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missdawnandherdusk · 6 months

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All Good Things to Those Who Wait

Draco x Hufflepuff!Reader

There goes the last great American dynasty

Who knows if she never showed up, what could have been

There goes the maddest woman this town has ever seen

She had a marvelous time ruinin' everything

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4

Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8

Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12

The Chapter That Never Happened Chapter 13

Chapter 14 Chapter 15

Summary: tying up some loose ends :)

A/n: *emerges from the void*

Everything has an ending. The best stories, and the worst ones. Looking back at my story, there was no better ending I could have asked the stars for. I lost people I loved but I also stood for what I believed in and led an army to victory. No one would forget what had happened in those days. The days of the Great War.

But what is life without tying up a few loose ends. You’ve come with me this far on this journey, and now as I look back, perhaps there are some things that you’d like to know. Some conversations you’d like to hear. Some people you’d like to meet or see again. So, here are those loose ends, tied together.

**********************************

I stepped onto the porch of my childhood home. It was in the efforts to try and find my mother, and try to find some peace and meaning after the past years. Draco came with me, at my side.

“She’s not here,” I sighed, knowing before we even stepped foot in the house that my mother wasn’t waiting for me. “And somehow that hurt’s more,”

“She’ll come in her own time love,” Draco soothed. Maybe he was right, or maybe I’d always be searching for her in the stars like I looked for my father.

Draco and I sat on the porch that night, watching the sun set and the fireflies come to life in the meadow that blanketed around us.

“You cast a patronus,” Draco said as I laid my head on his shoulder, watching the wildflowers dance in the wind.

“I know,” A smile touched my lips.

“It was a dragon,”

“Yeah,” I took his hand into mine, thinking back to the first night Draco cast his own patronus with my father’s wand. How things had changed since then. “My mother always told me that one day I’d find my patronus and it would watch over me like my father,”

He pressed a kiss to the top of my head.

“I don’t think you need anyones protection,” The humor in his voice gave way to the smile that I couldn’t see.

“It’s still nice to have someone beside me—to fight alongside me,”

He was quiet a moment before airing his doubts. “Do you think that maybe…” I knew where he was going with the thought, because it had been chipping at the back of my mind.

“Because they’re so different we’re not meant to be together?” I mused, finishing his worried thought.

“Yeah,” He sighed.

“No,” I sat up, facing him. “I think they’re just right for us. I’ve thought about it—more than I should. But in reality… if we think about it, your lion,”

“Aslan,” Draco’s fingers brushed over my locket. A smile crept to my lips and I nodded.

“And the first task,”

“The what?” I had caught him off guard, a beautiful sight to behold.

“Our fourth year, that first task of the tournament.” Realization struck him.

“Our patronus’ show the start of us—when we really first started to trust each other.” I took his hand back into mine. “They’re not so different after all,”

He laughed without fear and kissed me softly, before pulling me closer. “The start of us,” Draco mused, and maybe he could see them like I could: a younger me standing there, skeptically looking at a younger Draco. Before the war, before the long nights, secret kiss, tears, laughter, love and loss. Two kids who took a chance.

When the sun cleared the horizon and its final rays fading, Draco and I headed inside—to the empty house that still promised to protect me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There was a knock on the door. In the week that we had been here, no one had disturbed out haven. No one knew we were here.

Draco looked up from his book. I dislodged myself from the couch and his arms, and went to answer the door, on guard. I stared at the one standing before me, not knowing how to quite process it.

“Hi, mum,” I whispered.

“Hello,”

Time stilled around us. Everything came rushing to the surface only to be stopped by my unparted lips. One thought escaped.

“I did it,” my voice was barely audible.

“I’m so proud of you,”

Tears stung my eyes. After all was said and done relief flooded through me more than anger did. Perhaps it was the peace that blanketed the Wizarding world that calmed my hurt.

“Mum,” My voice broke into tears. Amity wrapped around us as—after years—I got a hug from my mother.

“I’m so sorry, honey,” She whispered, stroking my hair. “I’m so sorry,”

I nodded into her shoulder, letting all of my bottled-up tears come out. All of the stresses from war and the nightmares that plagued me at night—my mother was still there to hold me tight. It didn’t matter that I was still hurting from wounds she inflicted, to know she was there, willing to hold me tight, and call me hers was enough.

“Y/n, are you—” Draco came out and paused. I pulled away from my mother and looked at him. He gave me a soft smile and nodded, heading back into the house.

“Is he upset with me?” My mother asked. I laughed hopelessly.

“I don’t know,” I said, wiping away my tears.

“Are you?” She asked.

“I don’t know,” My voice softened. “There’s so much right now… so much to sort through…”

“There is.” She didn’t deny it, and maybe it was comforting that someone outside of my peers acknowledged that I had been through a lot, and in turn that had caused a lot of heavy burdens on my heart and soul.

My gaze drifted back to hers.

“Do you wanna come in?” I asked.

She shook her head. “That’s not what you want, nor need,” Reaching our she placed per hand on my arm, soothing me before I could argue. “I’ll be around if you need me, but until then, the house is for you—it always has been. Build a life,” She smiled and looked through the window—probably at where Draco was inevitably spying on us. “You’ve found a good one,”

A smile touched my lips.

“Thanks mum,”

My mother inhaled sharply and nodded. “I’ll be off then,” Turning to go down the porch stairs, she paused. “He would be so proud of you,”

Tears burned my eyes again, as I wrapped my arms around her, needing her to hold me just once more before I could let her go. Because in her arms was also the love of my father that was taken from me too soon by this war. A war that I saw an end to. And maybe in that moment, the war within me ended too. I wasn’t the daughter of a Death Eater and a member of the Order of the Phoenix. I was the daughter of Walt and Elizabeth. And that was enough

“Goodbye my love,” My mother said softly. “I’ll always be around.”

“Bye mum,” I smiled as she wiped away my tears. “I love you,”

“I love you too sweetheart,”

I waved goodbye, and with a spell, she was gone. I turned to go inside. The door clicked softly behind me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Professor McGonagall?” My brows pulled together. “Not to be rude, but what are you doing here?”

“This is a summons for you,” She held out a parchment, the usual stern look on her face was replaced with pity.

I took the parchment and opened it, scanning the delicate print. My heart sank.

“This is… this—“ I gaped.

“I’m afraid so,” McGonagall sighed. “There was nothing I could do,”

“Draco?” I called into the house. He was beside me in a moment. I handed him the parchment. “This is serious?” She nodded again.

“I’m sorry my dear,”

“A court summons? They’re putting her in trial!?” Draco demanded.

“Kingsley is very set on it. And he is the new Minister,”

“I saved the school! I helped defeat the Dark Lord! I—really!?” Tears pricked my eyes.

“There’s got to be some mistake,” Draco insisted. “She’s not a Death Eater, she doesn’t even have the mark!”

“I’m sure that the ministry will see that, but I’m afraid that I cannot do anything about the summons,”

I scrubbed my face and sighed. “Thank you Professor. Can I invite you in for some tea?”

“That’s very kind dear, but I’m afraid I must be on my way,” She bowed slightly then disaperated from the porch.

I stood there a while, lost in my thoughts. Draco gave me a gentle squeeze and kissed the crown of my head before disappearing inside. My feet took me off the wood of the porch and into the softness of the grass. I sank to the ground beside a fence post. The sun began to set. My eyes watched the horizon. Millions of thoughts swirled around my mind with no discernible direction.

Was there even a case for me to be innocent? Is this what everything I had worked for come to? To be seen as a criminal for holding a crumbling cause together?

____________________

“Where is she?” Abby asked, helping Pansy through the fireplace.

“Out front, watching the sunset,” Draco sighed, opening the front door. “She’s been out there a while,”

“Can’t imagine why,” Pansy muttered. “They’re seriously putting her on trial?”

“Yep,” Draco sighed. “All this time I thought I’d be the one, and yet…”

“I’ll go talk to her,” Abby kissed Pansy’s cheek. “You guys get to work,”

“Thank you, both,” Relief flooded Draco’s voice.

Abby snagged an old afghan off the back of the armchair and went out through the small meadow. She draped the blanket around your shoulders and sat beside you in the grass. You laid your head on her shoulder. She could see the dried tear tracks on your cheeks.

“How—how could they do this?” Your weak voice held deep betrayal.

“I don’t know,” Abby answered honestly, taking your hand into hers. “But we’re not going to let them get away with it.”

“I don’t—I can’t defend myself in court—I,” You dissolved into tears. “Haven’t I done enough?”

“More than enough,” Abby affirmed. “Don’t worry, we’re gonna work it out—you’ll see,”

“How?” You asked.

“Well, you’ve gathered quite a few allies who owe you once or twice,” Abby pointed out. “And others who just love you anyway. Draco and Pansy are working on it now,”

“Wha—what?”

“We’re gonna build your case,” Abby promised. “And get you acquitted.”

“They’re…” A sad laugh left your lips. You laid back on the grass. Abby knew you were searching for the first stars in twilight.

“Don’t worry about a thing,” Abby smiled at you. “Just rest,”

The days past and my trial date approached like a storm on the horizon—but whether it was just rain or a hurricane, I couldn’t tell. Draco assured me that it would all be okay—he tried to tell me about everything done to build my case, but I wasn’t interested. Grateful, thoroughly, but I knew that if I learned anything about it, I would pick it up myself and try to fix it and my weary heart couldn’t handle that and keep beating like it was supposed to.

So, I dressed smartly and took Draco’s hand before we took the Floo to the Ministry. I kept my head low, and tears at bay.��

Though Draco, Abby and Pansy accompanied me into the court room, I had to sit alone for the trial. The distance was drowning. I sat in the hard wooden chair, facing malice and prejudices. Kingsley looked almost predatory, as if he could pin the entire war on my shoulders, casting the blame on me.

I flinched as the charges were read against me. The list of dead was longer than I thought. I didn’t dwell on the days of the Battle of Hogwarts, nor the events that occurred. They haunted me in my dreams, make no mistake, but what was real and what was a nightmare I lost the ability to discern.

Was that much blood really on my hands?

My faith in myself began to waver. Maybe I did deserve to be locked up. A few years in Azkaban with dementors sucking my life force might make me forget what I had done.

Surprise flickered on my face as I saw Remus Lupin stand to my defense as an attorney. It was the first time that I had actually taken note of who was in the room. There had to be at least thirty people all gathered behind Draco and Pansy that I could see—more filed out the door in the back. All faces of those I loved, I had fought beside, I had grown up with.

The static in my ears tuned in and out of Lupin and Kingsley conversing. It wasn’t until their voices raised to shouting that the static was drowned out. My eyes flickered up from he thread in my hands.

“She cast unforgivables! She killed! She’s dangerous!”

“Death Eaters who were threatening our lives! The lives of wizard kind everywhere! She stopped a genocide!” Remus shouted back, obviously frustrated. “She showed remarkable strength and courage in a time of great darkness, and you will not diminish that.”

“They are unforgivables! We have laws for a reason!”

“If I may,” McGonagall stood and the entire room quieted. “That list of names that you read was a long list of Death Eaters who have either escaped from Azkaban, or are known Death Eaters and have killed before. Miss Y/n had very hard decisions to make. The ministry found itself incompetent for lack of a better word. She, along with her friends, engineered an army to face the Dark Lord. Over the years what she went through has turned her into who she is today. She fought along side the other heroes who stand before you. She will be counted among them. You would not punish an Auror for the same thing and you will not punish her.”

“But—” Kingsley was red in the face.

“If you put her in jail, you put the rest of the rebellion too,” The voice that piped up from the crowd surprised me. It was Harry. He stood and all eyes went to him. “Without her, I never would have been able to defeat Voldemort. Dozens more would be dead. You send her to Azkaban… then you’ll send me too,” A hushed gasp filled the room. A small one escaped my own lips.

“Mr. Potter,” Kingsley tried to regain control of the room.

“And me,” Abby spoke up.

“And me,” Neville stood.

Soon everyone around me was standing on my behalf. Pansy, Luna, Ginny, all of the Weasleys actually, Ernie, Hannah, Emme, Blaise, Draco, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Fleur, Tonks, Remus, McGonagall, Moody, Sprout, Flitwick, and others I couldn’t see in the vast room. Kingsley faltered at the large defense behind me.

“You send her then you send each one of us,” Harry spoke clearly. “I’m your stupid chosen one, even if she did something wrong, don’t I have clearance to pardon her or something?”

A smile crossed my face. Intense silence stretched on consuming time and space until it was suffocating me.

“Very well,” Kingsley sank back into his chair. “Y/n you have been cleared of all charges and sentencing. You are free to go,”

Relief flooded through me as the room erupted in cheers. I met Draco’s eyes and he was smiling with pride. I collapsed back into that wooden chair in tears. There was a swarm of people around me, all making sure that I was alright, but they all parted for Draco to reach me.

“Love?” He asked softly, kneeling before me. “I’m here,” He pulled me into his arms and we shared the embrace of lovers. As I exhaled, the weight of the world fell to the floor.

I was free.

I was acquitted.

Now, I just had to find my innocence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Draco?” It was a crisp autumn morning. He looked up from the newspaper. “I’ve been thinking,”

He smiled and set down the paper, giving me his full attention. I almost wished he didn’t.

“I… I know it’s been a long road here… and since we’ve met it’s kinda been hell.” A sad laugh left my lips. “There’s a whole world out there Draco,” My eyes flickered to the willow growing outside the kitchen window.

“Yeah?” He prompted softly.

“Don’t you want to go see it? Be young and reckless and not have to feel like—like you’re running an entire school?” I gestured.

“I do,” He confessed softly. “We are still young Y/n, we have a long life ahead of us,”

“…You still want it with me?” I felt as if the oxygen was being vacuumed from my lungs. “We were just kids when we met Draco. We went through a war together—and now it’s over. The war. You don’t have to stay here,” This house was just as haunted as I was.

“What—where is this coming from?” Draco stood, rounding the small breakfast table. “I want to be with you. I want to share my life with you,” He took my hands into his. “So, let’s go travel the world together—learn who we are outside of the war.”

Hope sparked in my chest. “Really?”

He laughed softly. “Oh my darling, you are one of my best friends, I’ll go anywhere with you,” His words lured me to melt into his warm embrace. We sat on the kitchen floor. He stroked my hair softly.

“Just for a while,” I mumbled. “There’s so much we haven’t seen,”

“I know,” The smile was evident in his voice. “And it’s going to be incredible—and we’re going to learn how to heal along the way,” I nodded into his shoulder.

“I was thinking about maybe even living muggle for a little bit,” The confession was a weight from my shoulders. “I need space.”

“Okay,” His soft agreeable caught me off guard. “I think it would be good for both of us actually. And maybe even fun,”

I laughed softly as tears formed in my eyes. Leaning against him I watched the morning sun move across the wooden floor.

“I love you,” I whispered softly. “And if you… if I’m not…”

“Hush,” it was a soft reprimand. “I think you’re right. We need time away from it all. To find who we are away from it all,”

I nodded and rested my head on his shoulder.

“We’ll come back,” I promised.

“I know we will,” Draco smiled, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. “Knowing you, you’ll want to come back and help build a better system,”

My cheeks flushed red. I hadn’t told anyone about my ideas to make Hogwarts better—to make the Ministry better, hell to even make Azkaban better. It was time for things to change. I smiled to myself. Maybe I was more rebellious than I thought.

And yet, Draco knew—he knew all the little plans in my head that were hidden just for me. Being known felt like belonging—and I belonged with him.

**********************************

Traveling with Draco would always be saved in my memories until I died, and when it started to slip, it would be saved into a pensieve. I wouldn’t forget.

We bought a muggle car and drove it until it felt right to stop. It wasn’t the famous places where we found ourselves, rather it was the forgotten places where we felt most at home. Where I could stand on a cliff edge and just scream and laugh and no one was around to hear me. Where Draco and I would sit at the edge of a river and send down leaves that held our biggest regrets, our losses, and our fears, learning to let go. Where we would sit in cafes and draw what we saw around us and enjoy pastries and tea. Where we could dance in the middle of a crowded room with other couples who didn’t know us from Adam.

But that is a story for another time.

For now, I’m sure you have a burning question that you’ve been waiting for me to answer.

And yes.

Draco did take me to go and see Phantom of the Opera in Paris like he promised.

Oh, and we got married.

But, again, that is a story for another time.

There is one last person I want you to meet before I close.

**********************************

My heart caught in my throat.

“Draco?” I squeaked out, leaning against the bathroom counter. “Draco!”

“What? Are you alright? What’s wrong?” He was frantic, looking for danger.

“I’m… pregnant,” I whispered, looking at him in wonder. “Draco… I’m—“

“Holy harpies,”

Realization flickered across his face as it rose into an elated expression of joy. A victorious laugh as he scooped me up and twirled me around our lavish bathroom, in our muggle flat in the suburbs of London. His joy was contagious as I giggled in his arms, holding onto him. He set me down, stroking my face softly. Then he pressed a kiss to my forehead.

Draco must have seen some fear linger in my stare. Some uncertainty that was well justified.

“The war is over,” Draco reassured drawing me back into his arms. “They’ll be safe. We’ll make sure of it,”

I nodded, curling my fingers into his sweater, my smile returning.

“I’m gonna be a mum,” I laughed.

“And you’re going to be absolutely brilliant.” He pressed a kiss to my lips. “Absolutely brilliant.”

“And you’re gonna be a great dad,” Tears pricked my eyes. “God, I don’t know the first thing about being a parent,” A nervous giggle left my lips.

“We’ll learn and figure it out,” He stroked my cheek softly, stealing another kiss.

A thousand parenting books, a baby shower, and a few doctors appointments later, Draco and I were curled up on the couch in our flat as the fire crackled in the hearth.

We had yet to settle on a name—to be fair we narrowed it down a lot, but with every new suggestion came a new round of anxiety that it wouldn’t be just right. It left me up at all hours thinking of it; so much so that Draco had to find a pregnancy safe sleeping potion so I could get proper rest.

“Elizabeth?” Draco mused, after my mother. I pursed my lips. It had been a suggestion that circled around.

“I’d like it as a middle name,” I decided, the thought had been mulling over in my mind.

“Okay done,” He smiled, reaching over to stroke my stomach before resuming his massage of my sore feet.

“Still need a first name.” I pondered, leaning my head against the back of the couch. “Narcissa?”

Draco snorted. “I’m not calling our daughter by my mothers name,”

My heart fluttered when he said our daughter.

“Well we need something,”

“How about Lucy?” That was a new suggestion: one not voiced by either of us.

“If that’s some way to get me to name her after your father I swear to Merlin—“

Draco burst out laughing shaking his head.

“Godric, no. Ugh,” he chuckled. “No, love, Lucy as in the first one to find Narnia. Ya know, that book you read to me all those years ago. The current theme of our nursery?”

“Oh,” my eyes widened at the thought, my heart softening. “Lucy,” I looked down, caressing my stomach when I felt something odd. Frowning I pressed my palm over the area. Draco caught my confusion and grew very concerned.

“What? Is she alright? What wrong?”

“Nothing,” I grinned. “She’s kicking—I think she likes her name,” I reached out for his hand and placed it in the same spot where mine resided as I felt her kick again.

“Hello little Lucy,” Draco whispered softly. “I can’t wait to meet you,”

Tears pricked my eyes as I watched him talk to her softly. And like every night, Draco got up and made me my tea that had Sleeping Draught in it—which he brewed specifically for me. It reminded me of our school days when he would spend class time brewing me anti-anxiety potions. It warmed my heart that his habit didn’t wane even with the years past.

That night my eyes fluttered open. I woke in the night, barely awake and ready to fall asleep again when I heard a soft voice. At first I thought Draco was trying to speak to me but I quickly realized that he was talking to someone else.

“You’re going to be one of the greatest wizards to ever walk the earth,” he murmured softly. “You’ll be kind and smart like your mother. You’re going to love her so much. We already love you so much.”

I let my eyes drift closed as a smile touched my lips. I resisted the urge to reach out and take Draco’s hand, in fear that he might become bashful about the situation.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A small bundle of warmth rested on my chest, peacefully sleeping. My hand rose and cradled the small thing, tears pricking my eyes. My other hand was still clinging to Draco’s.

Lucy Elizabeth Malfoy.

There were tears in Draco’s eyes as he reached out and with the softest touch caressed her tiny head.

“She’s beautiful,” he murmured. “You did so well,”

Exhausted, I let my eyes close, knowing that all was right with the world. Lucy would grow up in a world free from the threat of Voldemort and Draco would be by my side to protect her. We had already bled and fought and now we would make this new world we fought for, right for her.

A new legacy.

A new hope.

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doe-eyed-fool · 3 months

Text

Fallen {Chapter Two}

Alastor x (fem) Reader

My eyes slowly opened, a soft groan left me. I slowly sat up, this time feeling more comfortable. My heart raced as I memories replayed in my mind. I had fallen from heaven into hell with no explanation as to why. I got badly injured. I even made a deal with a demon. "Finally awake are we?" Speaking of. I glanced over at the bedroom door, in the entry way was Alastor.

