#judging by the end of the latest chapter. well. as i said in that other post. | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

rose-sophia-isabella-rogers · 3 months

Text

A Steel That Went Through Hottest Fire: Chapter XX - An Arrow in the Quiver

Chapter Summary: It's time to face Fjerda. Who will win and who will lose? Will Ravka finally be at peace? And what will you get for everything you've done?

Pairing: Aleksander Kirigan/Reader, Alina Starkov/Mal Oretsev, Zoya Nazyalensky/Nikolai Lantsov, Fedyor Kaminsky/Ivan, Genya Safin/David Kostyk

Characters: Aleksander Kirigan, Reader, Nikolai Lantsov, Genya Safin, Alina Starkov, Mal Oretsev, Ivan, Fedyor Kaminsky, Zoya Nazyalensky, David Kostyk, Nina Zenik

Word Count: 4449

A/N: Inspired by prompt: https://pl.pinterest.com/pin/207306389090100611/

Tag list (let me know if you want to be added or removed):

@budugu

@intothesoul

@mizelophsun11

@pansexualwitchwhoneedstherapy

@zeeader

@marrymonrich

@wonderland2425

@chelseyyouraverageluigi

@thehufflepuffavenger1

@drinix

Ivan and Tolya return. With a promise of an army. Like Aleksander has predicted, the people of Shu-Han are furious. Their beloved princess is 'dead' because of Fjerda and it has to pay for it. The great battle is about to happen soon.

Everyone is preparing in the ways they can. Including you. Even though you've already did a lot, you still spend days in the workshop, working on your latest project.

This is where one night David finds you. The only reason Kirigan hasn't dragged you from here is because he is at the Grand Palace, busy with another war meeting.

'You've done so much already, [Y/N],' Kostyk says quietly, but still manages to startle you. 'Go and get some rest.'

'I can't,' you huff, combing your hair with your hand. 'Not after what Nina told me about Fjerdans' work on jurda parem.'

'And that is?' David asks, raising his eyebrows. You sigh and remember your conversation with Zenik…

'Jurda parem in gaseous form?' you asked with disbelief. The Heartrender nodded, troubled.

'I wasn't dosed with it in the end, but still…' she said. 'I'm worried our Grisha will be attacked like that during the battle.'

'Everyone is to have a dose of antidote with them, so I wouldn't worry about that,' you said, pensive. 'But you brought up a good point. Gaseous form is more effective. If we had the antidote in that form on the battlefield…'

'We could save Grisha on the Fjerdans' side,' Nina said, her eyes lightning up. You nodded.

'I will think about it,' you promised. Zenik clasped your hands in hers and smiled.

'If anyone can figure it out, it's you,' she said, winking. You stared at her hands, pensive. From all the people, she's been one of the first that seemed to trust you. It puzzled you.

'Thank you,' you said quietly. 'It means a lot.'

'Hey,' the Heartrender said softly. 'I know what you're thinking. But I am the last person who should judge your actions. My lover is a Fjerdan after all.'

She smiled wryly. You thought about Matthias. He was a good man and utterly in love with Nina. But yes. He was a Fjerdan and almost as unpopular as you and Aleksander.

'The heart does what it wants, huh?' you asked, shrugging. Zenik chuckled. She sighed and nodded.

'Oh, yes,' she agreed. 'That's so true.'

'Hm, that is a good idea,' David says, already thinking. You blink, discarding the memory.

'Yeah, but so far it's just that,' you say and huff in frustration. 'I can't believe Fjerdans figured out the gaseous form of parem and I can't do the same with the antidote!'

'Well, they are a little different,' Kostyk points out. 'You're using more raw jurda.'

Instantly, you look at each other. You think of the same.

'That's it,' you say. 'And maybe if we-'

'Instead of-' the Durast says.

'And then-' you add.

'Yes, let's do it,' David says and you two get to work. Some time later, while waiting for your work to cool down, you sit and drink tea.

'I've forgiven you, by the way,' Kostyk says suddenly. 'Your betrayal, lies and manipulation. I get why you did it. Also, I see you were right. Ever since Kirigan has returned, things are finally looking up. We really needed him now. And since three years have passed, some emotions and grudges cooled down. We could put them aside and work together for Ravka.'

'Thank you,' you say after a beat. 'I… I didn't want to betray you. It hurt me. So, your forgiveness means a great deal to me.'

'You are my friend, [Y/N],' the Durast says softly. 'It may take some time, but I'll always forgive you. No matter what you'll do. And I hope this will be the same in your case.'

'I can hardly imagine you doing something so vile you'd need my forgiveness, but of course,' you chuckle. David smiles. You chat for a bit more, then continue your experiment.

When Aleksander walks in later, tired and exasperated with you, you're staring proudly at your work. At first, neither of you even notice his presence.

'We have to test it now,' Kostyk says, pensive. 'But we don't have more affected Grisha.'

'We can always drug someone and then give him an antidote,' you suggest.

'You're thinking about those two Grisha that were ogling Kirigan during the party, aren't you?' David asks. You look at him innocently.

'I'm sure someone will show up soon,' the Darkling speaks up, joining your conversation. 'We still get new Grisha hurt by the parem. So, for now you both can go to sleep.'

'Yes, sir,' Kostyk quickly says and starts cleaning up.

'If no one does, though, can we consider my suggestion?' you ask hopefully. David and Aleksander roll their eyes. You sigh and quickly help Kostyk. Once you're done, the Durast bids you farewell, and leaves. Kirigan takes your hand in his and you go to his chambers.

'So, what was that experiment about?' he asks you.

'We've managed to make the antidote in a gaseous form,' you explain and your lover looks at you, impressed. 'We just have to see if it still works.'

'If it does… it would help immensely in the battle,' the Darkling says and kisses your hand. 'Thank you, milaya. You've already done so much and yet you continue to amaze us all.'

'Well, since I'm not going to be on the battlefield, I want to be useful in another way,' you say. You enter the room, since you've reached it.

'I want to argue about that usefulness, but I'm too exhausted,' Aleksander sighs. You comb his hair with your hand. He closes his eyes, leaning into your touch, relaxing.

'How was the meeting?' you ask.

'Alina and I didn't argue, so that's a success,' he answers. 'Other than that… we still can't agree on the best course of action.'

'Well, you'll get it in the end,' you assure him. 'If not, you can always threaten the generals with me.'

'Hm, I would not like to see you entering a meeting, furious and ready to argue,' Kirigan admits and kisses you softly. 'Thank you, lapushka.'

You beam at him and answer the kiss. It takes a few minutes for you to pull apart.

'You can thank me properly after I give you a massage,' you whisper. The Darkling groans.

'Yes, please, I need it so much,' he asks. You chuckle and push him into the bathroom.

'I'm at your service,' you say teasingly. Aleksander pulls you with him, a mirth in his eyes. A lot of time passes before you finally go to sleep.

Everything is ready. Shu-Han's army has arrived. Your warriors feel up to the task. The antidote in a gaseous form is working and you've produced it enough, or so you hope. All of that means it's time to move out to battle.

In the morning when the armies are to set off, you help Aleksander get ready. The atmosphere is solemn, tense. You don't speak. Both of you are scared to break the silence.

'[Y/N]…' Kirigan starts when he's ready. But he trails off and sighs.

'Come back to me, okay?' you ask him. 'I don't fancy bringing you back to life a second time.'

'I'd say it's not possible now, but I know you'd find a way,' the Darkling says, smiling wryly.

'Obviously,' you huff. Aleksander chuckles. He cups your cheek. You lean into his touch, looking at him sadly. You're scared he's not going to return. He's immortal, yes. But some things still can kill him.

'It's going to be okay,' Kirigan says quietly. 'Thanks to you we're well prepared. We're going to win. And I'm not going to die. I made you a promise, didn't I?'

'You did,' you admit. 'But I… can't help it.'

'I know,' the Darkling says. 'I used to thrive in a battle. Now I despise it, because I know it makes you worried or you could get hurt. I wonder why is that, hm?'

You smile slightly, not at all sorry. Aleksander cups your other cheek and touches your forehead with his.

'I love you so hard that I softened,' he says. 'And I don't mind it one bit. I'm a happier man thanks to it.'

You lift your head and make your lips join. You kiss for a minute or so. Then, you pull away, but only slightly.

'Then go and win this, so I could be a happier woman,' you whisper. Kirigan catches your mouth for a moment longer.

'As my lady commands,' he murmurs. 'But before I go… there's something I want to ask you.'

He takes your hands in his. You look at him quizzically. He seems nervous for some reason.

'When I come back… I'd like to marry you,' he says, stunning you. 'If you'll have me, that is. Since we're both immortal now, I understand I'd be tying you to me forever. If you're not sure, need more time or you-'

You silence him with a finger on his lips. He looks at you, hopeful and scared. But to his relief you smile.

'Yes,' you say. The fearsome Darkling laughs, overjoyed. He kisses you again and again.

'Now you better win quickly,' you say when you finally stop. 'I don't want to wait long.'

'Neither do I,' Aleksander says, grinning. You join hands and leave his chambers. Ivan and Fedyor, who are happily married since last week, follow you. Soon, you're outside with the rest of the army.

'[Y/N], are you sure you're not coming?' Nikolai asks, walking to you. 'You can, if you want.'

'Oh, I'm sure,' you confirm, nodding. 'I don't want to be anywhere near a battle until I learn to control fully my amplified abilities.'

Lantsov nods in understanding. He smiles charmingly at you.

'Then keep an eye on the capital, will you?' he asks.

'Hm, I don't know,' you say playfully. 'Haven't I done enough?'

'You've done,' the King says, suddenly serious. 'You've done so much to help us win this. If we do, I know it's mostly thanks to you.'

He offers you his hand. You stare at it for a moment. Then, you grab it and you shake it.

'Good luck, moi tsar,' you say, bowing your head with respect. He nods back and goes to his horse. You bid farewell to the rest of your friends. Even David goes with others. Suddenly, Alina shows up next to you.

'[Y/N],' she greets you and becomes nervous. 'I… Can we talk?'

'What is it?' you ask, trying not to sound too much hostile.

'I want to apologise,' Starkov says after a beat. You look at her with raised eyebrows. She sighs.

'I hate it, but Aleksander's ideas were mostly spot on,' she starts. 'And he genuinely seems to have changed. I know it's thanks to you. You… were right. About so many things. Maybe even most of them.'

You stare at her. You see your silence makes her even more nervous.

'Good luck, Alina,' you finally say. 'Win this war and come back home. I honestly wish for that for you.'

'Thank you,' the Sun Summoner says quietly. She walks away. Her slumped shoulders tell you the conversation didn't go as she hoped.

'Alina!' you call after her after a moment of hesitation. She turns, a hopeful look in her eyes.

'Maybe one day I'll be able to forgive you,' you say. 'As I hope you'll forgive me. But now… it's still too soon.'

She nods her head in understanding and walks away. You watch her joining Mal. They talk and smile after a moment. You turn your head and look at Nikolai. He meets your gaze and grins.

'Best of luck,' you say.

'I have your antidote, best warriors I could hope for and a perfect equipment,' he says. 'I think we're more than ready to win this.'

'Just don't get too cocky,' you warn him.

'Don't worry, I won't let that happen,' Zoya says, showing up on her horse next to Lantsov. 'You try not to ruin the Little Palace while we're away.'

'What about the Grand Palace?' the King questions. Nazyalensky shrugs.

'I don't care, it's ugly anyway,' she says. Nikolai looks at you pleadingly.

'Look after it as well,' he asks.

'But I don't like it either,' you say. Lantsov sighs and turns to his soldiers.

'Move out!' he orders and the armies slowly head out. You manage to catch the gaze of Aleksander. You smile at each other and nod.

'Good luck,' you whisper. After everyone is gone, you turn and go back to the Little Palace. Now all you can do is wait.

It takes some time to reach the border with Fjerda. But the King's army finally does and a day later the battle starts. It's not pretty. Many people die. But thanks to your antidote, Zoya's excellent training, Kirigan's spot on strategy and some other things, they seem to be winning.

'Nikolai!' Zoya shouts at some point. He quickly turns to her, alarmed. But she doesn't seem to be harmed.

'If we survive this, you can ask me!' she shouts. 'You know, that certain question!'

Lantsov stares at her, stunned. Then, he grins.

'Seriously?' he asks, beaming at her. She barely manages to stop a smile forming on her face.

'Yes,' she says. 'But I want it to be public. I want to see the faces of courtiers when you do it.'

The King chuckles. Then he has to duck, because Zoya suddenly shoots flames in his direction. Behind him someone screams. He looks at his general sheepishly. She sends him an annoyed glare.

'But try to live to that moment, hm?' she asks. He salutes her and returns to the battle.

Some time later, it's over. While at first the numbers on both sides have been even, when Ravkans started using antidote on drugged Grisha on Fjerdan's side, the numbers turned. Because when they were no longer under the effect of parem, Grisha with fury turned on Fjerda. Mostly thanks to that, Ravka and Shu-Han are victorious. Well, Zoya, Aleksander and Alina attacking with enormous power helped as well.

Nikolai walks to one of Fjerdan generals to make him announce the surrender officially. He's lying on the ground, coughing out blood, Kirigan's shoe on his chest. He laughs when he sees the approaching Lantsov.

'You may have won today, false king,' he says. 'But you have nowhere to come back to.'

Dread fills Nikolai. He looks with alarm at the Darkling. His expression is grim as well. And worried.

'I knew there's too little of them,' Mal murmurs. Lantsov turns to Zoya.

'Go,' she says before he can say something. 'Alina and I will make sure it's over here. Ravka needs you to be there. Both of you.'

She looks at Aleksander. He nods at her in gratitude. The King wants to argue. But he knows Nazyalensky is right. So, he barks orders and takes some soldiers with him. Then, they speed up to Os Alta.

Which is under attack. When they first attack, you're in your room, writing a letter to your lover. But sudden commotion interrupts you. You bolt out of the room.

'We're under attack!' a panicked soldier shouts, running to you. 'Fjerda has carried out a sneak attack! They're going to be here within an hour!'

You curse under your breath. You think on your feet.

'Gather everyone we have in the throne room of Grand Palace,' you order. The soldier doesn't even question you. He just nods and rushes out.

Ten minutes later you enter the room full of soldiers and Grisha. But it's still not enough to defeat an army that's coming to get you. Especially, since most of Grisha are still learning. The rest are Durasts and Alkemi. The experienced ones are on the front.

'We're gonna die,' someone whispers.

'No, we're not,' you deny. 'We can't win, but we're not gonna die.'

'What's the difference?' someone asks.

'This Palace has been made to withstand a siege,' you say. 'All we have to do is hold on until the army returns. And I know we can do it.'

'What about people from the capital?' someone asks.

'They're being evacuated as we speak,' you answer. 'So, what do you say?'

'But we're not fighters,' a Durast says shyly.

'No, but we're clever,' you counter. 'Like I said, we don't need to win. We just have to stop them from entering the Grand Palace and Little Palace. We're going to use our talents for this. Anything we can create that can stop them, we're making it. Same goes for the rest of you. It doesn't matter how much you can control your powers at the moment. In fact, let it loose on Fjerdans. As long as we work together, we can hold them out until the return of the King. I'm certain of that. So, who's with me?'

Everyone exchanges a look. When they turn to you, their eyes are filled with determination. They nod. You're going to do it.

By the time Nikolai returns with his part of the army, there's a total chaos everywhere. But the Fjerdans are still not inside any of the palaces. In fact, some Fjerdans try to desert.

'Well, it's better than I feared,' Lantsov comments. 'Come on!'

They attack the enemy. Soon, Aleksander, the King, Fedyor and Ivan are almost at the door to the Little Palace. But suddenly, a Fjerdan shows up out of nowhere and manages to thrust his sword in Kirigan's shoulder.

'Die, Darkling!' he shrieks. The Shadow Summoner grunts in pain.

'That was stupid,' Ivan comments, absolutely calm.

'Very stupid,' Fedyor agrees, nodding, also not bothered. Nikolai opens his mouth to say something, confused, but is interrupted by a vicious battle cry. Then, something falls from the sky (or rather a windowsill but they don't know that) and lands on the enemy's back.

'Die, die, die!' you scream, stabbing (or as you'd say, aggressively poking) the soldier. Lantsov's eyes widen.

'This is why we're more scared of her than him,' Fedyor explains, motioning with his head at Kirigan. A Healer is already by his side, tending to his wound.

'I can understand that,' the King says, nodding, and returns to the battle. When it's won by Ravka, he surveys the battle field. He's surprised to find you still stabbing/aggressively poking the same soldier from before. But now he's dead and lying on his stomach on the ground.

'[Y/N],' Ivan says, walking to you. 'Leave him alone. He's been dead for some time now.'

'I'm. Venting. My. Frustration,' you growl, stabbing the guy with every word. 'You. Have. No. Idea. How. Stressful. That. Was.'

The Heartrender sighs. He wonders what to do, but then Aleksander shows up. He simply takes the dagger out of your hands, picks you up and cradles you in his arms.

'It's alright, milaya,' he murmurs and looks at Nikolai. 'It's over now.'

Fjerdan has been defeated and forced to sign a treaty. Shu-Han has been held responsible for their attacks and also forced to laid down their weapons. They also must stop creating more khergud and stop kidnapping Grisha. Ravka is finally at peace and united.

Nikolai decides to honour everyone that has made it possible. Which means a huge ceremony. You're terribly bored at it and mostly don't listen to the King praising people. Until he gets to Zoya. Then, you watch her joining him with a great interest.

'Zoya Nazyalensky, general of the Second Army,' Lantsov starts. 'My partner and most trusted advisor during the past years. There's no doubt you've played a huge part in our victory. This peace wouldn't be possible without you.'

You swear you can hear her murmuring 'obviously'. You smile.

'I thought you'd serve as my general for many years to come,' Nikolai goes on. 'But recently I realised there's a better position for you. If you agree to take it, Ravka has a chance to become even stronger and prouder.'

You notice her tensing. Lantsov either doesn't see it or ignores it, as he lowers himself on one knee. People start murmuring. You focus only on the couple. The King shows his general a box with a gorgeous ring inside it.

'Zoya Nazyalensky,' he says, 'will you give me the honour of becoming your husband?'

You see her lips twitching in reaction to the phrasing of the question. But she stays silent. Nikolai becomes nervous.

'Come on, Zoya, don't do this to me now,' he murmurs. Nazyalensky almost snorts.

'Yes,' she finally says, offering her hand. Lantsov quickly puts a ring on one of her fingers, before she changes her mind. People cheer and clap. You, Genya and Fedyor are probably the loudest.

Zoya goes back to her place, showing with pride her ring to those around her. The King's eyes land on the Darkling. The latter walks to the former. The room falls silent. You hold your breath.

'Before I start, how should I address you?' Nikolai whispers.

'Aleksander Kirigan,' the Shadow Summoner decides after a beat. Lantsov nods.

'Aleksander Kirigan, the Darkling, the peace advisor,' he says, louder. 'At first, I wasn't sure if this was going to work. But you held your end of the bargain. Without your help, your advice and skills, maybe none of us would be standing here today. We've been at war once. But I think we both learnt that our dreams are actually quite similar, if not the same. You've proven your loyalty to Ravka and helped me keep its people save. Which is why, in thanks for your contributions for our country, I grant you a full pardon for your past crimes. Every one of them. Including creating the Fold that has separated us for centuries.'

People murmur, astonished. You smile with tears in your eyes.

'Your most gracious, moi tsar,' Aleksander says, bowing his head.

'That was our agreement,' the King says and smiles. 'Besides, you've earned it. In fact… your old position is going to be open. Would you care to become the general of the Second Army again, after the present one becomes the Queen of Ravka?'

People gasps. There's more murmuring.

'I'd be honoured, moi-' Kirigan starts.

'Nikolai,' Lantsov interrupts him and two men share a look. After a moment of silence, the King offers his hand to your lover. The Darkling shakes it, smiling. Then, he returns to his place by your side, accompanied by clapping and cheers.

'[Y/N] [L/N],' Nikolai says, silencing everyone. You slowly make your way to him. You can't help but wonder why are you the last. It worries you a bit. But seeing a kind look Lantsov gives you, you calm down.

'Where to begin?' he asks, spreading his arms, and laughs. 'By creating the antidote to jurda parem, you've saved Grisha. All of them. When you created its gaseous form, you helped turned the tide of the battle with Fjerda. Your design of kefta and uniforms saved countless lives. And let's not forget… you've brought back to life the Darkling. Without whom the victory wouldn't be possible.'

There are no murmurs this time. People are quiet. You could hear a pin drop.

'I can't deny, your actions caught us all by surprise,' the King goes on. 'The truth is, we should have seen it all coming. Because you are extraordinary. But you've been overlooked by everyone. Invisible, even. We would have seen it all if we had just bothered to look.'

You clench your teeth. You can feel tears forming in your eyes. You have no idea why he reminds you of the years of isolation you had to endure.

'I can say I didn't know you back when my father was the king,' Nikolai continues. 'But I ignored you as well. Put you in a cell. While your only "crime" was falling in love. For that, I apologise.'

He bows his head to you. You blink, surprised. People murmur, astonished as well. Lantsov looks at you again.

'You had every reason to hate us all, hate this country and not move a finger to save it from collapsing,' he says. 'But instead, for the past years you've done what you could to make sure Ravka can rise strong and powerful. After the Fold was destroyed, you told me I can't stitch it back together on my own. That I needed Kirigan. You were right. You brought him back and you proved us all how wrong we were to ignore you and underestimate you. We can all argue who did the most to save our homeland this time. But in my eyes, there is no doubt… that the person who made it possible for our army to win… is you. [Y/N] [L/N], the Saviour of Ravka.'

You stare at him, stunned, as he falls on his knees in front of you. For you.

