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coldbrewandfangirling · 2 years

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Betrayal – A Bucky Barnes Fanfic Chapter 35

AU / BuckyxOC

Summary:

Ava is an aspiring journalist, working on her first big story. Her life gets confusing when she meets James Buchanan Barnes, a charming, good-looking man, that she can hardly stay away from. She finds herself falling for him, hard, all while being haunted from ghosts of her past. But she can't shake the feeling that he is hiding something from her.

chapter 35, in which James is keeping secrets from Ava.

TW: no major triggers

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word count: 1263

Chapter 35

The rest of the day flew by. After everyone had eaten breakfast together and Ava's mum had restrained herself from commenting on past lovers, there was a board game session after lunch, where Nat seemed determined to do everything she could to beat James. Whenever he had to pay rent, she would start screaming cheerfully, even if she wasn't the one to get the money. James, on the other hand, tried to stay cool and not let on that Nat's constant cheering at his failure were incredibly annoying to him. Ava noticed, however, that at Nat's third cry of "You loser!" in his direction, James tightened his jaw and his body visibly stiffened. Pityingly, she had looked at him and gently stroked his leg, eliciting a smile.

After the game round, which James had lost hopelessly, Ava decided to help her mom with dinner. That way she could have some time alone with her, even though she feared Nat and James would slaughter each other in the garden when only Steve was around to de-escalate an argument.

"And so this James is ...," Melinda began as Ava started preparing the vegetables.

"My boyfriend," Ava finished the sentence without taking her eyes off the cucumber in front of her.

"He's a bit old, don't you think?" continued Melinda.

"He's in his mid-thirties, nothing dramatic." Ava really didn't want to talk about her age difference with James.

"I'm just worried about you," Melinda continued, coming to stand next to Ava.

"He treats me well. It's not like last time, it's different this time." Ava put the knife aside and took a deep breath, frustrated that her mom was comparing James to Loki. James was very different from Loki. Better. Protective. Attentive. Romantic. And he didn't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence as Loki.

"I like him," Melinda said softly and only now did Ava lift her eyes. Her mom smiled at her and Ava couldn't help but smile back. But in Melinda's eyes, Ava could also see worry. Fear. Uncertainty.

"Mom, I'll take care of myself. Please don't worry about me."

"You know, your father would be so proud of you. Of all you've accomplished. You've grown up so much, his big girl, all alone in New York." Melinda was still smiling, but Ava could see the tears pushing their way out of the edges of her eyes.

"I'm not alone, I still have Nat," Ava said softly, taking her mom into a tight hug.

For a while they prepared dinner in silence. Ava enjoyed cooking with her mom without having to talk. As if they understood each other telepathically and as if it was clear that everything was fine now. That things could only go uphill from now on.

"I'll finish the rest, go and get your friends," Melinda said as Ava took the boiling pasta off the cooker.

Ava walked out of the kitchen into the living room where the patio door was wide open and the scent of the heavy summer air drifted in. Ava was still feeling cheerful from her conversation with her mom when she heard Nat's loud voice and stopped, rooted to the spot.

"I've had enough, you're such a fucking idiot, Bucky!" Ava immediately recognised Nat's heated voice and wondered why she was calling James Bucky. Until now she had thought only Steve, his childhood friend, called him that.

"It's none of your business, so stay out of it." Ava could tell just by the pitch of his voice that James had his poker face on, she hadn't needed to see his face for that.

"You have to tell her, otherwise I will." Nat stopped shouting, her voice sounding icy. Threatening. She was not to be trifled with now.

"Tell me what?" asked Ava, leaning into the frame of the patio door. Steve and James had sat down at the small garden table, Nat stood at the head of the table with her hands on her hips. Startled, she turned to face Ava.

Ava looked expectantly at Nat, who seemed to be struggling for words. An unusual sight of an otherwise outspoken Nat, Ava thought. Before Nat could reply, James took over the talking.

"I admit it, I cheated at Monopoly and I'm sorry for that," James said, standing up. He didn't look at her, Nat avoided her gaze as well. Ava wasn't stupid, she knew James was lying to her. She just didn't know why yet.

"You're forgiven, you've lost anyway," Ava said cheerfully, putting on a smile. "Dinner is ready," she added, walking ahead back into the living room. A tingle spread through her stomach, not the good kind of tingle. More the kind of tingle just before something terrible was about to happen. When you saw the car speeding towards you and couldn't help but stare into the headlights like a startled deer and let the inevitable happen, to look misfortune in the eye.

Dinner passed that evening without further incident, harmonious and light-hearted, even James and Nat joking with each other. The calm before the storm, Ava thought, laughing at Nat's jokes without batting an eye.

"You look worried," Melinda said as Ava helped her with the dishes in the kitchen. Lost in thought, she had spent what felt like an eternity scrubbing a plate that couldn't have gotten any cleaner. Melinda took the sponge from her hand and looked at her worriedly. From upstairs, Ava could hear muffled laughter, Steve and Nat light-heartedly enjoying their time together while James had gone for a walk for an important phone call.

„Everything is fine," Ava said, turning away from her mom.

"If this is still about my comment-"

"It's not," Ava cut her mom off. She was long past being upset that her mom had brought up the Loki thing in front of James.

"I just wanted to tell you that you deserve to be happy. Enjoy the happiness you have now. Enjoy the time you have together with James and try not to worry so much about the future." Melinda didn't wait for a reaction from Ava, but instead disappeared from the kitchen.

Ava was glad to have a moment just for herself. Finally she could sort out her thoughts in peace and maybe her mother was right. Maybe she was trying to sabotage her own happiness, unable to admit to herself a happy time with James. Her thoughts were interrupted by the front door closing.

"Hi," Ava said as she greeted James in the hallway.

"Hi," he replied with his unreadable expression.

"Everything okay at work?"

"Yeah, everything's fine," James replied, smiling at Ava. Then Ava resolutely closed her distance to James, confidently grabbed his jacket and pulled him down to her before giving him a passionate kiss.

"What have I done to deserve this?" James whispered, slightly out of breath, his lips barely separated from Ava's.

"Hold me and never let me go," Ava whispered back against his lips. She didn't care that she sounded desperate. She would make the most of every second she could spend with James. Find every moment precious and accept ending up with a broken heart that couldn't be mended.

For a moment, the hallway fell silent. The narrow hallway seemed to constrict Ava further, to press her more against James. Then James kissed Ava authoritatively and wrapped his arms tightly around her body, pressing her body against his as if he would never let her go ever again.

Ava was sure that she would never feel as safe as she did at that moment.

#betrayal #james buchanan barnes #bucky barnes #bucky barnes fanfiction #bucky barnes imagine #bucky barnes x oc #bucky x original character #original character #wattpad #winter soldier #natasha romanoff #steve rogers #mcu #marvel #marvel cinematic universe #protective boyfriend #protective bucky

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charmingly-evil · 3 years

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"Elliot couldn’t take his eyes off her. It was the way that she moved when she danced. Elliot had never seen her so light and carefree, her hands twirling above her head as she spun around, shoulders rolling backwards and hips swaying slowly to the beat of the music."

A fun, flirty Christmas fic where Elliot watches Olivia dance to Santa Baby and can't seem to take his eyes off her. A few tequila shots in, and things get a little heated.

Santa Baby

Olivia Benson was drunk.

Those were the first thoughts that passed Elliot’s mind as he entered the Christmas party. Glittering tinsel in gold, red and green was strung up around the walls and dangling above their heads. A glamorous Christmas tree stood at the end of the room next to the bar, strung with delicate glass snowflakes and stars that twinkled silver, gold and blue.

And Olivia was dancing at the centre of the brightly lit hall with Alex, a glass of scotch in her hand. Olivia could not recall when she first began to feel tipsy. Perhaps it was two drinks in, when she noticed herself mouthing Mariah Carrey’s Last Christmas to Alex while she sipped her drink. Or maybe it was four drinks in, when she was calling for Finn to turn up the music as Ricky Martin came on, with Alex pulling her onto the dance floor. All Olivia knew was that she had drunk enough scotches to feel as light as a cloud and tingling all over, alcohol clouding her mind and leaving her with nothing but the dizzying desire to keep dancing, spinning and laughing with Alex, freeing the tensions loosen and ease from her body.

And Elliot couldn’t take his eyes off her.

It was the way that she moved when she danced. Elliot had never seen her so light and carefree, her hands twirling above her head as she spun around, shoulders rolling backwards and hips swaying slowly to the beat of the music. Every now and again, she would run her fingers through her hair and look over her shoulder, shooting her friend a playful smile.

He noticed that she had curled her hair tonight, so it fell in soft, tousled waves around her shoulders, tossing in the air as she shimmied to the music. She was wearing a rich scarlet dress that matched the shade of lipstick that coated her lips, making it look fuller. The dress was made of silk and fell halfway up her thighs, riding a couple of inches up her thigh as she danced and dropped lower onto the dance floor. He watched the way she laughed, how it bubbled as a soft tinkle in her throat, lighting her eyes. She captivated his attention completely.

“Don’t look now, but someone can’t take his eyes off of you.”

Olivia’s brows furrowed into a confused frown as she followed Alex’s gaze, her eyes landing on Elliot. Her dancing slowed, a hint of a blush rising in her cheeks. Alex whispered, “I think he likes what he sees.”

Olivia shot her friend an incredulous look. “Okay, I think you’ve had too much to drink. You know he’s married.”

Alex arched an eyebrow and shrugged, casting her a suggestive ‘So?’ look.

Olivia gave her friend a hardened look in response. “Alex.”

“I didn’t say he would act on anything Liv, just that he’s…enjoying the view. It’s not cheating to look right? Besides, you can find out for yourself as he seems to be coming this way.”

Before Olivia could respond, Alex was sliding off the dance floor.

Elliot turned his head to the side to see Alex go as he walked over. “I hope I didn’t scare Alex off.”

“No. I think she wanted to speak to Melinda before she leaves for the night. I was starting to wonder if you were going to come tonight. You’re late.”

“Six drinks late it would seem.” Elliot eyed her flushed cheeks and glass of scotch in her hand with amusement. “How much have you had to drink?”

Olivia breathed out a small laugh, lifting her shoulder in a light shrug. She took a sip from her drink as she began to dance again, stepping from side to side, finding her rhythm once more. “Only a few.”

Just after she said this, Olivia stumbled forward in her heels. Elliot quickly reached out to catch her by the waist, stopping her fall. Olivia held onto his shoulders for support as she regained her balance. She breathed out a small sigh of relief, glad that she hadn’t dropped her glass.

Elliot arched an eyebrow, his lips twitching into an amused smile. “Just a few huh?”

“Okay, maybe more. You can’t blame me. Cragen did give us a generous bar tab for the night.”

“I’m not judging you Liv, it is a Christmas party. It’s nice to see everyone unwinding tonight after such a long year.”

Elliot briefly scanned his environment as he said this. He could see that Alex was once again bopping along to the music. Finn had his arms around Munch as he downed his glass of whisky, speaking loudly with his friend. Even Cragen had let loose a little for tonight, opting to wear jeans and a short-sleeved, button-up shirt, looking relaxed as he chatted to Huang. It lifted his spirits to see how relaxed and jubilant the team were after such a gruelling year.

“Speaking of unwinding, aren’t you going to dance?”

Olivia stepped back as she swung her hips to the beat of the music, raising her eyebrows at her partner, challenging him to follow her.

Elliot shook his head a little, a breathy chuckle vibrating in his throat. “I don’t think so Liv.”

“It’s Christmas. You can’t let loose for one night?”

Elliot raised his eyebrows at his partner. “If letting loose means looking like I’m having a cardiac arrest on the floor like that,” Elliot shot a look at Detective Lake, who was dancing a few feet away from them, throwing his head back and forth and pumping his fists in the air, “Then I’m going to take a hard pass.”

Olivia breathed out a small laugh when she followed Elliot’s gaze to Detective Lake, who was now twisting his feet back and forth across the floor and calling for more shots.

Just then, Santa Baby began to play. Olivia’s eyes lit with a hint of excitement at the classic Christmas song.

Ba-boom

Olivia began to lift each shoulder up and down in sync to each Boom. She drained the rest of her drink in one last gulp and handed her empty glass to Elliot, stepping back onto the dance floor. She raised her eyebrows and cast her partner a playful look as she began to dance, mouthing the words as she did so.

Santa baby, just slip a Sable under the tree for me

Been an awful good girl, honey

Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, a ’54 convertible too, light blue

I’ll wait up for you, dear

Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight…

Olivia dropped her body lower at the word ‘slip’, her hips swaying slowly to the beat of the music. She met Elliot’s eyes briefly as she mouthed honey, biting back a flirtatious smile. Olivia lifted her hands into the air and shimmied her chest forward as she began to drop her body lower and lower, her arse sinking further to the ground. She closed her eyes as she tangled her hands in her hair, losing herself to the music.

Think of all the fun I’ve missed

Think of all the fellas that I haven’t kissed

Next year, I could be just as good

If you check of my Christmas list

Olivia brought her body back up, her hips lifting a little higher as they swung up and down. Then she began to slowly spin around, her hands twirling above her head as she did so. Facing away from Elliot, her hips began to draw circles in the air, her arse almost brushing against him. She swore she could hear him groan.

Somewhere deep inside, Olivia knew that alcohol was clouding her judgement. She would never act this way sober. She was flirting with Elliot. Worst of all, she knew that she was enjoying it, enjoying the attention that he gave her. Yet Alex’s words drifted back to her. It’s not cheating to look right?

Elliot swallowed, heat creeping up his neck. He couldn’t stop staring at her. He watched her body move, the sway of her hips and roll of her shoulders. He watched the way her scarlet dress moved with her body, accentuating her curves. He watched her dress lift higher and higher up her thighs as she dropped lower and lower, revealing soft, tanned skin.

Elliot’s heart accelerated as Olivia spun around once more, stepping closer to him. Olivia tangled her arms around his neck as she began to sway to the music. She continued to sing the lyrics to him with the same flirtatious smile, her voice husky now.

Come and trim my Christmas tree

With some decorations bought at Tiffany’s

I really do believe in you

Let’s see if you believe in me…

She was so close that he could smell her, a hint of floral from her perfume with a twist of whisky. She was trying to encourage him to move with her. He felt his free hand curling around her waist, guiding her a little closer to him.

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing

A ring, I don’t mean on the phone

Santa cutie, so hurry down the chimney tonight…

Olivia closed her eyes as she could hear the song beginning to come to an end. She felt light, like cotton candy clouds were expanding in her head. Her elbows were resting on the backs of his shoulders and when she lent her weight onto him, she almost felt like she was floating with him. Alcohol had blurred out most of her awareness, but she could sense just how close she was to Elliot. So close that if she opened her eyes, she could count each lash on his eyes. So close that she could hear him breathing. So close that it would just take the dip of his head for him to kiss her.

She didn’t kiss him. Instead, she dipped her head down, her nose just brushing against his neck, her curls tickling his skin. She felt his heart gallop under hers at the sudden contact. She let out a small hum, smelling leather and musk, smelling his scent.

Hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry, tonight…

“That was fun,” Olivia said softly as the song came to an end, lifting her head up to meet his gaze through half-lidded eyes. She let her arms fall from his neck, her hands briefly sliding down the slope of his arms as they did so. “You didn’t dance though.”

Elliot looked down at her, smiling with amusement at her inebriated state. “I think that’s the closest I’ll get to dancing for tonight.” He cleared his throat, noticing just how close they were, still, even after Olivia had let go of him. Elliot lifted up her empty glass and said, “I might get a drink though.”

Olivia’s features brightened with a tipsy smile. “Good idea. I’ll follow you.”

Elliot paused, meeting her glassy eyes with a dubious look. “You sure that’s a good idea? Haven’t you drunk enough already?”

Olivia’s eyes narrowed. “That sounds like a challenge. Bar’s not closed for another hour. We still have time to do shots.”

Then Olivia began to make her way to the bar, Elliot in tow.

“Shots? Really Liv?”

Olivia smiled and turned around, meeting his eyes. “Yes. Unless you’re scared? Don’t think you can take me on?”

Elliot breathed out chuckle in disbelief. “Far from it. It’s that I don’t want to have to take you home, or to the hospital. You’re two drinks away from falling over and twisting your ankle.”

Olivia’s nose scrunched together in a small scowl. “I can handle my alcohol El.”

Elliot grinned. “Good.” He leaned forward, whispering “Cause I’m not going easy on you.”

…

They were three drinks in (scotch on the rocks) before Olivia ordered a round of tequila shots.

Olivia and Elliot were sitting at the back corner on one of the lounge sofas, their empty glasses sitting on the glass table in front of them. It was almost midnight, and most of their team had retired for the night, leaving behind a few NYPD officers finishing their drinks. Olivia wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol, but she couldn’t shake off the dizzying desire to be closer to Elliot. And judging by the way his eyes kept drifting to her lips and down the dip of her dress, she sensed that he was feeling the same way.

Olivia noticed that they were keeping to safe topics tonight. Work. Christmas plans. Holiday aspirations, if they were to get a break this new year. Olivia noticed that he didn’t talk about Kathy and she didn’t mention that she was seeing someone new.

Olivia noticed his tie. She hadn’t seen it before. It was a dark blue with wisps of white and dotted snowflakes printed down the front, emulating a snow flurry. It was surprising to see Elliot wear such a festive tie. She was certain that Kathy had purchased this for him. Olivia noticed how tight the tie was, making Elliot look as if he were dressed to attend a case meeting and not a Christmas party. She wondered if it would be inappropriate to reach over and loosen his tie, letting her fingers run over his chest as she did so. Would she then be pushing it if she unbuttoned one button of his shirt, then two, loosening his collar just a little…

Fortunately, the waitressed arrived, shattering Olivia from her inebriated thoughts and the tension she had felt growing thick between the two of them all night. The waitress placed the tray down and left, leaving them with six chilled tequila shots, a salt shaker and lime wedges.

Olivia almost winced as she eyed all the shots, imagining the burn in her throat. “I don’t remember ordering so much.”

Elliot’s lips flashed into a hint of a smile, sensing her fear. “Thought you said you could handle your alcohol?”

Olivia swallowed, recomposing herself once more. “That’s what I said.”

“Well then,” Elliot picked up a shot glass, raising it in the air for a toast. “Bottoms up.”

“Wait.” Olivia took his shot glass and placed it back down on the table. “You need to take the salt first.” Olivia tilted her head at his raised brows and puzzled expression. “Have you never done tequila shots before?”

“I drink beer and whisky like every other grown man.”

She said almost sarcastically, “Don’t tell me you never did body shots with all the other frat boys in college?”

Elliot cast her an incredulous look that almost made her laugh.

“I’ll show you. First, you lick the salt.” Olivia squeezed some lime onto her wrist,

then cracked a sprinkle of salt onto her wrist before licking it. “Do the shot.” She picked up a glass and downed the fiery liquid in one gulp. “Then bite the lime.” She picked up a lime wedge, bitting into the fruit.

Elliot stared at the grimaced that had twisted her features. He didn’t look convinced. “This is what you did in college?”

Olivia cast him a look. “Just try it.”

Elliot repressed an eye roll and did as she said.

Two shots in and he could feel his head buzzing, his surroundings beginning to blur at the edges. He noticed how gorgeous Olivia looked tonight. He noticed a pair of glittering snowflakes that dangled on her ears. He wondered if she would wear those earrings to work. Then he wondered if she was seeing anyone.

Olivia too could feel her heart beating in her head, a sense of heaviness dragging her down. Olivia went to rest her head on his chest, letting out a small hum. She closed her eyes, relaxation and sleepiness washing over her. She could hear the steady thud of his heart. Then she felt his hand brushing her hair to the side, his fingers tickling her neck. It felt soothing.

“Turning in already?”

Olivia lifted her head up, her eyes narrowing onto him in a defiant state. “Not a chance.”

Olivia knew it was ridiculous. Somehow, drinking tonight had become a competition, neither one wanting to admit that they had had enough. To prove her point, Olivia downed another shot of tequila, flashing him a satisfied smile.

“You’re turn.” Then a thought came to mind. “But this time, you’re going to lick the salt…” Olivia tilted her head and squeezed a trail of lime juice down her neck, juice dripping to her shoulder and down between her breasts. She sprinkled some salt along the curve of her neck. “Take the shot, then bite the lime.”