"How are you feeling?" He asks. I look back at my once injured wing, it was healed over.

Though, a few feathers were missing from the now scar that was left from the protruding bone. I look down at my legs next, they were healed as well. I wasn't as sore as I was before, thankfully. I look over to Alastor before speaking. "I'm fine." I tell him.

Alastor approaches the bed to look over my wing. "I see I haven't lost my touch." He says smugly. I avoid his eyes, unsure of what to say. What was there to say? My eyes trail to a window across the room. I could still see the pentagon, ever bright in the crimson sky.

And far up above past it, would be heaven. "Alastor?" The demon hums in response. "I can go back now right? I can fly again, can't I?" I asked. "You could try." Alastor began. "However, I advise against it. I might have set the bone back into place and healed it, but I can't say if it wouldn't break again if you tried flapping your wings. Hollow bones can be very tricky. Flying might not be the best idea at the moment." I didn't like hearing that, and yet he went on.

"But let's say you could fly right now. How would you escape hell?" I look at him, trying to answer, but couldn't find the words.

Surely I could have just flown up couldn't I? But now that I really thought about it, if the winged demons have not found their way into heaven by flying upward...How could have I?

"Not even Lucifer himself can leave this place. There is only one person who can grant you entrance into heaven. And I think you know who."

"God." I sigh. "I don't even know why I'm here. Surely god has not casted me out purposefully." Alastor only shrugs. "Who can say? But I did promise I'd help you find a way, and I intend to keep my word."

"Not to offend. But how are you going to pull that off?" I asked. "Perhaps I could convince your god to reconsider?" Alastor says with a laugh. Right, like god would listen to a demon of all people. "You're going to convince god to let me back into heaven? I don't think that will work." I say, clear hesitation in my tone.

"My dear, you'd be surprised by just what I can do." Alastor said lowly, the static in his voice sharpening for a moment. That put me at such unease, a shiver ran up my spine.

"I do believe I should do a bit of explaining. It might make things a little easier. We will be apart of each others afterlife for a while, might as well get to know each other." Alastor then went on about just who he was and what his status meant in this place.

He was an overlord, well known for all the terrible reasons, and feared by all. When he was gone talking about himself, he waited for me to tell him about myself. "Um well. I was quite the boring person while I was alive, I must admit." I started.

"I grew up in a small town, worked a simple job, and attended church every week." I tell him. "I never did drugs or drank. I tried my best to keep myself in god's light. Be the best version of myself I could be. And I was given paradise after death as a result. It was my devotion to god that allowed me to enter the gates of heaven. That only further confuses me as to why I ended up here. I was a good person. I was...Wasn't I?" I trailed off, not realizing the silence that followed until Alastor spoke up.

"Afraid I can't answer that." He says with a shrug. "But I can't say this much. While you're here, you might as well forget that "good person" behavior of yours. That means nothing in this place. The sinners out there will eat you alive." He smirks.

"And your appearance won't help you either. An angel like you? You'll be hunted down and then who knows what will happen to you then. Well, I can think of a few things. You wouldn't like it if I told you though."

"No...I don't think I would..." I muttered. "So, am I suppose to stay here then? Hidden?" I asked. "Perhaps." Alastor says before falling silent to think. After a minute his grin widens. "Or perhaps not! I can disguise you, that way you can blend in with the rest of the scum out there." My expression turns into one of confusion.

"You can? How?" I asked. Alastor took my hand and stood me up off the bed. "It's a simple trick I know. This won't take long at all, just..." Alastor waved his hand, and just like that a necklace appeared out of thin air.

I took it from him and stared at it for a moment. It was pretty, I admit. "Go on then." Alastor insisted. I glance at him before looking down at the necklace one more time before finally putting it on.

I gasped as I felt my body change. It was painless, but still felt odd as it happened. After a few seconds the feeling subsided. "My, get a look at you!" Alastor looks me up and down. He leads me to a full length mirror, and once again I felt air leaving my lungs as I stare at my own reflection.

My skin was now a pale blue, that blended into black on my arms and legs, down to my hands and feet. My (color) hair, now an inky black. My white feathered wings, now dark bat wings. I wore a knee length black and white dress with long puffy sleeves. And my eyes, the whites of them were filled black, only broken by my white pupils. As I spoke, I could see sharp teeth peaking out from behind my lips.

"I look so...demonic." I mutter. "But of course! That's the point isn't it?" Alastor pats my shoulder. "Now, I have matters to attend to. I hope you don't mind tagging along." I turn to face him. "Just what matters exactly?" I ask warily. "Tending to a hotel along with a few colleagues of mine." That...That's it? Working at a hotel? "Oh um. Ok, sure. I'll try and keep out of the way."

"Then let's be off!" Alastor takes hold of my hand before snapping his fingers. And within seconds, we were at the doors of a hotel. I look up at the building. "Hazbin Hotel? How...fitting?" Alastor chuckles before leading me inside. Right away we're we're met with a demon, a rather cheerful one at that.

"Welcome back Alastor! We could use all the help we can get to...day. Oh, hello." The looks to me. She was around my height. She had long blonde hair, and wide red eyes.

Her rosy cheeks defined as she smiles. She straightens out her red pantsuit uniform trying to look a bit more presentable. "What's your name?" She asks politely, which I was surprised by. "Y/n." I tell her. "Nice to meet you Y/n. I'm Charlie." She holds out her hand for me to shake. I take it, her grip was shockingly gentle. "Are you here for a chance for redemption?"

"Excuse me?" I ask, blinking owlishly.

#alastor x reader #alastor #hazbin hotel alastor #hazbin hotel #charlie morningstar #charlie hazbin hotel

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dreamingonclds · 7 months

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Everything Happens For A Reason | LN4

Summary: Sometimes the people that love us hurt us the most but, you can't seem to stay away. After an immense break up, you've become the most passionate in your career. Going from casting to casting, concert to concert, audition to audition, you become one of the most famous artists of your generation. You were done picking up the broken pieces of your heart when somebody comes into your life and you place your heart in someone else's hands again.

Word Count: 968

Pairing: Lando Norris x female! reader ft. Carlos Sainz

Warnings: none

Chapter 2

Previous Chapter

After what felt like the longest 2 weeks Jen and you were finally on the 14 hour flight to Monaco. You could burst with excitement, one of your biggest dreams was to go to a Grand Prix. Now, you were just trying to catch up with the current season. You’re an extremely busy person so the most you could do was check the race standings online. You knew all the current drivers already, following them on instagram and all. But, you had never seen any of the grill the grid videos or any social media content. It’s safe to say you regret not keeping up with it but your love for the sport never faltered.

Jen’s beside you working on her laptop, or so you thought. She suddenly gasps and starts slapping your side causing you to jump

“Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!” she semi yells causing some people to give you weird looks

“Holy shit Jen you scared the crap out of me” you say as you put your hand to your chest

“Sorry not sorry” she giggles at you as she places her laptop on your lap

“What was that guys name, Lando, the one you “used” to have a crush on” she says as she add air quotes after his name

You nod yes at her waiting for her to continue

“I was watching some interviews and look” she says excitedly as she puts her headphones on you and presses play

The video starts and it’s a QnA of the McLaren boys, each taking turns interviewing each other.

Looking down at his cards and then looking back up at Oscar, “Who is my celebrity crush?” asks Lando

“Oh umm easy, that girl that sings the song that goes “my heart wants what it wants”. She was in this movie I just watched. Whats her name, oh yeah Y/N Y/L/N” Oscar says confidently

“You know me so well” Lando says proudly, looking from Oscar to the camera

“Oh it’s not like you only ever play her music or have her picture as your background” Oscar laughs and teases Lando

Lando blushes furiously and hides behind his cards, leaning back laughing and nearly tipping over the chair

“See, see, look!” Oscar says pointing at the staff who were also giggling and nodding agreeing with what Oscar just confessed

“You didn’t have to expose me like that man” Lando says once he catches his breath and recollects himself

Looking at the camera Lando says, “I mean can you blame me, look”

He takes his phone out his pocket and shows is proudly to the camera

“If you guys really loved me you would try and bring her to one of the races” Lando suggests to the Mclaren team jokingly

“If you get pole or a win, we’ll see what we can do”, one of the team members says

“Actually!”, Lando and Oscar yell at the same time

“Wait nevermind, I take it back, I’d be a mess around her. Just thinking about it makes me nervous”, he says as he fidgets with his hand and shifts in his chair

…

Now it’s your turn to blush, you don’t even want to turn and look at Jen. Never in a million years would you think your crush would be reciprocated or that any F1 driver would know who you are.

“Jen that video isn’t even that recent, I'm sure that his “crush” has passed”, you say finding it hard to believe

“Are you serious! He has you as his background, on his PHONE! You only do that when you really like someone” she says

“And you know it!” she says accusingly, pointing her finger at you

You shyly smile and turn to look out the plane window to hide your blushing cheeks

“Ok, you have a point but that video is nearly a year old. I doubt I've even crossed his mind recently. He’s been so focused on his career to even think about me. People move on Jen it’s okay, it’s not that serious. Besides it was just a crush, no actual feelings involved.”, you say disappointedly and surprised you feel that way

“So”, she says giving up on her argument

You both sit in silence for a couple seconds before you hear her move in her seat

“Wait” she says as she has an epiphany

“No offense but, why would they invite you to a race? I mean, I don’t think you’ve ever spoken about F1 publicly”

“No, I know what you mean”, you cut her off, giggling at her honesty

“Unless he still likes you, I mean like you said, that video was nearly a year old. He must still have a crush on you!”, she says excitedly

You finally turn back to look at her

“Oh my god, you have a point. They actually made it happen!”, you say agreeingly

“They fucking made it happen!” she yells making other passengers look at your direction

You both mouth and whisper yell sorry’s towards the people and laugh at Jen’s lack of decorum. After you both calm down you suddenly get butterflies on your stomach.

“Oh god, I’m nervous now, I wasn’t before”, you say worriedly grabbing Jen’s hand

“You have absolutely nothing to worry about, you are literally Y/N Y/L/N. We just have to dress to impress you know. Might catch more than just his eyes.” she says, smiling slyly

“Classic Jen” you tell her as you slap your forehead

“What? This can be the start of something new! I bet it will be” she says confidently turning to look at you

You turn to look out the window once again, smiling at all the possibilities. Wondering if what Jen just said will have any truth to it.

“We’ll see” you finish

#scenarios #fan fiction #fanfic #lando norris #Lando Norris #Carlos Sainz #carlos sainz #lando norris x reader #lando norris x you #lando norris x y/n #formula 1 #f1 #f1 x reader #f1 x female reader #f1 x you #f1 x y/n #charles leclerc #imagines

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creativemessbyvd · 2 months

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FIC IDEA VAULT #17 - RadioApple Hercules AU

@fanby-fckry is an enabler XD Their post about their idea for a Little Mermaid AU forced my hand to actually write down this idea! Originally I had the inspiration from this Tiktok!

So, this is an inspired by Disney's Hercules AU, we will follow cannon for season 1 loosely and then we take off from there, and yes, the tiktok scene will be there! I have lots of ideas already down, including a general idea of how each chapter will go. So far, aiming for 8 (?) chapters, which will have not only Alastor's POV but also Lucifer's and others as they become relevant. I want to incorporate the ideas I already have for my own Hellaverse (which I will also use for my Alastor centric fic) which include the Sins being ride or dies for Lucifer, Roo as the main villain, lots of bonding amongst the cast and some cameos by the Helluva Boss crew! I don't plan to make this be straight romance, I want them to be friends first before Alastor starts caring more for Luci, and I'm also trying to keep him as faithful as I can be to his Ace Identity (which is a spectrum! Please, no harrasment over this, but if anyone would like to help me out to make sure I don't screw Al or offend anyone, please let me know! I would really appreciate the help!)

I am swarmed by work, and this has been the worst week for me in a while, I can feel the depressing thoughts around, but talking about my aus, or any of my fandoms always helps! I hope to work on this and publish soon, but I do want to have some chapter written before posting to Ao3. So, without further ado, I leave you with the main summary and two snippets from chapter one! I'm sorry for the errors, I will fix them up for publishin the full story on Ao3! Enjoy!

At least out loud, I won't say I'm in love (Hercules Radioapple AU) by Vesta Dragon

Tasked with getting closer to the King of Hell after the last extermination, Alastor the Radio Demon tries his best to show the king the attention which is plain to see the fallen angel craves. But as they spend time getting to know each other in the most antagonistic and less romantic way possible for Alastor's peace of mind, he finds his mission shifting when shown what a capable ruler Lucifer can be, alongside his softer side that still shows the angel he never stopped being. Lucifer knows that getting along with Alastor will keep Charlie happy, and keep one less headache away from him as he takes the reigns of his kingdom back with the help of his closest friend, Satan, who is now on a mission to make sure both him and Charlie are in top shape for any upcoming battle Heaven will surely start. His heart will be his doom, as he feels himself growing closer to Alastor, but will their love be enough to stop the threat lurking far below Hell? Or will her millennia-old plans finally come to fruition, so the Root of All Evil can finally rule it all as the planets align?

Chapter One Teaser under the cut!

God was created to bring balance to the Universe, and he in turn created Angels, his first and most beloved was Lucifer Morningstar… The story of the Garden of Eden is one I'm sure you are all familiar with, but what you probably didn't know was that it skipped over a lot of details. Lucifer always thought that keeping Humans always happy and in the dark, meant they would never get to their full potential. He befriended Lilith, the first Woman, and they fell into a quick and deep love.

Charlie Morningstar was interrrupted by the loud entrance of Angel Dust, the spider demon carrying around a cooler from which he passed around beverages to the visitors sitting in front of the princess in the Hotel's second entertainment room.

"Boooooriiiiing! Charlie, I swear if you tell us the detailed history of all of creation, I'm taking everyone on a tour of my favorite clubs!"

Finished with his task, he took the main couch, sitting for once, not splayed out but definitely confidently enough that it drew some curious eyes, though they quickly turned away as he swept his gaze around. He took from the cooler two extra waters and passed one to Charlie, who accepted despite looking scandalized at his suggestion.

"Angel, you wouldn't dare!" "Oh, but I would! Who wants to go dancing?" At the raised (albeit nervous) hands that went up, he smirked at the princess who huffed and rolled her eyes.

"Well, what's wrong with giving them all the details?" Charlie shuddered to think were her charges would end up, so she admited that maybe her story would need to be told differently than to how she prefered to remember it. "For one, it would take us way too fucking long to go over everything. Let's go for the more fun version! You gotta know when to give the right details." He made sure to wink at a couple of people, the majority laughing as he riled the princess up.

"We are not sharing anything explicit!" That would be worse than the clubs, as she was about to continue her point, she was interrupted again.

"Is Charlie going to tell the Story? I wanna help!" Nifty had jumped from behind the couch Angel sat at, no one having heard her skittering around until she had made herself known. She proceeded to jump over the couch, landing on Angel and kicking him slightly before settling in beside him.

"Ouch, Nifty! Careful with my arms!"

"Hehe, sorry Angel!"

"Oh, this will be fun." Vaggie had come due to all the shouting, wanting to make sure everyone was being civil. She had known Charlie had plans to share the story, and she was glad she wasn't the only one who knew the princess had to be watched so avoid her rambling to their guests for 5 hours. She loved her, but she knew Charlie tended to go overboard, especially with this.

"Hi sweetie! Come sit here with me, we can share the loveseat." Charlie relaxed upon seeing Vaggie, and made sure to give her a kiss as soon as the fallen angel sat down beside her.

"Can you two stop with the lovey-dovey public displays, let me get my coffee in first." Yet another interrupting, this time from the resident bartender, who was carrying two takeout cups of coffee, one of which he gave to Angel, despite Nifty's attempts to snag it.

"Husk, I'm surprised that you aren't drinking a beer." Vaggie smirked, knowing that usually, the stoic bartender tended to leave the tours to the others and kept to the quiet of the bar. But it was obvious why he had come, as Angel patted his legs.

"Oooh Husky, my lap is open if you want a seat."

"I'll take the floor, otherwise we won't get to the end of the story."

"C'mon you two! Seriously?!" Vaggie was infurated now, she had hoped they had at least some decurum to save it for after the tour was done.

"I meant he would loose circulation on his legs, I ain't as light as Nifty over there." Husk laughed softly, winking at Angel as he took a seat between his legs on the floor.

"Can I sit on your lap, Angel?"

"Sure, Nift."

"Oooooookaaaay, is everyone settled? Can I continue?" Charlie was more aware now of the time constraints, but she was glad to have the company. It was always more enjoyable to have the story be told with input from everyone.

"Yes, but keep it light on the start, we want to get to the good part this century!"

After their fall from Heaven and Earth, Lilith and Lucifer began working on making their prison more comfortable. As others, like the Sins and the Ars Goetia, slowly filled Hell, as they newly appointed King and Queen, they held a party. And someone new arrived to them. She was lovely, yet she was no former angel. Her power left everyone speechless. Her name was Roo. She welcomed everyone, but especially the new King. She had seen it all, and she had to thank him for letting her be born. She was evil personified and she had a proposition. She could help them get revenge upon eveyone who had forsaken them. And while some saw this as a great opportunity, Lucifer refused.

"Fighting Heaven will bring us nothing! I prefer to make the best of this here, were I have my freedom, despite being in my own prison. Let them deal with it all, I thank you for the consideration, but it would be foolish for us to go to war when we know we will lose." Roo smiled, she tried again to entice him, but he wouldn't move. His powers, which he knew she craved, he would not give her. Roo bid them farewell, making sure they knew she could be found at the deepest part, where the river of souls ran, if they ever changed their minds.

She returned to her domain, deep into Hell, to the parts that no one had ever ventured to. She stood now in her home, a castle of darkness that towered over everything. She climbed until she came to her work room, on its center a stone basin filled with a clear swirling liquid. From it she could see the present, past and future. She had used this to her advantage to make sure her influence had sparked the first sin of man. The free will of the humans meant that she now was present up on Earth, but it also crippled her once vast power. Her future vision would never be as it once was, nor could she force the fallen who now ruled Hell to make her biding. She needed more if she was to wreck havoc as she was promised, gazing into the hazy future in which she ruled it all. She could be patient, someday she would have her revenge.

| Line break |

Alastor the Radio Demon could tell that he was utterly fucked, and he could count on one hand his whole life's (and afterlife's) regrets. Babysitting an overexcited and touchy princess and her entourage was something he deeply regretted, as he watched Vaggie run around trying to film the Hotel an annoying television commercial. He honestly thought his own was pretty favorable, but the Princess thought otherwise. As she went to her meeting, her girlfriend now scrambled to put something together with no experience. He could let her keep on trying, ultimately failing but he needed to keep the Princess as happy as possible, and this was something he would have to endure.

After all of that work only for the commercial to be cut off to the news that Heaven was going to come back earlier? He knew his boss was laughing at him. The next few months brought little change. After this, he saw Charlie welcome in another patron, Sir Pentious had tried to be a thorn at Alastor's side, but like the television demon he took orders from, neither could actually cause any harm; like a toy knife, both were only mildly threatening in appearance. His meeting with the Overlords helped him be closer to his end goal. The months flew by, and still, nothing was going the Princess' way, and she was forced to call her father.

And Lucifer Morningstar ended up coming. To HIS HOTEL. The former Angel went so far as to compare him to a bellhop and Alastor was so close to unleashing everything on the pompous asshole. Thankfully, he managed to take his anger out on the loan sharks Mimzy brought, but he still had to dismiss her, more forcefully than he would have if he hadn't already been so on edge. He was fuming by the end of the day, not only had he been humiliated by Lucifer, Husk knew of him being on a leash, and Heaven would soon come. He unleashed his anger once in his room, thankful for the small mercy that his room opened into his own private bayou and no one would be aware of his (frankly childish) tantrum, and suddenly he felt it in the sudden stillness of the air, and deep among the trees, the one who owned his sould appeared.

Roo was not that taller than Charlie, yet the front was just to spite him. he knew, seeing he still towered over her but she held all the power to bring him to his knees, like she did now.

"Alastor, sweetheart! Interesting day?" She sat on a tree stump that formed into a throne. Alastor hated every minute of it but he obediently knelt by her feet, levelling her with his worst glare.

"Roo, you said he wouldn't leave his isolated hole." She laughed and smiled almost as wide as him.

"I said he wouldn't come out without proper reason, Charlotte finally reaching out to him I guess gave him the strength to try for the first time in years." She was looking at her nails, utterly unbothered by this. Her ability to see aspects of the future irked him when she kept information like this from him.

"The fucking Devil will unravel everything I have worked for here." He seethed but Roo just laughed, a shrill sound that hurt his sensitive ears.

"Oh, Al, don't be so pessimistic, darling. I need you to trust me." She reached out to take his face in her hand, squishing as he growled, static becoming more prominent around him. "This is needed, taking out that pompous asshole up in Heaven will leave my darling Lilith in the perfect spot to worm her way in, you have to trust me."

"Charlie will draw a target on her back if she goes to Heaven, and it will lead the Hotel to be in danger." All his hard work, gone if Adam himself lead the charge to the Hotel.

