#nailing up a warning sign on a path I walked

[dopesotherstuff]

Things you shouldn't teach bullied kids...religion edition

Apologies to Christian friends, but this has to be said:

"Turn the other cheek" is a rancidly bad piece of advice to give young kids who are being bullied or abused. It's right down there in the toilet of bad ideas next to "just ignore them". Especially since kids take such advice literally and will end up defenseless, confused and even more damaged as a result.

Remaining passive in the face of bullying guarantees that the bully will continue, will escalate, and will probably invite others to join the fun. And they will. Because here's a target who doesn't fight back--who thinks GOD HIMSELF doesn't want her to fight back--and bullies never, ever stop once they find a good target.

At least, until they face real consequences. The consequences could be being roasted, humiliating pranks, getting in trouble (if you can find an adult willing to step in), or just straight up getting a punch in the teeth, but whatever they are, they need to happen. Otherwise, the bully will just keep taking pleasure in an innocent kid's suffering.

[Below is a screed about the consequences of expecting kids to act like holy martyrs instead of protecting themselves, and some advice for young folks trying to reconcile religious pacifism with the need to protect themselves. It's not an easy read and wasn't an easy write, but I'm hoping it will help someone.]

Meanwhile, the bullied kid, who just wants to do the right thing and please God, ends up traumatized, beaten down and wondering why God wants her to be so miserable. If she cries, prays, quotes the Bible, or explains her principles while being bullied, she will be bullied even harder. (Do you really believe that those little playground sociopaths care what God thinks?) And by the time they're done with her, she'll be going through religious trauma to go with the emotional and physical stuff, because the advice to endure and pray just made things worse.

After all, God's not going to step in and help or even comfort her. God is not going to grant her unshakeable confidence and strength to shrug off her suffering. God is not going to warn the bully or make them feel bad. God is not going to prick the consciences of lazy, uninvolved teachers, parents, and administrators to make them get off their asses and help.

God is not going to help. That's what other humans are supposed to do. But in a typical bullying situation, anyone with the power to help has already decided not to. Adults will even hobble her further with the warning that they will punish her for fighting back. She will be left on her own, told she's not supposed to defend herself, with no idea what to do or how to make the abuse stop.

That is exactly what "turn the other cheek" sets bullied and abused kids up for. Wrongheaded religious pacifists may even try to say that the child's suffering is somehow normal or even beneficial. Which is, and I really mean this, an incredibly shitty thing to do to a child.

Now I know some zealots think that suffering is Godly for everyone regardless of age, and we should all be prepared to make sacrifices to keep our covenants, et cetera. But the reality is that encouraging children to passively accept bullying and abuse, or respond to it with piety and kindness, is going to destroy their childhoods. And that is way too much of a sacrifice to expect from someone who is young, vulnerable and likely to be scarred for life by the experience.

Kids are not meant to be martyrs. They are not supposed to spend their childhoods going through constant, agonizing, permanently damaging tests of faith. They are too little to even begin to cope with that, and any adult who thinks that kind of ordeal is good for them or just what they should expect as a good Christian shouldn't be allowed around kids.

Discouraging kids from standing up for themselves aids and abets their bullies and pretty much guarantees you'll end up with an anxious, depressed child with low self-esteem and stunted social skills. If they're also very Christian, the experience won't just damage their minds, hearts, self-image, and trust in others. It will also damage their faith.

Do you really think that's right and good? Do you really think that's what God wants?

Don't ever, ever tell bullied kids to turn the other cheek. Get off your ass, put your love into action, and give them real help with the situation. Get involved, help them learn to stand up for themselves, and while you're at it, have a little chat with the "responsible" adults who just stand by with their thumbs up their butts and let this all go on.

If you hide behind "turn the other cheek" instead of actually helping a vulnerable child, in the end, you won't get a wise and resilient kid who is strong in her faith, forgives everyone who hurt or failed her, and believes that her suffering was somehow worth it.

You will get a traumatized kid who very likely has both her faith and her self-esteem in tatters. And all because you gave her a Bible quote and left her to fend for herself instead of actually helping.

Is putting a child through this what you want? No? Then...

...stop failing kids by using a misguided application of a Bible quote to convince them that God doesn't want them to defend themselves!

Whether they are facing childhood bullies, an abusive parent, a lascivious priest, a would-be child trafficker, or a violent "friend", kids need to know that it is okay to stand up for themselves, protect themselves, and defend their own boundaries. Telling them to "turn the other cheek" instead is child abuse, because it sets them up for years of completely unnecessary suffering.

Yeah, I know Jesus said it. But would Jesus say it to a little kid who is suffering with no help? Would Jesus tell that child that it's not okay to protect herself? Do you really believe that? Because I can't. I seriously doubt Jesus was out to recruit ten-year-old schoolyard martyrs.

No real, loving God could possibly want that done to a kid. And no loving, Godly person would give advice that makes things easier for people who victimize kids, by discouraging kids from resisting.

And if making kids more vulnerable to abuse is their actual plan...it ain't God they're working for.

***

Oh, and if you're young and can relate to this story:

Don't turn the other cheek when someone is victimizing you. Please. It will very likely make things worse.

Stand up for yourself. Do what you have to to keep yourself safe. Be clever, be tough, be sneaky, and be your own best friend, because you do not deserve to suffer.

You absolutely deserve to be happy and safe--yes, even if you're not a perfect person. And even if you have no friends, and none of the adults around care, and you have preachy idiots in your ear telling you to just endure it, you must remember that you deserve defending. Even if you have to do it yourself.

Don't just leave your protection in God's hands. Any adult who tells you to do this when people are hurting you is either deluding themself, or just making a stupid excuse not to give you real help.

Stand up for yourself, whether you're telling that creep on Facebook's mother about what he just sent you, laying a chili-pepper trap for that pig who always steals your lunch, or making your bully cry. Save "turn the other cheek" for conflicts with those who have a working moral compass, not abusers. You can forgive your bully and feel remorse for being a little mean after you have made sure that he never tries to pull his crap again.

It's far better to just be imperfect, and sort things out with God later, than to try to be perfect in horrible circumstances and end up broken, traumatized and struggling with your faith. Especially when you're just a kid.

Oh, and do yourself a favor. If someone is preaching extreme religious pacifism at you after hearing of your situation, they may mean well. But if all they do is preach and lay expectations on you and not help, you may well have to disappoint them. Unless they're actually stepping in to help you resolve the situation without having to retaliate and it works, your priority should be stopping the abuse as safely as possible by whatever means are at your disposal. Not satisfying a sanctimonious, uninvolved person's idea of what God wants.

#tw abuse #tw religion #tw bullying #religious pacifism #christianity #bullying #when turn the other cheek is inappropriate #bad religious advice #tw child abuse #defending against bullies #don't just preach help #yes I know this is all oddly specific #nailing up a warning sign on a path I walked #protect kids #religious trauma #i cannot turn the other cheek #it's black and bruised and torn

[diaco1968]

Bully!Bakugou x f!reader

Warnings! 18+, mdni, Bullying (only in the beginning tho), broken nose(no major character), smut, unprotected, choking, riding... the usual.

.also, everyone aged up and past college

"Whatcha hiding there pipsqueak?"

You immediately tried to get down to collect your scattered papers but he grabbed your shoulder and shoved you back up, your breath hitched as your back hit the lockers, the rattling attracting the nearby people's attention as they stared at you and started whispering amongst themselves.

"...nothing..."

You watched in dismay as he leaned down and grabbed the neat looking envelope and turned it to see the dried up flower taped expertly to its front, his nose scrunching up in disgust.

"What fuckery is this? Are you in a high school drama show?"

His eyes snapped on you with a glare before amusing himself further with the letter he pulled out of the envelope.

"He asked you out in a letter and still lacked the balls to sign it with his name, huh? Who is the loser? It's probably a prank."

You pursed your lips and he glanced at the letter again before pressing on.

"Or maybe he was forced in a dare."

"No he wasn't, give it back." You reached out to grab the envelope but he pulled it away holding it out of your reach.

"So you know him already. Been screwing around before, huh? Not as innocent as you look, are you?"

"It's none of your business."

"It's my business when I say it's my business." He dangled the letter above you but you narrowed your eyes and didn't bother play his game.

"So. If not for a dare then why the fuck is he asking you out?"

You frowned pressing your nails harder against your palm in a tight fist before pushing yourself off the lockers deciding it's not worth fighting over and with a huff turned around to leave but before you could take a step his hand slammed onto the locker next to your head, crumbling the letter in between his hand and the locker, his arm blocking your path and caging you in. You gasped and He leaned in to whisper in your ear, hot breath fanning the side of your neck. You could smell his signature caramel scent and you would have liked it if it wasn't for the current situation. He had never ever actually hurt you physically but he was still scary, and if he was capable of hurting you, you didn't want to find out. You gulped.

"This time I will let it slide. But you will not turn your back on me again. Got it?"

You very subtly nodded and he pulled away from you, the letter falling to the floor as he turned and walked away.

*******

As you made your way through the crowd of students it became obvious that the commotion was from a fight and all these people were standing there to watch. You had waited for a long time for your date to show up and now you were going to go and find out what was the hold up since he wasn't in the habit of making you wait. And unfortunately you couldnt get to him without crossing from this particular corridor. You could just slip past the fighting people without being noticed and ignore them. You were almost at the opening in between the crowd when you looked up to see none other than your date. He was lying on his back, holding his nose with both hands while blood trickled out from in between his fingers and he writhed on the ground in pain.

"Get up."

Above him was crouched your own personal bully, Bakugou, watching his pathetic prey with a curious head tilt, not a scratch anywhere on his face.

"I said get up!" His hand shot out and he grabbed a fist full of the poor boy's hair and pulled him up on his hands and knees while he grunted in pain.

"What are you doing?! Stop!"

All eyes turned on you before you could process your interference, but your eyes were only locked on a pair of glinting crimson eyes as they stared back at you with excitement.

"Oh look! There she is. Is this the kind of whimp you're into? Really, (y/n)? You fancy weaklings, huh? Disappointing."

He then looked back down at the boy,

"why dont you tell her yourself?"

He grabbed your date by the scruff and pulled him off the ground, onto his feet and held him in front of you. It was a sorry sight, the blood dripping down from his swollen nose onto his chin, a violent red patch on his cheek slowly turning purple and watery eyes either from the impact to the nose or he was crying.

You looked him in the eye wondering how he got himself into this mess, the more you looked the more you feared Bakugou.

"Go on! Tell her!"

He barked making you jump and your eyes darted between Bakugou and the boy.

"I don't want to go out with you anymore..."

His voice sounded awkward due to his nose being clogged by blood and he was looking down avoiding your eyes. You didn't blame him, if this had happened to him just cause he was dating you, it was only natural he wouldn't want to continue.

"Good boy. Now scram, loser!"

Your eyes were becoming glossy as you stood there unable to walk away holding back tears of frustration not wanting to piss him off again by turning your back on him. You had so many mixed feelings. Bakugou had no right meddling with your business like that. Despite his dipshit behavior, you kinda liked him. But he had never shown any sign of interest other than giving you his homework sometimes and bullying you around when he was bored. To want to prove you're not worth anyone else's love or interest was just another level of low, you had assumed he wouldn't stoop to.

On the other hand you couldnt help the tiny feeling in your gut that he did all this for you. A more primal side of you was tingling excitedly to the feeling of Bakugou fighting another male away from you to keep you all to himself.

You pushed this side far back down, a tear escaping and rolling down your cheek as you glared at Bakugou while he loomed over you, staring you down for a while, not looking as smug as he did a few seconds ago.

His scraped fingers twitched and you wondered briefly if he wanted to punch you too but he just clicked his tongue and walked away.

*******

You stared at the slender cigarette between your fingers, your other hand squeezing the lighter, looking around while you were standing next to the building after closing hours. It had rained all day and now it was cold and windy and everyone had already left so you were really in need of something to calm you down, your now-ex had once given you these and you doubted he was going to come for them after all that went down just a while ago.

With shaky fingers you put the roll between your lips and tried the lighter. The wind immediately blew in out, so you shielded it with your other hand and put it to the tip of the cigarette ready to inhale.

"What are you doing?"

Bakugou's voice startled you and in your horror your lips parted dropping the roll on the ground.

"What the fuck are you doing?"

You looked at the wasted cigarette on the ground that was now wet and soggy and looked back up at Bakugou staring intently at you waiting for a reply.

Wasn't it obvious what you were doing?

"I...needed to relax so... I was going to smoke?"

You sounded so unfamiliar and meek to yourself.

"Oh you were going to smoke, were you?"

He stepped forward and crushed the cigarette under his foot, getting in your face. You looked up at him wondering what he wanted with you now.

"Does it make you feel all grown up and tough? Smoking that shit?"

"I am already grown up... what are you talking about?"

His hands were immediately latched onto your collar and he pulled you to himself growling in your face.

"Oh you think you become so cool smoking, that now you can talk back to me?"

You frowned trying to free your clothes from his grasp.

"Bakugou...let me go..."

"You're not going to smoke again. You heard me?"

"It's none of your business! Let me go!"

You screamed at him, all the pent of frustration finally surfacing, but you regret it almost as soon as the words left your lips.

"Shut your mouth!"

He used his grip on your collar to shove you away and you stumbled backwards on the ground before plopping down on your butt in a huge puddle, the water splashing everywhere.

You immediately jumped out looking down at your soaked clothes, the wind freezing you to the bone.

"You're such a clutz..."

Your eyes snapped onto him in a furious glare.

"I was fine standing here on my own before a stupid bully decided he wasn't done with me yet after everything he did to me and started to push me around some more!"

By the time your yelling finished your whole body was shivering from the cold. He watched you for a few seconds in deafening silence, and you wondered if this time you angered him enough for him to hit you.

"Are you done?"

His tone was very calm and even kinda warm, so you nodded your head and he took off his coat and handed it to you to your surprise. Was that his way of apologizing?

"My house is way closer than yours for a cold walk. Let's go."

******

You watched from the window as the wind howled and lashed the branches against the windows and the rain drops poured down the glass, the sound of thunder making you jump a little and get out of your trance.

You sighed looking down at yourself.

You were wearing his shirt and that's all. A black shirt with a white skull on it, and very oversized for you. It reached down to the middle of your thighs, hanging loosely on your shoulders.

Your underwear was also soaked so you had to take it off too, now any kind of breeze would make you shiver and goosebumps rose on your skin.

"What are you doing there? Get out here and warm up."

You heard his booming voice slightly muffled by the closed door. You tried to ignore the heat rising to your cheeks and the tips of your ears thinking about your current style and how exposed you were and with a deep breath and a heavy sigh you stepped out of the bathroom to join him, your hands gripping the hem of your shirt and firmly holding it down over your thighs. When you walked into his room he was busy with his TV so you quietly sneak behind him and sit on the end of the bed feeling uncomfortable, he lived in a suite so there was no other place to sit.

"Did you hang your clothes up to dry?"

He didn't turn towards you but you instinctively pulled your legs closer to yourself and pulled the shirt lower over them.

"Yes."

"I forgot to give you these. Here."

He turned to the drawer and grabbed a pair of shorts from it then turned to offer it to you as you got up and reached over to grab it from him, his hands freezing mid air as his eyes locked onto yours.

You could feel your heartbeat rising as you watched his eyes rake down your body staring at his shirt on you, then his eyes moved down your legs and back up slowly again, his gaze so heavy you could almost feel it drag on you.

You grabbed the shorts from his hands but he snatched your wrist instead and pulled you closer, so close you had to raise your hand to press it against his chest not to slam into him.

"What are you wearing under it?"

His voice was significantly lower and much more sensual, for the lack of better words. You took in a big breath silently relishing in his caramel scent and the feel of his hard chest under your palm before looking up at him through your lashes, your voice barely above a whisper.

"Why do you ask?"

"Curiosity."

"How naughty of you."

"Watch it. you don't want to start something you can't finish." Even with the low growl in his voice he wasn't trying to sound threatening at all. You knew what he sounded like when he wanted to threaten. The opposite, he came off as very attractive sounding like that and looking at you through half lidded eyes. And you would bet he knew it too.

You leaned up on your tiptoes to get in his face as you looked straight in his eyes, your lips merely an inch away from his.

"And what if I can finish what I want to start?"

You could now feel his heartbeat under your palm making you wonder if you had previously missed it or was he just now getting excited.

"Then go for it."

You felt intoxicated by the heat and smell radiating off of him, the strong aura he had, it felt like you were too impatient to play him anymore. You leaned up and pressed your lips softly against his, closing your eyes. For a few seconds he didnt move at all, probably not expecting you to back your attitude up. The only contact he had with you was his hand on your wrist. But that changed in a blink of an eye. He let go of your wrist to grab your waist with both hands and pulled you flush against him, humming and deepening the kiss when you draped your arms around his neck. One of his hands moved up from your waist carassing your back from over the shirt before settling in a firm grip on the back of your neck, the other moved down squeezing one ass cheek from over the shirt before sliding under it to grip it tight and pull you into himself as he grinded his hips forward into yours. His tongue was in your mouth as soon as you parted your lips to moan, wrestling yours into submission.

It was too hot, too much, he was touching you all over, you tried to pull away from the kiss but his fingers carded in your hair grabbing a fistful and angling your face back up into the kiss with a demanding growl.

By the time you whined in his mouth you were almost completely out of breath and he loosened his hold on your hair to let you pull back to catch your breath, a thin string of saliva stretching from your lips to his tongue that he completely ignored, immediately latching back onto your jaw and moving wet hot kisses down your neck. His teeth were scraping over your sweetspots like he had known them for years before he sucked in your raw skin and licked over the abuse he left behind, he reached the collar and gently pulled it off one of your shoulders, sinking his teeth in the exposed skin, you gasped and gripped onto him tighter. He kept kissing and biting lower and lower until the shirt got in his way again. You pulled away from him and grabbed the hem to remove it but he stopped you.

"Keep it on."

His hands moved over your back again and felt up your sides pulling the shirt from behind to make it cling tightly around your form admiring your body from one step away before releasing the shirt probably enjoying how much bigger than you he was. With sudden movements he pushed you back on the bed and you landed on your butt looking up at him as he pulled off his own shirt, his toned body distracting your eyes. He noticed the brief disappointment in your mood and probably caught on cause he smirked and crawled on top of you making you scoot further up the bed.

"What? You thought I dont want to see what you're hiding under the shirt?"

His eyes had become so predatory that you had to bite your lower lip to hold back a submissive whimper. He grabbed your hips and pulled you back to him, making the shirt move up and crumple around your waist exposing much more than you intended to show.

"You should keep it on cause I want to see that you are mine."

His hand slid under the shirt and up your sides lifting it up and ducking his head underneath. It took him a few seconds to admire the view, his breath tickling your skin while he reached up and grabbed one of your boobs, squeezing and massaging it before he licked the rough patch of his tongue over your other nipple making you gasp and arch your back in surprise when he sucked the bud in his mouth.

When he tugged your nipple between his teeth you had to put your hand on his head and pull him back towards you but his free hand grabbed your hand and held it down by your side entwining your fingers. When his treatment of your boobs started becoming painful your protesting noises got louder and with a pop he released you from his mouth, moving his lips down your body leaving a wet trail. Letting go of your hand to grab your hips and lift you up, he pulled your lower half over his lap and placed your legs over his shoulders, bending you so far you could clearly see his face above you and between your legs, aligning your heat with his mouth. You couldn't grab his hair to have the slightest bit of control, your legs were in the way, so you just fisted the sheets and involuntarily clenched your thighs around his head as he licked along your slit roughly. His tongue rubbed up in between your folds, mixing your slick with his saliva before he sucked it all in harshly with your clit sending a sharp jolt up your spine.

"Ah Fuck!"

You couldn't help the loud moans and mewls that left your lips as your thighs started shaking in anticipation and you clawed at his wrists pleading him for mercy, but his tongue didn't seize fucking in between your folds.

"Ah... please! You don't have to..."

To your surprise he paused his movement to lift his mouth from you a little and when he started speaking his hot breath on your wet cunt made you shiver.

"No I don't have to, I'm doing this for me."

His hand reached out and grabbed a fistful of your hair yanking your head forward into an uncomfortable position were you could watch him eat you out and as he resumed his onslaught he watched you intently until your eyes roll back into your skull as you came undone in his mouth.

He layed you gently back on the bed letting you catch your breath, his eyes once again admiring the loose black shirt on you, half hiding some of the marks he had left on your neck and shoulders, your chest heaving underneath the skull print on the shirt.

His shirt.

Your face flushed bright red as you watched him wipe the glistening moisture from his lips and chin with the back of his hand, smirking at you when your eyes met, he held your gaze as he undid his jeans and pulled them down, making you avert your eyes.

"Ready to ride, pipsqueak?"

He flopped next to you on the bed, pulling himself further up on his back and rested his head on a pillow looking ready for a show with his hands under his head. Your eyes moved down his face to his tense abs to his hard on that was fully at attention looking all proud.

You bit your lower lip, wondering if you had ever felt so much heat in your face before, your face was probably beet red by now. You timidly got up on your knees and shyly lifted a leg to straddle his waist, holding the shirt down and hiding your naked lower half as much as you could, hoping you could hide your face if you got on him in reverse. His hand was on your leg in an instant pushing it back down and gesturing to your other leg.

"Nuh uh. I wanna watch you."

He didn't leave you room for more errors as he grabbed your waist and hoisted you up over himself, scoffing at the squeak you released when your soaked core rubbed onto his hard dick. You had to press your hands against his chest to hold your balance, and you very slowly started to get a feel of him slipping between your folds by rolling your hips over him.

Your grinding had his tip pressed into your entrance and his fingers twitched on your sides, holding them tighter as he hissed quietly.

"Gonna take your time, huh?"

"Will you shut up!"

You don't know what took over you, probably you've had enough of his teasing tone, but to further soludify your point you reached up with one hand and wrapped your fingers around his throat, squeezing the sides in warning.

The silence that took over made you gulp down the anxiety before you could look up at his face and you were immediately amazed; his cheeks were powdered pink, eyes half lidded but dialated pupils glinting with excitement and his lips were parted letting out shallow breaths.

He seemed to like it, so you kept your hand around his throat.

Not taking your eyes off of him you reached between you to grab his length and angle it before lowering yourself onto it slowly. once the head popped inside you and you engulfed it with your warm wet tightness, he let out the breath he had previously sucked in, as a long deep groan and closed his eyes, his face showing pure bliss for the whole duration you sank him deep inside you.

It took a while to get used to his size and his angle inside you, during which he didn't do anything to rush you, seemingly taken the hint that you were in control, but as soon as you started moving your hips his eyes snapped onto where your bodies were connected.

His hands carassed your sides as you timidly rose and sank back down on him again making you both release a satisfied sigh, then you started moving with a shy little rhythm. His fingers snaked under the shirt, his thumb hooking the hem and slowly pulled it up as his hands moved higher over your body, soon enough the shirt was crumpled right below your boobs, and he moved it higher holding it over your mouth.

"Open."

You glanced at the shirt then at him before taking the fabric between your teeth. You were now mostly naked in full display for him beautifully, as he watched your boobs bounce and jiggle with every move, moving his hands back into a firm grip on your hips to provide you some extra balance, his thumbs carassing you, not as gentle as it was possessive.

His tip was kissing your cervix every time you sank back down on him, making you roll your hips back and forth to savor the painful pleasure of it. He didn't appreciate your slow rhythm for long though, his patience wearing thin as he gripped your hips, his other hand moving up your spine before gripping the back of your neck, using his grip combined with a thrust of his hips up into you, had you lurching forward bracing yourself with your hands on the bed on either side of his head. And just like that your little game of dominance was over.The hand on your hips snaked around your waist, holding you firmly against himself as he started a brutal pace thrusting up into your gushing pussy, the knot in your lower stomach tightening, The angle had you gripping his shoulders for dear life, barely able to breathe as rugged gasps left your lips. His fingers carded through your hair pulling you forward to crash his mouth onto yours. The possessiveness of the kiss had you pushed over the edge , clamping around his length as your orgasm crashed over you, creaming all over his shaft. It took you a minute or so to come down from your high, and realise while he was helping you ride out your high with shallow slow thrusts his lips had curled into a satisfied smirk against your mouth, so you pulled away from the kiss, your cheeks flushed.

"I don't have to look to know you've made a big pretty mess down there."

You whimpered, hiding your face in your hands in embarrassment making his grin widen. He grabbed your wrists pulling them away from yiur face while he rolled you over on your back, now hovering over you.

"Why you hiding now? Too late for that I've already seen how hot you look when yoh cum undone."

He nudged your thighs up with his knees, placing his cock back in your folds, sliding over the sensitive nub a few times making you squirm under him.

"I want to see more of that lewd littel face of yours."

You started to weakly push him on the chest but He grabbed both of your wrists in one hand and held them above your head.

"You have one more in there for me, don't you?"

grabbing your throat giving it a gentle squeeze while he pushed himself back inside you, you shut your eyes, biting your lower lip at the sensation of him filling you up.

"you're going to cream around my cock again, aren't you?"

"... move..." you whined trying to pull him in more with your legs hooked around his waist but he didn't budge.

"Ask nicely."

"Fuck me please! I'll cream all around your cock! Please!"

His grip tightened around your throat and your lips parted while your walls cinched around his dick making him hiss from the tightness as he thrusted into you, long deep slow thrusts sending you over into a toe curling release, milking him harshly.

"Yeah, that's what I thought,...fuck!"

He let go of your wrists to grab his cock and jerked it over you, cumming all over your stomach and chest as he watched your fucked out face.

You were both panting as you came down from your high, looking at eachother, kind of shy and embarassed before he grinned down at you boyishly.

"Aren't you glad I ruined your date?"

You pushed him off annoyed.

"You could've asked yourself... nicely."

"Nah too cheesy. Like the letter."

You rolled your eyes and started scooting off the bed before his arm wrapped around your front and pulled you back to him, whispering in your ear,

"I'll ask nicely for you to choke me again, if you be a good girl."

#bakugou katsuki x reader #bakugou x reader #bakugou katsuki #bakugou smut #bnha bakugou #mha bakugou

[littlejuicebox]

The other kind of kink.

Written as a giveaway prize for @chaoticgoodstuff! Hope you enjoy the final version posted here! <3

Pairing: Spawn Astarion x Female Tav

Summary: Astarion didn't quite know how to form a relationship with Tav after she rejected him at the tiefling party. But he begins to realize that perhaps he has other expertise that may be of use to the woman. Namely, curly hair care.

Word Count: 4K

Tags/Warnings: fluff, sweet astarion, brief mentions of astarion's trauma/past, lightly ooc astarion, idk what else it's mostly fluff tbh lol

-----

“So which path do you think we should take, soldier? Underdark or Mountain Pass? Either way, I’m ready to slash some baddies!” Karlach says, swinging her ax for show as the two warrior women chat while Gale finishes cooking dinner. 

It would be at least another hour and the women were starving.

“Hmm…” Tav murmurs, looking up at her tiefling friend from where she had been sharpening her great sword. It certainly needed a bit of attention, after slashing through so many goblins a few days ago, “I haven’t decided yet, any suggestions?” 

Karlach shrugs and shakes her head before turning to look at Astarion, where he is perched on a log, filing his nails, not more than a few feet away, “Oi! What do you reckon, Fangs? Underdark or Mountain Pass?”

The silver-haired elf glances up from his task momentarily, assessing Tav and Karlach, scarlet eyes narrowed in thought, “Both sound equally atrocious. But if the great Archdruid Halsin said the Underdark is the safer route – which I find impossible to believe – then, I suppose that is my vote. Work smarter, not harder and all that.”

Tav nods, considering the rogue’s suggestion, and with a final rub of whetstone on metal, sheaths her great sword as she says, “Astarion’s right. Underdark, it is.”

“Well of course I’m right, darling! Aren’t I always?” Astarion responds with a pleased little chuckle as he tucks away his nail file. 

Inside, his confidence glows at the small bit of validation from their camp leader. He’d felt as if her view of him may have changed after the very awkward encounter they’d had at the tiefling party a few days ago, when he’d drunkenly propositioned her and she’d adamantly refused. He’d thought their relationship – could he call it friendship? – all but ruined after that blunder. Apparently he’d somehow misread the signs, and she wasn’t looking for sex like every other individual he’d ever known. 

Astarion had considered their prior interactions dancing on the border of flirtatious, but Tav indicated she preferred to focus on their cause, not on intermingling with her campmates. He thought Tav a bit odd after that interaction, and admittedly felt a bit insulted in the moment. He was gorgeous, why wouldn’t she jump at the opportunity he dangled in front of her? 