Elliot was dumbfounded, sure that he was misreading her. Then he met her gaze, her eyes twinkling daringly. His lips pulled into a smirk.

Without speaking, Elliot leaned forward, one hand pushing her hair to the side and the other resting on her thigh for support. Then he brought his lips to her neck.

Olivia breathed in sharply, feeling her insides flutter then melt under his tongue. Slowly, he began to kiss his way down her neck. His mouth was hot and heavy, opening and closing slowly over her skin, as if he wanted to savour her taste. He didn’t just stop at the salt. With the tilt of her head, his lips ventured down further until they were sucking at the hollow of her neck.

Olivia could barely breath. Just as she felt a moan stirring at the base of her throat, he lifted his head. He downed the shot in one swift movement.

“Done.”

“No, you’re not.” Olivia picked up the lime between her two fingers, flashing him a playful smile. Without taking her eyes off his, she bit down into the lime, rolling the wedge between her teeth with the push of her tongue. She raised her eyebrows, waiting.

Within a beat, Elliot closed the space between them, his lips crashing onto hers. He slipped his tongue inside, wrapping around the wedge of lime and spitting it out, before bringing his lips back to hers.

Olivia drunk in his kisses, sure that she could get high from his kisses alone. His mouth opened and closed over hers slowly yet with an aching hunger, as if he wanted to imprint the taste of her lips on his forever. Then his tongue slipped inside and danced with hers, drawing a moan from her throat. She felt his hand curl behind her neck to pull her in closer, fingers tangling through her curls as he deepened the kiss.

She consumed his senses completely. She tasted like spice and whisky. When he brushed his nose over her jaw as he went to bury his mouth in her neck, teeth grazing her skin playfully, he smelled coconuts and a hint of floral.

“El…”

He felt her fingers pulling him closer by the front of his shirt and imagined those same nails clawing down his back as she moaned his name. He brought his mouth back up to devour hers, swallowing her moans.

Elliot was the first to pull back, breathless. He eyed her tousled hair, flushed cheeks and swollen lips. He saw the same desire he felt flaming in her eyes.

Elliot swallowed, blowing out a small breath to calm down his hammering heart. His voice was thick with desire when he spoke softly. “I think everyone’s clearing out now.”

Olivia didn’t look behind to see. She could hear the music quietening down, hear the footsteps of waitstaff coming out to pick up glasses and wipe down tables. But she didn’t want the night to end just yet…

Giving into temptation, she went to straddle his waist. With one hand balancing on the sofa to support her weight, she went to swing her leg over Elliot’s body, until she was sitting on his lap. She took pleasure in the surprise that stunned his features.

Olivia turned around and reached for the final shot glass, presenting it to him with a gleam in her eye. “We still have one shot left.”

Then she leaned forward and licked a torturously slow, wet path from the pulse under his ear and down the curve of his neck, her lips coming together to leave a red stained kiss just above his collar. The groan vibrating from his throat told her that she didn’t need to crack the salt for him to know what she was implying.

Olivia leaned forward, her lips just brushing against his as she whispered, “And it’s my go.”

#svu #bensler #olivia benson #elliot stabler #olivia benson and ellliot stabler #olivia benson x elliot stabler #happy 2021 #of course i spend the last hour/minutes of 2020 #writing bensler fiction #is this an indicator of what my year will be like?#hope everyone has a safe and better year than before!#charmingly-evil writes fanfiction

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cassnottiel · 4 years

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LAST ONE I PROMISE, a s5 au where owen shaw is somehow alive and kicking but he's kind of a super asshole? like his wife died and he shut down via john winchester type? and hes a super asshole to deke too? and fitzsimmons, especially after finding out deke is their grandson, r not here for it and r just hella badass

Melinda May woke up in an unknown place, with the man who sent them to the future standing over her. She groaned and sat up. "Where are we?" She asked, then looked past the man (Enoch, she remembered) at the very familiar logo painted on the wall. S.H.I.E.L.D. "The Zephyr. How? What is going on?"

"They grabbed us just in time." Enoch said in his halting, not quite natural sounding voice. "Anchored us against the gravity storm."

"Who?" May asked. Enoch looked behind him, and she followed his gaze to watch two people, both their faces covered, entered whatever room they were in. She hastily stood up, poising herself for a fight, should one break out.

But she stopped as an old woman walked in behind the two, smiled at May, held out a small wooden bird, and said: "I've waited such a long time to see you again."

Robin Hinton. Her father was an Inhuman who could made people see how they died when they touched him. She gestured for May to follow, and she started walking. May did her best to limp after, all the way to the cockpit. What should have been a short walk felt like Hell on her injured leg.

Sunlight shone through the windows of the Zephyr as Robin and May sat next to the controls. The plane was a mess, but the power was still working.

"How are you here?" May asked when they both had sat down.

Robin didn't answer right away. She stared blankly up at a wall for several long seconds. "There's something else I need to remember . . ." she muttered to herself, then her eyes focused and she looked at May again. "Sorry. What did you ask?"

May sighed. "How are you even here?"

Robin smiled. "I told you we'd survive the crash." She said it she was repeating it for the thousandth time.

"The crash?" May was not understanding in the slightest. "I'm not sure I know what you're--"

"Don't be put out if you can't follow Robins train of thought." May looked over at the two men who approached. One looked vaguely familiar, the other did not.

"It's like her life is a deck of cards shuffled out of order." The other man tried to explain. "She's a seer, but nowadays she can't separate past, present, and future."

"My name is Samuel Voss," the first man said, then jerked his head to the side at the other man, "and this is Owen Shaw. Sorry for the rough rescue, but you have to act fast when gravity storms start kicking up."

"Shaw?" May asked as she shook their hands. "Do you happen to have a kid?"

Owens frowned in confusion. "You've met Deke? He's alright down there?"

"He's alive." May said. "He didn't make a great first impression with me." She held up her wrist, showing off the metric Deke had stabbed into her. She let her hand drop when she noticed the others on the Zephyr covering themselves with spare cloth and picking up the large claw devices. "You're going back out?"

"Yeah, my crew is gonna go out and collect your friends." Voss smiled as Owen started walking away.

"Wait. They made it to the surface? How do you know?" May limped forward in earnest.

Voss looked at Robin. "She told me. A decade ago." A loud explosion sounded in the sky, and May whipped her head around to look out the window. A Trawler was falling, and fast. "Don't worry. Robin told me they survive this crash, too." Voss said, then walked over to talk to his crew.

- - -

"Is everyone alright?" Coulson yelled as soon as his head stopped ringing from the crash. He got a response of pained and annoyed groans from four different voices, so he took that as four 'yes's.

"We should get out before something happens to the ship." Fitz shakily stood from his seat.

"Are you kidding?" Deke stumbled into the cockpit. "Go out into the roach infested planet without protection?"

"What else are we supposed to do?" Daisy snapped at him. "Stay in here and wait for everyone else to come get us?"

"There has to be a sustainable shelter out there." Simmons said, looking out the front window. "At least an atmosphere, if people have survived down here."

"I just crashed a spaceship, what if the engine explodes?" Coulson stood up and leaned over the controls to look out the window.

"These things are built to take damage, it'll be fine." Deke leaned against the back of Daisys seat.

"What's that?" Simmons pointed out at the landscape. Everyone followed her gaze and watched as a line of small figures started getting closer.

"It's like a line of ants." Daisy squinted to see better. "Do you think those are the people?"

"Maybe . . ." Fitz trailed off.

"Are those Vrell-Nexians?" Coulson asked, and everyone looked at Deke for an answer.

Deke shook his head. "No, they're moving too slow. And just call them roaches like everyone else."

"What should we do, sir?" Simmons asked Coulson.

Coulson looked at Daisy. "We should stay in here and wait for them to come to us. They seem to know their way around."

So they waited. They watched the sun move from behind the Trawler to in front of it.

Deke stood up and put on his space helmet when the line of people were almost at the ship.

"What are you doing?" Coulson stood up and blocked the ladder.

"I'm going out to meet them." Dekes voice was slightly muffled from inside the helmet. "I'll be back." Coulson grabbed his arm. Deke took his helmet off and glared. "What do I have to gain by abandoning you guys here?"

That was a fair point. Coulson let go, and the S.H.I.E.L.D agents watched Deke climb up the ladder and heard howling winds when he opened the hatch on the ceiling. They watched through the window as Deke approached the people, exchanged words, and took an offered duffel bag from them. He started floating back up to the Trawler, and the four agents heard a pair of feet make a heavy landing on the roof.

The hatch opened, and the duffel bag dropped in, followed by Deke. "Put those on." He told them. "They're taking us to their base, May's there already."

There were coats, cloaks, cloth scraps, and goggles in the bag. Everyone started layering their clothes, covering up any exposed skin. The five of them walked with the group of True Believers for a long time. The sun had set, and the constellations of the night sky made themselves visible.

"Nobody knows these people are alive?" Simmons said over the wind, holding tight to Fitz.

"People were sent here as a death sentence." Deke explained. "Even I thought they were dead."

The Zephyr was right in front of them. "Why doesn't Kasius send for the bodies to be recovered?"

"No, you don't understand." Deke said, walking inside and waiting for the scientists. "They're not just dead. As far as everyone in the Lighthouse is concerned, everybody that came up here was torn to scraps." He took off his helmet and took in his surroundings. "But they're all still alive and living in an actual airplane."

"Fitz," Jemma took off her gloves and looked around, "your design really withstood the test of time."

Deke turned around and stared at the scientists. "Wait, you designed this?" His awe was genuine. "I can't imagine what it must have been like to f--"

"Deke?"

The man in question looked past FitzSimmons and gasped softly. "Dad." Deke smiled and took off running.

Owen Shaw welcomed his son with open arms, hugging him tightly as soon as he was close enough. "Deke! Thank God you're safe."

Deke laughed happily. "I missed you so much."

"How did you end up tagging along with these people?" Owen pulled away from the hug and glanced at the scientist, then did a double take and stared at them.

Deke smiled. "It's a long story, I can tell you . . ." he frowned and followed his fathers line of sight. "Dad? What's wrong?"

Owen shrugged his son away and stepped closer to FitzSimmons, seething fury flashed across his face. "You two? What the Hell are you two doing here?"

"Dad!" Deke grabbed his fathers arm. "That's Fitz and Simmons, they're the--"

"I know who they are!" Owen shoved Deke back and continued stalking towards the engaged couple. The rest of the S.H.I.E.L.D team had run in to see what was happening. Fitz stepped in front of Simmons protectively. "You taught Alya everything she knew. You're the reason they killed her!" Owen pointed accusingly at the two. Voss ran in and tried to restrain Owen, who struggled and continued yelling. "And now you're going to get my son killed!"

"Dad, calm down!" Deke looked shocked, but he still put himself between his father and his new companions. "What are you--?"

Owens arms were pinned down to his sides by Voss, so when he lashed out, he kicked. And he kicked Deke right where the Kree had stabbed him.

As Deke stumbled back and hit the floor, Coulson ran forward and punched Owen with his bionic hand. Owen went limp. For a long minute, the only sounds on the Zephyr were the sounds on the outside.

"What the Hell." Fitz was the first one to speak.

Deke grunted as he pulled himself up from the floor. Voss rushed forward to help. Deke looked at Fitz and Simmons like he was seeing completely different people.

"I'm sorry." Voss said breathlessly. "He's never done anything like that before."

Simmons frowned. "Who's Alya?"

Deke leaned against the wall and pressed his hand against his stab wound. "My mother." He blinked a few times.

"What the Hell is that supposed to mean?" Daisy looked between everyone, just as confused as everyone else. Nobody had an answer for that.

"Let's get him somewhere he won't hurt anyone else when he wakes up." Coulson pointed to Owens unconscious body. Two of Voss' crew members immediately jumped in and started dragging him to the lockers. "You two, get to medical." Coulson pointed to Daisy, then to Deke, who coughed and winced. They both followed the order without objection.

After everyone else on the plane had gone off to keep themselves busy, Voss spoke to FitzSimmons. "I didn't want to say this in front of Deke and the others." He lowered his voice and looked to Simmons. "But you do look a lot like Dekes mom."

Fitz and Simmons shared a confused look, then turned back to Voss. "What?"

"Alya was kind of like a doctor in the Lighthouse," Voss started to explain, "you know, helping people who were sick or injured. Her mother was a real doctor and taught her everything." He looked at the floor solemnly. "The Kree killed her when Deke was nine."

"What are you saying?" Fitz asked quietly.

"I think you two are Alyas parents." Voss told them plainly. "You definitely look like them, just younger."

"And that would make us Dekes grandparents." Simmons muttered. She looked in the direction of medical. "He's hurt, I should check on him."

Voss watched her go and spoke after a few seconds of silence. "You guys are taking that news pretty well, despite everything."

"We're dealing with a lot right now," Fitz started following his fiance, "just wait until the shock wears off."

- - -

"I can't believe they stabbed you." Daisys voice floated out from where the lab used to be.

A male voice hissed in pain. "I guess I kind of deserved it, after what I did." Jemma stopped outside the door and took a deep breath. "Coulson and May both punched me."

"I think I can put off being mad at you until you resolve whatever's going on with your dad." Daisys voice was quieter, as if she was concentrating. "Do you know what that was?"

"I have no idea." Dekes voice answered. "He's never done that before."

Jemma opened the door and walked in. Deke was sitting on a table, holding the hem of his shirt up while Daisy did her best to change the bandage over the stab wound. They both looked up as Jemma entered.

"Thank God, I'm not good at this." Daisy stepped back.

Jemma knelt down in front of Deke and bandaged his wound the best she could with the limited supplied. The silence was very awkward.

"I'm sorry." Deke blurted out suddenly. "I didn't know he was going to do that."

"It's not your fault." Jemma reassured with a small smile. She wouldn't bring up what Voss said, not in front of the team. She stood up after she finished working. "Don't do anything too strenuous, you could hurt yourself more."

"Thanks." Deke nodded and stood up. "I'm going to talk to my dad, see if he's calmed down."

"Be careful." Jemma called after him.

Deke passed Fitz in the hallway, who watched him with weary eyes. Deke shrugged it off and explored the Zephyr. He found his father near the bunks, locked in what looked like a cage full of personal belongings.

Owen blinked up at his son. "Deke? What happened?"

"You saw Fitz and Simmons and you freaked out. You said they're the reason Mom died, and they were trying to kill me." Deke crossed his arms. "What was that about?"

Owen sighed and leaned against the chain link door. "If your grandparents hadn't taught your mother everything they did, she would still be alive." He said bitterly. "The Blues killed all the smart people, and they're the reason she was that smart."

Dekes eyes widened. "They're my grandparent?"

Owen nodded, looking even more bitter. "If it weren't for them, we wouldn't be living in the Lighthouse."

Deke blinked and pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're telling me . . ." he sighed and looked up, "Nana and Bobo caused the Earth to break apart?"

"No, not just them." Owen rolled his eyes. "Their whole team. S.H.I.E.L.D."

Deke did not understand what his father was saying. "So why did you--" something behind Owen caught his eye. "What's that?"

Owen looked, and quickly snatched up the white rock his son was staring at. "This is how we got them here."

"So that's why you kept it." Deke grabbed a set of keys off the wall and started fumbling with the lock. "That's how we get them back. I saw the time machine, we need to give it to them."

"Deke, they're not going back." Owen said, pushing the door open.

"What do you mean?" Deke frowned. "They have to. How else are they supposed to prevent all this?" He gestures around the room.

"They cause all this." Owen stepped forward, out of the locker. "If we keep them here, they don't go back and break the planet."

Deke stared. "You just told me two of them are my grandparents and now you're telling me they can't leave?" He held his hand out. "Give that to me. They're going back."

Owen sighed. "I really wish you would make this easier for me. But, I guess some things just run in the family."

Deke took a careful step back. "What--?"

Owen slammed the white rock against his sons head. Deke grunted and fell to the floor, but he was still conscious. Owen grabbed him by the front of his jacket and dragged him into the locker, closing the door and locking it. "Your mother told me trouble wasn't genetic. I guess she was wrong."

As Owen started walking down the hallway, leaving the white rock on the floor, Deke sat up and blinked rapidly to clear his vision. He had to get out.

He looked up at the ceiling, to clear his confusion more than anything else, and he saw a gap between the top of the fence and the roof of the plane. About a foot and a half, he could make it.

Deke turned the knob on his belt buckle, and he started floating. He squeezed through the gap above the fence, then dropped to the floor. He picked up the rock and started walking as quietly as he could, despite his listing to the side.

Somehow, he made it to the lab without running into anyone. Unfortunately, there were two people men guarding the door. "Can, uh . . ." Deke blinked and tried his best to point to the door. "Can I get-get through? I think I'm--"

"Deke?" The handle to the door was jiggled, but it did not open. "What's going on?"

Deke swallowed thickly and felt something warm drip down the side of his neck. The two guards looked concerned and one stepped forward to help. Deke took off his belt buckle, shoved it into the other man, turned the control setting once, then twice, and the other man went flying to the opposite wall. The other guard drew a knife and brandished it at Deke.

"Deke!" Fitz yelled through the door. "What's happening?!"

Coulson and May rounded the corner, saw one man stuck to a wall, saw another man holding a knife, and heard Fitz yelling and banging on a door. They both ran forward to help Deke, who was definitely in no shape to fight.

As May and Coulson took the fight, Deke moved forward, unlocked the door, and stepped into the lab. He looked over Fitz and Simmons' worried faces. "I'm guessing Dad didn't really make a good first impression with the in-laws."

"What happened?" Jemma immediately ran up to Deke. He held up the white rock, spotted with blood.

"What is it?" Fitz took the rock.

"He said--" Deke coughed. "He said it's how you-you got, um, got here."

"It's part of a monolith." Jemmas face dawned with realization before she looked back to the head injury. "Who did this to you?"

Deke slumped over, finally falling unconscious.

"Here." May appeared in the doorway and tossed the gavatonium belt buckle to the scientists. "We'll take care of everyone else."

Fitz nodded, then turned to his grandson on the floor. "Do you think he'll be okay?"

Jemma sighed. "I told him not to do anything too physical, but I'll let this one slide." She looked closer at the wound. "It's not bleeding too much, he probably wasn't hit very hard if he stayed awake afterward."

"Do you think he know?" Fitz asked, examining the monolith piece. "He called us 'the in-laws.'"

"I doubt he doesn't" Jemma started cleaning the blood off of Dekes head. "Who do you think did this to him?"

"Wasn't he going to his father?" Fitz asked. The couple made eye contact.

Jemma clenched her hands into fists and stood up. "I'm going to kill him. Who would do something like that to their own child?"

"A man trying to keep his son safe." The scientists turned to the door. Owen Shaw was holding a hammer.

"Funny way of showing it." Fitz grabbed a heavy wrench and stepped in front of Deke and Jemma.

"I couldn't have him getting in the way." Owen said.

"So you hit him over the head with a rock?" Jemma seethed. She picked up a screwdriver from the table next to her and threw it at Owen.

Owen watched the screwdriver and easily dodged it. "What was that sup--?"

Fitz punched him. "Deke definitely gets his intelligence from us."

#deke shaw #leo fitz #jemma simmons #owen shaw #melinda may #daisy johnson #fitzsimmons #high class writing #agents of sheild

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shadowsof-thenight · 4 years

Text

Where our story begins: chapter three

Story summary: This is a victorian era AU Home is where our story begins, but how does one know where home is?  

Julia has a good life. A calm life. She really doesn’t have much to complain about. That is, until a handsome stranger steps into their home in the country and all that calmness seems to disappear instantly. Who is this man that seems to terrorise everyone with his haugthy ways? 

Ship: Bucky Barnes X OFC-Julia

Warnings: none here, I think...

Words: 5079

***

A/N: Going back to work has proved to be a bigger challenge than I could’ve ever imagined. Combined with the less than perfect news from the doctors, I have been struggling to find the time and energy to write for long stretches of time. However, when I do write, I am usually happy with it so there’s that.

Anyway, I made a mistake in the previous chapter, turning Mary into Maria. Not sure how it happened, but it did and I will fix it. To avoid any confusion, Mary the chambermaid is not part of the MCU, which was why she wasn’t called Maria in the first place haha.