'[Y/N] [L/N], the Saviour of Ravka!' Zoya calls and also knees. One by one, your friends and Aleksander do the same. Even Alina and Mal.

'[Y/N] [L/N], the Saviour of Ravka!' the rest of the court shouts and every single one of them falls on their knees. You look around, stunned and with tears in your eyes. You can feel some of them rolling down your face.

No longer invisible. No longer unnoticed and underestimated. Finally seen. Finally appreciated. And… when you look at all the smiles of the people you care about… no longer alone.

You look at Nikolai. He smiles warmly at you.

'Thank you,' you whisper.

'No, [Y/N],' he says, shaking his head. 'Thank you.'

He stands up and everyone follows suit. They look at him. It's clear he's not done.

'When Kirigan will return to being the General, he won't be my peace advisor anymore,' he finally says. 'And since this position's been just created, it would be a shame to dispose of it. Would you be interested to take it?'

'On one condition,' you say. Lantsov freezes. You grin at him.

'Just kidding,' you say. 'I'd be happy to, moi tsar.'

'You'll give me a heart attack one day,' the King sighs. You laugh and bow to him. You return to Aleksander's side, accompanied by cheering and clapping. Kirigan at once takes your hands in his.

'We've done it,' he murmurs into your ear. 'We've brought peace and stability to Ravka.'

'And more importantly, we can finally be together,' you say. The grin on his face tells you that he agrees with that. He presses a kiss to your forehead and you smile. Finally, all is well.

A/N: Thank you for reading! Let me know your thoughts! Reblog, like and comment if you could. Every comment makes my day!

This can also be found on Archive of Our Own: https://archiveofourown.org/works/52696933/chapters/135677767

41 notes · View notes

teaberrii · 3 months

Text

Chapter 19: Something to Hide

After ending a five-year relationship, you pour all your energy into work. Your latest assignment? Staying at a popular bed-and-breakfast to gather information. It should be a piece of cake... If only the owner isn't the man you scolded on the street.

Jing Yuan/You

Notes:

Cross-posted on Ao3

Female reader

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

“Sounds like now isn’t a good time.”

He must've heard the overlapping conversations. You look over your shoulder where Yanqing is eating with the rest of the kids. You face forward and walk to a quieter part of the yard.

“What do you want?”

"A chat. One that will work to your advantage. I know all about your little detective games, but you should stop sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong. It won't do you any good."

"I don't know how much you know," you say flatly. "But, it sure sounds like you're scared of us finding out more, which means you have a lot to hide, don't you?"

He quietly scoffs. "As I said, let's have a chat… and you'll see why. It's about your dear 'ol Jing Yuan. Tell me... How much has he really told you about himself?"

This man’s bluffing. He’ll say anything and everything just to get the upper hand. You should know after all that you found out.

“You haven’t known each other for very long,” he continues.

Someone tugs at your shirt, and you look down and see Yanqing.

“...I'll give you until tonight to think about it.”

Then, the line goes dead.

You lift the phone away from your ear, and then Yanqing asks:

“Who was that?”

You give him a small, tight smile as you slip your phone into your pocket. “No one. Don’t worry about it.”

“Oh… Okay. Well, I saved you some food!”

You follow Yanqing back to the table, determined not to let the conversation get the best of you. But you can still hear that man’s voice in the back of your mind:

“...Tell me... How much has he really told you about himself?”

You’re eating the food Yanqing got you when one of the moms comes up beside you. “I’ve never seen you around here before… Where are you from?”

“The city.”

You’re about to take a bite of a mini bread roll when she asks, “Is that where you met Jing Yuan?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Oh, well, it’s just… he met his ex-wife in the city through a mutual friend. I was so shocked it didn’t work out. They were such a loving couple, and—”

“You seem to be very interested in his life.”

"Ah, well…" You know she's uncomfortable when she breaks the awkward eye contact. "He seems like a great guy, and—"

"He is."

"Oh, I didn't mean that he wasn't! We were classmates, you know. We pretty much grew up together. And I just..." She gets the hint when you go back to eating your food without even looking at her anymore. You hear her walk away, and then you take a bite of your food.

“Hey.” Seels walks up to you with a small plate of her own. “Hope you still have some of your sanity left.”

“I’d rather deal with the kids than the parents if I’m being honest,” you mutter.

Seele chuckles. “Pros and cons to both.” She subtly nods at the woman who has just spoken to you. “Was she asking you about Jing Yuan?”

“How did you know?”

"She likes to brag that she was classmates with him. Weird flex, considering he's not a celebrity, and all of us pretty much know him."

“Yeah, well, it’s cause he’s rich.” You turn to the other side and see Bronya sipping orange juice from a wine glass. “Don’t judge.”

“Where can I get one?”

Bronya chuckles. “Comin’ right up.” She puts her glass on the counter.

"I want one, too," Seele says.

Just then, you feel your phone buzz inside your pocket.

General: I’m on my way.

"Jing Yuan's coming?" Seele asks just as Bronya returns with two wine glasses and a tub of orange juice.

“Yeah.”

“Well, the man’s got fifteen minutes before the party’s officially over,” Bronya says, filling the glasses.

Once she passes you a glass, you ask, “Do you mind if I ask how the two of you met?”

"We were at the same orphanage." Well, you aren't expecting that. "We met when we were like… seven in Xianzhou. Got adopted by different families."

"We went our separate ways for years before we somehow ended up working at the same company together," Seele says.

“That definitely sounds like fate,” you say.

“We didn’t know at first,” Bronya says, chuckling. “We even got off on the wrong foot.”

"She accused me of the one stealing snacks from the lounge." Seele rolls her eyes. "Proved my innocence later by presenting evidence."

“How did you two end up back here?”

"We were caught up in the massive layoffs that one year." Bronya finishes her orange juice. "The job market was hell on earth, and after months of looking we just… stopped."

“To clarify, we thought that taking a mental break would help us get our energy back,” Seele says. “So, we came up here for vacation. Loved it. And thought…”

“Hey, why don’t we start a business together?”

“And that’s how we started a mechanic business.”

“Just like that?" you ask. "Wow. What a jump! From corporate to mechanic.”

"I work on the vehicles," Bronya says. Then, she nods toward Seele. "She does all the business and administrative stuff. It really was an interesting jump," Bronya says, "but it was related. Our last job was with a company producing electric cars."

“Still…” You and Bronya turn to Seele who’s looking at the counter. “There are times when I miss the corporate life though.”

“I called her crazy,” Bronya whispers to you. “There’s so much freedom in running your own business and doing your own thing.”

"I never said it was bad," Seele says. "Just… It felt pretty daunting in the beginning. But after things settled down, we adopted Clara, and continued hustling from there."

"Um… How did you cope with that, if I may ask? You know... the insecurity and uncertainty in the beginning?"

Bronya looks at you curiously, but it's Seele who asks, "Is this just out of curiosity or are you looking for advice?"

The sound of the doorbell echoes throughout the house.

"That must be our guest of honour," Bronya says loudly. "Didn't all you people want to see Jing Yuan?"

Some kids and parents follow Seele to the door.

As soon as she opens the door, she says, “Good to see you, Jing Yuan.”

“I hope I’m not too late.” He holds up a small present. “I thought Clara might like this.”

“Dad!”

“Hi, Jing Yuan!”

You watch as some kids surround him like he’s a celebrity. He affectionately ruffles Yanqing's hair and politely greets everyone else before his eyes land on you.

Seele gestures for Clara to come up. "Come look at what Uncle Jing Yuan got you, Clara."

Jing Yuan crouches as Clara shyly walks up to him. “U-Um, hello.”

“Happy birthday, Clara.”

She takes the gift with both hands and says, “T-Thank you.”

"Why are you suddenly so shy?" Seele asks, putting her hand on Clara's shoulder. "You've seen him plenty of times."

Clara looks up at her mom and quietly says, “...But not this close.”

Seele laughs. “And what does he look like up close?”

Clara is looking down when she quietly says, “...Handsome.” Then, she quickly runs off with some of the kids, including Yanqing, running after her.

Jing Yuan stands as Seele says, “Thanks for the gift.” She laughs. “I’m sure she’ll love it.”

Everyone else starts walking back into the living room, but Jing Yuan walks with you. You’re itching to bring up what Caelus’s uncle said to you, but now isn’t the time nor the place. So, you do your best to shrug off the thought before it eats you alive.

◆◆◆

“He wouldn’t kill someone.” March scrolls to the next page and continues her dramatic reading of Welt’s manuscript. “I’ve known him far longer than you have, my dear. The detective that you’ve grown to love… Has a dark side eating away at him every. Single. Day…” She looks up. “The periods really give it that extra oomph.”

The trio are sitting in their cabin living room, taking a rest day as it's forecasted to rain. Almost thirty minutes ago, it had been just March and Dan Feng. They were playing a board game as their friends were holed up in their rooms. Welt—with his laptop—was the first to emerge from his den and had asked his friends to read the latest plot twist in his novel.

"So, what comes next?" Dan Feng asks. "Don't tell me our Ms. Femme Fatale is just going to leave our ace detective after all they've been through."

“Yeah, don’t leave us hanging, Welt!”

Welt takes his laptop from March and puts it on the table. “The story will get there.”

Dan Feng has a little smile when he asks, "Is that code for 'Sorry, guys. I have no idea what's next. Still figuring that out?"

“No spoilers.”

"Whatever it is… I just need a happy ending!" Then, March sees Dan Heng coming downstairs. "Look who decided to come out of hibernation. What have you been doing all morning?"

“...Researching schools.”

Welt and March glance at each other before looking at Dan Feng. Ever since lunch with you and Jing Yuan, March hasn’t seen the brothers talk. When Welt noticed something was wrong, March explained what had happened.

"Have you decided on one?" Then, Dan Heng says the name of the most prestigious university in the nation. "Why am I not surprised?" March asks.

“Go big or go home,” Welt adds. “But, they’d be crazy not to take you.”

"I've already started my application," Dan Heng says, opening the fridge to grab a bottle of water. "Hopefully, I can make it for their winter semester."

Dan Heng has just closed the fridge when his brother asks:

"How long is the program?"

Silence.

He looks around the room. "What? Everyone else is allowed to ask questions but me?"

“Two years, part-time. One year, full-time.” Dan Heng walks over. “...Is there a date for your surgery?”

“It’d be around the same time you start your semester… if you get in.”

March sighs. “Why can’t you two just hug it out like real men?”

“Oh, I don’t know, March. Maybe it’s cause my brother has cooties.”

Dan Heng sits next to Welt. “...What’s going on between you two?”

March and Dan Feng look at each other. “What do you mean?” she asks.

Welt closes his laptop. "I sensed it, too. Something seems… different about you two."

“Oh, I get it.” March’s quick laugh turns into a deadpan look. “I might’ve gotten a few wrinkles because this guy”—she hits Dan Feng’s leg—”is like an adult child who can’t take care of himself.”

“Me? Are you sure you’re not talking about yourself?”

Dan Heng sighs. “Why can’t you two just hug it out like a real couple?”

March and Dan Feng turn to him with an appalled look.

“Why is your face turning red, March?” Welt asks.

"It's not!"

Dan Heng and Welt smile at each other.

Then, March quickly stands. "...I'm going out to buy some drinks before it really starts to pour." She walks beside Welt. "Come with me."

“Me? Uh, okay.” Welt stands and looks at the brothers. “Want us to get you anything?”

“Skittles frappucinno.”

March looks slightly disgusted at Dan Feng's request. "What in the world is that? Sounds like diabetes in a cup."

“It’s you if you were a drink.”

“...Is that supposed to be a compliment?” Welt asks quietly.

“Anything for the cooler brother?” March asks, looking at Dan Heng and Dan Feng almost rolls his eyes.

“I’m good.”

“Well, shoot a text if you want us to get you anything.”

Then, Welt and March are out the door.

After a short silence, Dan Heng says, “...I understand why you’re upset. I would be, too, but—”

“I get it.” Dan Feng isn’t looking at his brother. “I’d hate it if you forced yourself to do something you don’t want to do. Everyone suffers that way.” A small pause. “...I’ll cheer you on.”

“...And I’ll do the same for you.”

“Cheer me on for what? Recovery?” Dan Feng waves his hand dismissively. “If you’re going to do that, might as well be my butler while I recover.”

“Are you sure you don’t want that job to go to March?”

“Listen, that girl will probably be flying to a different country this same time next year.”

“...Is that why you want to stay friends with her?”

“What are you talking about?”

“You know what I’m talking about,” Dan Heng says as his brother looks away. Then, Dan Heng stands. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” He walks to the kitchen but stops halfway and looks over his shoulder. “...I know you aren’t looking for advice, but I’m going to say it for March’s sake. Talk to her. At least, there’ll be no misunderstandings.”

Dan Heng knows his brother likes to poke fun at his advice, but this time he remains silent.

◆◆◆

Yanqing is asleep in the backseat when Jing Yuan is driving back to the bed and breakfast.

“...Caelus’s uncle called me today,” you say, after making sure Yanqing’s still asleep.

“What did he want?”

“A chat. He didn’t go into details… No surprise there. But, he mentioned you.” A small pause. “...He asked me how well I really knew you, and how much you told me about yourself.”

You don’t know, but there’s a quiet anger that’s bubbling beneath Jing Yuan’s calm exterior. Maybe he shouldn’t be surprised that Caelus’s uncle is trying to interfere with his relationship.

“I obviously know better than to just believe him, but I admit it’s been bothering me and…”

“...It’s what he wants.” Jing Yuan takes your hand that’s resting on your lap. “...And, I think I know what he’s going to say.”

You turn to him, surprised. Hang on. Does this mean there is a secret? Neither of you gets a chance to say anything when Yanqing yawns.

“What did I miss?” he asks sleepily.

“Nothing.”

Yanqing looks from you to Jing Yuan but doesn’t say anything and looks out the window. Then, your phone buzzes, and you pull it out.

Have you decided?

You glance at Jing Yuan, and then another message comes.

Time's ticking.

You had to resist blocking this number.

“This is getting fucking ridiculous,” you mutter.

“What is it?”

Jing Yuan pulls up to the bed and breakfast, and Yanqing asks, “Are we walking Mom back?”

You turn around and put on your best smile. “Shall we go?”

Once Jing Yuan parks the car and all of you step out, Yanqing goes on ahead. You quickly show Jing Yuan the ominous text, and he says:

“...I’m going to call him.”

There’s an anger in his voice that you cannot explain. A lion ready to pounce. A dragon awakening. Whatever it is, it’s reflected in his glare.

It doesn’t take long for the line to go through.

“What’s taking so long?” You quickly walk up to Yanqing, preventing him from getting close enough to hear the heated conversation. “...Why does Dad look so angry?”

You crouch and gently turn Yanqing’s head toward you. “Don’t worry. He’s dealing with a customer.”

“O-Oh…”

“Everything will be fine. Trust Mom, okay?”

Yanqing slowly nods and hugs you.

When you hear footsteps approaching you, you turn and see Jing Yuan. But, another voice comes:

“Yanqing.”

You stand upright as Jing Yuan’s ex and her fianceé walk up to you. Yanqing looks from his birth mother to you and back to her.

Her fianceé looks at Jing Yuan. “...Wasn't expecting to see you here, but thanks for taking care of that problem earlier.”

Problem?

You turn to him, and Jing Yuan says, “A guest was causing issues for everyone else.”

Then, his ex looks at you. “...Has he contacted you yet?”

"So, you were the one who gave him my number," you say flatly.

“Wow. What’s going on?” March and Welt are walking together, and as they get closer, you see Welt carrying a small bag of drinks. “This can’t be a family outing, right?”

"What did he want with you?" Jing Yuan asks his ex. "...Just her number?"

March and Welt glance at each other, and then she leans over. “Hey, Yanqing, let’s leave them with the boring adult talk.” She reaches into the bag and pulls out a snack. “Let’s eat on our way back.”

Yanqing runs to March and says, “Oh, but I’m not hungry. I just came from a birthday party.” “A birthday party? Whose?”

March and Yanqing start walking ahead, and Welt follows close behind.

Jing Yuan’s ex looks at him. “Yes. That was all he asked about.”

“...Why are you asking?”

Her fianceé had just come out of the bathroom, and he saw her on the phone.

“We’re on the same side,” Caelus’s uncle said.

She knew it was a dumb question, but she still had to ask:

“What are you going to do?”

“Is it just me, or does it sound like you’re worried about your ex’s girlfriend? That’s a rare sight amongst women.” Then, a soft chuckle. “I’m not going to do anything to her if that’s what you’re worried about. I’m going to put an end to this once and for all.”

By turning you against Jing Yuan?

Jing Yuan has the same thoughts when he says, "He's threatening me and aiming to put her in a difficult position." Then, his sharp gaze lands on his ex. “He’s also going to get you involved.”

“Me…? With what? What could he possibly threaten you with? Don’t tell me it has something to do with Yanqing.”

“No.” Jing Yuan looks at her. “And for Yanqing’s sake, you won’t go along with whatever he says because it’ll end up destroying all of us.”

You slide your hand in his, and Jing Yuan turns to you. It’s written all over your face. Worry. Frustration. Confusion. Only he has the answers, and as much as he doesn’t want to hide anything from you, a part of him is afraid of what you will think after he tells you more about his past. Will you blame him just like he once blamed himself? Will you turn your back on him and walk away?

“I heard my name.”

“Geez, Yanqing,” you hear March say as she runs towards the group. “Don’t go running off like that!” Welt is walking behind her.

“They're too slow!” Yanqing turns toward his dad. “What are you talking about?”

You and Jing Yuan glance at each other, and then you say, “We... were talking about how we’re going to take you on vacation with us. March was the one who suggested it.”

March points to herself with mild confusion.

Jing Yuan nods. “It got postponed because Dan Feng went to see Luocha about his shoulder.”

“Ah!" March makes a fist and hits it against her palm. "Yeah, that’s right.”

Yanqing looks from March to Jing Yuan and then to you. “...A vacation? Really?”

“You don’t believe us?” you ask.

“It didn’t sound like you were talking about a vacation.”

The fianceé sighs. “It’s because we wanted to spend time with you.”

You and Jing Yuan turn to him, surprised that he’s playing along.

“...That’s right,” the ex adds. She crouches and puts her hands on her son’s shoulders. “...I miss you, Yanqing. I miss spending time with you.”

He steps back, and the hurt is obvious on her face. But, it’s only for a moment.

“...You're just saying that to get me to go back to the city. But, I don’t want to go back,” he says, not looking at her. “Not forever.”

She exhales softly and asks, “...Are you happy, Yanqing? Are you happy with Jing Yuan and…” She looks at you. “...Her?”

"Yes!" A small pause. “You keep saying that you want to keep me in the city because of my future… but I’m happy right now.”

“...While it’s important to think about the future, it’s just as if not more important to cherish the present.”

March gently nudges Welt. “Stop trynna act all philosophical.”

Jing Yuan’s ex sighs. “...Alright. I understand. But, if you ever change your mind… you know that Mom’s door is always open." A small pause. "Can I get a hug?”

Yanqing takes one step forward, hesitates for a moment, but then walks up and hugs her.

“Is it just me, or did this turn in a direction we never saw coming?” March asks quietly.

“...Just let it be,” you whisper, and Jing Yuan nods.

Eventually, you, Jing Yuan, and Yanqing are walking together towards your cabin. Occasionally, Yanqing runs ahead, leaving you and Jing Yuan at the back.

Jing Yuan’s hand finds yours, and as you turn to him, he says:

“...About what I said earlier, Caelus’s uncle wants you to pick a side."

Your breath gets caught in your throat, and you tighten your grip around his hand. “About that… You said earlier that he’s going to try to put me in a difficult position. What… What did you mean? What’s going on?”

“...Before I left my position as Director, I had a friend interested in taking over my position.”

Jing Yuan and his friend from university were finally catching up on life. His friend had invited him over, and the two men were currently seated adjacent to each other. But what Jing Yuan thought was a reunion between two friends quickly turned into a conversation that would haunt him.

“...So, you’re leaving your company,” he said.

“That’s right.”

His friend cleared his throat. “Have they decided on who’s going to take your place?” He awkwardly scratched his head. " I’m actually looking for another job, and, well…” He didn’t need to go on for Jing Yuan to know where this was going. “...Okay, I’m just going to say it. Could you, well, could you refer and put in a good word for me? That’s allowed, right? Because…”

The rest fell on deaf ears as his friend rambled on and on about how he needed this job, but Jing Yuan didn’t need to hear more because…

“You wouldn’t want to be there.”

His friend stopped talking. “Why not?”

Jing Yuan sighed. “It’s… not as clean as you’d think if you know what I mean.”

“...Are people making up numbers or something?” Then, he lowered his voice. “Is the company losing money? Is that the real reason why you’re leaving?”

“No,” Jing Yuan answered flatly. “There are practices that you wouldn’t want to abide by.”

“...Please, Jing Yuan.” This was a response that Jing Yuan wasn’t expecting. “I… could really use the help.”

Your heart is slowly sinking to your stomach as you listen.

“...I told him the consequences,” Jing Yuan says. “But, he was desperate because of his family’s financial situation.”

“Did you refer him?”

Your phone buzzes. You and Jing Yuan glance at each other before you take out your phone. It buzzes again. Now, you have a message from Kafka and Herta with the same worrying content:

CEO of The Knights B&B accused of ruining a man’s life nearly a decade later

Chapter 20

End notes:

We've finally reached the climax. I was going to end this with a cute little scene where Jing Yuan asks Yanqing if he wants to give you a goodnight kiss. But I decided on this instead.