But, in the soberness of the following morning, Astarion decided he could work within her parameters; he’d just have to find another way to secure her favoritism. In fact, in some ways he was thankful she rejected him. 

“Yeah, yeah, you’re a genius,” Tav responds with a laugh, rolling her eyes at the rogue as she stands and stretches, “Well, I’m off to clean up before dinner, if either of you care to join?”

Karlach waves her hand dismissively, “Nah! I’ll do that after dinner. But can I borrow your whetstone for my ax?”

Tav nods at the tiefling, watching as Karlach grabs the stone and walks off toward her tent, ax in hand, before turning to address her other campmate, “And what about you, Astarion?”

The silver-haired elf shrugs and nods; at this point he’s taking any opportunity he can to spend time with Tav. The more he’s with her and gets to know her, the closer she will get to him, and the more secure he will feel. 

Or at least, that’s his only Plan B. Since Plan A went up in flames. 

He crouches to gather his bathing supplies from his pack before coming closer to the warrior woman currently waiting for him, “I suppose I could do with a bit of a bath. It isn’t hair wash day, but–” 

“It isn’t hair wash day?” Tav interjects, her eyebrows furrowing at the vampire, “You don’t wash your hair every day? Isn’t that… gross?”

The rogue pauses and blinks at the woman, tilting his head just a fraction as he assesses her, “Darling, please tell me you are not washing your hair every day. I understand on the days we are soaked in blood and guts it is a necessity… but, certainly you haven’t washed your hair every single day for the past three days when we have done nothing apart from lounge in camp and prepare to move onto the next part of our journey… right?” 

Tav cocks her head to the side, mirroring Astarion’s bewildered expression as she asks, “Should I… not be?”

That explains quite a bit, Astarion thinks, as his eyes roam over the unruly curls springing from the crown of Tav’s head. He’d thought it was perhaps an odd stylistic choice, or she simply did not care about the state of her hair, but maybe it was merely ignorance. Perhaps no one ever showed her how to care for the red, curly locks cascading like a lion’s mane around her face.

A small wave of sympathy crosses Astarion’s heart; he internally smashes it down before the wave grows into a tsunami. Best to not care too much about this woman, she could turn into a mindflayer at any moment, after all. And then he’d have to slice her to ribbons, as previously agreed upon.

“Ah.. well, darling. It isn’t wrong, exactly,” He starts, his eyes shifting away from Tav’s face as he tries to delicately address the matter, “It’s just… with a hair texture like yours, you aren’t doing yourself any favors.”

Tav simply blinks in response, her expression vacant; she is not understanding Astarion’s meaning.

The rogue sighs and shakes his head slightly. Well, he at least tried to be delicate, but that did not seem to sink in. More direct, it is. 

A vague gesture to his friend’s red curls and then Astarion explains, “Your hair is dry, Tav. That is why it is difficult to maintain and why you’ve broken more than one comb trying to drag it through that unruly mane.”

A flicker of embarrassment crosses Tav’s face and the rogue groans. He doesn’t know how to navigate feelings and friendships; his relationships with his siblings had been much less work… not that he particularly enjoyed those relationships or cared if the other spawn liked him. But he wanted Tav to like him, if only for his own motives, of course. 

“It’s really… not all that bad, darling. But perhaps I could help you, give you a few pointers? I think your hair could be quite gorgeous – your best feature, even, given the proper care. It’s rare to see a natural redhead like you, it already captures a lot of attention… let’s make it something awe-inspiring.” Astarion says, gently, his hand coming out to tug at one frizzy curl as he tries to smooth over the insult he just threw at his campmate. 

But, hells, someone had to tell her eventually. Even his siblings wouldn’t let him walk around with such unruly locks. 

“O-oh, sure, okay,” Tav agrees, still trying to overcome the embarrassment as her own hand comes to rake through her hair and gets caught in a nest of tangles, instead. She grimaces; Astarion had a point, it seemed, “Do I need to bring anything special?”

“Let me go back to my tent and grab my hair washing supplies, I’ll meet you down by the river in a bit, hm?” Astarion responds with a small smile before turning back toward his tent and disappearing within the shelter to rummage through his vast collection of shampoos, oils, perfumes, and soaps.

Tav merely hums in agreement and then heads in the opposite direction, toward the camp-designated bathing spot, towel in hand. As she’s walking, she pulls a curl in front of her eyes and examines it with a new perspective. Gods, it really was dry.

*

When Astarion makes his way to the river, he finds Tav waist-deep in the rushing water, still in her smallclothes and soaping her arms. Her back is turned to him, and the sun is catching her hair in a flattering light. Autumnal colors of red, orange, burgundy, and wine dance around her crown in the form of spiraled locks, and the elf cannot help but admire the natural beauty bestowed upon the woman.

Her hair was a gorgeous tone, reminiscent of the warmth of a fire or a deep, satisfying vintage wine. But it wasn’t just Tav’s hair that was attractive… she really was quite striking. With the woman unaware of his presence, Astarion took a quick moment to admire the rippling muscles in her back and the strong, lithe arms she used to carry her greatsword.

No one with working eyes — or eye, perhaps, —  could deny that Tav was attractive. After all, there was a reason Astarion had chosen to proposition her over the others in the first place. 

But, sex or not, the woman certainly seemed to favor him, which meant more than once since their journey began, she’d sliced clean through an enemy at his back, and fed him servings of her own blood. 

So now, it was his turn to repay her somehow, some way. And if Tav didn’t accept his physical talents, well, then at least she would accept this. 

“Hello, darling,” Astarion calls, causing the woman to turn and acknowledge him with a small smile and wave. He quickly places his bathing kit on the river bank and undresses to just his briefs before tentatively placing a foot in the water. It was warm enough to be tolerable, so the rogue shrugged and grabbed his wooden comb and conditioner before sinking into the water and wading toward his campmate. 

“Alright, now, get down into the water,” The elf directs as he shakes the small bottle of conditioner in his hands, prepping the contents.

“But I thought you said I’m not supposed to wash my hair every–” Tav begins, eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she eyes the bottle, before the displeased glare from Astarion causes the question to die on her lips. 

“Do you want my help, or do you want to continue to look like a sheep desperately in need of shearing, darling?” Astarion asks with a soft sigh as he pops the top of the bottle open and gives it a whiff, “Just bend down and trust me. Oh and here, hold these for a moment.”

Tav grabs the comb and bottle she’s offered and then does what she’s asked. When she’s shoulder-deep in the water, she feels Astarion’s hand guiding her to tip her head back. She follows the directive and is soon greeted by the vision of Astarion’s face hovering above hers, scarlet eyes intensely concentrated as he drags his hand through her curls.

“Your hair texture is a bit different from mine…” He muses idly, as he works to fully saturate the thick locks of hair on his companion’s head with water, “But this conditioner should work, for now. We’ll have to find something better suited to you, when the opportunity allows.” 

Astarion takes the comb from Tav’s hand without a word and uses the tool and his own fingers to work out some of the ever-present knots in the woman’s hair. She watches him for a moment before closing her eyes and simply allowing Astarion to work at the task. Before long, the elf is gently guiding her head back up, into a straight position, and trading the comb for the bottle.

“Close your eyes,” He directs, and Tav obliges again as the vampire places a generous amount of rosemary-scented conditioner in his hand. Then he gives the bottle back to Tav, rubs his hands together, and begins to work the creamy liquid through her hair, starting at the ends and slowly wandering up toward her scalp. About midway through he’s reaching for the bottle again, “Who knew your hair was this thick? You’re about to use up all of my favorite conditioner, darling.” 

Tav frowns slightly at this comment, trying to turn and face Astarion before he quickly redirects her head with a soft click of his tongue, “I’m sorry… I can buy you more when we run into our next merchant.”

“Oh, it’s no matter. I stole this bottle anyway– I’m sure I can steal another along the way,” Astarion says with a slight dismissive flip of his hand, “Besides, I think you need it far more than I do, right now.” 

His fingers trail up to the crown of her head as he speaks, and Tav’s eyes flutter closed once again as Astarion begins to massage the product into her roots. He moves in sections, parting her hair every few inches and attentively working the conditioner into her scalp. The sensation was quite enjoyable; if the water were a bit warmer, Tav might have fallen asleep under Astarion’s gentle, methodical touch. 

Far too quickly for her liking, Astarion completes the task and gently pats her shoulder to signal he’s done for now. He grabs his comb and what little remains of his favorite hair product from the woman. 

“You need to let that sit for a few minutes, at least, little sheep.” Astarion directs before wading back to the river bank and dropping his supplies with the rest of his things. Tav watches as he grabs his own bar of soap and begins to bathe himself.

“How did you learn about all this?” The woman calls to the rogue as she wades through the water, mostly for something to do as she waits. 

Astarion hums as he considers the question; there is a pause in the conversation as he drops his bar of soap back along the bank and uses his hand to rinse the soapy remnants along his body. Tav cannot help but follow his fingers as they graze along his chest and arms, dispersing droplets of water that drizzle down the lines of his abs and back into the river. 

“I wish I could tell you how I learned, but I can’t recall…” He murmurs, his voice sounding a bit far away as he thinks, “It feels like something ingrained in me like speaking Elvish or the ability to read, for instance; someone must have taught me… I suppose one of my parents, or someone else in my family.”

A small look of sadness flits across Tav’s face but she quickly hides it before her companion notices, knowing that Astarion will balk at anything resembling pity. She often forgets how little memory he has of his past before Cazador, how much he’d endured until now, and how much of himself he’d lost in the process of it all. He was so good at pretending to be normal and happy-go-lucky… but then, they were quite alike in that aspect, weren’t they? It was easier to be the unbothered goofball than to be anything that resembled fragility, wasn’t it? 

Tav chooses to not respond to his answer, knowing nothing she says can truly make his situation better, and instead grabs a conditioner-covered curl, “Can I rinse this now?” 

Astarion nods as he climbs out of the water and begins gathering his own things, “Yes, go rinse it out – make sure there’s none of that left in your hair, and then come find me back at camp for the next part. I’m going back — it’s growing a bit cold.”

“Next part?” Tav responds with a soft whine, watching as Astarion towels himself off, “There’s more?”

“Darling, if you want your hair to look even close to as good as mine, there is a lot of work involved. Now hurry up, so we can be done before Gale is ready to feed you whatever disastrous concoction he’s made tonight,” Astarion says, his tone a bit joking as he begins slipping into a new set of camp clothes.

The woman groans and obeys the rogue’s directions, turning away as Astarion strips off his undergarments to replace them with new ones, and wading once again toward the deeper water. Tav dunks herself down into the river and begins running her fingers through spirals of hair, massaging out any slippery residue she finds along the way. With the amount of hair she had, it took several minutes, and by the time she was finished, Astarion was already gone. The sun was just beginning to kiss the earth in its descent toward night.

Tav quickly toweled herself off and dressed. Then she wrapped her hair up in the towel, twisting it around her locks in a turban-like fashion before collecting her belongings and making the short journey back to camp.

*

“There you are, darling,” Astarion calls as he catches sight of Tav, before patting a stump near his tent, “Come over here so I can finish defining your curls.” 

Tav furrows her eyebrows in confusion, because she has no idea what Astarion means, but she’s learned to simply shut up and go along with whatever he says for this entire endeavor. As she comes closer, she notices the elf has laid out even more supplies for her hair.

Did it really require all of this?

She sighs and takes a seat. Astarion immediately sets to work, placing a dollop of some sort of creamy pomade-like mixture in his hand and working it through her hair again. After that, he begins sectioning her hair into pieces, directing Tav every once and a while to hold this or that piece as he combs through her locks. 

“Ouch–” Tav hisses as the elf seems to be pulling at the base of her scalp. She moves to jerk away and Astarion huffs impatiently behind her, one of his hands coming to press against her forehead and prevent her movements. 

“Darling, for gods sakes, hold still.There isn’t beauty without a bit of pain, and honestly, for such a warrior, you’re being a wimp,” he chastises before continuing on with the task.

“What are you doing?” Tav asks through a sharp intake of breath, scrunching her eyes closed as she tries to endure the uncomfortable sensation of her hair being repeatedly tugged at the root. 

“Defining your curls, dear. I’m twisting them around my finger, see?” Astarion responds before coming in front of her and pulling a piece so he can demonstrate the process. Tav watches with a mixture of interest and confusion as he continues, “This will help all your curls to look more uniform. But seeing as you’ve done very little to your hair in all this time, I suppose it would make sense that you’re a bit tender-headed. I promise I am trying to be gentle.” 

Tav grimaces as Astarion continues his task, letting out little squeaks of pain that the rogue pointedly ignores. Eventually, Karlach comes over to return the whetstone she borrowed. The tiefling lingers to chat, which distracts Tav just enough to mostly forget about the pain in her scalp. When Astarion announces he’s done, the woman is genuinely surprised and moves to touch her hair; she is met with a quick swat from the elf.

“Ah-ah!” He admonishes before grabbing a bottle and spraying her hair with another rosemary scented product, “You can’t touch it until it’s completely dry.” 

“Why the hell not?” Tav groans again, suddenly growing impatient. Her stomach growls, and she sighs as she realizes she is also growing hangry. 

“You’ll undo all my hard work! Just wait.” Astarion responds as he stows away all his beauty products, “And anyway, it looks like Gale is just about done with dinner. We can go sit by the fire as you eat and that will dry your hair faster.”

*

Dinner was… acceptable. Gale did the best he could with the two rabbits Astarion hunted that morning, a handful of potatoes, one onion, and a couple of carrots. They did not have the luxury of seasonings most of the time, so it was quite typical for the nightly stews to taste gamey… tonight was no exception. 

Astarion takes a few drinks from Tav’s wrist after she finishes dinner. Once he retracts his fangs from her flesh, he lifts his hand to gently feel her curls. After a moment assessing his creation, he grins at the woman and says, “They’re finally dry, darling. Took long enough, hm? Now, let’s get you in front of a mirror so you can see my masterpiece.” 

Tav is flabbergasted by what she sees in the mirror. For the first time in… well, ever, her hair looks like it belongs to one of the beautiful maidens in an oil painting. Her hand comes up to gently touch the soft, spiraled locks and confirm that this perfect head of hair is, in fact, on her head and not somebody else's. 

“What do you think?” Astarion prompts, his voice containing the smallest bits of apprehension as he lifts a hand to fuss with Tav’s hair, placing it just so.

“It’s great,” Tav responds, her face breaking into a wide smile that causes the tension in Astarion’s shoulders to dissipate, “Thank you… really.” 

Astarion smiles and nods, suddenly unsure how to respond to the genuine gratitude in Tav’s voice. So instead he chuckles a bit and rolls his eyes before saying, “What on earth would you do without me?”

“Continue to look like a sheep in need of shearing, I guess,” Tav jokes, sticking her tongue out as she gently bumps her elbow into Astarion’s rib in jest, “That was mean, by the way.”

“I prefer honest, darling,” Astarion quips with a small chuckle, his fingers still fussing with the woman’s curls, “And anyway, you no longer look like a little sheep. You look beautiful.” 

Tav is not used to being called beautiful. Strong or brave, perhaps, but beautiful… never. Until now. The compliment catches her off guard and her eyes widen for just a moment. The elf notices her shock and his brows crinkle as he pauses the primping to analyze the woman’s face. 

“Certainly you know you’re beautiful…” The rogue continues, his hands starting to work at the curls again, “I’m sure I’m not the only–”

Astarion trails off when Tav shakes her head from side to side as her face begins to blush, the shade of her skin suddenly resembling the shade of her hair. Her voice is quiet, and crackling with a bit of emotion as she says, “No one says that. They just call me strong, or brave… or fierce.”

The elf tilts his head to the side as his eyes roam across Tav’s face once again. How interesting, he thought, to be lauded for things apart from your beauty. He’d never experienced such a thing, himself… though he thinks he would like to. But it almost appeared as if Tav had the reverse experience to his. 

“Well… surely you can be strong and beautiful, hm?” Astarion asks with a raised eyebrow, trying once again to smooth out the awkwardness he felt creeping between them, though he didn’t exactly know why it often felt like that. He moves to affectionately tug another lock of Tav’s hair and smiles playfully, “And with hair like this, dear, no one can deny your beauty. It would be an insult to my skills, frankly.” 

Tav snorts a laugh at this, eliciting a genuine, fang-filled grin from the rogue. Then he produces a bandana from his pocket and flourishes it in front of the woman, “Now let’s get your hair wrapped up. I’m exhausted and I want to go to bed, but I will not allow you to ruin my masterpiece overnight with all your thrashing about in your bedroll. You’re quite noisy, you know? And you snore.”

“I do not!” Tav protests as Astarion clicks his tongue at her and shakes his head, all while bundling her curls into the bandana and deftly tying a knot to keep it all in place. 

“You’re a terrible liar, dear, I’m surprised your nose isn’t growing this instant,” The elf murmurs, his finger coming to affectionately boop the woman’s nose before he bids goodnight and wanders back to his tent for bed.

Tav rubs her own nose as she yawns and heads back to her own tent, on the other side of camp. She tucks herself into her bedroll and smiles as she stares up at the canvas ceiling of her shelter. Someone really said she was beautiful; a small giggle escapes her lips as she thinks about it. 

Before long, Tav falls asleep. And for the first time in a while, she sleeps peacefully, without any thrashing about or snoring. Perhaps it was because her hair – and her heart – were both impeccably well-taken care of tonight. 

#astarion fanfic #astarion fic #astarion x tav #bg3 fanfiction #astarion x female tav #astarion x tav fluff #astarion fluff #astarion oneshot #astarion fanfiction #tav x astarion

[gojocumdumpster]

Is he really my true love?

Warnings: None but NSFW will be there in part 2 maybe 3.

Pickle x Afab reader

Plot: You are a new caretaker and decided to let a patient live at your house. Is he really your true love or is he just a patient?

You were a new Caretaker at this job you got not so long ago, you took care of patients very well and everyone loved you. *Ring ring!* "Hello! What's up boss?" You said, "Hey I just wanted to ask if you were okay with taking care of this one patient. Nobody else offered to help him so we wanted to see if you were fine with it. He's not really good in the Building so we wanted him to stay with somebody who's willing to take care of him. Are you willing to?" He said with a desperate tone. You weren't used to having someone live with you since you never had a boyfriend, you were always bullied for being shy. You didn't have much friends but that didn't effect you that much. Did you want to take this path that could change your whole life? "I think I can handle it boss. What's his name?" You said nervously. "Thanks so much! We'll drop him off when you got off work 5pm right?" He said. "Yep I'm nervous to see him but this is fine!" You say biting your nails. What did you get yourself into. "Great. His name is Pickle by the way." He says before hanging up. "Pickle? Never heard of him before." You say in your head. You looked at the clock 4:58pm..You took a deep breath and packed up your lunch you just finished eating. You leave the Staff room and head home. You just got done taking a shower and was walking around panicking until you heard. *Knock Knock*, your heart dropped as your eyes opened wide you walked to the door getting ready to see this Pickle dude. You opened the door and see your boss and a tall figure that was about 7-8ft tall. I wonder what's down there *Snap snap* "Hey Y/n you good?" Your boss says snapping his fingers. "O-oh..yes I'm alright" You say with a shocked face. "Great he will be living here now before I go he doesn't know how to speak any language but he understands some English." He says looking at his watch. "Oh…well I'm sure I can help him." You say fiddling with your hands, "Great! I'll be heading out." Pickle looks at you with his head tilt to the side looking at your tiny figure. "H-hi Pickle..it's nice to meet you-" *Lick!* Did he just lick me.. You smear the slobber off you as he continues to sniff you. Touching your hair, you were wearing a night gown. He was touching the fabric of it until suddenly he lifted up your dress! "Hey!" You say kicking him with a slight blush on your face. You welcome him inside your house he takes a seat on the floor looking at the cartoon that was playing on the TV. "What the fuck did I just do.." You say in your head. "Pickle..?!" You say calling his name. His eye widen as he turned his head looking at you. "Are you hungry?" You rubbed your belly to show him as a sign as food just incase he didn't understand. He nodded his head and turned back to the TV. You smile a bit "Cute" you say smiling. You guys were eating your food and you looked at pickle to see how he was doing, his cheeks were full of food staring directly at you. You turn your head shyly as you continued eating your food. It was time for bed and you were a bit concerned where pickle was going to sleep, you weren't ready for him to sleep with you yet so you laided a bean bag that took a bit of space in your room with a blanket. shit idk what there called He thought it was a big rock at first since it was grey but once he laid down he was out like a light. You smiled as you fell asleep. Little did you know he was your True Love. Part 2 is coming soon.

@idkhonestly0-0

@yandere-writer-momo

#baki x reader #baki hanma #baki the grappler x reader #pickle baki #baki the grappler #baki dou #baki son of ogre

[buckyscombatboots]

Monstertober Day 3:

The Scarecrow walks at midnight

Pairing: Scarecrow!Ari Levinson x Reader

Warnings: Dead Dove: Do Not Eat, serious Non con, death, mentions of blood, asphyxiation/choking, bruises (not the kinky kind), Beefy!Ari (6,8ft), size difference, held down, chasing, p in v

Nicknames: Song bird, birdie

Word count: 2.3k

༻𝐌𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭🎀 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫༺

AN: My apologies that this is a bit late, I had some health issues yesterday which really messed up my whole day. I ended up changing it from Headless horseman!Bucky to Scarecrow!Ari, because I had such bad writers block when trying to write it. I hope y’all enjoy and like all the Goosebumps references ♥︎

You pull up to The Stanley's farm, you’d know the Stanley’s for a long time. Everyone in this town knew everyone, that’s how it always been. Which is why, when Natasha sent you texts saying to come find her in a corn maze. You knew this was where she was talking about and despite the fact that it was technically closed right now, you knew the Stanley’s wouldn’t mind. You hopped out of the warmth of your car and into the autumn night. You loved the countryside, but you hated the fact that there were no lights. You only had the stars and the moon to guide you as you stumbled across the rocky path towards the corn maze.

It wasn’t far, you could see the sign, but you could also see a foreboding wooden cross standing outside the corn maze that you’d never seen before. You stopped in front of the wooden cross, running your fingers across the red paint chipping off the splintering wood. There’s nails with shreds of fabric still tangled around the posts; there was something hung up here at some point, a scarecrow more likely than not “The shity neighbourhood kids probably ripped it off” you huff “Always ruining everything, they threw paint in the plaza fountain only last week.” You drag your hand to the apex of the cross, it’s warm. Peculiar. You brush it off, despite your uncertainty, and look back at the text Natasha sent you.

I’m in the corn maze

Bet you can’t find me, scaredy-cat 👻🐈‍⬛

She had some nerve calling you a scaredy-cat, who in their right mind wouldn’t be scared to go alone into a bloody corn maze at midnight. It was pitch black, aside from the piercing light of the moon that parted the slate clouds that drifted across the inky, velvet blanket of the sky.

You stand infront of the en tree dance of the corn maze. It’s marked by an ornate metal sign, with chipping discoloured paint ‘Stanley’s Corn Maze’ it said in a faded orange paint. It felt like the beginning of a horror movie. Two friends enter a corn maze at night, now you just need a killer.

“Natashaaaaa” you sing “where are youuuuuu?” You’d been walking for what felt like forever, your phone was only on 4%. Nerves were starting to prickle in your belly “Come on I can’t find you! I give up okay so let’s go! I wanna watch a scary movie. Oooo maybe we can watch ‘Stay out of the Basement’ that’s meant to be good.” You hear the rustling of the dying corn leaves being pushed aside behind you, but still no reply from Natasha “Nat, if you’re trying to scare me it ain’t gonna work. I can hear you.” You spin around on your heel. It was not Natasha.

It was a man, he looked to be well over six foot tall. From where you were standing he was an Adonis; a halo of blonde hair and bulging muscle. He stepped closer, you remained still.

In the moon's pale light you could see the dirty blonde hair, tousled and scruffy with loose bits of hay and dirt tangled in his locks. He had a thick beard and moustache, but the glow from the moon still allowed you to see his prominent cheekbones. His firm chest strained against the thin fabric of his red, plaid shirt. You could see the contour of his torso and arms, he was covered in muscle and towering over you. As he stepped closer, further into the moonlight, you could see his face clearer; there were two messy stitches on either side of his mouth, clotted blood surrounding the punctures and strands of hay protruding from his skin. As he neared closer. You stumbled backwards. Fresh blood coated his thick, veiny arms all the way up to his sleeves rolled at his elbows, the cloth of his sleeves stained and dripping “Where are you going little bird? I want you to sing for me.” The stitched corners of his lips stretched into a smile as he lunged forward at you, his heavy body's ungraceful movements allowed you to dart past him into the thicket of corn. Your hands guarded your face defensively as you dashed through the corn, the brown, aged husks and leaves whipping at your exposed skin “Birdie! I’m gonna find you!” His bellowing voice pierced through the deafening sound of your blood rushing in your head.

You paused as your foot treads on something squishy, yet firm, you turn your gaze to the floor. Natasha. She’s beaten and bloody, clothes torn and her head appears to almost be severed from her shoulders “Nat…” you whimper, her eyes are still open. You hear the jostling of corn. You have no time to close them as you take off again, the bleak night air drowning you as you gulp it down like a fish. The burning tears dripping from your eyes burn your icy skin, you turn your head back to try to see him. He’s not there. You practically jump out of your skin as you hear a loud crack of thunder rumble around you, then cold drops of rain begin to fall. The drops that sprinkle across your skin send goosebumps across your skin, your hairs prickling to a point as you shiver.

You need to keep running, despite your exhaustion you find it within you to keep going. You can hear the corn rattling around you from every direction, you were so disorientated. As you jogged through the maze you reached down to your pocket to search for your dying phone, that’s when all hope drained from you. You’d dropped your fucking phone. The rain began to pick up, turning from a light dusting to harsh, thick droplets that fell with such speed that it hurt your skin. You came to a halt in a patch of newly formed mud, what were you meant to do? You felt doomed, you could no longer restrain the sobs that left you, lip wobbling as you choked on your sorrows.

One second you're standing, the next you’re tackled to the ground. Your shoulder collides with the sludgy earth and air catches in your lungs as you let out a choked yelp. You smash your hands into the Scarecrow's strong chest as you writhe against his fierce grip, he only needs one of his hands to overpower you and pin your hands above your head. You’re forced to look at him atop of you. His hair is glued to his forehead with sweat and the moonlight causes the thin sheen covering his skin to glitter like tiny diamonds. He bends closer to you, hot puffs of air from his heavy breathing suffocating you. He presses his face into the crook of your neck; the bristly hairs of his beard scratching against your neck as he licks at your neck, he shoved his nose into your hair and takes a long deep breathe in “Smell so good birdie, better than other woman. Ari’s gonna give you pleasure now.” You thrash against him kicking at him, he ignores it and bends one of your legs over his shoulder, “Lie still, Song bird, gonna make you feel so nice.” He grunts as you kick at his face, catches your ankle in his free hand and squeezes. His grip strength is inhuman. You shriek as you feel your bones creaking against the pressure he applies, your bones threaten to snap.

“Stop! Stop! I won’t kick you please!” You scream, the agony sending shocks across your nerves and to your brain, a dull ache lingering in your skull. He lets go of your ankle and lands a powerful punch to your gut, grit your teeth and grunt “Oof!” acidic sickness rising in your throat, you swallow it.

“Other girl wouldn’t stop screaming. Squeezed her too hard. Always squeeze too hard, it was an accident. Not gonna squeeze as hard with you, Birdie, like you, like your voice, like your scent. Want you alive.” His large hand tears your shorts and panties with one pull, the display petrified you but it also made your pussy drip. He ran two fingers through your fold, collecting some of your slick and bringing it to his mouth. He sucked his fingers clean of your cream, releasing his fingers with a loud pop “Taste so good. Need to fuck you.” Ari grumbled, undoing his jeans, releasing his member that slapped against his clothed stomach. It was long and ribbed with a thick purple vein running up the shaft and patch of pale blonde hair dusted his pelvis.

You moved your hips away from him. He hooks his calloused hand under your knee quickly and pulls you closer “No riggling, Birdie. Don’t wanna hurt you.” The fear freezes you in place and he takes the chance to thrust all the way inside you, smashing into your cervix causing you scream out and thrash as his dick crams uncomfortable inside you, he’s too big. You can feel the rubbed texture of his cock as your walls clamp harshly in an attempt to push him out. He pistons his hips without a care, unbothered by your body's feeble attempt at rejection. Your shrieks appear to fall upon death ears until he lifts you slightly by your wrists and then slams you back into the ground. Your brain rattles in your skull as your head hits the floor; a pounding pain throbs across the back of your head, and you look at him with a bewildered expression.