Forgive me for any mistakes you might find in this one, feel free to inform me of them so I can fix it. I work without a beta for this story and English isn’t my first language.

And as always, feedback is appreciated!

If you wish to be tagged, let me know! Edit april 22nd 2020: I replaced the chapter with a beta-ed version. Beta work done by @gnomewithalaptop!

***

Masterlist

Story Masterlist

***

Previous chapter

Chapter three

Julia was apprehensive as she slowly walked downstairs for breakfast the following morning. She had almost asked to have her meal in her room, but a pointed look from Mary had been enough to dissuade her from that plan. She was a big girl; she shouldn’t avoid situations like that. In regular fashion, this meal would be another group event, much like dinner had been, and she wasn’t particularly looking forward to it. She wondered if she would be able to face their guest and his lingering gaze. Still, her mother would appreciate her presence, which was why she had finally left her room. She could only hope that the buffet set up off the morning’s meal would aid her in avoiding that gaze that had made her feel so uncomfortable.

She was the first to enter the dining room, where their youngest footman Charlie greeted her happily. Julia smiled back despite her soured mood. The young man had that effect on people. Charlie was always happy, smiling brightly and he treated everyone around him with such kindness that it often inspired good behaviour. Julia had yet to meet anyone that did not like him. It had been four years since he began working for her family, and she knew that her mother had not regretted hiring him for a single moment. Of course, he had come highly recommended by Jones, and Jones had proven the value of his judgement many times during his tenure with them, which was why Josephine often asked him for his opinion, not just with employees. An act that was not really done in their circles, but it had ensured the unending loyalty of the man that ran their household staff.

Julia took a plate and filled it with fruits and dried meats before taking a seat at the table, choosing the same chair as the previous night. It was her seat every meal, unless they had a house full of guests. Charlie poured her some tea and she sipped it, relishing in the silence. The calm before the storm, she thought and repressed a chuckle. As she popped a grape into her mouth, footsteps could be heard from behind her, alerting her to the arrival of another person. She fought the urge to turn her head towards the sound, her curiosity nearly getting the better of her. Charlie’s cheerful greeting, however, informed her that it was her mother that walked down the hallway.

Josephine’s hand brushed Julia’s back in greeting as she walked by to fill her own plate. As soon as she came into view of her daughter, she flashed her a bright smile. A genuine one, Julia realised. Not a word was spoken as Josephine moved around the room, finally sitting down in her chair at the head of the table. The atmosphere in the room was light and easy, which Julia enjoyed. She was never one for conversation this early in the day.

“Good morning, Lord Barnes,” Charlie spoke with a more formal tone, informing the women in the room of the presence of their approaching guest. Julia had heard his soft steps, foolishly hoping that they had been her father’s, even though his steps had never been quite that light.

Julia notably stiffened as he came closer, bracing herself for the fake well wishing she would be expected to utter in a moment. Her annoyance quickly heightened when the man only grunted in reply to their footman. Was he unable to show kindness, Julia wondered.

Lord Barnes avoided the richly decorated buffet and sat down across from Julia. Charlie was quick to offer some tea and Lord Barnes immediately began drinking it. He looked tired—no, exhausted—and out of his element. And though it was wrong, his current demeanour filled her with glee, her own aversion to the early hours soon forgotten as she kept a watchful eye on him.

“I hope the room was to your liking, James,” Josephine wondered, her voice hopeful and a bright smile covering her face.

He looked up, silent as he clearly pondered the proper reply. Julia feared for a long quiet moment, that he might insult her mother outright. Or, perhaps she hoped for it, since it would fuel her fire and definitely stop her parents from wishing for an amiable match between her and this man. However, she was surprised when he breathed in deeply, releasing slowly and forced an actual smile upon his lips. That was new.

“It is a beautiful accommodation, my Lady; unfortunately I often have trouble sleeping after a long journey.”

His answer was surprisingly honest, refreshingly void of incivility and Julia was shocked by it. When she had gone down that morning, she had been ready for a fight—to defend her mother. And there he was, putting a stop to her righteous anger. If she lashed out now, she would do her mother a great disservice, which was the very last thing she would ever want to do. He stole her thunder, without even knowing it, and it caused quite some indignation on her part. Earlier that morning, Mary had pressed her to give him the benefit of the doubt. She had suggested that he perhaps had been tired from his travels and that a night’s rest might transform him into better company. Julia now realised that she would have to agree that this might have been the case, as horrible as that was, and she resigned herself to the knowing look she would receive from her friend later on. As she nibbled on the rest of her food, she repressed the sigh threatening to leave her lips and readied herself to play the pleasant host so as to support her mother's efforts.

As per usual, Josephine tried her best to spark some conversation. She commented on the food, the weather, and the dinner party that they would be hosting the following week. She also began to tell Lord Barnes that with the sun out, the area in which they lived was a beautiful sight to behold and that people fancied walking. Before she could offer Julia’s company to their guest in a suggested stroll, which she knew her mother would soon do, Julia interrupted the flow of the words by politely inquiring who the attending guests would be for the dinner party.

Josephine barely seemed to register the ulterior motive her daughter had for the interruption, instead glad for the interaction that was finally occurring and happy to elaborate on the subject. This caused her mother to jump into a rather lengthy explanation behind the reason for the party—she wanted to introduce Lord Barnes to their friends and family. Upon her daughter’s quickly broadening smile, she smiled kindly and began to tell her who had been invited.

“Early this morning I received the final confirmation,” Josephine was giddy with excitement and it only fed into Julia’s feelings. She had no confirmation yet, but there were a few people she hoped to see.

Josephine went on to tell the two people at the table that their nearest neighbour, Lord Rumlow—one of the bachelors her parents had invited to dinner in the previous months—would also be attending. From the corner of her eye she noticed Lord Barnes snap his head up, apparently interested in the conversation now. Josephine didn’t acknowledge the change and simply continued talking, saying that her brother, Lord Philip Coulson of Cambridgeshire, and his wife Melinda would also be in attendance, as would his son, Julia’s favourite cousin, Clint. He would bring his growing family along. Finishing the group was Julia’s brother Alexander, alongside his wife Carolina. Her brother would then proceed to be a guest in the manor for another fortnight. All negativity that had been building up in Julia’s mind instantly evaporated, and she clapped her hands excitedly.

Alexander had married Carolina two years ago, after which he had only been able to visit his family twice. Julia and her parents had unfortunately not been in the position to return that favour at all. Alexander had taken over many of her father's duties at court, taking his place in parliament and a large portion of his business. Julia had missed her brother a great deal and was glad to spend time with him and his lovely wife soon. Carolina had been her friend at court, and she would be delighted to receive news from their other friends that still lived in London.

Julia had also been away from her cousin for far too long. He and his wife Natalia had invited Julia over when their twins had been born, and she had stayed for nearly two months on their estate in Kent. It had been a wonderful time, and she understood why they preferred their estate in the country. Besides, her uncle wasn’t too keen on giving up his place with the queen just yet. Julia adored the family; the twins had been a delight as babies and she hoped that had not changed now that they were toddlers. She also hoped they would still remember her, though there was little hope. They had been very small when she’d last seen them.

With a new spring in her step, Julia excused herself from the table, intending to spend some time in the confines of her room. There was a book she had been hoping to read, and perhaps she would even write Natalia and Carolina to share her excitement concerning their impending reunion.

Before she retreated to her room though, she looked for Jones, hoping to get an explanation for her father’s uncharacteristic absence from breakfast. Jones kindly informed her of the head cold that had struck her father, restricting him to his bed. The kind butler assured her that bedrest would soon have him back on his feet, but Julia still worried and inquired if a doctor had been called. Jones confirmed that this had been done, and they should expect a visit later that day. Still, Jones pressed, there was no need for worry.

Julia vowed to herself that she would visit her father before the day was done, though she needed to get her letters out first. After all, time was of the essence if she wished them to reach the recipients before they began their journey south. Therefore, she continued her way to her room, leaving the entrance hall behind her and stepping on the first step of the grand staircase. She had been about to leap across the steps, giddy and in a rush to start writing, when a throat was cleared behind her. Despite her desire to keep walking, she turned towards the sound and hoped that the fake smile she plastered on her lips at least appeared kind to the observer.

“My lady,” Lord Barnes said, dipping his head to her in an unexpected sign of etiquette. She chewed on the inside of her cheek to keep from remarking on it; after all he had not shown much knowledge of customs, or perhaps it was a mere disinterest in them.

“My lord,” she replied instead, making an awkward curtsy as she turned her entire body towards him without stepping off the step she was on.

“My apologies for keeping you from your destination, but I was hoping to ask you a question,” the tone of his voice was smooth and light, the words utterly polite.

“Please do,” Julia said with a nod and a smile, hoping to be done quickly, though she had an inkling that this would not be the case.

“Would you be so kind as to accompany me on a walk later this morning, if the weather permits it?” He asked, and Julia had to fight to keep the shock from her face. She bit her lip, her eyes widening a fraction, before she composed herself.

She had successfully thwarted her mother in suggesting this earlier, only to have him pose the question himself. She had won no ground by her clever interruption. It had not occurred to her that he would want to take a walk with her; she figured he abhorred her company. He had not yet spoken more than a few words to her, which also made her wonder what they would discuss on this stroll. Still, Julia knew she could not decline this direct inquiry even if she wasn’t eager to accept. However, before she was able to utter a single word, her mother walked up behind them and answered enthusiastically for her.

“She would be absolutely delighted, James. Wouldn’t you, Julia?” She asked, giving her daughter a pointed look from behind their guest.

Julia’s eyes widened again momentarily, before she smiled again and nodded, agreeing with her mother that she would indeed be delighted to accompany him. The fresh air would do her good, she added, hoping to at least seem somewhat genuine, for she was certain that he must have witnessed the surprise in her eyes at her mother's words.

Gratitude filled her when at that exact moment, Maudlin and Mary could be heard exiting the kitchen while discussing the linens that they would have to bring in before the rain ruined them. Julia suppressed a sigh of relief, excused herself with the explanation of her letters, and rushed up the stairs to her room, though not before she had promised to find their guest once the rain cleared up.

The moment the door closed behind her, Julia released the sigh she’d been holding, following it with a groan of annoyance. This was not how she had imagined her morning to go. And though the rain had provided her with some reprieve, she knew it would be impossible to avoid the man for long. The deep dark grey of the sky was already showing signs of easing in the distance and she knew the showers would not last too long, unlike yesterday’s downpour, which had lasted well into the night. Eventually, Lord Barnes would come to collect her, and she would have to attempt to keep a pleasant demeanour with him.

***

James sighed heavily as he stared out the window, regarding the dreary weather that was currently raging just beyond the glass he sat behind. It felt fitting, quite similar to his ongoing mood. The winds that had ravaged the area yesterday had slowed considerably, but the rain was as persistent as ever. Despite the fact that the morning was well underway, it was still rather dark out.

It had been so bad that a maid had come to light his lamps only moments earlier. It was in that moment that he’d realised that the household still used oil rather than kerosene, and another sigh had escaped him. He knew exactly why they had not made the change, though he wondered if the parents had been open about this to their children. Julia didn’t seem to be aware of their situation.

He glanced around his room once more. The colours that adorned the manor had obviously been chosen very carefully and with a keen eye, and he was certain that the shine of a kerosene lamp would’ve illuminated those far better. It was a shame really.

James had quickly come to regret his choice to come to this part of the country and almost wished he had remained at court. Not because he particularly liked the politics that would surround him there, but because he still had plenty of business to conduct before he could return home. And he really wished to return home, for it had been far too long since he had seen the red bricks of his estate or the kind blue eyes of his mother, who currently resided in the home. He missed it and the peace of mind that always seemed to surround him there.

However, he had allowed George to convince him to come here instead. They too had important business to complete, and George had known it could not be avoided much longer. James had concurred, though he wondered just what George would be able to offer him. He had hoped to discuss the matter last night, but his host had claimed illness and retired soon after dinner had concluded, leaving James with no other choice than to do the same. He had vowed to himself that he would get his answers this morning.

His expectations for his lodgings had been low, but he had been pleasantly surprised. The room had been warm, the decor inviting, and the bed far more comfortable that he had thought it would be. His day had been more exhausting than he liked to admit, though sleep didn’t come easily. He had still been awake to hear the thunder cease its efforts hours after he had entered his room. The rain had still been pounding against his window then, and though others called the sound soothing, it infuriated him and kept him from dozing off. It wasn’t until the rain had softened considerably in the early hours of the morning that he had finally succumbed to his fatigue.

After a few short hours of sleep, when he had come to the breakfast table, the exhaustion had still overwhelmed him. Especially when he had been informed that George would not be joining them. Apparently he really had gotten ill and was unable to leave his bed. James wanted to be angry and he certainly felt annoyance, though there was also a pang of guilt in his chest. He knew that George was a man of principles and that he valued appearances, he would not skip a meal with his guests in an attempt to avoid them. He was clever enough to delay unwanted business in more sophisticated ways.

With another sigh, James stood up from his seat by the window and began pacing the room. He felt somewhat like a caged animal, which did nothing to improve his mood. The weather had already soured it enough. He was well aware that he had not been a gracious guest, which had only managed to further highlight the kindness that the lady of the house bestowed upon him. He felt another pang of guilt over it, though he was not entirely convinced that he would be able to drastically change his behaviour. He found it impossible to forget why he was here or the events that preceded his arrival. He just wanted to get things done and move on. From the issue and this place.

The damp caused by the weather was now seeping through the walls, and a chill could be felt in the room despite the roaring fire, and he grabbed his thick robe to wear over his clothes. He really wanted to keep warm. The pain that the chill and damp caused would be detrimental to his already bad attitude, and he was still hoping to improve it. Lady Josephine deserved as much. Besides, he wasn’t ready to let anyone notice his agony; it would only lead to questions that he wasn’t willing to answer. Not to these people, not in this place. It was yet another reason why he wanted to return home.

***

An hour or two passed before the weather finally turned around and a sliver of sunlight forced its way through the clouds. Julia wasn’t sure if she should be delighted or apprehensive—or perhaps the combination of the two. The persistent rain wasn’t good for the farmers in the area after the drought they had endured during the summer months, and she worried for them.

With determination, she got up, fixed her hair in the mirror and inspected her dress. It was a checkered piece, red, green, and black. The neckline was black lace that created a high cover, obscuring her neck from view. The lace returned at the bottom of the sleeves and the train. She had carefully chosen it with the weather in mind. The unavoidable puddles would ruin a light dress. She found no imperfections on the dress and resigned herself to the role of dutiful daughter, leaving the room in search of the lord currently residing in the most luxurious guest room their manor held.

She did not have to look far, for the man had already departed from his own room and made his way to the grand staircase. He was talking to one of his own employees and had yet to notice her. His hands waved animatedly, and for a moment she thought he was merely explaining something. However, as she moved closer, she noticed the anger on his face. Struck with the sudden desire to listen in, she almost ducked into the shadows of the dimly lit hallway. She would love to know what angered him so. Yet, she composed herself and made sure to make some sound as she came closer, loudly greeting the maid that was walking past.

She noticed that Lord Barnes snapped his head in her direction, rolling his shoulders and taking a few deep breaths before he walked towards her. She smiled kindly, wondering if she should brace herself for the sour mood he appeared to be in. His valet curtsied, before taking the steps two at a time, rushing down. Julia followed him with her eyes, trying to imagine just what he could be rushing off to, before turning her attention back to the man standing next to her. For once, there was no smirk adorning his features as he regarded her, but an actual smile. One that still didn’t seem to reach his eyes. She wondered just what weighed on him, for she could not imagine someone that never truly smiled.

“My lady, would it be possible to steal you away for that walk now?” He asked politely, and though part of her still wished she could decline, she was intrigued by the man. He still made her somewhat uncomfortable, perhaps because he was so difficult to read, and his behaviour the previous evening still plagued her mind, even if he did show marginally better conduct this morning.

She nodded instead, a small smile playing on her lips so as not to show any unease. He offered her his arm and guided her down the stairs. Not a word was spoken until they reached the bottom, and Julia was glad for it. She didn’t know what to say to him, which subjects to breach or avoid.

Glancing around in search of Mary, who had been assigned as their chaperone, she wasn’t surprised to see the woman round the corner that exact moment. She had clearly been keeping an eye on the weather, much like Julia had. She curtsied, and Jones walked in their direction with their coats.

Julia noticed that his coat had extra lining and wondered why someone would wear such a warm coat this time of the year. That was when she saw which frock Jones had gotten her. Not the light overcoat that she had worn these past few weeks, but a warmer one.

“My apologies, Lady Julia; I took the liberty to get a warmer coat since the winds and rain have considerably cooled the air,” Jones explained, and Julia smiled at his consideration.

“Thank you, Jones. I appreciate the consideration. I hadn’t realised.”

Not long after, she found herself outside, huddled in the long coat and suppressing a shudder as the icy winds swept over the landscape and pulled at her hair. Perhaps it was the contrast with the previous warm weather, but it suddenly seemed far too chilly for the time of the year, and she was even more grateful for Jones’s quick thinking.

Slowly, they walked around the manor, towards the path that would take them around their grounds and towards the nearest town. She didn’t know if he wanted to walk that far, but it was probably the best path to brave after all the rain. Any other path she could think of would have been absolutely riddled with puddles and mud. Still, it took them some navigating to get around any and all puddles that adorned this path.

“I’m beginning to think we should have taken a ride in my carriage instead,” Lord Barnes said softly, and she glanced at his face without an immediate response. She wasn’t entirely sure how to reply.

“Do you wish to return?” She finally asked, and he shook his head with a smile. A real one.

“I prefer walking, though I do not wish for your dress to be ruined,” he explained, and she could not help but smile as she assured him her dress would be fine. This was a kindness she had not expected from him. She didn’t bother telling him that she too preferred walking. After the short exchange, they continued to walk in silence, with Mary a short distance behind them.

Lord Barnes offered his hand to help her manoeuvre around the few fresh puddles they encountered, once even bending down to lift her dress over them. He was behaving as a perfect gentleman, and Julia had trouble reconciling this side of him with the one he had shown her before. He even tried more than once to get a conversation going, but Julia had difficulty playing the role of the dutiful hostess that she had vowed to take on. She felt that the slights towards her mother were too great to ignore.

“Can I ask what brought you here?” She finally asked, opting for this rather than the questions she really wanted answered; perhaps she could work up to those.

“Your father invited me.” He didn’t seem fazed by her impertinent inquiry.

“Where did you meet him?” It was hard to take the time for a build up of questions; she had never been the most patient person and preferred bluntness. Still, she did not want to shame her parents more than she was already doing by asking for answers she wasn’t necessarily privy too.

“At court,” he said and paused. She almost wondered if that was all she would receive when he finally began to elaborate. “Like you, I was there for most of my childhood. Our families have always done business with one another.”

“My apologies. I do not recall,” Julia was quick to offer as her cheeks turned pink. It occurred to her that she had been quite rude by not knowing these answers. She should have just asked her mother.

“Don’t atone for an imperceptible slight, my Lady; you were young.” He chuckled. “I left early for my studies. We would not have crossed paths often. When I returned, you had already relocated here.”

“I see. Does your father still reside at court?”

“No, my father passed away some time ago”

“My condolences. I did not mean to pry.” Julia hung her head, realising that she might not get to the questions that were burning in her mind. She did not want to seem insensitive to his loss.

“Thank you.” He pursed his lips and looked straight ahead. “I took over after that, though I prefer Sheffield over court.”

“I see.” She nodded, unsure where to go from this.

The silence that followed hung heavily between them and lasted far longer than she would have wished for. Julia was mulling over the questions she wished to ask him and the proper way to construct them. Finally the words just burned on her tongue, and she realised that perhaps she should just spew them.

“Did you not wish to be here then?” She tentatively began, and he seemed shocked by her words, whipping his head in her direction. She could hear the sudden intake of breath behind her and knew that Mary had heard every word. A pink tinge spread on her cheeks more violently now, but she couldn’t take it back. The harm had been done. She could only hope for his leniency.

“I have some business to conduct with your father. After which I do hope to return home speedily,” he answered finally, and Julia studied his features as he did. He appeared genuine.

