled the strands around her fingers made him reluctant to even think about cutting it now.

Alicia sighed, her lips parting further and presenting Bucky with the chance to lick into her mouth, taste the whiskey and chips on her tongue. He groaned into it, his fingers dancing over her sides until he had a tight but gentle grasp on her waist.

"Hold on, Ace," he murmured into her mouth, giving her the barest warning before he hauled her out of her stool and onto his lap. The gleeful yelp that escaped her pulled out a laugh, loud and full as his nose scrunched in delight. And then he dove straight back in, too deep now to stop kissing her for even a second.

Little moans escaped her mouth and right into his as Bucky's hunger grew with each swipe of tongue against one another. His skin felt on fire as heated blood rushed through his veins.

It was too much and not enough all at once, his hands roved over every inch he could reach and reveled in the way her back arched into him. Her arms wound around his neck to pull herself closer to him.

Bucky pulled back from her mouth only to trail his lips and tongue down her jaw, letting her breathe while he nipped and kissed his way to a spot below her ear that had her gasping the air right back out.

"Oh god.."

Both his hands tightened on Alicia's hips at the sultry sound. It echoed in his ears again as he repeated the motion.

“Mmm…” Bucky nipped and licked down her neck before sucking gently on her pulse. When he pulled back he grinned, seeing her eyes blown wide with lust and arousal. “Wow…”

He let his gaze drop, taking in her little pyjamas properly now she was so close. His eyes fell to her vest top first, so thin he could see the way her nipples pebbled beneath the fabric, and then the little slither of her belly, pale and soft in the dim light of the kitchen.

Bucky swallowed thickly, shivered as Alicia trailed her own hands down his chest until they settled between them, where her legs straddled him, all tiny plaid shorts and bare flesh against the rough denim of his jeans. When he finally dragged his eyes back up to meet hers, still dark, still full of wanting, Alicia fluttered her long eyelashes and flashed him a cheeky little smirk.

"Mind if I move, Sarge?" She whispered and Bucky groaned. His grip on her tightening as he gave her a short nod of affirmation, sucking in a breath at the sudden and torturously slow grind of her hips.

“God,” Bucky gritted out, his hand sliding up to palm her breast through her top, his thumb stroking over her pebbled nipple.

A low moan slipped past her lips and he caught it with his own, teasing into her mouth with his tongue. It was Alicia who tugged down the front of her own top and suddenly there was the tender heat of her bare flesh beneath his palm, a counterpoint to the friction of her core grinding against the straining tent in his jeans.

He shifted on the stool, barely managing to contain the urge to rut against her and desperately trying to control the strength of his grip on her waist as he held her close.

Heat licked at his belly as he nipped at her bottom lip, earning himself another moan dripping from her plump kiss bitten lips. Bucky slid his free hand up her back, tangling it in her hair as she rolled her hips again. It was driving him crazy. She was driving him crazy. Every tiny movement, every sigh, every whimper it all sent a thrill straight to his cock.

His palm squeezed gently around her breast, molding it to his hand as her head fell back, a soft moan escaping her before she lifted her head with a soft grin. Her lips formed into a smirk before she rocked harder once and dipped her head to nip along his jawline.

"Fuck, Alicia-- sweetheart," Bucky choked out, his own head lolling to the side to give her better access to his skin. He could feel her mouthing hotly at his neck, forming a bruise that wouldn't be there come morning; a real shame if you asked him.

His hands skimmed her body, trying to touch every inch of her, feel her strength and her softness under his fingertips. Every gorgeous bit of her that had him writhing in his seat, trying so hard to keep it together.

"You can let go, you know. If it feels good," she whispered and Bucky stuttered out a groan and a series of soft grunts as he helped her hips keep up a steady pace that drove them both someplace higher, teetering on the edge of pleasure.

Her teeth nipped at his ear with hot breath and whispered, "keep going."

All of it was enough to push him over the edge, soaking the inside of his boxers and jeans. He desperately needed her to come too and it wasn't far behind him that her body softly shuddered in his arms. A series of soft praises flew from her mouth as she pressed her lips into his neck sending a chill down his spine. There were a few moments of silence that settled between them. The sounds of their breathing filled the kitchen area.

"One more question?" He said softly wrapping his arms around her as she melted into his chest.

"What's that?" She said softly.

"Will you...I mean would you like to maybe go out sometime?" He said softly as she lifted her head.

Alicia smiled warmly and nodded. "I'd like that."

A throat cleared behind them. Bucky's eyes darted to the door seeing Sam standing in the doorway with a shit eating grin. Embarrassment flooded him and his cheeks turned a soft shade of pink as Alicia fixed her top and slowly slid off of his lap. "I'll leave you two to it." She grinned and disappeared down the hallway.