“No, Birdie, you’re meant to sing nicely. No screaming, or I’ll squeeze.” His scratchy knuckles brushes away the tears flowing down your cheeks. You nod and whimper, fighting the pain and letting out soft ‘oh’s and ‘ah’s as he continued his brutal pace, bending closer to you pushing your legs into you, angling your hips so he could thrust even deeper. Spearing you all the way to the hilt of his girthy length, you let out a guttural cry as he grunted and groaned in response to his own wild thrusts. Heat spread across your back as his pelvis rubbed against your clit “Tight.” He growled, pressing a kiss to your temple, he smelt strongly of hay and dirt, but underneath that strong scent of petrichor was a uniquely manly musk. Your pleasure was interrupted as his hand released your wrists, he slammed his fist into the ground, snarling as he thrusted. The hand holding your knee squeezed extremely tightly, you could feel bruises forming under his touch.

“Ow! Ari! Squeezing too tight!” You yowled, he was going to snap your knee. You dug your nails into the back of his neck, his pace slowed; his hips stuttering as he came to a stop entirely.

“Sorry, SongBird. Won’t squeeze anymore.” For a man…Scarecrow who was raping you he was being surprisingly considerate. He rubbed the pad of his thumb against your reddened cheeks soothingly before pulling out all the way to his tip before ramming back into you, hard enough for your body to slide around in the mud below you. Your lungs burn and your throat is raw. You bite back a scream when his bulbous tip collided with your cervix once again “Close. So close. Sing! Sing for me Birdie!” You whimper and let out an involuntary moan as his cock rubs the sweet spot within you. His barred teeth soften into a smile at your moans, his free hand comes to neck and he begins to squeeze. You remember Natasha, the way her head laid in a pool of blood. How you could barely see any remnants of her neck. You began to thrash once again, Ari ignored you, lost in his own pleasure. You could feel his cock twitching inside, in your mind you pleaded for him to come. For it to be over. His thrusts quickened even more, his hips bashing painfully into your ass. The sound of his balls slapping against your skin overpowering the crackle of thunder. He threw his head back and let out a full bodied groan, which resembled a roar as he came inside you. The ropes of his come were cold, just like his whole body-ice cold, the amount of his spend was unrelenting. He released your neck, you let out a series of cough thanking God for answering you as took deep breaths of air. You’d never been so grateful to be able to breathe.

Ari still hadn’t pulled out, he was still hard. Your pussy was rubbed raw from his pubic hair, and your clit ached painful from the force of his pelvis colliding with it. Then his thrusts continued. He wanted to go again. You clawed at him and he pinned you again “Bad Birdie, not done yet.” He murmured. You stared up at the moon as it mocked you, moving so freely through the sky. You curse the moon for letting him come alive. Your thoughts begin to fade as you just gaze up at the moving clouds heavy with more rain.

Resistance was futile. So you just laid there taking it. You close your eyes, your head was heavy from the adrenaline crash. You hoped sleep would take you, and it did.

The orange, pink tinge of sunset colours your vision as you open your eyes. Your ears are ringing, a piercing static reverberating in your skull. Your eyes sting and your throat is strained and scratchy. You push your hands beside you, they sink into the mud slightly as you sit up. A dull pain radiates throughout the apex of your thighs and legs, the bruises that litter them clear in the garish glow of the orange morning sun. You look around you, there’s hay scattered across the ground and beside you is the Scarecrow, face down in the mud your phone beneath his freakishly human hands. The baritone sound of his voice echoes in your mind as you pull your phone out and turn it on. 1% battery���Better call the right person.

Tag list: @alina02 @unabashed-lover-of-fictional-men @petesey @cevansgurl @getwellsoontana @bval-1 @feyfantome @alexxavicry @ashenc-blog @floral-recs @renster05 @flamefoxxrecs @savstranger @sojuxxi @cjand10 @sweetwrathoflilith @adoreyouusugar

#smut #chris evans #chris evans smut #chris evans character fanfiction #chris evans character x reader #chris evans characters #ari levinson x you #ari levinson drabble #ari levinson x f!reader #ari levinson x female reader #ari levinson x y/n #ari levinson smut #ari levinson fanfiction #dark!ari levinson x reader #dark!ari levinson #dark!chris evans #monstertober #the red sea diving resort #ari levinson x fem!reader #kinktober 2022

[mickey-gomez]

Gentle

Chapter 8 of Fade Into You

Warnings/tags: Fluff, soft smut, 

Pairing: Rita/Reader

A/N: Picks up right after Chapter 7, click through for a refresher, because it’s been a year a while since I’ve updated. Covers the “Oh fuck. Do that again.” square of @prentiss-theorem​’s bingo. It’s a rush job, partially because I wanted to at least attempt to participate in bingo, and partially because I’m sick of this story and not updating. 

Brief summary of why I haven’t updated. 

Where last night had been frantic, fast and rough, and so very desperate. The dawn that this morning brought was a stark contrast, soft and gentle, both of you finally allowing yourselves to show your vulnerability, without hesitation. Your eyes were glued to the others’ as you watched the swirls of pleasure darken them, soft words fanning your necks as your pupils dilated, and lips parted. 

It was so very different from the night prior, where your eyes had been scrunched so tightly shut, or looking away, focusing on something else, out of some innate need to protect yourself. 

It was as if Rita could read your mind, that last night she knew exactly what you wanted, what you needed, without you even having to hint at it, you hadn’t needed to speak or contort your bodies, she just knew. This morning was no different, as your guard lowered to allow her to see you fully like this, soft kisses and intense gazes as you chased your peaks together. 

Afterwards as you both laid there, the tips of her fingers travelled up and down your back, no clear path or pattern to the movements, and when they traced over your neck and into the nape where your hair met, you moaned softly and shivered against her. 

She leaned in, as her hand wrapped itself in your hair, softly tugging against the roots as she started kissing and sucking against the skin below your ear, every so often delivering a bite before soothing over the mark with her tongue. 

And later when she laid her knees next to your head, arching her back as your nails ran down her toned stomach, you’d never thought you’d seen anything so beautiful. The sun rose above the curtains and the windows, through the clouds and buildings, casting a luminous orange glow over the room, and the two of you. 

The light pierced through the windows as she came undone, on top of you, and that’s when you knew, for certain, you’d never seen anything so beautiful. The glow from the sun spread across her chest as her hands gripped your head tighter and her mouth formed the perfect ‘O’, as she shook above you. 

You both let out low laughs when she came down, and rolled over next to you, swollen lips meeting for kisses as your eyelids leisurely closed, soft breaths as you fell asleep once more.

When you finally roused that morning, you did so with a lopsided grin on your face, the images of the night gone, and the early morning just been, flashing through your mind. A shiver travelled up your spine as your body remembered what she had done to it. The feeling of her tongue and hands as they memorised the length of you. 

You rolled over, expecting to find her asleep beside you, instead finding the sheets pulled back and no sign of her. You rubbed the sleep out of your eyes, sitting up, and craning your neck towards the door, listening for any sounds of life on the other side. You stretched out, raising your arms and rolling your neck. That’s when you spotted the note on the bedside table, ‘Gone to get breakfast. Be back soon x’. You smiled and breathed a short sigh of relief that she hadn’t panicked and left you here. You laughed silently to yourself and shook your head, of course she hadn’t fled and left you in her own apartment.  

You walked into the ensuite and as the bright overhead lights clicked on, and you were met with your reflection in the mirror, you gasped at the sight of the purple hues of bruising that were so vivid on your chest and neck. You traced your fingers over them, feeling where teeth and lips had met skin. 

You took a moment to comb your fingers through your hair, settling it, sweeping it to one side and over one shoulder. You turned your head ever so slightly, as the light bounced off the mark she’d left on your neck, you circled it delicately with the tip of your finger, remembering the feeling of it, and how you desperately wanted her to leave more. 

After freshening up, you reached for the first piece of clothing you saw, Rita’s oxford button down that laid neatly across the armchair in the corner. Slipping it on and buttoning the bottom buttons up until they stopped at your sternum. 

When you walked out and down the hallway, you almost jumped out of your skin when you saw her seated at the kitchen island, demitasse cup in one hand, newspaper in the other. 

“You’re awake” she smiled softly as she set aside the paper and cup, leaning forward and resting her head in her hand as she looked over at you. 

“Well I was cold, and lonely.” you yawned “Why’d you let me sleep so long?” 

“Seemed like you needed it.” She shrugged, then she drank you in, noting the tiredness under your eyes and the third yawn that escaped you as you stood there, leaning against the counter. “You get used to the long hours, don’t worry.”

“Thanks” You reached over to the sink, grabbing your glass from the night prior, rinsing it before filling it from the tap, trying not to gulp down the water. “Somehow I don’t think the reason I’m tired is because of work.” If you weren’t paying attention, you would have missed the quick flash of her lips that turned into a smirk, and the way her eyes flashed fleetingly with something that resembled a frantic mix of excitement and smug pride. 

“Lonely huh?” she raked her eyes over you. The tension between the two of you was building again, like it had done last night, and for years prior, like a bubble waiting to burst. “Do you want coffee?” you heard her ask it, but it was faint, your mind elsewhere, you took a breath and blinked, shaking your head lightly, and when you met her eyes again, you simply smiled quickly and nodded. 

You turned your head, looking for the pot, and your eyes widened when you saw that she had an actual espresso machine, and not a drip one like you were used to. “I don’t know how to use that” you pointed and she laughed. 

Rounding the island, coming to stand behind you, her arms wrapped around your waist as she leant in and kissed your neck, and then the spot just below your ear. “I’ll show you” she whispered and you broke out with goosebumps when her breath hit your neck, and her words lingered on your skin. 

She put her hands on your hips, gently moving you out of the way, and you could hardly focus, your stomach doing somersaults every time she touched you. You tugged on the bottom of your shirt, pulling it down to cover the tops of your thighs before hopping up onto the island, crossing your legs as you watched her. The marble was cold under the bare skin of your thighs, and sobered you momentarily, like plunging into the ice. 

“Milk?” she hummed out in question as she flitted around, pulling out the beans and turning on the machine. 

“Please” you answered before the whirring sounds of the machine and grinder filled the room. You took her in, your eyes tracing all the way up her frame, glued to the sway of her hips, the perfect curves she possessed, and her long hair that cascaded down her back. She stole a quick glance over her shoulder and she simpered, looking pleased with herself, much like she always did.

“Are you paying attention?” 

“Hmm?” you ran the pad of your thumb over your lips and when you looked up to find her looking intently at you, a perfect smirk plastered on her face, you blushed and ducked your head down. 

You uncrossed your legs when she turned, mug in her hand, wrist outstretched as she presented it to you. You took it from her, your fingers running over hers when you gripped the handle. She looked down at your thighs, and then back up at you, taking a few steps until you uncrossed your legs and she was standing in between them. Your breath hitched in your throat when she ran her palms over the bare skin. 

“Nice shirt” She ran her hands further up your thighs, gripped down, as you sipped from your mug, she stopped abruptly when she reached the crease where they ended and your hips began. Realisation on her face when her fingers felt what was missing, “You’re not wearing…” she trailed off, and you placed the mug down on the counter, biting your lip as you felt the tension begin to bubble over, and when she swept her eyes up to meet yours, you gave her a coy smile, and that was all it took. She surged up, forcefully claiming your lips with hers. 

Your legs wrapped around her waist, reeling her in closer as tongues battled, and lips rolled together. She unbuttoned the shirt and swept the seams off your chest, pulling back, she reached her fingers out, ghosting them over your nipple, watching the way it stiffened as it bloomed, before pinching it. Not hard enough for it to sting or burn underneath her fingertips, just enough for her to amuse herself at the way your body reacted, at the soft moan that escaped your lips, and the way your eyes changed colours as they slowly rolled back. 

She trailed her fingers down your chest and stomach, watching the way you reacted, your skin pricking as goosebumps formed. You both let out moans when her fingers entered you, breaths swirling together as they danced between lips and mouths. Your hips rolled in time with the movements of her wrist, and when she pulled them forward deep inside of you, you almost came undone. 

“Oh fuck. Do that again.” you sobbed through airy gasps and breaths, and you knew she was smirking, without even having to look at her, the arrogance radiated off her. 

“Can you take another?” she husked and you couldn’t speak, a strangled sob leaving your throat as you nodded furiously. “Good girl” she bit your earlobe and in that same moment, flicked her thumb up to your clit. You swore you could have come right in that moment, and as embarrassing as that was, you probably would have, if it wasn’t for her pulling her fingers out, a huff of laughter on your neck as she took in your reaction. “You like it when I call you that, don’t you?” and when you didn’t answer she bit into your neck, into a bruise she’d left the night before. “I asked you a question.” 

“Yes.. yes..” you closed your eyes, and bit down on your bottom lip, almost hard enough that it drew blood. 

“Open your eyes, I want to watch you when you come.” you moaned involuntarily at that, but kept your eyes firmly closed. She pinched your thigh, forcing your eyes to come flying open, a wicked smile gracing her lips. She eased back into you with three fingers and your mouth flew open, breath hitching in your throat, at the stretch and how amazing it felt, this delicate swirl of pleasure and pain. She stared intently into your eyes and then dropped down to your lips, watching the way they arched as she fucked you. 

When she pressed her thumb to your clit, rubbing intently, your eyes rolled back into your skull, screaming out as your entire body convulsed and shook, your hips almost levitating off the counter. You wanted to cry, scream, and even laugh. How was she so good at that?

She pulled her fingers out before you could continue to ruminate on it, drawing your attention back to her standing in front of you. You gripped her wrist, looking at her through hooded lids, raising her hand to your mouth as you cleaned off her fingers, one at a time. 

“What am I going to do now?” she murmured, as she watched you take her fingers into your mouth, your tongue swirling around them.  

“Hmm?” you were only fractionally listening to her, too consumed on the taste in your mouth and the look on her face as she watched you.

“I still want a taste” she purred, and you simpered as you laid back, blissed out. Wondering if it would always be like this, that every time she touched you, would leave you this breathless, this bone-weary. 

“So, dirty talk huh?” she ran the palm of her hand over your stomach, and you could hear the infliction of laughter as she spoke. 

“Shut up” you giggled, swatting her hand away. As you laid there, you heard her moving around and then the sound of something being put on the floor in front of you. You sat up, and laughed when you saw it was a stool. She raised her eyebrows at you, smirking as she pulled it forward and sat down, gripping onto your calves as she pulled you forward, and rested them on her shoulders. 

“You can try, but I won’t be able to come again so soon.” You murmured softly as you gently wove your hands through her hair. Scratching at her scalp and tugging on her tresses as she kissed up your thighs. 

“Yes you can.” she gazed up at you, a smug smile firmly in place as she spoke directly and frankly, even somewhat delicately when she kissed the inside of your thigh, resting her head where she had just kissed, gazing up at you, as if she was asking permission to continue. 

“Knock yourself out” you shrugged in disbelief, being polite and not wanting to damage her ego, you expected her to tire herself out after half an hour or just there after, but instead you were shocked, and almost excited, when less than ten minutes later, you were crying out once more, shuddering as you gripped her hands, spilling into her mouth and once more onto her tongue, another wave washing over you.

“So last night was a lot” she spoke softly from her position across from you, leaning against the counter, her eyes not yet meeting yours, staring into the distance as she raised her mug to her lips.

“Pent up sexual frustration, Rita.” you rolled your eyes, and she laughed for a moment before her tone changed, becoming softer and quieter as she looked at you. 

“It wasn’t too much was it?” she hesitated “I mean, I should have probably…” 

“What?” 

“Asked you before I-” Oh, so that’s what she meant. She was skirting around saying it fully aloud, maybe out of some form of prudishness or out of some innate need to protect you, or maybe it was because despite her brash outward demeanour and facade, this was who she truly was at the core of her being, tender and gentle, and maybe just a little demure underneath it all. 

“-Strapped me?” you brashly interrupted her, shrugging as you reached for your mug, and she started choking on her own breath, much to your amusement. “You did ask” 

“I should have been slower… more gentle… checked in with you more.” she fiddled with the handle of the mug in her hands, and you could recognise the seeds of doubt she was planting in her own head.

“Rita” you said her name gently, coaxing her attention back to you. “If I had wanted that, I would have stopped you, and we would have had a conversation.” you watched as she exhaled and her features softened, some of the tension she was carrying beginning to ease. 

“Is that what you really wanted last night? Something more akin to earlier this morning?” you searched her eyes, trying to catch a glimpse of the truth, and when she didn’t give you anything, you spoke once more, with more assertion this time. “You told me… well showed me. You showed me what you wanted, it was hot.” she smiled then, and the light in her eyes changed. 

“So do you want pancakes?” she asked as she put the now empty mug down, and pushed off the counter to stand in between your legs. 

“You made breakfast?” you looked at her perplexingly, she wasn’t, by her own admission, the greatest cook. You winced a little internally at the thought of having to feign interest in whatever she had prepared, or attempted to prepare. 

“Don’t be ridiculous.” she laughed “I put an order in at Bubby’s.” and with that admission your stomach settled and you let out a quiet sigh of relief. “Okay, you don’t have to look so relieved.” she huffed, partially annoyed and partially amused. 

“Come here” you tugged on her shirt “Thank you for not making breakfast.” you whispered teasingly as you kissed her.

The two of you never managed to leave her apartment over the weekend, seemingly losing track of time. When you weren’t in bed, you both snacked, and ate where you could, take out dropped at the door, pizza consumed on the living room floor. 

The nights were spent drinking red wine and listening to her record collection, talking and debating, much like you had done for years, except this time, you couldn’t control yourselves, and neither of you wanted to. You both yearned to learn every part of one another. You’d make it maybe halfway through an album, or a conversation, if you were lucky, before your eyes would consume one another, and your lips would devour the others’. 

@storiesofsvu @imlike-so-gay-dude @wannabe-fic-reader @alexusonfire @momlifebehard @annegilletteslostwh0r3 @drduckthief @giftedchildturns40 @holycrapraewth @when-wolves-howl @ladysc @itwasrealtome @fanfictionfangirl04 @upsidedowndanvers @jetaimedarling  @red1culous

Taglist link here

#rita calhoun x reader #rita calhoun #prequel series #law and order svu #law and order special victims unit #law and order fanfiction #l&o: svu #SVU fanfiction #svu fanfic #reader insert #wlw fanfic #raeswritingbingo

[yunho0o0o0o]

Scout's Honor [chapter 1]

Fantasy AU, Soulmate AU

Genre: Fluff, Angst, Eventual Smut

Pairing: OT8 Ateez x fem!Reader

Warnings: alcohol consumption, attempted theft

Word Count: 2123

Note: Hello! Here's the first chapter of Scout's Honor. I'm having a lot of fun writing this and I hope you enjoy reading it! Feedback is greatly appreciated!

Mini Masterlist

The sun’s golden rays are sparingly cast over the market street, but the work day is far from over. Vendors still shout advertisements for their products and crowds mingle around each booth, browsing the contents.

Having already bought what you came here for, you’re sat on a stoop at the far end of the path simply watching over the businesses. Your hand mindlessly reaches into your satchel, patting the section your coin pouch is tucked in. Not many people join you, too busy rushing to finish up sales. 

The market streets have become thick with tension over the past month, with the war in the far country of Sena cutting off trade supplies. Not many materials are affected currently, but those that have been are far too expensive for you to even consider purchasing.

Your heavy brown cloak is settled over you, obscuring your figure from those around you. The hood over your head serves to further hide your features, as well as to shield your eyes from the harsh light of the near-setting sun. This scene is one you’ve grown familiar with over the past few years of living in Priua. 

The call of one particular merchant draws your attention to the opposite side of the street. Under your hood, you can see old man Dal waving his arms around with a scowl as he scolds a slim man dressed in fine leather.

The younger man seems more interested in the minuscule scuffs on his boots and dirt under his nails than in whatever Dal has to say to him. 

Your town sees its fair share of travelers, but this one has a careless attitude that has you on edge. Rising from your viewpoint, your feet take wide strides across the cobbles until you stand just a pace away from the man.

When Dal catches sight of your hood, his face relaxes a degree and his hunched shoulders square to meet you. He gives a slight bow of his head before stating his case.

“Sir Eun, This boy tried stealing from me!” the man cries. Your eyes catch onto the form of this supposed thief, tilting your head slightly as you study him. “Right from under my nose like I’m senile!” His boots are high quality, yet they’re scuffed and muddied. 

“He asked for an item then tried snatching these off the table when I wasn’t looking!” he yells, holding up a worn pouch of herbs. From what you can see of the dagger on the traveler’s hip, it would go for a good price at the market. “As the best healer in the city, you would know the hard work it takes to procure this fine product.” 

Trailing up the new man’s form, your shadowed eyes eventually raise to meet his cat-like ones. His eyebrow twitches upwards as does a corner of his lips. You level your stare at him, thinking. He hardly looks like someone who would need to steal.

Shifting your glance between the merchant and the man, you decide to give him the benefit of the doubt. You take steady steps towards Dal and pull the coin pouch from your satchel.

 “Perhaps our friend here is down on his luck at the moment. Here-” you pass the necessary coins with a soft, diplomatic smile, “for the herbs.” You pause, then tuck a few more coins into his palm. “And for the trouble.” 

“You’re too kind, Sir Eun.” You wave away his comment and grab the bundle of herbs from him, then turn to face the newcomer again. 

Only this time, nothing but open air awaits you. Your eyes dart around the darkening street, but you catch no sign of the man. “That bastard…” you grumble under your breath, settling for tucking the herbs into your satchel and trudging back to the tavern for the night.

You leisurely kick a pebble down the path for the short walk there. While you walk you ponder what you could do with the herbs. Perhaps you could simply resell them? From what you recall of the rare item, they aren’t good for much unless you’re working with poisons. Even then, its presence is hardly discreet.

By the time you set foot in the tavern, the regulars have already gotten comfortable at their usual tables. Come to think of it, you’ve become somewhat of a regular yourself here these days. However, you don’t go drinking yourself into a stupor any chance you get as the typical crowd here does.

You sit in the middle of a long table. With how dead the tavern is tonight, no one will mind if you take up a large space for yourself. The soft clink of glass on wood in front of you raises you from your thoughts. 

“Your mind must be quite busy to not greet me first thing, Eun. I brought you two tonight, as a precaution. I’ll have to go back to work in a second, but I always make an exception for my most valued customer.” Your eyes shift to meet those of the person sitting across from you, hands locked around two pints of ale on the table between you two. 

“Sorry, Jihye,” you say, gaze jumping around the room. “Just stressed, is all.” The chair gives a loud creak as you lean back into it.

“What’s stressing you?” she asks wiping her hands on her apron and leaning forward to rest her elbows on the table. You pause a moment before responding.

“I have to meet with Sir Iseul of Chion,” you state, a distant look covering your features. Chion is not a terrible city by far, but you’d much prefer to stay in Priua where you’ve made your home. 

“Chion? But that’s so far! Nearly a month’s travel! What business is so important you must go to Chion? You shouldn’t be getting any closer to Sena!” she exclaims, eyes and mouth wide with shock. 

“It shouldn’t concern you, Jihye. It simply has to do with the healing arts. And Chion is a full two months travel from the battlefront. There’s nothing to worry about. We would know of the approach long before they ever reached the city.” you wave off her worries, taking a few sips from the closest pint.

Jihye shifts in her seat before her eyes raise to the door at your side. You take another sip from your pint of ale and follow her gaze, only to nearly spit it out when you see the form entering the tavern. 

The man from before pauses a few feet into the establishment to look around. You turn and lower your head as his gaze sweeps over your table, hoping your hood will help you blend in. The approaching footsteps alert you that your attempt at stealth was unsuccessful. Jihye seems to notice his approach and stands from her chair.

“Well, I should be getting back to work, Eun. Yell for me if you need anything.” She dusts off her apron before quickly walking towards the kitchen. In the next moment, the chair to your right is pulled from under the table and flipped around. The man sits down on it backward and sets his arms on the backrest. He looks over to you with a quick smirk.

“You know, I didn’t get to thank you properly earlier.”

“Perhaps because you were too busy running away?” You send him an amused grin.

“I didn’t stray too far. I was close enough to see you bought what I wanted.” He leans forward against the backrest, gesturing with his hands as he speaks. “How about I buy it off you? I swear I’ll pay this time.”

“Hmm... I’m not sure.” You pick at your nails, seemingly disinterested. “What if I happen to find myself in need of some…”you pause to recall the name of the herb in your possession, but come up short. “What if I plan to keep it?”

He pulls a coin pouch from his satchel and places nearly double the amount you had paid on the table in front of you. “Would this amount suffice?” he asks, lip curling into a smirk. You pretend to contemplate the decision momentarily, tapping your chin.

“I suppose it could,” you say, gathering the coins into your palm and retrieving the bundle of herbs from your bag. As soon as you lay the herbs on the table, he snatches them away. “What do you plan to use those for anyways? They’re hardly common around here.”

“A friend of mine asked me to retrieve them while we were in town. I have no clue what he plans to do with them.” A loud series of footsteps from the entrance grasp your attention.

“San, who’s the new friend?” Seven more men take seats at your table, all but encircling you.

“This would be Eun. He saved my ass from an angry merchant earlier today.” Your eyebrows raise slightly at his informality.

“Have you thanked him properly?”

“I was getting to that before I was so rudely interrupted by you all.” He pauses a second before continuing. 

“Eun, let me introduce my friends. This is Seonghwa.” The blond man who spoke earlier perks up and sends you a calm smile.

 “Hongjoong.” Next to Seonghwa, the man with light brown hair waves politely. 

“Yunho.” The taller man sitting to your left gives a mumbled greeting with a nod of his head.

 “Mingi.” He smiles wide at you from across the table.

 “Yeosang.” He simply raises his hand. 

“Wooyoung.” To Yeosang’s side, a hand waves enthusiastically. 

“And Jongho.” A soft ‘hello’ comes from the last. “We’re passing through Priua on our way to Krae.” Your eyes widen at that information. Krae is a settlement Northeast of here and perhaps a week's travel from Chion. In fact, they would pass through Chion if heading there from Priua. 

“Can I get you men anything to eat or drink?” Jihye stands, observant as ever, in front of your table. Hongjoong raises his hand.

“Eight pints, please.”

“Of course. I’ll be out with those in a moment.” Silence washes over the group.

“I want to join you,” you say. Exclamations of surprise echo around the table.

“Why?” Hongjoong questions immediately. A glance at the others tells you they’re all wondering the same.

“I need to get to Chion. I’m meeting with someone.” The men share a look with each other before Hongjoong continues.

“Why should you join us? What do you have to offer to the group?” Glasses clink on the wooden tabletop as Jihye sets one in front of each of the newcomers. She sends you a charming smile.

“Well, Eun is the best healer in town. Hell, maybe even the country. He’s extremely skilled.” A slight flush rises on your cheeks at the praise and you look away from her gaze.

San leans closer to you and says in a low voice “They must be very important to you for you to travel so far.” You nod. 

“Extremely,” you answer, adorning a determined look.

“So just how good of a healer are you, Eun? Surely you have some stories.” Yeosang asks with a flat expression.

“Aish- Detective Kang back at it again” one of the men murmurs.

“What?” he asks with a glance around the table. “ I want to know more about who we’re dealing with here.” he shrugs.

 Jihye makes her way back to refill everyone’s pints just in time to answer for you. 

“Oh, he’s the best! Once Hyunjin snapped his arm clean in two and Eun here was able to get it back together, healed, and functioning in record time! And one time In-Su got bit by a venomous snake and Eun sucked the venom out! Don’t doubt his abilities, he’s called the best for a reason.” she finished with a stern look at Yeosang.

“That’s good to hear. We could use another healer considering the trouble we’ve had recently.” Hongjoong says, shooting a half-hearted glare at the man to your left.

“It was an accident, I swear!” he exclaims. Seonghwa and Hongjoong whisper to each other for a minute before their attention returns to you.

“I suppose if it’s just to Chion, you can accompany us,” Hongjoong says, extending a hand to you. “Welcome aboard, Eun.” A few cheers and mumbles erupt from the surrounding men at his exclamation. Some of your new companions seem eager to celebrate, with how they’re throwing back ale like there’s no tomorrow.

“We leave Priua tomorrow before dawn, will you be ready? Chion is three weeks away if we’re quick.” Seonghwa asks, eyes searching your own. You give a nod. “Good. We’ll meet in front of this building. Bring all you’ll need.” he says, leaning back into his chair.