I think I should just make the grand finalé with someone giving Caelus's uncle a good 'ol punch to the face. Man gets arrested and call it a day LOL

Tag list: @suoshiii @lordbugs @lxry-chxn @seirenspinel @immahuman @queencybow @nqctre @grimreapersscythe @winterpein @asakenajustexistshere @sunsethw4

#jingyuan x reader #jing yuan x y/n #jing yuan x you #jing yuan x reader #honkai jing yuan #hsr jing yuan

32 notes · View notes

amethystina · 3 months

Note

Oh man!! The latest chapter!!! The angst was angsting, pain was paining, heart is wrenching, tear is falling, it was soooo mean, but do it again!!!

It was the longest chapter and ironically the most painful chapter as well. Have I said how much I love slow burn and angst and this fic hits home everytime?? Likeee woah I just LOVE how this fic is LOOONG , nowhere near close bc that means I get me read it longer lol.

And I feel like I would never be able to appreciate how much hard work you put in Who Holds the Devil.

I am guessing it is now Ga On's turn to pursue Yohan and Oh man I can already imagine how much he is gonna suffer while doing it 😭 or maybe not (bc he tends to be pretty straightforward at times and impulsive as well) but I believe it's gonna be pretty hard bc Gaon has so much shit to get together and Yohan, my man, already gave up (poor him) so gaon trying to persue him or rather seduce his sugar daddy would look very suspicious to him. Nevertheless I am exited to see Gaon try and miserably, comically and hilariously half fail bc he will succeed eventually as Yohan is too much of a loser for Gaon lol. I am excited for future chapters and definitely wouldn't complain about more angst lol.

It was necessary for this to happen, otherwise the story would go nowhere and most importantly Gaon and Yohan would go nowhere, their problems will never be solved. Sometimes hitting rock bottom is crucial to develop in life BUT I would hate it if it happens to me, hope I will be able to get my shits together before that happens ( or maybe it already happened but I am not relizing it or not acknowledging it much like gaon but he is better than me ngl at least he has the courage)

This became a rant about me naur 😭

Lastly I hope you have a great day and things work out for you 💕

Also idk if it's your cup of tea but My Happy Ending kdrama is sooo good and worth giving it a try. It's a psychological suspense drama hehe. I am soo invested in it nowadays so couldn't help recommending you as well 💫

It was a painful chapter, yeah. And I'm both relieved and heartbroken to finally have it out there. As someone who doesn't actually like angst, this chapter was a struggle in more than one way. But it's necessary if I want their relationship to move forward, so here we are.

At this point, writing Who Holds the Devil has sort of turned into a second job, not going to lie. I still enjoy it, make no mistake, but I have to plan all of my other hobbies around it since I feel an obligation to post somewhat regularly. Like, I've been postponing drawing for the past two weeks because I wanted to get this chapter out (that's how long it took to edit, yes) but drawing is the thing that helps the most with my depression symptoms (that have made an unwanted reappearance due to my burnout), so I've been struggling quite a bit. And now all I want to do is draw for a couple of days.

So yeah. I can't lie and say it's not a lot of work, both in terms of planning, writing, editing, etc., but also how it affects the rest of my life. BUT I just love it too much to give up on it ;)

And yes, Ga On will have to be the one to pursue Yo Han now ;) Or, well, eventually. He has to wallow and overthink things a bit first because, well, Ga On. If overthinking things was an Olympic sport, he'd win the gold for sure. But he WILL give Yo Han what he wants in the end, I promise.

In short, the "the only way after hitting rock bottom is up" saying is pretty apt in this case.

There's still hope, so just hang in there :)

I looked at the plot for My Happy Ending but I admit it didn't really catch my attention. But that could be because I don't really watch much right now? I'm too busy writing and drawing. I'm also trying to finish a drama I started ages ago called Mad Dog. Which, let me tell you, it's disorientingly gay for a drama about insurance fraud. But unlike The Devil Judge I'm not sure if they're actually AWARE of how gay it is? (especially since it's from 2017)

But, like, if I had a penny for every time I've watched a drama in which a traumatised, older man brings home a reckless, bratty twink after said twink got injured — under the pretence of protecting him from more harm — only for the twink to start snooping around his house before deciding to charm the dude with home-cooked food and then just doesn't leave I would have two pennies. Which isn't a lot, but it's still weird that it's happened twice.

Also, what the heck do they want me to think when they have these kinds of angles when the two dudes are arguing?

That looks questionable both in and out of context. BUT that could also be because Woo Do Hwan could have sexual tension with a goddamn rock. Rarely have I seen a man with so much "fuck me and find out" energy as his character in this drama.

But the twink also has a romantic plotline with the woman on the team, at the same time as he's living in the older dude's apartment and giving this poor dude all kinds of conflicted feelings because he's a widower who's lived alone since his wife and kid died and suddenly there's someone in his apartment cooking him food, nagging at him when he comes late and drunk etc. etc. Like, bruh. It really sounds like the twink is his new wife? And I am SO CONFUSED because the drama plays it so straight (without the "hint, hint, nudge, nudge" winks that The Devil Judge had) that I'm about to have an existential crisis.

Fellas, is it gay if this is the face you make when you're told you're not actually living with the man who took you home to keep you safe after you almost got murdered but then you accidentally behaved like his concerned and doting wife?

Asking for a friend.

(and don't even get me started on the whole "Bring Your Twink to Work Day" scene)

At this point, I'm half convinced I'm gaslighting myself into thinking this is gay when it's actually just a really heartwarming story about a really deep bromance that I'm too queer to understand.

ANYWAY. Thanks for the rec! But I'm not sure if it's my thing and I'm really bad at watching things right now. But I'm thrilled to hear that you're having so much fun with it! I'm happy for you! :D

And thank you so much for the lovely message 💜

#Amethystina Replies #1-boiledpotato #Who Holds the Devil #Amethystina Writes #I swear #Watching Mad Dog is so very disorienting #Because it's genuinely SO GAY to me #But I've seen no one else so much as mention this #Is it just because the right people haven't watched it?#Or am I going crazy?#Who knows at this point #Sorry that this answer became more about Mad Dog than Who Holds the Devil #It's just been weighing very heavily on me lately xD #I AM SO CONFUSED

18 notes · View notes

abbatoirablaze · 9 months

Text

Locked Up, Chapter 2

Word Count: 2.7k

Warnings: noncon, manipulation, dangerous situations, mention of bodily harm, oral (f receiving), mention of being stabbed, threats.

You cut your appointments after that. When you had come stumbling out of the room, you were grateful that neither of the guards had been waiting directly outside. It gave you time to collect yourself and get your bearings.

They walked around the corner a few minutes later, talking about the latest game that had happened.

“Done already doc?”

“Bet he scared the shit out of her!” The first one chuckled, “that inmate is an animal…they all are. Y-“

“He’s been silent,” you lied, shaking your head, “di-did Reyes ever get him to speak? I notice he never had many notes about him.”

“Never said much,” Connors admitted to you, clearly oblivious to your state of anxiousness, “Want us to take him back and grab the next one?”

“You can take him,” you said simply, “I-I think I’m going to get some lunch myself though…pushed it back after Drysdale, because the warden asked me to meet with him during my original lunch break…”

“Yeah, you watch out for him!” Connors chuckled, “he’ll talk your ear off if you let him.”

“I barely made it back in time for you to bring me, Everett!” you laughed awkwardly, hoping that your own high emotions would fade by the time they checked on the inmate in your office, “anyways…I think I’ll finish up the notes on him and study up on the others I was supposed to meet with today…I-I’ll throw them on the books for tomorrow.”

“You think Everett was bad, wait til you meet up with Barnes…” the first one scoffed, “that guy is really fucked up.”

You felt yourself paling, “W-what?”

“Don’t worry doc, you’ll see…him and Rogers…you were supposed to meet with them two next, right?”

“Y-yeah…”

“Don’t go scaring the doc,” Connors chuckled, nudging his partner, “Come on Adam, let’s get Everett back to the block before meds go out. Last thing we need is him fully coherent…”

“Meds?” you asked, confused over what he was saying, “I-I didn’t see any notes that any of them were on meds. Let alo-“

“Warden’s been doing it for years…gives em all a pill at the end of the night to make it easier on us,” the first guard chuckled, “we tell em all they’re vitamins, but…some of those psychos really need it.”

You felt horror in the pit of your stomach, “wh-what if one of them were allergic? You should neve-“

“Doc…it’s fine…you do your job, and we’ll do ours,” the first guard scoffed, rolling his eyes at you. He gently backhanded his partner’s chest, “come on, kid. Let’s get Everett back to the block, yeah?”

“Well, well, well…aren’t you a pretty, young thing!”

Your head snapped up as the guards led your first patient of the day in.

“Mr. Rogers.”

“Steve, sweetheart,” he smiled sweetly, “Mr. Rogers was my father…”

“Good, god.”

Steve shot a glare over his shoulder to Adam, and you bit back a giggle.

“Don’t you two have anything better to do?”

“Doc?” Connors asked, giving you a look as Steve sat down on the chair, “want us to stay in here?”

You took a moment to try to get a read on the seemingly charming man. You had read his profile, just like the others you were supposed to meet with today over and over. But the man in front of you didn’t seem like the man that had been described in the folder.

“Is it necessary, doc?”

You looked to the two guards once more, letting your guard down. You shrugged, “I guess it’s not necessary…you two can wait outside if you want…or grab a coffee.”

“Whatever you say, doc!” Connors smiled.

Adam followed him after, and you heard the condescension in his voice as you were ‘letting your pussy do the judging’. Steve shook his head. When the door closed, he reached out and touched the desk, a sincere look in his eyes, “I’m sorry he spoke about you like that. That guy’s the worst.”

“Tell me about it!” you laughed, already feeling comfortable around him. He gave you a soft smile before pulling away from the desk and crossing his hands in his lap. That was when you noticed they hadn’t locked his chains to the bolt in the floor, securing him to the singular spot.

His eyes followed yours, and he shrugged, “would you feel safer if I was bolted? I’m sure they’re not too far. You could call them back.��

Not wanting to kill the trust in the room, you shook your head, eyes falling away from it, “no-no…it-it’s fine. I don’t want to-“

“I don’t mind….” He sighed, “I’m used to people seeing me as an animal. Especially in here.”

“Why do you think people see you as an animal, Mr. Rogers?”

“You’re joking, right?” he chuckled, the puff of air making it seemed as though he scoffed at your question, “I’m sure you’ve read my file. You seem like a smart girl. A girl who does your homework on her patients…”

“I-I looked at your file.”

“They say I’m a psychopath…” he said slowly, his cerulean eyes shifting up towards yours once more, “they say I’m a danger to those around me…I’m sure you’ve heard rumors.”

The air in the room shifted, and suddenly, Steve didn’t seem so comforting. You felt your throat dry up as you thought about what was said yesterday, “I-I have…”

“What did they tell you about me, little bunny?” he asked firmly.

You felt a tightness in your chest.

It was like you were compelled to answer him, “t-that you cut off your business partners arm when he was about to take a deal in your trial…”

His eyes held yours. And for a moment, you lost your breath. You took a shaky breath in, and it was like he was watching you so intently, waiting for you to run so that he could pounce on you, “And what do you think about that?”

“Wh-why would anyone cut someone’s arm off?”

He only smirked, making you feel like you’d made the wrong decision in letting the guards go for a little while, “Because bunny, Buck signed the deal with his left hand.”

“I-Is now a bad time?”

You looked up from your desk, surprised to see one of your patients standing there, sans a guard. Surprise laced your features, “J-Jake…what are you doing here without a-“

But you stopped your words when you noticed the IT cart that he’d had with him, “guards usually secure me on a floor then do whatever while I update the firewalls and fix any issues that they have IT wise.”

You gave him a sad smile, “did you need something?”

He shrugged his shoulders, “you just-you looked upset…I heard Officer Connors and Magda talking about you earlier…you seemed like you were shaken up after you met with Rogers…a-at least that’s what they said. I mean you cou-“

“I was…”

This time it was him that gave you a sad smile, “I-I’m sorry…some of the guys in here…they-it’s a really hard place to navigate. I mean, I can’t even imagine how difficult it must be for you, and for the other women that work here. I-“

“Jake…stop.”

His cheeks turned rosy, and he bit his lip, looking away from you, “I-I’m sorry, doc.”

“Don’t be…you’re just being honest…” you sighed, feeling bad about the small bout of reject he was no doubt laced with when you told him to stop speaking, “I know that it’s difficult in my position…and I know that the inmates treat me…differently than if I were a man.”

“Well…i-if you need to talk…”

You giggled and Jake nervously ran his hand over the back of his neck. He turned, reaching for his cart once more so that he could leave, “I’m sorry, I-“

“Don’t leave…”

Jake turned, surprised at hearing you call out for him, “What?”

“Di-did you want to…come in?” you asked nervously, “I really could use someone to speak with if you were being serious.”

Your lips parted, a whimper escaping the back of your throat as your nails gripped at the edge of the desk to stop from gripping onto the blonde tipped hair of the man under the desk.

“Just needed to relax was all,” Jake purred as he nipped at your inner thigh. You moaned as his fingers dipped into your soaked core once more, and he leaned forward, his nose bumping softly against your clit. He was nearly breathless from having spent the past twenty minutes between your thighs. His lips ghosted over your clit, and you shuddered, “god, it’s been so long…fuck, I needed this, doc! Ever since she stopped letting me…I-I need this…I-I need you, doc.”

Your door opened and your hands slipped down to his face. Your eyes met with the two guards, Connors and Magda.

“You seen inmate Jensen?”

“J-Jensen?” you asked breathlessly. Jake’s tongue lathed over your clit, and you shuddered, “J-Jensen. Oh…uh…uhmmm…”

“You okay, doc?” Connors asked, brow raised, “look a little shiny…”

“Heat!” you gasped quickly while he sucked your clit back into his mouth. You gasped and immediately started fanning yourself with one of the folders on your desk, while your other hand tugged on Jake’s hair, “s-so-so hot!”

The words were breathy, and you released a moan, but both of the men seemed disinterested in you, figuring you weren’t used to the summer heat in the prison, “You seen Jensen, or what? His cart is right here outside your door?”

“Hmmmm!” you hummed, not wanting to give your indiscretions away. Your head looked to the bathroom that was attached to your office, “he-he’s there. Busy…”

The two men chuckled, not thinking anything of it, “well...you let him know that Jay over in medical wants his software done when he’s…finished. Guess the guy didn’t finish when Lila was in last month.”

“Mhmmm!” you whimpered, nodding along, while trying to keep your composure. The two guards chuckled, closing the door behind them, and you weren’t sure what exactly they were laughing at. You looked back down at Jake who was happily in his own world, lapping at your cunt, “Ja-Jake…stop. Sto-stop…oh, god…”

He smiled, pushing himself away from your core, only to nip at your thighs once more. His hands, which had been tucked under your legs, and wrapped around your waist to hold you still slid back down to your thighs and he began massaging the flesh, while his stubble grazed over your tender skin.

He licked his plump lips and gave you a sinful smile, “feel better, doc?”

“Y-yes…” you nodded breathlessly. He unwrapped his arms from you, and you pushed yourself out of the chair, but when you attempted to stand, he held you in it.

“Don’t go getting up quick or nothing,” he said with a blush rising to his cheeks. He wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his shirt and you blushed, seeing the darkness from your own slick now on his uniform, “had ourselves a hell of a time…”

“Th-that can never happen again, Mr. Jensen…”

Jake’s blush got deeper, and he rubbed the back of his neck with one hand, but reached onto your desk with the other, slipping his glasses back on, “w-was I that bad?”

“No…god no…you know that…that’s not-that’s not what I meant,” you tried to explain, “but you-you’re a patient Jake…a patient who has emophilia…y-you form these bonds with everyone you meet of the opposite sex an-“

“I know! D-Doctor Ellis told me about it when she told me to stop,” he said quickly, cutting you off. He dropped back to his knees in front of you, his hands splaying over your thighs, “doc…I-I know that I-I know what I am…but I-I jus wanted you to feel better…I-“

“You’re a patient, Jake,” you replied firmly, “a patient and an inmate…I crossed so many lines by-“

But you were cut off when Jake’s lips met yours. You gasped against his lips, and his tongue invaded your mouth.

You were quick to push him away, “Jake…”

“I-I just want you to feel okay, doc…” Jake said sadly, “d-don’t transfer me to the other doc…d-don’t throw me away like everyone else…don-don’t do what Lila did to me…please…”

Your heart sunk in your chest, “Jake…I-I wouldn’t throw you away. Th-that’s not what this is. I just-I was feeling overwhelmed…and we-wait…Lila…as in Doctor Lila Ellis who helps run medical with Jay?“

Jake nodded, “sh-she was my girlfriend…and Ari is our boyfriend. An-“

“Jake-“

“I ate you out!” he said firmly. You bit your lip, nodding along.

“Yeah…”

“D-do you feel better?”

“Honestly?” you asked sadly. Jake frowned and nodded, “I just feel worse…I used you Jake…an-and that’s not okay!”

“But I don’t mind…”

“But I do,” you said quickly, sadly, “I-I’m sorry Jake…but I think I’m going to transfer your care to the other doc. I-I don’t think what we did was okay…”

Your heart ached as you stared at the man in the medical ward’s bed. You looked over to your colleague, guilt weighing heavily in your stomach, “I-is he…okay?”

Sanjay gave you a sympathetic look, “it was nothing that you did…unfortunately, it happens all the time. He was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

You bit your lip as you looked at the sleeping inmate.

It had been two days since you last saw Jake Jensen. After he left your office, you started the paperwork of transferring his care to the other prison shrink. Unfortunately for you, since she was taking one of yours, you had to take one of hers.

But you hadn’t heard anything about Jake in those two days.

Not until you happened to get out of your session with Sam Wilson when you were forced back into the office by a CO who was rushing with Jake Jensen bleeding out down the hall.

He’d been stabbed.

By who, no one seemed to know.

“I-it does?”

He frowned, nodding once more, “unfortunately. Though, it doesn’t usually happen to someone like Jensen!”

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“Well, Jake Jensen is low inmate on the totem pole of power struggles around here,” Sanjay shrugged, “he’s quiet. Keeps to himself. Doesn’t have any gang or mob ties. One of the few. Usually, people just leave him alone…even the guards. I’m sure you’ve seen him do the IT work here…and up until last month he volunteered in the wing with Dr. Ellis and myself…”

The guilt gnawed at your stomach even more remembering not only the conversation you’d had where you told him he was done with you, but also of Dr. Ellis.

“He must have really pissed someone off,” he shrugged, “say…wasn’t he a patient of yours?”

“T-traded him to Jeffries…”

“Shame,” he said with a sigh, “seemed like he’s been happier the past week you’ve been around…thought someone was finally getting through to him. You know, we’ve had the poor kid on suicide watch a few times since he’s arrived…always says people are ‘tossing him away.’ Think he’s just got issues with women and when one finally tells him no he goes off the deep end…last time it was with the female CO on D block…she got him transferred to A because of it…and he stopped hanging around once Lila told him he was crossing lines with her…he was writing her little love notes and such.”

You frowned, not really having a comeback for the conversation.

For a few minutes you and Dr. Sanjay stood, staring at Jake, “has Dr. Ellis been informed of the attack on him?”

“She was down here before I had the chance to text her. It was during the shift change so she was doing some last minute paperwork…while she wasn’t overly affectionate with Jensen, that really seemed to rattle her. I gave her yesterday and today off.”

You nodded, “Oh…”

“Well…I’m sure you’ve got to get back,” he said firmly, “thank you for checking on him even though you switched him to Jeffries. She hasn’t been in once.”

You nodded, before you finally got the courage to leave, heading back towards your office. You were surprised when the door was wide open.

You could have sworn you locked it.

Furrowing your brows, you looked around. Sliding your head into the room first, everything seemed like it was the way that you’d left it.

Except for the envelope that sat on your desk.

Your name was scrawled across it in bold calligraphy writing. Gently opening the envelope, you gasped at how the heavy cardstock weighed you down. Especially when you saw the words penned onto it.

‘Every sweet ounce of you belongs to me, doc. Let Jensen taste you again, and he won’t wake up.’

Chapter 3

Tag List: @lohnes16, @prokey16, @tenaciousperfectionunknown, @teambarnes72

#locked up #marvel #marvel au #the avengers #steve rogers #captain america #soft jake jensen #jake jensen smut #the losers fanfiction #losers

36 notes · View notes

brujitaadinbo · 5 months

Text

For today; I just want to reflect on the latest statement from The Mandalorian actress (Katee) that there were no romantic conversations between Brendan (actor in this cast) and her and that they were just jokes. It was obvious that they would deny something like that and it is partly logical; The season makes them come together and walk together, get to know each other more intimately, we return… with all that material, winks, elements, signs, etc etc etc that make them both synchronize and despite their differences, be one and the same in this adventure, together with little Grogu. Don't forget that he is a witness to all this that is happening with these "tough Mandalorians" Definitely for a romance to cook and one that is worthwhile, that is not only superficial or physical (because of course physical attraction is needed) but for this to flourish and be future, as I said, the bases are needed: respect, support, union, intention, companionship, commitment, longing and forgiveness… never deny it… there was

"enemies then lovers" and leaving them as that friendship that has just been born with that wink and that possibility that they are closer and that they can… they definitely know what they are doing… is a very obvious clue. It was obvious that they would deny it and even more so when the spoiler got out of control haha I love Katee because she didn't want to and in the end she told us everything, they let her continue and when they saw that this grew… well obviously, she must respect her work and the contract. And I don't judge it on the contrary, here the ones who started to take us to this ship are the same writers, producers and directors. For some reason the great Carl (actor who plays Greff Karga and has directed The Mandalorian in some chapters) came out to say what he said "I see something else, lust" yes well that was also seen in the Mandalorian way but it was seen. Clearer, neither the water

Katee expressed her opinion and if you can tell me "that doesn't make it objective, rather it's her preferences and it's not fair." Well, I'll tell you; I also expressed something very important. Working under Filoni's guidance for Katee is a delight and he doesn't do things just to do them, Avatar the Last Airbender shows a magnificent piece… she herself says "we worked on the scripts and what he told you and they move the pieces" casual right? No, definitely not…. A connection between Din and Bo that will go from being people who don't get along at all and judge each other to ending up being friends with that complicity… mmm it smells like something is brewing. The best things, what is worth it, even if it is late, the reward is always worth it and no matter the sacrifice or time. I predict it for DinBo

You don't talk just to talk.