Bucky leaned forward against the counter, adjusting his jeans underneath it.

"Pain in your ass huh?" Sam smirked, reaching for the whiskey.

"Shut up Sam." Bucky groaned and slid out from the counter and shoved past him down towards his quarters leaving Sam chuckling in the kitchen. The moment he was alone, he slipped out of his pants and boxers, finding new ones and crawled into bed. Red hair, blue eyes and perfectly pouty lips flooding his thoughts as his eyes grew heavy and he dreamed of the girl two doors down.

#one shot #marvel imagine #marvel oneshot #marvel one shot #marvelous #bucky barnes #bucky barnes oneshot #bucky barnes au #bucky barnes one shot #fluff #bucky barnes x oc #bucky barnes fanfiction #james bucky buchanan barnes #bucky fanfic #marvel fanfiction #james buchanan barnes #marvel au

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deus-and-the-machina · 6 months

Text

MCYT Yuri week - day 6, sleep/party

for @mcyt-yuri-week this sure is a sleep party! sleepover? it sure is a party. It's also on ao3. enjoy!

When Pearl had invited Cleo over to the…‘Boatem Sleepover’, somehow she didn’t expect this.

The five looney neighbors plus Cub were all in a circle folded forward on the ground and muttering some weird chants. Cleo began to back away, starting to understand what the vibe here was. Unfortunately for her, Pearl had a sixth sense and popped up just as she turned away. “Cleo! Come join us!”

She really, really shouldn’t, especially given the look of manic exhaustion in Pearl’s eyes, but part of her was also a slave to the whims of society conventions. She’d been invited! Even if it was some weird cult, backing out now would be a tad awkward. So they gave Pearl a strained smile. “I’m here? Hi! Now uh, what is this…?”

“Oh we’re staying awake so the moon doesn’t come down on all of us.” Cleo screamed internally.

“Cool! And you want me to…?”

Pearl giggled. “Isn’t it obvious? Stay awake with us! Enjoy the moon in all her beauty so she doesn’t feel left out anymore. Apparently we skip over her too much. Gotta give even the night time some loving, ya know.”

Cleo glanced over at the chanting Boatem members, then back to Pearl. “I suppose I can stay awake? But don’t expect me to start doing weird chanting or anything.”

With a squeal, Pearl hugged their arm. “Oh thank you Cleo, you won’t regret it!”

I already am!

Pearl led her over to the others, babbling something or other about an introduction and slumber parties. The others lifted their heads to greet her.

“Hi Cleo!

“Hi Cleo.”

“Heya.”

“Mmgn, hey Cleo.” That was Mumbo, who looked close to passing out already. Honestly all of them looked absolutely exhausted. No wonder they were all being freaky!

Pearl led her to a spot on the grass where the two sat down, the other woman sprawling out immediately on her back. She gazed up at the stars. “Honestly, it’s kinda fun once you get used to it. We’re having a slumber party!”

Gingerly, Cleo settled down next to her. “Mmkay, if you say so. I’m only here for you, just letting you know.

“Oh I know. That’s why I asked!” The tricky star girl threw her arms around Cleo’s waist, tucking herself into their backside. They rolled their eyes, but a slight grin tugged at their mouth. She patted Pearl’s head lighty, and began gearing herself up for a long night.

Two hours in, and the shrieking started. “Oh god, are those phantoms?” Cleo groaned, pushing herself up. The other ‘mooners’, as they called themself, jumped up and began to scramble, yelling illegibly.

Having calmly gotten to her feet, Pearl surveyed the area with a gleam in her eye. “Yeah! This is the fun bit!”

“Pearl, I don’t think anyone in their right minds would call being dive bombed by phantoms ‘fun’.”

She threw back her head and cackled. “I’ve been awake for three days, Cleo! I’m running on nothing but adrenaline. This is the most fun I think I’ll ever get in my entire life!” Reaching out into the air, a netherite sword manifested in a flash of violet. She began slashing at the air wildly, running in circles. Just when Cleo had thought she’d witnessed the pinnacle of madness…

They caught a glimpse of the first phantom swooping towards them. “Pearl, watch out–” But her warning was evidently unneeded, as Pearl snapped around and leaped into the air, thrusting her sword up and skewering it through the stomach.

Nervous frantic laughter erupted from who Cleo was pretty sure was Scar. The other Mooners had nothing in the way of organization, running around like headless chickens. To be fair, so was Pearl. She just had a sword about it. Resigning herself to the madness, Cleo sat back down and watched Pearl do her thing.

Dozens of dead phantoms later, some of which Grian and Cub have even managed to kill, the coast seemed to be clear. Pearl strutted back towards Cleo, huffing and puffing with effort.