#ateez fanfic #ateez x reader #ot8 ateez x reader #ot8 x reader #ateez fantasy au #ateez fluff #ateez soulmate au #san scenario #yeosang scenario #mingi scenario #yunho scenario #hongjoong scenario #seonghwa scenario #wooyoung scenario #jongho scenario #kpop scenario #kpop au #ateez imagines #ateez scenario #fantasy au #soulmate au #ateez fanfiction #ateez ot8 #ateez smut #scouts honor #scout's honor #ateez angst

[questionableratatouille00]

𝓜𝓸𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓞𝓷 6

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x Fem!Reader

Summary: On her outing with Wanda and during an activity in therapy, Y/n is able to reflect on her time with Natasha. She can remember the good times, the bad times, and everything in between. Is she finally on the true path to recovery?

Warnings (Entire Series): This series deals with mature topics, including, but not limited to: death, mental health issues, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, grief, trauma, general unwellness, illness (both mental and physical), and a most likely inaccurate portrayal of group therapy (though it’s much better than whatever was going on in TFATWS.) Please mind the warnings below.

Warnings: cursing, dead romantic partners, death, thoughts of burying yourself? Eating and food (cupcakes), let me know if I need to tag anything else.

🌻Series Masterlist 🌻

————————————————————————

𝐈 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫

You drove up to her house, parking next to her car in the driveway. You felt your mind drifting as you sat in the car for a moment. Taking a deep breath, you hyped yourself up as you walked up to the front door. You rang the door bell, trying to ignore the very gay thoughts you were having.

It's just a girl's day, Y/n, you told yourself. Calm the fuck down.

She opened the door, grinning widely. She was wearing jeans, with a plaid shirt and what looked like suspenders. Her hair was down, with curls. She looked gorgeous.

"Hi," you breathed.

"Hey. Uh, you wanna take my car? I'm not going to tell you where we're going. It's a surprise!" She smiled, and you felt yourself doing the same.

She linked arms with you, pulling you down the driveway by your elbow. She lead you to the passenger's side of her car, opening the door for you. "Ladies first," she giggled.

You climbed into the passenger seat, buckling your seatbelt as she did the same. She placed her hands—decorated with thin silver rings with dark nail polish—on the steering wheel, starting the car and pulling out of the driveway.

She flipped the radio on. “Ooh! This is a good one.”

A quick glance to the little screen showed that it was Fearless by Taylor Swift playing.

“You’re a swiftie?” You asked, glancing at her.

“Kinda. I like the country stuff, and some of the softer pop stuff.” She explained.

“You’re a swiftie?” You asked her. It was a month into your relationship, and she was driving you home.

“Something like that. I like Reputation, mostly.” Nat explained. “Not a huge fan of slower stuff. Or country.”

“Got it.” You nodded.

“Cool.” You smiled. You chuckled as she sang along to the song, you chiming in every so often.

“Fearless!” You both sang at the same time.

“We’re almost there,” she assured you after a few more Taylor Swift songs.

You’d been driving for about twenty minutes, the road a yellow-orange sand, like a baseball field, but with more random rocks and gravel. The grass on the sides of the road were a bright green, just like the hills out your window, or the trees out her’s. The scenery was beautiful, but you couldn’t help from wondering where exactly she was taking you.

Your brows furrow slightly when you saw the sign. “Westview Sunflower Farm?”

She grinned. “Yes! It’s beautiful. Trust me, you’ll love it.”

“I’m trusting you.” You chuckled, though you had to admit, you didn’t doubt her taste in..what could you even call this? Scenery? Agricultural beauty? Regardless, you were positive that you wouldn’t be disappointed.

She drove past the sign, and wooden boards standing straight up, painted brown with large sunflowers—some seemingly coming from a stem, others just in a vertical line—were stuck in the ground. They were on either side of the road, and you smiled. The people who own this place are good decorators, you thought.

“It’s cool. It’s like a pumpkin patch, but bigger and sunflower themed. There’s picnic tables spread throughout—almost like a maze, but if you’re an adult you’re usually tall enough to see over the flowers. There’s a little stand—well technically it’s a building but who cares—and the owners sell baked goods and other stuff in there. It’s awesome.” She beams fondly.

“You know a lot about this place,” you noted.

“Me and Vis would come often.” She recalled, and she was still seemingly joyful, though you could hear a hint of sadness in her voice.

“That’s awesome.” You said, because you didn’t really know what to say to that.

“Yeah.” She agreed, turning her head to look at you for a moment. She smiled warmly, pure gentleness in her eyes.

“Watch the road,” you warned. She quickly focused back on the road. You realized what you’d said, and you frowned. “Sorry. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that.”

“It’s alright.” She gave you another small smile, as she pulled into the parking lot. Your eyes widened as you surveyed the surrounding area, identifying all of the huge fields of sunflowers. You saw the tiny little food place she was talking about. The building and every sign nearby were all wooden and painted with sunflowers. There were places to take pictures, places to wash your hands, and even a small playground near the closest sunflower field.

“Wow,” you chuckled. She led you to the food stand, and you marveled at all the baked goods inside. So many treats decorated as sunflowers—cookies, cupcakes, cake pops, and more. You each got a cupcake, and you offered to pay.

"No, it's--" She began to protest.

"You drove here. Let me." You cut her off, paying for the sweets.

Letting out a sigh of defeat, she nodded. Once you got outside of the tiny shack, she linked elbows with you, leading you off into the sunflower field.

"Picnic table?" You suggested, but she shook her head, giggling.

"Nope! Even better." She led you to a grassy area, surrounded by sunflowers. It was pretty secluded, farther away from the picnic tables. She gently guided you to the ground, laying down on her back. You matched her pose, as you laid side by side.

Chomping on your cupcakes, you talked about random things. The weather. Halloween coming up. Group therapy.

"I really signed up out of the blue," she murmured. "It was a random decision."

"Do you regret it?" You turned your head to look at her. She turned her head to look at you. You locked eyes, her expression a bit unreadable.

"No," she answered after a moment. "I don't. Do you?"

"No."

"My neighbor..she suggested it one day. It was very..strange, to say the least." She chuckled.

"Yeah? Which neighbor?"

"Agnes, the creepy lady a couple doors down. She always gives me this weird feeling. Like she knows something I don't." Her expression turned dark, before she snapped out of it. "Anyway, how'd you join?"

"My old friend pestered me into taking care of myself, funnily enough." She chuckled at your response.

"My husband and I came here every chance we could when the weather was nice. Those are some of my favorite memories with him. He was smart, and gentle, and kind. We were high school sweethearts, y'know. He was nothing like any boyfriend or girlfriend I'd ever had."

"Gir-girlfriend?" You caught the words.

"Oh--yeah. I'm bisexual. Funny thing, most of the people in our therapy group are LGBTQIA+."

"Really?" You hadn't known this. How had she managed to learn all this?

"Yeah. Thor's pan, Steve's bi, both Sam and Bucky are gay, Clint's bi, so is Tony, Bruce's asexual, and Peter--the intern who works there--he's trans and bi. Maria was telling me about her wife a few meetings ago--I have no idea about Coulson, but y'know. He's at least an ally."

"How do you know all that?" You laugh a little.

"I guess I'm just social?" She smiled.

"So..any dates? Since..y'know?" You wanted to dig a hole and bury yourself as soon as the words left your mouth.

"No." She shook her head. "You?"

"Nope." You admitted.

"Maybe..I'm wrong about this." She began. "But..there's something I want to ask."

"Ask it anyway." You urged her.

"..What if this was a date?" You could hear your heartbeat as she asked.

"Then I think I'd like it." She smiled at this.

"I think I would too." You agreed. She took your hand in hers, before looking back up at the sky.

"I'd like everyone to share one fond memory they have, whether that's with a person they lost, or just a memory that happened in the past." Phil Coulson prompted.

For once, you went first.

"When we moved into our apartment. Nat and I..one time, we went to the beach. And she joined a volleyball game with some random strangers. She was so damn competitive--her team won every round. I bought her ice cream afterward. Mint chocolate chip was her favorite." You chuckled, recalling the day. Nat's black bikini bathing suit, splashing around in the water, the sand between your toes.

Wanda smiled from beside you. Phil Coulson nodded, before the next person began to share.

After the meeting, the group gathered outside the building.

"Do you all wanna meet up at a cafe or something?" Wanda suggested. "How about next Saturday, at the place near Vormir?"

"Vormir's that one weird store with the guy who's always super sunburnt, right?" Sam questioned.

"Yeah," Wanda confirmed.

"I work weekends." Tony stated. Bruce nodded, before explaining that he does too.

"I'll be outta town, but you guys should go." Steve told the group.

Before you knew it, you were roped into a group outing.

A/n: Finally something is happening! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter, and I'm so excited to continue this series!

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda fluff #wanda x you #wanda x reader #wanda x y/n #wanda maximoff x you #wanda maximoff fic #moving on

[scribble-dribble-writes]

The pearl

<<<Prev(At what cost)

Pairing: Buggy x female mermaid reader

Word count: 2100

Warnings: none

Content: sorry for the delay but here is the final chapter!!

---

The power contained within your fingers broke loose making shivers run down your skin and for the first time, you were grateful for the scales on yours hands. They glowed in iridescent blue like metallic armour made just for you. Theodora sunk her poison tipped nails into anyone who dared cross her path. Eleanor was ready to fight side by side Helge who had his own sword raised. Buggy was by your side, his hands twisting his blades as though he was impatient and tired of this constant nuisance.

“What do you say we wrap this up quickly, get your crown and go out for dinner?”, he leaned towards you, a dangerously smile on his lips even at a time like this.

“Then it’s a date.”, you smiled back at him. It was something to look forward to that this fight didn’t seem daunting anymore. He knew how to get you to be at your best and he didn’t fail to ease you now.

You walked towards Theodora to stop her path towards the throne as your band of friends split up to contain the crowd and guards. Helge was being targeted for treason. Buggy was the wanted pirate and you were the imposter. Somehow, hearing those very words made you want to dig in your heels and stand your ground more firmly. Because you were done running, of being driven from the place that was supposed to have been your home.

“I warned your parents.”, she grinned with glee.

“To either forfeit the crown or to erase their history.”, she shrugged her shoulders without remorse.

“And it looks like they were too fond of their child to play the game.”, she lunged at you as you stepped back.

“Sometimes, not everyone is a psychopath”, you held your hands together as your palms faced her to blast a bolt of blue fire.

It made her hiss as she caught the tail end of the flame. As you dodged and she attacked, you realised how close you were to the throne. Her eyes set on the price she wanted while yours was on your friends, making sure they were all alive. But when the moon was in place, it sent down a crackle through the dome that it got everyone's attention. It was time, the moonlight that streamed in began to glisten as it took new form.

You set up a wall of fire around you to prevent her from coming any closer but you heard Buggy yelling your name.

His blades were not in his hand, his arms were held down by the guards, his bandana ripped away making his hair run down in a ragged mess. But his eyes were on you, telling you to sit on the throne as he got dragged away to the balcony. They were going to throw him over to the lagoon below that held fresh seawater that filtered in. It would kill him.

You had no time to think. It was down to the same decision as your parents. It was him or the crown. The blue flame wall faded and you watched Buggy get hauled up, his eyes never leaving you, instructing you to do what was part of the plan. But the moment the flame wall vanished, you stepped away as Theodora lunged at you. Evading her grasp, your feet carried you towards the only thing that mattered.

The guards threw Buggy over the balcony and you jumped after him, his eyes widening as time froze, you watched him plummet below and yet he wore that smile, the joy of knowing that you were coming after him.

He hit the water hard as he fell into the deep pool and you dove straight in. You watched his eyes close, his hair resembling the water as it fluttered along with his sinking body. Your legs had gone and your tail swirled behind you, giving you the strength to grab him and propel yourself along with him as you carried him back to the surface.

He weighed down on you and any thought of the crown had vanished, your worst nightmare had occurred and now you were trapped in it. You broke to the surface and there no sign of movement in him, no one else was around as you swam to the edge to prop him up on the stone platform. You hoisted yourself up and your tail would take a while to transform. So you crawled to him, his lifeless body resting gently as though he was asleep. Your fingers shivered as you turned his face to yours. He wasn’t breathing. You tapped his cheek as you pushed yourself up over his chest to try and pump out the water in his chest.

“Don’t you dare die on me, clown.”, you said frantically as you masked your panic. You continued till when he coughed up the water lodged in his throat, you stilled.

“Would never dream of it, doll.”, he coughed as he finally gave you a smile

Your heart stopped for a second before it began to beat again making the blood rush to your cheeks as you slumped over his chest. All your fight now replaced with relief as you felt his heart beat beneath your palm. His hands held onto you tightly around your waist as though he had been terrified. He didn’t have to confess, you knew. You rested on your elbows as you saw his face. You pushed away the wet strands of hair from across his face as you leaned down to kiss him. And he returned it as though he was gasping for air. He held the back of your neck and his lips sunk into yours as though this was the kiss that had brought him back to life. He didn’t need to breathe. He only needed you.

And so there you laid, your legs slowly taking form as your pirate captain kissed you blind having come alive again.

--

You made your way back to the throne room quite certain that you would not be let in. That you choosing to save your love would have now resulted in your family history being destroyed. But the rogue guards had been captured as Eleanor instructed her troops to reinstate order within the castle.

“My queen.”, Eleanor took a bow.

“My king.”, she turned to Buggy.

You weren’t sure what had transpired for such a greeting to take place.

“Your crew were pivotal in protecting the people from Theodora’s guards. I am forever indebted to you, your Highness.”, she spoke as she looked at Buggy.

“I thought they had left.”, he sounded a bit surprised, the soft smile creeping up on his face as he reached for your hand. His crew, his family, they had not run off but instead had stuck around for him just like you had said.

Eleanor smiled shaking her head as she turned to you.

“He’s waiting for you inside.”, she said, a solemn look on her face.

“It is my honour to be in your service, your majesty.”, she said again before she left.

Buggy tugged on your hand as he led you into the now cleared out throne room. Helge stood by the throne where he was looking at a stone sculpture.

But it was Theodora, her form turned to stone, on her head glistened the crown.

Helge turned to see you, a relieved sad smile on his face as he walked up to you. He embrace you before anything could be said, you felt him sigh and you returned his hug. He needed it more than you.

“I don’t understand.”, you said looking at the frozen form of Theodora.

Helge inhaled deeply as he looked at his mother again.

“To think I lost my father, your parents, you and this kingdom because of her greed, makes me feel sick and angry. I deserved better. I hope I am better than her.”, he looked away but you knew where his worry was stemming from.

You took his hand in yours to get him to look at you.

“You are better. You are not your mother, Helge.”, you said to which he gave you a soft smile as he nodded.

He stepped away from you as he reached up the statue to grab the crown.

“The truth behind the moonlight crown, is that it chooses it’s ruler. The wrong ones get turned to stone.”, he turned to you and the metal gleamed as though it recognized you.

You took a knee and bowed your head, Helge leaned down to place the metal around your head. The cold whirled around your head before it felt snug, it felt like it was a part of you. Not heavy, not insignificant, just right. You stood up to the proud smile on Helge’s face and the pure look of admiration in Buggy’s eyes.

Against all odds, you were home.

--

“Come on.”, you pulled on his sleeve as he trudged behind you.

“You know how I feel about blindfolds.”, Buggy remarked.

“You don’t have to work this hard to pique my interest. I’ve seen everything.”, he spoke and you gasped.

“Not even being King can rid you of that mouth.”, you complained as he came to an ubrupt stop to tug you to him. His hands holding your waist in place as his lips found yours without having to look.

“This mouth?”, he murmured as pulled away.

“It’s useless arguing with you.”, you smiled almost forgetting the purpose of bringing him here.

It had been a year now you had both ruled together but it was the moment of a very rare event. Buggy’s knowledge of the sea had helped for trade to boom on the island. The harbour was always full with merchants and entertainers. Everyone flourished and the houses within the castle were at peace. Helge married Eleanor shortly after you tied the knot with your pirate.

There were no more loose ends to tie except this one. You had brought him to the one place that was hidden to everyone else. Only the royals knew the location on this very peculiar treasure. It was on the side of the island but beneath the water such that it was built into the core rock. But the thick glass walls made for a pretty view into the sea that brimmed with life.

You knew how he longed for the ocean, it was only fair he got to see it too. You positioned him in front of the glass as he chuckled at your happiness as you fluttered around him. You pulled on the ribbon that covered his eyes and watched him take in the sight in front of him. The water so clear the light from the surface filtered below. Sharks lurking past along with schools of fish swimming over the corals. He could look at nothing else as the edges brimmed with tears.

“Even my dreams fall short to this.”, he whispered.

“I’ve wanted to bring you here even since I knew about it.”, you told him to which his fingers reached for your waist as he pulled you close to him. To engulf you in a hug, his lips kissing you on the edge of your shoulder.

“But you will always remain my most beloved gift that life has bestowed on me.”, he held you for a second longer before he let you go.

You intertwined your fingers with his and tugged him down a hallway that his face lit up with curiosity once again.

“Now where are we headed?”, he asked.

“To retrieve your treasure.”, you said as you turned the corner to come face to face with the hidden clam. Makara’s myth.

The clam sat in the middle of an enormous room that was extravagantly made. Buggy reeled you to him as his smile said everything you needed to know. He placed you in-between his arms as he rested his chin on your shoulder so that you both could witness this moment. The clam began to open slowly and from within it the crystal pearl held a purple glow that lit up the entire room. In full view in was unlike anything you had ever seen. So when you moved to get it for him, he stopped you.

“Do you not want the most rarest artefact to exist?”, you smiled at him. Certain that it would be a great item to add to his collection.

“Nothing is more rare than you. And none of these things could compare to the joy you give me.”, he twirled you so that you could face him.

“But the lights are too pretty waste this opportunity.”, he whispered as he pulled you to him.

He held your hand out and danced slowly as he led you gently. His clothes made of the finest silk, his makeup not needed to cover his face anymore. He was his truest self without his doubts and fears.

Not an act anymore.

It was how your life was, after the struggle and the chaos was this undisturbed peace where neither had to run. You could just be. So you swayed as he held you.

You were where you were meant to be.

---

Tags:

@lotr-got @juhdoche @wooyoungsrightsock @mysingularitybts @yuriwk

#one piece buggy #buggy the pirate #buggy #op buggy #captain buggy #buggy the clown #live action buggy #opla buggy #buggy one piece #buggy x reader #buggy x female reader #buggy x y/n #buggy x oc #buggy x you #live action buggy the clown #buggy fluff #buggy for pirate king #buggy fanfiction

[rizykim]

Surprise | Jake Sim

Pairing: College!Jake × College!You

Summary: Jake finally gathered up the courage to confess his love to you in the most unexpected of way.

Warning: Fluff and a tad bit Angst (?)

Wordcount: 1K

Dedicated to a friend of mine <3

Note: Instead of 'Y/n' it'll be '___' for you enter your name and if you did enjoy please do leave a like and repost if you can,it would help alot!

C'mon, Jake, you can do this. Just say it and give her the flowers; it's not a big deal." Jake paced back and forth next to the long library table sitting beside the row of windows, a little above the table level, as the gloomy lights of the afternoon sky shone down through the transparent glass, landing on the nearby objects and Jake's nervous figure too. His hand went up to his lips, nibbling on the nails, while the other hand placed itself on his hip.

Ugh, why are you anxious? Pull yourself together, Jake; you can do this!" He tried to calm himself down with a few deep breaths but was interrupted by the sound of the library door opening.

'Oh no! That's her! What am I going to do? Wait, I have to just say it. Okay, calm down, Jake; just quickly say it. He talked to himself back and forth and tried to stay cool by leaning back on the table, waiting for ___ to show up. His heart was impatiently beating loudly against his chest with a weird feeling. His palms started to sweat, and he quickly wiped it off with his jeans. He adjusted his glasses once more and made sure his attire was well and neat before leaning back with his eyes glued to the regular path she takes to reach The reading area.

Jake and ___'s first encounter was As if it were from a Rom-com college mello drama. Six months ago, when ___ was trying to reach to take a book from a high shelf, she had to stand on a stool to grab it, but that height was also too short to reach the book. She stretched her arm as much as possible and stood on her toes, and finally, after a minute of struggle, she was able to get it, but all of a sudden, The leg of the stool broke and she fell backwards. Hugging The book close to her with her eyes shut,she waited for the hard impact to hit her, only to feel two people holding her up from behind. She opened her eyes slowly and looked back to see a guy with glasses holding her up from her waist. He brought her down and lightly chuckled, scratching his nape at the odd interaction. His eyes travelled to The Book in Her Hands, which was a book he had enjoyed reading so well that he was hoping to read it again that day until this happened. And that was how their love for books brought them together.

The moment she came into his view,he felt his heart beat even faster. He gulped when he saw the beautiful smile that she offered to him, which felt like an arrow to his heart, making him weaker over her and making him fall for her all over again. His mouth twitched hesitantly, but he managed to make a smile for her.

"Hey!" She said this, grinning, and kept her bag at the table next to him.

"Ey... Um, so have you finished your classes?" Jake asked, not knowing what to start with.

Yeah, the last two classes were cancelled, so I came back after seeing your text," She said, walking around and taking a seat,pulling out the recent book she was hooked up on.

"What about you?" She asked him, looking up at him.

"Same here," He briefly responded, breaking eye contact.

Kay, I hope you don't mind if I read here." She asked, lifting the book in her hands, and he replied positively.

The room was silent for a while. ___ was busy reading her book while Jake was trying to act busy when really he was having a mental debate about the best moment to say it. He was drowning in his thoughts until he heard the pattering sounds of rain. He glanced at the Windows beside them to see a light rain.

'Is this a sign? He questioned himself with a frown and thought to risk it.

"Um, sorry to bother you, but um, I have to ask to tell you..." He said this while looking her in the eyes.

Okay, sure,go ahead," She said, flipping her book upside down and turning to face him more.

Jake cleared his throat and hoped the best for what was about to come out of his mouth next.

"Uh, have you finished reading that book I handed you about two weeks ago?" He purred, pursing his lips.

"Um... Oh yeah, I did, but I gave it to my friend since she wanted to read it too. She told me this morning she finished it, so if you need it back, I can quickly grab it for you.

Oh, that would be great if you could please," He said, and ___ stood up, leaving the room as the creek of the front door signalled Jake.

Jake quickly got on his feet and started the work he had prepared for. He gave it all his effort and finished it,waiting for _____ to come back.

After a few minutes, he heard the door open, and he got ready to take position. He straightened his back and cleared his throat, hoping his voice wouldn't crack at that very moment. He stood behind the book shelf, of which the other side was the path ___ was coming in, and saw her entering with an amazed expression.

The place was littered with rose petals on the floor and other objects nearby. Scented candles were lit here and there, and a row of fairy lights hung across the big windows. ___ looked in awe at the sudden change of place as her heart fell in love with the simple yet pretty sight.

Right then, Jake stepped out, standing behind her,tapping on her shoulder once before kneeling on one knee and holding up the beautiful bouquet of red roses. A giddy smile over his lips as he glanced at her lovingly, to which she gasped with the book she brought back still in hand.

"I've been meaning to tell you this for a while now, but I just didn't have the courage to say it. I was afraid things would be moving too fast and wanted to take things slow, but seeing the way so many other guys were talking about how pretty you are and how they were planning to ask you out, it just made me jealous, and I worried that I might be too late." He forgot everything he had planned to say when he was going to confess and instead went with saying what his heart poured out: "There is no moment I fell for you because I fell for you every time I was with you. Your presence has brought me a lot of happiness through these past few months, and I wish to cherish it As long as I live. I honestly think we could have a long journey hand in hand." ___ stood there speechless at the things he was saying. She felt her heart blooming with so much happiness and excitement over seeing and hearing him.

"What I'm trying to say is,I love you, and I want us to be together." He finished off, expecting her to take the flowers and say yes,but instead she crouched down to his level and hugged him tight. Sobbing lightly into his shoulder, "Yes, I love you too, Jake," she said, and he felt relieved to know both share the same feelings.

He hugged her back and lifted her,twirling her in his embrace with joy. "Thank you, thank you so much. I love you so much." He said it with shimmery eyes. ___ giggled in his embrace,still being held up by her waist. She smiled at him as he did the same. For a brief moment, they looked down at each other's lips and went in. Both eyes closed as they exchanged a pure kiss.

The scenery was indeed an memory to have forever. The way they held each other in their arms sharing a blissful kiss while the romanticized room of roses and candle in the library emphasised their love while the outside was showered with rain that was visible from the windows above. It was trully,a beautiful moment.

And no worries Jake didn't light up the candle near any flammable materials XD

#jake sim #enhypen #enhypen fluff #jake imagines #enha #enhypen imagines #jake enhypen #sim jaeyun #Library confession #cute love #confession #jake fluff #jake x reader

[sirens-and-moonflowers]

Let’s Play a Little Game

Chapter One

We’re Not in Kansas Anymore

No warnings as of right now besides the obvious blood and gore.

Flinching as dust flew onto your face, you quickly scrambled up while coughing. A slight buzzing ring resounded in your ears as you spit what you could of the offending crumbling dirt out of your cracked lips. “Where am I?” You pondered as your spluttering fit subsided enough to give you a chance to examine your surroundings. Everywhere you looked, a petrified tree seemed to stick into the dry earth like pushpins. Not a creature, nor human in sight. Turning towards the sky, you gasped in shock. It was a blood red color, with a pentagram above being the only star in sight. It seemed to taunt you as it glimmered. You rubbed the back of your head in confusion and fear. Dusting yourself off you paused as your eyes caught sight of your nails, or should you say claws caught on your pleated skirt, tearing a new slit into the fabric.

“What the actual Hell!” You whimpered, staring at your hands and shaking them as if the illusion would disappear like an etch a sketch. Your claws were sharp as stilettos and as black as the night sky. They shimmered with a twinkle of red from what you guessed was this world's version of the sun as you twisted your appendages side to side for closer inspection.

“Well, I guess that’s one way to get a new manicure,” you laughed awkwardly. Humor was your favorite defense mechanism and coping skill. It seemed today wouldn't be any different. A rustle of wind causes a creak from behind you, you froze before quickly whirling around into a defense stance. A swaying sign greeted you, pointing to the left with a white gloved hand and words that red ‘Pentagram City 5Miles This Way’. You followed the sign and noticed the dirt path winded its way around the dead trees to what looked like the most fucked up version of New York City you have ever payed your eyes on. You gulped and looked the other way, only to be met with more stick like trees. Sighing you made up your mind, if you wanted answers you were going to have to follow the path into the unknown.

“Just follow the yellow brick road I guess,” you mumbled, starting your journey toward what could only be your doom.

You groaned, dragging your feet as you finally made it to the edge of the path. Panting you almost collapsed with relief, sweat dripping down your temple. “I should have exercised more,” you thought as you took this time to collect yourself. Wailing of alarms and shatters of broken glass greeted your ears the further you walked into the city. A few cry’s of “watch it,” and “fuck you,freak,” flew around as inhabitants were strolling by. This is not what caused you to pause in complete and utter horror. No this was normal city sounds to you. It was the appearance of the citizens that made your heart thud painfully fast in your chest and a cold sweat to break out upon you. These people, no creatures, were all grotesque monsters. Horns and claws, teeth and paws. Were those wings?! You nearly screamed when a blob of goo was chucked at a window, slipping down the dirty exterior and falling at your feet. A few monsters laughed at their antics of petrifying you before strolling along. A quick glance at your feet made you realize it wasn’t goo they threw, but what looked to be a severed eye.

You dry heaved and braced yourself against the window, only to freeze once again in shock. Cyan blue eyes that glowed with bioluminescence stared back at you. With a start you realized they weren’t staring back at you, they were you. Your once (y/e/c) had completely morphed along with the rest of you. Lifting a hand up to your own cheek, you noticed your skin was pale as snow and glimmered as if glitter was dusted upon you. Your hair pooled in curls down to your waist, and shone like a neon light. The blue matches your new eyes if not darker. And your lips! They were black just like your claws. You blinked and tilted your head before letting out a piercing scream. Monsters all around you covered their ears, eyes widening. Glass shattered simultaneously, the citizens in the immediate vicinity started convulsing, blood pouring out of their eyes, ears, and mouth.

You continued to scream until you ran out of breath, a lighted headed feeling taking over. Your eyes fluttered shut as black dots swam into your vision. The last thing you remember is hearing a “Holy shit Doll, that was impressive!” Before the flickering black dots overtook your vision and you slipped into unconsciousness.

Angel watched the blue hair dame eyes roll back into her head as she passed out, right on the seediest streets of hell. Turning off his music and shifting the headphones he wore off his ears he strutted closer to the girl.

“Uuuhh, toots? You okay down there?” Angel used his foot to softly push against the little thing's arm. He waited a few seconds to see if she’d come to. Suddenly a pig came up and started oinking at the prone figure. Prodding at her side and making a hell of a lot of noise.

“FAT NUGGETS!” Angel quickly scooped the trouble maker up in a set of arms and rested him on his hip. “Don’t, you don’t know where the hell she’s been,” he chatsized him. Sighing out dramatically, he dug around his purse for a phone.