“I wonder,” she stopped herself. This was perhaps the hardest part, but she felt that she was at the point of no return. She really wished to be answered, hopefully without ruining her parents’ reputation in the process.

“Yes, my Lady?” He pressed, a kind look on his face, and it gave her the courage to continue.

“Have my parents wronged you?” She finally asked and took a deep breath as she looked at him. They had stopped walking, and stood facing one another, Mary still keeping a few steps distance between them.

“My apologies, I don’t think I understand,” he said, a look of shock crossing his features.

“Last night it appeared that you could not repay the kindness that my mother bestowed upon you.” Her heart hammered in her chest; there was no telling how he would respond. It was improper to be this blunt, especially with someone she barely knew. He could easily ruin her reputation and that of her parents. He was part of the Queen’s inner circle; his word would overpower hers in the court of public perception.

James was silent, staring down at her, and she shifted under his intense gaze. She wished he would speak, but when he did not, she decided to elaborate. There was very little to lose now. “It appeared that she had been nothing but gracious, and yet you did not repay her in kind.”

“Indeed, Lady Josephine is a very sophisticated lady. I shall apologise when I see her,” he smiled as he spoke and offered her his arm once more, to continue their walk into town.

Julia was stunned. She had not expected him to agree with her, she had prepared for a verbal lashing, anger, revulsion. Instead he promised to apologise. All the anger that had been building up inside of her suddenly evaporated with this unsuspected change of events. She truly did not understand this man. Julia glanced behind and saw Mary’s wide eyes and open mouth. She had shocked her maid and could only hope that the woman would remain quiet on the subject. She really didn’t want anyone in the manor to know about this. She had been mortified enough by her own brazen actions.

***

Next Chapter

#Bucky Barnes #Victorian AU #Bucky Barnes x OFC #james Buchanan Barnes #MCU fanfiction

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13ismyheart · 5 years

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13 x Reader - A human stink bomb

A/N: okay so this took me a while, mainly bc I read the prompt wrong the first time... i don’t know how that happened. Anyway, I hope you like it :)

Warnings: none that I can think of

Summary: Team Tardis is visiting a supposedly desolate planet, but why is someone crying and who is it?

“Alright fam, today's destination is -”, the Doctor said in an excited voice while spinning something that looked remarkably like a globe, but instead of having continents on it, it was decorated with what looked like different planets. She put her finger on it to stop it, “Ohh, Shanghai. Haven't been there in quite a while. You'll love it, way different to earth Shanghai though. Less populated for sure. Also, less buildings, basically just flora and nature. Not at all like earth Shanghai.” You looked at your girlfriend as if she had grown a second head, which for all you knew, was entirely possible for timelords. Before you could voice you’re bewilderment, Yaz was already asking: “Wait. So, there is a desolate planet called Shanghai out there?”. Her look of confusion was mirroring your own quite well. Ryan and Graham seemed less affected by the news. “As long as it's got no Daleks, I am up for it.” was all that Ryan had to say and Graham just nodded, checking his pockets for his emergency sandwich. “Yup. Beautiful scenery and no Daleks”, she looked at Ryan when she said this, “there is also a planet called Barcelona. It's got dogs with no noses, you'd love that too! But first, Shanghai!” With that the Doctor began to press and pull all types of different buttons and levers and once again you marvelled at her brilliance. Even with thousand years of training you would never understand how to steer the Tardis, you still got the hot chocolate button and the toast button mixed up, much to everyone's amusement.

The Doctor was right, you did love it. Wherever you looked, each way you turned your head, a picturesque landscape would meet your gaze. You kept thinking how perfect this place would be for a romantic pick-nick, but you couldn't really bring up that idea since you and the Doctor had decided to keep your relationship a secret for the time being. While you were sure the others weren't homophobic, Yaz herself was bisexual and everyone was fine with that, you just didn't want to risk any change in dynamics. Also being okay with homosexuality or bisexuality in theory was quite different to being okay with it when you were encountering it in your personal environment. It was okay the way it was though, of course you would like to tell them eventually, as would the Doctor you were sure of that, but for now you were fine with it being a secret. It kind of added even more mystery and excitement to your relationship and made you appreciate the moments when the two of you were alone while everyone else was home visiting family or friends even more. But now was not the time to think about any of this, not when there was so much beauty around you that was practically begging you to take it all in.

You and the rest of the team had just reached the most beautiful waterfall you had ever seen, when you head a cry. Immediately the Doctor got into defence mode, pulling out her sonic and stepping in front of you leading you towards where she thought the sound had come from. “I think it came from round here, Doc.”, Graham said as he pointed to a bush. Trying to be as silent as you could, which realistically wasn't very silent at all considering you had to literally climb through a bush which rustled even when left undisturbed, you made your way into a small clearing. If this were a film this would definitely be the place where the lead character got their first kiss, that is how beautiful it looked. “Look!”, Ryan said and pointed to what looked like a bundle of blankets about a couple hundred meters ahead of you. “Alright, everybody, stay back. For all that we know, this could be a bomb.” The cry sounded again, and this time you recognised it. The cry sounded human, so you decided to ignore the Doctor's order to stay back and instead ran towards the blankets.

Right before you was a little baby, wrapped only in blankets, left alone on a supposedly desolate planet. The Doctor was only a step behind you, having followed you directly to be able to help you in case the unidentified object actually turned out to be harmful. She looked over your shoulder at the baby, then turned around to address Graham, Ryan and Yaz. “Definitely not a bomb”, she shouted, then turned back around to you and mumbled. “At least I should hope so.” You laughed and finally bent down to pick up the baby, which immediately began to gurgle happily. “I think the only bomb this one's going to be is a stink bomb, Doc”. You say as you turn towards the rest of the team that had now reached you as well. “It's a baby, but Doctor, I thought you said this was an uninhabited planet?”, were Yaz's first words after she saw what you were holding in your arms. The Doctor scrunched up her nose as she replied. “It is. Or at least it was supposed to be. I have no idea how this baby got here.” She pulled out her sonic again and scanned the baby in your arms for God knows what. Your main focus at the moment lay on the child itself. It had managed to free one of its tiny hands from its confines and was now happily playing with your hair, ignoring the bleeping of the sonic. “It’s definitely a human child and it doesn’t seem to be injured in any way, which is astonishing because it must have lain here for at least a few hours without any food or stimulation. Poor thing must be starving.”

You weren’t too sure how you made it back to the Tardis or how long it had been since you found the little baby girl, but it sure felt like quite a while. While everyone absolutely adored her, she was still a baby and that meant a lot of work, even if distributed fairly between 5 people. Well, if you say fairly you are lying a little bit because Mel, short for Melinda, as you had all decided you would name her, had her favourites and you were definitely number one on that list, which meant you had to be around nearly constantly or Mel would start to cry. Still, everyone was helping take care of her and watching Ryan change her nappies would definitely not get old for quite a while longer. You were just holding her in the console room when you heard the voices of Ryan and Yaz not far away. “I swear there is something going on between those two. The Doctor doesn’t look at any of us like that when we hold her.” You felt your cheeks blush as you listened to them both speculate over your relationship with the Doctor. Speaking of the Devil, the Doctor just swooshed into the room, pausing at the console to take in the picture of you with little Mel in your arms. It was the first time you consciously noticed the look in her eyes. It was so full of love and made her whole face light up. “You see that? That’s exactly what I was talking about.” You were so lost in thought that you hadn’t noticed how Ryan and Yaz had come up behind you, so you jumped a bit at the sound of his voice, thankfully not disturbing the sleeping bundle of blankets you were holding. Blushing you turn towards them. “I think we should wait until Graham is back, but we have something to tell you.”, you said and turned your head to look at the Doctor searching her face for any signs of approval. She smiled a bit confused, but nodded her head anyway. She trusted you to have recognised the right moment to tell the others.

#13 x reader #13th doctor x reader #13th doctor #13th doctor imagine #13 #thirteen x reader #thirteenth doctor x reader #the doctor x reader #thirteenth doctor #dw #imagine #ff #mine #original

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mininky · 6 years

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Heavy Lies the Crown-8

Summary: (Y/N) has the fate of her people on her shoulders and according to a seer, the only way to save her kingdom from the bloodthirsty wolves is by giving herself to the god of the hunt.

Pairing: werewolf!Namjoon x reader

Warnings: explicit sex scenes including: oral sex (female receiving), impreg kink (knotting), and spanking