They were both taken aback by another screech as Pearl lunged forward to land right in front of Cleo, the sound of her sword skewering flesh echoing in Cleo’s ears. Looking up, the phantom was far too close to Cleo’s head for comfort. “Y’know what, this has been fun, but I think I’m going to leave now.”

Pearl yelped and staggered back so that she wasn’t nearly stepping on Cleo. “Wait! We’ve still gotta–” When a wave of exhaustion hit her. She stumbled and began to fall forward. Panic flared in Cleo’s chest as they rushed to catch her. The sword clattered to the ground.

Cleo maneuvered Pearl so that she was tucked in their arms bridal style. She was still awake, though not by much. While she mumbled to herself, Cleo placed a hand on her forehead. “Just sleep. I’ll take you to your base.”

With that slight bit of reassurance, Pearl promptly passed out. “And you,” they turned to the Mooners. “Please try to sleep too. No one likes phantoms or cults, thank you very much.” With a groan, Mumbo planted face first on the ground. Soon after, a faint snoring sound was coming from him.

With a sigh, Cleo turned around and began marching towards Pearl’s boat. Someone who’d been ripping through phantoms one moment ago was now laid vulnerable and defenseless in their arms, head curled into their chest. Cleo felt their heart swell and kissed her on the forehead.

“Sleep well, Pearl. We’ll all still be here when you awake. Hopefully with less phantoms.”

#hermitshipping #pearleo #moonrot #mcytyuriweek2023

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theteasetwrites · 1 year

Text

The Beginning Is the End Is the Beginning

Chapter 97: Under the Gun

❧ Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Female Reader ❧ Era: Season 11 ❧ Pronouns: she/her ❧ Warnings: language, violence, lots of guns, scary situation, injury, basic TWD stuff tbh ❧ Word Count: 5.2k

❧ In This Chapter: It will take some effort to convince Daryl that you're capable of helping at the Commonwealth. Of course, who is he to stand in your way? A deadly trap ensnares you all, and confronting Governor Milton is going to be more challenging than you'd anticipated. Blood will be shed.

❧ A/N: So um ok Tumblr was being weird last night, so when I tried to schedule Chapter 96 to come out at midnight PST, it actually came out three hours earlier than that, so technically THIS is the first post of 2023! Cool! Anywho, um yes I know reader is being stupid look I need her to be stupid ok? Sometimes she can be stupid, as a treat. It would be boring if she was always perfect and made the right decisions. Also Daryl gets to be stupid all the time in the show let her have this. Oh and stream Under the Gun by Sisters of Mercy because a) it's a banger and b) it inspired the vibe of this chapter and some of the lines (but I couldn't fit some of my favorite lines like "you can set the controls for the heart or the knees and the meek will inherit what they damn well please" that line is 🤌🏻)

The crate you carried was heavy, straining your aching back, but you’d risen early that morning to help load up the bus. The plan was to bring as many people as possible back to the Commonwealth, with emphasis on finding the missing children, Eugene and Yumiko, and taking down Pamela, whatever that may entail.

You had a plan of your own. Well, not so much a plan, but a conviction. You hadn’t spoken to Daryl yet this morning, and you knew he’d object, but you were headstrong about one thing: you were going with them.

Perhaps you weren’t in the best physical state to be going, having delivered a baby exactly a week ago. Still, you’d put together an argument in the incredibly likely case that Daryl would refuse to let you come. It didn’t matter what he wanted, though. You wanted to see Pamela get taken down. You wanted to see everything the Miltons and the Commonwealth stood for crumble. You wanted to be a part of it.

Was it stupid? Yes. You were aware.

“Here’s the last of the supplies,” you said, handing the crate to Maggie. She stood at the back of the bus, loading it up. “There’s plenty of ammo, mostly M855’s, or whatever those big guns use.” Your knowledge of guns was reluctant and minimal, and you much preferred your axe, which you’d been so lucky to find tucked away in a crate in one of the houses, along with Robin’s spear and Daryl’s bow. For what you were about to do, though, you’d need guns.

“Thanks,” she huffed, checking the crate before sliding it in. “You talk to Daryl yet?”

Maggie knew, of course, but Daryl didn’t. He assumed you’d be staying to watch Robin and Wes, which, admittedly, sounded like a much better idea than what you had in mind, but there was such a strong urge to see justice restored, to be a part of it, to help make history.

“No,” you said. You turned as you dusted off your jeans, eying Daryl, who sat upon the deck of the town hall. In his arms was baby Westley, bundled up in his blue blanket, with his bear hat poking out. Robin and RJ sat beside him, each peering over his shoulders to look at the baby boy. “I know he’ll be upset.”