“Well…. I guess we can’t just leave her ere. Maybe Charlie will have an idea on what to do.” Dialing a number the spider demon shifted Fat Nuggets a little closer and tapped his foot on the ground.

“Hello?Angel, is something wrong?” The demon Princess of Hell answered quickly, her words flowing quickly through the speaker.

“Hey toots, I got a problem ere. There’s a little Demoness that just knocked down half the demons in this section of the city passed out at my feet. The…. Lust district. What should I do?” Biting his lip and running a set of hands through his hair the demon signed and quickly took a peek around. He didn't need any surprises to run up on him and the Sleeping Beauty on the ground.

“Wait, what? What do you mean she knocked out half the section? Why are you in the Lust District?” He could practically see the disappointed pout on her face.

“I was taking Fat Nuggets on his walky poo,” Angel rolled his eyes and sighed. “Plus I have work in an hour.”

“Well, where are you exactly? Which street?” Some shuffling and crackles could be heard in the background. Including the what Angel dubbed the Strawberry Pimp’s soundtrack of laughs.

“Uuuhhh. Like the very very edge of the city toots. Think, ‘Welcome to Hell’ billboard and 5 dollar hookers,” the porn star cringed as one fluffed up her tits at being acknowledged. “Down girl I ain’t swing that way.”

“We’ll be there in 20 minutes. Can you find a place to take her that’s less… out in the open?” He looked around quickly as groans, moans, and clatters rose up from the demons spread around.

“Good thinking babe, the demons that had impromptu naps probably won’t be too happy when they come to,” the demon flinched as one turned over from their position laying down and upchucking bloody chunks. “Tell you what, I’ll bring her to the club with me. I'll keep her in my dressing room till you guys get here. She’ll be safe there.”

It was quiet on her side of the line, a few mumbles and a door slamming closed as an engine turned over. “Angel, are you sure she’d be safest there? What about Valentino?” The porn star froze before quickly reaching down and hefting the demoness over his scrawny shoulder, setting Fat Nuggets down to continue his walk.

“Well, it’s better than leaving her to the wolves,” he joked while hurrying up his walk towards work, stepping over passed out demons and questionable puddles of liquid.

“Okay okay, fine.” Cue the sighing from Vaggie. “ Just keep him away from her. I don’t need another turf war between Alastor and him.”

“Oh you bringing the Strawberry Pimp along?” Angel sniggered as he heard the Radio Demon’s indignation of being called out.

“Well you said she knocked out half the section of the lust district. I need back up.” Angel could facepalm right now, of courseCharlie would be worried. It sounded pretty bad ass the way he put it. “Um yea with a loud ass shriek, not a fight. I could hear it through my headphones.” Maybe he should have given her more details about their new little friend here.

“The more you tell me the more worried I get. Ill see you soon Angel. Please for the love of Lucifer. DON'T let Valentino get his hands on her.”

“You have my word toots. Take care.” Hanging up Angel shifted the girl’s body higher onto his shoulder. “Be grateful babe. I’m giving you a chance for free food and board. Can’t get a better deal than that.”

Hastening up their pace he turned into an alley and climbed stairs heading towards the backstage dressing rooms of the club. Kicking the door and propping it with a hip. He strolled into a dressing room with a big ‘ANGEL DUST’ graffitied on the door and kicked it shut. Dropping Fat Nuggets leash and the dame onto the couch in the corner.

“Ugh, my poor shoulder. You owe me one for this babe.”

Groaning you rub your temples.The fluorescent lights buzz and drill their light into your vision, causing you to squeeze your eyelids tightly and throwing a hand over as a shield. ‘My head… why do I feel like I’ve been run over by a train?’ Rotating onto your side, you blink to clear your eyes. Your vision is swirling and foggy, not focusing on anything around you. Rubbing your eyes with your fist, you push your torso up and continue to try and blink the haze away.

“Hey Doll! How’s that head of yours?” Two fuzzy figures brought their hands up to wave in front of you. Pushing their head closer and examining you up and down.

“Not so good, misters. Feels like my head was squeezed between the thighs of the watermelon lady.” Your vision starts to clear as two become one. One very weird… and fluffy…. Spider man thing.

“Damn, seeing two, definitely not a good sign. Here drink some water toots, you probably have a concussion.” Grabbing the water bottle from the being, you quickly uncapped and downed the thing in a few seconds.

Gasping and wiping your lips you hand the empty bottle to the man? Woman? Non- binary? Person and cleared your throat. “What are you,” looking at the mirror behind you both, you caught sight of your reflection. Memories twirled back into your focus and you gulped in fear. “What am I? Where am I?”

Chuckling the creature stood up, throwing the bottle over their shoulder and opening all their arms out in a tada motion.”Well Doll, you’re in a strip club! My name is Angel Dust, I’m one of the dancers.” He wiggled his eyebrows and posed seductively across his vanity. A squeak and an oink cause you to turn your attention to the pig trying to jump up onto the sofa. You lean down to help him hop up, he turns in a circle before flopping down next to you for a nap. “And that is Fat Nuggets,” the crea- Angel Dust introduced as the pig happily nuzzled into the cushions.

“Okay yea, strip club. But where is the strip club? What’s Pentagram City? Where is the sun? Why is the sky red?” Angel batted his eyes, his falsies brushing against his cheek as he blankly stared at you.

“Oh you’re FRESH off the Earthly plane arent cha?” Angel sighed as he came to sit beside you. Stroking Fat Nuggets head as he snorted in his sleep.

“The Earthly what?” You raised a brow in confusion watching as the spider-man thing took a deep breath, held it, and sighed it out. Turning towards you he took your hands in his.

“Well Doll, there’s no easy way to say this… you’re in hell… like hell hell.” He started patting your hand and giving you a sympathetic look as your whole body tensed up. A knock on the door caused the spider to let go of your hands and run towards the door. Not that you noticed as your whole entire world came crashing down upon you. Hell, you were in Hell… You were dead. How did you die? You couldn’t remember anything at all. Not a single memory came to your thoughts of how you got here. How did you die? Why did you die? You had so many plans and goals for your life. You sniffled and whimpered, unaware of the conversation going on around you.

“-I’ll, Doll. Hell to Doll,” a hand waved in front of your face as your mind slipped back into the present. You blinked and looked in front of you at the array of mon-…. Demons. The array of demons that all stared at you differently. A pretty blonde with blushed cheeks and a red jacket gave you a look of concern mixed with understanding. A glaring girl with an eyepatch and white hair was looking at you with suspicious curiosity. Angel Dust was kneeling in front of you, patting your knee as you took everything in. Lastly, a very tall man in a red suit, deer antlers on top of his head, and a sickeningly sweet smile was staring at you with unbridled curiosity with an essence of danger behind his red eyes. You gulped and shrank into yourself, letting a little murmur of fear slip out as you put as much distance between the newcomers and you as possible.

“Doll, these are my friends. The dame with the blonde hair is Charlie,” The demoness, now known to you as Charlie, smiles sweetly as she extends her hand for you to shake. You just blink and stare, still in shock as her smile falls and she clears her throat, resting her hand by her side instead. “The glaring party pooper next to her is Vaggie,” Angel introduced the next demon as she just rounded a glare at the back of Angel’s head. You could swear smoke was coming out of her ears and fire illuminated behind her eyes as Angel moved on to the next intro. “And this is the Strawberry Pim-“ The sound of static cut Angel off, the sound of a radio tuning different stations as the tall demon stepped up beside Angel.

“The names Alastor darling, and who might you be,” he grabbed your hand and leaned down, kissing the back of it. His voice sounded like it was coming through an old time radio. The static sound seemed to have dissipated as Angel got off his knees to stand by the girls, and started talking in hushed voices before letting you know he had to go to work. You barely paid attention, all your focus was currently on the demon holding your hand like one of those old romance novels love interest. You blushed at the thought of anyone treating you like the women in those smutty books you read in your free time.

“I’m (y/n),” you sputtered out clumsily, your free hand messing with a loose thread on your tattered skirt. Alastor's eyes followed the movement before standing straight, dropping your hand in the process and straightening his jacket.

“My you look like you’ve been put through the ringer!” Alastor chuckled at his own joke as a laugh track played. You turned your head and looked around the room trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. “Tell me my dear, what happened to your clothes?” Radio Dials replaced his eyes when you turned your gaze back to him. Was the room darker than before? Gulping you looked up at Alastor, trying not to look into his dials as you muttered your reply.

“I accidentally tore my skirt trying to brush dirt off when I woke up on the outskirts of the city.” He seemed to untense his body slightly, but not completely as he regarded you with a tilt of his head.

“And your,… shirt?” His eyes were really starting to freak you out, you almost didn’t hear his question as your mind started to wonder again.

“Huh?” You looked down and let a little “Oh” slip out. Your shirt was barely hanging on, the thin black fabric was in tatters. Little cuts seemed to have reopened with all the excitement around you. You stared for a while, trying to remember if you woke up the first time in this condition or not. “Um, I’m not… I’m not sure. I can’t remember if I woke up the first time like this or not.”

“Hmmm,” The dials had disappeared by the time you had enough courage to look back up at him. Speaking of looking up. You really had to look up at this man. He was so tall! He towered over your small stature. “No matter, I shall fix it up in a jiff!”

You barely had time to blink before a whoosh of green and tingly sensation overcame your senses. A soft keen left your lips before you slapped a hand over your mouth. A deep blush settled over your face creeping up your neck as all three demons stared at you in surprise.

“I’m so sorry, I don’t know what came over me,” you shyly whispered, putting your head in your hands as the trio looked between themselves. Alistor's smile twitched as the two broads whispered to themselves. His shadows swooned around you comfortingly. Dragging their hands through your hair, and caressing any skin they could grab onto. He quickly rained them in. You would be none the wiser at what transpired as you seemingly withered in shame. Not many beings reacted so strangely to his powers. Fear he was used to. He relished in the visceral terror he caused just strolling through the streets of hell. Screams of pain, he especially loved the utter agony his powers caused. But NEVER had his powers caused such an intimate reaction. Awe perhaps, he remembered the absolute giddiness in which Charlie expressed after using his powers to redecorate the hotel. But still in the end, they would cause pain. Sweet pain as the little princess realized her dreams of redemption were just that, a dream. That none of these sinners would ever change. So why does his powers seem to cause such an….interesting reaction in this little doe? He’d just redressed her in something far more appropriate for a lady of her age. She shouldn’t have even felt a thing.

“It’s quite alright little doe,” he decided if he couldn’t find the answers from her, he’d just have to keep her very very close until they became apparent. “The first day of the afterlife is a lot to go through. How about we head back to the hotel and I’ll make some of my mother’s homemade Jambalaya! You must be positively starving.”

“Hotel? What about Angel?” You were exhausted. No one made any sense and you were still trying to rack your brain to figure out how you died.

“My dear little doe,” Alastor’s smile widened, but his eyes narrowed at the mention of the harlot spider. “The fellow Angel Dust lives at the hotel with us. Me and Charlie over here run the place!” The radio demon could see his words soothed the frightened demoness, placating her worries as she fiddled with a ring on her finger.

“Oh, well I do love creole food,” you whispered, biting your lip and thinking of your options. “But I don’t have any money,” you trailed off. Anxiety started to take a hold of you. How were you supposed to get a room if you couldn’t pay for your stay?

“Don’t worry about it! The hotel is for sinners who are trying to repent their sins, redeem themselves and get to heaven!” Charlie butt in, causing the radio static from Alistor to start up at his irritation. His eyes narrowed, but his smile didn’t move an inch. “Of course if that isn’t your goal, we can still house you until you can get on your feet,” Charlie meekly smiled, running the toe of her flats over a hole in the carpet. She tended to get over excited about her dream.

“You mean, I could escape this place?” Hope filled your chest. You don’t know what you did to deserve being thrown down into the pits of Hell, but you’d do anything to get away from here.

“I believe so, as long as you truly repent your sins and make up for your past mistakes. Redemption is only a good deed away!” Charlie smiled brightly, could this be their first true client? Someone who’d take the idea seriously and not just abuse the hotel for their own selfish needs? Alastor hoped not, at least he hoped he could figure out your strange reaction to his power first. Along with his strange reaction to seeing you for the first time….

A/N: ANNNDDDD First chapter is done! Can you guess what kind of demon you are? Ill be giving hints through the chapters, did you find one in this chapter? Comment some of your ideas!

*Keen:to make a long high sound expressing pain or sadness. This is usually done at funerals, or with a death of a loved one

#hasbin hotel #x reader #radio demon #y/n #alastor x reader #alastor #Alastor x y/n

[ashtheva]

[UNDERSWAP] Sans GENOCIDE Dialogue.

This is how I envisioned the Underswap dialogue for when you fight Sans on Gencoide, I would love to know your opinion and I hope you enjoy this a lot! very much inspired by the original Underswap Papyrus Genocide art, as well as a sprite mock-up by @granpris I envisioned Sans as trying to see you change, yet, he almost doesn't trust you, he struggles, and tries his best. @underswapped3 pls read when you get the chance, I want to know your opinion! [ Suddenly, Chara was stopped by a wall of bones, Sans walking in, before they turn around. ] HEYA!

UH..

YOU REALLY ARE ON A RUN TODAY, AREN’T YA KID?

I GOTTA ASK…

DO YOU THINK WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS RIGHT?

THAT BY… ACTING IN SUCH A STRANGE WAY.

HAVING YOUR HANDS DEEP IN DUST…

WILL BRING YOU SOMETHING SPECIAL IN THE END?

LOOK, KID…

IT WON’T.

SO DON’T KEEP GOING DOWN THIS PATH, ALRIGHT?

BECAUSE FROM A JUDGMENTAL STAND-POINT..

YOU’RE A PRETTY BAD PERSON.

YOU WANDER AROUND, LOOKING FOR PEOPLE.

KILLING THEM.

AND FOR WHAT? TO TAKE THEIR MONEY? SELFISH DESIRES?

THAT AIN’T RIGHT.

HOWEVER...

..I CAN TELL BY THE LOOK IN YOUR EYES, THAT YOU'RE JUST CONFUSED!

AND EVEN IF I AM TOUGH AS NAILS…

I'D RATHER HELP YOU OUT IN YOUR TIME OF NEED!

THAT’S WHAT A HERO DOES, DON’CHA THINK?

[ The Player moves forward. ]

I GET THE FEELING YOU AREN’T GONNA LEARN ANYTHING FROM THIS.

BUT, WHY DON’T YOU HAVE A CHANGE OF PLANS?

TAKE A “COOL” OUTLOOK ON THINGS.

JUST LIKE I DO!

NOT EVERYTHING HAS TO END WITH VIOLENCE.

[ The Player moves forward. ]

I CAN TELL YOU’RE QUITE…

“MOVED” BY MY SPEECH!

I TAKE IT AS A SIGN OF YOU ACCEPTING MY OFFER?

[ Silence ]

UH.. NOT REALLY SURE WHAT TO DO NOW. DIDN'T REALLY THINK I'D MAKE IT THIS FAR.

WELL, LET’S SEAL IT OFF WITH A HUG!

[ ENTER BATTLE MODE. ]

COME INTO MY AR-

[ S L A S H ]

o-oh…

so… this is it, huh?

just…

don’t say i didn’t warn you.

welp.

i guess this is goodbye.

…

imma…

imma go home and take a nap, i suppose.

#undertale #underswap #underswap sans #swap sans #dialogue #character dialogue #undertale au #blue sans #underswap sans dialogue #underswap sans genocide #undertale sans #sans the skeleton #sans au #dialogue ideas #writing

[abhainnwhump]

IMYM: Chapter 19 Rainbows Over Shadows: Dream

(Content Warnings: Death, body horror, disturbing imagery, mind control, serious Cream/Xunshine angst because I can’t leave Dream alone. To everyone who saw me accidently post the unfinished draft, no you didn't.)

<- Previous Chapter || Masterlist || Next Chapter ->

Catching him off guard, Dream felt a shudder down to his bones. He was simply walking through the Omega Timeline, on a calm quiet day, before it struck. Another Code Purple happened somewhere in the multiverse and it needed his help. He sighed, holding his hand to his face for a moment before creating a portal and dashing through. They didn’t bother telling Core because they didn’t believe there was time. Something inside him knew this one was more serious than the ones prior, more dangerous. Something changed from the period Nightmare didn’t attack at all.

Dream arrived in the Doodlesphere faster than the feeling spawned in his chest. He jumped from island to island until he spotted the signature signs of corruption. Dark clouds, purple and black liquid on the ground, cracking, and a strong negative feeling. The original portal had four sets of wings, four on each side, and they dripped with malice.

“Birdtale . . . oh, Aviar! Aviar, no!” Dream would’ve gone closer, but he couldn’t. The smog was so thick it blocked the entrance like a wall. His hand wouldn’t even phase through it. None of the AUs, none of the twenty-one AUs infected by this curse, forbid his entry. Dream shot a positive arrow at the door, but it did nothing.

The pollution entered his nonexistent lungs and he choked, but he wasn’t going to give up. Dream pressed his nails into his palm as he tried to think of a new plan. He wasn’t going to let them die. He could sense the sheer terror emitting from the inside.

“Havin’ some issues, brah?”

Dream screamed and turned around with his bow. He lowered it once he saw who it was, Fresh. He was almost twice as tall as they were, excluding the heelies and propeller. His jaw worked on a piece of bubblegum.

“Yes. No. I don’t know anymore.” Dream sighed, pointing at the portal. He could hear the screaming of innocents in the back of his mind. His bones chilled him. “I can’t go in. Innocents are dying and I have to help! Can you help me break it down?”

“I could give it a shot. Move outta da way.” Fresh swung his baseball bat at the entryway and it barely cracked. He tried again. Still nothing. He snapped his fingers and formed a Gaster Blaster, firing it to break the black.

Dream watched the corruption spread from where the blast hit. He summoned a bit of his positivity magic on it. Sparks exploded like a firecracker, but the negative shield didn’t budge. Fresh stepped back and snapped his fingers to rid the Gaster Blaster.

“What? What is going on here . . . ?” Dream narrowed his eye sockets, staring at his hand. They looked back up at the corrupted arch. Part of the entrance was still open, a blue swirling portal darkening more by the second. He had a chance. Dream readied his dual swords and made a run for it.

“Broski! What d~a heck are ya doin’? Duck!” Fresh caught Dream’s arm and pulled him away from the portal.

“Fresh? What was that for-!” Dream gasped and dropped to the ground. A bolt of teal magic shot at him. If Dream had continued his path, the lightning would have incinerated him on the spot.

From the bolt, it started another phase of corruption. Liquid malice seeped from the bottom of the door. It crept up the stone archway, turning the gray stones black. The blast of negativity sucked the air from Dream’s nonexistent lungs and he crumpled to the ground. Well, almost. It felt as so. Fresh jumped back as a tendril of negativity tried to grab him by the leg.

“Oh . . . thank you then. I’m sorry.” Dream took a breath, looking at Fresh.

The parasite blinked at the destruction and kept an arm around Dream so he wouldn't try running again. "Listen . . . I know ya not gonna be chill with dis, but ya not gonna help anyone by tryin' and failin'. You're trippin' if you think ya gonna try and go there. So come on and let's bounce."

Dream looked between Fresh and the archway. He wanted to run back in. His instincts urged him to save them, but he knew Fresh had a point. Blue's words about the danger of risking himself came back to his head. Dream's body slacked in Fresh's grip. He knew the regret would hit him later. The smartest thing to do was wait until tomorrow when the malice left.

Birdtale would still be there, he knew it would be.

==============================================================================

When Dream told his boyfriend about his plan with Fresh, he wanted to join. Cross insisted on acting as their bodyguard in case something went wrong. And he wanted to see what Nightmare’s plan was. The extra support took a weight off Dream’s shoulders and he accepted.

Dream teleported the three to Birdtale’s portal in the Doodlesphere. It was still dark and corrupted, but it was calm and silent now. The malice lay still and the arch was dark. One of the side wings fell off and crumbled on the ground.

Cross looked at the two and readied his daggers. “Are you dudes, ready?”

“Ready, brah.” Fresh said. Dream nodded as his response and squeezed Cross’s hand. They all walked through the portal.

Dream opened his eye sockets and stared at the AU. He gasped in horror. Fresh’s determination slightly slid off his face.

Cross’s stance tensed and he prepared himself for any possible battle. “What happened here?”

Birdtale’s beautiful scenery turned into something from a nightmare. Black clouds covered a muddy orange sky streaked with crimson and purple. The once bountiful plants withered until trees lost their leaves. The flowers lost their colors and drooped to the ground. Polluted water corrupted the streams and waterfalls, leaving chunks in the liquid. The sticky air was humid, hot and cold at the same time. And with the horrid stench of blood and rotten apples, it was a miracle they stayed conscious.

The easy-going monsters . . . changed. Their bodies were covered in black malice with eyes piercing red or violet. Their wings, if they even still had them, were torn and matted and dust-stained. Two winged monsters scratched at each other in the sky. The one on the left tore the right’s wing off. The victim screeched and sunk their teeth into the other’s neck, causing them both to fall into the abyss below. Dream took a shaky breath.

If it wasn’t for his friends’ positivity at his side, Dream would have passed out, possibly with a seizure. So much hatred . . .

Fresh touched one of the grayed trees. His glasses shifted to OUCH. The leaf crumbled to the ground. Dead, gone.

“My brother happened,” Dream said, answering Cross’s question. His voice was quiet. He’s seen several Code Purples, but none of them . . . none of them were this tragic, or destructive. And they could usually stop them before they reached this level, what could’ve made them unable to enter this AU?

Dream stood back up and closed his eye sockets. He took a deep breath and his body tingled with golden light. It was difficult to explain how his positivity-sensing powers worked. The closest comparison he could make was to heat vision. Souls with positive auras would have a yellow glow and the negative ones would glow purple. He couldn’t sense a single positive aura that wasn’t corrupted.

“This may not be the best idea but . . . I think we should split up. If anyone finds something strange or helpful, take it. I need to know what the difference is between Birdtale and the other Code Purples.” Dream stated, unsure of himself.

Cross narrowed his eye sockets. He looked around and unsheathed his daggers. He spoke in his commander voice. “I don’t trust this, but fine. I’ll take the right wing. Fresh, take the left. Dream, go directly into the town. Be careful and we’ll meet back in an hour.”

They split up. Cross dashed right and Fresh started to the left. Dream prepared himself and went down the middle, exploring the main town and mountain.

It didn’t feel like too long ago when the Star Sanses fought here and ate nice cream with Aviar and Lark. Dream looked to the sky where the flight platform lay. It was snapped down the middle. Boards hung loose and malice covered them, crawling with black, purple, red, and teal. The rest of the town didn’t fare better. Dream couldn’t tell which were fallen buildings and which were fallen monsters. Their colors and shapes all blended into one. Or some could have been monsters who had the fate of fusing with the buildings. Only their muffled wails and incoherent words were any sign they were there. Shadows shuffled behind him, along with moaning. Dream looked to his side and spotted Birdtale Toriel, dragging herself along. Her body was a mutilated mess with a disfigured melted mouth, black melted eyes, and a body torn with malice.

Dream’s soul beat faster in his chest. He regretted the decision to split up. He wanted Cross at his side, Fresh, Blue, someone. The voices in the walls surrounded him, taking over his mind.

Save us. Free us. It hurts. Let us die.

They felt like a terrible person for running, but they did. Dream ran through the village. He couldn’t take the negativity and he knew that despite all his power, there was nothing he could do. He jumped over piles of corruption, destruction, and bodies. Dream felt if he lingered too long there, he would go mad. The more distinct the voices grew, the worse he felt. He made out Papion’s distinct voice, the brother of Aviar. Where was he? He hoped he had the relief of death and was not turned into . . . one of these creatures.

Dream dashed down the left until he found a cleared space. The only malice was in pockets across the ground, the rest was dead grass. Dream looked into the sky, catching his breath. He hoped to find Cross and Fresh, he hoped they were safe. The field where he stood was the remains of a battlefield. A body lay bleeding, a head and an arm missing. The blood has long dried and developed an unpleasant odor. Dream crouched down and grabbed a stick to flip it over with. He gasped and covered his mouth at the sight. It was Lark. Their severed arm and left waist appeared as if something or someone was eating at it. Their other hand loosely held a knife. Dream recognized it as Horror’s damage.

The body was covered in less malice than the rest of the monsters, so Dream could touch it. He picked the body up, looked around, and lay it in a burnt hole. He wasn’t sure where their head was, it could have been under some rubble. He pushed nearby dirt over it with his hand. The poor child didn’t deserve this.

Dream looked over the body and listened to the bitter whistle of the wind. No, wait. That wasn’t a whistle. It sounded too alive to be the wind. Dream turned around.

The monster that crawled on the ground was a grotesque mess. Its wings stood straight up with no feathers, bones creaking and reaching into the sky. The left side of its mouth was caved in; a massive slash lay across his forehead. His goggles were cracked and lopsided, barely hanging on. Yet despite the scars, Dream saw the person underneath. And according to the response, the monster did the same.

“Help . . . me,” Aviar moaned. “It hurts . . .”

“Aviar!” Dream hurried towards his friend. He kneeled in front of him, coaxing his soul from his corrupted chest. It was pitch black, burning with so much negativity he couldn’t hold it. Dream let it go and gave it back to him. “What happened here?”

The hate-filled monster coughed up malice. “He did . . . stop, pain . . .”

Dream eye sockets pricked with tears. More than anything he wanted to heal his pain, this fate worse than death, but he didn’t know how. “I don’t understand. Who’s ‘he’? Nightmare?”

“Yes. Nightmare . . did this. He, Horror, Dust, Killer, and . . .” Aviar groaned again.

“And who? Aviar, who?”

The raven opened his mouth, but instead of words, a fountain of black sludge spewed. Dream jumped back. Aviar arched his back and growled at the back of his throat. He crawled closer, clawing at the ground. Dream kneeled back down, slow, steady, and cautious. He moved as close as he could without touching the malice. He waited, hoping to get an answer out of Aviar if he was motionless and patient.

Yet, Dream didn’t. Aviar looked like his body and mind were hanging on by the thinnest of threads. He looked at the guardian with hunger. “Too . . . too much positivity. Need it.”

Confused and concerned by his tone, Dream grabbed his sword out of instinct. “What are you talking about? What-”

Aviar lunged. Dream summoned a positivity shield as his defense senses kicked. The bird monster bounced back with a hiss. But then he started to claw at it. The screaming and wailing made it obvious it hurt, but Aviar needed the positivity. His current aura didn’t have a drop of it. Dream felt less fear and more pity. No one deserved to be put in a state like this. The most merciful thing to do was . . .

He didn’t want to, but Dream readied and aimed his short sword. It was the best option. He closed his eye sockets and stabbed the weapon through his torso. He swung Aviar around and stabbed him into the ground. Aviar screeched in a high-pitched decrescendo and his body melted into the ground. Then silence.

“Rest well, Aviar, and may you go to a better place,” Dream said, sighing as he pulled out his sword. He rested his forehead on his hand, curling his fingers until they hurt. They could’ve saved him. They could’ve saved all of them. If only he arrived a little sooner. He was always too late. He failed, he was supposed to save people and he didn't.

Dream listened as confetti popped behind him and Fresh appeared. He seemed fine, albeit with a few minor scratches. Fresh looked down at the shaken guardian. “You good, brah?”

Dream smiled to not worry him and stood up. “I’m fine.” He glanced down at the one thing left of Aviar. His pair of cracked goggles. Dream picked them up, shook off the sludge, and held them against his chest. He would find a way to avenge him. They stood up and brushed the remaining malice off their clothes. “Come on, let’s go. I . . . there’s nothing left to save. Everyone is gone.” Dream spoke with defeat in his voice, the exact opposite of what he wanted going into this.

Despite Fresh's glasses flashing to LIAR for a brief moment, they walked back. It was far more pleasant than the walk through the town, less violence, fear, and blood. Dream flipped Aviar’s goggles in his hands. He put them around his neck.

They made it to the starting point. Cross arrived first, holding a dark banner. Dream couldn’t see the design from where he stood, but Cross furrowed his brow at it. He looked up at them and rolled the banner into a cylinder. He walked, being careful not to step in the malice. “Did you guys find anything?”

Dream thought about his answer and held up Aviar’s goggles. “We did.” Their head tilted at the banner in his hand. “What is that?”

Cross held up a banner to them. It was teal with a gold outline. A crescent moon lay in the center, surrounded by four other images. A red target, ripped red fabric, a silver ax, and a pink bow. “Nightmare sometimes marked AUs with these banners if he was proud of what he's done. He usually did it with the AUs he got more power from. It's the same as I remember, but he changed part of the design. I used to have an X right here, but I don’t know why there's a bow. It means Nightmare got a new member on his team, but why a pink bow out of all things?"