"Well, that's why you are here, correct? Al, trust me, everything is going according to plan. Make sure to use our little golden ticket to make a deal with the Princess, I will need her to complete my plan." He avoided yelping in pain as she dug her fingers into his face, her other hand making sure to spread his smile wider, to the point it hurt more than usual. Her tone grew dark, and suddenly Alastor could feel the chain around his neck tighten as her voice echoed everywhere in the bayou. "And don't lose your temper with Lucifer again, I don't have the time to get another puppet if he decides to smite you."

With that, she threw him to the floor and as soon as his head had stopped spinning, he looked up to find her gone.

#my writing #fic idea vault #vd's fics #fic idea vault 17 #Hercules AU #hazbin hotel #radioapple #appleradio #duckiedeer #hazbin alastor #hazbin lucifer #lucifer morningstar #alastor the radio demon #charlie morningstar #angel dust #vaggie #hazbin husk #hazbin nifty

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vinciwolf · 1 year

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Loyalty Pt 5 (2/2)

(Recom)Na’vi!Miles Quaritch x (fem)Na’vi!Reader

Warnings: SLOW BURN, THIS IS AN EVENTUAL NSFT SERIES, ENEMIES TO LOVERS, capture, romance, reader is female

Warnings for this chapter: reposted this bc I found some errors and also the tags weren't working Finally, the second half of part 5!!! Bring tissues!!! Fluff, tension, angst, violence, animal death, things are finally boiling over!

Notes: Na’vi spoken in italics AND brackets now to clear up any confusion in this chapter.

Tags: @deliwrites @ikranwings @lovekeeho @luciddasher @drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed @avatar-lover @justasimps-blog @mechformers @perseny @dakotali @ragingloser @worldofmunson @whxre-bxby

You awoke to the hint of sunrays ascending into a purple hue of morning dawn on the horizon. The corner of your lip upturned when the arm around your waist pulled you closer atop the chest you rested your head on, ear listening to the soft thumps of Miles’ heartbeat, your hand lazily set upon his sternum.

Sand shifted beneath your body when you stretched up to peek at the sturdy Marine who still kept his eyes shut, not wanting to move for a few more minutes. It had been a very late hour into the night after starwatching when the two of you laid down to get off your feet, only to slowly descend into sleep on the beach shoulder to shoulder.

“Miles…” you start, tone soft and hushed. “Miles, we…should go back…before anyone thinks we’ve run off.”

A hint of a smirk inched forward on the Recom’s cheek, finding a small bit of humor at your recall to what he had told you inside the floating mountains.

Getting up was hard as the sand was pillowy and warm, but brushing off the particles from your clothes was even worse seeing that your pants had a hole in it for your tail, allowing some of the granular substance to get into your ass crack. Maybe sleeping on the beach wasn’t so much a good idea let alone a romantic one.

The walk back to camp was quiet save for the sounds your feet made shuffling through the pale beach, sun entering the sky and casting itself onto the waking world around you. Not wanting to disturb anyone, you gently got onto your bedroll and stilled yourself, making it seem as if you never left. Miles did much the same in his cot. But there was an eye that peeked open and sneakily watched your elusive return, making the kid grin briefly before returning to his dreams.

You soared fast above the water’s edge. Sprinkles of water dusted your face as the large waves crashed into each other below. The sounds reverberated your soul, making the head of your Ikran tip up to glide higher away from the oceanic chaos. Soon the objective of this rough flight came into view: the SeaDragon. It was mighty in size and glared the bright light of the sun off its giant, metallic frame.

Flying in with Miles and Lyle, Sylway flapped hard and landed atop the helm of the SeaDragon. Your feet landed with a bang on the roof as did the other two large Recoms when they dismounted, just for them to hop down with audible thuds onto the deck where the captain stood with a long scowl. Being only seconds behind them, you were about to do the same until you halted when Miles rotated his weight and extended a hand, the light blue of his palm welcoming for you to take—and you did with a visible smirk. The Colonel’s hand firm as he helped you down. Then the captain let out his voice causing your ears to tip with annoyance since you knew a voice like that was attached only to the worst of insufferable douchebags.

“Are you the arsehole commandeering my ship?” Scoresby whined with a heavy accent.

That was Miles’ cue to saunter toward the captain, having an elbow arched from his fingers idly sliding to rest over his pistol.

With a fanged smirk, he admitted huskily, “That would be me.”

Your cheeks flared hot at the cool touch of his voice hijacking your senses. From this angle, your eyes feasted along the arm resting on the holster, studying the flexed muscles swollen under azure, striped skin. He knew what he was doing and it was unfair how he withheld himself last night, only sparing you a kiss to the fucking forehead, so you gladly drank up whatever you could find during these missions.

Not realizing the air passing over your mouth dried out the skin, you padded your tongue to wet them. But there were another pair of lips that weren’t exactly dry, instead quite the opposite.

Inside, Scoresby and Garvin introduced themselves as you stood near the scientist from the other side of the glowing table that showed a map of island locations.

“There’s probably fifty villages out there,” one had mentioned.

“Fifty—one hundred—we’ll search them all,” Miles countered.

“You can’t just come in here and take over my ship! I have quotas to meet!”

Your eyes that were fixed on the captain slowly trailed to the Colonel who leaned his body and lengthy arms on the holographic surface.

“I’ll be nice once, then I won’t,” he smiled with mock friendliness, ears folding back.

You heart skipped when he said that. He was ready, by any means necessary, to finish what he started. Then it dawned on you just how deep with was getting. War was here. Nothing could prepare you for the coming storm – the whole point of the Recombinants’ existence – and that made you anxious, and fearful. You hated how the RDA would waste life just to consume everything. Hated how Miles and every person that was rebirthed as Na’vi would perish eventually while Ardmore could care less.

Inwardly, you scoffed. Just cogs in the machine. Nothing more.

But maybe you could keep at least one of the Recoms alive.

You had to. Your heart begged of it.

You knew the RDA was ruthless, so you begged Eywa to prolong those brief moments when Spider laughed or to feel the hairlike touch that set your body on fire when Miles' pinky grazed yours amidst a crowd at a boring meeting. But stalling was not their forte. They would claw forward, burning the whole world down, to get what they wanted. You understood this, teeth grinding together as your heart wrenched witnessing village after village ravaged. Ardmore would have her scalp, no matter how much it pained you to see her loyal Recom at his worst.

The Metkayina were shoved onto their knees and threatened with voltage weapons swelling a knot into your throat too hard to swallow down. You understood that power too well.

Stood before you were Miles, Prager, and Lyle holding the chief and Tsahik hostage. The Colonel lifted up a portrait of Jake and demanded them to tell where to find him.

“These are sea people. Forest people don’t come here,” Spider earnestly explained.

Then the Tsahik regarded you desperately, “[Please, stop this madness! You need to leave!]”

“They don’t know anything!” Spider shouted.

Your heart was torn, unsettling your whole body while begging the villagers to help find your friend. But several of the Metkayina around you kept talking and yelling which made the Recoms and human soldiers angry and begin yelling themselves. Trying to keep up with the scrambled threads of conversations, you got onto your knees and focused on the Tsahik in desperation.

“[It doesn’t matter what you tell me, just give me a direction! Any direction!]” you spoke fast.

Mentally, your cussed yourself out for asking her to lie, but then quickly recalled that these people didn’t even have a word for lie. Her voice was swift as she told you that she didn’t know where Jake was, but you kept interrupting her in an attempt to get her to understand that she didn’t have to tell the truth – you only needed a random location to suffice. But being scrambled with your try at buying time, you didn’t notice that the Recoms were tired, especially Miles, who got increasingly irritated behind you. Then your blood ran cold when three bold words came from the Colonel.

“Shoot that animal!” he shouted, pointing at an Ilu.

Then a loud blast rang through your ears causing them to sting, whole body curling in from the sudden noise. Then the villagers cried and hollered watching the creature float dead in the water. You swiveled where you crouched and looked to the water, eyes rounding in shock, lungs deepening with hard breaths.

A few feet away, the kid made it clear his disgust. “What the hell are you doing???”

No… no, no, no!

You felt like a failure. This wasn’t supposed to happen.

Your feet were faster than your thoughts as you stood and said very firmly, almost a hiss, “…Miles.”

“They don’t know anything! What you’re doing here is wrong!” Spider screamed. “Please!”

Then Lyle was pushing the end of his rifle into your backside, stinging your flesh as the barrel was still freshly hot.

“Choose your next words carefully,” he warned.

That was when you had enough.

“You’re not pressing the knife where it hurts—” you turn around and face the Corporal, image reflecting off his black shades, this time his gun at your ribs “—and next time you threaten me—” you glare through your brow with a hint of your sharp fangs glinting in the sunlight “—do it to my face.”

Then you took Spider, who you loved and raised, and trudged away from the chaos, Miles not even stopping you. You couldn’t cry, not in front of them. The deep rot in your chest returned and ate away the last lingering bit of hope you tried to salvage in this daily hellhole. Why did you even stay again? Oh, right, the thing around to your neck. You were trapped.

Had he felt nothing? Had those moments of touch and comfort mean anything, or was he just playing along to get a kick out of it. Did he get off knowing that if he wanted to take you, nothing could stop him. How could you resist? You wanted so badly for things to be better, despite the gaping hole manifesting itself in your heart having to watch countless communities destroyed.

Eclipse had fallen hours ago. The dock was quiet and lifeless from the Recoms and crew tucked away in the hull of the ship to catch some sleep. The air was still aside from the critters going about their business zipping through the air or the occasional scampering of something in the woods far off beyond the ship's pier. Despite the deep ache to run towards freedom as you looked at Sylway, who had perched herself for slumber, you hugged your knees from the sting in your eyes, a lone tear crawling down your cheek, tail furling. Ears then flicked to the oncoming sounds of a grunt and shuffling behind you. Part of you wished it was Spider, but you knew those footsteps with the heavy thuds atop the spacious roof of the ship’s bridge, only part of the ship that gave you some semblance of privacy, belonged to someone else.

"You found a good hiding spot," Miles' voice reached through the endless silence that had settled long ago.

Your stomach lurched as you tried to contain your emotions with tears begging to trample forward over the ravine. It was hard to look at him, heart jumping in response to his presence nearing to where you sat. He was so close yet it felt like he was far away where you could not reach him. You yearning to be at his side faded into sorrow. Mourning for what could have been if things were different. Mourning for what could still come to pass if you caved selfishly and said fuck it all.

“I couldn’t find you when we were debriefing. I could’ve used your input...”

You sneered, "Just your box of secrets to exploit whenever you please."

“Don’t make this difficult. We both knew this would have to happen to weed out Sully.”

Enough rage was flowing through your body that you hadn’t realized how quickly you stood up.

“Did you actually care!? Or would you have kept me collared all along like a good pet until you’d find the time to discard me and Spider when you were done with us!?”

Your words struck a chord in Miles causing his tempter to rise and piss out his mouth, like the jarhead he was, not thinking why he let the bitterness flow effortlessly as he spoke.

“You think I care about some kid!? We ain’t even the same species!”

Blood boiled and ran hot through your veins triggering a reflex you didn’t know you could possess. You swung your hand to slap him, but he caught your wrist midair, clasping it hard enough to leave a mark.

"Don't try me, woman!” he spat with venom. "I could have you down cold in a heartbeat!"

Yanking yourself from his vice, you laughed mechanically. It was unnatural and forced as you dwelled in the irony, the burn of your wrist still fresh as you rubbed the pain.

"You're right—" you meet Miles' stare with equal fierceness, tears wiggling along your vision "—you could take me right here, right now, in front of everyone—” your arms spread wide open “—and there'd be nothing I could do about it.”

Then you clutched the device on your neck and jingled it loudly in front the Colonel, pointing out the obvious truth to his statement. You were a dog. Nothing you did since Ardmore strapped this bloody thing on you has been free will. And it tore your guts up knowing you had still fallen for the Marine bastard anyway.

Miles’ eyes widened when it became clear what his words meant, aggravation causing his jaw to tighten when he grasped that he had been stupid and blind. Not once did he have to use the collar for his advantage. Not once. But it was still there waiting and smiling for him to indulge. Shoving a hand in his pocket, he brought out the device to your collar and hit a button.

Everything moved slower as you absorbed the clanking noise hitting the roof below.

Your raging temper rapidly smoothed itself into a calm stream of clarity.

Free.

You were free.

Fingertips with a featherlike touch, careful and unsure, hovered where the bulky collar should have been to then finally press along your exposed skin, breathing shallow and overwhelmed. It felt strange for your mind to process but your heart raced. Then your senses came to with the loud drumming of Miles’ steps. He hunched over and snatched the circular device.

“I don’t want your loyalty bought!” he shook the collar in your face before chunking it over the bridge, landing somewhere forgotten on the dock.

Within, your gut screamed at you to keep your feet still but you were at your breaking point. Lungs felt like they were filling up with something hot, like you’d float away if you didn’t get fresh air despite being outside. Your face displayed fear, yet something else was being calculated behind your look. Miles’ brow drew close as he put together what you might do next, silently pleading for you not to do it.

But you were off and skipping down the human stairways with great thumps as you sprinted to Sylway with only one instinct playing through your every fiber: run.

"Motherfu-" Miles whispered irately to himself while he bounced down and ran to Cupcake, taking off into the night sky after you.

Your heart raced, exhilarated by being in the air. It felt wrong to run, almost like a betrayal, but you wanted to flee for so long that you didn’t recognize yourself in this moment as running.

Miles then appeared beside Sylway, causing her to screech, Cupcake batting her wings harshly to keep up with your Ikran’s crazed flying as you desperately searched for anywhere to be safe.

"LEAVE ME ALONE!!!" you yelled across the loud thunder of wind passing your body.

But the Recom held firm, not knowing if he had lost his goddamn mind or kept up because he didn’t want you to hurt yourself as you flew like crazy over the giant waves roaring below.

You got excited when you noticed a giant fracture that split up the side of a mountain, banking hard to enter the fissure. Sylway passed under the thick vines that hug down the rocky opening, the walls of the tunnel humming as you made your way deeper into the cavernous heart.

Inside, bioluminescent spores and other huge fungi covered the long columns of the stones jutting up to the dark ceiling above. You hid behind one just in time as Miles flapped into the cave moments behind you. While the disturbed air stilled, glowing speckles from the plants floated down to cover you and Sylway.

Then a voice rang out to you in the darkness.

“(Y/N)!” Miles hollered.

“Please, I know today was—” he inhaled deeply “—not a clean search like the rest…it was fucked up.”

He felt awful for not being able to fit the right words together.

“I—” he halted again, cussing himself out.

How could he say sorry? He justified his actions because it was in his entire DNA, the only reason he’s alive, to hunt down Jake Sully. But was it worth it if it meant losing you? Something tugged low in his chest as he thought about how he was possibly talking to no one in these caves, that you had lost him – that he was alone.

With nothing left to lose, he exhaled just above a whisper, “Please come back to the ship.”

Please come back to me.

Your face twisted with sadness as you listened to his tired plea. Defeated and lost, you revealed yourself by Sylway’s flapping and readying for flight, the lustrous dust kicking off her wings.

When in the air and outside the mountain, your heart slowly began pulsing normally, so you landed on a beach and hopped from your Ikran, Miles not too far behind leaving his own mount. Your legs plodded through the sand without a destination in mind still feeling the need to get away.

"Now where're you going??"

"I don’t know!” you fling your arms in the air “—just away! Away from you! Away from everything!”

"I know you can't run away from the kid! He needs you!"

"Oh, and like you can't take care of him yourself!? You need mommy's help?"

"Quit acting stupid!"

Miles grabbed your elbow and roughly shoved you around, to which you pushed him away.

"LEAVE ME!" you screamed harshly to then whimpered, tears flooding your vision and dampening your cheeks. "What you’re doing—what you did to those people was wrong!”

"I DID IT TO PROTECT YOU!"

You were taken aback as he snapped, but he wasn’t angry, he was confessing.

“Jake Sully is my mission, but they put a fucking noose around your neck and a chip in the kid’s mask! I had—I can’t just do nothing!”

“But Ardmore doesn’t give a crap about you or the others! You’re just fodder to her!”

“Fucking Christ—” Miles turned and rubbed a hand over his face. He wanted Jake defeated. That was his whole purpose. He tried to alter his decisions subtlety when the General couldn’t see, but this war coming to a head was inevitable. Taking a deep breath, he returned to facing you.

"You can run away. I know you fucking hate me. But please come back, at least for the kid."

Your palms covered your nose and mouth, eyes wrinkling shut hard in an attempt to stop the flow of tears. Could he not see that he was being fooled? The RDA didn’t give a damn about anyone or anything.

This was too much. You faced your back to the Marine and gazed heavenward.

Why did Eywa put you here?

Then quietly on a shaky breath, you said, "I would've followed you into the fire if it meant keeping Spider safe... if it meant keeping you safe."

Miles perked at your hesitant voice, edging him to step closer.

"My loyalty… it was never bought—” you could feel his breath on your neck “—not for you.”

A pressure weighed against the back of your head when Miles’ crown gently leaned into your hair. No words needed exchanging.

You inched your body around until you were face to face with the Colonel.

Then you connected lips.

#miles quaritch x reader #miles quaritch x reader smut #miles quaritch x you #miles quaritch x y/n #miles quaritch x fem reader #miles quaritch #miles quaritch smut #recom miles quaritch #quaritch x reader #recom quaritch x reader #recom quaritch #quaritch #na'vi x reader #atwow fanfiction #avatar 2 fanfiction

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dairyminki · 9 months

Text

Inked By Fate - FOUR

↬ pairing/s: park seonghwa x fem!reader, choi san x fem!reader ↬ genre: soulmate!au, racers!ateez, rivalry, angst, romance, fluff, pining ↬warning/s: profanities ↬wc: 1.4k

↬a/n: i apologize for this very late update and for this chapter being short. still, i hope you all will still enjoy this one <33 guess whose pov it is in the beginning of this chap btw ;)

*reblogs and feedbacks are much appreciated!

・・・・・★

Just like the past few, it starts out in plain black.

Then it becomes hazy and suddenly a scene shifts into his view.

But unlike before, tonight was something new. The usual scenarios of his soulmate being surrounded by flowers and a bell chiming when people keep going in and out was suddenly replaced with the night city lights and silence.

From his soulmate's eyes he could clearly see how the stars sparkled and how the moon casts its light upon the beautiful city.

The place wasn't familiar though. Nothing was ever familiar to him, which led him to thinking that maybe his soulmate was living far away from his home country.

But then the scene shifts again, and he's now staring at a blurry face of a man. Something in him tells him that he knows this person, but how could he confirm it when it isn't clear enough?

He gets to stare at the blurry man for a while before everything faded back into darkness once again.

・・・・・★

Morning came, you're stretching your limbs after getting a good amount of sleep, the soft glow of the sun peeking through your room's curtains.

Then you remember last night. The experience itself was very odd and confusing.

How come Choi San has your name as his soulmate tattoo on his wrist?

You felt the connection, you saw your very own name on him, yet you two weren't the ones destined for each other. How is that possible?

You sigh as you glance at your wrist. If the initial S doesn't stand for San, then whose name does it stand for?

After taking a bath and cooking yourself a simple breakfast, you head back to your room to take out your laptop.

You'll be doing some research today. And hopefully, just hopefully you could find some answers.

"Let's start, shall we?" You say, cracking your knuckles before you start typing on the keyboard.

An hour has passed yet you're still glued to your laptop's screen, still nothing.

"Why the fuck does the internet not have any answers?" You were growing impatient, and tired.

That's when you finally decide to ring a number on your phone. Right, if anyone knows better about soulmates, then it should be her.

'Hello?'

"Jia, hi!" You greet back and immediately you hear a chuckle from the other line.

'Why do you sound rushed?'

"Nothing! I was just wondering if...you could lend me some of your time?"

'Sure! Do you perhaps want to meet up?'

You said yes and quickly ended the call, then you went inside your room rummaging through your closet to pick some clothes to wear so you could head out and meet Jia at a nearby coffee shop.

This will be your first walk under the sunlight for this week, since you've just been going out every night and cooping yourself up inside your apartment during daytime.

The coffee shop was just a ten-minute walk, and now you found yourself sitting inside the place with a cup of caramel macchiato in hand.

You were browsing through tons of articles about soulmates when the door opened with a chime.

Jia has arrived.

After ordering herself a cup of coffee, the two of you are now seated, face to face and discussing.

"Wait, wait. So you mean to tell me, you met a guy, who you thought was your soulmate, but they turned out to be not?" Jia repeats, trying to sink into her mind the details that you just told her.

"Yes." You reply, looking at her as you take a sip of your coffee.

"And you're telling me that your name is engraved on his skin? Did I get that right?" She continues, and you nod your head.

"Woah, this case of yours is tough." Jia admits, also taking a sip of her own beverage.

"Right? This has been keeping me up late last night." You sigh, plopping your head on the table, feeling defeated.