“It’s your choice,” she said. “You’re a grown woman. He can’t tell you what to do, you know.”

“I know, it’s just… I hate arguing with him about this kind of stuff. And if I do go, I don’t want him to be worrying about me the whole time, getting distracted.”

“He’ll live with it.”

You made your way to the town hall, where others had also gathered as they prepared to board the bus. Daryl had handed Wes to Robin, who was eager to hold him.

Daryl nodded his head to you, his face a portrait of confusion. “You should be in bed,” he said. “Ain’t you tired?”

“Aren’t you?”

He hadn’t slept in days, of course he was tired. More tired than you, and you’d just given birth. Everyone was tired, but the sooner you got to the Commonwealth, the better.

Chewing his bottom lip, he eyed you suspiciously. “You ain’t goin’,” he said.

Your eyes widened as you scoffed. “Yes, I am. I’m not missing this.”

He moved further from the earshot of others, gently but firmly holding your arm to take you with him. “I need you here.”

“That’s ridiculous,” you said, even though you knew it really was quite reasonable. Still, this is what you wanted. “I want to be part of this. I mean, how else am I supposed to write down what happened in my journal?”

“Woman, you just had a damn baby.” His voice raised, becoming more impassioned. You could see in his eyes that he was scared, that even the idea of something happening to you because your body was weaker than usual made his eyes go cloudy. “How in the hell are you gonna be able to fight?”

He had a point, and you knew that, but your need to see this through eclipsed whatever lingering pain and weakness you felt. Your body was healing well, you were healthy. Daryl had spent nine months making sure you were able to have a successful birth, and you did. It wasn’t traumatic, you were lucky. Twice. Your luck hadn’t run out, either. You were sure of it.

“I can fight if I need to,” you said. “I will fight.”

There were few things in your relationship with Daryl that caused contention. Rare were your fights, your lovers’ quarrels. Daryl had a temper that came out at unexpected times, but he never hurt you, or said anything that shattered your heart beyond repair. The vast majority of the few heated arguments you’d had over the years followed this pattern—Daryl urging you to stay home, safe and sound, and you refusing.

So far, every one of these arguments ended the same: Daryl giving into you.

“I’ve almost lost you too many damn times, (Y/N),” he said. “I ain’t almost losin’ you again, or worse.”

You knew his overprotectiveness came from a place of love, but it could be suffocating. Daryl clinged to you like you were a teddy bear, but that was his way. He was always so loyal, and his love was deep and at times overwhelming. Sometimes, you wondered if he really didn’t want you to leave, or if he was just so used to protesting that it became second nature.

In any case, you were, as Maggie had reminded you, a grown woman. Daryl could argue till he was blue in the face, but the final say was yours.

“I’ve almost lost you so many times, too,” you said. “That’s just how it goes. I can do it. I feel fine… I’m going with you.”

With a deep huff, he squinted his eyes, the morning sun having begun to pierce them. Yours, however, were noticeably wide, like two big doe’s eyes. It was subtle, of course, but you knew what you were doing. It might’ve just been instinct at this point. You could’ve not cared enough to get Daryl’s approval. You could’ve just gotten on that bus with him and not asked at all for his permission, but you didn’t want to fight. You wanted Daryl to be on board with your decision, and if anything got Daryl to cave, it was your wide, pleading eyes.

“You’re gonna be the death a’me one day, woman,” he huffed. “All right, but you gotta promise to stay right by me. No splittin’ up, and don’t strain yourself too much, just for my peace of mind, all right?”

As much as you were reluctant to admit it, you did love when Daryl appeased you, when he showed his soft side by giving into you. He really did love you, and that was always so apparent to you. You’d never known anyone to love you as much as he did.

“Thank you, honey,” you said, wrapping your arms underneath his to hold his shoulder blades as you hugged him. He didn’t stiffen at all anymore, not even in public. He just held you back, his hand tangling in the hand on the back of your head. “I promise I won’t do anything reckless.”

He scoffed, causing you to pull away and look at him in mock offense. “What?” you asked. “You don’t believe me?”

“Not after what I saw last night,” he said. “When ya went lookin’ for the kids. Never seen ya so… scary.”

“I scared you?”

“No, jus’... Saw somethin’ crazy in your eyes.” He thought back to that moment you pushed him away from the door, and he chuckled a little to himself. “Maybe I was a little bit scared of you.”

You lowered your head as you felt the blush begin to bloom in your cheeks, but his hands caressed your jawline to lift your head back up.

“Ain’t a bad thing,” he said. “I kinda liked it… I love my crazy woman.”

You let out a loud snort, and he broke into a wide grin, always amused by your little mannerisms. “Stop it,” you laughed. “I was worried about the kids.”