“Wait.” Dream put the pieces together in his mind. “Aviar said Nightmare had a new member on his team. That must be who the bow represents. Do you have any ideas on who it might be?” He wracked his mind, but thought of no Sans that was known for a pink bow. If it was only symbolic, that would make things much harder. Dream had to prepare for whoever this new Villian Sans Squad member was. Maybe he could even convince them to leave and join his side, the same way with Cross . . .

Cross took the banner again and narrowed his eyes at it. “I don’t know. I’ll try to figure it out. I can’t remember everything and every AU Nightmare has taken interest in, but I know a few. I still have my journal from when I worked for them.”

“We’re gonna need dat,” Fresh said.

Dream was about to comment, but the sound of desperate groaning made him turn around. Three of the malice-corrupted monsters, each in varying stages of damage. They all wanted one thing, positivity. Their red, black, and purple eyes tore into Dream. The guardian held out his swords and guarded his friends, holding back his fear.

"Shed." Fresh's magic censored Cross's swear. Cross pulled his dagger. “Everyone listen, I would suggest fighting, but these are practically zombies. We're easier to attack as a group! We have to leave, now!" Cross slashed one of the ones nearby, melting off their arm. He summoned a wall of bones to block them off.

“I know. Hold on, I'll teleport us out!” Dream snapped his swords together to summon a portal. But unlike so many times prior, nothing happened. Dream snapped again. Nothing, fruitless. Dream kept snapping and he started to panic.

“Fresh! You have to make a portal. I’m sorry, my magic isn’t working!” Dream wasn’t paying attention. From the piles of malice by his feet, one of them split from the pile. It squirmed across the ground until it stopped on a rock. But luckily or not, someone else saw it first.

“Flower- FLOWER! LOOK OUT!” The air flew out of Dream as Cross pushed him to the ground. Dream fell face-first into the dirt and turned around. He stood up and ran to his boyfriend. Cross screamed as the black malice went into his eye sockets.

Cross stumbled, looking around like he was blind. His body slacked, and his eye lights turned into purple swirls. He blinked and they disappeared. They could still be seen at certain angles. He stared straight ahead, body twitching. He clutched the sides of his skull in agony as the negativity broke two sharp horns out of his skull. He looked up and around, settling on Dream. He scowled at him. Dream covered his mouth. He didn't understand why it was affecting Cross so severely compared to the others.

Dream stepped back a few steps as Cross's aura grew angry. Dream off. “Cross, it’s me, Dream-”

“Get AWAY FROM ME!” Cross cut a line down Dream's hand. Blood spilled from the spot and Dream's eye sockets were wide with shock. Cross stormed ahead, body twitching. He glared at Fresh instead. "And you, parasite-"

“Fresh,” he corrected.

“I don't care.” Cross’s voice was deeper than it should have been. He grabbed his head and screamed. He removed his dagger and stared at Fresh.

Dream held his short sword and raised it, but Fresh blocked him with his baseball. “Nah, brah. I want dis one. You lay low.” Fresh spun his baseball bat. Dream was too exhausted to argue, though his heart was pounding in worry for his boyfriend. The negativity was going to kill him.

Cross charged at him with his daggers. Fresh pushed his glasses up and disappeared in a puff of confetti. Cross looked around. A baseball bat appeared behind him and swung, he barely dodged.

Fuzzy objects surrounded Cross, Furbies. Cross looked around in confusion before the toys exploded in balls of rainbow gas and force. The force from the explosion blew Cross to the ground and covered him in colors across the rainbow. Fresh teleported in front of Cross, but the corrupted one was faster and stabbed bones into his arms. Fresh fell to the ground withs blood soaking his jacket as he pulled each one out.

The move snapped Dream out of his trance and he grabbed his swords, running to help. Cross summoned his bone attacks and shot them at Dream. His swings and slashes were slow; his nonexistent ears rang. The negative energy kept building and eating at his strength, but he had to save his love.

Cross stopped attacking and focused all of his attention on Dream. His body lurched and cracked. He was still fighting it. Dream took his chance and ran at Cross while he was distracted. He tackled him to the ground. Cross fought and screamed to push him off, but Dream didn't move. He held Cross in a hug, squeezing his eye sockets shut. His nonexistent ears rang with the stress and the screams.

Dream pressed their foreskulls together as golden magic seeped from his fingertips. “Shh, shh. It’s us. You’re in a hallucination, cookie dough. I don’t know where you are, but you’re not there. Come back to us, Cross. Come back to me. Don't let Nightmare win!

The purple in Cross's eye sockets faded. He blinked up at Dream, his look of anger turning into guilt over the blood dripping down his cheekbone. The guardian gave him a small smile as he swayed and passed out in his arms.

==============================================================================

Dream blinked awake to the smell of herbal tea. He lay on the couch of the Star Sanses' living room, covered with a checkered blanket. He rubbed his eye sockets as he sat up, still groggy and numb. It took a long time to recall what happened.

Birdtale . . . Nightmare’s magic corrupted Cross . . . he attacked him . . . then everything went dark. Oh stars . . .

His crown, cape, boots, and gloves were neatly folded on the nearby coffee table. Dream snapped his fingers to summon light, but nothing formed.

“Dream, you’re okay!” Blue exclaimed as he came over with a tea tray. He set it on the table and wrapped Dream in a tight hug. Dream hugged him back, even though it made his arms ache. “You were asleep for over three days! I had to force Cross to leave because he wouldn’t stop worrying about you! I know it wasn't your fault, but don't scare us like that ever again!"

"I won't," Dream promised. Blue poured himself and Dream cups of tea, blowing on it before drinking. “How did you know I was awake?” Dream asked.

“You were fidgeting and talking in your sleep. Like-” Blue’s look softened. His aura turned sad and he looked into his glass. “Like you-know-who used to.”

“What was I saying?” Dream asked in an attempt to change the subject.

“‘My fault, my fault, it’s all my fault’.” Blue said. “It’s not your fault, whatever you were referring to. You did your best, I know you did.”

Dream blushed in embarrassment and looked away. They couldn't remember what they dreamed about, but it must have been serious. At least it was only a dream and no one was hurt. “Think you. It was nothing important. What is important is how did I get here? All I remember is overusing my magic to save Cross and I passed out.”

Blue took a sip of his tea. “Cross and Fresh broke open the door and they both looked beat up. Cross was carrying you and we've all been healing you and hoping you would get better. They explained what happened in Birdtale and . . . stars, I’m so sorry about Aviar. I'm sorry about all of Birdtale.”

Dream hummed. “There’s something you should know. Nightmare has a new member on his team. I don’t know their name or even what monster they are, but they were represented with a pink bow. More like a hair ribbon really.”

“That’s a question for Core. I can’t name every alternate me out there, I don't even know most of them.” Blue looked concerned. “Something else happened when you were out. It was so weird. The creative AUs? They lost their colors. They're still there, but I think it’s because of Ink being gone, it's finally causing problems.”

"Wait, what? When did that happen . . . nevermind." Dream sighed. “We need a new Guardian of Creativity. We can’t- I can’t keep putting it off. Someone has to be able to live up to Ink’s name.” Dream tapped his fingers against his palm. They didn’t want to rush it, but they couldn’t put it off much longer. They had to do what was best for the multiverse. He looked out the window. It was an obvious choice.

Dream felt a new surge of energy and power in his chest. It must have been Sea Tea, it would explain how it healed his magic. “Do you know where Core is? I have to talk to them."

Blue blinked in confusion. “Properly in their tower in Omega Central. But you are not going anywhere until-"

Before Blue could finish his sentence, Dream had teleported off. His tea still steamed. Blue huffed. He was getting tired of Dream running off to work and helping people twenty-four-seven. It was noble and all, but he couldn't help but feel neglected and a little angry. He wasn't as strong as the others, but he was a hero too! It barely felt like they were a team anymore. It made him wonder how much longer the Star Sanses would stand without Ink.

==============================================================================

Dream collapsed from his power usage, but he got up. He felt bad for leaving Blue, but he had to do this. He was sure he would understand. He ran down the shiny wood hallway until they sensed Core's aura and walked into the room. Three windows lined the back, shining daylight onto a massive wood-long table. The walls had marble details and burgundy backings, along with the cool smell of polish.

As expected, Core sat at the very end of it. They studied the banner Cross found in Birdtale, thinking in silence. A list lay beside them. As soon as Dream walked in, they looked up and waved him over. "Hello, Dream. Cross told me everything and I've spent the last hour trying to figure out who's working for Nightmare. I'm about to try Lust now, one second."

Core closed their eyes and reopened them to galaxies. They didn’t blink, didn’t speak, didn’t even move for a full minute. Dream stared at the design again until the finished. He felt as if he did know who the bow was, but he couldn't place a name. When the stars faded away, Core shook their head and crossed the name on the list. “It’s not Lust. He doesn’t know anything about this. For now, let’s call this person ‘Bow’. That's what I've been calling them."

“Sure.” Dream sighed. "Core, we need to talk about the Guardian of Creativity. I know who we should choose and we can't keep putting it off.

The child looked up and blinked their empty eyes. It reminded Dream too much of Aviar's and he held back a shudder. "I know, I've been thinking the same thing. I even came up with a little plan to transfer the magic over. Let me explain." Core gave them a mischievous grin and gestured for Dream to come closer. They whispered it into the side of their skull and Dream smiled.

==============================================================================

“Whatcha need me for again, broskis?”

Fresh leaned against the wall as Core and Dream stared at him. This was something Core Frisk came up with a while ago according to them. Passing guardianship has never been done before. Yet they were one of the wisest souls in the multiverse, despite being a child, so Dream trusted their plan.

Core walked over to Fresh with their hands behind their back. "Dream and I have chosen you to take Ink's former role as Guardian of Creativity."

Fresh stopped leaning against the wall and stood straight up. "Really? Ya want me to do it for ya?"

"Mm hm." Core cleared their throat and spoke. “Fresh, do you accept the role? Do you swear to dedicate your life to encouraging the Creators, protect the AUs as is, and defend the Creative-Destruction balance?”

Fresh's expression was still of shock, but he nodded. “I swear to all dat and take dah role of Guardian of Creativity.”

Core looked at Dream and held out their hand. Dream took it and summoned a ball of swirling gold magic. Core followed, creating similar energy out of galaxy magic. Fresh looked between the glowing spears in confusion. This was Core’s idea. If two guardians harnessed their magic and energy, they could grant guardianship. Their magic drifted from out of their hands and merged into a stream of color.

Rainbow magic flowed from Dream and Core’s fingers. Fresh stepped back as it began to swirl around him. Dream had a tug in the pit of his soul. Core’s surprise frown told him he wasn’t alone in the feeling. He couldn’t place his finger on it, it felt like it was telling him to stop, but that didn’t make sense. Fresh was the best person to pass the torch to. Ink would choose him, Dream knew he would.

Then why did they feel so horrible?

The magic faded into sparkles, then into nothing. Core held out their hand to Fresh. “Congratulations, Fresh. You are the new Guardian of Creativity. Remember your oath, it’s your life now. The Doodlesphere needs you.”

“Sweet!” Fresh shook their hand and his glasses flashed the same word. Dream smiled and walked over. He hugged Fresh close to him. Despite the odd feeling, it felt good to have a new Guardian of Creativity. The multiverse was a little safer now. Once he shook off the surprise, Fresh hugged him back. Dream wasn’t sure if he would be interested in joining the Star Sanses, but he wouldn’t deny it. The disquieting feeling in his chest was still there.

Core stared at their hand for a moment. They waved their fingers. Dream sensed their apprehension, confusion, and concern. Without letting go of Fresh, Dream looked at Core. “Is everything okay? Did something go wrong?”

The child hummed and nodded. “The spell worked, but something doesn’t feel right. The Guardian of Creativity should have had stronger magic. I think it's because it's so weak and a new holder will return the power but . . . Fresh, speak with me if something weird happens with your new powers or you feel sick."

"Hold up." Fresh let go of Dream. "Ya mean these powers could kill me?"

"No, not quite. But not even I have ever seen something like this, so I can't be sure." Core stared into nothing, as if they were doubting themselves. Their aura confirmed it.

Dream's tone was of pure confidence, though he was more cautious inside. "Both of you, it's okay, things can only get better from here. We'll find out what's happening to the multiverse, find out who Bow is, and stop Nightmare. We will, we'll fix all of this. Believe me."

Leave it to me.

#IMYM #whump #whumpblr #whump writing #whump tropes #noncon body modification #magic whump #cross sans #dream sans #core frisk #blue sans #swap sans #birdtale #birdtale sans #nightmare sans #ink sans #cross x dream #dream x cross #whumpee turned whumper #body horror #star sanses #bad sans gang

[thetravelerwrites]

Birch (Part 3)

Rating: Explicit Relationship: Female Human/Male Centaur Additional Tags: Exophilia, Monster Boyfriend, Centaur, Semi-Verbal Reader, Reader Insert, Semi-Verbal Autism, Size Difference Content Warnings: Social Communication Disorder, Verbal Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Size Difference, Sex, Oral Sex, Violence Words: 6441

The reader becomes depressed after seeing Birch with a lover, only to be confronted and attacked by the lover the very next day. Please reblog and leave feedback!

The Traveler's Masterlist

Why couldn’t you have just ignored it? Why couldn’t you have just turned around and gone back into the house? At least that way, things wouldn’t be awkward between you and Birch. If you had just controlled yourself, nothing would have changed. But now Birch knew, and things couldn’t go back to the way they were.

You didn’t go down to dinner that night, instead lying in bed for the rest of the evening. Yala came in to ask you what was wrong and if you were alright, though she seemed to know it had something to do with Birch, given his demeanor. According to her, Birch had sent her to ask if you would talk with him, but you couldn’t bring yourself to do it.

By morning, though, you were forced to go out, in need of the privy, which was out behind the tanning shed. After you were finished, you came back through the barn, since it was the most direct path back to the house, grateful that the harvest had started and the entire family was out in the fields, so you didn’t run the risk of stumbling into Birch. 

You were stopped when you saw Birch’s stall door open. Ordinarily, Birch kept his door closed to keep his smallest family members out of it. Despite your curiosity, you closed the door without glancing inside. You’d already messed everything up, so you didn’t want to make things worse by snooping through his things.

“I bet you think you’re hot shit, don’t you?”

You spun and saw Layla in the doorway of the barn, leaning on the frame with her arms crossed. Her face was flat and expressionless, but the look in her eyes was incredibly threatening. Her hostile demeanor immediately put you on edge, and you backed into the wall, pulling your arms up around your torso instinctively.

“How’d you do it?” She asked, propelling herself off of the frame and walking toward you at a leisurely pace. “I’ve been one of Birch’s lovers for years, and I know him pretty well. He never turns down a good lay, and he never shows favoritism for any woman. No girl has ever pinned him down in all the time I’ve known him, and believe me, plenty have tried.” She approached you, getting in your personal space. “So how’d you do it? How did you break him? Tell me; I’d love to learn how you managed that.”

You shook your head, frantically.

“Oh, you don’t know?” She asked, her voice rising. “You don’t know why he didn't come visit me last night? Why he broke up with me out of the blue this morning and said we couldn’t be lovers anymore? You really don’t fucking know?”

Your breathing stuttered in your chest as you continued to shake your head, desperate to retreat.

“Did you get mad seeing him with me, is that it? Did you get jealous? Did you cry and yell and tell him he had to choose between me and you? Is that what you did?” 

You shrank against the wall, unable to speak or sign or do anything at all besides shake.

“Say something, you conniving bitch!” She brought up her hand and slapped you hard in the face, her long nails catching on your skin and ripping it open. You gasped and cried out, covering your head with your arms, and she hit you again, swearing at you.

“Layla!”

You looked up and saw Birch flying into the door, grabbing Layla by the collar and throwing her away from you, placing himself between you and her.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”

“You dumped me for her?!” Layla said, scrambling up from the ground and gesturing at you violently. “That’s what you’re into? I wish I’d known that before, I’d have pretended to be an ugly, witless cunt, too!”

“Layla, I think you need to get your things together and leave the farm this instant,” Birch said, his voice shaking in rage.

“Are you serious?” Layla said, incredulous. “Are your parents going to be okay with that? You’re allowed to kick people out of the farm without consulting them? We’ve been coming here for years, and all of a sudden, that’s it, just because of her? How good must that pussy be if you’re kicking me out over her?”

“Layla. Get. Your shit. And leave!”

Layla spit at Birch’s feet and stomped out of the barn.

Birch turned to you and folded his legs underneath him, trying to pry your hands away from your face.

“Let me see, sweetheart. Let me look.”

You were sobbing loudly and hyperventilating, in the grip of an overwhelming, howling panic. You’d never been attacked like that before and it sent you into a hysteria that you couldn’t control or snap out of.

“Oh, god, you’re bleeding,” He said, turning your head gently to see. “Shit, I don’t have a cloth with me.” He let go of your face and pulled you into a tight hug. “I’m sorry, sweetheart, I’m so sorry.”

Luckily, Yala walked into the barn at that moment. “Why’s Layla packing to leave all of a--oh, my god, what the hell happened?”

“Layla attacked her,” Birch said, pulling away and gingerly leading you into Yala’s arms. “She must have caught her face with her nails, she nearly split the corner of her mouth.”

“Why would she do that?” Yala said, trying her best to calm you down, but you were beyond ration and unable to stop wailing. 

“I broke up with her,” Birch said tersely. “She seemed fine with it when I broke it off last night. I didn’t expect her to do something like this.” 

Yala looked surprised and opened her mouth to speak, except that the sound of your screaming had brought the rest of the family running in from the fields to investigate. Ryel and Declan waded through the crowd of family and came toward you immediately. 

“Birch, what the hell happened?” Ryel asked with a frown. 

“I’ll explain everything in a moment, but we need to get her into the house and treated.” 

“I agree,” Declan said. “I hope she doesn’t need stitches, the wounds look deep.” 

"Everyone clear out, get back to the fields,” Ryel ordered them. “The work doesn’t stop for cat fights.” 

Obediently, everyone except for Yala, Birch, Ryel, and Declan went back to work. Yala and Ryel had to help you into the house, since your legs refused to work, and took you to the semi-enclosed wet room near the back door. Declan sat on the ground and opened his wings, and Ryel helped you settle into his lap. He wrapped his large, leathery wings around you tightly as Yala began to tend to the cuts on your face. Ryel went out to speak with Birch and Layla. 

Being tightly enveloped in the warmth of Declan’s body, and the softness of both his fur and skin, helped calm you down. After a few moments, you stopped sobbing audibly, though tears were still spilling out of your eyes and you were having difficulty regulating your breathing.

Thankfully, you didn’t need stitches, but Yala put together a compress of medicinal herbs in a cloth and told you to hold it to your face for a while to calm the swelling and inflamation. You obeyed, and Declan kept you in his embrace until Yala took the cloth back and spread a thick poultice made of clove, onion, ginger, and honey over the wounds to help them close up.

“Is she alright?” Birch asked anxiously, coming into the house but keeping his distance. 

“She’ll be fine,” Yala said. “What’s going on with Layla?” 

“Layla is banned from the farm and she must leave immediately, but her caravan can still stay,” Ryel said, coming close to you to inspect your face. “Violence against anyone on the farm is prohibited, and anyone who commits it gets the boot for life. This farm is supposed to be a safe haven, so we have no tolerance for this kind of thing. It doesn’t help Layla’s case that she’s not showing any signs of remorse for what she’s done; she keeps insisting you provoked her, though how you managed that when you can barely speak is beyond me. Are you alright, child?” 

You nodded, though you were still trembling. 

“Mama,” Birch said. “I know harvest is going on, but can I have an hour to myself? I want to apologize to Hazel and… talk about some things.” 

Ryel nodded reluctantly. “One hour, not a minute more.” 

“Yes, Mama,” Birch said. He came closer and held out his hand. “I’d like to show you something, if that’s alright with you?” 

You hesitated but nodded, taking his hand and allowing him to lead you out of the house. He took you to his room and opened the stall door, stepping inside. You stayed outside while he opened a drawer and rummaged through it. He came back out and asked you to sit on one of the benches, kneeling down and laying his horse body flat against the ground in front of you. 

“I’ve never shown anyone this before,” He said, and he handed you a very small, thin, rectangular piece of metal with a three-digit number stamped into it. “And I’ve never talked about it. Not since I left. Well, since we left. Me and Yew.”

“What is it?” You signed.

“It’s a cattle identification tag,” He said, sighing heavily. “It’s mine.” 

You looked up at him, startled. He leaned forward and showed you his left ear. There was a thin, faint scar on the lower portion of the earlobe, as though something like an earring had been pulled from the skin and it had healed closed.  

“Yew and I,” He started slowly. “Grew up in a different country, one that doesn’t consider people like centaurs actual people. They see us more like livestock. It doesn’t matter if we can think and speak: if we aren’t human, we’re animals, as far as they’re concerned. As a result, centaur cattle ranches were perfectly legal. Yew and I were born slaves to one of those ranches. We were given numbers, not names. And since the foals are separated from their mother at birth and raised in a different part of the ranch, I have no idea who my parents are. Not that they’d want to know me, I’m sure, since breeding is decided by the owners and not the centaurs. Neither the males nor the females have any say when it comes to that.”

You were horrified by his tale and listened with your mouth open. 

“One night when I was thirteen, one of the ranch hands got drunk and passed out in our stable,” He said. “He had keys, but they were too far away for me to reach. Somehow, I managed to get my upper half out of the locked stall door without waking the ranch hand up and got the keys, and I got out. Yew was in the stall next to mine, so I freed him too, but as I went to open more of the stalls, the ranch hand began to wake up, so Yew and I made a dash for it. 

“We were terrified, and we ran as fast as we could, but it was the first time we’d been off the ranch and we didn’t know where to go. We ran for hours, and eventually we reached the coastline. We were near a port, I think, but we were scared that if anyone caught us, they would send us back to the ranch. We found a cave and stayed there for a day, and when we came out, we realized that we could see an island out on the horizon. We thought we could make it, so the next day, we started swimming to it. It took hours, and we were starving and exhausted by the time we got there, but we found a race of bird people there. They said that they’d call a boat for us to get to this country. We were scared, but they told us that centaurs were considered people here, and we had no choice but to trust their word, since we couldn’t stay there and we couldn’t go back.” 

 He took a deep, shuddering breath before continuing.

“When we got to the mainland of this country, we were still terrified, but… no one captured us. No one took us into custody or made us work. We learned that we could earn money and live on our own, and no one could stop us.” He laughed a little self-consciously. “I… I went a little crazy, those first few years: drinking, smoking, gambling, girls. Whatever I wanted. Yew was still young, only about seven, and he still needed taking care of, but for a while, I didn’t care about that. I didn’t want any responsibility. I didn’t want to be tied down or have to take charge of anything or take on any sort of burden. Yew came with me everywhere I went because I was the only person he knew, but I wanted freedom. I… regret neglecting him in those days. We likely aren’t blood related, but I was the closest thing he’d ever had to a brother, even if it was only because our stalls were right next to each other.

“Then I found the farm. We found Declan and Ryel and their little family, and they offered to let us stay permanently. We didn’t tell them anything about where we came from, but we still had the tags on our ears, so I think they assumed. At first when we got here, I was only thinking about off-loading Yew and being on my way, but watching the family together… I realized… how good having a family would feel. How nice it would be to have someone who worried for you and loved you. And… I wanted that. So, I decided to stay here with them. Declan and Ryel became my parents, and I had siblings. More siblings.” He took the tag from you and turned it over and over in his hands. “When we decided to stay, I asked Ryel to help me take this off, and she did. I don’t even really know why I kept it, but it seemed important to do so. Then she gave us names. Well, she had originally named me Yew and Yew Birch, but we didn’t like them, so we swapped.” He laughed. “Deciding to stay here was the best decision I’ve ever made. I can’t imagine being anywhere else.”

You were silent for a moment, reflecting on what he’d just told you, but then signed the words “Why”, “Speak”, and “Me.” Why are you telling me this?

“I told you before that I’ve never told anyone this, and I meant it. None of my girlfriends know about this. I haven’t even talked to Declan and Ryel about it. This tag has been in that drawer since Ryel removed it for me, and I locked that past in the drawer with it. I’m telling you this… because I want you to know that I trust you, and I want you to trust me, too.  If you don’t believe anything else, I want you to believe that, at least. You’re special to me.” He took your hand in his and placed the tag in your palm. “This isn’t the right moment to discuss it, but later, when we have more time and more privacy, I want to tell you exactly what I mean by that. Is that alright?” 

You nodded. You attempted to give the tag back to him, but he shook his head. 

“You keep that for now,” He said. “Consider it… a promise.”

Swallowing thickly, you closed your hand around the tag and nodded understanding.

Harvest went on for another few weeks, and both you and Birch were so busy pulling in, preserving, and canning batch after batch of produce that you barely had time to form a coherent thought, much less approach the discussion Birch had promised you. 

Finally, just as a real chill threatened to set in, the family decided to take a family bath in the river. According to Yala, the family did a group grooming of each other, washing fur and clipping claws, around once a month. You were invited to this event, but as much as you liked the family, bathing with them was just a little bit more than you could handle. 

Layla’s caravan had left only a few days after she had been exiled, though Declan was careful to make sure they knew they were allowed back even if she wasn’t. As such, you were the only one in the farm at that moment, so you spent the time embroidering some handkerchiefs to give out as gifts, when you suddenly heard Birch’s voice downstairs.

“Hazel, can you help me?” He called plaintively from the bottom of the stairs. “I managed to cut my hand on a rock and it’s bleeding quite freely. Do you have some spare cloth up there you don’t mind throwing away?”  

You jumped up and grabbed any cloth in your reach, regardless of the type, and dashed downstairs. He had been right, the cut on his palm was pretty large and dripping blood on the wooden floors. 

“Yala keeps her poultices in that cabinet, there,” He said, pointing at a cupboard. “The honey poultice is in the green jar.” 

You went to fetch it and took him outside, where there was more light, and had him lay his body on the ground so that you could treat his hand while you sat on the porch. Even with him sitting several feet lower than you, he was still taller. 

You cleaned his hand and slowly applied the poultice, and while you had your head down, focusing on your task, you could feel Birch’s eyes on you. He was so close that his breath was fluttering in the hair on the top of your head. You could feel the warmth of his body wafting over you. Your heart began to race as his other hand came up to play with a tendril of your hair.

“If you don’t want me to, you can pull away,” He said softly, his face very close to yours. “It won’t hurt my feelings. Well, maybe it will, but you don’t have to put up with me if you don’t want to.” He lifted your hair to his nose and inhaled. “You always smell so nice.”

You gulped, but you didn’t pull away, continuing to wrap his hand. His free fingers released the strands of hair and moved to your face, stroking your cheek with his knuckles. You stayed put. He ran his thumb across your bottom lips. You began to shake and your breathing stuttered, but you didn’t stop him.

“You can pull away,” He repeated softly. “You don’t have to let me do this.”

You were breathing shallowly, struggling to find the courage to speak, but couldn’t. Instead, you forced yourself to look at him full in the face for the first time, making direct eye contact. You couldn’t maintain it for more than a few seconds and your gaze returned to his collarbone, but it was enough to get your point across. Gods, his eyes were lovely.

He leaned forward and kissed you. It was light and sweet and told you that you could break it if you wanted to, but you didn’t want to. You had never hoped he would ever feel anything for you, much less want to kiss you like this. You still felt anxious, but you also felt warm and… happy.

He stopped abruptly, closing his eyes and grimacing. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I shouldn’t… I shouldn’t have done it. I’m sorry, Hazel.”

Tears immediately pricked your eyes and your face fell. Of course. Of course. He didn’t really feel anything for you, you were just there. You were convenient. At least he was kind enough to stop before it got too far. But still, you wanted him to feel something for you. You wanted that kiss to be real.

He heard you crying and held your face gently in his hands. “No, no, Hazel, it’s not because of you, I swear! Honestly, I’ve… I’ve liked you since the day I met you. No, longer than that, but I didn’t want to overwhelm you by suddenly showering you with attention you may not have wanted. I may play around and flirt, but the gods’ honest truth is that I care very much about you. You’re a wonderful, sweet, beautiful person and I’d be lucky to have you.”

You cried harder in confusion and covered your face in humiliation. He pulled your hands away, holding them against his chest, and sighed unhappily, though he didn’t insist you look at him.