Katee also expressed something that everyone considers meaningless or meaningless; the fact that that scene evokes emotion, an emotional and very intimate moment between them. and coincidental the location, the moon as clear and evident symbolism, not just any moon, the moon of Concordia, even the music itself played an important role. But I love this Noise! He is a closed man, with wounds, who little by little comes out of his emotional shell, thanks to Grogu, the new path he has taken, the friends he has created. A man who IF he DOESN'T want to do something he doesn't do it, if it isn't born to him he doesn't do it… few words but a lot of action

Well, he unites all this, with his words; I tell you that this season Din spoke loud and clear. The fact that he reacted and knowing the truth about what happened with Bo katan, Gideon and the saber. He knows he shouldn't have judged her, don't expect an apology as such, but the fact that he came to her and acknowledged that he was wrong and judged her, the fact that he spoke to her in an impersonal way, first mentioning what his tribe thought and then what he thought and felt about her. Mention all the qualities that you see in her, that it is not just the sword or his position, that he was always willing to follow it and now serve it (and I recommend that you look carefully at the meaning of serving, I tell you, it is not just for something how you work or how you pay, serving also fills our hearts when we do it with love, with respect, with those around us, with our most intimate or closest friends, or with anything else) Well, put all this together,

And he adds that he has expressed it this way, in addition to telling her that he would be with her, until the end of her path. Well if this is not Arthurian or romantic without falling into the cliché of “typical” Words can definitely move worlds. That they deny it is really pathetic to me. And well, I don't think I say "platonic", someone who talks to you like that would never be serious because they plan to stay in the shadows ohhh nooo… We know many romances or platonic moments and this one is not pigeonholed into that.

And well, if you wanted to pigeonhole it in that sense, believe me, this would make your relationship more overflowing, that your desire and need to have each other would be stronger… so… What did I tell you; we never lost… on the contrary, they give us more reasons to support this shipp. The best thing was Bo Katan's reaction, it evokes feeling relieved, shocked, surprised, comforted, happy, interested in why this man has so much faith in her? Why do you think dear hahaha?

They also want you to fall into that typical situation, we all see it except you, wake up, unite and be happy!!

What can I tell you friends, until the end in this union, let's say no more…

#the mandalorian #this is the way #dinbo #din x bo #bo katan x din #din djarin #bokadin #bo katan kryze #clandetres

17 notes · View notes

tadpolesonalgae · 2 months

Note

hey tabby! 🫀anon here, thank you so much for taking the time to reply and with such kindness at that🥹

>>Gosh, I hope you aren’t disappointed by it—just as a heads up it might be a little slow in parts but I hope you enjoy it :)

First off, Gosh, I don't think I COULD be disappointed by ANYTHING that you write, like honest to God, your work heals me. I'm just having a hard time deciding if I want to wait cbmthy out till it's complete or if I should just start it already 😭 because I know I'll just want to tear my hair off if the latest chapter ends in like a cliffhanger or something.

>>(I loved him being cold, and cruel, and kind of flirtatious 🫢😳)

💯 i mean, sameee gurl sameee 👌🏻

honestly, I loved Rhysand's character soo much throughout the 1st book even tho sjm did not exactly make him seem like a "main" character or one who's on the "good" side in it, and I was even prepared for him as a villain of sorts? like, I don't mean Amarantha or Hybern level of villain, but deffo like badguy with ulterior motives that don't really affect the world in a bad sense but would definitely resort to immoral ways to accomplish said ulterior motives kind of bad? so kinda like an anti hero ig? (sorry if I'm not making sense, it's just English isn't my first language and I didn't know how to translate it best. also, I'm also not very good with words 🥲) which might be why I absolutely loved your dark!Rhys fics, Gods were they amazing, thankyou for writing them luv🤌🏻

>>I never hated Tamlin though

oh I'm so glad somebody resonates with me on this, now I don't know if you still like/don't dislike him after all the books or if you only meant through the first book, but I personally would love to see his character explored a lot more and think there's a lot of scope but for some reason everywhere I see, there's only hate for him(mostly) and I hate that some people judge me(and a lot of other readers) solely on the basis of characters we like/dislike? needless to say, I wouldn't say I hated tamlin either, infact I still enjoy feylin fics a lot even tho I don't get to read very many of them. it's just that back when I was reading ACOMAF I just NEEDED my otp(feysand) to happen fsr lol😅 honestly I don't think I'd have minded all that much if feylin was infact endgame, I'd just have been a little sad is all lol🥲 because how many otps of mine just didn't happen?(😭the answer is in a good high tens)

>>I mean to be fair, I don’t really watch films or tv shows at all anymore, and until acotar I hadn’t read many books so I think I might have been oblivious to those tropes/cliches

I so completely understand this bit, because personally, I'm exhaustingly clueless about a lot of media that people are usually just raving on and on about and it's not usually because I don't want to watch it, but there are these attention deficit tendencies that love visiting me on a regular basis that just won't let me sit down, load a show and watch it till the end😭 I mean, I watched the 1st iron man movie 16 years after it first came out so🥲and it wasn't for a lack of trying, I've been meaning to watch it for the past 8 years or so and I just got around to it. honestly it's a miracle I read all the Acotar books to the end lol

>>Thank you so much for writing in!!

Thank YOU for actually taking out the time to read it AND reply to it, in such detail at that. i truly mean it when I say you're one of the kindest individuals I've interacted with online and you inspire me to pass that kindness on as well.

ps: this isn't exactly an ask but I just couldn't NOT reply to your message, so I'm just glad you read it, you really don't have to reply to it, I'm just happy to have sent this message on it's way.

we all love you, Tabby.

—🫀

‘First off, Gosh, I don't think I COULD be disappointed by ANYTHING that you write, like honest to God, your work heals me.’

😭🫂🫂🫂🫂 thank you so much 😭🧡💛

‘I'm just having a hard time deciding if I want to wait cbmthy out till it's complete or if I should just start it already 😭 because I know I'll just want to tear my hair off if the latest chapter ends in like a cliffhanger or something.’

Oooh gosh, I guess it’s up to you? There’s still a lot of the story left to write—I’d say we’re probably either half or two thirds of the way there in terms of storyline and events that will happen. It’s not going to be over any time soon, basically, which is both exciting and pretty scary 😭

Honestly I think the tension is in the first half, if that makes sense? (Which it probably doesn’t since you don’t know reader’s fate, but 🤷) There’s going to be a ‘half’ chapter which adds in some contexts to reader’s history, but I think after chapter 15, that should be where the tension relaxes a bit? I like to think that in *very* broad terms, chapters 1 through 15 are the ‘hurt’ ones, and 16 onward will be the ‘comfort’ ones? There are still going to be intense moments but she might not have to be on her own anymore (provided she learns to seek help when she needs it)

‘but deffo like badguy with ulterior motives that don't really affect the world in a bad sense but would definitely resort to immoral ways to accomplish said ulterior motives kind of bad?’

Yes! Like I’m happy with how Feysand turned out, but I would have been fine if Rhys stayed ‘evil’ for a bit longer 🫢 just a few more scenes of him being super scary and Feyre being wary of him 🤭

I feel like even as soon as he first visited her in her cell, there was a suggestion he wasn’t that bad? Especially after we learned only one person bet on her winning? Ignoring how acotar characters would write that off as a whim, from a storytelling standpoint that’s a pretty clear way of singling a character out and making them significant 🤭

‘(sorry if I'm not making sense, it's just English isn't my first language and I didn't know how to translate it best. also, I'm also not very good with words 🥲)’

Girl if you hadn’t straight up said English isn’t your first language, I would’ve had no idea 😭

‘which might be why I absolutely loved your dark!Rhys fics, Gods were they amazing, thankyou for writing them luv🤌🏻’

Thank you so much!!! Yes, I have to say there is a certain appeal to writing dark characters, but only if they have a soft spot of some kind for the reader 😭🧡💛

‘oh I'm so glad somebody resonates with me on this, now I don't know if you still like/don't dislike him after all the books or if you only meant through the first book,’

I didn’t hate him in the first book or any other after that, BUT, I did definitely get frustrated with him during the High Lords’ meeting 😭 I kind of wish we got his perspective on that, or at least more about his character? Because Feyre dismantling stability within the Spring Court was quite a brash move I think, and one she might have decided against if she wasn’t having to deal with so many other matters as well as sorting through her own emotions? Because she definitely went through a lot 😭

I guess I feel that Tamlin has a lot of anger in general, which can make him impulsive and volatile at times—like when Feyre first realised she could make a shield in his office—and I’d love to see Sarah explore that more!!

‘but I personally would love to see his character explored a lot more and think there's a lot of scope’

Yes! Exactly!! There’s so much we don’t know about his character and so much potential to spin new stories? Ugh I would love that so much 😭

‘and I hate that some people judge me(and a lot of other readers) solely on the basis of characters we like/dislike?’

I mean, I think it’s made more complicated because of immersion and how emotionally connected some people feel to characters? I was having a conversation about how we all read the same books but it’s interesting there’s such a vast range of opinions? Like some people really hate Nesta, which I can see why I suppose but I personally love her 🧡💛

I think the problem starts when people get too attached to characters that they’re unable to speak objectively about them? I’m definitely guilty of this too though 😭 one of my friends read acotar and was saying something about Az and how they didn’t like him and I straight up asked them to stop because I knew it would upset me 😭 (they did, which was kind of them ☹️)

‘it's just that back when I was reading ACOMAF I just NEEDED my otp(feysand) to happen fsr lol😅’

No I get that 🤩

The tension being set up both in the one bed at the inn scene and the Court of Nightmares moment just made the resolution really enjoyable for me! Not so much the smut part, but when Rhys finds her in the cabin and they end up having a heart to heart, and Rhys tells her more about his history? It just made me feel so happy for them so I know what you mean about wanting them to get together!

‘but there are these attention deficit tendencies that love visiting me on a regular basis that just won't let me sit down, load a show and watch it till the end’

I don’t have it to that extent, but I know that on a smaller scale, I like having music or videos playing in the background while I work? Especially while doing more domestic work like the washing up, changing my sheets, generally tidying etc. it makes the process so much easier, and I won’t get bored of the work or feel guilty for relaxing during ‘work hours’ on weekends

‘I've been meaning to watch it for the past 8 years or so and I just got around to it.’

8 YEARS?? 🫢

Well done for keeping up the determination to actually watch it! 🎉

‘Thank YOU for actually taking out the time to read it AND reply to it, in such detail at that.’

I honestly cannot explain how much I love getting to speak with you. Genuinely, it’s so wonderful being able to interact with other people who like acotar and especially getting to discuss and debate different elements of the story has got to be one of my favourite things about fandom 🫂🧡💛

‘we all love you, Tabby.’

My eyes are prickling for some reason ☹️

Thank you for writing in and taking the time to read through the fics on here ☹️🫂🧡💛

#🫀 anon <3 #🫀#cbmthy #tamlin

3 notes · View notes

tarucore · 3 months

Text

Preview of the not-quite-Brudick fic Im working on about spoucification

This part is only 630 words and the total wc is around 4000, unfortunately this is shaping up to be one of those fics that’s like a 20k oneshot, I’d break it into chapters if I knew what the hell I’m doing yet

~~~~~

“Come on B, let’s head up.” And Dick knew it was bad when Bruce simply rubbed a hand over his face and allowed himself to be led away from the Batcomputer.

Robin had gone out tonight, alone for the most part, with Batgirl checking in on him every fifty minutes like the world's worst babysitter.

It was nice to fly solo, his muscles were pleasantly sore and the burning sense of accomplishment overrode even that strain. He had prevented seven muggings, five home invasions, four carjackings, and two attempted murders. He had also broken up a gang fight at the bar where one of their informants worked and investigated two known suspects in a serial killer case that was stumping the GCPD.

(As a treat for a successful patrol, he stopped by one of the only ice cream shops in Gotham that was open past one. They always gave him a free scoop when in costume, despite the insistence that he didn’t need it and the 20-dollar bill he always sneaks into the tip jar.)

He only took that detour in the first place because he didn’t expect Bruce to still be up and working when he returned.

“Are ya doing alright?” Dick asked in the elevator.

“Just tired, chum” And this was an understatement.

The man had only recently gotten off of concussion protocol and was supposed to be on light duty only, Leslie’s orders. He had been recovering well from the Joker’s latest scheme, where Batman was caught in the explosion. Three different fractures, a concussion, and severe internal bleeding were enough to keep B out of the cowl for a while, but at least the clown was back in Arkham.

After getting off bedrest, he threw himself into the backlog of casework. Dick wouldn’t be surprised if he hadn’t slept since then, by the robotic way Bruce walked to the master bedroom.

(As the crime rate rose, Batman was working himself into near-catatonia more and more often.)

He followed closely behind. While Bruce washed his face and brushed his teeth, Dick picked out some pajamas. Dark silk ones with a monogrammed pocket. Judging by the surprise on his face when Dick handed over the clothes, the man had clearly planned on falling asleep in the old athletic wear that he had worn in the Cave.

Bruce looked slightly less comatose now that he had freshened up. He laughed softly as he turned to change, “What would I ever do without you?”

Dick grinned at the bathroom door, and said, “Well, you certainly wouldn’t solve the Turner and Gutierrez case.”

“Oh? Did you make some progress tonight?”

“Practically closed it! Gordon is going to be stoked when he sees my info tomorrow.”

A calloused hand patted his hair. “You worked hard on this one, I’m glad you figured it out. You should go get some rest.”

He tilted his head and asked, “Are you going to get some rest or will you sit and stare at the ceiling until you end up wandering to the office to work on WE stuff.”

Bruce just grunted in response and lifted the sheets to slide into the right side of the bed.

“Yeah, whatever. Shove over.” Dick rolled from where he was sitting over to the other side, tucking himself under the covers before the man could protest. Usually he would protest, at least.

The older man moved, subtly, to give him more room on the wide bed. It wasn’t needed.

When he scooted a bit closer, Bruce wrapped a comforting arm around his neck, a loose approximation of a hug. “Tonight must have been rough alone, huh?”

“Yeah,” Dick lied and relaxed into the warmth.

“Don’t worry, chum. We’ll be back out there together soon.” He said, as he drifted off to sleep.

“Can’t wait.”

~~~~~

#in this flashback I’m imagining dick to be 12-13 #and he’s fourteen when he starts butting heads with bruce a bit more #cw emotional abuse #my writing #I’m probably going to keep posting shorter scenes as I finish them #it’s good for my motivation #*#limelight tag

2 notes · View notes

makahimetenshi · 8 months

Text

Follow me inside the wastelands - Chapter 26 -Arthur Maxson x Female Sole Survivor Fanfic

Hello to the ten maybe twenty people who keeps reading this fic 26 chapters later…its funny because I don’t see you in the numbers but I see you when I make an update. Which makes me wonder where the hell are the 60 people of chapter two, maybe in the middle of the road…and it’s a long road

If you are very very very delighted with one fic and want a continuation I didn’t write or post you can donate me at least $5 bucks, most of this fics have next chapters I don’t finish because lack of motivation but hey a $5 is a $5, I see a few reviews and comments that fics that are abandoned months laters receive comments of wanting to know what happens next. Here it is, I finished my handling with you all, enjoy the fic

The radrain didnt stop until a month and a week later from the latest events, Arthur had a bit of remorse for how things ended up last time…but not that much, he was tired. Know that this situation wasn’t normal but if knocking up somebody would be this problematic better spare himself…

A week after the radrain stop he received another letter, not from Nora, from the Longfellow old man, he was at the entrance of the airport delivering that letter and damn it was a miracle that he remembers who he was to accept it and not shoot at him, thing is that it wasn’t exactly a letter from Nora, but from Maccready, if it was really him of course, he didn’t know his calligraphy to judge if it was really him or not…

“She is at Sanctuary and will be for another pair of weeks if you want to pay a visit”

Cool, thanks for the notice…

He make a ball of the note, playing with it nervous on his hands and swallow saliva…yeah…yeah…lets pay a visit…

A paladin and a few soldiers should be enough, she says to always park the ventibird in the Red Rocket station since it’s the designated place for air vehicles…According with scribe Nereah power armor isn’t necessary for now, strong winds move all the radiation to another side this days so the air and the sky are clean to move freely, that’s what he expect of Nora doing outside too.

So he did, take a paladin and a few soldiers on a ventibird and move there, doubt that anyone but Nora will attack him…if that happens of course… he hopes to be able to take down a pregnant woman in case of anything, never did it before, its not like he wants to do it but…lately he don’t know anything…

At arriving at the station he knew that everybody in Sanctuary will be aware of his presence, so be it, but anyway he told the paladin and the soldiers to stay aside and just watch any weird movement in the settlement, if they hear shootings of course to come and help but nothing more than that, just in case of an emergency scenario.

But even before placing a foot down on the ground he saw at the wooden bridge a patrol of minutemens with…a pregnant lady in a blue vault suit. He swallows saliva and walk towards them. Meeting Nora, looking at her in the eyes avoiding to look at her belly. It wasn’t the only thing he wanted from her of course

At standing one in front of the other he wanted to talk and say anything, not really having something planned, before they didn’t have all this problems to communicate but now he felt like nothing more needs to be said even if there was a lot of talk to be done. But she did first. She talk first- Come on, lets go to my house to talk.

Arthur sighted and relax his shoulders, sometimes they understand the other too well

Of course he didn’t want their private drama to be part of his soldiers and hers but they need protection constantly from their positions.

Walking along her felt good and correct in another time but now it feels…odd…it gives him bad vibes, he hated that, wished everything to be as before but…no…his eyes slip to her rounded belly, his child was there now, and he loved it, this was all worth for him, maybe not easy but yes worth for him. A bad chill press on his spine when he saw the door of her house, the last time he was there maybe…it was when they conceive their child.

Both go inside the house and Nora leaned against the next wall, looking down, hands behind her back.

-Isnt that suit a bit tight?

-Why are you here Arthur? –rude, she always has awful ways to say things

-I suppose you would be here after the rain is over

-Its true, there’s a lot of settlement work to do everywhere, the radstorms leave a lot of damage in people houses…only im not doing it, im giving directions and helping but not much

-Im glad you aren’t…-he stay in silence for a moment, looking at the ground before looking up again- Nora its over –she look at him, not saying anything- you are five months now what do you expect to happen? You are even taking care of yourself, its not like you expect to loose it and free yourself from this –her hands moved to her belly, only to the sides.

-Taking care of it is something that it just felts natural and correct to do…I pass through this before…but I never expect it to happen again less with you.

-When you ask your husband down in the vault 111 about being happy again weren’t you talking about me? –he was quite sad about that

-Yes…and I was right, it did end horribly like with the last person I take down there

-It didn’t end, im not saying anything about an end, I keep looking for you because I don’t want it to end

-You know why im here? Why I still am a brotherhood soldier? –what? That only confuse Arthur- because I killed Danse –what does a thing have to do with the other? Nora sobbed, and look up trying to contain the tears in her eyes to not fall down her cheeks- If Danse would stay alive I would align with the institute just for his sake, but I killed him

-You killed him because I order you, he was synth and an spy…-he didn’t get it.

-No, I didn’t follow your orders, I killed Danse because I was mad I couldn’t convince him to run away with me, I confessed my feelings expecting it would change his mind and he say he can only look at me as a sister, I was mad, I let a fury consume me and I killed him taking the opportunity because I was so mad to be rejected after wanting him for so long…but not for the good of the Brotherhood…because I resented him –now tears were going down her cheeks, this was the second time Nora talks about killing someone because a fury consume her

So…Danse was the other guy everybody talk about. But they never were a thing.

-What does this have to do with our baby? So much time passed…-well it does feel like shit knowing that your woman has feelings for other person not gonna lie, but it doesn’t matter that much since he is dead a long time now

-If he choose to stay with me I would align with the institute to keep him secured by my side for sure

-With the same son you kill because of the atrocities he made? –this was bullshit, an attempt to make him go away.

-Or the railroad maybe I don’t know im…-she moved her hands to the sides of her head

-Confused, because this has nothing to do with our child, with me…with us…-Arthur step in front of her and place his hands on the sides of her belly, feeling it warm and heavy on his palms.

-I loved him, he was my best friend –Nora was sobbing, and as much her words were a stab on the chest they were discussing something far much important- and I was so mad for so little…I killed him, he didn’t deserve it

-Nora I told you before that you don’t have to be a saint all the time, you have the right to feel and you are pretty aware of it, you feel and do all the time –lets just forget the Danse subject shall we? It hurts him too, remembering your best friend hurts so much

-Don’t you see that I don’t choose the brotherhood? That I didn’t choose you!? -oh no she wouldn’t pull him away with this- if would choose anything else if he was still alive!

-Bullshit, you look after me for months, what we have is real and you can’t deny it, enough with this nonsense

-I would never choose an hypocrite with tech parts –now he did separate, doing circles on the floor walking almost laughing.

-You are so desperate, have nothing against me, you don’t wanna just admit that there’s absolutely no reason for this drama –she looks ashamed behind all the tears and the red nose.