“I know, I was, too. Just ain’t ever seen ya like that. You’re always so damn sweet.”

“Well, it’s good to know I can still surprise you.” You leaned in to peck his lips, but he didn’t let you pull away, instead pulling you closer to deepen your kiss just a little.

There wasn’t much more time to stand around, though. When the bus was loaded, it was time to head for the Commonwealth.

You said your goodbyes to Robin and Westley, leaving them and the Grimes children in the care of Nabila.

The bus took you to the same train you’d hijacked just the other day. It was rather convenient that one of the Commonwealth prisoners was himself a train conductor before being taken into custody.

Of course, you brought along your journal. Well, the thirteenth or fourteenth volume. You’d gone through so many journals over the years, keeping track of both personal events and the ones that you considered history. The Commonwealth was at least six hours away by train, going at full speed. You’d have plenty of time to catch your future readers up to speed.

Date: April 17, 2021

Time: 1:45 PM

We set out at 8 AM, now we’re nearing the place where the border between West Virginia and Ohio once was. The primary objective of this mission is to return the Commonwealth citizens who were unlawfully imprisoned and sent to the labor camp at Alexandria back home. At that point, it should become clear that Governor Pamela Milton is a corrupt tyrant who must be removed from power.

I must be honest in saying that I don’t know what will happen to Milton, but I don’t think killing her is the best solution. Years ago, I thought Negan should’ve been killed after the Savior War, and I still stand by that, but Milton isn’t like Negan. She is weak on her own, posing little threat. What’s dangerous is her power, her greed, and those things are fueled by her influence over other people. Without that influence, she’s weak. We’ve already gathered support from the Commonwealth Army at Alexandria, and I am willing to bet that once the citizens of Commonwealth realize where their missing loved ones have been taken, they will turn on Milton, too, and there’s strength in numbers.

I am unsure of the future for the Commonwealth, but whatever it is, it must be better than how it is now.

You paused for a moment, no longer able to continue your mostly factual account. Instead, you turned the page to reveal a fresh one. You’d never been too good at separating your personal entries from your historical ones, but in a way, you found it comforting. Perhaps one day someone would read about your life, too.

It’s been a week now since Aaron, Lydia, Elijah, and Jerry left the Commonwealth with the hopes of bringing supplies back to Alexandria. They weren’t there yesterday, when we got there. I am starting to worry. Daryl tried to tell me that it would take much longer for them to get to Alexandria, considering they took a wagon. I know he’s right, he’s always right, and so damn rational sometimes. I almost like it better when he’s irrational, but he keeps me grounded, which is good. My hope is that perhaps they will reach Alexandria while we’re away, and maybe we’ll see them there when we get back.

I know I shouldn’t be here. I should be home, with Robin and Westley. The thing is, I want to be here. I want to be part of this. I haven’t told Daryl, because I know he’d worry, but I do feel tired, and still a bit weak from the birth. I know I will read this back someday and think, “God, you’re such an idiot,” and I (or you) would be right.

I’m an idiot, but at least I’ll get to see Pamela taken down. At least there will be reckoning for the lives she destroyed. That’s why it matters to me.

Daryl told me something funny yesterday. He told me he’d take me on a “vacation” once all this is over. I don’t know where he’s getting that from. We can’t just up and leave the kids, but I have to admit, there is something tempting about the idea. It would be really nice, just the two of us for maybe a week or two. I’ve got no idea where we’d go. Daryl said we could just hop on his bike and drive somewhere. I’d like to go to France, or Italy. I know it’s impossible, but just for the record, it’d be nice to see the Eiffel Tower and all that. Well, if it’s still there and hasn’t fallen apart or anything. I wonder if French walkers are different from American ones. Could that be possible? Perhaps their groans have an accent. I’d like to find out someday, though I know I never will.

By the time the train arrived at the nearest Commonwealth depot, Princess had rigged a radio signal to contact Mercer. She informed you all of the news—Eugene’s trial deemed him guilty, but Mercer and the other Commonwealth soldiers that followed him were keeping him in hiding, safe from Milton’s forces.

Mercer promised to meet Princess and your group at the gate, letting you all in. You had an in. The only problem was, here you sat just outside the gates, waiting. You counted thirty minutes on your watch.

Negan voiced your own concerns: “Hey, we are sittin’ ducks,” he said. “He ain’t comin’ and we can’t wait.”

As much as you hated to agree with Negan, you did. Silently, but you did.

Itching to get inside, you peered through the bush that blocked view of your group from the guards. There were only four, that should’ve been easy to get through, you figured. But if they shot, you knew their bullets were tracked. It would draw attention to any of the other Commonwealth soldiers that weren’t on your side.