"Y/N, give me your phone," Jia tells you and you shake your head, pouting. "No. You have yours."

"I don't, I left it at home" When you give her the stink eye, she adds, exasperated, "Oh c'mon, are you hiding something in there? Also, I thought you want me to help you with your soulmate problem here?" Jia quirks an eyebrow.

You groan, giving in, "Fine, just hurry up. Also for your information, I'm not hiding something in my phone okay?" You huff.

"Sure, whatever you say."

・・・・・★

You're already in your fifth serving of your favorite Oreo cheesecake yet Jia's still staring intently at your phone as she scrolls through numerous articles and sites about soulmates on the web.

"Found anything?" You ask after taking your last bite of the cheesecake. Jia signals you with her hands, telling you to wait.

You're drinking your macchiato when Jia suddenly squeals and slams her hands on the table, leaving you to choke on your drink.

"Oof, sorryyy!" Jia giggles despite your state. After getting you a glass of water and some tissues, she proceeds to tell you the good news.

"Listen up," Jia starts. She opens her mouth and closes it again, she does it repeatedly for a couple of times before you finally send her a glare. "Quit playing around, for fuck's sake."

"Alright, alright," She says, but then eventually squeals. When you send her another glare, she calms herself down, putting your phone down.

"Y/N...ever heard of platonic soulmates?" Jia asks, her mouth forming into an amused smirk.

Platonic what?

・・・・・★

A series of knocks could be heard from the door, yet Seonghwa doesn't exert any efforts to stand up and answer it to make it stop. Though it's starting to make his ears bleed.

He just wants to sleep more.

Sleep doesn't find him though when he hears a shriek from outside and even louder banging on the door.

"Ahhhh hyunggggg! I swear you have to wake up! If you won't wake up Imma beat yo-"

Wooyoung's voice goes unheard when Seonghwa hears his phone vibrate.

What now?

Confusion was what his face was painted with when he opened his messages and read a text from an unknown number.

Unknown Number:

Sannie, I have answers!

Can we meet up as soon as I arrive there tonight?

Huh?

Sannie?

Meet up???

What the fuck??

Seonghwa groans and ruffles his hair in an annoyed manner.

I swear to god-

Standing up, he hurries to grab a plain white shirt inside his drawer and some trousers.

Then he stomps his way out of the room, completely ignoring Wooyoung who was about to scold him once again while holding a frying pan in his hand. Instead, Seonghwa's eyes search the room, and he does see San happily munching his dinner in the kitchen.

"The fuck Choi, you're giving my number to one of your girls now?"

San coughs, having choked on his steak to which Wooyoung rushes to get him a cup of water.

After recovering, San faces Seonghwa with an unreadable expression, asking, "Hyung— what?"

"I said, why are you giving my number to your flings, instead of your own? What? Are you tired of dealing with their whiny-"

"Hyung, I have no idea, at all."

Seonghwa scoffs. "Sure, you don't." Then he shoves the phone in the younger's face, San squeaking. Then his expression morphs into one of recognition.

San mumbles an 'oh shit', before he takes Seonghwa's phone. He speedily composes a text message and sends it.

San clears his throat, then smiles sheepishly. "Uh, I'm sorry about that hyung, I must've given her the wrong number. But I swear this one is not a fling of mine, in fact she's a friend."

"Since when did Sannie take a girl as a friend and not as a fling?" Wooyoung gaps dramatically, joining in the conversation as he places another batch of steak on a plate, for Seonghwa.

"I'm not like you, Woo." San rolls his eyes, he doesn't get a reply from the latter at first, Wooyoung just clutches his chest, before saying, "I'm offended."

"And I'm out of here." Seonghwa says in a monotone and was about to turn on his heel when Wooyoung catches the hem of his shirt.

"Nu-uh, you're not going anywhere mister. Now go sit down and eat."

"What are you, my mother?" Seonghwa spats.

"I might as well be if you're gonna keep going with that grumpy attitude of yours."

"Fine." Seonghwa grumbles and sits down. Eventually, he finds himself eating the steak as if there was no tomorrow.

・・・・・★

You're deep in your thoughts as you sit on the couch, your eyes staring at the television, your hand clutching your phone.

Then your phone beeps, pulling you out of your trance.

A small smile finds its way in your face when you read his reply to your text.

Sannie:

Sure, Y/N! ^-^

・・・・・★

taglist: @rockstarsanie @purple-bell @huachengsbestie01 @ellelabelle @annacroft23114 @http-gyu @bluehwale-main @sangiluvem @babyhailey819 @0rangemilk @kmecrazyfor @sallymurda @oahubliss @jxhnnyfav @mingiswow @linoluvr4eva @n18i81 @yourfatherlucifer @kodzukein @likexaxdaydream @altgojo @namjooncrabs @imsodazed (pink ones are those i can't tag)

↬ IBF MASTERLIST

#seonghwa x reader #san x reader #cromernet #pirateeznet #ateez x reader #ateez au #ateez angst #ateez fluff #san x y/n #seonghwa x y/n #ateez #park seonghwa #choi san #inkedbyfate #dairyminkiwrites #dairyminki_atzsh #dairyminki_atzsan

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varelasgf · 4 months

Text

Worth it - pt. 2

The decision to break free from the toxic relationship with Mason weighed heavily on your heart, and the night you finally mustered the courage to confront him was fraught with tension.

The clock struck midnight as you sat across from Mason in the dimly lit restaurant, the flickering candlelight casting shadows on the strained lines of his face. The anniversary dinner that had been a symbol of your commitment now felt like a somber reflection of what once was.

"Mason, we need to talk," you began, your voice steady but laced with a vulnerability that echoed the cracks in your heart.

He looked up from his plate, an indifferent expression masking the turmoil within. "What's there to talk about? Can't you see I'm tired of fighting?"

The air hung heavy with unspoken words as you took a deep breath.

"Mason, this isn't working. We've reached a point where the pain outweighs the love. I can't keep living like this, and I deserve better."

He scoffed, a bitter smile playing on his lips.

"Better? You think there's someone else?"

Your heart skipped a beat, but you held your ground.

"It's not about anyone else. It's about us, or what's left of us. I can't continue down this path of heartache and betrayal. I deserve a love that uplifts, not one that tears me apart."

Mason's indifference morphed into anger.

"You're making a mistake, Y/N. You'll regret this."

Tears welled in your eyes as you pushed back the pain, steeling yourself against his emotional manipulation.

"I can't keep sacrificing my well-being for a relationship that's become toxic. It's over, Mason."

As you stood to leave, the weight of the decision settled on your shoulders. The restaurant's ambiance, once a backdrop to romantic evenings, now bore witness to the end of a chapter. The door closed behind you, and with each step away, you felt a mix of relief and sorrow.

___________________________________________

In the aftermath of your decision to end things with Mason, the drama unfolded like a storm. Mason, fueled by anger and wounded pride, confronted you one evening.

"You think you can just leave me for that Torres guy? After everything we've been through?" he shouted, his face contorted with a mix of rage and disbelief.

Your heart raced as you faced the person who had been a significant part of your life for years.

"Mason, it's not about him. It's about us, about the pain I can't keep enduring."

His eyes narrowed, and a bitter laugh escaped his lips.

"You'll regret this, Y/N. No one will love you like I did."

But Ferran stood by your side, a pillar of support amidst the storm. The drama escalated when Mason, unable to accept the breakup, started spreading rumors and lies about you and Ferran.

Social media became a battleground, with hurtful comments and accusations flying from all directions. Ferran, being a public figure, found himself in the center of the storm, facing scrutiny and criticism from fans and the media.

Amidst the chaos, you and Ferran clung to each other, finding solace in the love that had blossomed from the ruins of your past. Ferran's unwavering support became a shield against the storm, and together you weathered the drama, emerging stronger than ever.

Mason's attempts to tarnish your reputation only fueled the fire of determination within you. You decided to take control of the narrative, addressing the rumors with grace and truth. Slowly, public opinion shifted, and the storm began to subside.

Through it all, Ferran stood tall, his commitment to you unwavering. The drama had tested your relationship, but it had also proven the depth of Ferran's love and your resilience.

Months passed, and the drama surrounding Mason faded into the background. In its place, a calm settled over your life, allowing you to focus on the love that had prevailed. Ferran continued to be your anchor, and the happy ending you had envisioned became a reality.

As you walked hand in hand with Ferran, the city lights twinkling below, you realized that the drama had been a necessary storm—a tumultuous chapter that paved the way for the serenity and joy you now shared with the man who had truly captured your heart.

The end.

Pt. 1

≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡≡

Hiii! Hope you liked this and sorry for taking so long, i literally have no idea how to end this but i think this turned out good.

(Its a bit longer than the other part cuz i didnt want to make 3 parts jeje)

#ferran torres x reader #ferran torres #mason mount x reader #footballer x reader #football #chealsea #fc barcelona #manchester united #mason mount

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lazybutsmexy · 1 year

Text

Bird hunting

Ghost x fem!reader x Soap

Chapter 7: Distress

Ch. 6 < Series Masterlist > Ch. 8

Warnings: NON-CON. It doesnt go all the way, but if you'd rather avoid it, skip the section between these lines **********

Summary: Canary gets a taste of what's coming to her if she doesn't find a way out.

Do not read if you're under 18. This work contains mature and triggering themes.

Word count: 3100~

Canary began stirring awake soon after they had arrived at the new location. Her sight was blurry and her head pounded like she had stuck her head in front of a jumbo jet turbine at full speed. She was swinging a little as she was being carried like a sack of potatoes, the smell of fresh, open air a short blessing before being replaced by the musty, woody smell of her new enclosure. Judging by the ground both outside and inside the building, and the strong scent of the forest permeating everything, she guessed it was a log cabin, somewhere in the woods.

When she was finally laid down, her head started spinning again, and a weak groan escaped her lips in complaint. Her stomach felt like it had melted along with the rest of her inner organs, and everything inside of her was just a slush waiting to be expelled.She was laying on her side, and when she tried to shift, she found her body stiff as a rock, and the familiar sensation that it didn’t belong to her.

She tried looking at the space around her, but it all looked like muddy colors to her. She still managed to see that they were in a single-room cabin, with one door at the front and one at the back, which she supposed was the bathroom. There was a window above the bed she was laying on, and a kitchenette opposite her.

The dizziness eventually became too much for her and she shut her eyes tightly. She tried to take deeper breaths to keep her nausea at bay, swallowing a whimper at her aching lungs. She focused her drowsy senses into the sounds, trying to piece together her current situation.

As soon as Charlie had set her down in the bed, he grabbed a chair at the foot of the bed and sat on it, lighting a cigarette and casting a glance at her feet. He realized that the burns he had made before were healing faster than he expected, and would soon have to refresh them. They couldn't take chances on her trying to run away until the transaction had been completed.

Alan stood by the door, staring at Canary for a bit longer, before turning back and walking to the van, where Luke still sat.

"Get a new vehicle, and get rid of this one," he instructed, his voice much calmer than the previous day. Luke nodded slowly, noticing the bags under his eyes. Alan searched into his wallet and handed him a handful of bills, "then stop by a gas station or a convenience store, get us some food and water."

"For the girl too?" Luke raised his eyebrow, stuffing the bills in the inside pocket of his jacket.

"Yeah," Alan sighed and licked his lips, and Luke unknowingly imitated him licking his own, "we have to at least keep her alive, and she hasn't eaten or drank anything since we picked her up. Make sure her meal is tightly packed, she looks smart enough to not eat anything she suspects was tampered with."

Luke nodded and started the engine again, the van rumbling to life. He leaned his arm on the open window, and almost flinched when Alan placed his hand on his forearm, leaning closer to the door. Luke looked at him expectantly, hoping the flush in his cheekbones could pass for a reaction to the early morning chill.

"Be very careful, Luke," Alan grumbled, his eyes boring into the driver's.

Luke let out a shaky breath as he placed his other hand on top of Alan's, giving his knuckles a discreet stroke. "I will, don't worry." He shot him a dazzling smile, and Alan stood there for a couple more seconds than necessary staring at it before squeezing his arm and finally letting go.

From where Charlie was sitting, he had a direct view of the two men outside. He noticed how closely they talked to each other, and a chuckle rumbled in his chest as he told a slow drag of his cig. "...Those two should just kiss already." He said to no one in particular, shaking his head with a fond smile on his lips.

He watched as the van left down the rocky road, and Alan walked back into the cabin and shut the door behind himself. He looked exhausted, and Charlie couldn't really blame him. Nothing he had planned had gone according to plan. He felt a pang of guilt in his gut, knowing that it was partially his fault. Alan had always been the one to plan their operations, and so far he had managed to keep them out of trouble.

But now they were, and all because he lost a stupid dart.

Charlie extended his arm to Alan, silently offering him the cigarette pack. Alan took it immediately, lighting a stick before handing him the pack again. This alarmed Charlie even more - Alan rarely ever smoked. He watched as the taller man took a slow drag of his cig before clearing his throat. “So, now what?”

Alan leaned back his head, staring at the ceiling as the cigarette dangled dangerously in his long fingers. There had been too many setbacks in this operation, and he wondered if he had been losing his touch. The fact that Charlie was still asking him what to do brought a glimmer of hope, knowing that the man still trusted his judgment. He pondered for a few more seconds, before taking his phone and glancing at something on the screen.

“Well, we won’t have time to make a video,” he finally spoke, sounding more tired than he intended, “we’ll have to do with a few photos once the sun comes out - the lighting here is shit.” He shook the ash from his cigarette before taking another slow drag, “I’ll have to walk back to the road to send it, I barely have any service here. And once Luke is back and we’ve eaten something, I’ll go again and wait for a confirmation from our buyer.”

Charlie nodded and stared at Alan, as he leaned his head back again against the wall and shut his eyes. Charlie had managed to nod off during the trip while he was in the back of the van, but Alan and Luke hadn’t had that luxury. He licked his chapped lips in thought, before breaking the silence once again, “You should try and get some sleep,” Alan made a noncommittal grunt, and Charlie continued, “both Luke and I need you and your brain fresh and rested, after all.”

Alan couldn’t help but snort a laugh - Charlie was concerned for him? Now that was news. He finished his cigarette and stomped on the stub, before getting more comfortable on his chair. “...Wake me when the sun comes out.”

Charlie smirked and took a drag of his almost forgotten cig, “You got it, boss.” She glanced over at the woman sleeping on the bed, taking a long look at the curves of her body. Her clothed breasts, half-squished against the mattress. Perhaps if he was quiet…

Canary found the silence unnerving, as the minutes slowly passed after Blondie had apparently fallen asleep. She tried not to think too much of her thundering heart as she processed the information she had just learned.

They had a buyer for whom they created videos or photographs, as a catalog, and later would sell the girls to. And she was their newly acquired product.

A chill ran down her spine, knowing that it would be only a matter of time until she had no chance of escaping at all. She suppressed a nauseous shiver while wishing there was a way to wrest the effects of the drug away from her mind and body.

Her eyes slowly peeled open, and she noticed Blondie dozing off on the chair across from her. She wondered where Baldie was, when a calloused hand clamped down on her mouth, effectively muffling her and filling her with terror at the same time. A sharp edge pressed against her throat, making her freeze in her struggle.

“If you’re a good girl and stay quiet,” Charlie growled in her ear, licking her earlobe in the process, “you won’t get hurt at all.”

Bullshit, Canary thought, and weighed her options in her mind. If she tried to take a bite of his hand, he could use the knife against her throat. And he had apparently killed another woman before her. She wouldn’t be able to fight him, given the fact that the drug still ran through her veins and he was - at the moment - much stronger than her physically. Her arms - which were still tied up behind her back - and legs felt like they were filled with lead, and even if she somehow managed to push him off, she wouldn’t be able to get away quickly enough. Besides, any struggle could wake Blondie up, and he may decide to join Baldie.

With the sudden realization that there was no way out, the weight of her powerlessness hurt in her chest. She tried to blink away the angry tears pooling in her eyes, as she felt Baldie’s body pressure against her and manhandling her until she was laying flat on her stomach. The hand that was once on her mouth moved to the back of her head, fisting the roots of her hair in a tight grip and pushing her face into the mattress.

************************************************

The new pressure on her face, added to the stiffness of her diaphragm due to the drugs, and the terror of the situation she was in, carried her into hyperventilation, trying to get any amount of oxygen into her system to keep her mind awake. Her chest heaved under her as her tears streamed freely out of her eyes, feeling the dangerous pressure of the knife slowly move from the side of her neck to the back.

Baldie playfully ran the hilt of the knife over the skin of her nape and the prominence caused by her column, enjoying the fearful shiver that produced in the woman beneath him. He hooked the knife under the neck of her sweatshirt and hoodie, pulling back and tearing the clothes, exposing her back now only covered by her sports bra.

He felt himself grow hard at the sight of the expanse of skin before his eyes, and he pressed his clothed erection against her ass, relishing on the way she tensed up at the contact. “Such a pretty thing,” he grumbled, leaning down once again and licking a long stripe from the top of her bra to her nape, finally moving to the juncture between her neck and shoulder, biting down with a growl, “and all mine,” he gripped her hair tighter as she tried to shake him off, the mattress muffling her whimpers, “for now, at least.”

He let out a dark chuckle, as the hand that previously held the knife left it aside and stroked her back. She flinched at the contact, her panting growing heavier in her panic as it slid down her side and snuck under her bra, groping her breast harshly.

Canary’s face scrunched up, her entire nerves fraying at the constant mixture of disgust, fear, and rage swirling through her. Her thoughts swam in all directions as she felt that she was losing a battle she had never had a chance to win in the beginning.

DON’T TOUCH ME. LEAVE ME ALONE. STOP FUCKING TOUCHING ME. I’LL DESTROY YOU. SOMEONE FIND ME, PLEASE! STOP TOUCHING ME. I’LL KILL YOU, I’LL KILL YOU! GET OFF ME. GET YOUR FUCKING HANDS OFF ME. SIMON,, JOHNNY, PLEASE! I’LL FUCKING TEAR YOUR HANDS OFF. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO, NO. STOP STOP STOP STO-

*************************************************

“Charlie,” Alan’s voice was stern and throaty, and Charlie stopped touching her with a startle, yet Canary couldn’t relax, still squirming under the man, “I told you to wake me when the sun came out.”

Charlie looked up to the window, seeing that the sun had indeed come up. He leaned away from the woman, still holding her head down into the mattress as he threw a little grin at the other man, “Sorry, got distracted.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” Alan grumbled as he stretched his arms over his head with a grunt, and took his smartphone to open the camera feature, “sit her up, I’ll take some photos.”

Charlie smirked and pulled her up by her hair, chuckling at the little yelp she couldn’t hold back. She tried to jerk her head away but he held her tightly in place. He manhandled her into sitting up, the bedsheets wrinkling beneath her as she struggled - and failed - to make her legs move.

Alan stepped closer, focusing the phone on her face. He couldn’t help but chuckle at the hateful glare she sent him, with her swollen eyes and her face red from shame, anger, and the friction against the mattress. She was still panting and shivering, but he had a feeling that if she were in any better condition, she would go for his throat. “Smile, sweetheart,” he cooed as the flash from the camera blinded her momentarily. He took a couple more photos, before pocketing his phone and heading to the door. “I’m going to send the photos to the buyer and be right back. Make yourself useful and get us something to eat ready,” and with that, he left, shutting the door behind him.

Charlie grumbled something under his breath and let Canary flop back down on the bed, and walked towards the small kitchenette, searching through the cabinets for something that was hopefully not expired.

The cabin was left silent except for his rummaging and Canary’s heaving sounds, as she focused on keeping her sobs in - she would not give that man the satisfaction of breaking down any further. She forced herself to lay on her side, keeping her exposed back out of his sight and closer to the wall behind her. It may have been just willful thinking, but the feeling of the wall behind her gave her security, and little by little her panting slowed down.

As she settled again and her panicked state subsided, she noticed a hardness under the wrinkled sheets, digging into her waist from beneath her. Slowly, she wiggled herself until her fingers brushed against the object, and after a few seconds, her eyes widened in recognition.