“You know, I… I had seen you in town before,” He admitted. “You were one of the only women who didn’t rush up to talk to me when I was there, one of the few who didn’t flirt with me or go out of their way to catch my eye. I know it seems counterintuitive, but it made me take notice of you, and it wasn’t long before I was looking for you every time I went to town. I thought maybe you didn’t like men, or were prejudiced against non-humans or something, but sometimes I’d catch you looking at me, and I wondered. I was curious, but you didn’t seem to want to talk, so I kept my distance. That was before I knew about your communication troubles, of course. I wanted to approach you and get to know you, but I was a little… intimidated by you, I guess.”

You looked at him in surprise, pointed at yourself and mouthed, Me?  

He laughed and touched your nose with the tip of his pointer finger. “Yes, you. When you came up to me that day in the tavern, I was really happy.” He laughed at himself. “And then I immediately ruined it by being too much of a flirt, like an idiot.” His smile faded, and you thought his expressions reflected shame. “Do you know why I sleep around and have a lot of girlfriends, but I’ve never been serious in settling down with any of them?”

You shook your head. You’d definitely been curious, but you’d never have been able to ask.

He sighed, his neck and chest flushed, as if embarrassed. “I’ve only ever dated bipedal women because there aren’t many quadrupedal ones in the country. We’re sort of unusual in this region, I guess. And because of that…” He looked away shyly. “I… I can’t see them when I’m being… intimate… with them. They’re all much smaller than I am, even the big ones like orcs, and they’re… underneath me… when I make love to them, so I can’t see them. I can’t kiss them or touch them or see their faces. I can’t tell if they’re enjoying it or if I’m hurting them, and if I keep asking them, they get annoyed. And… the problem is, a lot of the girls I’ve dated… they like that. They don’t necessarily think of me as a person to be with, they just want me to…” He grimaced. “Mount them. They actually say that to my face, like it’s sexy or appealing. Gods, I fucking hate that word; it makes me feel like an animal.”

You squeezed his hands in sympathy.

He scoffed in self-disgust. “I feel like such an asshole saying this, but they don’t seem like real people to me. It’s… like… I’m just using them to pleasure myself, like a toy, and not really having sex with another person. I can’t feel any sort of connection with them because in my mind, they’re not really there.” He looked at you sadly. “I like you, Hazel. I really, really like you, but… I don’t want to feel like that with you. I don’t want to have my way with your body without feeling any connection to it, to you. You’re more important to me than that.” He pressed his forehead to yours and whispered, “I want you so badly, but I don’t want to use you, and I don’t want you to feel like you’re being used, either.”

Gently and with much trepidation, you put your arms around his shoulders and hugged him. He wasted no time in wrapping you up in his own arms and holding you tightly against him, laying his forehead on your shoulder and inhaling deeply.

“I didn’t know you had feelings for me until I saw you after flirting with Layla,” He said, muffled against the fabric of your shirt. “I saw… that… you were hurt… and I realized. If I had known sooner… I would have made it clear to Layla as soon as she arrived that… my heart belonged to someone else.”

Your heart leapt in your chest. Was he serious? You? Out of everyone he could have had, he was choosing you ?

“Even still… even if I don’t make love to you, I could…” He said slowly, swallowing hard. “I could… make you feel good. I'd really like to do that. If you want me to.”

You were still trembling against him, and your grip tightened.

“Okay,” You whispered.

He got up to his feet and took your hand. “Come on,” He said, taking you to the barn and to his room stall, closing and barring the door behind you. He turned to a table that had some books and knick-knacks on it and moved them off to a shelf. He picked up a couple of pillows from his leaning-bed and arranged them on the table, then he held out his hand for you. You were shaking like a leaf, but you took it. He lifted you up effortlessly, even with his injured palm, and sat you down on the cushion. He came close, kissing you, opening your legs and standing between them.

You had no experience with this at all, but you enjoyed it immensely. He bit your lower lip to open your mouth and teased your tongue with his. He reached down and touched your slit over your undergarments and you gasped against his mouth.

“I can stop,” He said breathlessly. “I know you’re anxious. I don’t want to rush you if you’re not ready.”

You shook your head, making a sign that you were alright and to continue.

“Alright, but smack me upside the head if you want to stop,” He said, grinning. You smiled and laughed softly. He carefully pulled your undergarments off and let them fall to the ground. He reached under your skirts again and touched you directly, his fingers gently stroking you in circles. You reclined back on the pillows and tried to keep your voice down. It was the first time in your entire life you really wanted to make noise.

He leaned over you and continued to kiss you, hungry and desperate, his right back leg kicking frantically. You knew he had to have been aroused as well, and wondered if it was hard for him to restrain himself.

He pressed one of his long fingers inside you, and you squealed unintentionally. 

“Does it hurt?” He asked. “Should I stop?”

You shook your head frantically, clinging to him. He kissed your lips, cheek, neck, and downward, kneeling in front of you and lifting your skirts all the way up, exposing you to the open air. He continued kissing the inside of your thighs softly, working his way inside toward the apex of your legs. You were very anxious and unsure of what to do, but you wanted to know what was going to come next. It was the first time your anxiety didn’t prevent you from taking that next step forward for fear of not knowing.

He pressed his tongue against you, teasing the sensitive bud with the tip of his tongue, pushing his finger in and out as he licked and sucked, and you gripped the edge of the table, shivering with the waves of pleasure you felt. You squeaked and moaned softly, worried about being too loud.

“Everyone is at the river, sweetheart,” He said, laughter in his voice. “You can make all the noise you like.”

He said that, but the thought of being accidentally overheard made you want to die, so you continued to keep quiet. 

You felt a swelling of sensations building inside you, unstoppable and consuming, and you nearly cried out loud, managing to stifle the noise behind your hand. Your legs shook as the ecstasy smashed into you, and you reached out to run your fingers through his hair with the hand that wasn’t muffling your cries of pleasure. 

He removed his fingers from you slowly and, after kissing you for a few moments as you caught your breath, helped you down from the table. You struggled to stay on your feet, stumbling a little, and he caught you, laughing.

“Whoa, there,” He said, holding you up. “You alright?”

You nodded, and he held you until your legs were less like jelly. Then you released him, took the cushions off of the table, lay them back on his leaning bed. You took his hand and pulled, pointing him toward it.

“You want me to lie down?” He asked, his voice confused. You nodded. He smiled in bewilderment, but he obliged. When he was comfortable, you shakily began to take off your clothes.

“Hazel…” He said, his tone worried.

You stopped for a moment and went close, daring to kiss him.

“I had an… idea…” You whispered. You discovered it was much easier to say more than a single word to him if you weren’t looking directly at him. “If you don’t… we don’t…”

“It’s okay,” He said, burying a hand in your hair. “I trust you, sweetheart.”

You pulled back, kissed his lips, and finished undressing without looking at him. Instead, you looked between his back legs and, with him laying slightly on his side, you saw it clear as day: his cock was fully extended out of its sheath, throbbing, and bobbing against his stomach. It was long and solid black. You lay down on your back and inched down toward it, throwing your legs over his flanks, until it just nudged your entrance. You lay your head down, resting on the flank of his forelegs and then looked up at him questioningly.

“Good?” You asked quietly, out loud, looking up and focusing on his ear instead of his face. You could still see the look of happiness and relief on his features. He had a wide, wide smile on his face. He couldn’t bend far enough to kiss you, but he could see your face and body lying next to him. He was able to touch you, too; he could caress your cheek, stroke your hair, and massage your breasts. You could touch him as well, petting your hands over the fur of his belly and side.

“Yes,” He said. “This is perfect, it’s exactly what I want. It’s so simple; I wish I’d thought of it before.” He laughed self-consciously. “But then again, if I had, I might never have met you. Waiting was worth it.”

You stared up at the ceiling of his room self-consciously, but you smiled happily.

The way he was laying, you were in a perfect position for him to thrust into you, and he couldn’t accidentally kick you with his hooves. He began to press insistently, his body vibrating with need, but he stopped and said, “It will likely hurt, since this is your first time and you’re so small. I’ll try to be as gentle as I possibly can be.”

You nodded and stroked his side comfortingly. You knew, just from the size of it, that it was going to hurt a bit, but you didn’t care. You needed him as badly as he said he needed you.

You had to reach down and guide him in, which made you blush furiously, and he had to press a bit, but eventually, the head popped inside you, and you inhaled sharply at the pressure.

“Are you okay?” He asked, sounding worried. “Does it hurt bad?”

You nodded your head, and then shook it, answering his questions in order. You reached up with one hand, and he took it in one of his, intertwining his fingers with yours, his other hand touching your face and chest and hair. He thrust very, very slowly at first, giving you time to adjust to the stretch. When you squeezed his fingers, he sped up a bit, and you moaned slightly, still careful to keep your voice down. He chuckled and sighed as he slowly slid in as far as he could go and pulled almost all the way out.

“This is so nice,” He said, grunting a little under his breath. You could feel him pulsing inside you. “This is all I ever wanted. To feel connected.” He squeezed your hand gently. “And I’m so glad it’s you.”

You kissed his fingers, one by one, and he was spurred to move a little faster, groaning. The pain was subsiding, though it was still there, and your breathing sped up as he did. You turned your head and buried your face in the soft fur of his lower rib cage, and he cupped your cheek.

“No, please,” He said, begging you. “I want to see your face. Let me see your face. Please.”

You pulled back and looked up at him. His eyes were gentle and pleading. You reached up, and he bent down, and you were able to cradle his cheek. He held your hand there and closed his eyes, kissing the palm. He sped up, moaning a little and breathing heavily, linking his fingers with yours. His eyes closed and you could feel him pulsing with desire inside of you as he moved steadily in and out. Sweat began to form on his furrowed brow, and he closed his eyes as he got closer to the edge. 

It was still a bit too uncomfortable for you to be able to enjoy the feeling of him inside you, but you were happy that he was feeling good. And you imagined with time, you’d like it more. You were in awe for a moment that your first time wouldn’t be the only time you would have with him. 

He came suddenly with a heavy, broken grunt and a shudder that went through his entire body, and his grip on your hand tightened. There was so much that it oozed out of you before he withdrew. He pulled out and softened, and his cock slowly retracted into his body. He released your hand and pulled you up so that you were reclining face to face with him on his leaning bed. He kissed you slowly and sweetly as his breathing calmed, petting your hair tenderly. It was no wonder he was so popular with women, if these were his bedroom habits. Any woman would fall in love with him. 

Would he keep seeing other women, you wondered. If that’s what he wanted, then you couldn’t really stop him, but… you wanted to be his one and only. You knew he broke up with Layla, but that may have only been because you were hurt and he wanted you to feel better. He told you that you were special, but that wasn't a promise.

“You’re frowning,” He said, touching your brow. “What are you thinking about?” 

You shook your head. You didn’t want him to think you were selfish. 

He laughed. “I think I can guess. You don’t have to worry, my love. No more lovers, no more girlfriends. If you want me to go and break up with every single one of them, I will do so happily. I finally found exactly what I was always looking for, and turns out it was you. I’m a one-woman centaur now. I don’t need anyone else.” 

You hid your smile, and your blush, behind your hands. You pulled back for a moment and signed, "Trust." He smiled gently and cuddled you into his body

The two of you rested for a while, but you knew the family would be back sooner or later, so the two of you got cleaned up and dressed. When they returned, Birch kissed you right in front of all of them and told you to go get your belongings, since you would be moving in with him. You blushed furiously as the entire family watched you escape in the house with bemusement, but acceptance. 

You were really home now.

Since my work is no longer searchable, please do me a favor and reblog this story if you enjoyed it. Help me reach a wider audience! To help me continue creating, please consider buying me a Kofi, becoming a Patron, or donating directly to my PayPal!

Thanks for reading!

My Masterlist

The Exophilia Creator’s Masterlist

#Exophilia #Monster Boyfriend #Centaur #Autistic Reader #Reader Insert

[fantasies-fairytales-n-fics]

Code Blue Ch. 42- Duck Duck Goose

Summary: The trip to the train bridge commences. Jo is overly annoyed with Lee and makes sure he knows it. An intense rush is shared. Lee meets Jake's bio daddy. Jason and Jo make up for the most part. He and Lee send her reeling. A shocking moment is witnessed. Lee confesses something already suspected by Jo. Liz goes to Ethan.

*Warnings* DARK!! language, angst, alcohol use, murder plots, depictive mentions of child death

Stories Stories Stories Masterlist

Chapter characters: Lee, Josie, Jason, Liz, Ethan,

Salem, Massachusetts

March 16, 2023

10:30 p.m.

The car ride to the train bridge was silent as Lee drove and you stared out your window, unable to stop seeing his lips on Angel's and her disrobing before him half naked. Sure he beat feet out of there but it didn't make your anger any less that he chose to even go in the first place. Still, you were curious as to what she told him although in that moment, you didn't even want to speak to him or even look at him for that matter.

Lee parked the car at the place you took him on your bike, then turned it off. A few minutes went by as you both sat there in the dark before Lee broke the deafening silence.

"Are you going to talk to me about this?"

"You mean like you talk to me about things?" you snipped and got out. As much as you wanted to slam his door to make him cringe, you quietly shut it in caution of your dark surroundings.

Lee sighed heavily, reached in the back to grab the flashlights and then got out too, handing you one.

The night air was crisp and the moon half full as you began to walk towards the sound of the horn to the train that now ran on the newly rerouted track under another bridge close by. It was a good fifteen minute walk, so you picked up the pace.

"Jo...could you slow down? It's still early and the path is not level. You're going to trip."

"Just keeping my distance. I can smell the rank of her cheap ass dollar store perfume all over you."

You no more than finished your snarky comment and down you went, tripping over a large tree root.

"Owww, fuck. Damn it."

"Jo, babe...are you alright?" Lee asked as he tried to help you up.

"I got it! I'm fine." you snapped, pulling away from him and continuing on with a slight limp.

Lee shook his head and chuckled. "Of course you are. Tough as nails. One of the many things I love about you."

"Can you just shut up?"

"Yes ma'am." he said and smirked, loving how damn sexy he thought you were when you were mad.

When you both arrived at the bridge, there was no sign of Jason yet. He was always punctual so you had at least an hour to sit there with Lee.

Lee looked around at the unfamiliar territory as he stood atop the bridge constructed of stone that overlooked the train tracks beneath. It had an old dirt road that crossed it and there were actually street lights and an old functional payphone nearby.

"So, you mean to tell me I could have drove here?"

"Well sure, if you don't mind driving your precious classic over two foot pot holes the entire way here." you retorted as you climbed up on the ledge and sat down.

"Yeaaaah, that would be a big fat no. Sooo, now what? It's only 11."

"A train will be though soon. It's pretty surreal to sit up here when it goes under. The entire bridge shakes and the wind will make your eyes water. I like to dangle my feet over the edge and swing them. It's like I'm running over top of the train."

"Interesting. The girl who's afraid of heights likes to be so daring."

"I'm not afraid of heights. I'm afraid of falling." you told him and finally looked into his eyes. Lee understood the look and your words that reminded him of previous conversations with you.

"I won't let you fall." he softly said and at down beside you and gazed down below. "That's still a hefty drop. If it didn't kill you, it would definitely break a lot of bones."

"Probably, but this ledge is nice and wide. I just hold onto the back when I let my legs hang over."

"You can always hold onto me."

You looked away and stared out into the darkness, feeling the softness towards him coming on...damn it.

"You want a drink?"

"A...drink?" you asked with a raised brow.

"Yep. Brought this little friend with me."

Lee pulled out a small pint of whiskey from inside of his coat pocket, then removed his coat and opened it up, handing it to you.

"100 proof. It'll warm you up and take the edge off." he said with a smile.

You half smiled and took it, then knocked back a swig, cringing instantly at the burn as the highly flammable liquid seared down your throat.

"It'll take more than the edge off. Like possibly the lining of my throat and stomach, holy hell." you stammered with a cough.

Lee chuckled. "You alright?"

"Yep." you grunted and handed it back to him. "Tough as nails, remember?"

Lee took a large gulp of the potent fire, completely tolerant of it's stinging burn, then hopped off the ledge and walked around the corner of the bridge.

"Cool, there's steps over here to go down to the tracks." he raved with a grin and headed down to look around. "You comin?"

"Nah...I'm good."

You then carefully turned and let your legs hang freely so you could view him.

"Yep, you're pretty far up there." Lee said and laughed as he peered up at you.

"This is nothing compared to the old unused trestle way up there just behind the trees that runs over the river wild. That's the one I'm afraid of. The fall and the water. Nope."

"You're not afraid of the water either. You're afraid of drowning...right?"

"You gonna save me from drowning too?"

"Always." Lee said. "But maybe you'll trust me enough someday to let me teach you how to swim first."

You became silent again so Lee put his hands in his pockets and began walking around, kicking rocks with his head lowered, and then he stopped and looked back up at you with a story telling smile.

"Do you know I was afraid of trains as a kid? They were so big and I was so small. They were so loud, much like the storms that I also feared as you do."

"Not Jacob though. He was fearless for his size. In his mind, he was six feet tall and bullet proof. I guess we know who and where he got that from."

In that moment you realized how frightened he was to meet Jason, the man who was biologically Jacob's father, yet Lee was the one who who fathered Jacob for his entire short years and he was the only one Jacob knew as his dad....and now that reveal was going to become reality for Lee. Also in that moment, you forgave him about Angel, for Jacob was the only reason he did it. You saw Lee shove her away instead of continuing on and even if you hadn't been watching, you knew he still would have done the same thing. Lee was just a desperate father wanting to know what happened to his son.

"I...I remember your stories about your dad easing all those fears and how you ended up loving trains...and how Gordon helped you deal with the storms too. Parents are great when you have the right kind and you...you Lee, were the right kind for Jacob...and Jason knew and believed that. That's why he stayed away, to protect Jake physically from his life of crime and also mentally from being ripped away from the only father he had ever known. Now Liz...well, she wasn't nor is the right kind of parent and if Jason had knew that earlier, well...he would have handled her....in fact, he was going to and she knew it, which is why she aided in taking him out first. Lee....it's going to be ok. You and Jason, you're both victims in Liz's lies and manipulations. He's on your side, although he may not be too happy that I brought you here. I know your worried to see him but...Lee, his presence, it changes nothing. You...are Jake's daddy...always and Jake knows that."

"You really are so beautiful, you know that? Your heart, they just don't make em like you anymore." he chuckled. "I guess that's why it took me so long to find you. After everything I have done and everything I have put you through, you're still in my corner and I couldn't love you more than I do right now...ok well yes I could but you know what I mean. Jo Jo....about Angel...I..."

"I know baby."

The train horn blared from the darkness behind Lee and then a dim light came into view.

"Lee, the train, it's coming. Come on! You gotta sit up here and experience this!!"

Lee came jogging up the stairs, sat beside you and whipped his legs over the ledge. You both stared at each other with adrenalized expressions as a light breeze began to creep up, being carried by the speeding bullet.

You gasped at the echoing horn blaring one last time as the beast came straight for you and Lee, inching closer by the second. Lee laid his palm out as he gazed at your glowing face. You slapped your hand down onto his, fingers weaving tightly together in unison as the repetitive clanking of the rails grew closer. Your chests were tightening, but in a good way as you both stared the oncoming monster in it's glowing eyes.

Lee's arm went over your lap like a seatbelt, his other hand still clasping yours as your bodies became engulfed in a blinding bubble of the whitest white. You gazed at Lee who was in a relaxed trance like state as he faced his past fears head on. His eyes then closed and he tilted his head back, taking in the rush as the light took over him.

The train then rushed and roared beneath your swinging feet as it's violent wind of fury burst through your hair.

"WoooooOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" you screeched into the night as Lee released the breath he was holding in a hard puff and he then turned with gaping eyes to watch the train disappear into the darkness followed by the fainting sound of the thumping tracks. All was dark and quiet once more except for the pounding of your hearts.

Lee's eyes quickly met back with yours, both of you panting with slowly forming smiles and then his hands came firmly to your face, his fingers gripping the back of your head. His gaze was intense and your eyes screamed with desire, both of you high on dopamine. Your trembling fingers grasped his wrists and then his lips swiftly made their way to yours, forcing a soft mewl to squeak out of you. The wind lightly lingered, swirling about as you both shared a deeply passionate kiss filled with urgency for one another. If it weren't for the fact you would be meeting Jason very soon, you would have knocked Lee to the ground and took him right then and there.

But then, the faint rumble of a motorcycle broke the heated moment and then it went silent. Gasping, you jumped to your feet.

"Jason's here!" you loudly whispered, grabbling Lee's wrist to look at his watch. Midnight on the dot.

As you gawked down the path with anticipation, Lee stood right at your side with his arm around your waist. Jason was quite stealthy, so you knew he would appear without a sound and then...there he was.

Jason halted briefly when he saw Lee and then he continued on his way to you, his face full of emotion that most would say he didn't possess but the truth was, only those he loved could keep stone cold at bay.

He then slowly approached you, one hand in his pocket as he reached for you with his other arm and hugged you, one thing he wasn't big on doing.

"I'm so sorry for everything." he whispered into your ear.

One thing though, when Jason was wrong, he admitted it.

"I know. I'm just so glad you're alive and that you're here."

Jason released you and smiled, then looked at Lee, making your heart sink as you expected stone cold to surface, but once again, your brother shocked you.

"Lee. It's good to finally meet you." Jason softly said and extended his hand out.

Lee reached back and shook his hand. "You too Jason."

Flabbergasted, you gazed at Lee, then at Jason. "You...you're not mad that I brought him?"

"I knew you would. I know you better than you know yourself Jo. I get it. I've already put you in an unfair predicament in keeping my secret. I never expected you to keep it from the one you love."

"Well umm so...let me cut right to the chase about my code red text. It's not so secret anymore Jay. Liz knows...accidentally by me, at the hospital. The witch was hiding and listening to a conversation I had with Lee. I'm SO sorry...I didn't mean to..."

"It's ok. Is she the only one?"

"As far as I know, she told Lee's neighbor, Angel, who's her friend and a nurse at the hospital....but...I don't know. Lee saw her with Ethan yesterday at the hospital and then there's Cyrus who...."

"I know all about Cyrus's new position. I also know you were admitted. Are you ok? You have to know I would have been there if I were able."

"Yeah, I..I know you would have and yeah, I'm ok now. Just stress basically. Lee...he...he got me there right away and..."

"I know that too. Thank you..Lee...for saving my sister."

"No thanks necessary. I would lay down my life for her if needed."

You smiled and rubbed Lee's arm.

"Ok, how do you know all of this?" you then asked Jason.

"I was eavesdropping on Mom's phone call to Livvie at the house before I took my bike."

"WHAT??? Jason! She's going to notice that it's gone, are you nuts?? How the hell did you get the keys, which she'll also know is missing??"

"Extra set I kept at Sonny's. Mom don't go in the garage often and as long as she sees my keys, she'll have no reason to look. If she does, I'll cross that bridge when I get there."

"Ummm, she was just in there and saw my car, asking me all about that."

"Yeah, why is your car there?"

"That's a story for another time. God Jason, this is all going to blow up in our faces. I mean, you're out riding your damn bike for fuck's sake. You couldn't have had Max or Milo take you??"

"Ok, so you know? I am wearing my helmet for once in my life. Many guys have similar bikes and dress like me when they ride...hell, Lee's dressed like me right now AND it's not like I'm joy riding through town Jo. And you know Sonny's guys are being watched by Cyrus's men and most likely the Zacchara's too, so no Jo. I didn't find it feasible to taxi around in Sonny's cars."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Well, if mom calls me about your missing bike, you know I'm going to have to tell her. I'm not going to lie to her like I've been doing now for all this time. When Jason, when is this going to end???"

"I'm working on that Jo."

"So you keep saying Jason and yet, here we still are. If I hadn't seen you, would I still be in the dark??"

"You were going to be the first person to know, I swear it. It just wasn't supposed to be so soon."

"Oh really? Sonny knew before me. Sonny and Carly always come first."

"Jo..don't do this. Not now. I didn't come here to fight. I missed you and needed to see you after knowing you were in the hospital."

You began to cry. "This is bullshit Jay. Having to meet in a desolate dark place because we can't just normally call each other or text without stupid fucking codes, or go to lunch together like we used to or...."

Jason pulled you into another hug, this time with both arms.

"I know. I'm so sorry. Soon Jo...soon. I promise you it will all be over and we can do those things again."

Lee watched in envy as you cried in the comfort of Jason's arms, for he wanted to be the one to hold you, but he knew you needed your brother in that moment, so he stayed silent and gave you both space.

"So, you're not going to tell me what you're planning?" you asked as you pulled back and wiped your tears as you sniffled.

"No Jo. It's better that way. You know that. The less you know, the less danger you're in which is why I couldn't tell you I was alive."

"I knew something was wrong Jay. That day you asked me over to Sonny's restaurant. You knew you you had a target on your back and told me you changed your will, but what you failed to tell me was that you left the boat to Mom and now look. She fucking sold it....and to Ethan's piece of shit dad of all people. Why Jason?? Why didn't you leave it to me???"

"Because I knew you'd keep it and Mom wouldn't. Jo...I wanted her to sell it. The Haunted Star has been a thorn in our family's side with all that I let go on there."

"Well a lot of good THAT did, because now it's just going to continue and get worse with dirty daddy Bloom running the show. I could have turned it into something good, like it once was!"

"Jo...just let it go."

"And why do I feel like you're not talking about the boat?? Oh, that's right, you can't or won't I should say, tell me. OK...so now what? What about Liz? What if she goes shooting her mouth off to make sure you really are dead?? How easy it would be for Cyrus or Johnny or even Ethan to do it since you're already legally dead."

"I told you I would handle her and I will."

"Yeah well...did you know she's dumped Craig's kid off with Angel?? Or should I say, Ethan's kid?"

"Craig will get Blaise back, mark my words. There's no way Ethan will ever get his hands on her. Craig will kill him before I do if that happens."

"Honestly? It should have already been done! God, I can't believe I'm saying things like that."

You turned to Lee and laid your head on his shoulder. "You...ok? You're so quiet."

"Yeah baby. I'm just letting the two of you talk."

"You can too...if...you want. About, you know."

"Phew...yeah. So uh...Jason. Jo...she told me about Jacob."

"I knew she would tell you that too. How could she not? I'm sorry for what Liz did to you. For the record, you're Jake's father. You always have been and always will be. I didn't know you but I knew who you were and knew Jake loved you. It's how I wanted it. He was better off with you." Jason told Lee with sincere eyes.

"Thank you, truly, for saying that but it turns out he wasn't though."

"That wasn't your fault Lee. I was going to remove her from the equation so you could raise Jake but then things got twisted around as you know."

"Jason...I was driving the car that night. It was dark and raining and I...I didn't check his buckle because she told me she did and I...I stupidly believed her....and I...crashed. How is that not my fault?"

"Because we all know it was hers." Jason immediately answered.

"And she will swear her innocence until she's blue in the face, which I wouldn't mind at this point. There's no proof. She'll never admit to it."

"She already did. That's why I was going to finish her. That's why she wanted me dead." Jason revealed, his blue eyes burning with tears.

You and Lee looked at each other, both stunned, then back at Jason.

"Wait...what?" you asked. "What do you mean she already did? You told me at Craig's you only suspected it. Jason, Lee deserved to know this! My god, he has blamed himself for so long!"

"I didn't know how to, I still don't but you're right, he deserves to know and it's time I tell you. So...here it goes. A few weeks before the accident, she let me see him one time in hopes it would make me change my mind and want to be with her. It was at the hospital when he went for a routine doctor's check up. He had just turned 5 and his hair was super blonde then...like mine was when I was that age and his eyes....I saw mine. She told him my name and he looked at me and said "Hi". While we waited, I sat and played with him. He had this toy train, the locomotive part. I guess I wasn't doing it right, moving the train about, so he showed me how to do it and when I did it to his satisfactory, he looked up at me with the biggest smile. And he said to me very proudly, "My daddy made this for me for my birthday"."

Lee's hand went to his mouth and he turned around to hide his welled up eyes. You immediately went to him and hugged him, unable to even imagine what he must be feeling.

"Lee, I'm sorry...I...I just thought you would like to know how much he adored you and that train, but I'm sure you already did. I..I should have left this part out, it was...really selfish of me. It's just that...it's the only moment I ever had with him after finding out he was mine...well, my blood anyways." Jason regretfully said.

"No...no...it's alright. I remember that day. I was upstairs working." Lee replied, his voice a bit choked up. "Please....just go on about Liz."

"Ok. Well.....about a week after Jake's funeral and I was out on some business one night. I came across a highly inebriated Liz and she was with Ethan, walking on the pier. It was the first time I had seen him in awhile and found out he had come back for the funeral after we talked for a bit. Then Liz asked Ethan to leave her and I alone for a minute and as soon as he walked away, she started in on me, blasting me about choosing Britt. She was belligerent and slapped me, more than once but I took it with a grain of salt, believing that she was just grieving and clearly three sheets to the wind, just like she was the night she told me I was Jacob's father."