“Guys, please,” replied Princess. “Mercer’s gonna show up.”

Daryl kept an eye on you from the side, always keeping you in his sight, as he said he would. “We’re runnin’ out of time,” he said.

“I’m gonna head around,” said Carol. “Try to find another way to slip in.”

“How many are there, (Y/N)?” Maggie asked.

You squinted through the bush, trying to cover any blind spots in case you missed any. “Four.” You made the signal to Connie—four soldiers.

“We could take ‘em,” said Maggie.

You turned back to keep an eye on the guards’ movements. Their guns were drawn, but they were low. They were, unfortunately, doing their job. With what you knew from Daryl about the Commonwealth Army, a lot of them didn’t do their jobs. You really wished these guards were more negligent, solely for your group’s benefit.

They were so attentive, in fact, that they must’ve heard someone’s whispers, or perhaps a movement. They began to approach the bush.

“Those guards go missing,” said Rosita, “clock’s ticking on us.”

“Hey,” you said, still in a whisper, but noticeably a lot more urgently.

“Hold on a minute,” said the foremost guard. “Did you hear that?”

The others held still, quiet. If your heart was beating any faster, you swore it might’ve become audible.

You kept your hand on your axe, just in case. There was a perfect space between the armor plates, just at the base of the neck. You could drive the tip of your axe through it quite quickly, without having to draw your gun. A silent kill was always better.

Mentally, you prepared yourself to strike, to take a man’s life, something you had always been uneasy with, but the voice that came from one of the guard’s radios saved you the trouble of the inevitable moral dilemma.

“Sector D, gather all available units,” the grainy voice said, “and report to the east gate immediately. Mercer needs bodies to deal with an incoming swarm.”

A herd was the last thing on Earth you needed, but at this moment, it was, dare you say, incredibly convenient. At the very least, the Commonwealth’s walls were well-fortified, and their army was equipped to deal with the possibility of a herd getting close. There was no way it would get inside.

The guard spoke into his radio, “Sir, does that include tunnel H?”

“Yes,” the now slightly exasperated voice responded. “That includes tunnel H.”

“So are we supposed to just… abandon our post?”

Please.

“Goddamnit, soldier, it’s locked!” the voice replied harshly now. “We’ve got it covered on this end. Stop wasting time, move!”

Oh, God, you thought. That sounds serious. You exchanged a look with Daryl, but he didn’t look worried. He nodded to you, his face a resolute sculpture of heroism. Well, to you, anyway. He made you strong with just one look. You’d be able to last a while longer before you’d need that reassurance again.

“All right, let’s move!” said the soldier. “You heard it, move!”

Your eyes diligently followed the four guards’ moves, and when they boarded a jeep, starting the engine, you breathed a sigh of relief. The vehicle drove away, out of your line of vision, and you turned to face the rest of the group, nodding as you said: “I think we’re good.”

“You sure?” asked Daryl.

You turned back to confirm. “Yes,” you said firmly. “We need to move now.”

Tunnel H was the destination. Daryl knew it ran underneath the city, and it would lead you to the center. If the radio communication was anything to go by, the tunnel wasn’t guarded. Luck was on your side.

Maggie led the way in, the others following. Daryl stood guard, vigilantly looking out for any hostiles. You kept your word, staying with him, but when you began to make your way into the dark corridor, he pulled you aside, his hand holding yours.

“Hey,” he said quietly. “Always together, right?”

“Always,” you agreed.

Tunnel H was more like a sewer, with dripping pipes and soaked floors and a foul stench permeating in the air. Quite literally, you were seeing the dark, festering underbelly of the Commonwealth.

Guns drawn, you traveled deeper, until you reached a ladder attached to the wall of the tunnel, with the letter 2 printed on it. According to the plan, that was the closest entrance to Union Station, where Pamela was more than likely to be.

Indeed, it took you there.

You came out from the underground in a maintenance room, then filed slowly, cautiously, one by one into the station.

The Commonwealth citizens moved first, eager to make their stand against Milton. They were led by Tyler Davis, the young man who’d been the first to stand against Pamela. He’d been sent to Alexandria not long after Daryl’s encounter with him at the Halloween Masquerade.

You came through next, but it was quiet, empty. It didn’t feel right, but Tyler and other Commonwealth citizens were already in the center of the station, above which were balconies that wrapped around the perimeter, looking down to the first floor.

“Somethin’ ain’t right,” Daryl said behind you. You could feel it, too, so you kept your gun drawn.

Daryl studied his surroundings, and his suspicions were confirmed. Padlocked chains were laced around the handles of the doors that led to the outside. Your eyes followed his, and a sinkhole formed in your stomach.