The knife.

~~~~~~

Officer Ryan Johansson was off duty, and he hated every minute of it. He despised himself for having pulled an extra shift the previous day to get a day off that day. He would have a lunch date with his fianceé's parents later that day, and so he had arranged with another officer to switch shifts.

He loved Darla with his whole heart, marrying her was possibly the best thing that would ever happen to him in his life. But Melanie Kirk had been his best friend since the academy. Losing her in such a violent way left a mark in the entire station, but it left an abyss in him. A dull emptiness that he knew would hardly ever be filled with something else.

Ryan had been at the crash site, but was not allowed to get any close to the car - although everyone knew they were two peas in a pod, him getting close would have only interfered with everyone else’s job. He had also offered himself to go with detective Hartford to visit her family to deliver the news. He was a familiar face to the couple just like the detective, and he held Melanie’s sister, Ruth, while she crumbled in her grief.

His double shift had ended at midnight, but only once he had gotten home to Darla and shared the news with her he allowed himself to break down. She comforted him through the night, and even offered to reschedule the lunch with her parents. But Ryan had already gotten the word from higher up that he would not be given more shifts until the next day.

The fact that he would not be able to participate in the search for the van and the men who killed his best friend for a whole day drove him crazy. His blood boiled at the thought that Melanie had attempted to aid in the rescue of a woman who was in grave danger, and was killed for it.

He still remembered the way he had teased her when she had joined the evidence department instead of the active patrol like him.

“Well, since evidence guys don't tend to get in the line of fire, I won’t have to worry about your safety, Mels.”

Utter. Fucking. Bullshit.

As the sun rose in the horizon, and he hadn’t been able to sleep a wink, too deep in his thoughts, he decided to go for a ride to clear his mind. His body was still pumping angry adrenaline, and he desperately needed a release.

He was never one for speeding, as it didn’t tickle his brain like a long ride. Riding his bike had always been therapeutic for him. His biggest decisions were thought over and over during long rides through the forests or the countryside. On his bike he had decided to join the police instead of studying finance. On his bike he had pumped himself up before asking Darla on a date. On his bike he had decided to finally cut contact with his childhood friend.

The rumbling of his bike as it took him through the mostly empty streets brought him to a state of calmness he hadn’t felt in hours. Deeply inhaling the early morning chilly air, Ryan was able to empty his mind and feel the mental exhaustion slowly drift away. The rage he felt hours prior was replaced with determination.

Ryan silently promised Melanie he would do his very best to help solve her murder.

He took a turn to head back to the suburbs, eager to get home and get at least a few hours of sleep, when he noticed something that made the hairs at the back of his neck stand up.

A gray van with the license plate he had memorized the day prior was driving right in front of him, just a few meters away.

His heart pounded wildly against his ribcage and his mouth dried up. A feeble thought assaulted him, grateful for not having his reglementary weapon on him - he was ready to commit murder himself. He was sure Darla would forgive him. But it would not help Melanie, or the missing woman if he just went and killed whoever was in that van.

Instead, Ryan stilled himself with a deep breath, and spoke loudly into his earpiece.

“Siri, call ‘police dispatcher’”.

A/N: I wish I could tell you that Canary's suffering ends here...

Taglist: @died-in-a-field-of-flowers @rafaelacallinybbay @namenotimportant1373 @ragingbookdragon @zinfairy @scrumplump @speckel @omgitstatertot @fullmoon-94 @kalamataolivesssss @embers-of-alluring @warenai @frazie99 @kee-0-kee @littlezarp @scaredknight @tapioca-marzipan @kendahl757 @sweetybuzz25 @cumbersome-robes @carlyi @oyaoyaoyaoyaoyaoyaoyaoya @scarletbandit @twistytimesandthoughts

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deepsix-writing · 3 months

Text

Fix You. Chapter 2 of 5.

After the events of Marble Hornets, Tim is left to pick up the pieces of what is left of his old life. One piece in particular is back from the grave.

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Tim's fervent joy only falters when they arrive at the details. It was only hours before that he'd forgotten how complicated those could be. The nurse by Brian's side had given him a debrief: general care and things to watch out for, mainly. Then, he'd been handed an intimidating stack of paper. 'Discharge instructions', the nurse called them.

'Something I'll deal with,' Brian renamed them. He pulled himself into the passenger's seat of Tim's car and met the rest of his medical questions with much of the same stoic stubbornness. But it still hit Tim.

Brian was hurt. Not dying or open wound bleeding, of course, but hurt enough to make Tim remember that despite the miracle that was this moment, The past still stained them both with its inky blackness. He could see the ash covering him in the reflection of Brian's smiling eyes.

There was something wrong with his spine. Loads of medical jargon had been tossed his way to pad out the full diagnosis in the papers he was handed, but all he knew off the top of his head was that it had something to do with a fracture, and high potential for nerve damage if Brian moved around too much or in the wrong ways while it healed. Tim would come to find out later that the doctors hadn't even been sure if he'd been able to walk again, when he'd first been brought into the hospital. But Brian was a persevering kind; there was a will to live that surged in his veins like white hot lightning. They even said that when his back was healed enough, he could swap to crutches and get on the road to walking again. He was a fucking cockroach, more like.

The nurse had slung a duffel bag into the car's backseat along with a pair of crutches and the folded-up wheelchair. Tim slung the papers back to rest along with them and they went on their way.

"My old place. Same address." Brian's tone is curt, and suddenly Tim didn't feel as familiar with his back-from-the-grave best friend anymore. He felt suddenly like sand was slipping from his fingers. For a moment, he wondered that maybe there was no sand to begin with.

"Do you wanna grab some food first? Or go to the store or something?" Tim holds back from casting Brian a long look as he turns out of the parking lot and onto the main road.

"Just my place is fine." Brian held firm. Then, he said something odd. "…I know just asking you to do this for me was pushing it enough."

Tim gave Brian a funny look, and Brian held it in a sincere way. But doubt crept into his features. Tim didn't have to ask before he spoke again. "I know last time we saw each other, we weren't on the best terms."

That earned Brian another funny look, and the man almost thought he'd have to say something else before Tim finally spoke up. His voice had gone quiet, but it was firm with conviction. His eyes scanned the city streets ahead of them, but his mind was firmly set on his best friend.

"You know I don't give a fuck about any of that proxy bullshit, Brian."

"…I thought you did."

"I don't."

Not when it comes to you. I don't care if you were the one that started it all. I'll stay by your side until the end regardless.

Brian paused and looked out the window, processing the weight of it all. Then something seemed to lift off his shoulders. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief – tentative and careful, like he'd have to take it back at a moment's notice. The world sped by around them, and city streets gave way to the hills and fields of the town's outskirts. Outer Tuscaloosa bustled with life: kids playing in their yards, adults jogging along the sides of the road, birds flitting from trees to telephone wires. But none of it had really changed. Not in any way that mattered.

"I thought you hated me." Out of the corner of his eye, Tim sees Brian turn to look at him.

"I don't." Tim turns to give him a smile, heavy with the weight of words he couldn't form. I never could.

Brian seemed to understand this when he met the smile with one of his own. He had a mischievous glint in his eye when he next spoke.

"Good. Because I actually am a little hungry."

They decided the first diner they drove past was as good as any. A bar would have been much more to Tim's liking, but Brian (as logical as ever) had quietly let him know that he couldn't have alcohol with the pain medication he was on.

"Wait, are you in pain right now?"

"It's fine."

Brian assured him that they'd get drinks another time, and handed him another smile as they both settled themselves into the restaurant. That smile didn't falter when the waitress came and gave them menus, and he even laughed with her when he'd misread an item and tried to order complete gibberish.

It was almost as unreal to Tim as Brian simply being alive, the fact that he was so damn chipper about it. He relayed his own order and handed their menus to the woman, quietly wondering how it was that Brian always seemed to have it all figured out. Even when they were kids, he was as dependable and unshaken as an oak. A sturdy kind that Tim's crookedness had always been magnetized towards. It shouldn't have surprised him, to see his old friend like this, and it shouldn't have surprised him any more when the one to inevitably poop their party was himself. The moment the waitress had left and Brian's laughter had faded from his tongue, the words tumbled out of Tim's mouth one after the other.

"How are you so okay with this?"

"I just read it wrong. It's not like it's the end of the world."

"I don't mean that. I mean you're hurt. I mean you could have died. I thought you had."

Brian offered only a lukewarm shrug. "Well, I didn't."

"Jay's dead."

Brian pursed his lips. "I know."

"Probably Jessica and Amy, too."

"I know that, too."

"I KILLED ALEX!"

Tim's composure was a waterfall that had crashed into the jagged rocks below. He was collecting weird looks from the scattered people across the diner. Brian still seemed unphased.

"…Yeah. I figured."

Injured or not, Tim wanted to smack him upside the head. Fighting words threatened to burst from his lips, but he breathed in, long and hard. His next words were strangled.

"How are you so okay with this. Everything has gone to shit."

Brian's turn to give Tim a funny look had come. He was generous to add another deliberate pause, considering his words before he let them leave his mouth.

"Everything went to shit, Tim. There's a difference. It's over now. Alex is dead, you said it yourself. It's okay now."

"How do you know that?" Tim didn't feel okay. He felt like shit, and Brian's level-headedness made him feel like he was going crazy for feeling that way. That made him feel like shit even more.

Brian shrugged. "I don't. Not really. But I want it to be true, so we can say it is until proven otherwise." He leaned forward in his seat, letting his arms rest against the table. His eyes reflected sincerity and hope. "Besides. If I am wrong, we can always figure it out. We have each other, don't we?"

Tim wished Brian wouldn't make so much damn sense, just once. Just once, he wanted to hear the man fumble with his words, or not pause to consider how he should put something. But Brian was a glass that wouldn't spill, and suddenly Tim didn't feel so shitty anymore. Brian always had a point. He always thought everything through.

…

Well, not always.

"You forgot to renew the lease? Did you not think to call your landlord and tell him where you've been?"

Brian mustered a weak shrug as he hunched over the lock to his former apartment. He'd spent the last few minutes trying to jam his dusty keys into a lock that had obviously been changed months ago.

"I've disappeared before. Missed rent once, too. I thought he trusted me by now." Brian wasn't quite frowning, but a worm of dissatisfaction had worked its way on his face. He pulled out his phone and flipped it open, but he paused when his eyes fixed on the number buttons. Tim paused too. His gaze followed suit, piercing the same phone Brian had told him he'd only gotten a week ago.

"You don't remember his number."

Brian quietly slipped the phone back in his pocket. The setting sun cast golden rays on his apologetic smile. "…Sorry."

Tim shook his head. "Don't be. Like you said. We'll figure this out together."

Brian's smile split into a grin. "Alright. As long as you're not putting me up in a shitty motel."

…

Going back to Tim's place was the natural solution. Knowing what to say to explain the mess, on the other hand… not so much. It wasn't too wheelchair friendly in the first place, either, which made the mound of dirty clothes and boxes and plastic bags on the floor that greeted them when Tim finally wedged open the door all the more upsetting. Brian didn't say anything about it, and went into the kitchen instead.

Not as bad as it had been, at the very least. Tim scooped up what clothes he could, tossing them into a mound in a more distant corner. He had made an effort to clean the worst of it that morning, at least so that the authorities would have an easy time getting to…

"You a writer now, or something?" Brian had made it to the open notepad on the kitchen table while Tim had been kicking boxes towards the wall. Tim quickly hopped over to snatch it before Brian could get past the 'to whom it may concern'. It earned him one hell of a look, dancing towards his friend to pluck the notepad from his hands, but he couldn't let him read it.

"That's, uh. Nothing, it's… it was just in case." He tries to laugh it off, but Tim can't meet his friend's face.

"In case of what?" Brian's tone said it all. Tim pretended not to notice.

"Nothing. It's fine. You're taking my bed. Just got to clean some stuff up first." He took the notepad with him and walked down the hall, leaving Brian in the dust. He grimaced when his back was turned, praying that Brian would drop it. He felt a jolt of anxiety when the man hollered down at him.

"I'm fine with the couch, you know!"

"I'm not!" The worry dissipated. Brian was solid, but Tim was stubborn. And he knew Brian resting his back on his ratty, lumpy couch would only guarantee the man would never get back up on his feet again. Tim slept on the couch more often than he had on his bed in the past few months, anyways.

It took Tim longer than he was proud to admit to get his bedroom into a presentable state and even longer to settle the living room and couch, but there was finally enough room to bring in Brian's stuff. Tim set the duffel bag on his bed and propped the crutches against the wall beside it. It was close enough that Brian could reach them when he needed them, he hoped. Tim stuffed the notepad away in his dresser and buried it beneath his underwear.

When he came back to the main room, Brian was unabashedly rummaging around in his fridge. Tim hangs around against the fridge, peering down at his friend's face. What he was looking for, Tim would never know: he cleaned out the fridge earlier that day. The house would have rotted enough on its own. But still, he grimaces.

"We can go to the store in the morning." It's as half-assed as apologies get. "Movie?"

They settled on the couch and put on an old Shyamalan flick: one Alex had introduced them to back when he was in film school, ironically enough. But it was a good movie. It had a twist that left them both wondering if they'd ended out watching the same movie they'd started on. When the credits rolled, they both fell into silence. The dim glow of the old television outlined their faces. Tim let his eyes glaze over with his head propped up against his fist, and Brian took a sip from a glass of water he'd gotten an hour earlier to take with some medicine. The moon peeked through the cracked window shutters by the door, spying on the reunited pair. It was a comfortable silence; this time, Tim was not the one to break it.

"What were you doing before I texted you, Tim?"

"…What?" Suddenly the silence wasn't so comfortable.

But Brian didn't repeat himself. He knew Tim had heard. He had seen Tim had stopped shaving and he had seen messy bandage that spanned side of his temple. He had seen the muck and the mess and the lack of food in the fridge and the note. He had seen it all. Words still came to Tim's lips slowly.

"I guess you already know, huh?" Nothing was more fascinating to his eyes than the names rolling up on the television screen at that moment. He'd gone tense. Brian was looking right at him.

"I was kind of hoping I didn't." Tim didn't hear an ounce of a smile in his words. Brian made him worry for his own wellbeing in a way that he could never do by himself. Brian added, "what were you thinking?"

It wasn't judgmental, the way he said it, even if either of their mothers might have meant it that way back in the day, when they'd taken Brian's father's car and promptly crashed it into a ditch. That 'what were you thinking?' was a different breed. It really meant 'how could you be so stupid?'. But this was something else. It said 'What happened? Let me in. I want to know where your mind has been.'

Tim didn't open up easy. He never did. But Brian was patient. He always was.

Spending his childhood in a hospital had nurtured a special hatred for feeling examined in Tim. Tests and medical examinations to poke and prod to better understand his brain from a scientific standpoint… the very thought of it made him twitch. But for Brian, he was vivisected, exposing his deepest thoughts to the man like a medical model. He spilled himself out for Brian to listen and nod. His friend took at all with stoic respect, considering everything before he dared pass judgment or ask questions. Tim talked about Alex, Jessica, Amy. Jay, Alex, Alex. The blood he saw on his hands, the voicemail he'd listen to night after night. Yesterday, when someone who wasn't Brian was picked up his old phone. Brian, Alex. Brian, Alex.

"Have you been taking your meds?" It was just as quiet and neutral as his last question, but Tim feared it wouldn't stay that way. What with everything he'd shared, it was impossible. He grimaced.

"No. And I already know what you're going to say." He risks a glance to Brian now, but it's brief. Short-lived. "It's fine. Really. The hallucinations, at least. They're under control. And it's not like I can talk to a therapist about killing a guy."

"You're not wrong… good thing I'm here then, eh?" Brian stretched his arms out behind his back, yawning something fierce. "We can talk, then. Better than nothing. I know… these past few months have been rough for you. It'll get better, Tim. We can help each other out, yeah?"

Tim still doesn't look at him. But he can see the glint of his teeth out of the corner of his eye. He scoffs. "Yeah. Lot of help I'm doing, bitching and moaning to you while you can't even get up."

"Hey. You're giving me a roof to stay under. And your bed. It's worth a little bitching and moaning."

Tim finally meets Brian's gaze. His eyes roll, and before he can help it, he's grinning. Brian chuckles.

"-I am tired as balls, though. Please tell me you're still fine with me taking your bed."

Tim was. And after he'd helped get Brian settled for the night, he found himself laying on the couch and staring up at the ceiling. In the pitch of midnight, it was nothing more than a blur of static noise that danced in front of his eyes. The whirlwind of the day danced for him too, the day's miracles replaying in his mind like a broken record player he never wanted to fix. Brian, the man he'd thought to be a ghost for all these months, was back from the grave. Before Tim finally drifted off to sleep, he prayed he would never stop being haunted.

#marble hornets #writers on tumblr #mh #tim wright #brian thomas #fanfic

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storyofmychoices · 8 months

Text

Her Legacy

[Mal Volari x Daenarya Blades 1 + Beyond] [Mal’s Orphanage] [Mal Volari x Daenarya Blades 2 AU]

Pairings: Mal Volari x Daenarya (F!MC) + OC children Book: Blades of Light and Shadow II, Chapter 2 Word Count: ~1,100 Rating: general (no warnings?) A/N: This is my HC for why Mal is smiling when we see him in Ch2.

Synopsis: She may be gone, but she could never be forgotten. She lives on in the stories he tells and the hope he inspires.

Mal sat perched on the rooftop of the orphanage he had opened, a place he had come to call home these last couple of months. Before him were five eager faces, eyes wide, filled with wonder. These were the first of what he hoped would be many kids he'd rescued from the harsh streets of White Tower. He longed to find them better homes, but for now, he'd happily share this one with them.

The gibbous moon hung high in the indigo sky, casting a soft, silvery glow upon the small group. The gentle breeze danced on the fringes of the blankets he had set out for them to rest upon.

As he looked at the children, Mal couldn't help but smile. Each of them had a story, a past filled with struggles, and yet, here, they were finally safe. For possibly the first time in their lives, they were cared for, they didn't have to wonder where their next meal would come from, and they weren't at the mercy of begging or stealing to survive. They had a place to belong, and so did he.

"Alright, my little adventurers," Mal began, his voice tender and warm. His eyes twinkled with excitement as he leaned forward, ready to weave another enchanting tale. "Tonight, I'm going to tell you a very special story."

"More special than battling pirates?" Thalassa questioned impatiently. The young girl bounced in her spot in anticipation.

"More special and more important," Mal offered with a gentle nod.

"More important than beating the Shadow Court?" Lysander's eyes narrowed at Mal, not believing any story could be more exciting or important than that. After all, it was what he was most known for.

Mal's smile faltered as he nodded. "More important than that. Defeating the Shadow Court and the Dreadlord were important, but they almost didn't happen, or at least, I might have been there to help."

The children exchanged puzzled glances, their mouths falling open as they expressed their disbelief.

"But you're the hero of White Tower!" Ovisa exclaimed, pressing her fists to her hip incredulously.

"I am one of them, but I almost wasn't," he admitted.

"How come?" The glow of the moonlight illuminated Thalassa's eyes as she begged for answers.

"Every story has a beginning, and this one is my favorite of all," Mal leaned back, letting memories of how they met flood his senses. Her smile, her challenging gaze, her wit and wisdom—she was something special. If it wasn't for her, he wouldn't be the man before these children now. He drew in a deep breath of the cool night air and began weaving a tale of the night they met, the night his life changed for the better. "It all started in a small town called Riverbend."

"Riverbend," Ovisa's eyes widened. "That's where Daenarya's from."

"Indeed." His heart was heavy at the sound of her name, but he knew it was time to start the story from the best part.

The children gasped, their eyes shining with excitement as he wove a web of intrigue and excitement. He told them of Grenn and Constable Angus, who lost their lives to the minions of the Shadow Court, the treasures of the Temple of Ellara, the first shard, the Shadow Hound, and Duke Erthax. But most of all, he told of her bravery, of her resilience, and of her spirit that led them that night. She was a beacon of hope that made even the darkness tremble in her presence. She was something special. He would make sure she'd never be forgotten.

"Where is she now?" Ovisa questioned.

He opened his mouth, but there were no words. It was a question he always avoided. He shook his head, focusing on his breathing as he calmed himself. She wouldn't want him to live with the weight of his grief. He studied the faces of the curious children, all waiting for the answer. Mal had told many stories over the several weeks they'd been together, but he never explained what happened to her or any of the others. He had failed them all, but, he wouldn't fail these children now. He considered giving her a fairytale ending, telling them she's safe, living out her days in luxury, but they didn't need a fairytale. They needed hope. They needed something to believe in.