-No…i…

-Come on, if you didn’t have an abortion until now, when? You want this baby, and don’t have a real problem with me…because I didn’t give you any single reason…ever

-Do you really want someone like me to be the mother of your child? –someone with an unclear goal, who flips sides all the time, who doesn’t like the idea of being a mother again

-This isn’t about me! –Arthur pointed at her with a sarcastic smile, cornering her in her own trap- I don’t get why five months later we keep discussing the same thing but yes! I do! For god sake I do!...-he stay in silence, looking at his sad dog face thinking carefully before talking- listen to me…I been working really hard…this half year…due to the results and achievements we both –he pointed at himself and her- had…I been promoted…

-You are already elder what biggest promotion would you need? –she was confused, still sobbing.

-I been talking and negotiate with other elders in California…contacting them back, they recognize my authority over Lyons…is not just my soldiers, my followers like they used to call them…I don’t have a cult…they recognize mine as a chapter of the brotherhood with no doubt…im no longer on Lyons shadow.

God. Nora close his eyes, its true, Arthur have his own problems too, and never take the time to think on them. Be at his side.

-And? –she moved close to him, taking his hands, feeling awful about never care about him, its true, she place all her drama in his shoulders and never care about his problems, her own hands tremble but this is the minimum she can do about it, even if it was useless and one attempt to feel herself better.

-We can go Nora, we can go away –he look at their hands together.

-I don’t get it.

-We can travel away from the Commonwealth, settle in somewhere else –she shook her head to the sides.

-What?

-You have horrible memories and experiences of this place, this land, lets go away, make new ones, the three of us…

-Can we do that? –Nora was so confused

-Yes! I have everything prepared…im just waiting for you…for our son…

She loose his hands, but Arthur put his on her shoulders, moving her head with his to look into her eyes.

-I…I don’t know…I have so many things here…

-This place only give you suffering the more you are here, lets go away from this memory’s, make some new ones with me and our child

Her breathing accelerates, a lot.

-I don’t think I can

-Nora it’s a chance for us

-But what about the minutemens…

-You can pass the power so someonelse, forget it, you are a sentinel you can work anywhere

-What do you mean

-I want us to be happy together

-I was happy before the baby! –she screamed, pulling away from his grip walking around the house nonononononono

-You weren’t happy before –Arthur follow her.

-Maybe –again, she grabbed the sides of her head.

-We can be all happy together, away from the horrors of the commonwealth

-I don’t know I have so many things to do…-Arthur place his palms in her cheeks, making her look into his blue eyes, she melted into that gaze.

-Im here just waiting for you Nora, I not leaving without you…but we can heal together away from this place

-The wastelands horrors are everywhere…my malnourished slim little kid –oh gosh she remembers

-They are, but together we are stronger…-her eyes fill with tears and Arthur hug her, pulling her against her chest, kissing on her head while she sobbed.

-I have to think of it…-why?- there’s so much im leaving behind

-You made a manual in case of death, what more do you need? Consider yourself dead and come with me, in case you died for any reason somebody else have to take your place anyway…

-Well I prefer you to have my caps ally…-true, logically true

-This door is open for us, only together, you told me a lot of times you wanted to travel away from the Commonwealth, this is not your old home anymore

-I don’t know if I will fit good as a mom no matter the place

-Im also becoming a dad –she look up at him, taking a breath, closing her eyes before hiding her face on her neck

-I have to think on it

Well

She didn’t say no but…that wasn’t a yes…and knowing her…she was saying no for sure. She didn’t want to follow him into the wastelands.

Arthur separate, and place a hand on her belly, it was the biggest he had seen until now and he believes…it was going to be the biggest he see forever…He feared not seeing her again for some reason stiching in the back of his neck and it didn’t feel like a common fear.

He took a long breath, look up trying to hold the tears, not wanting to take out his hand from there. He feared not being able to touch there again.

-Nora please

-I just have some things to do…

-I love you –he said out from the heart, but he knew that wouldn’t break her, wouldn’t reach her…

-I love you too

Not really, both stop loving each other with the same intensity as before. And that break Nora and Arthur hearts.

-Does it move? The baby –the question take Nora by surprise- its five month your exams are good you should feel something

-You have no idea –what does that mean? – it hits hard for only being five months…

-You are big –maybe too big for five months only, but he never see a full healthy pregnancy before, always on sick and malnourished womans. Nora put his hands over her belly, pressing them down over the leather of the vault suit

-Maybe too big for any suit

-Don’t worry, I can get as many comfortable clothes you need

-Ill give you an answer later…-that was a no, Arthur give up for today with grief, he move his hands away separating but the second before pulling…he swear he felt something against his palm.

-You know ill be waiting…im not leaving without any of you

-I know…

The elder will leave that day with the feeling on his palm of…something pressing hard against it…and the round sensation of her warm belly.

He took the ventibird at the Red Rocket station with the paladin and the soldiers waiting for him back to the Prydwen, the whole journey he would think on his pregnant woman and his 5 months child moving inside her, really moving. Soldiers can see that the elder was tired, defeated, again, today wasn’t a victory for him, the sentinel was being too rough and difficult to seduce.

That day Arthur decided that if she was going to stay at Sanctuary working unable to convince her, he would infiltrate an spy between the minutemens lines, not for anything more than just watch her and inform about her everyday and well being

He needed to be in some form…present…for her and their son if she didn’t allow it.

But he wouldn’t use a soldier from his own forces, he asked the other elders for an external intelligence soldier to come to the Commonwealth for a secret mission, not because his were unable but they all know Nora and had connections to her, maybe someone loyal to her and her triumphs will snitch on him. I mean if the elder ask you on a mission it was important if course but there may be some friendships or closeness involved since she was such an important soldier from so long, she started from initiate and had a big link…to Danse…one of the most popular and beloved Paladins…even if his name faded in time because his anti-synth campaign did good results.

Maybe it wasn’t moral, but he wanted to know what was up with his family, she didn’t want him close because of her own traumas and honestly he can’t travel everyday and mobilize a group to protect him, he had duties and responsibilities to do. Maybe she had hers to, he wouldn’t deny that, but clearly…their thing was dying, she didn’t want him close. He offer everything.

The only single thing he didn’t offer was to end up the pregnancy, and even if he offer it not only now it was too late he doubted it would improve something.

Maybe the baby really change the things, as it was expected of course it would change things…but he wished for things to get only better and they didn’t. He puts too much confidence in this relationship. It break his heart having this realizations but…It would be foolish to continue complaining after 5 months. That’s it. Its over.

He kick the table in his quarters with a small kick, but still one of the bottles of vodka fell, not spill…looking at the transparent bottle make him realize how much passed since he stopped drinking…before Nora he drink at least one shoot a day, and now this bottle was in the table as decoration mostly since year and half…

Maybe he needed a drink today.

The spy was introduced two weeks later in Sanctuary, as a citizen of the Commonwealth who came to work and live from the radio transmissions.

For an entire month he followed Nora and Maccready from the shadows, giving weekly reports to the elder of this chapter and everything seem…normal…apparently she gives directions and orders only, organizes patrols and logistics. She doesn’t eat in the communal dinners. Wakes up early to do…small labor, like cleaning the streets and moving the cattle, lately they were fencing the surroundings of the “isle” that is Sanctuary.

But she is big, bigger than any pregnant woman that the spy have ever seen for her time, it couldn’t be a thing of prewar genes.

Maccready was around, and specifically says in the report, around enough to not bother and not be noticed. It was almost like he was the spy of Maccready and Maccready was the sentinel spy. The spy suspected that Maccready had a slightly idea of what he was doing here, but not his identity.

Should he warn Maccready? Or it would be too much? Two spys over a single person…

Nah, he didn’t need to know that much.

Two weeks later. Nora ambushed the spy against a wall and put a knife on his neck.

Not using force by any methods, just corner him walking around in one garden, walking at his side was enough for her to push him lightly against a wall and since the spy knew that she was the pregnant mother of elder Maxson child he wouldn’t do anything to defend himself to not causa an accident.

Nora had the card of being the general of this place, almost like Hancock in Goodneighbord, she can do…a lot of questionable stuff that usually would be excused as something she does to protect Sanctuary, so pushing and menacing a settler against a wall…was something nobody would question at all. She had a good enough image so this wouldn’t bother at all.

-Let me go! –say the spy, not actually scared about the knife on his neck, acting to not break character.

-You think I wouldn’t notice eventually an spy in my home? –she said spitting in his face, taking another knife out of…he couldn’t really know where but Nora take lessons from Hancock on how to be a good mayor- so, who send you? I think I was in good terms with the railroad

-Im not an spy!

-Drop the act dumbass, it will make it easy for you

-Please I beg you! –a raider gang maybe? This guy didn’t look that weird

-You know I never had the chance to interrogate someone on court before the bombs dropped…this may be a good practice –she said before giving him a hard punch in the stomach, when the man fell to the ground beated by pain she sat on his back and use both hands and knifes, one under his neck and the other up behind the head. Shit this was no good at all.

-Believe me im not a spy! I swear!

-Not good enough, keep trying

The spy can see from the side of his eyes how people were coming over them, noticing the odd and violent situation happening in the peaceful settlement, damn if more people joined this would be more and more dangerous for him.

-You are making a mistake general!

-Maccready, give me a hand over here, hold his feet

Oh no, not him precisely. Both man exchanged looks and…damn he understand the situation, he understand who he was and what he was doing there.

-If you weren’t pregnant ill already be free! –its true, he can’t harm her, she was carrying the son of the elder, if by any chance she receives any harm that would be his end, better summit and not move a muscle

-You sure buddy? –she asked all cocky

-Just because you are the general doesn’t mean you can do this!

-Nora –Robert call her securing the man ankles, she look at him with a bit of effort due to keeping the concentration on her prey –we need to talk

-What? –she said getting off the spy with her legs to knee in the ground next to him, still with the knifes on his neck, loosing a bit of control cutting slighy the flesh making the spy jump a bit when Maccready come close to whisper on her ear his concerns. Whisper whisper whisper…-that fucker –was that an insult to elder Maxson? That will go in the report –you –Nora call him taking the knifes out and kicking the side of his body while Maccready secured his wrist- come with us

This wasn’t an experience she needs as a pregnant woman, less with the belly at this stage but oh well she can still move good without problem

-Let me go! –scream the spy while Maacready make him stand to walk to Noras house, at getting inside Codsworth understand the situation with the strange man and move besides her to protect his pregnant maam.

-Come on, I said that resisting will do it more difficult for you –the raider talk was something that really entertained Nora

-Again! Im not a spy! –Maacready kick him in the calves making the man curl in pain, the mercenary took the chance to sit him down in a chair, not tying him up, standing behind.

-Hey General –call the mercenary to the woman on the other side on the room- do you still have the Throatslicer? –well that name sound intimidating

-Oh yeah, what a great idea –she said with a bright smile, in the moment she leave the room the handy robot behind her pull out a circular saw, just pull it out but when she came back throw something to Maccready in the air –here you go!- and stand against a wall, placing her hands on her belly

-So –said the mercenary catching a rusted knife, just placing it in his shoulder, securing it the grip with his fingers, letting the blade between his neck and shoulder- are you going to make it easy? For you, specially

-I don’t know what more do you need to convince you im not a spy

His brotherhood training didn’t let him fear a hostage situation but this was taking too long to change, I mean he assumed this was a situation it could happened and for a month he did it pretty well but…she is a sentinel, of course this wouldn’t last too much.

-What is a scar or two? –said the mercenary before strabbing him in the right shoulder by the front, taking by surprise the brotherhood spy who tried to stand from the chair but the mercenary wouldn’t let him, pulling him down again in the chair, stabbing him in the left shoulder now- heres goes the second! –the soldier tried to fight and use his arms to defend himself but the wounds there make his grip all weak

-Let me! Im swear im not a spy! –his voice cracked in pain, still in the other side on the room, Nora was watching

-Robert –she called him, the mercenary close his arms around his neck to avoid him from running away –an ear

-You cant be serious –said the spy taking a breath- im not what you think! –the opens on his shoulders were getting hot from the blood coming out

-Do it –she said as the Mister Handy robot leave her side and move closer with the flamer and the circular saw, to menace him to stay in place as the mercenary pull one of his ears and place a knife in the union between the ear and his head- you can talk you know?

-Please don’t! –ok the acting wasn’t working, she wasn’t softening and he was really doing his best to not drop the image of an innocent settler. When the knife started to cut a bit of skin the spy overventilated and surrender-Ill do it! –like a professional, Maccready stopped but move the knife to his neck again, were there was a bit of blood flowing down too.

-Will you talk? –she said getting closer.

-Yes! –oh no the wounds on his shoulders were really really bleeding

-Alright, but the knife stays there –a sadistic smile appeared on her face, the woman take out 2 syringes, one of med-x and another of stimpack from whoever knows were…-see this buddy? Im giving it to ya when we are done

-Im bleeding –his clothes were all wet and the metallic smell from blood was all over the place

-Don’t worry, I don’t have rugs anymore in this house, too much bloodstains to clean

-So who is your boss? –ask the mercenary moving the knife around

The spy didn’t want to talk at all but…

-The brotherhood…

-Weird you don’t recognize him–said Maccready to Nora.

-Odd to me too, doesn’t act and move like an initiate neither, what are you doing in this side of the commonwealth fella?

He didn’t want to talk at all

-Im sure there’s plenty of interesting places around to sneak your noses more than this old neiberhood –mutter the mercenary into the spy ear

-Not if the sentinel is not around –said the spy, Nora look confused at him.

-Me? Why me?

-I believe is pretty big obvious Nora –when Robert said that Nora give a kick to the air and look at the ground

-let me tell you something –said the woman walking slowly towards him- you can still de your work around –Maccready raise an eyebrow confused, the spy too- yeah…you can stay here…-she said with a smile, the spy swallow saliva at seeing that curve- you can even write this conversation in your report –she wasn’t mentioning the elder at all, but it was implied- in fact I want you to specifically communicate this so listen up –the woman knee in front of him looking at his terrified eyes, it wasn’t easy to keep the composure in front of someone with so many raider vibes- you can watch me, follow me, try to sneak into my secrets…but you will fail, one day I will disappear out of nothing and there will be no sight of me at all, I will be out of your sight so youll have nothing to report at all more than your failure, I swear ill make you fail you mission stupid toy

The man swallow again feeling a void in his stomach.

-You will let me around?

-Yeah, you can still do settlement work, live and eat our food –she stand up, looking big and powerful, menacing- are you a brotherhood soldier or a third party?

-A brotherhood soldier –Nora make a sign with the head to Maccready and the man put the knifes down, lifting him up from the chair as she stands back.

-Never see you before –she said as dropping the med-x an the stimpack to the ground, not breaking them, just letting them fall, one of the syringes having a small crack on the sides spilling the content by little drops- you are lucky I don’t let a brother or a sister down, go away sucker

The spy knee down trying to pick up the syringes before the liquid spills on the ground and loose the chance to heal a bit, his arms and shoulders hurts like hell but he was able to move enough to pick the items, as soon he got them between his fingers doing that regrettable show the mercenary pull the neck of his coat and use the force to take him out of the house as Nora open the door, throwing him outside like a pile of trash, not caring if he crashed against the floor.

Door was smashed in front of the spy face, who take the chance to inject the stimpack and the med-x in his shoulders, feeling the burning of the cuts in his neck still present

Inside the house Nora pull the hairs at the side of her face, having a burnout of stress.

But she will keep her word.

The spy was still around, walking, working, eating, sleeping, defending the settlement, going on patrols searching for problems nearby…she wouldn’t look at him in the eye, others would direct him but there he was, still around, no one was kicking him. Yes, other settlers were suspicious of his attitudes and manners, because of the show, of course if the general menace you with a knife against a wall and then interrogates you in her house you won’t be seen as well as before by other people specially if they loved her so much but…he was still around.

He will write this to the elder in his report, repeat everyword of her, specially the menaces and comments about him. But after that report others followed, others that will look like more like before the discovers the spy, saying that the days were normal, that she was working around and directing things as usual, not talking to him its true but…just like before…her pregnancy look normal, growing everyday a bit more.

Its like she wanted the spy around.

At 7 month, she will stop using the vault suits to change it for dresses, like a Laundered denim dress, surely because she doesn’t fit anymore in other clothes and they were too tight to move around with her gigant belly…and a Old fisherman's hat, not sure why so ugly but it must be to protect from the sun. Something was odd with that pregnancy, she was too big, really big.

But a week later after that…she keep her word…and disappear…the spy lost track of her for two more entire weeks. She vanished in the air. He would ask around to the people or what they acted like his bosses, not only no one wanted to answer much because it wasn’t really their business to get in trouble because the newbie was asking too much but because they didn’t know either.

He wrote the elder about it, about her dissaparence, how she wasn’t around, she wasn’t working on the settlement but apparently didn’t leave because everybody that would be her companion was around. Even Maccready.

She wasn’t dead, there was no movement if that was the case but everything was still so organized and fine that it couldn’t be, she was directing people from somewhereelse.

The spy started to panic and get dessesperate nonononono he loose his objective, he performed horribly in this mission, the spying was a fiasco, the cover up was a mess…and now the sentinel is gone! His discontent was starting to be visible because of how many people he was asking to get more information about the sentinel whereabouts, so visible that the man that almost cut one of his ears approach him one night, with a letter.

-Give this to elder Maxson –was the only thing the mercenary said to him

The spy delivers the letter to the airport with another soldier connections, not wanting to face the elder Maxson at all, arguing that he wanted to return to the settlement to see some new movement happening.

Maxson open the letter with full frustration knowing the situation from previous reports, she was so slippery to any of his plans.

“Nora is doing fine, healthy according to Curies report” said the letter Maccready read “Ill update you about her status but since she is not going out for a while…”going out? So she was underground? Oh his poor brain was trying to extract and read between lines as many information as possible”Changing, but since she is not my woman I will not look at that”Oh he can understand the meaning of that, still, Nora was barely still his woman at this point ”I don’t think she is ready even at this time, if you send some goods…ill deliver them to her “So the mercenary have access to whenever she was “I try to convince her everyday that she doesn’t have to do this alone, I lost my wife and I don’t think any protection is enough for the ones we love, she would do good in have you at her side, a little extra more of protection” is she the only who don’t see how unnecessary this is? Apparently she doesn’t bad mouth of him at all, if this letter was truly written with sincerity of course”Since I don’t have as many time as before ill leave you the details of my payment in the dorso of this letter, as you see and heard im doing fine my part of protecting her” of course, this man was working for his son Duncan “You are going to receive more letters from me, she is at the end stage and you deserve to be informed as well” oh gosh she really was the problem everybody understand him so well “Dunkan wasn’t fond of your offer and I wasn’t fond of leaving him again after being separated, I know you will take care of your son well as I do with mine, anyway, Nora doesn’t know about this letters, doesn’t have a way to, so ill keep informing you how things are going”

Arthur look at the back and there was drawings and instructions of apparently a place to leave the payment in caps secured until he has time to look them again, of course he wouldn’t have time if he has to be around Noras side.

It was useless to keep searching more hidden things in this letter content, it was pretty clear, I mean clean and vague because it doesn’t say much but there was no seconds intentions at least from a man that wasn’t as smart as her, Maccready was just an ignorant mercenary, doesn’t have the capability to write something more deep or do more than just…killing…performing his job…

So…she was…fine…

And changing…

Arthur prepared a package of things she left behind here in the Prydwen, at some point in their relationship she became comfortable enough to bring a few of her most beloved possessions to his quarters thinking it was their forever spot, new and beautiful dresses, clothes of all kind, magazines, books, hair products…she surely needed them since well its difficult to find this odds in the commonwealth.

By making this items go he was…letting an important part of their past together go to…separate…

But she needed them, his son would need clean sheets and blankets too, so he prepared a package to send…

Clothes and underwear for her, towels, infant clothes and a pacifier for their child he asked from the California chapters, clean sheets and blankets, a bottle for babys milk…even if he wanted to hold it feeding his child…he let that thought go away, didn’t need it right now doesn’t know how things are going to develop once the baby is born, he was living day by thay this tortuous situation…wiping sheets, soap, shampoo, purified water cans, cloth diapers for change as underwear for the baby…

Food he supposed she has…wasn’t going to fill space on things she wouldn’t eat…

Meds supply like rags, cotton, alcohol, clean surgery items, pillows, antibiotics…

Arthur was letting some of her things go away from his quarters with all the pain in the word, hating everysecond, but he do this for his child, now his child was the most important thing in the world. If the zeppelin by some reason exploded, he would run away to look after his child immediately.

The package will be delivered to Sanctuary directly…and hopefully if Maccready gives the goods to Nora, his spy will be able to locate her again. Hopefully.

A last pair of gifts for Nora were placed in the package, this feels like a coffin to their relationship, but she was the mother of his child and she would surely appreciate it, she was giving him something important, something she apparently never wanted but…do it for him. As she said, this was her solution.

At vault 111 Nora open the package that Maccready and Preston sneak in secret in the middle of a cold night with guards around securing the perimeter, knowing there was spys of the brotherhood nearby, being the most careful as possible to not snitch the general secret private quarters in Sanctuary…this will be her private spot for the last days of the pregnancy. She secured herself with Codsworth and Curie as her only company, but if Maccready and Preston were careful…they can be around sometimes, a few, maybe once a week.

Inside the package there was a box with supply’s and…it was surrounded by bloomed roses, open, bright red with a with a beautiful aroma of roses that enveloped Nora as soon as she opened the package seeing that spectacle took her breath away but the fresh watermelon that was among the provisions made her eyes water.

Gosh she never wanted things to end this way.

#makahimefanfic #fallout 4 #elder maxson #sole survivor #arthur maxson

2 notes · View notes

hellfireclubmember3 · 2 years

Text

I'm really proud of the latest chapter on my Eddie fic. Enjoy 😊 And don't forget to check out my Wattpad if you want to read more.

The Other Wheeler

Chapter 10. Hand in Hand

Eddie and I walked down the street, hand in hand. Our path lit up with streetlights, the crisp evening air chilling my face, and the warmth of Eddie next to me. It felt like a magical moment. Eddie decided to take this opportunity to try to get to know me better.