“Come on guys,” Tyler called out to your group. “We’re almost there.”

Daryl only had a moment to register the trap, but it was too late. “Get down!” he bellowed, instinctively grabbing your wrist and pulling you with him as he scrambled into one of the alcoves of the corridor.

All the while, a rain of gunshots came from the second floor balconies above the station. You caught a glimpse of Tyler and some of the others meeting their fate, pulverized by bullets. The men shooting in the balconies weren’t armored. They were in plain clothes, not unlike the men who jumped and kidnapped you. You figured they must’ve been agents for Pamela, loyal to her and only her, not the people of the Commonwealth.

The group became split several ways, with some taking cover underneath the stairs, others scrambling underneath benches and archways. Across the corridor from you and Daryl was Maggie, tucked away in the opposite alcove. You took stock of where the others went, making mental notes to not lose anybody in the chaos.

In the span of just thirty seconds, the once quiet, empty station became a battlefield, with the enemy firing rounds of .50 caliber bullets in merciless succession. Glass shattered, screams erupted from those who had been hit, or were still clinging to life. You swore you even heard the men shooting at you cheering for each other, encouraging one another to “take them out.”

In times like these, whatever reservations you had for firing back were squandered. They were trying to kill your people, and doing it with glee. Your position wasn’t ideal for shooting back, but the guards were mobile, with little coverage on the balcony. They had the advantage of being above you, but you had the cover.

You shot at one man, attempting to make his way down the stairs. Another shot went through a man’s torso, while Daryl’s went through a head. His aim was always better.

You aimed to shoot another one of Milton’s cronies, but the trigger was stuck, and you remembered now one of the reasons you hated guns so much. “Shit,” you murmured, then raised your voice to say, “My gun’s jammed!”

Happiness is a loaded weapon.

Daryl only pushed you back behind him, then shot again. “I got it!”

You felt powerless now. All you had was your axe and a few knives, and you wished that, somewhere along the way, you’d learned to use a bow. Daryl had offered, but you found it somehow cliche that you’d learn the same weapon as your husband. Go figure.

In the meantime, you’d keep a sharp eye out behind Daryl, looking out for any windows, but there were none. At least, not from this angle. It was absolute bedlam, a circus of blood and bullets. Time seemed to move so fast—explosive bolts, ten thousand volts, a million miles an hour.

You weren’t just under the gun, you were under at least twenty of them, cold, silver pipes spitting hot molten metal, all for an idiot, chosen to hold the highest card, wielding a power much too immense for any living human being to have.

That’s when you saw her, the governor herself. Eyes wide, you were transfixed on her, her shocked face. How could she have any shock? She didn’t deserve to feel such a thing. She’d created her own reality, built on the backs of people who had been made to believe that this was how things were, that things were worse outside the walls.

She made the ultimate mistake when she tried to take your home away. She should’ve known better, after what she knew about your people. She underestimated Alexandria, and that would be her fatal mistake.

When you thought of all the damage she caused, the lives she’d ruined, your hatred rose like bile in the back of your throat. You could taste it on your tongue when she kneeled down beside the guard Daryl had just shot, and picked up his rifle.

Your lips agape in confusion, you exchanged a look with Maggie across the corridor. She looked for a moment, taking a deep breath before stepping out from the alcove, her body almost fully unprotected as she shot up at the balcony.

Volleying between Pamela and Maggie, you noticed that the governor had her sights on her, your friend. Your best friend. She’d always been your best friend, and you weren’t about to lose her. You’d lost too many friends.

Your inner voice was muted, everything was, except the beating of your heart. Something, maybe pure stupidity, or maybe heroism, or something in between, propelled your body forward, sliding across the floor, into the line of fire. Your gun now dropped, you pushed Maggie back behind the wall, with the intention to get yourself there, too.

Intentions were always nice, in theory.

Your ears popped open when one single gunshot seemed to resound above all the rest. You didn’t feel pain at that moment. You only saw blackness, and heard a faint, bellowing, pleading cry that echoed through the station, lulling you into some kind of unconsciousness.

“No!”

He launched himself across the tile floor, his scream having silenced the barrage of gunfire. Your head in his hands, he murmured under his breath, “No, no, no, no, no…”

It all came back again, flooding back.

“Wake up, (Y/N),” he said, his hands gently shaking you to no avail. “Wake up!” he roared.

Maggie looked on in shock, her eyes wide and her lips agape. Carol emerged from underneath the stairs where she’d hidden, seeing what happened, Daryl knelt by your bleeding body.

“We gotta go!” he cried out, his voice faltering, but still strong.

Machine fire broke out as Carol took the opportunity of the confusion to shoot at the remaining goons. Negan and Maggie joined to fire up at the balcony, forming a human barricade around you.