word count: 6.6K

Prologue Chapter one two three four five six seven eight nine

It almost felt like you were in another dimension as you laid on the cold floor and listened to the chanting around you. A buzzing sound filled your head, warmth spreading through you at the almost electric charge in the air. The ceremony had started just a few minutes prior. The last day or so had gone by in a whirlwind, being here seemed to happen in just a blink of an eye. Melinda had already set up protective charms to make the village unplottable to other magicks. Her coven members had to travel to a specific place in the forest where Namjoon and the others brought them back. The pack had already voted and agreed to have Melinda live there, many of them were in fact very excited about this. Apparently, she had been a great help and friend to them, none of them knew yet why exactly she was here but they also didn't seem to question it. Only Namjoon's inner cabinet knew the nitty-gritty of it all, all of them had agreed that explaining all of this to the entire pack might just lead to unnecessary confusion. It would make more sense to have your powers awakened (if you have them that is) and tell them at that point in time that you were also a witch then to tell them that nothing was certain currently. You felt terrible at omitting this information, but things were still so uncertain you really weren't sure how to explain anything. Other news had also come to you in this short period of time. Jin's mate was a former member of another pack who had gone back to be with her family for a short time and she arrived this morning with news of preparations for another summit. There were no dates yet as to when the summit would be for certain, but it was going to be at some point in the early summer putting it just a couple months away from now at best. All of this had put your mind away from the ceremony and now that you were finally here it just didn't seem real. All of Namjoon's cabinet was present, a group of 6 witches and wizards including Melinda were the ones performing the ceremony. All of them had been completely down to business once they arrived, you had only enough time to say a quick 'hello' before it all began. Chalk outlines and writings covered the floor in a circular pattern. The air was heavily perfumed with candles and incense. Little had been said before you began, just simple directions for you to lie down in the center of the circle and to try to remain calm. (Although telling someone to remain calm usually has the opposite effect but you weren't going to argue with them about this.) Your mind was brought back into the present at the sound of the chanting growing louder. Something felt like it was being physically torn from you, the excruciating feeling of burning flesh was the only way you could describe it. Everything seemed to grow hotter and hotter, sweat pouring from you as you gritted back in the pain before falling away so suddenly. Your eyes rolled back into your head and suddenly you weren't in the room. The pain seemed to be transporting you, your body and soul felt disconnected as if they existed on two different planes. You couldn't hear anyone, there was no light from the candles, no noise but your own breathing. You stood in a void, nothing seemed to be around you. This should have elicited panic, this should have brought great fear to you but instead, you felt completely at peace. There was nothing to fear here in this expanse of nothingness. There was something about it that was serenity at its finest. A whisper of your name called out and your feet moved on their own accord closer, closer. Blinding white light burst forth around you and just as quickly as you had been dropped into this other place you were back in the room, still laying on the cold floor. You stood up carefully, making sure not to knock down any of the candles around you. The other witches and wizards were no longer chanting, but they still stood around you in the circle formation. You could see Namjoon staring at you intently as you sat up, his face a mix of concern and interest. "Melinda, I don't know what happened but..." You walked over to her and realized that no one was breathing. No one was blinking. You stopped speaking as you realized that even the candles weren't flickering. Time was standing still. But you weren't. "Melinda! Melinda!!" You shouted as you ran about, trying to understand how to fix whatever had happened. Was this your power? Was she right all along? Panic was quickly consuming you. How had this happened? And how would you fix it? Surely time would not stand still forever, their bodies frozen in this void for eternity couldn't happen. Could it? You found yourself almost tripping over your own feet as you hastily made your way to Namjoon. He might be frozen in time and unable to help but your mind still went to him first. His face was frozen in concern as if he knew before something had happened that it would. This couldn't be happening. You had to make it stop. It had to go back to normal. "Please, please gods please make this all normal again." A shaky hand reached out to him and at the moment that your hand touched his cheek, everything moved again. The chanting died off, the sound of Hoseok screeching at your sudden appearance reverberated through the room. Either Namjoon had nerves of steel or he was in too much shock to move. He made no noise but his eyes swiveled up at your face before he gave a glowing smile up at you, a look of reassurance that everything was okay. His hands wiped away the tears that had fallen in your panic and for a moment you just wanted to curl up into his warmth and forget about everything. But you couldn't. There was too much to understand. You couldn't allow your powers to take over everyone else like this, to stop time again. Especially not when you're not sure how to get it to start again. You turned back around to see the coven no longer in the circle but staring at you with reactions that ranged from awe to confusion. Melinda stepped forward first and placed a reassuring hand on your shoulder before quietly asking, "Would you mind telling me what's happened?" "I...I'm not sure. I went somewhere else for a moment and when I came back all of you were frozen. It was as if time was standing still but I wasn't. I don't know how it all stopped." Melinda nodded as if she understood your words, but you can't possibly believe she actually did. You didn't even understand what you were saying. "You can control time. That is incredibly rare, I didn't expect this to happen during the ceremony. With enough training, you'll be able to freeze and unfreeze time easily. Eventually, you might even be able to warp time itself and take yourself into the past or future although that itself presents a lot of problems and isn't usually recommended but-" "(Y/N) can freeze time? That's. So. Cool." Melinda rolled her eyes at Jungkook before stepping back a little further. The coven was already making preparations to leave, Namjoon had made it clear that for now they were only allowed to be here for the ceremony and for nothing else. Now that everything was over it was time for them to leave. You shuffled closer to Namjoon as you watched Melinda speak to the other magicks in whispered tones. A part of you wanted to know what they were discussing but you decided that privacy was probably best. You hadn't even noticed the boys whispering to each other in the back as you watched the magicks. "Hey, (y/n), so if you can freeze time then does that mean that you guys could like-" Taehyung was snickering before clamping a hand over Jungkook's mouth. At your look of confusion, he just shook his head as if it say 'trust me, you don't want to know.' "We're ready to leave. Are you all ready to take us back out?" One of the wizards with the longest black beard you'd ever seen in your life spoke up before opening the door. All of the boys except for Namjoon quickly started to follow him out all while talking excitedly to each other. You gave out a small goodbye to all of them, although you're sure that by the time you spoke up none of them heard. Time. You could freeze time. Somehow this still wasn't sinking in. Sure you'd already seen that it was possible, it had after all happened. But you still just couldn't seem to wrap yourself around it. The fact that you were actually a witch. That Melinda was right. That the prophecy said your powers might consume you. After shutting the door Melinda turned back to you and Namjoon. "I know that it's very late tonight, but I think the sooner we try to test out her other abilities the better." "Test? How?" Namjoon's voice was still calm, but you could tell by the tapping of his foot that he was anxious. You placed a reassuring hand on Namjoon's cheek before looking back up at Melinda as she spoke. "Well, we'll go through a few various spells that should basically reveal everything." Ah yes, that really clears it all up, gee thanks. You pushed aside your more sarcastic feelings before you spoke, "That's if I have more powers. I might only be able to freeze time." Melinda shook her head at that response. "No, all witches can also do spells and potions. Some are more inclined towards one than the other. With training, all can travel at will as well, as you've seen me before. Then there are some like you who can also do more. There are some witches of extreme power who have many skills and abilities that you can only be born with. Warping time as you do is one of those. Reading souls and seeing the future are some other examples." You nodded your head just to avoid speaking. Your temples were throbbing and the dull ache that extended to the back of your head was making it difficult to think straight. Perhaps it was all the thinking that was causing this. "And you have to do it tonight? She's been through a lot I'm sure that we can pick up tomorrow." Melinda shook her head at Namjoon before walking over to her leather bound spell book. She gave a quiet sigh as she looked over at you. "I know you're tired, but after breaking the seal you'll be at your most open. Now come a little closer, hold my hand." You took Melinda's hand in your own and gave a reassuring nod to Namjoon as she began speaking. The air was growing electric again, the early warming sensation brewing in your veins. Melinda looked over at you curiously after speaking, the three of you waited in silence before she started flipping back through the pages. "Well, that didn't work. I guess we'll try this one." She quickly wrapped her hand back in yours before speaking again, the warming sensation growing and boiling over as you felt Melinda snatch her hand out of yours. You glanced down at the loss of your hand and gave a scream of alarm, you were on fire. Kind of. You had a large ball of fire sitting in the palm of your hand and you quickly tried shaking it out only to watch it zing downwards and scorch the floor. Namjoon burst out laughing at the scene and part of you wanted to strangle him. There was nothing funny about you having just been on fire. Or starting a fire. With your hand. Okay, it kind of was funny. But you didn't want to admit that. "It's not funny Namjoon." And really you wanted to be angry at the whole situation, but perhaps it was the headache or lack of sleep dulling your ability to stay serious but you couldn't help but giggle after a second. If you were going to get through any of this you'd have to start seeing the humorous sides to things. Perhaps Namjoon was trying to ease you out of the dark space that could easily consume your mind with everything that was suddenly happening to you, trying to keep you in a brighter view. Melinda didn't even say anything before grabbing your hand and going right back into everything. About fifteen failed other spells later and now she was telling you to try to move things with your mind. You squinted at the chair next to Namjoon for a few minutes before she was grabbing your hand and diving into the next spell. Frustration and weariness were starting to creep into you as she gave you another task. "I want you to try to concentrate on me, just try to hear what I'm saying. Can you hear me?" "Of course I can hear you. Melinda this is getting old." Namjoon snapped his head up at your outburst, his eyebrows furrowing together. "(Y/N)...I think you're too tired. Melinda didn't say anything." You swiveled your sights back to Melinda who was giving another cheshire grin. "You can read minds." "I don't think I really want to read minds." You grumbled out as you looked at the floor. Really of all your powers this one seemed the most daunting. Being able to hear what people didn't want you to know seemed like it would be exhausting. Would there even be a way of stopping it? What would it be like to hear every terrible thing you didn't want to be heard and not be able to stop it? "Ah, it's not as bad as it sounds. It should take a lot of concentration, I don't think it's going to be something you'll hear at all times. I'm sure that as long as you're not trying to it won't happen. Although..." You watched her stop speaking but could hear her thoughts loud and clear telling you to try to read Namjoon's thoughts. "No. Nope. No, that's just no." You tried to back out of it, but at her wicked smile only growing larger you knew that she wasn't going to give up. You sighed and tried to focus on Namjoon, shutting your eyes as you tried to listen. It was fuzzy, you could see the connection between his thoughts and yours in your head but his words were sporadic. Only bursts of thoughts were coming to you. Mere fragments. More like emotions than thoughts at first before you tried to focus on the connection, curiosity now stopping you from being polite as you broke in. 'She's really cute, even when she's angry. She keeps biting her lip. I wonder if Jungkook's right...' "If Jungkook's right about what?" You didn't mean to voice it and clamped your free hand over your mouth as you looked at the mortified expression on Namjoon. You'd have to get better about not saying the first thought out of your mind. At least when it involved breaking into someone's innermost thoughts. Without them knowing. He was turning a shade of crimson as he scratched his neck. "Um. Did you just..." "Yeah sorry. Melinda told me to though." Melinda was doubled over in laughter, tears running down her face as you gave a small kick to her shin. If you were going down for this you were dragging her with you. She was the one who started it all after all. "But...are you going to tell me?" Namjoon's eyes widened before he quickly looked at the floor. He seemed to be willing you to listen to his thoughts this time, or at least you hoped that his silence was an invitation. Gods, this power could get you in a hell of a lot of trouble if you weren't careful. You could hear his thoughts easily this time. 'Can you freeze the room, but not me?' Well, that was an interesting question. You weren't really sure how to even freeze time yet, you have no clue how it happened the first time. You looked over at Melinda who was now slapping her knees still laughing and you felt a zing of annoyance zip through you. It wouldn't hurt to freeze her. It would be a nice reprieve from all this actually. You closed your eyes and tried to concentrate, focusing on wanting to freeze everything but Namjoon. Frustration was boiling over at the sound of Melinda's cackling still ringing in your ears and you threw your hands up in exasperation only to be met with silence. "Oh my gods you did it." Namjoon jumped up and walked over to Melinda, poking her in the cheek with a grin stretching across his face. "Wow, this is so cool." "Namjoon are you going to tell me why you wanted me to freeze the room? Honestly, I'm not sure how I actually did it, I think this is kind of a fluke. More seriously though, I'm not sure how to get out of this. She might be stuck this way for a while or a few seconds. I have zero clue as to what's going on with these stupid powers yet." Namjoon didn't seem to care about your grumbling, however. He was flashing you a look of pure joy, his dimples shining radiantly at you as he cupped your face. "Do you really want to know little one?" Oh no, not that tone. You knew that tone. That was his sultry voice, his voice reserved for just you. His eyes might have a playful glint in them but his words were thickly laced with intention. "I..." You tried to fight off the growing inferno in the pit of your belly, forcing yourself to look down at your feet. "Yes, Namjoon I would in fact like to know." "Well, Jungkook had a great idea. Actually, it was kind of Jimin's he's the one who first whispered it. What they were wondering though is if you can freeze time but not me." "Well clearly I can, I just did." Normally you weren't this snippy, but the combination of exhaustion and weight of everything today was leaving your temper shorter than normal. "They were thinking though that if you can selectively freeze people in time then that could mean that we could have sex and no one would be the wiser." Namjoon just chuckled at you freezing at the words. "Relax little one, I didn't mean now. But if you think about it, it's really not a bad idea. It might be kind of fun. It might give us some much-needed breaks, don't you think?" It really wasn't a bad idea, at the very least to give the two of you moments of peace and quiet amidst all the chaos that seemed to surround you. Although that wasn't what was having you blushing, the more sinful insinuations were what was leaving you breathless. And what you hated was that your brain seemed to go into such a tailspin at his words that suddenly the sound of Melinda's laughter was filling the air once again. You couldn't help but curse in exasperation, Namjoon just chuckling again. Melinda pulled back up at the sound and narrowed her eyes. "You just froze me didn't you?" When you just shrugged your shoulders she stomped her foot slightly before sitting down on the floor with a long sigh. "I think we've been through everything so I guess it's time to call it a night." Namjoon started shuffling you out the door before you could even respond. "Great, thanks, Melinda. Sleep well! See you in the morning!" He gave an award-winning grin at her as if he hadn't just been uttering one of the dirtiest insinuations you had ever heard. As if he hadn't alluded to the two of you having sex in a room full of people literally frozen in time. The treck back to your house had been far too short, considering that hers was right next to yours. It was only a few steps before you found yourself in the warmth of your house, a fire still blazing and casting an orange glow to the room. His deep voice broke you out of your thoughts, your eyes looking up to see his gaze burning intensely down at you. "We're finally alone again." You wanted to respond, you wanted to be able to say something but all that came out was a small whimper of need. There was something about Namjoon that always seemed to change you, in the best of ways. He was comforting, he was your home, but he was also all your desires incarnate. Your brain seemed to melt around him, you couldn't help but feel lust charging you as you watched him move closer to you. The feeling of his warm breath tickling your ear had pleasure running up your spine as he whispered, "I can smell you already, you have quite the appetite little one. It's been a long day, hasn't it? I think you've been through enough, do you want me to make everything better? I told you, I'll be there for you every step of the way. You and me. When it gets to be too much, I'll always be there to bring you back. Do you want that right now, little one? Do you want me to make you forget everything but my name?" Your knees almost buckled as you weaved your fingers through Namjoon's hair, jerking him into a kiss that was a clash of teeth and need. He was your home, he was your place now. No matter how ridiculous things got, no matter how overwhelming everything was you would be able to go back to him. Things might have moved too fast. You might have just met him, you might have been thrown head first into this new strange life and yet when you were with him everything just seemed right. Everything that was overwhelming, threatening to have you dive head first into the oblivion that is overthinking just melted away when you were with him. Part of you was wondering if this was an unhealthy coping mechanism. Namjoon had become an addiction for forgetting all the painful things but you didn't really care. Not right now at least, not when you needed him so desperately. There would be time for introspection on your habits later. If you were going to fall into this carnal euphoria you would drag him to the heavens, or was it hell if it stemmed from such delicious sin, with you. The two of you seemed to go toe to toe with each other each time, both of you seemed to bask in bringing the other to heights that exuded simple carnal flesh and transcended into spiritual realms. You never believed in gods, but Namjoon certainly could make you cry out to them and you reveled in the way you could change him from a man of control to lust incarnate. It won't make things in life fall into order, it won't heal you of all pain and you know it won't actually make everything all better but it would at least blur it out of your mind for some time. That promise of him being by your side, of Namjoon always being there for you even if it was implied right now in desires and needs was also what your spirit yearned to hear. That emotional connection the two of you shared was still just but a thin one, not yet well versed in each other from the lack of time but each time he was snug in your heat it grew a little stronger. There would be all the time in the world to strengthen that bond by really knowing him, but right now you just needed to feel him. The heat blossoming in your core was beginning to suffocate you. The urge to move had clouded your mind, your hips rocking into his of their own accord as you sought relief. The guttural groan that left Namjoon as he pulled back with swollen lips and that familiar glint of desire in his eyes had you preening under him. All it seemed to take was a few words and touches from him for you to turn into a mess, the slickness pooling in your panties was clear proof of this. His hands remained unmoving from their place upon the small of your back but his grip tightened as you brought yourself up to his neck, suckling on the soft skin until blossoms of pink and red were left in your wake. You broke away to admire the tiny works of art before looking back up to his pupils blown out and mouth stretched into a small devious smirk. He gave a small chuckle as you took in the sight of him, a playful lilt to his voice as he spoke. "You haven't said anything yet little one, do you want me to make you forget everything but your name? Do you want me to take you to our own magical world?" "Please." You almost didn't recognize your own voice, velvety and soft dripping with lust. You couldn't dwell on that thought long though, the feeling of his mouth back on yours was your only focus. Soft but chapped, rough yet loving a combination of opposites that were so uniquely Namjoon it had your stomach curling with desire. A moan wrenched itself from deep within and Namjoon exploited the opportunity by exploring your mouth with his tongue. You were soon losing all coherent thoughts at the feeling of his own need pressed firmly against your stomach. You weren't sure who moved to undress the other first. In record time clothes were thrown carelessly to the floor only to be replaced with the scorching touches of roaming hands. If not for the throbbing of your core magnifying to unbearable proportions you would have taken more time to enjoy his form, the natural beauty that was Namjoon when he stood in front of you with primal desire taking over him and golden skin glowing softly from the warm light of the fire. You couldn't, however, take much time to just bask in the scene unfolding before you, not when he was gripping you up firmly by your hips and sitting you on top of the dining table before you could even blink. The cool touch of the polished wood was soothing to your flushed skin and at complete odds with the warmth of his body pressing back into yours for another kiss. Your mind is quickly growing fuzzier and more frenzied by the second, and you're struggling against wanting to fall into the beautiful depths of blasphemy with him and trying to get him to unravel. Namjoon's ability to remain in control of himself and the situation is both intoxicating and infuriating because there's nothing better than watching him fall apart. And just as he said that he'll make everything better you want to reciprocate that sentiment. That's exactly why you give a soft bite to his plush lower lip before pulling away to give a slow, deliberate flick of the wrist to his twitching member. You delight in the sharp inhale he gives, the way he shuts his eyes in bliss at the momentary relief. Part of you almost wants to stop time again, just so you can truly memorize this moment in time. But the moment his eyes open back up blazing with a desirous intensity you quickly lose that train of thought. His eyes rake over your body slowly as if he has the same idea running through him. Anyone else looking at you while this bare, this vulnerable would make you painfully apprehensive instead his gaze just spurs you on to give another flick of the wrist. You can feel your wetness beginning to pool under you and Namjoon's sharp gaze is now focused solely on that. Without a word he swiftly pries your hand off him and pries open your thighs. "What a beautiful sight. A true masterpiece. Tell me, little one, who is this pussy so pretty for?" Before you can respond he sinks to his knees and gives a long swipe of his tongue to your dripping heat. A choked sob escapes from your lips before he pulls back, a smirk on his lips as he waits for your response. "You. Always you." He hums in pleasure before diving back in, his tongue separating your lower lips as he laps away like a man starved. His nose brushing your swollen bundle of nerves has you trembling already, mewls of pleasure pour out as you grab hold of his hair. The feeling of his tongue against your sex is addictive, but the sight of him in between your legs is intoxicating. It's not enough though, you're so close to tumbling over the edge but you need more. "Namjoon..." "Use your words little one. What is it that you need?" The loss of contact has your pussy throbbing and for a moment you want to thrust his face back down but you know better than that. He would just prolong everything if you didn't speak. "I need your fingers." You know that there's an irritation to your voice, and you can tell by the devious flash in Namjoon's eyes that he's heard it. He's flipping you over quickly, your feet planted on the floor and hips pushed into the edge of the table. The sound of his hand firmly smacking the soft flesh of your ass echoes through the room before a loud moan of pleasure from you joins it. "My fingers can do a lot of things. But your brattiness makes them a tad twitchy, a little like this." His hand places another loud smack on the same spot, your flesh sensitive and burning at the touch. You can feel your slickness run down your leg as your body jumps forward on the table and nipples brush across the cold wood. "So if you want my fingers you're going to have to say how." His hand comes back down on the mark he's left behind, but this time he's rubbing soothingly and you can't help but whimper under the touch. "I need them inside me." "Where? Inside that pretty little mouth of yours?" You turn back to look at him to see his lips curled into a wicked smile. His hair has fallen messily into his eyes and a veil of sweat is glistening off his chest, and you feel the urge to pull him into a deep kiss but before you can act on it his hand is coming crashing back down once again leaving you a shaking mess. "You know I think about this a lot. I don't think that there's a better sight in the world than seeing you wrecked underneath me, your pretty little pussy dripping just for me. All you have to do is tell me exactly what you want and I'll give you anything." You want to be angry at this game he's playing but you're too far turned on to muster up the strength so instead, you play along perfectly. You give him the most innocent look you can as you speak, "Namjoon, I want your fingers in my pussy. I need to cum, please let me." You relish in the way he groans at your words before he's lowering his fingers. He coats two of them in your essence before slowly stretching you open, the stretch already having you tighten and clench around him. His thumb circles around your clit as his other hand grabs hold of your hair and yanks you up, the feeling of his warm breath on your ear has every hair on your skin standing on end. "When you beg for me it sounds like magic to my ears. How could I never notice that you're a witch when you already have me under this spell? You're truly captivating, completely alluring and all I can think about all day long is filling you up." His words have your eyes rolling back into your head, his fingers curling in just the right spot and you can feel yourself unraveling rapidly. Namjoon's mouth latches onto your bite mark, his canines grazing across it. "Cum for me little one, just let go." Your vision flashes blinding white light as you reach nirvana, and distantly you hear screams of his name but you're too far gone to even process that it's you who's screaming. His arms are holding you up from around the waist as you come back down, his mouth working its way up your neck to your chin. "Still good for another round little one?" "I've told you before, for you I'll always want more." "Insatiable. I love that about you." Gently he leans you back over the table before running his dick over your folds and lining himself up. The oversensitivity when it hits your clit has you whimpering underneath him, each stroke fills the air with lewd, wet noises. He enters slowly, each small movement further in leaves both of you gasping. By the time he's fully sheathed inside you, you're already shaking and clenching around him, the first orgasm still leaving you sensitive. "How are you still so tight?" His words come out as a groan and all you can do is give another wanton moan in response. Namjoon pulls out of you slowly before thrusting back in with force, your hips pressing deeply into the edge of the table. Everything else seems to just fall away, your thoughts are only on the feeling of him buried deep inside you. This is what you've become so addicted to. His grunts and moans, the sounds of skin hitting skin, the feeling of complete and utter euphoria that he brings you to. Namjoon pulls out slowly once again, and you push your hips back on him, trying to urge him to move faster. Instead he stays still and gives a deep chuckle. You wiggle your hips but he doesn't budge at all, the only movement he makes is to bring another sharp crack of his hand down on the same mark on your ass from earlier. You aren't deterred by any of this however, it only gives you an idea. If he wants to tease you then you'll just make him give in. You move your hips forward slowly before gliding back down on him again. You repeat the movement a few times, grinding your hips back onto his with soft mewls of pleasure. Something inside Namjoon finally snaps and his hands are gripping your hips with almost bruising pressure as he slams back into you. He leans down to press a few kisses on your neck before growling lowly into your ear, "I told you, whatever you want you just have to ask. Now I'm going to show you what happens when you act like a brat." You want to argue back, but all that comes out is a long moan of pleasure as you clench around him at his words. His pace picks up to a near brutal level and you can feel your climax coming up over the horizon, bliss just moments away before he's pulling out completely and the feeling crumbles away. Pride goes right out the window at the need to orgasm again. "Namjoon, Namjoon please!" "I think you can do better than that." You can't see his face, but you're sure he's got a devilish grin on his face. You wiggle your hips up at him once again before speaking. "Namjoon, please fuck me. Please, I need to cum again, I was so-" He's thrusting back inside before you can finish your thought, a moan spilling out instead as the end of your sentence. "Such a good girl." One of his hands dips down to your clit, moving in rapid circle motions while he's pistoning into you. "Only for you." You groan out the words, voice trembling as you feel yourself building back up to a climax. You can feel him growing inside, the telltale signs of his knot coming closer sending waves of delicious pleasure running through you. "Come on little one, cum for me. I want to feel you fall apart while I fill you up. I want to fuck my knot so deep in you that you have my pups." Wet squelches fill the air. You wish you could see his face, the way his eyes scrunch up and jaw clenches in pleasure but you settle on just honing into the musical grunts coming from Namjoon. His name comes out as a mantra as fireworks burst behind your eyes, tears rolling down your face at the intensity of the orgasm washing over you. Everything is fuzzy with joy, the sound of Namjoon panting your name as he comes to his own completion buzzing through your ears. You can feel him still moving slowly, rocking both of you through the euphoria and bringing you back down to earth. You fall limp under his touch, the two orgasms of the night leaving you shaking and writhing as he swells up once again. "I'm not done yet little one. You can handle it right?" You give a shaky nod in response as he pulls out and twists you back around so your sitting in front of him. He wraps your legs around his hips as he slowly enters, both of you gazing steadily at each other. "I promise I'll make it quick this time." His thrusts are steady and gentle, the feeling of him swelling up makes you feel stretched and filled to the brim. Your fingers weave through his soft hair as you place a kiss on his lips. "Namjoon, you feel so good when you fill me up. Fill me up again, please. I need it. I need to feel you." He gives a deep moan at your words, his thrusts becoming sloppy as he cums inside you for the second time. His forehead resting on yours as the two of you try to steady your breathing. A sated grin is resting on your face as you give another peck to his lips. "I don't think I'll ever get enough of you. You really are amazing, in every single way possible." He pulls out of you slowly, the mixture of both of your releases dribbling out of you. His gaze rakes over your form once more, his hands ghosting over you as he speaks, "Are you feeling okay? I didn't hurt you or anything right? I got a little carried away." "I'm better than okay, I feel great. My insatiable urges are currently sated." He gives a grin at your words as he picks you up bridal style to carry you into the bedroom. Your eyes shut heavily as exhaustion takes over. You can barely make out the feeling of blankets being pulled over you as the world fades away for the night. Your dreams are filled with magic and fire but it ends with going back home to Namjoon, and really you wouldn't have it any other way. Although when you wake up you do decide that you and Namjoon need to find a way to go out on a proper date sometime soon, preferably before some other strange news like being a witch pops back up and interferes in your somewhat normal life with your werewolf husband.

#namjoon smut #rm smut #namjoon fanfic #namjoon fic #bts smut #bts fanfic #bts fanfiction #bts werewolf au #bts senarios #bts fic #rm fanfic #rm fic

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imaginemexo · 6 years

Text

Josh Washington x Reader - Make It Out Alive

Request: an Until Dawn imagine where Josh isn’t the psycho, theres an actual psycho on the mountain. Josh and Reader have to try and make it out alive

Words: 1,973

Josh was in hospital for months, in and out, back in and then out again, for months after the disappearance of Beth and Hannah. Intoxicated on prescribed medicines and drugs; murmuring inaudible, incohesive sentences.

The only thing that anybody could understand was when Josh repeated one particular word. Over and over again. Creature.

Other than the Washington family visiting him irregularly, the only other person to pay him a mere ten minute visit was his childhood best friend, Y/N. She was oftentimes busy most days, but popped in around four times a week. Just to let him know that nothing had changed between them. Just to let him know that the world would soon fall back into place and natural routine.

Once Josh was beginning to mend, the cogs in his brain starting to work again, Josh sat in his room, all alone, suffocating on the stillness. He’d devise plans, mindmap every single concept that entered his brain. Wondered how he could make his friends repay him for what they caused.

Josh was asleep the night of the disappearance. He didn’t know if anyone was at fault. He didn’t know if it was anyone’s fault at all.

Maybe it was just something that happened.

Josh looked well.

It had been just under two months since Y/N had last seen Josh. The last she’d heard was that he was fresh out of hospital and found a new rejoice in life. Bob and Melinda Washington claimed that he’d found a newer, fresher, better therapist and had “cured” him from the evil demons living like parasites inside of his brain. Apparently, Josh found it in himself to accept the truth. Josh found it in himself to forgive anyone who may or may not have been involved in the disappearance of his sisters.

He was a new person.

There was a dewy glow on his skin; a sense of being; a sense of happiness.

A newfound hope.

I watch my best friend mindlessly chatter to Chris; one of my other good friends, though, just slightly misses out on the cut on having the best friend title. She looks happy and relieved to be back in our company; though I can see the uncertainty radiate off of her by being back to this place.

“Hey, cochise.” I say, approaching them. I attack them both with a hug, pulling them close. There’s a warmth that I have never felt before; a sense of…normalcy.

“Josh,” My friends say in unintentional unison. They laugh together, shaking their heads.

Chris seems slightly uncomfortable; the lopsided grin and unimpressed look plastered on his face.

Y/N almost seems shocked; mouth slightly ajar, eyes wide. “Josh…you look so well. Better. Healthy, I mean.”

“I’ve gained a lot of weight. I think that’s the only thing that has changed.”

My best friend scoffs and rolls her eyes at me. “Don’t be stupid! You’re a whole new person.”

Chris soon interrupts. “Where’s everybody else?”

I tear my eyes away from Y/N, who looks like a new identity herself. “They’re all at the lodge.”

Chris adjusts his backpack, evidently unnerved. He says nothing and sludges through the blanket of snow, already paces in front of us.

Y/N turns to me, a frown playing on her lips. “Don’t worry, bro. It’s not you. I can tell that’s what you’re thinking,” She seems equally as disconnected and distant. “We’ve both been really unsure whether or not to come back. It didn’t feel right.”

Will it ever feel right?

Two o'clock in the morning soon hit.

We shared stories and memories as if they happened yesterday.

A lot was revealed.

None of us drank. It was surprising to feel no irresistible urges. Especially due to the fact that after last year, I suffered with a lot of alcohol and drug issues. I would neglect my health so much with substance abuse that I wouldn’t even be able to recall the events of that night. It was relieving. I would get so inebriated that I wouldn’t even remember my name. It was relieving that I could be someone else for a small period of time.

We stayed up late, blabbering on about life, respecting my sisters who are long gone. I found out that a lot had happened while I was in hospital. A lot happened for those around me while I was extremely ill.

Chris and Jess entered an exclusive relationship just three months after Hannah and Beth vanished. Matt got accepted to a local University majoring in a sporting degree. Jess was eventually assigned to a modelling agency. Michael and Emily got married.

Ashley and Sam…nobody knows what happened to them. I hear everyone only speak highly of them, though, no-one’s heard from them since that night one year ago. I can imagine that they drifted apart and they went their own ways.

Y/N moved away three months ago, which is why her visits at the hospital became less frequent. I didn’t know. She said she tried to explain it to me whilst I was in hospital, but apparently I was in a fugue state for the majority of the visits, and no information was properly registered.

But I do remember the empty room. I remember the crayons. I remember the silence. I remember the feeling of loneliness. I remember the sense of abandonment. I thought she wasn’t coming back. I thought she left me.