"So I know we've hung out a few times now, but, uh, I feel like I hardly know you. I really only know what Mike has told me... I'd love for you to tell me more about yourself." He said to me with sincerity.

I let out a light laugh. "Oh God, I can't imagine what Mike has said about me. What do you want to know?"

Eddie placed his free hand on his chin. "Hmmm, let me think... Okay, what's your favorite book?"

I wasn't surprised by his question. I knew he was a reader citing our meeting at the library after all. I gave him my honest answer. "1984 by George Orwell."

Eddie raised his eyebrows. "Really?" He questioned.

"What?" I replied defensively.

"I just wasn't expecting that, that's all." Eddie rebutted.

I scrunched my eyebrows. "What were you expecting?"

"I don't know, like, Little Women or something like that." He replied.

"I guess you really don't know me after all." I joked. "So what else do you want to know?"

Eddie had another question ready to go. "What do you want to do after you graduate high school?"

I always hated this question because I never knew how to respond. The world seems to think that you should have your whole life figured out by the time you are 18, but that just doesn't seem fair to me. I answered Eddie's question as best as I could. "I definitely want to go to college, just haven't figured out where or for what yet. But I make sure I do well in school so that I'll have a decent chance at getting into whichever school I want."

"You got big plans for the future?" Eddie responded.

"I don't know about that." I chuckled. "But I do know that I want to be happy doing whatever it is I end up doing in my life."

Eddie seemed to contemplate what I had said. "I can appreciate that."

"What about you? What plans do you have for your future?" I asked, curious about what a super-senior metalhead would have to say.

Eddie smirked and looked at the ground as he walked. "I don't have many plans. The only plan I really have is to not end up like my old man. I live with my uncle if you didn't know... My dad isn't a great guy, he got himself locked up a few years back. I just know that I want to be different than him and do right by my family when I have one."

I was touched by Eddie's words. "I can appreciate that." I replied and squeezed his hand a bit. We walked in silence for a bit after this, simply enjoying each other's company.

"I have another question for you." Eddie confessed.

"Okay, what is it?" I inquired.

Eddie took a deep breath and then asked. "How come you keep to yourself so much? I see you at school and you walk around as if you don't want to be seen or heard. Why is that?"

Of course Eddie asked me the one question I was not prepared to answer. The truth was that I really didn't know why. I liked to blame trauma from the past, but I was quiet and reserved long before any of that drama. I thought about how to respond for a bit too long.

"Hey, you don't have to answer if you don't want to. I was just curious, but no pressure." Eddie assured.

"No, I want to answer... I guess, maybe I feel like there is a safety to my solitude. If no one knows me, then no one can judge me..." I admitted.

Eddie considered my words and replied sincerely. "Your solitude may allow you to live in your veil of safety, but it seems like it would be a fairly lonely existence." We had stopped walking and were now standing in the silence with the weight of Eddie's words hanging over us.

His words hit me hard. He was making me confront things and realize things that I hadn't before. I looked up at him with tears in my eyes. "It is lonely." I confessed. Without saying anything, he wrapped his arms around me. The warmth of his embrace was so comforting, I wanted to exist in this moment forever.

Eventually, Eddie pulled out of the embrace, but immediately took my hand in his again. "It's not too late to change you know. Every day you have an opportunity to be less alone, you just have to put yourself out there. And I can be there to help you through it... if you want me to."

What Eddie suggested was appealing. Being less alone, having more friends, actually being someone at school. Someone that people know and not just the other Wheeler. It was also extremely daunting, but knowing that Eddie would be there made it less so. "That sounds nice." I replied to Eddie giving him a warm smile and a gentle squeeze to his hand.

We made our way back to the arcade where Eddie's van was parked. It was starting to get late, so Eddie offered to drive me home and I gladly accepted. When we arrived back at my house, Eddie walked me to the door. "I really enjoyed tonight." Eddie said to me.

"Me too." I admitted.

"Let's go out again before break is over, okay?" Eddie proposed.

"Okay." I answered happily.

"Have a good night, Y/N." Eddie said as I made my way through the front door.

I looked back and replied. "You too, Eddie."

It wasn't lost on me that this was the first time that he had addressed me by my name.

#eddiemunson #eddie #strangerthings #eddie munson #stranger things #st s4 #fanfiction #eddie stranger things #eddie my love #eddie munson x reader #eddie the banished #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson fanfic

12 notes · View notes

keefwho · 7 hours

Text

April 29 - 2024 Monday

10:59pm

5/10

This morning I shaved my face and clipped my toenails. Also did laundry throughout the day but I think it still needs more drying. My CoStar said to let myself be weird today so I took that prompt and combined it with defusion to be on the lookout for thoughts that others might be judging me today. Breakfast was a jimmy dean sandwich and rice. I tried to start Ducktales again but I wasn't really interested. I started watching a neat little video about a disney animatronic theft DS linked me.

During my stream, 57 got rowdy with me right off the bat and made the mood weird. I also had to restart my PC before I could draw. No one was in stream today, even he had to leave at least partly because of work stuff. I warmed up by copying Spirit screenshots. Then I did my latest YCH for 2 hours. It was mind numbing, I got so bored by the end of it. I also felt bad about my coloring style being lacking as of late. I feel as though I've been trying too hard to play it safe even though the new way I've been coloring allows for greater freedom and experimentation.

After stream I was gonna play War Thunder or something but I saw TK was on VRchat so I joined her. She and NJ were playing chess which SUCKED but I stuck around while I starting preparing commissions for next month. Then I balled myself up in my hoodie and took a nap in my chair until she woke me up. I left to make lunch. Lunch was a really good tuna quesadilla. It was a little bit small for a meal and I did that intentionally since I've been averaging 141+ pounds. I've noticed my weight tends not to vary too wildly so even 1 or 2 pounds queues me to make small eating decisions over the next few days. Not that I care THAT much. Just something I consider.

Afternoon was spent doing today's request and drawing something quick and silly for DS. Then I started fabricating my next idea that I'll start on next week. I worked on PZ's VRchat world for an hour today. I meant to write the project off completely but I figure I'll spend my weekly Monday 1 hour time slot on it, thats not much. When I was done, I had agreed to play Roblox with TK since we didn't get to over the weekend. I introduced her to the basics of the horse game. I felt nervous because I couldn't tell if she was enjoying it or not. I didn't feel good at selling it because I sort of play it for the vibes. I think it's a great game to play if your primary goal is just chatting. I was about to leave to start dinner which is right when DS became free as well.

DS showed me how she fixed her fursuit's lips which was great, I was so sad to hear she didn't end up liking how they had turned out at first. I try to be reassuring but I struggle to be sometimes. Through my days learning how to manage creativity and artistic expectations, I've learned that there is no "failure" in a way and I like to try and convey this. I've learned you can brute for anything with enough attempts. And each slipup teaches you something new if you let it. The important thing is to stare your 'failures' in the face so you can fully recognize what you need to change going forward.

Other than that we watched a video on Marefair which was just disgusting. It looked like an awful time surrounded by awful people. And yet I could probably make a lot of money if I vended there. Not that I would ever.

In bed we did puzzles and read a couple Monster High chapters. The book is getting real juicy right now. We also learned about a 1994 adaptation of Black Beauty I put on our list of movies. In KH2 I completed the second part of the Pride Lands.

#journal #diary

0 notes

miajolensdevotion · 7 months

Text

Know The Culture, Make Christ Known

WELCOME

What do you observe in our culture today especially in relation to the spiritual or religious practices of the people? Are you deeply disturbed by what you see? Why or why not?

WORD

Acts 17:16-21 New International Version (NIV) says

In Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. 17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. 18 A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to debate with him. Some of them asked, “What is this babbler trying to say?” Others remarked, “He seems to be advocating foreign gods.” They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. 19 Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, “May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? 20 You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we would like to know what they mean.” 21 (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.)

Continue reading the succeeding verses of chapter 17. We are at the tail end of Paul's 2nd missionary journey. In the beginning of Acts 17, we were with Paul & Silas in Thessalonica & then in Berea, also joined by Timothy. Now we find, alone in Athens.

Acts 17:16-34 New International Version (NIV) says

In Athens

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. 23 For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]

29 “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

32 When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, “We want to hear you again on this subject.” 33 At that, Paul left the Council. 34 Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others.

is known as Paul's Mars Hill Sermon-it is one of the areas in the Bible that show us how to tell people who have a totally different worldview about the wonderful truth of God & His offer of salvation through Jesus Christ.

KNOW THE CULTURE

Culture is the way of life of a group of people, the way they do things. It is the outlook, attitudes, values, morals, goals & customs shared by a society. While Paul was waiting for Timothy & Silas in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols.

Acts 17:16 New International Version (NIV) says

In Athens

16 While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols.

Athens is like the capital of the world back then. It was the birthplace of philosophers. That city had so many idols that they say it was easier to find an idol than a person! Are we much different today? Tim Keller defines an idol as "ANYTHING MORE IMPORTANT TO YOU THAN GOD. ANYTHING THAT ABSORBS YOUR HEART & IMAGINATION MORE THAN GOD. ANYTHING YOU SEEK TO GIVE YOU WHAT ONLY GOD CAN GIVE.". Any thing can be an idol-even the best things in life-ourdreams, ministry, job, achievements, kids, etc. We were created to worship & whatever we worship, we will serve, & whatever we serve controls us. If we worship something that is not deserving of worship, it will corrupt & destroy us.Paul was deeply disturbed by what he saw. Do we feel the same way when we see the world around us? Because of Christ, we should not be provoked to an anger that is proud, but to a sadness that disturbs us within because we see people who have not tasted the goodness of God & so are worshiping whatever or whoever they can. To see the culture we have to first see what is really going on in our own hearts..then our eyes will be clear to see the culture in the context of God. We should know our culture with the goal of making Christ known. If we want to do our best, let us take time to find out where people are coming from. If we really love someone, we would want to know more about them so we can better understand them & know how to reach out to them.

TAKE A STAND

In Acts 17:22 New International Version (NIV) says

22 Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious.

we saw Paul making a stand for the Gospel. Paul knew the culture & was able to establish a common ground with his audience. He stated his observations-how religious they were & the altar he found with the inscription "to the unknown god." Paul uses this as the springboard to making Christ known, as a bridge to the gospel. Paul serves as a great example for us-how we can connect with people & translate our faith, in order to win some for Christ. The question is, are we ready & willing to take a stand where we are-in our family, school, workplace, industry? Let us ask God for the wisdom, courage & strength to be able to do so. Let us be good stewards of the platforms God has given us & shine for His glory!

TEACH GOD'S WORD

In Acts 17:24-following New International Version (NIV) says

24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands.

Paul begins his defense by giving them the right theology about God-God as our Creator, the sovereign Lord who is not served by human hands but gives life to all. The Athenians thought they were a superior & better race so Paul challenged that

in Acts 17:26-27 New International Version (NIV)

26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.

saying that God made from one man every nation & determined their appointed time & place that they would seek God. Paul also quoted their own poets

in Acts 17:28 New International Version (NIV) says

28 ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’[a] As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’[b]

as a bridge to point them to God's truth. Finally, he presented God as a judge & calls them to repent

in Acts 17:30-31 New International Version (NIV)

30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent.31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

In Acts 17:32-34 New International Version (NIV)

we see the different responses to Paul's sermon. Some began to sneer, some wanted to hear more & some joined him & believed. When we make Christ known, not everyone will believe. Let us do our part & leave the results to God. We may find ourselves making mistakes as we try to make Christ known. When this happens, we can take them to God & ask Him to make up for our mistakes. There will be challenges but let us remind ourselves of

Acts 1:8 New International Version (NIV) says

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

the Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnessed! If we spend time in God's word & know our culture, we cannot help but make Him known! Let us remind ourselves of the love of the Heavenly Father each day & carry that love to the people around us.

John 17:23 New International Version (NIV) says

23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: (PLEASE DON INCLUDE ANYMORE HERE YOUR PAST EXPERIENCE BECAUSE WE ARE NOW AT THE PRESENT TIME)

1. Do you find yourself at times conforming to the patterns of this world? How can you free yourself from "idols"?

mia answer: Yes sometimes i find myself conforming the patterns of this world; I can free myslef from idols by being different in my attitude

2. Based on your observations on our culture today, how can you better reach out to the people around you?

mia answer: Based on my observations on our culture today, I can better reach out to the people around me by praying for them & sending them Gods word through text message

3. Are you taking a stand where you are-in your family, in your school, in your workplace or industry? How can you make Christ known in your spheres of influence?

mia answer: I am taking a stand where i am; I can make Christ known in my sphere of influence by playing instrumental worship song while working in my workplace Virus-free. www.avg.com

0 notes

dreamwritesimagines · 2 years

Text

Enamored [15] - Siren Call

A.N: Thank you so much for your amazing feedback my loves!❤ I hope you’ll like this chapter as well, and please let me know what you think, thank you! ❤

Summary: Some nights are more chaotic than others.

Warnings: Regency era society and social rules, slow burn, yearning.

Word Count: 5500

Series Masterlist

The next couple of days were absolutely disastrous.

Both your brother and your best friend were heartbroken and even if you wanted to help more than anything, there was nothing you could do. You had been trying your best to make Elias see logic and not give in to the ton’s expectations, but he seemed to be so taken by his own sadness that he was deaf to your pleas.

“I’ll be fine,” he had told you the last time you tried to talk to him, his eyes bloodshot. “I don’t have the luxury to wallow in my misery or hope for something impossible.”

He barely spent any time at home, so you ended up going to Cecily’s house a lot in hopes of cheering her up just like today.

“Do you want to go to the park?” you asked, absentmindedly playing with a ribbon in your hands while both you and Cecily lied on her bed, and she shook her head.

“Not really,” she mumbled and you hummed.

“Do you want to go horse riding?”

“No.”

“We could go buy some ribbons, or jewelry? I heard that there’s a new jeweler, everyone speaks highly of him.”

“Not really,” she said, sniffling and wiping at her eyes. “Thank you though. I appreciate it.”

You sat up in the bed to look at her better.

“I will fix this.”

Cecily tried to smile. “I already told you. There’s nothing to be fixed, he merely does not want to be with me.”

“That’s not true!”

She shrugged her shoulders and reached to her bedside table to grab the latest Whistledown while you shot her a glare.

“You can’t keep reading that.”

“Why not?” she asked. “She’s telling the truth and the whole ton knows it. Lord Westcliff merely acknowledged my presence and his interest wavered.”

You rolled your eyes. “It’s not like that at all, and Lord Westcliff is an idiot,” you pointed out. “He can’t help it really, I got all the wisdom in the family.”

That seemed to make her laugh and she shook her head.

“Enough about my heartbreak,” she said. “Are you excited for tonight?”

You averted your eyes. “Uh no, why would I be?”

She scoffed. “Dinner at the Bridgerton house?” she asked you. “Please. I bet you tried at least ten gowns until you found the perfect one for the occasion.”

“I don’t think we should talk about all that in your condition.”

“In my condi—Y/N, I’m heartbroken, not with child,” she reminded you and you shrugged your shoulders.

“Either way.”

“Come on,” she said. “Humor me. How long did you spend before finding the perfect outfit and accessories?”

“You will make fun of me.”

“Of course I will, but I’m allowed.” She tried to smile. “Considering my condition.”

“I went to bed at two in the morning trying to find the perfect combination with the gown and jewelry,” you admitted. “I’m afraid Lucie hates me.”

“All this effort for an insufferable rake who walks around as if he’s God’s gift to women,” Cecily shook her head. “Unbelievable.”

“It’s not for him, it’s what I’d do for any dinner.”

Cecily turned the paper in her hand, then lifted her head. “Or maybe it’s for his brother, as Lady Whistledown wrote,” she taunted you and held up the paper. “Judging by their conversation while ignoring the Viscount’s glare, one could assume that Lady Y/N has a new favorite Bridgerton brother—” she was cut off when you snatched it out of her hands.

“No!” you exclaimed. “Benedict is very sweet, but…”

“He’s not a rake, therefore not to your taste?” she offered and you hit her with a pillow, making her laugh.

“Cece!”

“Not that I want to talk about those wretched lists again, but you’re at the top of his list. Eloise said so.”

You made a face.

“Oh trust me, that means nothing to him,” you said. “He was very clear about it, his list is not to his liking. He thinks only half of the names are suitable, and we both know I’m not one of the suitable names. I want love and he does not.”

“Penelope had a point the other day, I doubt love will ask for his opinion on the matter,” Cecily pointed out. “And I know you, so will you stop pretending like you’re not dying for tonight to come already?”

You heaved a sigh and bit inside your cheek, trying to focus.

“It’s just a dinner,” you managed to say. “I’m sure nothing important will happen.”

When you, Elias and the Duke got to the Bridgerton house, you were pretty sure you were buzzing with excitement. Lady Bridgerton had greeted you in the foyer, and she and the Duke started walking to the stairs that led to the drawing room where the rest of the family was sitting while waiting for the dinner to be ready. You could hear the giggles of Daphne and Simon’s baby coming from upstairs as you smiled, then stole a look at the Duke and Lady Bridgerton who already seemed to be in a deep conversation as they made their way upstairs.

“Do they know each other already?” you asked Elias who nodded.

“Yeah, father has great respect for Lady Bridgerton. I think he’s glad she was around while I was growing up.”

You hummed as Benedict made his way to you.

“Welcome,” he said. “Anthony is in his study but he will be with us in a moment, he has something to handle apparently.”

Your heart skipped a beat but Elias nodded while all three of you started walking up the stairs.

“So, Lady Miriam then?” he asked Elias who groaned.

“Not you too.”

“It’s a terrible idea,” you pointed out. “Benedict, tell him what a terrible idea it is.”

“I don’t know Elias, I don’t think you would be happy with her.”

“Exactly what I said!” you exclaimed. “Thank you!”

“You two make a very illogical team,” Elias grumbled. “Can we please not talk about this?”

“The fact that you don’t want to talk about her is even more proof that you shouldn’t be with her.”

“She has a point. And Miss Cecily—”

“Please, not one word about her.” Elias pointed at Benedict. “Listen, you were there. Anthony was right, alright?”

Your head shot up. “I’m sorry?” you asked. “What does he have to do with this?”

“I talked to him after Lady Bridgerton kindly gave me my list,” Elias said. “He said me being with Cecily just doesn’t make sense and encouraged me to pursue Lady Miriam and he has a point. I need to think about my title and my family, and Cecily…” he trailed off and shook his head. “Can we please not talk about this?”

Fury crashed on you out of nowhere and you stopped dead in your tracks just at the entrance of the drawing room, staring at Elias.

“Y/N?”

How dare he?

How dare he encourage Elias to pursue any woman except Cecily?

“Um—” you cleared your throat. “I’ll be right back, I’ll just… one of Lucie’s friends is your maid and I have to ask her something about Lucie, excuse me.”

They stepped into the drawing room and you whirled around, then strode downstairs, anger pulsing through you. Ever since you had met Cecily, you had been pushing her and your brother together and now you knew they were in love with each other and Anthony had apparently decided to undermine all your efforts to get them together behind your back.

No.

This was absolutely unacceptable.

You gritted your teeth and reached the door to his study, then opened the door, stepped inside and slammed it behind you. Anthony was already standing by his desk when you entered, -probably getting ready to leave for the drawing room- so his head shot up and he looked over his shoulder, then turned around, staring at you as if he couldn’t believe you were there.

“What are you doing here?” he asked and you narrowed your eyes at him, still fuming.

“I came to yell at you.”

“I beg your pardon?”

“I came to yell at you,” you repeated a bit louder this time, making him tilt his head. He leaned back to his desk, crossing his arms and that damn cocky smile pulled at his lips as if your audacity to storm into his own study in his own house was somehow amusing.

Which you figured was quite daring, but you were way too angry to even focus on it.

“By all means,” his tone was almost teasing. “Don’t let me stop you.”

You clenched your jaw, a pout appearing on your lips. “Did you tell Elias it was a bad idea to court Cecily?”

He nodded. “Yes I did.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s my best friend and he asked for my opinion. It’s a terrible idea.”

You had to stop yourself from stomping on your foot as a string of French words spilled from your lips, making him blink a couple of times as if he was taken aback. A smirk appeared on his face but then he remembered to control his expression at the sight of you glaring at him.

“It’s not a terrible idea!” you switched back to English in an attempt to control your anger. “They’re both devastated!”

“They will get over it.”

“Right,” you said with a bitter laugh. “Because Viscount Bridgerton says so. Who made you the authority in matters of heart here?”

He raised his brows. “Y/N.”

“No, you had no right!”

“He asked.”

“You know they treasure each other very much, why would you—”

“Y/N,” he said, exasperated. “You have to stop thinking life is a fairytale. Your brother will be a duke and he needs a wife that can handle the responsibilities of a duchess. All the ladies on that list have been prepared all their lives for that, and your friend would crumble under that sort of pressure, the ton would eat that poor girl alive. I understand that you like her, and I’m sure she is very nice, but you need to see the situation as it is.”

You shook your head. “So what then? Elias will just let the ton tell him what to do his whole life? For what? Their approval?”

Anthony ran a hand over his face.

“Do you think everyone follows your lead in dresses and accessories just because you came from France?” he asked you. “They do it because you were presented to the society as a duke’s daughter, and that means something here.”

“Maybe it shouldn’t then,” you said. “Do you not care that he will be miserable for the rest of his life? He’s your best friend!”

“He will not be miserable for the rest of his life, I’m sure he will care for Lady Miriam eventually. Within reason.”

You stared at him, then scoffed. “Within reason. I see.”

“It’s a good thing to base a marriage on—”

“Maybe I was wrong.”

“What?”