"She was taken," he admitted. His words were not much more than a whisper. The children drew closer, hanging on his every word.

"Where?"

"The Shadow Realm."

"Is she okay?"

"Is she coming back?"

"Can we go find her?"

"I don't know." His head hung slightly lower as their questions overwhelmed him. He took a moment before continuing. "But I do know this: I've never met anyone as strong, courageous, and amazing as her. If anyone can find their way back to the light, it's Daenarya. So we must have hope. We can't allow the shadows of the past to steal that from us. I understand how challenging it can be to hold onto hope when life has given you so little reason to, but I hope I can show you that there is still goodness in this world and that each of you has a chance to discover your own hope. My hope comes from her, and I'll share it with you until you find something of your own to put your hope in."

Ovisa was the first to speak up, her voice filled with determination. "We'll hope for her too, Mr. Mal." She rested her head on his shoulder as she sat next to him.

Lysander nodded vigorously. "And we'll make our own hope, just like you said."

Thalassa nodded her agreement. "Maybe we can find her. Maybe that's our adventure."

Mal's lips twitched up at their growing optimism. They were so young, and life had been so cruel to them, but through it all, they still had goodness in them. He wondered what he could have been had someone come along and saved him when he was their age. But as he had told them, there was no use dwelling in the past. Despite his trials, they had brought him to her, and that is something he wouldn't trade for anything.

As the children's eyelids grew heavy, silent yawns slipped from their lips. They exchanged soft, drowsy conversations about what the future might hold and what adventures awaited them. If Daenarya could save the realm, maybe one day they could too. Their story was just beginning.

Mal watched them closely, cherishing the moment for a few minutes longer before ushering them off to their beds. His lips curled into a smile that reached his eyes for the first time in a long time. He enjoyed seeing them like this, hoping for the possibility of what could be. They were proof that she was still there.

The last paragraph is what I imagine we are seeing when we check in with Mal and he's smiling. He is just in awe of the hope and goodness still in these children despite the hardships they've faced.

Thalassa and Lysander are new to this AU, Ovisa is featured in the first Orphanage story I wrote "One More" which is basically another version of this concept (Mal telling stories on the rooftop, but Daenarya is there, so the tone is very different). I decided to carry over Ovisa because while she does exist in my original universe/orphanage, I never actually finished her origin story, so I thought maybe I could do that here? Or maybe I'll do it in my other universe. We'll see.

Rayden and Lydo are not part of this universe yet, but they will be. I couldn't have Mal save them with out Daenarya. And I couldn't not have them in this universe, those are Mal and Daenarya's sons and they will always find each other, even if it takes a little longer.

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antaresgalaeth · 1 year

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Yearning for her (Sebastian Sallow x Hufflepuff OC)

Notes: Hi! This is my very first fanfic. My intention was to write a oneshot with a smut scene but I ended up writing more than expected, so I suppose now my next goal is finish it in a second chapter 😅 I am a completely rookie at writing, I'm just trying to have fun while I improve my skills. Please keep in mind that I'm not a English native speaker. Any corrections and constructive criticism are very welcome 🤗 (link with second part below).

Warnings: Angsty, Spoilers from Hogwarts Legacy, jealousy, toxic behavior, possessive Sebastian, smut (fingering, masturbation), toxic relationship, WiP✍🏻

Word count: 2826

-----------------------

December, 1891. Alessa, Sebastian and Ominis are in their sixth year at Hogwarts following the events in Hogwarts Legacy. The relationship between Sebastian and Ominis was back to normal after a summer filled with conflict and reconciliation. Alessa has found a great friendship in both of the boys. But even though the situation calmed down and they finally could get a normal school year, there were still some unresolved tensions.

Sebastian noticed Alessa since last course, when they had their first duel in Defense Against the Dark Arts class, a mysterious girl who had just arrived at Hogwarts at the age of 16 and, nevertheless, she beat him without even disheveled. Along the school year, she gave him her absolut support for trying to find a cure for Anne, his twin. Her great easiness to learn spells and cast them on the battlefield, her curiosity, her thirst for adventure and her kind heart made Sebastian lose his head for her over time. Since they finished 5th year and started in 6th year, he wanted to go a step further to show her how massive his desire was for her, but the guilt for his terrible past acts kept stopping him.

The only thing that didn't stop was his jealousy every time some guy got close to her. Alessa became a popular person, everyone at Hogwarts knew who she was, the girl who defeated Ranrok and Rookwood, apart from excelling in his classes even having started so late. “I approached her first'' thought Sebastian with rage each time something like that happened, while being flooded by feelings of urgency to make her his. Every time he saw her walking the halls or at the classroom, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

*********

Today was Potion class with Professor Sharp, in the morning. There she was, as radiant as every day and ready at her table, on Omini’s left side. Normally, when she was attending classes, she pulled back her hair in a low bun and a small and rebel lock always fell over her left cheekbone. Sebastian asked himself how it would be to the touch, imagining his fingers meandering through her hair, caressing her from the temple to her nape, at the same time he pulled his head close to hers, sensing their warm breath one over the other, until they lightly rub their lips and… “Are you planning to go in or are you going to stay by the door all day, Mr. Sallow?" Professor Sharp protested over Sebastian’s shoulder, he came behind him to start the class.

Everyone left what they were doing and they turned to the door, standing up, as a welcome to the Professor. “I’m sorry, Professor”, Sebastian's cheeks flushed when he realized he was daydreaming, so he bowed his head and quickened his step to reach his corresponding cauldron, sitting on Alessa’s left side, leaving her in the middle of Ominis and himself. “A great start to the day, I see” Ominis mocked Sebastian. “You…see?” he answered in a sarcastic tone while raising his eyebrows and tilting his head to the side. Ominis chuckled at the same time that he was touching a sopophorous bean, helping himself with the sense of smell. “Good morning, Sebastian” Alessa received him at the table with her beautiful smile. He returned the gesture and winked.

“Today we will continue with the Draught of living death potion. Well, even if it doesn't take long to brew, it doesn’t mean it will be easy to make. At the end of the class you will be examined”. Professor Sharp made a pause, scanning his students’ faces, “Tell me, Miss Galaeth. Could you tell me what was the third step in its making?”. Alessa repositions herself in her chair to face the teacher with an upright posture, lowers her hands into her lap as her fingertips play against each other, looking up trying to remember. “Hmm… you have to… stir twice… clockwise”, she concluded faster as she was finishing. “Excellent, 5 points to Hufflepuff”. Alessa could relax her shoulders and let out a small huff of relief, spinning on herself to go back to their desk. To Sebastian, she looked very cute when she behaved that proper in class, knowing how savage she could become outside Hogwarts.

They've spent the rest of the class focusing on their own potion brewing to pass their exam. Sebastian was lost on the notes from his notebook, he had a large amount of annotations filled with priceless information that only he could understand, because his learning method was chaotic, like himself. Alessa began to help Ominis between whispers when she finished her potion successfully, whenever Professor Sharp was busy, when she saw him struggling with it the second time he had to start over. Sebastian looked at them with a serious face, and not because he was worried about them getting caught by the Professor, precisely. Sebastian was happy about the good friendship that has been forged between his best friend and her though, but he couldn't avoid the feeling that something might come up between the two of them. Ominis never confessed anything about Alessa to him, but he didn’t talk about it either, about his true feelings for her. The thought of that brought a knot to his stomach.

Class ended and everyone ran out of there as if someone had dropped a stink bomb. “You cannot realize how much I appreciate your help from before, I owe you” Ominis said to Alessa, his head tilted towards her with his glassy eyes looking nowhere. “The truth is I admire your determination for brewing potions, Ominis. It must be tremendously complex without seeing what you’re doing”, she made a brief pause, “I'm a little embarrassed to admit it, but sometimes I observe you working with the ingredients and…”, she laughed nervously, “...one day I covered my eyes trying to make a Wiggenweld potion. The results were a complete mess!”. Ominis frowned with a smile, “I suppose that for someone who depends on their sight so much, it’s more complicated”. Sebastian started to feel left out so he joined the conversation, “I’ve already tried to learn braille when I met him our 1st year”, he put a hand on Ominis’ shoulder and getting in the way of those two, “The only thing I could manage to understand was the letter ‘A’, because it was just a dot. No idea of the rest”, he raised the same arm that was on Ominis to scratch himself in the nape with his hand.

*********

“I’ll meet you by lunch time, I have no more classes until then” Ominis said, deviating his walk to a secluded bench in the Central Hall, to do some reading about Herbology. Alessa kept her path to the Transfiguration class along with Sebastian and other classmates, like Natty and Garreth. Before crossing the gate to the courtyard, Peeves showed up from nowhere, scaring everyone and Sebastian landed on his butt. “Booo!” The ghost, bursting of laughter, stole Sebastian’s notebook that fell on the floor and, with a fart-like sound plus a sneer, he flew towards the corridor they had left behind, where the Potion class was. “Wiiii. I bet you can't catch me!” screamed Peeves in the distance.

“Damn poltergeist!” Sebastian growled while standing up. “Go without me, I don’t want you to miss class because of me” he said to Alessa, she couldn't do anything but press her lips and to frown her forehead, Peeves' nuisance was very well known, so she wished him good luck and he went ahead quickening his pace to retrieve his notebook, at the same time he was condemning the ghost.

Christmas decorations were starting to appear everywhere at Hogwarts. A lot of boys and girls standing in the halls under the mistletoe, excited, waiting for their crush to try to get a kiss from them. The silly giggles were the soundtrack between classes these days.

“Hey” You are Alessa Galaeth, right?” Alessa was crossing the courtyard that adjoined the Transfiguration class, when a guy from Gryffindor called for her in a deep voice. He was leaning on one side of the many arcs from the corridor that surrounded the patio, his legs and arms crossed. His friends departed and he was left alone. Alessa pointed to herself with one finger and he made a gesture with his hand to her so she would come closer.

“Hi, do you need my help with anything?” She was used to people asking her favors from time to time since she came to the school. The boy straightened, he was tall and corpulent. His golden hair fell flat to his eyebrows, he had piercing indigo blue eyes and his full lips extended to a smile where perfect teeth peeked out. “I’m James Wright, I have the pleasure of meeting you at last, I wanted to know the legend of Hogwarts personally”, the boy stretched out his hand and Alessa did the same, waiting for a handshake, but instead he took her hand softly and planted a kiss on the back. Alessa showed him a courtesy smile, “Nice to meet you too, James, but I’ve never considered myself a legend. By the way, you are the keeper of the Quidditch team, aren’t you?” Alessa has been hearing his name in the girls’ bathroom the whole trimester, every girl wanted to date him before the summer vacations, because he was in the 7th year already and now was their last chance with him. “The very same” he nodded, widening his shoulders proudly.

James was bragging about his last feats on the Quidditch pitch for a few moments. Every few seconds he would take a step to move the conversation further down the corridor. There came a time when Alessa got lost in her thoughts thinking she would be late for class, until a sudden movement surprised her.

James brought his big hand closer to Alessa’s face, he tucked her lock behind her ear and creeped his fingers under her jawline to hold her chin and lift it so they could see each other’s eyes. “My teammates were right, you’re not only an extraordinary witch but also a beautiful one indeed”. Alessa buried his head in the scarf as much as she could. James, with an imposted surprise, signaled to the ceiling “Oh, look! We’re right under the mistletoe”. Alessa looked up instinctively. “Tradition says that anyone who’s been kissed under it, they'll find love”, he continued.

When Alessa returned the gaze, he was arching his back to meet her height. “Would you like to test it?” he whispered in her ear. Blood rose to her cheekbones quickly, “I’m flattered, but I think I'll pass, thank you” she murmured, frowning her eyebrows. James extended his left arm to lean it against the wall, cornering Alessa, their robes rubbed against each other. His other hand went to comb his fringe back, showing his features better. “There’s no need to get nervous”, he chuckled, “Is it because you haven’t kissed anyone yet?”. Alessa’s lips squeezed into a horizontal line, that was a very personal question. She was reserving her first kiss to someone special and he definitely wasn’t.

James wouldn’t give up, his success with the girls made him think that anyone would surrender to his charms, that Alessa was playing hard to get. “Don’t worry, just close your eyes and let yourself go. I bet you another kiss that you’re going to like it”, he said with a seductive voice. Alessa didn’t know where to look, “I thank you for your interest in me, truly, but we can leave it here, ok?” she muttered uneasily while she extended one foot to get out of James's personal space. He grabbed her by her arm, not letting her leave. “You're not going to make me beg, are you? Come on, I’ll buy you something later, at The Three Broomsticks”. Alessa opened her mouth to reply but someone spoke in her place.

“Leave my friend alone! Don’t you have a shred of decency?” Ominis was approaching from the corner of the corridor with his wand raised to guide him, his tone reminded Alessa that time when he scolded her upon hearing her leave the Undercroft the first time she went there. “I think she said NO, so let her be at once!”. James straightened up, broadening his shoulders and letting his arms fall to his sides, Ominis may not be able to see him, but his aura was imposing. “I’m sorry, but this is a private conversation between her and me, so go stick your nose somewhere else, Slytherin”, James sneered at him. Ominis leaned his head even more with anger, adding tension to his hands closed in fists with elbows slightly arched. His body swayed slightly. “I know who you are and my family has direct contact with the Headmaster, if you ever come bothering her again, I’ll have Quidditch to be suspended a second time”. James snorted at the threat “You’ll have the whole school against you, if you do that”. “Do you think I care? Try me and you’ll see” Ominis snapped. Alessa wasn't so sure if he was bluffing or telling the truth, his words were convincing though.

James recognized who Ominis Gaunt was, his last name was very well known in the wizarding world and there weren’t any other blind students in Hogwarts. In case of doubt, James clicked his tongue exasperated, looked at Alessa without saying a word and he walked away where Ominis came from while shaking his head and muttering, consciously bumping his shoulder into his. Ominis wobbled for a moment not expecting the tackle, but was able to stabilize.

Alessa stood fast in front of Ominis and she hugged him at the same time she snorted in relief “Ominis! Thank you so much for getting rid of him”. She breathed deeply on the back of his neck, a fresh woody fragrance flooded Alessa's lungs. Ominis relaxed the gesture and, with a warm grin, he hugged her back, “I’m glad I arrived on time. I’ve listened to a group of students whispering about a certain James from the Quidditch team, they had bet that he would get a kiss from the savior of Hogwarts” his last words were spoken with aversion, “That’s why I stopped my reading and headed back here because it was obvious they were talking about you. Are you alright?”. Alessa's heart began to beat very fast, she moved away from the hug, leaving her hands resting on Ominis' shoulders. “I am now. Do you remember what you’ve just said to me after the exam? We’re even”. She leaned towards him and gave him a timid fleeting kiss on the cheek that she would regret due to the shame it would cause her instantly, but she couldn't help it, it came from her soul.

*********

Sebastian finally recovered his notebook from Peeves. He was crossing at forced marches The Transfiguration Courtyard when he caught sight of Ominis being kissed by a girl out of the corner of his eye. She was standing on tiptoes because she was a little shorter than him. Sebastian remained still to the spot “Since when does Ominis let himself be kissed under the mistletoe? This is new” he thought. Tempted to find out who the girl was so he could pester him for the rest of the year about what he had just witnessed, he approached them to see who she was. His mischievous countenance went somber when he took a few steps and realized it was Alessa. HIS Alessa.

Everything began to spin, he began to imagine Alessa and Ominis kissing passionately with their hands exploring each other's bodies like savages, holding hands under the table, while he stood by with the potions, and a succession of creative scenes that made his heart shatter. His hands froze and began to sweat, his ears burned and he began to spin on the spot, raising his fists and throwing them down hard to vent his frustration.

Alessa and Ominis took their respectives paths, she entered the class and Ominis headed towards the Central Hall again. Neither of them noticed that Sebastian was there, cursing himself for not having the courage to say anything to Alessa earlier. What does Ominis have that he doesn't?. As if he had lost all energy, he reminded himself "He's not a murderer like me." Completely defeated, he walked into class with his head bowed, avoiding looking at or engaging in conversation with Alessa at all times.

----------------------------

If you read it, I just want to thank you!! I'm looking forward to know your feedback if you like :)

I'm also in Wattpad and Ao3: @AntaresGalaeth

(también en español)

#hogwarts legacy ominis #ominis x oc #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy sebastian #hogwarts legacy mc #ominis gaunt #hogwarts fanfiction #sebastian sallow x oc

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queerbuckleys · 1 year

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YOU WERE LIGHTING FLARES [1.3K | alternate universe| bmtb fic] {ao3}

a/n: she's hereee everybody!! i know we are generally losing our collective shit over promo and cast content-- but let me take you to another universe for just a moment. for @buddieau i know thigs didnt go as planned really, but without signing up for this i wouldnt have finished this and i love you both so much <3 both titles are from waking up slow by gabrielle aplin. this will be about 7 chapters i believe, all about this length each capturing a different moment in their relationship in this universe. enjoy <3

CHAPTER ONE: I COULD BE YOUR FRIEND Buck wasn’t one to often get deeply invested in their patients. He would connect with them deeply, leaving him emotionally wrought, but not in a way that was investment.

Bobby had told him that their jobs stopped at the glass doors. Athena chewing him out. But it just had been something about how tiny the baby had been. Is. He had cradled her all the way to the hospital, feeling some sort of kindred spirit in her.

He understands why they don’t go past the glass doors. He really does. There’s just something aching.

“You know, I have a friend up in the NICU. I could ask him about her?” Maddie offers over the takeout containers that Buck brought to the hospital with him after his shift.

Buck just shrugs as he sips his coffee, “I don’t know Mads, Bobby made it pretty clear-“

“Well, what if you were to happen to be here, and happen on the floor… it’s 4 by the way," she smiles as her pager beeps and she takes a last gulp of coffee before taking off back to the ED, calling “See ya at home Ev!” Before she’s gone. And Buck is alone in the nurse break room. He pushes his last few bites of breakfast around in the container before eating them and throwing everything away and leaving the room, weighing the idea in his head.

He stands in front of the bank of elevators trying to decide if he wants to go up or down. With a rush he pushes the up button before he can change his mind for a tenth time.

He carefully follows the arrows and signs pointing him toward the NICU. He feels far too big and clumsy to be in this wing. Where fragile beings are just learning what it’s like to be in the world. Surrounded by such innocence. He didn’t quite fit in with his raucous and reckless life.

He's finally standing in front of the window, carefully looking to see if he can see her.

His eyes land on her in the incubator, and she seems even tinier than he remembers, even though it was only a few hours ago really. An eternity, and twice her lifetime for her and a blink of an eye for him. she has a hat now which settles something within the aching, but the myriad of wires and tubes add a new sense of worry. he’s never felt like this before.

He just watches her chest rise and fall. Hands shoved in his jeans pockets. He still feels out of place, being six foot two, and all muscle. But there is a part of him that is truly and fully invested in everything about her. Wants to make sure that she finds her people, that she’s happy and loved. That she has someone to love her like Maddie loved him.

The nurse comes by to check her vitals and Buck watches him closely, knowing the nurse can do his job but wants to see if he can read his expression as he checks her over. He catches Buck watching and after he makes some final notes on her chart, he exits the room and comes face to face with Buck.

His arms are crossed, the sleeves of his soft gray shirt pushed up his forearms underneath his light purple scrub top. The tiny stethoscope hanging around his neck, a tiny monkey holding tight.

“Are you her father?” he questions, skepticism already lacing every word.

And Buck nearly jumps out of his skin even though he saw the other man coming and even suspected that he woul be spoken to. That question wasn’t what he expected. The notion of it even, “Oh god no! I- I’m just-“

The nurse’s right eyebrow starts expertly climbing his brow as Buck stumbles.

“I'm um, I'm a firefighter-'' he shucks the left side of his jacket a little to reveal the emblem, “I’m on the team that brought her in yesterday?” Buck tries, “I’m the one who held her all the way here.”