I remember my last session with Dr. Hill as if it were yesterday.

He asked me if I know what the butterfly effect is.

I remember his words precisely, Josh, in a parallel universe, somewhere very far away, there is a version of you and your friends. In that parallel universe, the same events happened. Your sisters are gone in that universe. Except, in that universe, you did not make this vast recovery. You stayed trapped. And in that universe, things were different for your friends too. Maybe Emily and Mike will break up in that universe, and Mike will fall in love with Jessica. Your recovery right now affects everything. Your recovery right now affects those around you. Maybe your recovery will change everyone’s life. That’s the butterfly effect.

All of a sudden, I wake up.

A scream is what has woken me up; a blood-curdling howl.

I look to my side. Y/N is awake. She’s violently shaking, cheeks stained with tears.

She places her finger over her lips, almost incoherently shushing me.

“Don’t move.”

We lay there for what feels like hours. Shrieks of panic and blasphemy.

And then, nothing.

The nothing is then followed by a large slam. And then, once more, nothing.

Footsteps are heard crunching through the snow, and that’s when I know we’re safe. For now.

Stealthily, I clamber out of bed and tip-toe to the window. The sky is the colour of coal, yet, the only illuminating light source coming from the security light outside. I can merely make out a small lump of something; a rigid mess.

One figure, inhumanly tall and thin, walks away into the distance, hands clutched onto two separate objects, dragging them away through the snow.

“What is going on?” I turn to my best friend, my voice laced in authority and almost anger.

“I don’t know, Josh!” She calls out, but quiet enough to stay safe. “I woke up to the screaming. It was on and off maybe five minutes before you woke up. It came out of nowhere.”

The confusion dawns on me quickly. My eyes brim with tears.

I hold myself.

“I don’t understand what’s going on.”

Y/N abruptly jumps up from the bed. She approaches me and stops in front of me. “Don’t worry, Josh, it’ll be okay. We just have to have a look downstairs. I’m sure it’s a prank or something.”

There’s a horrid, unsettling feeling in the pit of my stomach. “It’s not a prank.”

“Is this a bad time to say I told you so?”

“Oh, shut up, Josh.”

My mind flashes back to the ungodly sight before us. The pile of rigid bodies outside sat in the snow. Skin was stripped off of their bodies and their eyeballs were missing.

My friends. Our friends, I mean.

Dead.

“What now?” I ask, unable to comprehend any of it.

“We find a way out of this mess,” she answers. “Or we wait until dawn.”

All we have to do is make it out alive.

We sit in the stables; cottonballs of snow streaming down from the nighttime sky. We’re wrapped up in a humongous blanket, backs pressed against the counterfeit cedar wood. We’re freezing to death yet returning to the lodge seems too unsettling. Just in case whoever did this has returned.

It has all happened so quickly.

We have not shared a word in a long while. I wonder if she’s mad at me.

She exhales loudly, fog before our eyes.

“Josh, I have something to tell you.”

I look at her in the corner of my eye, and I don’t say a word.

I listen to her quietly sob, face scrunched up. I can see and feel her pain as if it is tangible and sat right in front of me.

“I killed Hannah and Beth.”

Immediately, there is hurt. And betrayal.

“What are you talking about?”

She shakes her head, unable to look at me.

“I mean, I didn’t kill them. I’m not a murderer,” I can hardly understand her through the tears. “It’s my fault they’re missing.”

I can’t even form a real thought inside of my head. “What do you mean?”

“You know when Hannah was still alive, she was head over heels for Mike?” She asks. I hum in response, shifting away from her slightly. “I thought of this really horrible plan. It was meant to be light-hearted. Hannah took it too seriously, and she left the lodge. Beth followed her. And out of guilt, I went after them. I thought they were in danger, there was a man who was stalking them there. They got to the edge of the cliff, and I don’t know if he was trying to make sure they fell, or help them up, but I heard them scream and then there was nothing. I was in shock. I didn’t know what to do. And then I was attacked. But not by the man. By a being. It wasn’t human. I remember clouded eyes, and sharp teeth. Then I woke up in the lodge. I came to you every day I wasn’t busy. I told you about the being that attacked me, and you seemed to understand what I was talking about. I showed you the scar that it left me with every time, and you all you could say was creature. Creature, creature, creature – that’s all you ever said. I thought maybe I could crack the mystery of this mountain your Dad always used to talk about. But it was useless. That’s why I left Josh, that’s why I moved away. It was killing me to see you like that. It was killing me that I didn’t know the truth.”

I remember the haunting, continuous nightmare as a child. I remember waking up in cold sweats when I was young. I hated coming here. I used to say it was the creature. The creature would get me. The creature would hurt me.

The creature would kill us.

I have nothing to say.

“I always loved you, cochise. I still do,” she says. “The feelings never went away.”

I open my mouth to respond, I open my mouth to confess my undying love, when I hear earth-shattering thumps draw close.

I quickly remove my eyes away from my best friend, and first love, and towards the entrance of the stables.

A large being; broad and hideous.

Creature.

#josh washington #joshwashington #until dawn #ud #josh washington x reader #rami malek #mr. robot #mr robot #elliot alderson #elliot alderson x reader #josh washington imagine

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soldiergirlscorned · 6 years

Text

Call Me Rio and I’ll Call You Jack Ch. 1

AU Note: THIS HAS MANY SPOILERS FOR PURPLE HEARTS, IF YOU HAVE NOT READ IT, DON’T READ THIS.

Now that that’s taken care of: we didn’t get to see a lot of the budding relationship between Rio and Jack after the war. But guess who has a few ideas about what happened. Me. The answer is me.

So, this little story will have a lot of fluff and maybe a little smut. Maybe? I lied. It will have smut, but later on. I’ll tell you when it’s coming and when it’s done so you can bypass it if you don’t want to read.

1964

Kid knew something was familiar about the man that limped up to her desk, cane in hand. She knew the signs of veterans, being one herself and working with them for almost ten years now.

But, studying the man, she knew that him being a veteran wasn’t why he was familiar.

“Can I help you?” she asked, noticing that he wasn’t in uniform, when he had pressed up against the desk to get out of the traffic in the room, “Sir, how did you get in here?”

The red-haired man smiled and pointed to the man right behind him, battling the many people trying to push him out of the way, “Frank let me in.”

“Not even close,” the supposed-Frank said, “Child, right?”

She nodded.

“He’s here to see your boss.”

The caned man turned to her and smiled, “I’m here to see your boss. I’m assuming it’s Rio?”

Kid made a confused face.

“Richlin. Rio Richlin. West Point. Medal of Honor. I don’t know what her rank is anymore. She was a sergeant when I knew her.”

“And what’s your purpose for being here?” Kid asked.

“Well, Child, a scary Sam—“ he turned around fast and the man behind him shook his head, “Damn. I’ll guess it right, don’t you worry. Anyway, this scary man in the suit showed up at my flat in London and told me by order of Rainy Schulterman that I was to pack a bag and leave with him. I got on a plane and now I’m here.”

Kid was silent for a second and then, “I’m sorry. Are you--?”

“Jack Stafford, at your service. You are?”

“Sergeant Melinda Child.” She shook his hand, “Wow. Okay. I had read about you, from, you know, the memoir, but I never thought…. I’m going to see if Colonel’s available.”

“Please do.”

Kid almost ran to Richlin’s office, knocking softly before entering and closing the door quickly behind her, “Colonel.”

She shot a hasty and somewhat sloppy salute towards a bewildered Rio, “There’s someone here to see you.”

Richlin looked back down at the papers in front of her, “Tell the major that whatever it is, I don’t care.”

“Ma’am. It’s not the major.”

When Rio came out of her office she was both the most happy and nervous that she had ever been in her life. The folks in the office were known for pulling pranks, but never against her. And the way that Kid had seemed completely flabber-ghasted meant that he was really here. He had to be. It would be a cruel joke if he wasn’t.

But there he was, still so utterly recognizable even if his face had aged and his clothes changed. It was still Jack. And it was still his smile.

“Hey, Sarge.”

Rio’s awe-filled gaze changed to one of pure joy, and before she knew it she was across the room and in his arms.

The whole room stopped. Literally. People stopped moving, phones dropped from ears, conversations died instantly as everyone watched their lieutenant colonel throw herself into the stranger’s arms.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, finally withdrawing, but not really letting go.

“Well, I am a gift from Rainy.”

“Rainy?! That bitch. You know she’s working for the ‘commerce department’ now?”

“No shit.”

“Just saw her about a week ago.”

Jack turned to look over his shoulder, “Bob, do you work for the commerce department?”

The man in the suit crossed his arms, “My name is not Bob. And sure, I work for the commerce department.”

Jack twisted again to look at Rio, “You know, he also told me that his name was Ben, but I didn’t believe him then either.”

Rio laughed, “It’s good to see you, Jack.” Realizing that it was too quiet, she turned towards the soldiers working, “Don’t you all have a job to do? I can give you one!”

Jack smiled as the government building returned to normal (while still watching the Colonel of course). “Well, some things just never change, now do they?”

“I thought I had gotten a lot better at that!” Rio said, half-heartedly offended.

Jack laughed, “You doing that yelling anywhere else these days?”

“What do you mean?”

“Kids, of course.”

Rio laughed, “The only kid I have is Kid,” she said, pointing to Melinda Child, “I got out of screaming households a while ago.” At Jack’s raised eyebrows, Rio explained, “I’m divorced.”

“Oh, yes! The pilot. Castain sent me a letter. Told me you were getting married and also told me not to worry because it wouldn’t last long.”

“You’re kidding me? She did that?”

“I’m not lying.”

“Oh, God!” Rio covered her eyes mortified, but before long was smiling up at him.

“Say, Rio, do you have a lunch break soon?” Jack asked.

Child was right behind Rio, “She already went to lunch.”

“But coffee will do just fine,” Rio smoothly interjected. “Let me grab my things. Kid, if that major shows up, tell him to fug off. I’ll be back before the meeting at two.”

“Got it, Colonel.”

As Rio came back, tying a scarf around her neck, she turned to Rainy’s agent, “Tell your boss that she’s not being very subtle.”

Then, the whole building watched as their boss left work early for the first time.

(*&*)?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?><>?>>?><>?><>?><>

“What have you been up to, Jack?” Rio made sure to slow down her pace to match Stafford’s limping steps.

“Working mostly. As a real-estate agent in London.”

“Really?”

“Shocking, I know. Your job, however, is not shocking. I always knew you were bound to abandon your own and become an officer.”

“Ouch, Stafford. That hurts!” Yet, they both laughed at the familiar joke. “Any kids of your own?” she asked, looking straight ahead.

“Never married actually.”

Rio looked up, shocked, “Really?”

Jack shrugged, looking straight into her eyes, “I never found anyone that measured up. I went on a couple of dates, of course, but no one ever stuck around.”

“I can’t imagine why they would ever leave.”

Rio realized her mistake as soon as she said the words. “I would assume you wouldn’t have to imagine, since you should know.”

“Look, Jack, I—“

“Did you come visit me? When I was at the medical station back in Germany?”

“You don’t remember?”

Jack thought back to that time, “I remember the shape of you, but I don’t know if that was real or a dream. I didn’t know what to believe I was on so many painkillers.”

“You had a whole conversation with me. And I sat by your bed until they knew without a doubt that you were going to live.”

“What did we talk about?”

“You. Going back to Britain. I told you that your job was done, and you told me that you weren’t going to give up fighting until either the war was won or I left it. Then you went back to sleep and I made sure you were on a ship headed home before you woke up.”

Jack was silent for a moment, “I don’t remember that.”

Rio looked up at him as they entered the coffee shop, “For what it’s worth, the whole platoon went home after that. What was left of it, at least. Those who were POWs got released a week after the Russians took Berlin.”

“You didn’t let me come back with you,” Jack stated.

Rio shook her head.

“Why?”

Richlin shrugged, “For lots of reasons: Britain was your home, you were injured, I was your sergeant, I had already given myself to someone else—“

“I thought you didn’t care about that. That’s what it said in the memoir.”

“God, I hate that thing.” She took a deep breath, “I didn’t care when I was on the battlefield, but back out here…I knew it would mean more. I knew that people would expect me to marry Strand and if I had brought you back here, you would have married a fallen woman.”

“Maybe I wouldn’t have cared.”

“Maybe. But other people would.”

Jack laughed, stepping up to order his coffee. Even by the time they were sitting down with the steaming cups, Jack was still shaking his head, “I should have known. I should have known that it wasn’t that you couldn’t have been happy with me. It was because of your stupid sense of self-sacrifice.”

He laughed a little, and Rio looked down at her cup.

“Rio. Just answer me one thing, honestly: would you be happy with me? If I stayed here, could I make you happy?”

Rio shook her head, “Jack, you have a life in Britain—“

“That’s not what I asked, Rio. Could you be happy with me? Can we try it? Just for a little while. And see if this, us, is worth looking into.”

Rio looked at him, as he shifted nervously in his chair. She grabbed his hand in hers, “Jack, I would love to try. You just need to make sure that this is what you want. I won’t leave the States, which means if this works out, you would be giving up your life. You need to think about what you’re doing.”

Jack shook his head, “I don’t need to think. I would give up the world for a chance to be with you.”

#rio richlin #rio headcannons #Jack Stafford #Call me rio #soldier girls #soldier girl #frangie marr #rainy schulterman #front lines #Silver Star #purple hearts #purple hearts spoilers

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westword-stories-blog · 7 years

Text

CrossSwords - Chapter Twenty-One

1 Night after Hest Town's Attack

"Well..The attack on Hest Town went swimmingly. Heck, those knights we had to deal with on the way? Were those even really knights?! I've seen guards do better at small villages for crying out loud! Anyways..You guys can do whatever you want to that 'General' gu--"

Suddenly interrupted by someone dashing in the tent, carrying a bag around his shoulder. "I'm back..And...I've got it."

Kohma was about ready to kill whoever interrupted him, but clapped his hands together once hearing what he had to say. "Oh? Is that so? Well, we might actually be able to do what they weren't able to. Maybe it's because they thought they were living in a time of peace? How idiotic. No, they're living in the worst time possible..."

Chapter 21 - Time of Devastation ( Part Four )

Three Weeks Later, Varska Castle

King Rose was pacing around the war room, There stood Valerie, Matthew, Erie and the other contestants from the tournament. The situation was tense, like a kindling fire that is slowly getting more and more bigger.

"Everything.." The King finally spoke, everyone turning their heads to his direction. "...Every, single village in my Kingdom. Terrorized by these..these..Maniacs!" He put his hands against his face. "It's only a matter of time before they attack our town. Our Castle." He said while his face was masked by his hands.

"...Dad..." Matthew crossed his arms, closing his eyes to think for awhile. "If you think..they're going to attack us, shouldn't we be prepping for an attack? Let us build our defenses, be armed to the teeth at all times, and always be on the look out for anything out of place." King Rose turned to his son, a determined look burned in the King's eyes.

"We will. Come on, we probably don't have much time left."

Erie took the white silver armor off, leaving herself only in her body suit. She hooked the pieces of armor together, then hung them on a large hook in her armory. She turned her head left, staring at another suit of armor. "...I never thought I'd wear this." She said, taking it off of where it stood. Piece by piece she put it on. The breastplate was much thicker, heavier than her last piece. And had two layers of chainmail weaved together inside of the breastplate. Once she had that on she took in a deep breath, adjusting to the weight. "...This is nothing." She then put on the shoulder pieces, gauntlets, greaves then the sabatons.

The armor she wore was a more refined, better defensive version of her other set. It even had some offensive capabilities. The shoulders had one large spike protruding from the side and her elbows also had a blade attached to the end of it. Her knees also had small spikes covering it. It was armor she hoped she'd never have to wear, but if some deadly force was bringing the land to it's knees, she had to equip herself.

After she was in a full suit she took a look at herself then turned her head to the small rack of a variety of swords. It seemed to show her evolution in the Varska Knights. The leftmost weapon was a basic iron sword that every knight in training received. Then there was an enforced iron sword, steel sword, enforced steel, titanium and then finally her custom sword. A White Steel Sword, forged by the best blacksmith in the Varska Region. The metals used are a secret by the blacksmith, but judging by it's name, steel is obviously involved.

She, much like any other proud knight or swordsman gave their sword a name, since it would be their partner in battle. She named it "The Kingdom's Treasure". She grabbed the sword off of it's resting place and held it up, right beside her face. "We'll protect this castle. By whatever means necessary."

"Frost! Ice Tremor!" Exclaimed a feminine voice. A gloved hand reached forward, a icy wisp covered her palm as the ground ahead of her was suddenly covered in a thin layer of ice, then in an instant three large ice spikes rose in different directions. The girl let out a sigh of relief.

"Wow..You know. I always knew you could use magic, but I've never seen you do it." Said another voice, a sophisticated one. The girl who wore light armor looked to her right, seeing her brother, equipped in light armor as well. Small breastplates and armor covering only the vital areas. It was Valerie and Matthew. "Flames! Flamethrower!" Said the man, forcing his palm over to the ice spikes as a light flame covered his hand while fire spit from his hand, melting away the ice.

"..I've never seen you use magic before. Where did you learn it?" Valerie walked right up to Matthew, he smirked then looked to the side. "I had Melinda teach it to me while she and the other stayed."

"You mean that crimson eyed girl?"

"Yeah, her."

Valerie looked a bit confused. "..But they were only here for a week. It took my months to learn simple Ice Magic." He shrugged, shoving his hands in his pockets. "..Must be a faster learner than you, huh?" He said before turning around. "Anyways, Dad told me that he, along with some others, heard a distant roar." Matthew shot Valerie a glare. "..We better be absolutely ready for a fight."

~ ~ ~

A melodic tune, with a glint of destruction plays somewhere in a deep forest when suddenly a distant roar echoed throughout the forest. The person playing the flute grinned, pulled his face mask over his head then put the white mask on. "..It's here." He said, putting the flute aside. Beside him there stood Melinda, Erik and a variety of others. Including one cloaked in a dark red hood.

A gust of wind blew down on the treelines, making the forestry tremble and waver. Then, flying from above there was an onyx color, floating right above them. When it finally landed, trees crackled and tumbled over. Everyone was taken aback at this sight. There stood before them, the legendary beast who was summoned by a legendary flute.

Ayghis, the Dark Dragon.

His large, Red eyes stared directly at the man in the red suit: Kohma. He had his arms open and a clear sense of joy would radiate off of him. A low, husky voice then spoke.

"Child who summoned me...What, is your purpose for my calling?" The dragon leaned forward somewhat. Once the sun coated the beast, it was shown that he was quite massive. Being nearly 13 meters tall just sitting down. "Dragon." Kohma began. "I have a job for you, a request." He said, showing respect to the dragon by bowing.

"Of course you do. Everybody does. Speak." The large beast replied in his deep voice. "We, Are the Sacred Eyes. And we have sought you out to help us in our mission."

"And..That mission is?" The Dragon replied. Kohma pointed his finger upwards. "..To bring down the Five Kingdoms." This surprised the dragon. He exhaled then closed his eyes, opening them again to look at the masked man. "I've been watching this place evolve from the shadows, seeing how man would eventually establish Kingdoms..It's..interesting how other men would want to see it fall, isn't it?" Ayghis turned his large head to the smaller man. "If I am going to assist you...I will need, a large sum of money." He said, his eyes glaring at everyone there. "Oh. That won't be a problem. We have it right here." He stepped aside, the man in the cloak stepped forward. "Summon." Was all he said, a purple flash struck the ground and there sat three large sacks full of gol and beside it all was a large, golden ball.

The Dragon's eyes looked a bit surprised, then he huffed. "How much is this worth?" He questioned, the cloaked man raised his head slightly. "Approximately 20,000 gol. Just for you." He said, lowering his head once more. "...20,000. That is a lot of worth, which Kingdom are you attacking? The Fields, Grasslands, Rockies, Savanna or the Cold Mountains?" These names seemed to confuse the bunch, but Kohma simply chuckled. "We are after the Fields. The Mainland: Varska."