“I was wrong to assume that you would eventually believe in love,” you said, trying your hardest to control your voice but it rose anyway. “If you don’t understand how unhappy he will be without her, I doubt you’re able to even understand love, or feel anything for anyone! How dull it must get to be all logic, not an ounce of—” you were cut off when his head perked up and he strode to you in two steps, then covered your mouth with his palm, pressing you back to the wall. He touched his pointer to his lips, signaling you to be silent as his gaze went to the door.

Through the tremors running through your whole body, you could faintly hear the footsteps coming from outside the door, around the hallway.

“Careful with the soup, do you want me to carry it?”

“No I got it!”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes yes, just carry the wine bottles there. Where’s Robert?”

“Already in the dining room.”

The servants’ voices got distant as if they had just walked away from the study deeper into the hallway and Anthony turned his gaze to you. Something seemed to be burning in his eyes and the mere intensity that was radiating off of him was more than enough to wake goosebumps on your arms. That tingling at the pit of your stomach seemed to have returned as you looked up at him while he pulled his hand from your mouth, but didn’t step back.

“You’ve had your say and I listened to you, now you’re going to listen to me,” his voice was a low rumble. “Is that what you think? I’m all logic?”

You felt as if you would pass out at any moment but by some kind of a miracle, you managed to stick your nose in the air.

“You’re made of it.”

“I used to be,” he said through his teeth. “No longer, as it seems.”

“Oh and I’m supposed to believe that? Pray tell, what has changed?”

“You came here!” he snapped, making your eyes shoot up to his.

This was—

This was a dream. This had to be a dream.

“You arrived in London,” he breathed out, as if he couldn’t stop the words. “You came into my life, and ever since then I can’t find my balance in this chaos you created in me. I wish I were logical enough to be able to convince myself to stop being so captivated by you, because trust me Y/N, what I feel whenever you’re around? That’s anything but logical.”

No.

There was no way Anthony could hold any feelings for you, let alone being captivated by you.

You were dreaming about him just like you always did.

You stared up at him, not even daring to breathe in fear of waking up.

“I’m not allowed to touch you,” he rasped, making your breath hitch up in your throat. “I’m not allowed to want you or be enamored by you, I shouldn’t. I spend every minute trying to convince myself I shouldn’t, yet no matter how much I try, I cannot cast you out of my mind. Do you have any idea how much willpower it takes me not to kiss away that infuriating pout of yours? How I long to get you out of that ballroom away from everyone? How I want to keep you for my touch and my gaze, no one else’s?”

The room was spinning. Your whole world was spinning.

“You ripped every ounce of ration out of my mind until the only thing left is you.” His deep voice was barely audible from the blood rushing in your ears as he leaned in, his hand cupping the side of your neck, his forehead resting against yours as if he was still trying to fight himself. “I can’t think or crave anything else, I’m ruled merely by the thought of you. So tell me, does this agony sound logical?”

You didn’t even know why your eyes were full of tears, you just knew that this; whatever this was, it was too much. It was too overwhelming and you had no idea how to handle the yearning that was burning through you and had you nearly crying. You didn’t even understand how but you knew—

Deep down, somewhere primal, somewhere forbidden, you knew.

You knew this ache could only be soothed by his touch, and a soft sob escaped from your lips.

“Anthony…”

His name leaving your lips like a plea seemed to crash down the last ounce of self-control he had, because after a second that almost felt like a century, his lips touched yours.

For a second, you were scared that your heart would explode in your chest because it had never, ever beaten as fast as it was beating now, but every trace of any thought was simply too weak to stand in the way of this wave you found yourself swept away by. Even the panic of not knowing what to do wasn’t enough to make you freeze for the first time in your life, not when his lips were on yours, not when—

Wait, his lips were on yours.

The sudden thought that shot through your mind was like lightning, making you gasp and pull back. Even though every single part of you craved more of his touch, fear had already gripped you in its cold claws and you went under his arm, taking him by surprise before you stepped away from him, your hands shooting up to cover your mouth.

“Oh no,” you said breathlessly as he turned around to look at you, still panting. “No no, we weren’t supposed to do that, what if I come to be with child?!”

Anthony looked as distracted as you had been just a second ago and he shook his head, trying to make himself focus.

“What?” he asked after a beat and you lowered your hands, your eyes wide.

“You’re not supposed to kiss me, I could come to be with child!” you said in a hushed tone as you paced in the room. “Oh God, what if I already am and I don’t know it? I already feel dizzy, is that what’s happening? It is what’s happening isn’t it? That’s why I feel like the room is spinning?”

His brows furrowed while he gawked at you for a couple of seconds and you could swear you could see the wheels turning in his head.

“You think that’s how—” he trailed off. “Your mother never told you?”

You waited for him to finish his question but he looked to be at loss for words.

“What?” you asked after a beat and an intense, dark shadow crossed his eyes, sending a shiver down your spine despite the panic.

“Oh my sweet siren…” he murmured, holding out his hand. “Come here.”

“But—” you were cut off when he pulled you closer, and your brows furrowed as you looked up at him.

“That’s not how it works,” he ran the back of his hand over your burning cheekbone. “Not possible.”

Relief hit you so fast that it took your breath away but you still felt the need to ask.

“And you’re certain of it?”

“Absolutely,” he said, trying to repress a smile. “I swear to you.”

“But you don’t have…” Your frown deepened. “How are you certain?”

A dark chuckle vibrated in his chest.

“I’m familiar with the act,” he muttered as he reached out to trace the line of your bottom lip, then tilted your head up before capturing your lips again.

Unlike you, nothing about his actions was hesitant but he seemed to be much more careful now even though you didn’t know the reason behind it. You gripped his shirt with a trembling hand at least to anchor yourself, a needy whine climbing up your throat as he pulled back from you for only a second to nudge your nose with his, as if letting you breathe. Your lips parted with his when he leaned in again, your whole body melting in his arms—

Then someone knocked on the door, making both of you snap out of the haze and Anthony pulled back again, this time with an annoyed growl.

“My lord, the dinner is about to be served.” The butler’s voice carried into the room from behind the door and Anthony frowned for a moment as if he had forgotten about the dinner before clearing his throat.

“I’ll be there in a moment,” he said as you tried to catch your breath and the butler’s footsteps disappeared into the hallway. Your head was still spinning and you could swear that your whole body was on fire as you looked up into his dark eyes, his fingertips caressing the sensitive skin of your neck.

“I—I think I need a second,” you said quietly, still holding onto him. A fond smile appeared on his face and he nuzzled into your hair, inhaling your scent, making you feel even more lightheaded than before.

There was no way you were going to survive this dinner.

“Anthony?”

He hummed into your hair, his warm body against yours making it very hard for you to think but you forced yourself to focus.

“I… I must go before Elias wonders where I am.”

He heaved a sigh and kissed the top of your head before stepping back even though your body was already craving for his touch, then he nodded.

“I know,” he muttered and cracked open the door to look outside. “It’s safe. I think they’re all in the drawing room.”

You fixed your hair with a shaky breath before stepping closer to the door, then turned to him.

“But I don’t—” you hesitated and swallowed thickly. “I don’t look any different, do I?”

The mere question made him smirk and he reached out to pull you to him by your wrist.

“You look too tempting,” his voice was husky and he leaned in to kiss you but you giggled and turned your head, then stood on your tiptoes to press your lips on his cheek before you darted out of the room.

You could swear everyone in the house could hear your heartbeat that was pounding in your ears but you touched your lips with your fingertips, unable to stop your smile, then took a deep breath, threw your shoulders back and made your way to the drawing room.

“I thought you got lost,” Elias commented and you shook your head, greeting everyone in the room. The whole Bridgerton family was there but you were so lightheaded that you could barely see anyone, or pay attention to anything other than the lingering taste of his lips on yours, his pleasant scent still filled in your lungs.

Daphne smiled at you, then gave her son who seemed to be in deep sleep to the maid while Eloise came closer to you.

“Welcome, I thought you got lost as well.”

“Oh no, I was just…admiring the artwork.”

“My apologies,” Anthony’s voice carried out into the room as he stepped in as well and Benedict frowned slightly, looking between you two. Even you had to admit, Anthony looked way more put together than you, because to be completely honest, you still weren’t sure you would be able to finish this dinner without passing out.

“Lady Y/N.” Anthony greeted you, and one simple observer would’ve thought nothing had happened if it weren’t for that mischievous glimmer in his eyes.

“Lord Bridgerton,” you managed to greet him back before Lady Bridgerton announced that it was time for dinner, so you all made your way to the dining room.

You had no idea how you hadn’t thought about it before but the seating plan for this dinner was going to make things even more difficult for you. Anthony sat at the head of the table which was normal, considering he was the head of the family but you were placed to his right and Benedict to his left. Eloise was between Benedict and Elias, and Daphne was right next to you with her husband Simon and Colin, the third Bridgerton brother. Your father, Lady Bridgerton and the rest of the family was on the other end of the table and you were almost glad that you could sit down now, because your legs felt way too weak.

After the soup was served and everyone started talking among each other, Daphne leaned in slightly.

“So Elias, Lady Miriam then?”

Elias let out a whine. “I came here to have food Daphne, not be questioned about my love life.”

“You knew Daphne would attend, I think it’s your fault if you expected not to be questioned.” Benedict pointed out and Simon grinned.

“Definitely.”

“Can’t I be curious?” Daphne asked and Eloise narrowed her eyes.

“She is right Elias, that was a very rapid change,” she told Elias. “One could wonder why.”

“I think it’s a terrible mistake,” you pointed out, desperate to focus on anything other than Anthony’s presence right beside you and Elias groaned.

“How surprising, it’s not as if I’ve been hearing about that for the last couple of days.”

“Am I supposed to let you make the biggest mistake of your life?”

“It’s not the biggest mistake of my life.”

“It is,” you and Eloise said at the same time and you grinned at her.

“Thank you,” you mouthed and she winked at you.

“But do you like Lady Miriam?” Colin asked and Daphne motioned at him.

“That’s a very good question Elias because I have to admit, I didn’t think Lady Miriam was to your liking,” she mused. “You didn’t look interested in her before let alone consider courting her.”

“If anything, you honestly don’t look interested in her even now,” you stated and Elias shrugged his shoulders.

“It’s not a matter of interest.”

“I think it might be a mistake as well,” Anthony spoke for the first time and all of you turned to him. You blinked a couple of times, staring at him and Elias made a noise of discontent.

“Great, I should just court Lady Georgiana then?”

“No, I think you should reconsider Miss Cecily.”

A silence fell upon your side of the table and Benedict raised his brows, his eyes flitting between you and Anthony before he pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath but Anthony ignored him. Elias gawked at Anthony.

“Are you drunk?”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“You said the exact opposite thing the other day!”

“I’ve changed my mind.” Anthony said. “You look absolutely tortured whenever you dance with Lady Miriam, so you should be courting Miss Cecily if that’s what you want.”

“I cannot even take you seriously,” Elias grumbled as Daphne tilted her head.

“That’s not a bad idea at all.”

“Considering how much you talk about her at the gentleman’s club.” Simon murmured and Eloise let out a laugh.

“Wait, what is he saying?”

“That was private, Simon!”

“Oh I’m sorry, was it? I might have forgotten about it after hearing you talk about her for an hour.”

“That’s so sweet!”

All of a sudden, everyone was talking over each other, chaos erupting through your side of the table but before you could even join them, you jolted. Thankfully everyone else was busy with trying to either convince Elias or pressure him into listening so no one else was aware of how Anthony was brushing his fingertips over the back of your hand, spreading fire from the same spot to your whole body.

Benedict cleared his throat while you tried to control yourself from looking at Anthony, your heart beating in your ears.

If anybody saw, you would be in so much trouble, both of you.

You reached out with your other hand to grab a glass of water and took a huge sip but as soon as you put your glass down, the table shook with a sudden force that seemed to have happened underneath. Anthony held his breath and pulled his hand back before he gritted his teeth, glaring at Benedict who had obviously kicked him under the table.

“Is everything alright there?” Lady Bridgerton asked and both of them turned to her.

“Of course.”

“Everything is alright mother.”

You bit down on your lip in order to contain your laughter and Eloise tilted her head.

“What are you two doing?” she asked them and Benedict shrugged.

“It was an accident,” he said, sipping his drink and before you could say anything, you were distracted by Colin’s voice.

“Lady Y/N?”

You turned your head and smiled at him. “Yes?”

“I’m planning to visit France this summer,” he said, excitement brightening his face. “Would you recommend it?”

Your jaw dropped and you nodded, enthusiasm rushing through you.

“Oh absolutely!” you said. “I could even make you a list.”

“Elias, do you mind switching seats with me?” Colin asked and he shook his head.

“Not at all, I’d rather if we talked of France rather than my courting,” he said, already standing up and they quickly switched seats, and Colin grinned wide.

“What could you tell me about it?”

“Everything!” you said, sitting up straighter, your soup long forgotten as you started talking about Paris. “First of all, you simply must go to Cirque Olympique, and then…”

Even hours into the dinner, your heartbeat hadn’t calmed down. You had tried everything, attempted to talk about anything anyone asked you, spent almost an hour speaking to Colin and then the rest of the table but it all felt as if your mind was in a fog. You could do anything you were supposed to, but nothing at all could hold your attention completely when Anthony was there.

When it was time for you to go, the Duke had insisted that they didn’t have to see you off, so only Anthony and Lady Bridgerton went with you to the door. Even if you were dying to have another moment alone with Anthony, you knew it wasn’t possible without a scandal.

Yet, you were so taken by this newfound feeling that you could hardly care.

You were painfully aware that a similar turmoil was happening in his head as well, judging by his unwavering gaze on you while Lady Bridgerton talked to Elias and the Duke by the carriage.

“My lady,” his voice caressed your ears, making your heart skip a beat.

“My lord,” you said softly, and he leaned in to press a kiss on your hand, no doubt innocent and formal to anyone who was watching but you both knew better. His lips lingered on your skin just a moment more than it was appropriate or expected and his fingers brushed over your palm as he pulled back, sending a shiver down your spine. Elias called out for you and you took a deep breath, then approached the carriage.

“Thank you for a wonderful evening, Lady Bridgerton,” you smiled at her warmly and she hugged you.

“You’re always welcome here anytime you wish, Y/N.”

“And we expect you for dinner whenever you’re available.” The Duke said as Elias helped you into carriage, and Lady Bridgerton nodded.

“Of course,” she said. “We would love to attend.”

The Duke bowed, and he and Elias got in the carriage as well before it moved. You closed your eyes, leaning your head to the window, still in disbelief about what had happened.

It felt as if you were moving in a dream, like your body knew what to do yet your mind wouldn’t follow. When you got home, you quickly excused yourself and went upstairs and only when you closed the door behind you, you let the excitement crash upon you, the wave so strong that it took your breath away. You pressed your fingertips on your lips, an excited squeal climbing up your throat as you flung yourself on the bed. You grabbed the nearest pillow and put it over your face, then let out a gleeful scream and turned in the bed before sitting up.

Anthony had kissed you.

He had kissed you, and said he was captivated by you.

The mere thought felt so impossible that you pinched yourself so that you could make sure you hadn’t been imagining the whole evening.

‘My sweet siren’ he had called you.

A giggle escaped from your mouth as you reached under the other pillow to pull out his handkerchief, then pressed it to your chest as if it could somehow make you closer to him. You stood up from the bed, then started pacing in the room, nibbling on your lip.

This excitement almost felt too much to handle.

You had no idea how you were supposed to go to sleep, there was no way you would be able to. You wondered for a moment whether he was pacing in his room right now just like you, his thoughts consisting of only you the same way your thoughts were of him.

Would he be able to sleep?

The knock on the door pulled you out of your haze and you whirled around as the door opened, then Lucie stepped inside.

“Good evening my lady, I came to help you get ready for bed—” she stopped talking when she took in the sight of you in the middle of the room. You figured you came across as nearly unbalanced, pressing the handkerchief to your chest, your eyes glimmering with happiness, a huge smile warming your face.

“What is it?” she asked in a whisper as she closed the door behind her in a haste. “What happened?”

You let out a breath and bit down on your lip, then made your way to your bed to sit down, breathing hard.

“I don’t think I should go to bed, I can’t sleep tonight.”

“Why not?”

You ran your thumb over the monogram on the silk handkerchief, the feeling of Anthony’s lips on yours flashing in your mind before you looked up.

“Lucie,” you managed to say, your heart pacing in your chest. “I’m in love.”

Chapter 16

#anthony bridgerton #anthony bridgerton x reader #bridgerton #bridgerton x reader #anthony bridgerton x you

1K notes · View notes

randomshyperson · 2 years

Text

Liberal Arts - Chapter 3 - Wanda Maximoff x Reader

Summary: A new job at New York University should be a fresh start. Things don't go as planned when you fall in love with one of your students. || Request by @ecruzsalaz

Warnings: (18+), explicit language, smut, dom!reader and bottom wanda, heavy angst with happy ending, cursing, secret/forbidden relationship, teasing, romanticism, legal age gap.

Words: 5.920K

A/N: There's not much scenes of Wanda in this, but the next ones will be worthy the wait... Good reading!

All Works Masterlist || Series Chapters || AO3

--//--

Chapter Three - From Russia to England

You have a warning letter about absences when you board the plane to Russia.

And your cell phone no longer has Wanda's number on it. To avoid incidents, you tell yourself.

Natasha wishes you a good trip with a tight hug, commenting about you visiting her mother before she can.

You have not told her about your latest argument with Wanda, just as you have not told her that you have no intention of returning to the United States.

One of the judges called you two days earlier.

He mentioned Cambridge University's interest in your portfolio. The position available on the faculty.

You knew that the dean of NYU was waiting for the next crack to dismiss you, tired of dealing with the problems you seemed to attract.

And you were simply exhausted from seeing Wanda in your classroom. It was too painful.

So you said you accepted the offer without even hearing the judge finish speaking.

After Russia, you were not going to take the plane to New York as you had mentioned. You were going straight to London.

After everything she's seen you go through these past few weeks, Natasha would understand.

You just hoped she wouldn't be so angry to hear you kept it from her.

Russia was as cold as expected.

And at least this time, you had fun.

The art was very sophisticated, and your more challenging photographs were well appreciated.

Also, competitions in the final stages were exciting.

You had a sweet drink in your hands, standing next to other famous and respected photo critics, and you all looked interested in the heated discussion of two of the competitors a few meters away in the middle of the gallery hall.

"Mr.Barnes and Mr.Wilson, if this doesn't stop immediately, you two will be disqualified!" Someone finally interrupted the bickering.

You tried not to sigh in frustration. You finally had a distraction and it was taken away from you.

Turning your body back to the bar, you ordered another drink.

"It's a shame when fights end at the best parts." Commented a voice next to you.

You laughed in agreement, turning around.

Wow.

A stunning woman in a black dress was looking at you. Her hair was pinned up, exposing her collarbone to which you tried not to stare so discourteously.

"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Miss Y/L/N." She greeted by extending her hand to you.

"You know who I am?"

She laughed at your embarrassed tone, and you try to regain some dignity by shaking her hand quickly. "Everyone in this room who has the slightest talent knows who you are."

You let out a clumsy laugh. "That's very kind, Miss...?"

"Valkyrie, but Valky is fine." She introduces herself. "And those are just facts, Miss Y/L/N. I even heard you're going to teach at Cambridge now."

"God, news travels fast." You mutter in surprise, and the woman in front of you just continues to stare at you intently, a short smile at the corner of her lips.

"You have to be aware of what's going on in a market as competitive as ours." She argues. "Knowing what our competitors are doing."

" Oh, so you're a photographer too?"

"No, I'm a publicity agent." She clarifies. "My clients, however, you know."

She doesn't say the name, just gently tilts her head toward something behind you.

You look in the same direction, and let out a short chuckle. "Wow, impressive I have to admit. " You say as you look at her again. "Everyone knows the Arsgard golden duo."

"My company represents the best in the world of photography, Miss Y/L/N. And Loki and Thor are one of the high pillars of the current scene."

"I agree, but I still think Thor's last collection was kind of down." You mutter, taking a sip of your drink.

"That hurt my feelings." It's a male voice speaking behind you in a joking tone, and you almost choke on your drink. "Ha! I'm just messing with you." Clarifies the blond man when he sees your expression, and moves to stand next to Valky.

"Thor, meet Y/N Y/LN." Valky introduced you, and watched you greet the blond shyly. "I was ready to tell her about Asgard's interest in her work."

"Oh, great for you, Valky, but I just came to get a drink. No talk of work today, enough of those grumpy old men around me." He speaks quickly, and grabs a whole bottle of whiskey from the bar. "Good grown-up talk for you two. And Y/N, a pleasure to officially meet you. If you stay around, we're having a party at the hotel, room 412. Feel free to drop by."

And he left, rejoining his brother deeper into the gallery.

Valky let out a laugh. "Sorry, he's pretty detached sometimes, and good manners aren't his strong suit. Although talent is."

You shrugged, really not caring about the whole interaction. "You wanted to talk business?"

She smiled. "Yes, but we can put it off for a while. This place is full of journalists. How about over dinner?"

From the way she leaned in, it wasn't just a business dinner.

You were about to say that you preferred to do everything on the phone, when a young woman with a camera hanging around her neck approached you two.

Valky gave you a look that said "I told you" but smiled politely at the girl.

It was a picture for the cover of something, you didn't pay much attention. You were distracted by Valk's hand on your waist as you were posing.

The young woman left after thanking you both, and Valky didn't move very far from you. "What about my invitation?"

"Dinner sounds great."

--//--

You woke up late on Sunday.

With a contract with a renowned gallery and a few hickeys on your neck.

Your bed was empty, but Valky left a note saying that it had been fun, and maybe when you went to Norway, where the Asgard company headquarters were, you guys might do that again.

Yawning, you got up to prepare coffee.

You had the day free to explore the capital, since your last appointment was only in the evening.