The nurse softens, “And my sister, she- she’s the one who said it would be okay for me to come by- Maddie, she’s a nurse down in the ED- I’ll leave if it’s not, I have pretty much gotten what I came for anyway, I am so sorry.” Buck rambles, fidgeting and looking over his shoulder.

The nurse starts smiling, and Buck had never seen anything like it.

“You’re Evan!” There’s a sparkle in his eye that could rival stars in rural Montana.

A blush creeps across his cheeks, “You know Maddie,” he states, ducking his head and digging a toe into the linoleum.

“I'm Eddie by the way, I'm guessing she’s never mentioned me by name?”

“No,” he shakes his head, but then snaps his fingers, “but she did mention a NICU nurse friend!”

Eddie laughs again resting his hands on his hips casually.

“She’s tried to convince me to let her give me her cute firefighter brother’s number, I don’t know how many times.”

“You can have it if you want,” Buck blurts, then covers his mouth, “Oh my god I’m sorry.”

“It's okay.” Eddie runs a hand over the back of his neck, “You can have it. I just- I’m not ready to date yet?”

“You can call me Buck by the way, Maddie’s the only one that calls me Evan. Well she does and my parents but-“

“We don’t talk about the parents,” Eddie says in the same tone that Maddie does and Buck laughs. It all feels like a breath of fresh air after the shift he had.

It feels like Eddie is waiting for Buck to deny him something because of what he said, but Buck just takes his phone from his back pocket, opens a new contact and holds it out to him. Eddie smiles a little as he carefully takes it and enters the number.

“Text me so I have yours okay? I gotta get back in there.”

“I will. Bye!”

“Bye Evan.”

He looks into the nursery again just to make sure her chest is still rising and falling steadily and waves at Eddie one more time before rocking on his heels, and smiling like an idiot all the way to the elevators.

Maddie is barely in the door before Buck launches into a rant, “Maddie how could you not tell me you’re “NICU nurse friend” is possibly the hottest man I have ever seen but you have also offered him my number, on more than one occasion, unbeknownst to me. You had ulterior motives!”

“So I see you met Eddie,” she says, dropping her bag on the floor and toeing off her shoes. “He needed it to be on his terms, or at least think it was.”

“Yeah, he uh mentioned not being ready to date, what’s that all about?”

“Not my story to tell. but I hear you have his number so you can ask him yourself.” she just grins and opens the fridge to grab a glass of juice before she crawls into bed.

Buck is laying in bed staring at the ceiling when his phone buzzes;

From: Eddie 🩺 Hi.

A blush creeps across his cheeks and he smiles. He quickly schools himself because he just met the man. But there had been something about him that made Buck want to crawl into a warm bubble and live there with him.

To : eddie 🩺

shouldn’t you be sleeping 🤨

From : eddie 🩺

Couldn’t you say the same for yourself?

To: eddie 🩺

Oh no

R u someone that like uses actual grammar while texting

From: Eddie 🩺

Is that an actual question?

To: Eddie 🩺

Uhh yeah

From : Eddie 🩺

Yes. And if only there was punctuation for you to indicate that you were asking me a question…

To: Eddie 🩺

Oh. my. God. 🙄

good night

#911 #buddie #buddieau #eddie diaz #evan buckley #bmtb fic #aj writes stuff #usermoonlight #userbuckleyhans #tuserksn #tusercourty #userceecee #useroliii #useryb #userweres

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satureja13 · 7 months

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It was past noon when Jack and Jeb finally found the way over the bridge to 'Guidry's Paranormal Investigation Bureau'. Since Vlad is well and alive no one thought it would be a problem for Jack to restore the office with Jeb. But they were wrong. Jack is suffering from his break up with Kiyoshi and his quarrel with Vlad and seeing Vlad's coffin again was too much for poor Jack.

So Jeb sent Jack to carry the burnt furniture downstairs so he could remove the coffin first.

Argh there's still some magical interference which causes the ashes rain down on the coffin - and soon Jeb was covered all over with them... It's over a year ago and the magic is still so strong here...

Jeb cast a spell to stop the raining ashes.

They were finally able to start their work... Jack is the second shortest of them but the physically strongest. We still don't know why...

Finally they are getting somewhere! The sign in the background made Jebs miss his Giigs... They haven't seen each other since the Court Hearing.

Finally done! It's already late.

Jack being proud of himself! And he can be - he did so well.

Guidry thanks them and offers his help to find out how to cut the Bond in return. Jeb tries to refuse because it's their fault after all that Guidry's office got destroyed, but Guidry insisted. He still feels bad that he got caught at Sulani and couldn't be of better help for Ji Ho and his brother.

And then Jeb and Jack left Guidry to grab something to eat and try to find their way back home/ to the Bunker.

From the Beginning ~ Underwater Love ~ Latest

The 'Disbandment of the Group' Chapter from the beginning -> here

#disbandment of the group #simlit #ts4 story #sims 4 #simblr #sims 4 story #ts4 #jack callahan #jeb harris #guidry #guidry's paranormal investigations bureau #san myshuno #underwater love #sims 4 vanilla #bofrost skyway #team home improvement

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suzuran777 · 8 months

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Lamento Beyond the Void Expiatio Chapter 7

Here's chapter 7! Please remember that I'm not a professional translator or anything and my native language isn't English, so it might not be 100% perfect. I will post the final chapter and the epilogue tomorrow.

[Prologue] [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3] [Part 4] [Part 5] [Part 6] [Part 7] [Part 8] [Epilogue] [Glossary]

Caput 7

The next morning. The sky was cloudy, and the air felt heavy and cold. It looked like it was about to snow. After getting dressed, Rai and Konoe went downstairs. The devils were waiting in the living room again. When they noticed Rai’s presence, the four of them stopped talking and turned around.

"Yo! I know where Leaks is." Verg started talking to them.

"Rather than finding his exact whereabouts, it would be more correct to say that we sensed his presence, somewhere south of Ransen. "

Razel continued.

Konoe turned around to see Rai's expression.

"South of Ransen?" Konoe muttered.

There was a forest south of Ransen that stretched all the way to Karou. Konoe turned around and headed for the exit of the inn. Rai called to stop him.

"...hey, wait. Where are you going?"

"I know that location, I'm going." Konoe replied.

Rai sighed, knowing Konoe wouldn’t be able to stay calm in a place like that.

"And what will you do there, are you going to starve after endlessly wandering around?"

Konoe casted his eyes downward.

"The white cat is right, we know that Leaks is somewhere there but we don't know the precise location."

Verg replied, as if he was agreeing with Rai.

"Then, when will we know?" Konoe muttered while staring at the floor.

"Soon."

Froud, who had been silent until then, opened his mouth with a faint smile.

"You'll find out soon. The end is near. "

Konoe anxiously listened to Froud.

"It's finally time for my touching reunion with Leaks. Ah, I'm looking forward to it. Once I've defeated him and regained my strength, we’ll have to decide which one of us will eat you. "

Verg smiled and turned his gaze to Konoe, making Konoe's body shiver.

"Well, maybe we'll look around a little more. See you."

The demons summoned their respective flames and disappeared. Rai watched the flames disappear and let out a sigh. Konoe swished his tail from side to side.

"We have to go too..."

Rai could tell Konoe was in a hurry, wanting to learn more about his own curse and the curse placed on Rai.

"I told you earlier. Don't do anything reckless."

"But..." Konoe lowered his head after hearing Rai's words.

"Calm down. We'll have to wait for now. Besides, Leaks will definitely show up. He will let you know where he is." Rai told Konoe, who didn’t reply.

Would this battle with Leaks really be the last one? There was no time left, Froud’s words last night were serious. Would his heart be controlled by darkness before they could even meet Leaks? Rai hoped that they would make it in time. At least until the fight with Leaks, he hoped that he could stay sane. But could they really beat Leaks? Maybe even a Sanga and a Touga pair couldn’t beat him. Their abilities work the best together when they have a special kind of bond, but he wasn’t sure if him and Konoe were that close to each other.

Rai didn’t know the real meaning of a ‘bond’. Suddenly he felt a strong desire to talk to Konoe, he had something he really wanted to say, while his mind was still intact. Rai looked at the sky and narrowed his eyes.

"Come here."

Rai whispered, while grabbing Konoe’s arm, dragging him out of the inn. Rai climbed on top of the roof while Konoe looked at him, his eyes widening in surprise. Konoe followed him, after Rai urged him to come up.

Rai sat down on the edge of the roof and stared absentmindedly into the depths of the forest. Konoe's hometown should be somewhere in the southern part of the forest, and Setsura is located on the other side.

The wind was cold, but not unpleasant. They were still in heat, so it felt rather nice and cooling, Konoe sat next to him. The clouds had disappeared.

"Do you want to go back to Karou?" Rai asked Konoe.

"Your parents are already passed away, yet, you still want to go back there?"

He felt like Konoe was confused. Rai himself also didn’t know what he was even trying to talk about. What did he want to tell Konoe? His eyes narrowed for a moment, then he opened his mouth as he looked into the distance.

"Even if Setsura is destroyed, it doesn't matter to me. I have no memories of it, nothing."

Rai absentmindedly told him. Konoe sat still without moving or saying anything.

"... but there's something about it. I didn't like Karou either, but after all, it is not like I only have bad memories of it." Konoe replied.

Konoe sounded a bit distant. Rai was trying to search for the right words to say.

"... my parents died right in front of me." Rai replied.

Would Konoe laugh at him if he admitted he didn't just intend to say that?

"… eh?"

"They were killed by bandits who broke in. But it was almost like they weren't my parents, seeing their corpses, I felt nothing. I just wondered why they weren't moving."

Thinking back about it now, Rai didn’t understand what sadness was at the time. Covered in their dark red blood, he felt happy. Rai didn’t know what family warmth was or if it even existed.

"They say blood ties are stronger than anything else, but I don't really understand. Bonds, family warmth. I don't understand any of it..."

Rai said while looking at Konoe. Ah, what the hell was he even trying to ask Konoe. He didn’t know. He looked at Konoe.

"Do you understand it? Can you confirm that such a thing exists?"

Did he want Konoe to tell him that there was a bond between him and Rai? He never thought it was difficult to live alone, or to fight alone. Rai did have a disadvantage when he was fighting against pairs, that’s why he thought that Konoe could help him when they first met. But even then, it’s not like he couldn’t survive on his own.

If Rai lost his mind, Konoe would kill him. He just didn’t know when, it could even happen tomorrow. Was that the real meaning of a ‘bond’? The promise that Konoe would pierce his chest with his sword? When he remembered the promise, he felt a warm and fuzzy feeling in his chest.

Somehow, he felt relieved that he wasn’t alone right now. Was that alright? Even though he could kill Konoe anytime? Rai started feeling anxious.

That moment, something warm touched his shoulder, Konoe gently pressed his forehead against him, purring. For cats, that was a sign of affection.

"Do you understand? Maybe tomorrow, I will…" Rai told him.

He could kill him any moment.

"…I know" Konoe answered, while closing his eyes.

Rai could smell Konoe’s scent.

"…really."

Rai replied with a small sigh and then fell silent. If Konoe allowed this, then it should be fine, he told himself. It must be a bond that was truly unique to both of them. He felt the gentle touch of the cold winter breeze on his face.

Suddenly, he felt like hearing Konoe’s song again.

"...your song" Rai whispered.

"Sing me a song"

"…a song?" Konoe raised his face.

"Any song that isn’t used in battle is fine. Can you sing?"

He stared at Konoe, who was looking at him with a puzzled look on his face.

"…try it."

Konoe nodded and closed his eyes. After a short moment of silence, he could hear it. It wasn’t a song used in battle. It was a peaceful song that felt light, soft, and most importantly, warm.

"...your voice is mysterious. It touches the hearts of those who hear it."

Rai lowered his eyes and listened to the song. Konoe’s singing voice, it was all his. He could hear the voice riding on the wind and slowly disappearing, as if it was being sucked into the winter sky. He didn’t know something warm like this existed.

When they returned to the inn, Bardo was staring at the guest book at the reception desk. Rai immediately headed to the stairs, as usual.

"Just a little moment." Konoe stopped at the reception desk.

Without worrying about it, Rai started climbing the stairs. Either he had been outside in the cold weather for too long, or he was just tired, his body felt very warm. It was better to get some rest immediately. He entered the room, took off his gear and threw himself onto the bed without opening the window. The cool bed was comfortable. He crossed his arms and drifted off to sleep.

After he woke up, Konoe had not come back yet. He wondered what he was talking about with Bardo, but he couldn't be bothered. For a second, Rai thought about his past when he spent time with Bardo. Back then, he probably felt some kind of warmth when Bardo was taking care of him too. Suddenly, Rai felt a bit feverish. His right eye started hurting again.

Rai touched his eyepatch with his fingers and hit something in the room, creating a loud thud. He could feel all the hairs of his body standing up. A black mass was spreading throughout his body.

He had trouble breathing. Not now... It was still too early for this,

He could hear the sound of the door opening. Rai clenched his teeth. He felt uneasy when he heard the sound of someone approaching him.

"...is it painful?"

He felt relieved when he heard Konoe's voice, not someone else’s. This was Konoe's voice. His consciousness was still there, the darkness had not taken over yet. It should be fine now.

He groaned, as he felt the pain spread through his body. In that instant, he lost consciousness.

Rai grabbed Konoe's arm and pushed him down onto the bed. He looked at Konoe and scratched his skin with his nails. Red marks were visible on Konoe’s skin. Just like that, Rai grabbed Konoe’s neck.

"Let go...!"

Konoe struggled to free the hand from his neck. Rai looked down at Konoe and smiled. The tips of his fingers were red, covered in Konoe’s blood. He slowly started licking the blood off his fingers.

"It's a beautiful color." Rai muttered, enchantedly.

His prey was in front of him once more. If he opened its belly, he could see an even more beautiful shade of red. His mouth twisted. While thinking about this, the prey started struggling. Rai didn't dislike the sound of someone struggling, seconds away from their death.

"Rai."

Rai... That was his name. And what was in front of him wasn’t his prey, it was Konoe. His body suddenly felt numb, as he retracted the hand that was touching Konoe’s neck. What was he doing?

"Guh!"

He could hear Konoe coughing violently. Rai’s chest hurt. Konoe tried to catch his breath.

Rai looked down. After all, he shouldn't be by his side anymore. He couldn’t even keep his promises.

"I’m sorry. " He muttered.

"Does it hurt?"

He knew the wound itself wouldn’t be a problem, but he didn’t know what else to say to Konoe.

Wounds aren't the problem. I know that. But I don't know how to tell Konoe

"...it doesn't matter, if I lick it, it will heal just fine. " Konoe replied.

"You shouldn't be by my side. You..." Rai tried to tell him.

"Don’t say that." Konoe interrupted Rai's words.

"Don't even try. No matter what you tell me, my feelings won't change."

Rai looks back at Konoe. Konoe's was staring at him. He understood Konoe’s expression, he didn’t sense any anger. Why? Was there darkness in Konoe’s heart too? Rai had his own reasons for being like this.

"Why do you have to go that far? Your goal is to be freed from that curse, isn't it?"

"It's the same for you."

"I am an existence that must disappear eventually. Even if I am killed by this curse, nothing will change. Listen to me."

Rai turned his gaze to the closed window.

"Of course, this side of me, it’s not something I ever wanted."

Rai began to speak while trying to find the right words.

"I became aware of it was when I went hunting for the first time. I hunted to test the sword skills that I had learned. It was a small hare. I thought it was warm.”

Rai still remembered how warm it felt. Warm… It was a warmth he had never felt before. Since then, every time he went hunting, he looked for that warmth he craved so much.

Rai looked down at his hand. He felt like the palm of his hand was permanently stained red.

"When I touch the flesh and blood of other beings, my heart feels deeply satisfied."

Back then, hunting alone was enough to satisfy his desires. However, this slowly started changing. Ever since that creature gouged out his right eye, his desire started growing stronger. Rai touched his eyepatch with his fingertips. His right eye continued to ache.

"And now my desire is turning into insanity, it’s taking over my whole body. I've always tried to be strong, both physically and mentally, to fight back, but…"

Rai stopped talking for a moment.

"I wonder if all this time, I only wanted to become strong so I could feel the warmth of flesh and blood."

It was not something he ever admitted, and he tried to not think about it. He was fighting for that flesh and blood he craved so much.

Rai hated this, the only thing that brought him joy was taking other’s lives. He thought that it would be better if he just ended his own life while he was still sane, rather than waiting for what would happen in the future. Rai looked at Konoe.

"Therefore, there is no reason, no obligation, no need for you to stick to me. You should think about yourself."

Rai didn’t feel connected to anyone, he had to be alone all this time.

Konoe averted his gaze from Rai. He did not know what he was thinking. If Konoe only thought about himself, it would be natural that he left Rai behind. It didn’t matter, there were other Touga out there, like Asato.

At that moment, Konoe looked up. Rai felt that Konoe was looking straight into his eyes.

"I told you the other day." Konoe slowly began talking to him.

“Have you ever thought about my feelings? Have you ever thought about asking me? That's why I'll tell you.“

Konoe took a deep breath.

As Konoe said, he never really talked to him. Rai could mention that a lot of things happened recently and that they simply had no time to talk to each other. But it was different. Rai thought there was no need to talk, no need to understand each other.

"When you found out about my curse, you said it was fine. I was really happy."

With a smile on his lips, Konoe shut his mouth for a moment.

Rai remembers that time. It was true, he didn’t care about the curse. The ability of a Sanga was more impressive than that.

"People around me didn’t like hearing anything about curses, so when you didn’t let go of me, even if it’s because we’re Sanga and Touga, I was happy. "

Konoe squeezed his hand tightly, while Rai sat there quietly.

“Ever since my parents died, I have been alone. Sadness, anger, and other emotions. If you use all those things as a strength, you will be able to survive."

Rai understood his feelings at that moment.

"But when I met you, I was so happy I could stay by your side."

Rai could feel a gentle warmth, similar to Konoe’s song.

"I think you're really strong. I'm not trying to be strong to kill you. I think you've already given in to your desires and try to deal with those. That's why I respect you."

"Also, I was happy when you put the lamp in our room."

Was he talking about the glowing leaves Rai gave him?

"That's why I thought you helped me a lot. Not only when I was sick, but in many ways, you said you didn't care about my curse. Even if something could happen, I don’t want to leave you."

Konoe's gazed at Rai.

"At that time, I will kill you. I told you so. That's why I can't leave. I don't want to leave."

Konoe's clenched his fists tightly.

"This is all I'm thinking. How do you feel? Not because I'm going to kill you, I want to know your true feelings."

After saying that, Konoe took a deep breath. Rai looked down and averted his gaze from Konoe. Real feelings. He never thought of it before.

There was nothing in this world he really cared about before. He didn't care about his own feelings. He listened to his parents and did what was expected of him.

His desire for blood wasn’t exactly a feeling, more like a desire he couldn’t control. Feelings were something he never thought about. When he was tired he slept, when he was hungry he ate, when he was in heat he did what was necessary to suppress it. Those were all things he simply had to do.

His own feelings… He thought that it would be dangerous for Konoe to stay by his side. However, he wanted Konoe to be the one to kill him after losing his sanity. He just didn’t understand anymore.

Rai pulled Konoe's arm and pressed him down on the bed. Konoe's wide-open eyes stared at him. He didn't know what to say.

"...I don't understand it well."

"…what?" Konoe asked, confused.

"I shouldn't have any feelings for you, I know that, but-…"

Rai knew he shouldn’t be by his side. Nevertheless…

"...those are your genuine feelings, that’s why you can’t let go. ".

Konoe said quietly. Rai averted his gaze from Konoe. Such a thing…

"…I forgot"

"...?"

"Just now, I forgot that you were a Sanga."

Rai looked at Konoe again.

Konoe, the person in front of him. The only person he would ever look at like this.

"It's true that I wanted to have the ability of Sanga, it's the same for everyone, including my opponents."

"With your strength, I’m sure other Sanga also want to work together with you."

Konoe said. Rai shook his head slightly.

"I can't imagine a song other than yours."

Rai closed his eyes for a moment. Whenever he closed his eyes, he could always remember Konoe's song. It was a gentle song.

"...because you've only heard my songs."

Konoe said in a somewhat gentle voice. Rai looked at Konoe, why would he say that?

"No, if it's not your song, I don’t need it."

Rai’s chest hurt. It was painful. Expressing his feelings was incredibly difficult.

"If it's not you... it's useless."

Konoe looked at him. Konoe told him he wouldn’t leave Rai, but…

Rai held his breath. He looked at Konoe. He didn’t know what to do when Konoe’s hand reached out and touched his cheek.

"...ah."

Not knowing what to do, his back stiffened up.

Konoe's hand wrapped around his neck and he hugged Rai’s body. His forehead hit Konoe's shoulder. He gradually started feeling Konoe’s body temperature. Not just his body temperature, but also his heartbeat. Everything felt warm.

It made his own body feel hot. Rai moved and put his lips to Konoe's neck.

"..."

Konoe held his breath. Feeling like Konoe was rejecting his feelings, Rai pulled his body away from him. However, Konoe tried to stop him

"...don't you hate it?"

Konoe frowned at Rai's question. He didn’t understand why Rai was asking him that.

"This kind of thing, don't you hate it?" He asked again.

"Hated it? When?" Konoe seemed to be serious.

"During that time when we were in heat."

Rai thought about the time when he touched Konoe.

"...come to think of it, you said that anyone would do." Konoe replied.

"I didn't mean it like that."

Rai thought how he shouldn’t have said that back then.

"I said that if you want to do it, it's okay. No matter who the other person is."

"That is what I meant."

Rai answered. If the desire was there, it would be foolish to reject it. Rai suddenly realized that there’s something he desired for so long. He wanted warmth, but he refused to look for it. Maybe he was the one who was stupid. And now…