~ ~ ~

"She's been out for nearly three weeks." A voice spoke, breaking a very short silence. There sat a boy and a man who looked to be a doctor of sorts. "She's the one who was brought here carried by those soldiers, right?" The boy asked and the doctor simply nodded. "She was in terrible condition. Whoever attacked her also made a mess of the village she came from. She had a blade lodged in her side, if it went any deeper than it was then, she might've died of bloodloss. Even now, she's still at risk." He said, standing over the sleeping girl.

Then suddenly her eyes opened, slowly. A gentle green hue stared at the brown coated man. He nodded his head and shown a smile at her. "Well, good morning." He said to her. Her eyes widened and she gasped, sitting up then yelping in pain. "Oh, oh, oh..don't move. You'll open the wound again." She gritted her teeth, attempting to sit again but the doctor would just lay her back down. "L-Let..Me go!!" She exclaimed, beginning to hyperventilate. "Calm. Down." He said, running his hand over her injured and bandaged body. "You're in terrible shape, you're in no position to go anywhere."

"I don't care how bad I am! Let me go!" She yelled, still trying to get free. "What? What's so urgent?"

"Some guy! ..He stole it! He stole everything!" Tears began to well in her eyes as she struggled. "My home! My treasure!...And." She came to a slight realization, a tear gently sliding down her cheek. "...He's, going to attack the other villages." She said. "Please. You have to find them..Find them!" She pleaded, grabbing the hems of the doctor's coat. "O-Okay, calm down..Find who?" He pulled her arms off of his coat and she closed her eyes, letting the tears fall.

"Find Jackson, find Vincent..Bring them back."

"Where did they go?"

She rattled her brain for a bit then gasped. "They went to Concord. I-In Gaia!"

The boy saw how desperate the girl was to warn her friends. He knew she couldn't be lying about some guy attacking the other villages. So, he mustered up the courage and stood up from his seat. "I'll go. I'll find your friends, and I'll bring them back." Tessa stared at the boy and grew a relieved smile. "Thank you..W-What's..your name?" She asked.

"It's Edward...Hey, dad. We still have that bag of rations, right?" He asked, the doctor looked back at Edward and nodded. "Yes. They're in the shelf. I'll look after the girl, you go!" He said, turning back at Tessa who had her eyes closed, hoping that nothing else bad would happen.

Edward strapped on some small armor and grabbed a shortsword, putting it in a sheath by his waist and opening the door, bag in hand. "Jackson..in Concord, Gaia." He looked around then ahead. "..From here, it should be this way." He said, beginning to trek down a dirt path.

~ ~ ~

Varska Town was quiet, everybody in their homes, huddled together and scared. Nothing happened as of yet. But faintly, they could hear a stomping, and feel the ground shake very slightly. Those in the Castle could feel this too, the pressure in the air grew very tense. Soldiers armed to the teeth and all prepped for whatever came their way. King Rose, he was equipped with his own armor and weapon. Looking up from the ground and out in the distance. He stood atop a tower with his blade fixed in the ground. His piercing green eyes staring at what came.

A Dragon as black as the night sky. He knew what was going to happen, and he was going to do everything in his power to stop it. He lowered his head once more to let out a powerless sigh, closing his eyes. "I'm sorry my people..."

Kohma stood on top of the Dragon's head, holding onto one of it's horns as he stared at the castle ahead. "I'm sorry Varksa.."

"But it's over."

CrossSwords - Chapter 22: Kohma

#story #CrossSwords #Fantasy #Adventure #Action #Westword

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adamkadabra · 7 years

Text

The Long Truth || Self Para

Tagging→ ADAM CRAWFORD, MELINDA CRAWFORD Where→ Adam & Puck’s Dorm. When→ 01/21/17 (morning) Warnings→ Scary images(?)

Adam had spent most of the week continuing to prepare for the field study. He had been crowned King of Midnight Madness and Adam had a title and an image to uphold. It was very weird to think about, he had an image. Adam never had an image and really it wasn’t like him to care about such a thing. However, this was important. He had beat Hunter Clarington and Adam wanted to make sure no one underestimated him or thought the win was a fluke. Although, it would feel odd being around Rachel and Tina. He hadn’t spoken with Tina at all since the win and his last conversation with Rachel didn’t end well.

He had thought about calling her or texting her dozens of time but maybe Blaine was right and she did just need space. Adam pushed aside any feelings of guilt. He was the winner and he shouldn’t be sorry about it, right? Adam joined Midnight Madness to prove everyone wrong about his magic. To prove his father wrong even if he was not present to see or know about it.

He had everything ready to go for the field study. His bag was packed with his grimoire, which had Fenn inside, various potions and materials should he get separated from the grimoire and not the bag and he even stored some items inside his amulet. The confidence in Adam was practically radiating off of him. He won a field study before, he could do it again. Maybe this time they would recognize when they won as a team.

Adam tugged his boots onto his feet and just finished tying them when a knock came on the door. He looked up. Seemed to be a thing this week with people coming to his room unannounced. It was quite early for a visitor. He crossed over to his door thinking it had to be Elliott or even Sam. Maybe even Mason again since he had a history of coming to his room without prior notice. Upon opening the door, Adam saw someone he least expected to see.

“Mum?”

Melinda Crawford beamed as her son opened the door. She flung her arms out and pulled Adam into a tight hug. “Moonpie!” She exclaimed. Adam was confused and in shock to see her that he didn’t react right away.

“Uh..mum what are you doing here?” He asked instead of greeting her with a ‘hello.’ This earned a smack on the arm. “What was that for?”

“A hello would be nice. I raised you so I know that you have manners.” Melinda said.

Adam stood back and rubbed his arm. “I wasn’t expecting to see you here. In New York. At NYADA. On the opposite side of my dorm.”

Melinda waved her hand and invited herself inside to Adam’s room. She immediately made a tisking noise with her tongue and bent over, scooping up dirty laundry.

“Adam Nathaniel.” She scolded.

“Mum, you know I love you but what are you doing here?” Adam asked watching as she swept over the room cleaning up anything she could.

Melinda dropped the clothes into the hamper. “This is where dirty laundry goes not on the floor. And is that...how long has that plate being sitting there on that desk?”

Adam’s brow furrowed. “Since this morning, I had some toast--Mum answer the question, what are you doing here?”

Melinda looked up and sighed looking exasperated. “A mother can’t drop by to visit her only son?”

Adam arched a brow and folded his arms across his chest. Melinda huffed and waved a hand at him. She sat down on the bed and patted the spot next to her.

“Alright, alright. You win. I did want to see you though, you know I always do.” He said and pinched his cheek when he took a spot next to her on the bed. Adam protested but she paid no mind. She often liked to do things like this just to irritate him. “I came in part because I thought it was time for me to explain why I had such a...strong reaction to Elliott being a Shedim.”

Adam’s brow furrowed a little. “And the other part?”

“We’ll get to that later. For now I want to explain.” Melinda said.

“Why? I mean, I am happy that you’re willing to talk about it but why now and why the sudden visit? Is everything alright?” Adam asked. He was starting to get the feeling that it wasn’t and it was really beginning to cause panic.

Melinda took her son’s hand and patted the back of it. “It’s fine, love. I just...I know I owe you an explanation.”

Realizing that his mother wasn’t going to tell him the real reason she showed up in New York, unannounced, until the end of her story Adam had no choice but to sit and listen. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to hear this, but he knew she was hiding something.

“You’re not..you’re not about to head off someplace, are you?” She asked noticing the bag and his outfit.

Adam was about to say he was going to be late for the field study but decided not to mention it. She’d make him go and Adam wanted to hear this. There would be other field studies. He shook his head.

“I was just going to go for a walk, get out of the room. Nothing important.” Adam said.

Melinda didn’t press for a further explanation and instead took a deep breath before she began. “First off, you have to understand that it’s not just Bloodlines that have Shedims. I know you may automatically think that as the case, but some New Age families go back quite a ways and like to think themselves as Bloodlines. Although, we all know they are far from it.” She said with a slight eye roll.

“You know that on my mother’s side we go back about four generations. That’s hardly a lot compared to others who can trace their lineage to the burning times. My father’s family had been made up of witches since the 1600’s. New Ages passing down their knowledge of magic through the generations. Perhaps even further back, as far as it can go to where Commons discovered they too could posses magic. Since I was a child, my father told me stories of demons, as parents do to scare their children into behaving.”

“You never did that to me.” Adam said with a frown, interrupting.

“I read you those Grimm stories every night before bed. Read them again, Adam. It’s not my fault you have an overactive imagination and were never scared of monsters like most children. You were too curious for your own good.You thought those stories were fascinating. I think it’s where your love of the fantastic came about.” She said shaking her head. “Now don’t interrupt.”

Melinda cleared her throat. “Where was I...yes. My father would tell me stories of demons before I even knew magic was real. In our family we waited until the child came to be thirteen, maybe twelve, before an imbuement was done. There were some relatives that did it as early as five. The point is, there was one story that frightened me more than anything. The story of a particular demon called a Shedim.” Melinda’s voice dropped a little quieter. “He told me how they were these massive monstrous creatures with skin dark as pitch and eyes white as freshly fallen snow. They could make themselves appear human so you never knew who they were. They had these claws that could cut through anything and were sent to punish those who had been wicked.”

Adam couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He had never met his grandfather, as he had passed away before Adam was born, but he couldn’t believe someone would tell their child a story like this. Not to mention that he was painting Shedims in a totally untrue light. Adam couldn’t imagine Elliott ever doing anything like that.

“Those who were wicked or children who acted out in public would find themselves visited by a Shedim at night. They would watch from the foot of the bed with their white, pupilless, eyes and if you caught them watching you they would reach up and drag you from your bed with their claws.”

Adam’s eyes went wide. “Christ mum!” he exclaimed. “That’s horrible! And not even true! You believe that?”

“I was a child! I had heard these stories since I was three. Just because you didn’t believe in monsters.” Melinda shot back.

“No, just a different kind.” Adam mumbled.

Melinda pretended as though she didn’t hear. “By the time my imbuement came around I was still unaware that Shedims were more than just the demons that haunted my nightmares and made me afraid to act out in public. Aunt Helene told me she informed you of how my grandparents had their own Shedim. Yes?”

Adam nodded.

“And how it should have passed to my uncle Albert. Yes, well my mum had the idea that I would benefit from a summer with my cousins. My cousin David was my age and I didn’t have any siblings like she had and thought it might be nice for me to study with others my own age.” Melinda shook her head. “Sure we could have gone to an actual school, but my parents preferred, as did their parents, to self teach. I didn’t want to go, as my cousins and my uncle were...an acquired taste.”

“I don’t think I’ve ever met them.” Adam said. “This is uncle Albert, right? Aunt Helene’s younger brother.”

Melinda nodded. “Uncle Albert, as you know, died before you were born but there is a reason you haven’t met this part of the family.” Melinda sat up a little straighter. “It was 1986 and I had just turned 15. My cousin David and I got along...well enough. His younger brother Blake was ten and acted as his older brother’s shadow. The eldest Dowell son, Samson was 18. The family was suffering from the recent loss of their eldest child and daughter Julia. She had been killed in the cross fire of a duel between two other New Ages that she kept close company with.”

Adam knew this part of the family history but he never asked questions about them, knowing his mum didn’t enjoy talking about them. Aunt Helene was not fond of it either and they were her own first nephews.

“My uncle wasn’t around much so Samson led some of the er, classes. I use that term very loosely. Remember when I said that there are some New Ages that believe themselves to be as good as Bloodlines because their magic goes back generations? Your uncle and his family lived those notions and his children still do today as do their children. It’s disgusting really.”

Melinda folded her hands in her lap. “My first week at my uncle’s estate went by without any problems. Lessons were dull and short as my uncle hardly found the time and will to get out of bed, mourning the loss of his beloved daughter a year prior. And there wasn’t much to do. I found myself in the kitchen with a few of the maids and spent all the time I could down there. They were also kitchen witches and I learned a great deal from them that summer. I learned more from them than my uncle and cousins. All I could learn from them was ignorance. And I’m afraid I showed that when I met Elliott.” Melinda looked ashamed.

Adam grabbed his mum’s hand and squeezed it. She smiled at him and proceeded.

“My cousin Samson learned of my nightmares about the Shedim and decided to introduce me to theirs not in a formal manner either. Remember until then I had been under the assumption they were stories my father and mother had made up to scare me but they were terrifying nonetheless. It wasn’t until the second week into my visit that I learned one of the servants that worked there did so under orders. He was a Shedim. At first I didn’t believe them. But Samson found this to be a grand opportunity to torture me. He said he was just teaching me the true nature of Shedim, as he would later defend his actions. I woke up one night to see white eyes staring at me from the end of the bed. I thought I had been dreaming but I discovered later Samson had ordered the Shedim to sit there and watch me.”

Adam shuddered and held tighter onto his mother’s hand. He was angry. He was furious that this had happened to her even if it did nothing to be mad at the situation as it was in the past. Melinda, noticing the anger in her son’s eyes brought her hand up to his cheek.

“It’s fine, sweetie. I’m alive.” She said. “But..those pranks continued through the summer. It escalated to the point where Samson ordered the Shedim to chase me, but I hadn’t known he was the one ordering him around. I thought the Shedim was acting on its own accord and Samson would come to my ‘rescue’ by stopping the Shedim before it caught me. And for a short time I believed it.” She sighed. “I begged my mum to let me come home but she told me I had to stay. No one believed me about the Shedim and what it--he did to me. That’s..I don’t like thinking about it. I was afraid to stand up to my cousins, and so I endured the rest of the summer. I was sent back the following summer as well.”

“My uncle Albert once punished Samson for what he did, and the terrorizing stopped for a time but I was petrified. As you can see, Shedims were always unnatural creatures and wicked in my mind. My mother and father imbued that in me. I hadn’t known anything else. Later I would learn different but not experience it. I panicked when I saw you with Elliott and learned that he was a Shedim. I based my opinion on him off of what happened to me as a child. It wasn’t that Shedim’s fault, it was my cousin. I understand that now and I was wrong to act the way I did.”

Adam sighed. It was a lot of information to take in over the last twenty minutes. He ran a hand through his hair. “Mum, I didn’t know..I’m...Aether, I’m so sorry.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” She said.

“I’m just glad you told me and that you’re willing to accept Elliott and give him a chance. He’s amazing, mum. He really is. I love him so much and he’s just..he’s not like anything witches say Shedims are.”

Melinda smiled. “I know, Moonpie. I know that now. I’m so happy I’ve gained another son in him. He makes you happy and that’s all I want.”

Adam wrapped his arms around his mum and pulled her close. He couldn’t believe that they had gone two months without talking. “I love you mum.”

“Love you too, Moonpie.” She said and kissed his cheek.

Adam sat back. “So...you said that was one reason for coming here. What was the other?”

Melinda bit her bottom lip and hesitated. “I didn’t want to do this over the phone or through a text.”

“Is it Aunt Helene?” He asked standing. “Is she alright?”

Melinda shook her head. “No, she’s fine. I promise. It’s not that. Your..your father contacted me.”

#the long truth #self para

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thefallenwarrior-archived · 6 years

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Afterlife’s Terrigenesis

It had been a few weeks since Yuan had settled into her new accommodations at Afterlife. She had been alone for a bit of time since her arrival, absorbing the facts of what she was and what inhumans were... she needed the time to absorb the information, also she had mostly spent some of her alone time in going through her new alias, trying to absorb the new facts of who she was...

She knew they knew her white curls was a wig; she had a feeling they didn’t know her face had a mask on and she was keen to keep it that way. Though they had been surprised to hear about her powers and not having gone through the change, she allowed them to take blood and tissue samples. They knew a lot more and she wanted to understand it.

What she hadn’t understood was the fact that she was unique... that her genes have proven to have mutated, defective even, to allow her partial access to her powers without Terrigen. Yuan had sat in the tedious meeting with Jiaying and a few others to discuss her case and what to do.

It was another inhuman, Lincoln that had suggesting her putting her through the mist and the others agreed after hearing potential dangers that could arrive for herself or others given the dark nature of her abilities. Yuan agreed eventually after a while; weighing the pros and cons but with nothing to lose and something to gain that could be beneficial...

Now here she was.... standing in the almost empty room. Above her was an observation desk where Lincoln and Jiaying were stood, infront of her was Gordon, holding what looked to be a blue crystal.

“You ready?” He asked, his tone soft.

Yuan nodded. “I think so.” She knew what to expect now... Gordon had cultured her about the change and what to expect so she was confident but that didn’t stop her feeling some nerves of what was to come. That this was okay... that everything would be fine... that everyone would be here for her.

Though she couldn’t deny, if someone had told her that as she had been may, she would have scoffed; not needing encouragement if it felt like it was in any way patronising. But here it felt needed. After everything that had happened... at the hands of ward... what SHIELD did to her... it had knocked her back. Almost like Bahrain.

Inhaling deeply, glad to feel her pulse even out she nodded to Gordon. After a moment he let it drop; disappearing away but she watched as the crystal drop and a sudden rush of blue like mist shooting out like a volcanic pyroclastic flow; she felt it immediately hit her; like an icy chill and the mist spread up and shrouded her then was gone.

A few moments passed though a odd nauseating feeling spread through her stomach; shivering out but her eyes widened, even though she expected it as what looked to be a greyish substance started to coat around her feet... spreading up like q cool liquid rock but what surprised her was the burning sensations starching under. unable to hold back a gasp o pain, her stiffening limb coming to her face but everything went dark as she felt the shell harden..... and encasing her into it’s disorientating darkness.

Suddenly everything felt like she was on fire... the burning sensation racing through her flesh in waves starting at her face.... her eyes hurt but she couldn’t see... everything was dark and hot needles felt like they were stabbing into her bones... into her skull.... the burning spreading down.... the pain lingering in her face..

Yuan lost track of what was happening... the pain still there but much dimmer... she couldn’t move; she felt trapped and claustrophobic....but didn’t want to move... didn’t want to get out... see what had happened to her... everything felt wrong... she felt sick.

“it’s....” Yuan just about heard... not sure where it came from. Everything felt muffled... and she felt oddly disconnected from her body; not even wondering how she was breathing... while she felt trapped; she felt safe... safe from SHIELD...

“Eleanor...” The voice called... it almost made her wonder who that was... it felt directed to her... but she was Melinda May... She felt confused...

“...sure... alive...” not picking up on the rest than words from the outside voices.

“..es..” was the muffled reply from the woman...

Yuan’s mind cleared a little though the haze, sharpening to listen as the woman continued to talk.

“Eleanor, you’re okay.... you’re okay... i hope you can here me.” The voice was soft, almost reassuring... and welcoming. “When you’re ready, i need you to concentrate... on your body... what your feeling... try to bring yourself to even move... your husk can crack. We can help you if you’re stuck...”

It took a lot for her mind to really register what she was saying... and it made sense... she could get out... but did she want to?

“You’re safe... i can promise you that. if that’s what you’re worried about.”

It took a bit more time before she had the will to move, her head just a little that made the differeance; the stone seemed to crack and spread like ice though she felt her body twitch then more cracks.

She groaned out softly, feeling the air seep though the stone over her face though felt it move before she was almost blinded by the light from the dim room as it was pulled away.

“Sorry!” The voice of Lincoln apologised but she closed her eyes to block it out; allowing the helping hands to pull away the solid cocoon shell though she almost immediately fell forwards; barely feeling Jiaying’s hand catch her and lower her down

“I feel weird...” Yuan complained.

Jiaying softly chuckled, mostly with relief. “You’ve been in there for 15 hours... I’m not surprised.”

“Hhmmm....” the hours didn’t seem significant but everything aches and she felt exhausted, passing out as Gordon reached for her...

#➤ * иσт мαу иσт ςнєи вυт ѕσмєтнιиg ιинυмαи (eleanor yuan)#➤ *ωσякιиg σи тнє ιинυмαи ѕι∂є (verse: helped by inhumans)#➤ * fяαςтυяєѕ ѕиιρρєтѕ σf нєя ℓιfє (drabble)

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llantano · 6 years

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The Darkened Glass, 3. After the Storm

By Jaemlyn

The cool stone countertop of the bathroom sink calmed Dorian momentarily as she tried to right her thoughts. She attempted to catch her breath and put on a confident air with intentions of opening the door and explaining herself to Ray as well as assuring him that she was fine now that she was back out in the open. The only problem with this plan was that for some inexplicable reason, Ray’s gentle voice and careful gestures were frightening the living daylight out of her.