But you were not too excited to go out, and thought about watching something.

If only Nat were here, she could keep you company.

So instead of watching TV, or going out and exploring beautiful Russia like all your fellow photographers were doing, you stopped putting off the inevitable and sat at your computer, writing your resignation letter to Dean Nick Fury.

It was bigger than you thought it would be. You tried to be polite and grateful, and also had to check if the hotel did printing so that you could sign and scan.

And when you went to the front desk to do that, you encountered Loki Laufeyson heading out for breakfast.

"I believe we haven't been officially introduced yet, which is a shame, because I couldn't wait to compliment your work." He spoke with a charming smile. You chuckled awkwardly, shaking his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you too, Mr. Laufeyson." You returned.

"And you're not going to compliment my work?" He questioned in a playful tone.

"Well, you hear that too much, perhaps a change of scenery would be best." You return in the same tone making him laugh.

"If you're not busy, would you like to join me for breakfast? The other critics and judges have reserved a table for the entire contest team."

You sigh, thoughtfully. "I still have to finish something important, so thank you for the invitation." You spoke, and Loki made an almost disappointed expression. "It won't be long, maybe I'll show up at the end of the buffet."

"I hope so." He says with a wink before saying goodbye and walking out toward the lounge.

The receptionist returns with your printout and you go up to your room again.

As soon as you sent the letter to Nick Fury, you locked up your computer and headed for the shower, deciding that you were going to join the rest of the team.

--//--

Loki introduced you to the whole table as if you had been friends for years.

It was a very nice breakfast, you sat at the head of the table, Loki beside you, and Thor in front of you. There were also some other judges and critics, some about your age, like Shang-Chi, Mantis and Carol Danvers, and some younger, like Monica Rambeau and Rachel Roths. The latter, was the same age as Wanda, and you mentally repressed yourself for thinking about the brunette again, while you stuck a whole piece of apple in your mouth.

The team was going on a tourist walk around Moscow, and you found no reason not to accompany them.

You went back up to your room after breakfast with the intention of showering and getting ready for the tour, and you didn't take long.

Knowing that soon you would have messages from Natasha about your dismissal, or the director's answer, you left your cell phone in your room and went out.

You were running away, that was the truth.

But it was good to be able to have fun again, so you ignored the guilt, and smiled when Loki offered his arm for you to hold during the tour.

It was an incredibly fun afternoon.

All the critics had similar interests to you, talking about photography, about the world, about work.

You bit back a guilty laugh, thinking that Nat was right, they were all kind of snobby hipsters, but it was like being at home.

Thor commented that you would have had fun at the party he gave at the hotel, but Loki whispered in your ear that the most fun part was knowing that his brother woke up in the hotel manager's room, making you laugh softly.

Loki was very charming, he was clearly flirting. You were almost guilty to dismiss him when he asked you out to dinner.

But he didn't seem to be upset, he said goodbye politely and said he would meet you at the contest event later, and you went back to your room.

Your cell phone was vibrating on your bed, and you let out a tired sigh.

It stopped ringing before you could reach it, and you thought that maybe Natasha had given up.

But then your laptop in sleep mode on the bedroom table notified you of the skype call, and you pressed accept as you took off your shoes.

"Y/N, damn it finally!" Nat complained aloud, she was in work clothes, but in her apartment. She should probably be leaving for work. "Fury just sent a text asking if I knew about your resignation! What the hell is he talking about?"

"Good morning, Nat. I'm doing well, the trip was great, Russia is beautiful..."

"Y/N, I'm serious."

You sighed, and took your eyes off your shoes to look at her. You didn't even have to tell her to curse softly.

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, upset.

"I didn't know how to tell you." You replied. "You got me this job, and you have helped me so much. I didn't know how to say it, Nat, I'm sorry, I-"

She gestured for you to stop. "No, I'm sorry. If I made you feel pressured to stay, if I don't know, made you feel like you couldn't tell me that-"

"No, Nat, it's not like that!" You interrupt in desperation. "That's not your fault! I swear, I just-" You tried to explain, and took a deep breath, searching for the right words. "I'm so tired. I can't see her every day anymore, Nat. It feels like I'm going to cry every time I walk into the room and she's sitting there with that damn ring on her finger. I can't-"

You sobbed and Nat sighed, "Oh, honey, I wish I could be there to hug you."

Letting out a tearful laugh, you restrained your emotion. "Don't worry, I'll be fine. In fact, I think it' the first time in weeks I'm able to breathe again."

"Russia, did you this good, huh?"

You smiled. "I guess so."

"I know that face, come on, tell me everything that happened."

You did. Natasha was impressed, especially when you mentioned briefly that she spent the night with the Asgard Company representative.

"God, I've seen her in some magazines, you're a legend I swear." She mentions making you blush and shake your head.

"She's nice I think."

"Nice? The woman looks like a Greek goddess. She is more than 'nice'."

"Jesus, Nat, do you want her number or something?" You tease.

She laughs but raises her eyebrow. "Actually, I think it's a great idea."

It was your turn to laugh, and lift your middle finger at her before going back to take off your shoes.

"But you're really not coming back here? Not even to pick up things at your apartment?" She asks next, and you shrug.

"I was going to have a company do that."

"You're really avoiding this place."

You sigh. "Nat, of course I want to see you again, and say goodbye, but I just don't want to go back, you know? Every corner of that place has a ghost of my relationship with Wanda."

"Well, I'll visit you in London then." She says looking like she wants to change the subject to keep you from starting to cry again, and you let out a giggle. "I think I might be able to do that next holiday."

"I'd love that."

"And do you know where you'll live yet?"

You bite the inside of your cheek thoughtfully. "Well, I could always move back to my house."

"Y/N..."

"It's okay" You reassure her. "The place has been empty since Dad died, only the housekeeper takes care of it. And well, it's an amazing house, and I won't have to worry about rent."

"I didn't want you go alone there for the first time in so long." She murmurs and you smile.

"Nat, I'll be fine, I'm a pretty big girl don't you think? I can handle it."

"Yeah, I know. But if it's too much, call me okay? I fly to London the same afternoon."

"Your students would love that."

She laughs, shrugging. "They'll survive a few classes without my brilliant mind. But yours, I'm not so sure."

You let out a grumble, burying your face in your hands for a moment. "Damn, I hope they don't hate me for leaving in the middle of the semester."

"Don't worry, I'm sure Fury should be working it out by now. Besides, they'll have plenty of time before exams."

"I hope you're right."

"I'm always right."

The two of you exchange giggles, and Nat checks her watch, and sighs. "I have to go honey, but I'll call you later okay? When you're at that fancy party of yours."

She blew a kiss and hung up.

It was better than you expected at least.

You got up to go to the bathroom, and occupied your mind with the choice of clothes for the party.

And at about half past seven you came out of your room wearing a very nice dark suit, pushing away any memory of Wanda telling you that you looked so nice in a suit.

Because you were on the other side of the world, sipping a glass of champagne in a room full of important people from the world of photography, you had no way of knowing what was happening in New York that afternoon.

How Wanda was trying on wedding dresses in a renowned Times Square store chosen by her father, with pieces that were worth more than cars.

The way she was forcing a smile with such ease that anyone could say she was the happiest bride in the world.

You had no way of knowing about the tailor that was helping her, who knew that Wanda liked photography, and commented on a magazine that had an elegant couple on the cover, and handed the item to Wanda thinking she was pleasing her.

You were laughing disguisedly at Loki's ironic comments while Wanda's smile broke when she saw you hugging a woman in a magazine.

You didn't know that Wanda excused herself and went back to the changing room, nor that she began to cry.

The worried employees at the door, listening to the sobs with confused looks in their eyes.

You didn't know the way she wiped her tears, and stood up. How she came out of the dressing room and said she was just happy because the dress was perfect.

You didn't know that she turned out so well at faking it as you did.

--//--

On Monday morning, you flew to England.

Your cell phone had lots of new numbers, from the entire photography team, but you figured you wouldn't actually call any of them.

Natasha sends a picture of good luck, and asks you to call her as soon as you can, and you think it best to wait for the plane to land.

It is a very busy day.

You have a meeting with the dean of Cambridge University, and you have to settle all your issues with NYU by phone.

Also, Valky wishes you to go to Norway to visit the company and decide on your new photography project with them.

You have to remember to buy air tickets.

Cambridge University is the same university where your mother and father graduated, and is the first thing the dean thinks it best to mention.

You just nod politely, and listen to his proposal.

The university is already ready for you, but he says that you would start in two weeks, which would give you time to go to Norway and get a place to live.

Technically, you had a house.

A beautiful, magnificent, expensive residence in Notting Hill, which you inherited from your father when he died three years ago.

The same residence where you watched your mother's cancer slowly consume her, and the same one to which you went years without visiting.

And where you asked the taxi driver to take you.

You hesitated at the front door, but took a deep breath and went inside.

It was exactly as you remembered it, even the walls had the same texture, and the objects were still in the same places.

Your father was always so methodical about everything.

You left the copy of the keys on the little table, and smiled when a woman came to greet you.

"Y/N! Look at you!" Spoke Agatha lovingly, rushing over to hug you tight.

"Hi Agatha, good to see you." You returned, and she guided you into the kitchen, where she had prepared tea and cookies for you.

Agatha was the housekeeper. She took care of your mother, of you, and then of your father when he stopped taking pictures because of his eyes.

When his bitterness finally gave him a heart attack, he died and left the house to you. But that was always Agatha's home, and you said she could stay as long as she wanted.

"I can't believe you're here, it seems like yesterday that you went to Paris to study." Comments the nostalgic woman, pouring the tea for you.

It's good, seeing her again. She is the only family you still have.

After telling you some news, she says that she has already prepared your room.

You sigh as you enter it, it's exactly the same as the day you left.

Posters of bands you don't listen to anymore, amateur photographs, dusty books. Clothes that don't fit, vinyl records, and your mother's camera.

You sit in bed, feeling exhausted from the trip, and overwhelmed with the emotional burden of being back home.

Trying to convince yourself that your life was going forward, not backward, you took a deep breath and took off your coat, knowing you still had a lot to do.

For the next week, you didn't work.

Agatha helped you with the relocation, you donated the vast majority of your father's belongings, and you had to face your mother's room.

It smelled of dust when you entered.

Even without the medical equipment, you could still remember the exact image of her in bed, her arm with needle marks, and the IV beside the bed.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Agatha asked leaning against the door frame. You nodded quickly.

"I ran away from here too long, Agatha." You clarified. "It's time to deal with it."

You sold the furniture. Everything was still very much hers, and you decided to buy cans of paint and turn your mother's room into a working office. She would like that, to have you working from home.

Your father's office was empty. You used to complain that the house had too much space, and you still think so after so long.

Your furniture arrived on Thursday. Natasha sent an audio message telling you exactly how she directed the guys from the furniture company, and how she divided up the box of your belongings, and you said you missed her, and couldn't wait for her to visit you again.

You took Agatha to dinner at one of the restaurants your mother used to take you to, and it was an evening full of nostalgia.

On Friday night you traveled to Norway.

The hotel room was nice, but the country was as cold as Russia.

Valky made an appointment for breakfast at the Asgard Company at ten o'clock in the morning, and it was difficult to get out of the blankets for your appointment.

But the crystal building in Oslo was really impressive.

She had the same smile full of second intentions when she greeted you, but it was really just a business meeting.

"Of course we have interest in a long term contract, but with the end of the European competition, it's a great time for a new exhibition." She mentions a few moments later deeper into the introduction of the subject. "Do you have any work in progress?"

You hesitate. There is one. The one that earned you your place as a critic in the contest, but which you have not exposed to anyone but Nat.

"I have a photograph, Valky." You say after a thoughtful pause. "But it's unique, not part of a portfolio."

"Oh come on, don't make it so much suspense, let me see it."

You pulled your cell phone from your pocket, and cleared your throat before saying, "Here it is."

Valky picked up your cell phone and was silent for a few moments, until she sighed. "That's really impressive, Y/N."

"You think so?" You ask half unsure. She nods sincerly.

"The best thing is that it's exceptionally different from any of your previous work." She explains. "It will be an incredible revelation to the critics, an abrupt change of style. I can already imagine the headlines.

"But I only have that one." You recall. "Is a single photo enough?"

"Yes, if it's as good as this one.." She speaks with a chuckle. "My, my, what a beautiful thing. It's one of those rare shots that impacts those who lay their eyes on it the first time. And it's exactly the kind of photo we value here. Pictures that cause a reaction."

You frown at the compliments, but are grateful. Valky returns your cell phone with a curious smile. "And I must offer my congratulations to both the photographer and the model. If the girl is a professional, I'd like to have her contact information."

Your stomach did a complete turn.

"Actually she's another photographer." You clarify putting the cell phone away, and thinking about your next words. "I-it was one of my students. It was a surprise photo, she wasn't posing. But sure, I can get her number for you."

"Such a beautiful shot like that and she wasn't even posing? That's really impressive." She says. "It's nice to know she's a photographer, if she's as talented as you are, who knows, she might work with me. The indication she already has." Valk comments with a wink.

You think the universe is laughing in your face at this point.

Forcing a polite smile, you go back to paying attention to the final details of your contract that Valky brings, and she seems very keen to have your picture displayed next year.

As you leave her office, you text Natasha asking for Wanda's number, and she calls you almost five minutes later.

"Sorry I missed a chapter? Are you having a meltdown or something?" She inquired worriedly on the other end of the line, and you sighed as you got into a taxi headed for the hotel.

"No, Nat, it's for work." You said and told her about the meeting. Nat was laughing when you finished.

"My god, I'm really, really sorry for laughing." She comments between giggles. "It's just ... Can you imagine what a coincidence if she goes to work with you? My god it sounds like fate."

You grumbled unsatisfied. "I think Valky has enough projects so that won't happen. By the way, I'm selling my father's pictures and she looked ready to kiss me when she said that."

"Wow, that sounds good."

"It is." You said. "He might have been a selfish bastard, but he was an incredible photographer. I think I'm going to get almost two million for the pictures he took in Alaska."

"Please tell me you're going to buy a mansion on the beach for me to visit."

You laughed, shaking your head. "Of course, sugar baby. What more do you want?" You scoffed and it was her turn to laugh.

She was silent for a moment after that. And then you warned:

"I'll talk to Wanda before I give you her number, okay? I think it will be good to just mention that it's about work so she doesn't block you once she sees the notification."

"Thanks, Nat." You say. "And how are things going over there?"

"As usual I guess." She mutters and then lets out an exclamation. "Except that your substitute has arrived!"

"Oh, really? And what does they look like?"

"To my surprise, she's not a hipster like you." She teases. "She hasn't moved into your apartment either, I think she lives in Central Park."

"You've done your homework I see."

She laughed. "Well, of course. I like to know all about the people I work with."

"And what's her name?"

"Maria Hill."

You let out a hiss. "Fury sure picked fancy. She has a Pulitzer, works with journalistic content photographs. Really impressive."

"Sorry, the only thing I heard was nerd, nerd, and nerd."

You laugh at the joke, noticing that the taxi is already arriving.

"Good luck with Miss Hill, she seems much less fun than I am."

"You are so cocky." Nat comments.

"I have to go, I'm going back to London and I'm arriving at the hotel. Talk to you later, okay?"

She hung up after agreeing and you put your cell phone away wishing you were home soon.

On the plane back to London, just before you need to get up to use the bathroom, Nat sends you Wanda's number.

You don't have the courage to say anything to her, so you just send the contact directly to Valky saying that was the girl from the picture, but you ask her not to tell Wanda about it.

She doesn't question it, and says she wouldn't anyway, because the contracts are confidential, and thanks you for your speed in giving her the number, and wishes you a good trip.

You risk sending Wanda's public profile, and Valky says that she was right, your student is as talented as you are.

When you finally land in London, you think you could enjoy your last week of vacation without any commitments.

You have no idea when Valky is going to call Wanda, and what she's going to tell her, but you hold back when you realize that this really was none of your business.

You spend Sunday indoors, but go to a local craft fair on Monday, and start reading a new book saga on Tuesday.

In the early hours of Wednesday dawn, there is a message on your cell phone.

"Thank you." - Wanda Maximoff

You want to cry just seeing the notification. You can almost imagine how excited Wanda must have been to get a call from someone as important as Valky interested in her work.

But all you do is order a pizza and drink wine on the floor in the living room. Agatha comments that you haven't changed a bit, and you don't know if this was really a compliment.

--/--

Your classes at Cambridge University start the other week.

You remember yourself why you love teaching.

The students are the same as anywhere else, but it is still good to teach about photography to people who are full of hope and talent.

Also, the finals of the European competition finally have a date confirmed.

At the end of the season, a few weeks after you started work.

Fortunately, you were stable in London, it would be no problem.

And it would be good to see your colleagues again.

In the third week since you started teaching again, Nat calls and tells you that she will come visit you.

You are very happy, but surprised because she says that the news she has can wait until she arrives.

You pick her up at the airport on Saturday morning, and are very happy and pleased to see that Yelena is with her. And Fanny, the dog.

"It's so good to see you guys!" You say hugging them.

"Darcy sends her regards, and well, your former colleagues too." Nat counters. "Even Fury said hi."

You laugh, helping her with her bags to the taxi.

When you arrive at your house, the two sisters let out impressive whistles.

"So all this time you've been a secret millionaire?" Yelena jokes, making you laugh awkwardly.

“Yeah, yeah, I'm like Batman, let’s go in.”

“Such a nerd.” Nat mocks while following you inside.

You help them with their bags, and you also tell Yelena that she can drop Fanny into the backyard, and she raises her eyebrow, making a snarky comment about your fancy house again before disappearing into the back, the blond Labrador waving his tail excitedly by her side.

A few hours after they have finished packing, and met Agatha, you sit down at the tables on the backyard porch for lunch.

"I feel like I'm in a Hollywood movie." Yelena comments on the scenery and you laugh, taking a sip of your grape juice.

"You're going to spend the whole weekend teasing me about my money, aren't you?"

"You bet I will, Scrooge McDuck."

You and Natasha laughed, and soon lunch began. During the meal, you guys talked, but you felt that there was an odd hesitancy with your best friend.

When you finished eating, you and Nat sat on the porch, watching Yelena play with the dog in the backyard.

"Will you tell me what is bothering you now, Miss Romanoff?" You ask resting your chin on your hand and your elbow on your knee. Nat sighs.

"I'm considering it."

"How cliffhanger."

She doesn't smile, and you let out a surprised giggle. "Nat, come on, tell me. I'm starting to worry."

"Promise me you won't do anything stupid?"

You raise your eyebrow, but her serious expression doesn't change. "Jesus, sure, I promise. Will you tell me now?"

She doesn't say anything, just reaches into her pocket for her cell phone.

Typing for a few seconds, she hands it back to you.

A newspaper page with a video is open, and you frown before hitting play.

"Looks like all is not perfect in the white house." Began the reporter with an excited tone. "Or at least, not everything is perfect in Senator Erik Lehnsherr's house."

"What's this?" You questioned.

"Just watch it."

You sighed, and returned your attention to the screen.

"Now with an exclusive live from New York, we have the latest information on the breakup of the engagement of the Senator's daughter, Wanda Maximoff, and one of New York University's new major investors, Vision Jarvis, direct from the capital with Tobey Garfield."

You widened your eyes, listening more intently.

"That's right, Gloria. No one from the family would comment on the event, but a video is circulating all over the internet, of Miss Maximoff throwing the engagement ring at Mr. Jarvis during the union ceremony that took place this Sunday." The reporter counters, as the video appears on the screen. "Some of the guests shared the footage, where we can see the beginning of the ceremony being interrupted by the enraged bride storming into the hall and assaulting Mr.Jarvis with a slap to the face, which shocked everyone present."

"My god." You mutter, stunned.

"More than half of the congress was present at the wedding, and the senator refuses to comment on the event." The reporter continued. "We got the information that the union was completely terminated, but the reason still remains mysterious. Insiders theorize a one-sided betrayal, but Mr.Jarvis would not comment on the rumors. We tried to contact the university where Miss Maximoff studies Photography, and Mr.Jarvis lectures Robotics, but the dean refused to give any word on the case. We'll keep an eye out for any news about what happened, and-"

Nat paused the video, and touched your forearm. "Y/N, I-"

"Have you talked to her, Nat?" you interrupted worriedly. "Is she all right? My God, I can't imagine how hard it must be for her to deal with the journalists. Tell me Fury managed to keep them out of the campus and..."

You stop talking because Nat is shaking her head. Hesitantly, you ask what is wrong. She sighs before saying. "Wanda dropped out of college."

“What?”

"It's her father, Y/N." She clarifies. "You know he was paying for everything. Fury told me that he called at the office first thing on Monday morning and asked the Dean to let Wanda know that if she wanted to continue at that University, she would have to pay for everything herself. She left the same day."

"And where did she go?" you asked in desperation.

"Home, I guess." She says. "I don't know them that well, but where else would she go?"

"Fuck." You mutter. "I'm going to call Pietro."

And you get up before Nat can say anything, looking for your phone.

Pietro only answers after many rings. "Y/N, this is not a good time."

"Please, Pietro, I just need to know if she's okay."

He sighs, and you can hear muffled noises of an argument. "No, Y/N. She's miserable right now. But she'll be fine eventually, don't worry. By the way, what you've done for her is probably her last chance to make a living."

You want to ask more, but Pietro says he needs to hang up.

Nat notices your hands trembling and strokes your forearms as the call ends. "Y/N, breathe. I'm sure things will turn out fine. Wanda can take care of herself, and she has Pietro if she needs more help."

You let Nat hug you to ease your worry a little.

//-//

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda x reader #wanda x you #the scarlet witch x reader #elizabeth olsen x reader #marvel imagines #wanda maximoff smut #wanda maximoff imagines #Liberal Arts

480 notes · View notes