He begged, pleaded, for you to wake up, to tell him what he needed to do, to be alive. You were breathing, but barely. There was blood beginning to show beneath you, but he frantically looked to find the source to no success.

More gunfire, more blood. A million thoughts raced, and yet there was nothing, blankness. All he knew was you needed help, and in his panic, he cried out again, this time more in anger than in fear. “We gotta go!”

He lifted his head to turn, trying to locate some exit or something that could help. The answers had to be somewhere.

His gaze fell upon Ezekiel across the station, himself hidden behind a broken glass partition. He peered over the top, looking in horrified confusion at your near-lifeless body, strewn on the cold, bloody tile.

Daryl didn’t meet his eyes, he only spotted the fire extinguisher just behind him, strapped to the wall. “Throw it!” he bellowed, pointing to the device.

He procured the auxiliary handgun he’d haphazardly tucked in the waistband of his jeans, an occasional habit you often scolded him for, half-joking that he was likely to accidentally “shoot his dick off.” It would come in handy now.

Ezekiel flung the extinguisher into the air, though not without slight confusion at Daryl’s orders. It made sense when Daryl raised his gun, narrowing his eyes to point, aim, and shoot at the flying canister. The shot was enveloped by a plume of grey that soon shrouded the whole station, a kind of smoke bomb.

The rest was a blur, quite literally.

Daryl knew he could carry you, if just from the sheer panic and need to get you help. He tucked both arms underneath you, one at your shoulder blades, the other under your knees. With a great expenditure of strength, every last bit of it in him, he hoisted you up. The air was thick with smoke, gunshots still raining from somewhere, but he was invisible.

His own vision, though, was compromised, and frantically he turned in each and every direction to find a way out, until a voice called to him. It was Maggie, or maybe Carol, or maybe Diane, he couldn’t quite tell, it didn’t matter. “Daryl! This way!”

Emerging from the smoke, they came out into the open air, into Union Square. They veered off into an alley, with Ezekiel leading the way. Something about a clinic, that’s all Daryl heard. That’s all he needed to know.

He tried so hard to keep you stable in his arms, but it was hard. He struggled to keep you up, your body weighing him down. Still, he didn’t let you fall.

“The clinic’s not far now!” Ezekiel called out, pointing in the direction. In that same direction, a large military jeep had approached, blocking the way through. The group staggered momentarily, until Ezekiel called out again, leading them down another path that jutted from the alley. “This way!” This way!”

This time, a black van. No way around, no shortcuts. “Fall back,” Ezekiel said.

It became clear when Daryl looked back, when they all looked back. Troopers were at the other end of the alley, but they weren’t shooting, they weren’t concerned with your group. They instead placed Commonwealth branded partitions, and chain link fences.

“They’re not following us!” Carol said.

And then he heard it. He didn’t want to hear, didn’t want to believe it, but it was hard not to know just what it was.

Magna must’ve heard it, too. “Wait! What is that?”

Snarling, wheezing, rattling, growling.

That’s when they started flooding the alleyway, and they all realized where they were: the slums. This was where the poor lived, the lower classes. They were driving the herd into the home of the Commonwealth’s poor, where once you lived. It was evil, and it had Pamela Milton written all over it.

“They’re penning us in!” shouted Ezekiel.

They weren’t just walking, though. They were climbing.

“What the fuck?” said Negan, watching the lone walker rise about the rest, climbing upon the abandoned cart as it approached.

Daryl saw it, too. He didn’t care. He took a glance down at you, still unconscious, still barely breathing.

Somewhere in the chaos, Eugene and Max had found your group, and Luke and Jules emerged from the herd, barrelling towards them. None of that registered to Daryl, though, who quickly jumped back into action.

“Move! Move!”

They rounded another corner, where more walkers were flooding in. Carol was observant, though. “Cat ‘em off!” she cried. “We got that alley! Clear a path!”

The labyrinthian alleyways they ran through seemed to dead end after dead end, with the dead literally blocking the end. Carol guided Daryl as he carried you, taking out walkers with the others to clear a path.

He squeezed through, between the corner of a wall and the impending herd. He sidestepped, narrowly escaping the clutches of a walker, whose rotten hand came much too close to grabbing you.

For a moment then, your eyes seemed to flutter open, just for a brief moment. He kept moving, losing his breath but never giving out. He looked down at you, a small burst of relief, but you looked so weak.

Still, you recognized him, how could you not? In the haze of your stupor, you mumbled his name. Looking back, you saw past his arm—a stampede of walkers tripping over each other, flooding into the alley, but not following you.

That was the last thing you’d see for several minutes, during which you swore you heard him say, “I’m here.”

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