That time when he kissed Konoe, and what happened at the brothel, he wanted it. Konoe. He wanted Konoe.

"During that time at the brothel, you told me to think about another cat..." Konoe repeated.

Rai definitely said that, but Konoe was mistaken.

"Because I thought you didn't want me to touch you."

"...why would I hate being touched by you?"

"You said it was because of the incense." Rai replied.

Rai recalled what happened when Konoe bought the incense, he thought Konoe hated it when he kissed him back then.

"I never hated it, but... it was true that it was also caused by the incense." Konoe replied.

"Lying now isn’t going to solve anything."

"I'm not lying, I thought you were the one who hated it.”

Could it be that both of them misunderstood something? If there had been no misunderstanding, everything would have been easier. He didn’t realize. He had longed for Konoe's warmth for such a long time.

Rai looked at Konoe, whose face turned red. He gently started nibbling Konoe’s ear.

"...so you don't hate it?" Rai whispered, to confirm his feelings.

Rai thought about what he wanted. He wanted Konoe.

He sat up and locked his lips with Konoe. He licked his lips and teeth, it felt warm. While kissing him, he grabbed Konoe’s shoulder and pushed him down.

"ah…!"

The recoil separated their lips. Rai put his own lips on top of Konoe’s slightly opened mouth again.

The warmth and passion that was slowly building up in his body felt much stronger than the darkness that resided within him. He wanted to touch Konoe even more.

"…mhh"

Konoe, who found it difficult to breathe, groaned. However, he opened Konoe’s lips with his tongue, as if he didn’t allow him to resist. Their tongues touched each other. Konoe’s tongue touched the back of Rai’s tongue. Rai licked the inside of his upper jaw.

"…ah!"

A soft sound escaped from Konoe’s mouth. Rai changed the angle and continued kissing Konoe, going deeper and deeper. Their fangs touched each other, and he sucked on Konoe’s tongue.

Konoe's body also started feeling hotter. After Rai let go of him, Konoe stared at him.

"…ah…ah.."

Rai remembered the time when they were in heat and when Konoe bought the incense. Back then, they were trying to get rid of the hot feeling, but now it was different.

He took off Konoe’s shirt, exposing his chest. He touched it with his hands. Konoe gasped as the fingers touched his chest.

"…ah!"

Konoe's embarrassed voice made Rai want to tease him.

"Can you feel it?"

Konoe opened his eyes and tried to get up.

"Enough. Take your hands off."

Konoe’s movement only brought Rai’s hands closer to his body.

"...!"

As a Touga, his hands were used to holding a sword and had a rough texture. Konoe averted his gaze and tried to hold back his voice. Rai wanted to hear more of Konoe's voice and licked Konoe’s chest with the tip of his tongue, aiming for one of his nipples.

"…ah!" A soft voice escaped from Konoe's mouth.

His hand grabbed Rai's shoulder as if he was trying to resist.

"...no, stop, mh!"

"If you don't like it, I'll stop." Rai stopped, while looking at Konoe.

He didn’t think Konoe was being too honest, that was obvious. However, until now, both had not been honest with each other. Rai never thought he had to be. His thoughts… he never told anyone what he was thinking.

Rai continued teasing one of Konoe’s nipples with the tip of his tongue.

"…mm."

Konoe covered his mouth with his hand, trying to hide the sounds he was making.

While licking Konoe’s chest, Rai’s hand moved down. As he untied his belt and reached between his legs.

"Wait...mm, ah..."

Rai slipped his hand in Konoe’s underwear and wrapped his hand around Konoe’s member.

"..."

Konoe looked at him impatiently. While their bodies were getting even hotter. Konoe had become even harder after Rai directly touched his member. Konoe's hand pressed against Rai’s shoulder. He raised his face and sweetly bit into Konoe’s collarbone.

"…ah!"

A moan escaped from Konoe's mouth. As he gently stimulated Konoe’s member, his voice and movements also increased. Konoe couldn’t hold in his moans anymore. Rai wanted to hear more of that. He licked his collarbone and the nape of his neck, waiting to see how Konoe would react. He could smell Konoe’s scent as he was slowly getting more sweaty. It was a bit different than Konoe’s usual scent.

He could see that the tip of Konoe’s member had become wet, overflowing with precum. Rai moved his hand and started touching Konoe’s tight opening. It was not the first time he had touched this place, but it was different from that time. It felt a lot tighter now.

"…n-no!"

Konoe moved his body and tried to get away from him. Rai kissed Konoe’s ears.

"Are you scared?"

Konoe did not answer.

Rai licked the inside of Konoe’s ear. The ears were a cat's sensitive spot.

"Ah...!"

"Shut up" Rai smiled.

That was a bit of a lie because he wanted to hear Konoe’s voice. He started touching Konoe’s member again.

"Mhh ..."

When Konoe let out a sweet voice, Rai tried slipping his finger into the tight opening. Even though there was a bit of resistance, Konoe’s body was a bit more relaxed now. He gently stroked the inside with the tip of his finger. Konoe’s body trembled. His insides felt as narrow and tight as last time, it slowly started swallowing Rai’s fingers. He was pleased with Konoe’s reaction, he liked knowing what Konoe wanted. His body reacted, no matter where he touched him. He wanted to take things a little further now.

When Rai suddenly stopped moving, Konoe looked at him with wet eyes. Konoe moved his body and Rai removed his fingers.

"…what?"

"…shut up." Konoe glared at him.

He suddenly stood up and placed his hand on top of Rai's lower leg. When Konoe started touching his belt, Rai tried to stop him.

"What are you doing?"

"Shut up." Konoe got off the bed and started kneeling beteween Rai’s legs.

"Hey!"

"I'm telling you to shut up."

Konoe grabbed Rai’s member and took it out of his clothes. He could feel the cool air touching it. A shiver ran down his spine. He touched Konoe’s hair while he was staring at what he was trying to do.

"...shut up!"

Just like that, Konoe took Rai’s member into his mouth. His mouth felt warm and wet.

"Hey, stop it!"

His member was not yet fully erect, however, the pleasure that he felt was intense. He grabbed Konoe’s shoulders and tried to stop it, but Konoe swallowed it even deeper. He could feel his tongue moving. It felt a bit awkward, and Rai started losing his patience.

Konoe’s head slowly started moving up and down.

"...this stupid cat..."

His voice was hoarse, he never thought Konoe would do something like this.

"Mmm, mm..."

Konoe moaned while licking it. Rai closed his eyes, while Konoe was licking the tip. He softly touched Konoe’s hair and clenched his teeth. Rai opened his eyes when he felt a dull pain. It was not the sweet stimulation of a tongue, was it the feeling of Konoe’s fangs?

"…tch"

"…ah"

Konoe raised his face as if Rai’s voice surprised him. His saliva dripped down the corner of his mouth. Konoe’s expression was terribly sensational. His eyes, wet and his cheeks completely red.

Rai started feeling a bit frustrated, he wanted more. He grabbed Konoe’s shoulder and pushed him down onto the cold floor. Konoe stared at him with frightened eyes.

"…sorry" Rai closed his eyes.

"…it’s not like that."

Rai replied while taking off Konoe’s clothes.

He was craving for the warmth that melted his body and thoughts. He grabbed Konoe’s leg. Rai wanted to expose everything and make it all his own.

He also took off his own clothes.

"Wait a minute… "

He grabbed the base of Konoe’s tale to stop him from resisting. After that, he grabbed Konoe's waist, who had stopped moving already, and pressed his own member against Konoe’s opening.

"Ah!" Konoe raised his voice.

Rai furrowed his brow and pushed his body forward.

"...ah, ha...mh!"

It felt hot and cramped inside, right rather than narrow.

"Ah… ha.. uh, uh..." Konoe winced.

Was he in pain?

"…relax."

Rai whispered. However, Konoe shook his head left and right, keeping his eyes tightly closed. He wanted it fast, he was sure Konoe felt the same way. However, it was meaningless if it wasn’t pleasurable for both of them. Rai stopped and grabbed Konoe's tail. He brought the hooked part to his mouth and nibbled on it.

"…ah"

While nibbling on his tail, Rai touched Konoe’s member gently with his other hand.

"…"

Konoe tried to talk, but his breathing seemed terribly painful. Rai kissed him and asked him a question.

"Is it painful?"

Instead of answering, Konoe put his arms around Rai's neck. The clinging arms told Rai that he wanted more. Rai kissed him and started moving again.

"Ah… ah! "

While entangling their tongues, Rai started slowly moving. He could feel Konoe’s insides twitching around him. If Rai’s member swelled up even more, it might become painful for Konoe, but he couldn’t help it.

Konoe’s arm clung to his back. Rai's arm caressed Konoe's body, touching the mark on Konoe's arm. Then, Konoe moved his hand and touched the mark on Rai's chest. Every time Konoe moved, Rai could feel his insides wriggling. He slowly started moving around, searching for a spot that would make him feel even better.

"…ah …mn?"

Konoe let out a loud moan. Rai looked at Konoe and then pushed the same spot again.

"Ah.. ha …ah!"

Konoe turned away his face and clenched his teeth, trying to hold his breath.

"Don't try to hide it."

Rai gently licked the corner of Konoe's stiffened eyes.

"N-no…ah!"

Every time he moved, Konoe's body twitched.

"Show me everything, Konoe."

He whispered in his ear. That time, at the brothel, Rai’s name was called for the first time. And now, for the first time, he called Konoe by his name.

"Leave it all to me."

Rai looked at Konoe. Konoe's stared back at Rai. Rai pushed his hips forward again.

"... uh, ah, ah, ah..."

Konoe gasped, clinging to his neck and leaning his head against Rai’s shoulder.

"... uh Rai! ah! "

A chill ran down his spine when Konoe called his name, he didn’t know what to say. He started moving a bit faster.

Konoe's member rubbed against his belly. He bit and licked Konoe's ear, while pushing deep inside him. Breathing was getting more difficult. The feeling of wanting to end it and the feeling of wanting to stay connected. As he grabbed Konoe’s member, Konoe’s body trembled.

Was this a desire or something else, Rai didn’t know. He still wasn’t sure what a bond was or what love was. But in this moment, he realized he loved Konoe. He wanted to touch him, pushing deeper and deeper into his body.

"...ah, ha,... uh, ah...ah!"

A white liquid spilled on Rai’s hands and belly, Konoe’s body tightening with every spasm. Rai then came inside of Konoe’s body.

"...mmm, ...ah!"

He moaned, slowly rocking his hips, letting everything out. After that Rai took a deep breath. Rai entrusted his body to Konoe, their breathing overlapping.

He removed himself from Konoe’s body and looked at him. Konoe wrapped his arms around his neck and kissed Rai.

Konoe was looking at him. Rai never thought that he would be spending his time together with someone like this. Konoe stretched out his hand and his fingertips touched Rai’s right eye. Noticing what he was trying to do, Rai flinched a little. He didn’t mind though, he thought to himself. It would probably be fine.

Konoe used his other hand to slowly remove Rai’s eyepatch. Not knowing how to react, he tried to turn away from Konoe. However, Konoe grabbed his head with both of his hands and kissed his right eye.

Konoe’s warmth… His body stiffened. Konoe gently traced the scar with the tip of his tongue. It felt warm, the tip of his tongue and his breath. After letting go, Konoe looked at him.

"...thank you."

It was a quiet voice. Rai gently stroked Konoe's leg with his tail.

"...you don’t have to say that."

Rai grabbed his eyepatch and got up. He grabbed Konoe’s arm, throwing him onto the bed. He looked down at him and wrapped his body in a blanket.

"Sleep." Rai sat next to him and looked at Konoe.

"...ah?"

For some reason, Konoe sounded confused.

"Go to sleep"

"…ah, …yeah.”

Konoe curled up in bed. Rai suddenly started thinking about something.

"...where did you learn that?"

Konoe looks puzzled for a moment, then blushed.

"...no... I just came up with the idea and did it, it’s not like I learned it anywhere. "

Thinking about something and suddenly doing it, that sounded exactly like something Konoe would do. Konoe grabbed his blanket and tried to get out of bed, but Rai grabbed him by the arm and wrapped Konoe's body in the blanket again.

"Don’t think about anything right now, you stupid cat."

"…annoying."

"Only do that for me" Saying this, Rai turned away from Konoe.

"…eh?" Konoe asked him.

"Those kinds of thoughtless actions."

Konoe looked confused.

"What? "

"…no, never mind. "

Konoe looked down. For some reason Rai really wanted to tease Konoe. When Konoe turned around, he suddenly started licking his ears. It was just grooming, what cats do. Konoe noticed and cleared his throat. His ears, cheeks, the nape of his neck, Rai cleaned it all. When Rai touched his back with the tip of his tongue, Konoe let out a small moan.

"Mn..."

His back was not a place he was able to groom himself, so it was only natural for Konoe to react like this. He was touching an unfamiliar place. After that Rai licked the base of his tail. He could feel Konoe’s body getting hot.

"...hey...!"

As expected, Konoe raised his voice. Rai continued to lick towards the tip of the tail, which was a sensitive area.

"Stop it!"

Konoe turns around and glared at him. While chewing on the crooked part of Konoe's tail, Rai looked at Konoe.

"... you're doing it on purpose, aren't you?" Konoe complained.

"Sleep." Rai answered, while licking Konoe’s tail.

"You...!"

Konoe took a deep breath.

"...for you that is fine, you have a splendid tail."

After hearing Konoe's words, Rai stopped and looked at Konoe's tail. The tip is crooked but it was still a beautiful tail.

"That's a pretty strange attitude. Don't you like your own tail?"

No answer from Konoe. Rai started grooming Konoe's tail again.

"...I don't hate it." Rai muttered.

"Eh?"

Hearing Konoe's tone of voice, he bit his tail.

"Ah…!"

"Sleep."

"...you!"

Ignoring Konoe's tantrum, Rai began licking the back of Konoe’s thigh. He ran his tongue over his thigh and moved his body to lick the inside. Konoe tried to close his legs in a hurry.

"…mhh"

Rai puts his face between Konoe’s legs, who was now lying on his back. He was going to lick every nook and cranny of his body. In the end, it was around dawn when Rai and Konoe fell asleep that night.

-----------

A presence outside the window woke Rai up. He was not feeling too well. Next to him, Konoe was sleeping peacefully. He wondered if Konoe pretended to be asleep, but it would only be natural for him to be tired.

He got out of bed and opened the window. It was dim and cloudy outside, but the sky clearly looked different than usual. He could see the dim light of the moon of light. Normally, the moon of light had a round shape, but it seemed distorted now.

After getting dressed, Rai grabbed Konoe’s tail and pinched it lightly.

"...!" Konoe jumped up.

"How long have you been sleeping? Get up quickly."

Konoe, who was suddenly woken up, glared at Rai. Trying to get up, his tail became puffy. His clothes were scattered across the room and he seemed to try remembering what happened last night.

"...hey,"

Konoe looked upset. Rai looked out of the window again and the moon of light was getting smaller and smaller. It seemed like they had to hurry.

"Hey?"

Rai called out to Konoe. Konoe seemed to have calmed down a bit after finding his clothes.

"…what?"

Konoe answered while putting on his shoes. The tone of his voice was harsh and cold.

"What is up with that attitude?"

"...Nothing really" That reaction was very like Konoe.

"Is it painful? Your body"

Konoe's body stiffened after hearing that. Rai folded his arms while looking at Konoe. From his cheeks to his ears, he could see that Konoe’s skin was turning a beautiful shade of red.

"Your face is red."

"You!" Konoe yelled at him.

but without saying any more, he sat down on the bed.

"There’s no need to be ashamed."

When he told Konoe that, he looked away and groaned.

"I’m not as bold as you. " Konoe sounded annoyed.

“At the end, you were moaning quite happily.”

"Shut up! Say no more!" Konoe let out a growl.

"It’s the truth, isn’t it?"

Konoe was at a loss for words. Rai continued teasing him.

"I wish you could have been that honest from the very beginning."

"…Don’t be ridiculous."

Even Konoe's displeased voice sounded good to Rai now. He looked at Konoe who continued putting his equipment on. When he looked out of the window, a voice could be heard from the roof. It seemed like the devils gathered there.

"Let’s go to the roof."

"…roof?" Konoe asked Rai.

"The others also gathered there."

"Did something happen?"

"Let’s go, you’ll understand soon."

Rai quickly left the room after responding to Konoe’s question. After that, Konoe hurriedly followed.

He could see that the sky was wrapped in darkness while heading to the roof. Konoe also seemed to have grasped the situation.

After climbing the tree which lead to the roof, he noticed the devils and Bardo were there, only Asato was missing.

"What happened?" Konoe asked the devils.

"Look at that." Verg replied.

The Moon of Light, which should normally be shining brightly at this time of the day, was losing its light. The light was getting weaker... no, it was almost like the entire moon was beginning to fade. It looked much worse than when Rai saw it just a moment ago.

"It’s fading quickly." Konoe muttered anxiously, while the Moon of Light was fading.

"...I see. An eclipse." Razel muttered unfamiliar words.

"Shocked?" Bardo continued talking while he stood behind Konoe.

"Haven’t you ever heard of it? If I remember correctly... There was a story about the Moon of Darkness, which can usually not be seen during daytime, rising at the same time as the Sun of Light, followed by an eclipse."

"You seem to know a lot for just an innkeeper cat."

Glancing at Verg who was teasing him, Bardo continued talking.

"It's said that eclipses were common in the old world which the Two Canes inhabited. "

"It's a phenomenon that apparently hasn't happened in Shisa during the past 200 years, so it's no surprise that most of us don't remember it."

Bardo looked at the sky.

Come to think of it, Rai vaguely remembered that Bardo was familiar with such legendary stories. No, it was mostly about witchcraft. All arts involving demons were supposed to require knowledge of magic. Bardo was investigating a forbidden technique, that is why he knew.

"During an eclipse, magical powers also become stronger. If Leaks was really up to something, now would be the perfect time."

"Well, you know. Wasn't that a secret passed down in Meigi?"

Froud said something speculative, which Kaltz replied to. In the meantime, the Moon of Light was steadily vanishing.

"I wonder if it will completely disappear."

Verg muttered, while the moon of darkness started completely covering the moon of light.

"...it's about to begin, the eclipse."

The moment Bardo said this, a ring of flames surrounded the Moon of Darkness, which was covering the Moon of Light. It looked like a blood red ring. The Moon of Darkness started looking like a black hole.

Did it feel unnerving because this shouldn’t be happening? A small flame arose from the center of the Moon of Darkness. The flickering flame almost looked like someone’s soul.

Screams could be heard in the distance, everyone who looked up at the sky was frightened by the strange sight.

"Finally."

Rai heard a familiar voice. Above the roof, he saw that clown Firi, who was wearing a red costume. Rai clutched the hilt of his sword.

"The time has come." Firi smiled.

"…you!" Konoe groaned, but Firi didn’t care.

He held out his hand.

"Even if you’re upset, it's okay because we'll meet again soon."

"... we will meet?" asked Konoe.

"Yes. We will~."

Firi looked at Konoe and he smiled loosely. Then he put one hand on his chest and lowered his head.

"Come. It’s an invitation."

His fingertips pointed at the eclipse.

"Look, the two moons have become one. The Moon of Light and the Moon of Darkness, lamenting, weeping and melting. The skies languish into an endless lunar lament. Red moon, red moon, underneath that moon he be waiting for you, that person. "

Firi's exaggerated his movements and then disappeared.

That person, he couldn’t think of anyone but Leaks. After Firi disappeared all that was left was a red sky and a gaping hole. Suddenly he heard a melody, it was a song. It was very unsettling, a sinister melody.

“This song, it couldn’t be…!”

Konoe looked at Rai. This song certainly sounded familiar. A wicked song that manipulated the bodies of the dead cats in the village. It was Leak’s song. At that moment, screams could be heard in the distance. They could see cats running away from the entrance of the city.

"Monsters! Monsters are coming from the forest...!"

Rai looked around and it certainly looked like a large group of cats were running away from something. But some of them were not normal, just like back then. Something was controlling the bodies of the cats that died in the forest.

No matter how powerful Leaks was, he was surprised that he could control so many of them.

"I have to stop that song..." Konoe muttered and clenched his fist.

"Where do you think that song came from?"

Konoe looked up at the sky and saw Verg. Next, Rai also stared at the sky. Bardo seemed to have noticed, too.

"... the moon? Are you saying the moon is singing..." Bardo’s voice was filled with despair.

"The magic that radiates from the eclipse moon is Leak’s magic. His song. Truly a terrifying magician, to use the moon to spread his song through Shisa. "

Kaltz said, while staring at the sky. Leak’s song is one that will end the world.

"Does that mean that Leaks wants to destroy us...?"

"It's a pointless question. You don't need to understand his motives or goals."

There are other things we must do.

"Now all we have to do is figure out how to locate him and kill him. "

Rai said while looking up at the moon.

"Hey white cat, don’t you think that will be difficult? How do we know where he is?"

Verg said while laughing.

"I wonder what all of this means…" Kaltz said.

"This song is a song of deep lamentation. And if Leaks is using the moon to boost the strength of the song, it means he's sending the signals from somewhere on the surface. Wouldn’t the Devil of Grief be able to sense where he is? Isn’t that what you’re trying to say, Kaltz?"

Razel said to Kaltz. who didn't respond and stared at the moon without moving. After a while, Kaltz finally opens his mouth.

"I can see it. It's somewhere south. This time I know the exact location."

Kaltz lowered his gaze and looked back at Rai and the others.

"Once we find him, we’ll pay our annual tributes to that bastard Leaks. "

Verg said with a smile on his lips.

Devils had the ability to move freely wherever they wanted. As long as they knew Leak’s location, it would be possible to go there. Rai wondered what to do next.

"…please take us too.” Konoe replied.

"Huh?" Verg frowned, displeased by Konoe's words.

"We'll fight Leaks too. Is it impossible for you to teleport while you're together with us?" Konoe said.

"Ugh, what a pain in the ass..." Verg said, looking displeased.

"There's no way it can't be done, right? Especially by someone who seems to be on par with Leaks." Rai muttered.

Verg's eyes widened, almost as if Rai tried to incite him.

"Obviously!! But transporting different creatures without rituals or magic circles without our full powers might be difficult. we can each probably only bring one other person."

"That’s fine, just take the two of us."

After observing them, Razel stepped up behind Rai and grabbed him by the shoulder.

"There is no more time. Kaltz, please guide us."

"Understood."

Kaltz’s whole body started emitting a dim, blue light. Next, Razel and Rai's bodies were enveloped in light that was the same color as Razel’s flame.

Rai was worried about leaving Konoe, but now he had no other choice. Along with a strange feeling, his vision distorted. Rai closed his eyes.

#lamento expiatio #lamento #lamento beyond the void #nitro+chiral #nitro chiral #blvn #visualnovel #vn #translation

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