Ray knocked on the door. "Dorian?" He rattled the doorknob next to her ear. Dorian retreated to the toilet, where she sat with the lid down, out of breath. She shut her eyes tightly and saw her former husband, Mel, reaching out to her. Her body shuddered involuntarily as Ray knocked again, more loudly. "Please just go away," she requested, trying to sound calm and collected. Ray listened quietly on the other side of the door. "Are you sure that is what you want?" "Please," she asked again, her voice strained. “Just leave me alone.” He frowned, hearing a sniffle from the other side of the door. "I will be nearby," he promised, concerned and confused. A mature female voice called out from downstairs. "Hello!? Is anyone home?" Ray walked to the bedroom door as Dorian tiptoed to the bathroom door to listen from the other side. "Up here," Ray called. "Who is it?" Viki rushed up the stairs. "Is everyone okay here?" she gasped. "My God, I was on my way home and I had to take cover under the bridge up the road. There are trees down everywhere and part of your roof is missing! ... Where is Dorian?" Ray stepped aside and extended his arm, gesturing toward Dorian's room. Viki grasped his shoulders. "Everyone is okay here, right? I talked to my daughters and the tornado didn't even touch the other side of town. Tell me everyone is alright." Ray shook his head. "I don't know." He gestured at Dorian's room again, uncertain. "Dorian!?" Viki called, approaching. Dorian slinked back away from the door in the dark, shaking. "Dorian, are you alright?" Viki called. "Viki," Dorian whispered, aware that the woman on the other side of the door could not hear her; half kicking herself for hiding and half relieved to hear the other female’s voice. Viki waited for an answer and then turned to Ray calmly. He offered his best explanation. "She wouldn't take cover from the storm. The wind was blowing and the storm was bearing down on us, so I grabbed Dorian and pulled her into the closet." Viki nodded once, slowly. "I take it she didn't take too well to that." Ray shrugged, his concern apparent but remaining unemotional as he explained. "She struggled to get out - to rush back out into the storm - and I had to hold her." Viki nodded to him reassuringly. "You did the right thing. If you hadn't forced her to take cover, she probably wouldn't have." She turned to the bathroom door in the shaded room. "Dorian, listen to me," she stated calmly. "It is Viki. The storm is over now - it is safe to come out." Inside, Dorian shook her head in disagreement, calm but stunned. No. "Dorian." Viki laid her palm on the surface of the door. "At least say something so we can hear your voice and know you are alright." It took a few moments for Dorian to find her voice. "If I come out," she told Viki, bemused, “it will all start again. It always comes back." "Not today, Dorian," Viki differed. She could hear Dorian's voice inching closer to the door. "I can't," Dorian told her quietly, trying to breathe. "No matter what I do, I'll end up here again." "I can't argue with that, Dorian," Viki said serenely to the bathroom door. "But not today, and maybe not even for years and years to come. Maybe never. The point is, you are safe, the storm is over, and no one out here is going to hurt you." Dorian had heard those lines before, and she recoiled from the sound of Viki's voice and the door, falling to her knees in the back of the room. "I should have stayed here to start with," she whispered to herself grievously. Viki turned to Ray to offer an explanation. "She's claustrophobic. That's why she didn't want to take cover." Realization swept through Ray's eyes as he nodded. "That certainly explains a lot - except why she would lock herself in a darkened bathroom." Viki had to agree. "She must be in some state of mind to actually want to be in a dark, enclosed place." Instinctively, she knocked on the door again. "Dorian, let me in." Dorian's body wrenched in reaction to the knocking as if someone had hit her. "No," she protested abruptly. "No! I need Addie. I need Addie and Melinda." Her voice was desperate as she asked for her sisters. "I only want them!" "Dear Lord," Viki whispered. "I think we may need to call an ambulance." Ray nodded, moving away from the door a ways to give the ladies some room as he talked on his cell phone. It seemed to be taking an unusually long amount of time for the call to ring through. "Dorian, you have to come out," Viki reasoned with her, jiggling the door handle again. "You can't see Addie or Melinda in there. Or Langston or any of the other girls." Dorian clutched at the shirt on her chest, wadding it in her fists, breathing heavily. "The air is so thick in here - so damp and so cold." She released her shirt and spread her fingers wide, her hands shaking in the dark. Silence answered her. She wasn't even sure she had said it aloud. Suddenly, she noticed that the small battery-operated clock on the shelf where she kept her perfume bottles was ticking obstinately. The tick-tocking filled her head, and she covered her ears, unable to stop it. "Dorian, talk to me - say something. Say anything." She could still hear the clock, even with her ears covered. "Viki!" Dorian yelled her answer, agitated. "I don't want to see him!" "Who, Dorian??? Ray?" Viki turned to look at Ray, who was still pacing on the other side of the room with the phone to his ear. "Is it because he held you? Because he trapped you?" Dorian inched across the floor, surprising Viki with how near her voice instantly was. "I can hear her," Dorian cried. "Make it stop." "Dorian, you don't need to put yourself through this. We're getting you some help. Now you need to calm down and act like an adult." Dorian put her hand on the doorknob, but only to pull herself to her feet. She grabbed the clock off of the shelf, half-screaming, half-growling, and knocking over several bottles of perfume in the dark. Normally, she knew, the sounds of the house drowned out the tick-tocking of the small analog clock, but with the power out and the door closed, it was nearly the only thing she could hear. "Dorian?!" Viki called at the sound of the bottles falling, concerned, jerking on the door. "Keep talking to me. Say whatever you want to say." "You can't make me!" Dorian yelled at Viki, angry. She began to pound the clock against the sink violently. "You can't make me cry, or scream, or tell the truth! This is my house! Get out of my house!!!" Viki sighed, helpless, on the other side of the door and waited for silence before speaking again. "Is that what you really want, Dorian? You know if we just leave you alone here, you'll never come out of this." Dorian was squeezing the tiny clock in her hands as hard as she could. "Oh, this stupid clock! It just keeps ticking!" "Take the battery out, Dorian!" Viki said it with a frustrated tone, feeling she was stating the obvious. "Of course, of course." Dorian scrambled to remove the battery, unsure of why she hadn't thought of the idea herself. The unrelenting tick-tock stopped and she tossed the clock onto the floor with a crash. "Oh, thank you, Viki. Thank you so much," she gasped sincerely. "I don't think I could take that much longer." "Dorian?" Viki asked serenely. "Will you do something for me?" She listened. "Answer me, Dorian. I need you to do something for me." "Okay, okay," Dorian finally managed to answer desperately. "I want you to take your right hand - your right hand, alright?" Dorian held her right hand out in front of her. "I'm not opening the door, Viki!" She squeezed her eyes shut tightly. She could still see Ray standing over her, looking down, Mel reaching out to her, and a gray-haired old woman she knew as Mrs. Stonecliff – her former nanny – trying to hand her a cup of cocoa. Oh, God. "I'm not asking you to open the door, I promise. Take your right hand and put it inside your shirt, Dorian. Lay it over your heart." She paused. "Are you doing it, Dorian? Can you feel your heartbeat?" Dorian breathed heavily, slowly sliding her hand under her blouse and laying it over the left side of her chest. She could feel her chest heaving as she breathed. "Do you feel it, Dorian?" Her heart was thumping against her hand. She immediately knew that her heart rate was elevated. "I feel it, Viki." "Alright, now. What you have to do for me is to try to calm down. Just take deep breaths and try to calm down." "Yes," Dorian agreed, nodding to herself in the darkness, practicing her breathing. "Pay attention to it, Dorian, and know that you are alive -- a vibrant, passionate woman who feels things deeply. That's alright. That's good. Your family needs you, Dorian. Think about that." Viki turned to Ray as he snapped his cell phone shut. He shook his head. “Something about ‘experiencing a high volume of calls.’" He frowned as Viki nodded to him. "How is she?" Viki shrugged. "She still won't come out. Ray? I don't know if I can help her." "What can I do?" he asked. "Jessica told me that they're letting the children out of school early. I couldn't get through the road for the debris. Maybe you should go see if you can meet them or help them through. I think Langston might be able to help." "Oh, God, no," Dorian suddenly protested from just on the other side of the door. "I don't want her to see ... to know I'm like this." Viki nodded reassuringly at Ray. "I'll stay till you get back." He returned an understanding and assured glance. Viki turned her attention back to the bathroom door but said nothing. There was a long silence. "Viki?" came Dorian's voice after a long moment, like a frightened child. "Viki, you're still out there, aren't you?" She didn't receive a reply. She felt fury inside her. "Viki!?" she yelled. "Tell me you're out there!" Viki stood at the ready, hoping that curiosity would get the better of Dorian and that she would open the bathroom door a crack to check to see if she was truly alone. Dorian had already forgotten about her heartbeat. "I always hated storms," she confided to whoever might be listening, if anyone. "I always hated the idea of heading to the cellar – of course – I couldn’t tell anyone that. No, I had to be the strong one.” Viki sighed and sat down on the clean, pale carpeted floor outside the door. Dorian continued. "Viki?" She felt along the wall for a towel and pulled it from the rack, burying her face in it as she sat on the toilet lid for a moment before looking up. "Someone once told me I am like a storm. ‘Hurricane Dorian.’ Full of rage, and chaos and unpredictability - and, you know? I feel that way. I feel it inside me all the time." She choked back her tears for a moment before letting the rage and frustration spill out in her voice. "Just … exploding to get out of me all the time!" She nearly growled, grasping the towel in frustration. "You see, I can't come out, Viki." Viki reluctantly answered. "Out of what?" "Were they right about me all along?" Dorian asked her own question. "Oh, Dorian." Viki leaned against the door, her back to it. "People make a lot of assumptions about you. And you seem to have an uncanny knack for always making the wrong impression. But, Dorian, I know you well enough to know that there is truth in what people think about you - even if they aren't entirely right. And ... and I'm not just talking about the people who hate you - I'm talking about the people who love you as well." Dorian inched back toward the door again and knelt on the floor, presuming Viki's position on the other side of it from the way her voice sounded. She knew she was placing herself just inches from the other woman. "So you're saying they're all right? About me?" "Would you venture to say they're wrong?" Viki asked incredulously. "No," Dorian agreed. "I ... I'm not always a good person. I know it. But why ... why do ... I didn't know I was bad when I was a little girl, did I? I wasn’t ‘wicked.’" "Please open the door, Dorian." "No." Viki relented. "My guess is that you were just like any other little girl trying to find her way in the world. All you had to go on were your emotions and what little you knew of the situations you were faced with. Come to think of it, you probably haven't changed much since then, except that now you try to control those situations by any means necessary, and at whatever cost!" Viki crossed her arms, trying not to feel annoyed or hateful. Dorian didn't answer. She looked up at the blackness above her, and she now saw Lola standing in front of Ray. At first, it looked as though Lola was guarding Dorian, protective, and then a sly smirk crossed the girl's face as she sidled up to her father and threw her arms around him, communicating that they were both there to harm her. "I know. I understand that," Dorian answered as much to Lola as to Viki. "Why should I lie down and take it?" Viki groaned, calm through her annoyance. "You act as if everyone in the world is out to get you, Dorian, and, you know, that simply isn't true! I would actually go so far as to say that most people believe that you are out to get them." Dorian buried her face in her towel again, unable to cast a light on the fine line between standing up for herself and pushing others down. She tried to slow her breathing and laid down on her back on the bathroom floor. Viki stood over her, smiling down with a smile Dorian had seen from her before - the smile that often plagued the lips of Viki's alter - Jean Randolph. "How did you get in here?" Dorian asked. "What?" Viki asked from the other side of the door. "I see you, Viki," Dorian warned. "What are you going to do to me?" "Dorian, for God's sake, I'm not going to do anything to you. I can't even get to you." Dorian sat up and scrambled to her bathtub, waving away the phantom in her mind. "I'm losing it, Viki. … It's finally happening." She nodded to herself. "I am losing my mind." "Oh, snap out of it, Dorian!" Viki called to her through the door. "You're having a panic attack - that's all. But if you don't get a grip then you will have a full-blown mental breakdown and there are plenty of people in this town that would be more than happy to lock you away." "Oh, God." Dorian draped herself over the edge of the bathtub. "You're right. I mustn't do this." "Dorian!?" a young female voice rang out from elsewhere in the house. Viki stood, blocking the door to the bathroom as a virtual stampede rushed up the stairs to Dorian's room. "Aunt Viki?" Starr questioned, surprised to see her father’s sister there. "What's going on?" "I'm fine, girls!" Dorian called out from the bathroom, her voice a bit unsteady. Viki guided Langston to the door. "Talk to her, Langston." She stepped back and stood beside Starr, Lola and Ray Montez. Langston slowly tried to turn the doorknob, but it was locked. "Um, can I come in?" Dorian splashed cold water on her face. "No, Langston. You don't want to be in here." "Well, neither do you," Langston protested. "Are you sick? There's nothing to do in there in the dark." She rattled the door. Dorian felt the weight of the air against her skin and the thickness of it in her windpipe. "Please don't do that," Dorian asked, intentionally and falsely calm. Langston looked back at Viki, who shook her head at the other three and shrugged. Starr stepped forward. "Aunt Dorian?" "Yes, Starr?" Starr looked at the others. "I was really scared a little bit ago. I can't tell you how relieved I was to know everyone was alright and that this house was still here." She waited for a response and didn't get one. "But I guess I shouldn't have been surprised. I mean, this is pretty much the headquarters of the Cramer women, right?" She exchanged a knowing smile with Langston. Viki took Langston's hand and pulled her easily out into the hallway as Starr continued to speak to her other aunt. "Langston, darling, I don't know if Dorian has ever told you that she's claustrophobic.” She gazed at the girl, smiling encouragingly. “Now, Ray was trying to save her life, but I'm afraid it triggered something in Dorian's mind - being shut in the closet - and I can't imagine any reason why she would intentionally lock herself up. If anyone can get through to her - get her to open that door - it would have to be you, honey." Langston nodded slowly, taking in the responsibility. She thought for a moment and then turned back to the bedroom doorway. "Alright, everybody out!" she called into the room, clapping her hands as she re-entered. "No, I mean it. I want to talk to her alone." She nodded to Starr and winked at her Uncle Ray. "Out, all of you - go on." She herded her family out into the hallway, leaving the door open so they could be satisfied to listen.

4. An Explanation

#Dorian and Ray #One Life to Live #OLTL #Dorian Lord #fanfic #Ray Montez #The Darkened Glass #Viki Lord #Starr Manning #Langston Wilde

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throw-books-around-like-con-blog · 7 years

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Your Choice of Source “Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson, published in 2004

One of my favorite parts about this semester blog project is that we get to read four books of our choosing, four books without any specific requirements like being an award-winning book or teacher recommended. This gave me the perfect opportunity to read books that I’ve either wanted to read for a while, books that I’ve never even heard of, and an opportunity to read books that I haven’t read in a while. I understand that it was suggested that we read books that we’ve never read before, but reading four books of my choosing gave me the perfect opportunity to read a book that I loved as an adolescent, but haven’t read since eighth grade: “Speak.”

When I read the book, the emotional meaning and loneliness the main character (Melinda) was feeling throughout the book resonated with my life so much. I had just transferred schools when one of my new classmates recommended I read “Speak,” and they made a great recommendation because that book was one of the most incredible books I had ever read.

When I started deciding what books I was going to read for my semester blog project, “Speak” was one of the first books that popped into my mind. I remembered how much I loved the book as a kid and wanted to reread it as an adult because I wanted to see if I interpreted the text differently or read the book with a different perspective.

For anyone who doesn’t know, “Speak” is a book that takes place over the course of an entire school year, four marking periods. Melinda Sordino is a freshman in high school. She doesn’t have any friends and the entire school hates her because she called the cops and busted a party she was at the summer prior to school starting. While all of her friends and a majority of the school thought that she called the cops out of spite, she actually called the cops after she was raped by a senior named Andy Evans. The interesting thing about this book, however, is that the reader doesn’t find out that Melinda was raped until ¾ of the way through the book.

Before I discuss the foreshadowing that occurred prior to Melinda admitting to the reader that she was raped, I will discuss a variety of literary elements that occurred throughout the book as well as the interesting writing style of the author.

Some direct characterization that took place occurred with the characters Mr. Neck, Hairwoman, Mr. Freeman, Heather, etc.

*Side Note* The main character, Melinda, never refers to Mr. Neck or Hairwoman by their real names, only by their appearances.

Direct characterization takes place on page 5 when Melinda describes her history teacher, Mr. Neck. “A predator approaches: gray jock, buzz cut, whistle around a neck thicker than his head. Probably a social studies teacher, hired to coach a blood sport.” Direct characterization also takes place on page 6 when Melinda describes her English teacher, Hairwoman. She says, “My English teacher has no face. She has uncombed stringy hair that droops on her shoulders. The hair is black from her part to her ears and then neon orange frizzy ends.” Direct characterization also takes place on page 24 when Melinda describes her friend “Heather.” Melinda says, “I used to be like Heather. She is happy, driven, aerobically fit. She has a nice mom and an awesome television. But she’s like a dog that keeps jumping into your lap. She always walks with me down the halls chattering a million miles a minute.” Direct characterization takes place a variety of times throughout the book, as well as indirect characterization when she talks about some of these characters’ actions throughout the book.

The author has a very unique writing style. Throughout the book, she capitalizes random things, like “the Neck Cut,” on page 54, and “The Back Row,” on page 65, and “David Petrakis My Lab Partner,” etc. The punctuation is whack at random times throughout the book and the author had a habit of not using any form of punctuation. Although the author’s writing style annoyed me at times throughout the book, it almost felt as if the character, Melinda, was speaking directly to me, and not the author. This book was very personable and allowed the reader to have a relationship with Melinda. It’s almost as if Melinda knew that she was a character in a book and that someone was reading her story.

Because I have already read this book, I knew that the character was raped, but that was the only thing in the book that I remembered. Reading this book as an adult made me realize all of the foreshadowing that took place throughout the book. Before the reader even knew that Melinda was raped, Melinda commonly refers to the rapist as “IT.” An example of foreshadowing took place on page 86. “IT found me again. I thought I could ignore IT. There are four hundred other freshmen in here, two hundred females. Plus all the other grades. But he whispers to me.” Although I knew who she was referring to (because I had already read the book), I feel that I would be very confused as a new reader of the book because she doesn’t disclose what happened to her the summer before, why everyone hates her, or who IT is until later in the book. I really enjoyed how much the author foreshadowed the true story throughout the story. Foreshadowing is by far one of the most present literary elements featured in this book and keeps the reason curious and asking questions throughout the book because of how closed off the character is in telling the story to her family and friends as well as the reader.

“Speak” is one of my favorite books and I am so happy I got to read it again. I definitely appreciated this story and its worth more as an adult because of how prevalent rape culture is in today’s society, as well as how Melinda’s story is just one fictional story that represents the true story of millions of people across the world. I also appreciated this story more as an adult because I understood it more and understood how serious the topic of rape is. I believe this book represents today’s society in such a disgusting, realistic manner; it’s disgusting because Andy Evans’ (Melinda’s rapist) actions are just one example of the disgusting, terrible actions other people commit daily. Although the writing style of the Laurie Halse Anderson annoyed me from time to time throughout the book (like her lack of using punctuation and the fact that she capitalized random things that shouldn’t be capitalized), she told Melinda’s story beautifully and truly exemplified the bravery someone can have, even after going through terrible circumstances. My favorite part about this book was that the author told a realistic story about a girl who was raped but didn’t let that rape define her; she struggled and fell into a dark rabbit hole (in the book, she commonly refers to herself as a rabbit) but learned to accept what happened to her, admit what happened to her, and acknowledged that she can grow from it.

My favorite lines in the book took place on the last page, page 198, and they said, “IT happened. There is no avoiding it, no forgetting. No running away, or flying, or burying, or hiding. Andy Evans raped me in August when I was drunk and too young to know what was happening. It wasn’t my fault. He hurt me. It wasn’t my fault. And I’m not going to let it kill me. I can grow.”

I absolutely loved these lines and felt that Laurie Halse Anderson ended Melinda’s story beautifully, but also began a new story: Melinda’s journey towards self-acceptance and growth.

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