The grain of salt comment had you and Lee briefly glancing at each other.

"She then began to belittle me with excessively added vulgarity and then she said...."

Jason had to stop for a moment, for it was very hard for him to relay what he was told.

"Whew man...umm...ok...she said....."You should have chosen me, then your son would still be alive." Her eyes were so sinister and I...I think for the first time in my life I was speechless. I just remember blankly staring at her as she rambled on how she purposely started a fight with Lee, striking him and grabbing the wheel and also how she.......how she intentionally left the buckle to Jake's car seat undone and lied to Lee, saying it was latched. She screamed at me, saying this is what you get for choosing that slut and in that moment, I...I thought, no, she's drunk and lying to hurt me but her cold eyes told me she was telling the truth. I wanted to strangle her but Ethan came out and then a few civilians came down the steps. He got her to leave with him and that's when I vowed revenge. She knew I would come, so that's when she took off to New Zealand. She conveniently came back two months later with Craig and knocked up, claiming the kid was his so I had no choice but to back off. She had used him and her pregnancy and he wouldn't listen to me that I believed her to be pregnant before she left. Of course he learned the hard way a year later when they split up and she took off with Ethan and Blaise. I stupidly let her go because I was having problems with Britt over my guilt and deemed Liz to be Craig's problem as I felt he deserved and then she resurfaced with Ethan, hanging around with Johnny and then a year after that, all that shit went down with Cyrus and he went to prison for two years, but shortly before he was released....I learned of the target on my back and then....I died."

Lee's lips were bound tightly together as he visibly shook. You took his hand and tried to calm him.

"Lee...hey...look at me. Breathe baby."

"I'll breathe when she breathes no more." he said in a cold dark tone. "She stood over my hospital bed after the accident, not a fucking mark on her as I laid there all cut up and told me Jacob was dead before I even knew what happened and then she told me it was all my fault and her eyes....they were the same as you just described them. Jesus...I...can't right now."

"I remember you telling me about that. God Lee, I'm so sorry and for you too Jason. She belongs locked away for life."

"She deserves much worse than that." Lee reeled. "You've said you're going to handle her Jason...so...when?? I'll gladly assist."

'What?? Lee, don't say things like that, please." you said in panic.

"Why not?? She killed my son! She planned the whole sick fucking thing and I now I know the truth, finally."

"Ok, Lee, this is another reason I didn't want to tell you. Trust me, I know what you're feeling and I myself had to literally be tied down so I didn't run out there half cocked and do something stupid. You don't need the back blow. Let me handle this. You have a lot to lose if you get involved. Your career and my sister. Is Liz worth all that???"

You anxiously stared at Lee, your eyes full of tears as he hesitated to look away from you and give his answer.

"I think I'm way past involved. You have a lot to lose as well. Britt for one. Don't you want to be with her eventually? You can't do that if you wind up in prison or really dead because you know you'll get back blow too."

"Lee, respectfully, I didn't do all this to just go lay down. They all tried to kill me and could have killed Jo in that explosion."

"I get it man. I've done things to get results, such as earlier tonight but it was flat out stupid. I wasn't thinking straight. Why not just kill two birds with one stone and then go from there?"

"I'm sorry?" Jason asked, confused.

"You need a fall guy and there's no one better than Ethan. He set you up for a fall now do the same for him. He was seen arguing with Liz today and it's all over her kid. I want him out of our lives as badly as you do."

"So you're saying to set him up for her death?" Jason asked, seemingly interested in the idea.

"Ok, whoa!! Lee, are you really standing here right now, plotting a hit with my brother???? Do I really have to ask you WHO you are again??? You've all lost your damn minds! You just said you did something stupid because you weren't thinking straight and then you do a 180 right into a pre-meditated murder scheme. This cannot be happening right now. I'm dreaming. I'm fucking dreaming. You're a doctor! You chose to save lives Lee. You took that oath. You're not a fucking assassin like Jason with a death warrant! I never should have brought you." you raged as you began to pace. "And you Jay, you're actually considering this??"

"Jo...you've known my plan all along so why is this so shocking to you?? You know how this ends Jo whether you like it or not."

"Oh I don't know, maybe because it involves my fucking boyfriend who I don't want to be like you! You do what you gotta do Jason, but you leave Lee out of this. This ENDS here. This conversation NEVER happened. I'm done and I'm going the fuck home."

You stormed off, climbing over the metal guard rail and marched down the path to get back to the car.

"Jo! Hold up." Lee shouted. "I gotta go man."

"Yeah, of course, go. I'm sorry about all this."

"No worries. Just do what Jo said. Do what you gotta do. There's no judgement on my end, so you know." Lee assured and then ran off after you. "Jo, wait up!"

It was another silent ride home, for it was always one step forward and two steps back when it came to happiness anymore. You and Lee had shared such a wonderful moment together at the bridge and then just like that, it all went to shit in a matter of minutes. Sure, you wished Liz would disappear, the same as Jason and Lee wished she would, but to plot her demise was utterly insane.

Your thoughts were soon distracted as Lee neared his house.

"Lee, stop!!"

"What??!"

"Stop the car, stop the car!"

He quickly pulled off to the side and parked behind another car.

"Turn your lights off!"

"Jo, what is going on???"

"LOOK!"

Lee turned to see Mr. Carpenter speeding out to his car from Angel's house, looking quite pissed off while tucking his shirt in and adjusting his jewels.

"You've got to be kidding me. Gross!" you reeled.

Lee felt even more humiliated now and disgusted that he allowed that woman's lips to touch him and your reaction made him feel ten times worse.

Angel then came running out behind him and they stood at his car loudly arguing but not enough to hear what they were saying and then....he grabbed her by the throat and began screaming at her. You gasped as your hands flew to cover your mouth and Lee sat frozen, not sure if he should intervene. Angel wasn't the greatest human being but she didn't even compare to what Liz was and also, she was Dash's mother. Then there was the fact she had been really good to Lee's father.

Just as he had made the decision to get out and had his hand on the door handle, Mr. Carpenter freed Angel, then got in his car and sped off.

Lee waited until Angel went inside and then he backed up, keeping his lights off and turned down the alley that led around the back to his garage. Once inside the house, he went straight to the kitchen, turned on the light, then the music and grabbed a beer.

"Jesus...well if THAT didn't prove he was violent with his family and probably caused Henrietta's tumor. He's clearly dangerous." you anxiously puffed out and sat down across the table from Lee.

"If I see him put his hands on another woman, or even Angel again, I'm going to finish what I started with him....unless it's Liz." Lee expressed quite seriously as he calmly drank his beer.

There was that side of him again, angry and vengeful words paired with a relaxed nature and that truly frightened you.

"Tell me you weren't serious about Liz earlier tonight. Just tell me that, please." you quietly said.

"How do you want me to feel Jo? Because I can't feel a certain way just because you want me to. I want her to suffer like she made Jacob suffer and if that makes me a bad person, then so fucking be it." he quickly and flatly stated.

"But you're not a bad person Lee. You're not."

Lee was silent for a moment as he stared at and fondled the label on his bottle, then he gulped down the entirety of his malt beverage.

"It was me Jo. I did it."

"Umm, w...what...was you?"

"I cut her seatbelt." he bluntly answered, then got up and slowly trekked up the stairs.

You closed your eyes and sighed. Deep down you already knew that but you weren't going to make a big deal out of it, for you knew at the time, he only did it to taunt her like she had done to him for so long. But now, he was talking of harming her and conspiring with your brother to do so and that, you would definitely make a big deal out of. This is the kind of thing Jason did. There was nothing you could ever say or do to make him stop and his influence had already rubbed off on Lee in a matter of only thirty minutes. That severely worried you because that's how Jason got sucked into Sonny's world and you were not going to let that happen to the man you loved more than life itself and the way Lee spoke tonight and the look in his eyes while doing so, scared the living hell out of you, for it seemed to come so natural to him.

You decided to let Lee have some space and whipped up some leftovers from the dinner he made, then took a plate full in the living room and ate on the couch as you listened to the music he had turned on. Behind blue eyes came on and all you could do was listen to another sign being thrown in your face, because the song was a lyrical elucidation of Lee.

"No one knows what it's like to be the bad man, to be the sad man behind blue eyes."

"Ahhh, to what do I owe this displeasure after 1 a.m. when I'm drunk and cranky? I've been looking for you all day Lizzy." Ethan snarked as he played a game of solitary in the party lounge aboard the Haunted Star.

"Well, here I am, unfortunately. I debated coming here, you know, to have to listen to more of your ludicrous accusations about Blaise?"

"Then why did you come? Because that's my story and I'm sticking to it. She's my kid."

"Because you owe me."

"Excuse me?? How do I owe YOU anything??"

"Remember when you called me over to Johnny's after you got your ass kicked by Luke and needed help?"

"Oh...that. Yeah so?"

"Well now you can repay the favor and give me a place to stay. There's plenty of cabins here."

"Why the hell do you want to stay here? and where's my daughter??"

"Stop it Ethan." Liz snapped as she sat down at the table with him. "Stop believing everything your twisted butt buddy Johnny feeds you."

"Ok, he is NOT my butt buddy. He prefers women so you know."

"So do you but that never stopped you from swaying in the opposite direction. Anyways, speaking of your brother Luke. What's his deal? I saw him tonight at the bar and the dude was creeping me out. He kept staring at me, but it was more like a leer. You haven't been telling him shit about me have you?"

"Nobody has to tell him anything. He just knows stuff. That's what's creepy. As far as his look, it just got stuck that way. He's pissed off at the world and takes it out on everybody else. But fair warning. Steer clear of him. Lee's his friend. I'll bet my right nut he don't like you and that look he served, it was personal. Like Jason, he has no feelings of remorse. I'm his own brother and look what he did to me."

"Oh, you mean like what you don't and like what did to your own brother too?"

"Are you of all people judging me Lizzy B?? Paint it black why don't ya. Of all the years I've known you....it seems I don't really know you at all. Even Johnny said that the night you came to his penthouse. And he's not twisted you know, he's smart. He sure has your number."

"Whatever and you always fall for his line of BS, because that's what it is. Speaking of Zacchara, I also ran into him tonight, literally as I walked out of the bar and as usual, he was full of his rude wit, joking about me being a dead woman walking and pointing his finger at me like a gun and firing it, which he made no secret of at his place that same night you speak of that he wanted to off me. Luckily you talked him out of it."

Liz recalled that night. How could she ever forget how Johnny revealed all of her darkest dirty deeds, secrets and motives, hitting the nail right on the head about every single bit of it when she never even told a soul. Well, except for Jason in her drunken stupor...who was now alive and would eventually come for her.

"Oh right, when he toyed with you by holding a gun on you and made you go wee wee." Ethan jested with a hearty smile and now wished he hadn't talked Johnny down, for Johnny told him the truth about Liz and he had refused to believe it then.

"Ugh...that's not funny! Enough about him. Can I stay here or not Ethan? He creeped me out but honestly, it's Cyrus that I'm the most worried about." she said, wondering if she should even tell Ethan Jason was alive, for she believed it would highly distract him when she needed him to be focused on her. But at the same time, she also felt Ethan should be aware and ready, because Jason would come for him too. When was the question. Jason was strategic and stealthy. A thief in the night.

Ethan laughed. "Let me get this straight. You want to stay here to be protected from a notorious mob boss who hates your guts about as much as he hates Corinthos? I already got his hulk of a son on my ass with blackmail which he will soon pay for so I don't need Cyrus after me as well. And once again...where is Blaise??"

"Not that it's any of your business, but she is tucked away from Craig and his whack job creator. That's all you need to know. And if you fuck with Craig, you can bet your ass that Cyrus will be after you like flies on shit, that's if Craig don't get to you first."

"And keeping Blaise from Craig is your answer? That's why Cyrus despises you if you haven't noticed. Come on Lizzy, you don't have connections and resources like I do to keep you both under the radar. Renault has plenty of those as well. If he wants to find her and end you, which I would bet my left nut that he does, then he will. I mean, he actually gave you a head start by firing you. He likes to hunt and you're now the hunted. If you want to stay here, you need to tell me where she is so I can keep her safe from him and Craig if something were to say....happen...to you.... or no deal. You see...I am your only hope it seems, not that I want to be. It's simple really. I'm capable of keeping you both safe. Isn't that what you want and why you're really here? You gotta throw me a bone. I don't do shit for free."

"You'll really do that? Take care of her?"

"You know I will Liz. We can go get her right now and bring her here and then we can get out of dodge....go to the other side of the pond back where you won't be a sitting duck waiting for the goose and we will live happily ever after. Just you, me and our daughter. No way in hell Craig is going to have her. I'll put both my nuts on that."

"You're going to take us to England? Umm, what about Lee??"

"What about him?"

"Oh come on Ethan. Like you're just going to walk away from him."

"Well, right now, I kind of have to, but I'll be back for him and no one, not even that little tramp of his will stop me. I don't want to talk about him. These damn blue balls are killing me as it is cuz I'm growing bored of fucking Josie's sister. Now, are we going to do this or what? I'm getting a bit antsy here and you know how I get when I'm antsy."

"Yeah, antsy rearranges into nasty. Fine. She's with Angel. I'll text her and tell her I'm coming and to have her ready."

Ethan gazed at Liz, his dark eyes holding a look that could kill, like a lion locked on it's prey and he formed an even darker grin that quickly faded into an emotionless expression as she texted away. He also had her number and he had orders to carry out.

They then both got up and walked out with Ethan briefly stopping to turn the lights out as he smiled once more, followed by a dastardly chuckle and whisper under his breath.

"Lights out Lizzy."

@redeemer46

#lee pace #lee pace fanfiction #code blue #love stories #dark fiction #dark stories #jason morgan #steve burton #angst #fantasies #nathan parsons #mob fiction #organized crime #Youtube

[unfriendlyamazon]

beauty and the beast (role swap | ever after)

i was hoping to have more of this done and edited for @joukaiweek but i’m happy to share part 1 for today’s prompt!

Title: Beauty and the Beast Rating: T Characters: Jounouchi Katsuya, Kaiba Seto, Kawai Shizuka Word Count: 3990 Warnings: Discussion of Illness, Allusions to Gozaburo Summary:

...

Jou shivered as the sky above him darkened. It was only in glimpses above the the canopy of trees, whose thin limbs twisted up into shaking branches. A winter wind rolled against his back, and his foot slipped on the path beneath him. He gasped but caught himself, hugging his bag tight to his chest. The forest floor was thick with knotted roots and large rocks that had rolled down from the mountains. Every tree rustled in the wind, and he occasionally caught the glimpse of yellow eyed creatures that skittered away. There was no proper path through the forest. He’d started on the winding dirt road that led from his home in the city to the small countryside house his sister resided in. The bag he carried held more than just a few coins and a change of clothes. Nestled within was her medicine. He’d hoped to cut three days off his journey by traveling straight through the trees, and he’d quickly learned why no one did that. Too far to turn back, Jou forged on.

As usual, he was in a mess of his own making. If he’d stayed on the path, if he hadn’t listened to the old man with the map, if he had heeded the gossip from the other travelers who avoided the forest and never traveled at night. His sister stayed in the country with their mother for her health, to strengthen her weakening lungs and eyes. But without her doctor, things had only gotten worse. So he clutched the small bottle of blue pills that were supposed to help her and started the journey alone. It’d cost him so much money to get them, money he didn’t know if he could pay back, but if it was for Shizuka, he would do it. No matter the cost.

He wasn’t so noble that he didn’t regret the first patter of rain that made its way through the treetops. A freezing droplet hit his face, and Jou swore out loud. The ground was already so hard to walk, and now the rocks would be slick, and the darkness would be all the deeper. He needed shelter, and quickly. As cold rain scattered around him, he pushed through the trees and the brush. There had to be something. A boulder he could sit beneath, or a hollowed out trunk.

And then, in the distance, a light.

Jou thought he’d dreamed it at first. But it swayed between the trees, a distant point waving back and forth. It was warm, and golden, and he didn’t think twice as he shoved on. His foot slipped again, and he clung to tree trunks, branches, and was nearly crawling towards the single sign of safety. Rain soaked through his shirt, and he was shivering as his hands felt the brick wall that stopped him. He squinted through the rain. Dark gray stone was covered in large vines that twisted over iron spikes nailed into the top. His hand traveled down it like a guiding path, leading him to a lantern that swung in the wind. Its yellow flame could barely stay lit against the wind. His teeth chattered, and his palm brushed against a plaque. His fingertips traced the characters there, and he mouthed the name: KAIBA.

The gate groaned as Jou pushed against it. Through the gloom, he could see what had once been a garden. Tree roots pushed up dark soil, and what had been a pond was murky and green. Vines climbed over the wooden walls of a tall structure. Doors were cracked, the silk of the shoji fluttering in the wind, and wooden beams sticking out. No one had lived here in a long time. An empty shelter was still shelter, and Jou didn’t hesitate to race across the front path and dive into the engawa. He forced his way through the sliding door and stepped into the dark room.

His breath puffed white, and his fingers shook as he removed his matchsticks. Another lantern sat near the door, this one with oil in it. The heat was an instant blessing. The wood floors were cracked, with large tendrils of spiked leaves bursting up from beneath. Zaisu chairs had been tossed aside, the pillows torn, and there’d been a low table fixed with a teapot and clay cups, each now filled with muddy water. Rain leaked in from the roof above, but on his hands and knees Jou found an irori. Ash filled the stone recess, but a few unburnt sticks remained. Hands shaking, he managed to light the hearth. Low red light pulsed from the floor, but it was enough to warm his hands and wring out his clothes. For the first time since he began his journey, Jou sat back and relaxed.

The rain shuddered outside in silver sheets, and thunder cracked across the forest. Once night set in, the forest was only inky blackness. Jou hugged his legs to his chest, too scared to explore the manor more for any blankets or mats. His eyes closed, longer with each slow blink, until he curled onto the floor in front of the hearth. The rain began to slow, leaving the hollow pattering against the wood structure, and the crackling of the fireplace.

Something clattered on the floor, and his eyes opened wide.

It was still night, still black outside. Jou breathed in and out as he listened. Some other creature might’ve found shelter here, or he’d stumbled onto something’s lair. There was the silken sound of something moving across the wood, and a gentle clack like something hard hitting the wood. The hearth had started to die, the final pieces of kindling barely holding onto the fire. Slowly, Jou lifted his head and slid his hand into his pack. He removed the knife he carried and held it at his side.

Shadows flickered against the walls, dim and hard to make out. He jumped as something moved again, and one of the clay cups rolled across the floor. He saw something slither into the shadows. A snake then. Probably searching for heat. He waited, staring into the darkness, goosebumps rolling up his spine and raising the hair on his arms. There was something there. Its shape swam among the shadows, but he could see something in the archway. The fireflight caught a brief glimmer, and he felt eyes.

Jou swallowed thick. Struggling to find his voice, he spoke aloud: “Is this your home?”

The shadows wove visions, and he couldn’t tell what was in front of him and what was his imagination. He thought he saw fingers move, or claws.

“I’ll only stay the night,” he said. “You won’t see me past morning.”

The floor creaked and grown, and the same soft sound slid across the wood. A heavy sound jolted him, but then the air was still. Whatever had been there was gone. Animal, or something else, Jou wasn’t sure. He stayed staring at the doorway until dawn.

Jou dozed through the first inklings of pink light. The air was still cold, but the breeze carried on it a sweet smell that stirred him. He woke again and saw the hearth renewed, fresh logs tossed into the irori for a larger fire. Over it, someone had hung a pot on the hook, and a sweet smelling rice filled it. The table had been set with a bowl and a fresh pot of tea. He accepted the hospitality and ate until his belly was full. In the daytime, he could better see the state of the manor. Parts of its walkways had completely fallen apart, leaving open trails of destruction that cut off parts of the house from the other. The garden had grown in, and the pond had overflowed on the east side of the house. Green water surrounded the engawa. Flecks of gold and white told him the koi had lived on, long after anyone had stopped caring for them.

Jou did his best to keep his promise. He checked his bag and crossed it over his chest. Out in the overgrown garden, he could see statues left behind. The soft round shapes of Jizō and komainu, along side more complex figures wearing flowing fabric. Vines and moss grew over them all, and they sunk into the ground. Jou paused as he came to a wall of flowers. Pink buds curled in their bed of leaves, but a few white roses had started to open to greet the morning. He marveled at them. Roses were uncommon here, and Shizuka’s own garden cultivated camellias and peonies. His eyes traveled across the vines, until he saw a white rose fully bloomed, its petals large and beautiful. They waved like ocean waves and smelled so sweet. Jou reached into the garden and snapped the stem. Taking one more breath, he nestled it into his bag.

All at once he heard a roar.

Jou shouted, it startled him so badly. Birds flew up from the distant room of the manor, where a thunderous sound staggered him back. Jou turned and ran to the gate where he’d entered last night, where the vines grew thick around the iron, and as he grasped it he shouted again. Thorns studded the greenery, slashing his palms. He tried to find a place to grab that didn’t hurt him, but the garden had turned malicious. Heavy wind sounded behind him. Whatever was coming was coming quickly. With nowhere else to go, Jou turned back to the house, running past where the irori had cooled down to embers, and the pot of rice had been tossed aside. He forced open a sliding door that led to another open walkway that passed over green water. The lilies trembled and the wood frame shuddered. Heavy claws scraped the awning overhead, a dark shadow passing over the water. Jou launched himself at the door at the end of it and slid to a stop as he came to an open hall. Doors on each side, some with tattered wood blocking their path, and a tall white staircase that curved up. Carved onto its rail were dragons, their mouths open with their teeth extended, and their tails twisted up behind them. Every wall was covered in painted silk, depicting blood red blossoms against white snow. Daylight peeked in from broken beams, but the cavernous hall was a mix of shadow and light. Charms overhead clattered as something landed on the floor above him. No way but forward. Jou stopped, and he braced himself. Whatever creature was here, he had no choice but to face it.

“How,” a deep and heavy voice rang, “dare you!”

A gust of wind knocked Jou onto his back. A shadow passed overhead, and he looked up, just as the creature descended on him. Jou shouted, tossing up his arms, but he only felt the heavy weight of its scaled body, and the heat of its maw. Barking, rasping, teeth filled words rained down on him.

“I have shown you hospitality,” the creature said. “I showed you kindness. And how do you repay me?”

A single hooked claw pulled at his pack. Jou yelled, but the fabric tore, sending its contents onto the floor. The knife bounced away, along with his last few coins. The white rose floated out and landed on his chest. He didn’t care. The small bottle of blue pills was the last to fall, hitting the wood floor. A hundred demons could’ve been on Jou, but he turned away from the beast, grasping desperately before it could get away. A large clawed paw slammed down on his hand, and he cried out in pain. But the tip of the claw had stopped the bottle. The creature eyed it curiously with wide, ice blue eyes.

“What is this?” it growled.

“It’s for my sister,” Jou said. “It’s medicine.”

The creature pause, letting out a low growling breath. After a moment, it said, “For her you took the rose.”

“I didn’t think you would care,” Jou said.

“Don’t presume what I do and do not care for.” The beast’s heavy breath blew out. Its weight left Jou, and its claw scraped the bottle back into his grasp. “You have insulted me. After I’ve shown such kindness.”

Jou gripped the bottle in his palm, relief blooming in his chest. With his prize safe, he turned to the creature. “I picked a rose. It’s not exactly a capital crime.”

“Don’t get smart with me!” The beast was back on him, teeth snapping an inch from his face. Jou didn’t flinch. “You took what wasn’t offered! I should devour you now.”

Jou squeezed his fist tight. “You can do whatever you want with me, after I get this to my sister. She’ll only get sicker without it.”

Another pause. He could feel the ice blue eyes on him, staring him down like a snake does a mouse. Its body drew back, and for the first time he got a proper look at the beast. Like the dragons on the staircase, its face was long with a snake-like neck. White scales glistened beneath tufts of blue fur that dragged down its curved spine. Shags of hair covered an almost wolf-like body, scales flattening the underbelly. Long front arms had it sit on all fours with clawed fingers curling into the wood, and the back legs were bent like a dog’s. A long white tail curled around the creature. Two feathered wings folded against its spine, and a set of antlers lifted off its head, curving back. It was a creature unlike any Jou had seen before, large and imposing. With the white stairs behind it, it looked king of this castle.

“You’re right,” the creature said, a deep voice rumbling from within its snake neck. “It is not a capital crime. I won’t kill you.”

“Kind of you,” Jou muttered.

“But you’ve stolen my property,” it said, nodding to the rose. “An act of brazen theft. I will allow you the chance to work it off.”

Jou grimaced. “I’d rather you just eat me.”

The creature smiled, its wide jaw stretching back. It made him shiver.

“Come with me,” it said.

Standing back on its bent legs, the creature moved to one of the entryways. It glanced back at Jou, who came to his feet. He pocketed the bottle, and then, just to be brassy, he took the rose.

A stone walkway led to another part of the garden. Here, the pond poured out into a more proper lake. Stone arches rose out of it, the structure that was once there long crumbled. Some glass still remained in the windows, and statues rose up from the water like drowning animals reaching for their last salvation. A large stone window looked out into the lake. It was a perfect circle folding into itself. Silver characters were etched around the circle, and the creature touched them with its claw. The lake through the window wavered, like being viewed through a looking glass.

“I’ll give you three days,” the beast said, bowing its long head. “That will give you time enough to give your gifts to your sister. If you don’t return here by dusk on the third day, I will come after you, and I’ll devour you feet first, and you can wave goodbye to your sister as you die. Does that sound fair?”

“Three days isn’t enough time to travel there and back,” Jou said.

The creature nodded to the window. “This will take you where you want to go. It will be here when you’re ready to come back. You will return here, and pay your debt to me, and I will magnanimously let you live.”

Jou’s shoulders stiffened. “You’re that in need of a maid?”

That grin again. It was a ghoulish thing. “Or a pet. Whatever catches my fancy. Three days. You understand, yes?”

He breathed out. “Yeah. I understand.”

“Good. I’ll hold you to it.”

Jou hesitated, but he reached out a hand and touched the warbling window. It felt like passing through mist. He looked again at the beast.

“Three days,” it said, showing its teeth. “And not a second longer.”

And then Jou stepped through the looking glass.

He half expected to land in the water, and the creature would laugh at its sick joke. But he felt the world shift below him, and suddenly he was standing outside the gate to the village where his sister lived. Jou looked back and saw two trees folded together in the same shape of the window. No castle, no lake, no vines, no roses. He opened his palm, where the white rose had rested. The edges were curled and beaten from how he’d held it, but it was no less real than it had been a few minutes ago.

He could run. He could give Shizuka her medicine and take to the hills. He could cross the ocean or climb to the top of a mountain, where no one would ever find him.

And then the creature might come after Shizuka, or track him anyway. No, he’d made a promise. Jou would fulfill it. It was what he had to do.

...

Shizuka hugged Jou tight when he came to the door. They sat together until their mother came in. She cooked miso, and they didn’t say a word to each other as Shizuka filled the silence with every little thing that had happened since the last time they’d been together. At night he laid on a mat in a cold back room. For a moment, he wished for the hearth of the manor, and he shook it out of his head.

Jou spent his time with his sister. They did chores together, talked, and he hugged her tight when he told her he had to go again. As the sun sunk low on the horizon of the third day, she found him outside, carrying two cups of warm tea. They sipped it quietly as stars dotted the sky.

“You don’t have to go,” she said. “I know how mom is but–”

“It’s not her,” Jou said. “I have to go back. I’ve got debts to pay.”

She looked down into her teacup. Tucked behind her left ear was the white rose, still in bloom.

“I’m always worried you won’t come back,” she said.

“I will,” he promised. “You know I will.”

She smiled at him, though it was sad, and rested her head on his shoulder. They finished their tea, and he kissed her cheek, and then as the last rays of light touched the treetops, he said goodbye.

Jou crossed through the curved trees and stepped through. The same falling sensations brought him to the other side, the water behind him. Dark made long shadows fall from the trees like reaching limbs. The water gurgled, and small fireflies flittered by like moving stars. The night was cold and silent. He let out a breath as he saw the manor in front of him, and overhead he heard the slither of scales. He turned around and jumped at the sight of the creature curled around the stone window. It slid forward to meet him.

“You returned,” the beast said. “Good. I don’t have to eat you.”

It bared its teeth in a grin. Jou did the same back.

“I’m at your service,” he said. “Whatever the price of a rose.”

“More than you think.” The beast moved close to him, heated breath against his face. Blue eyes watched him for a moment, and then it stalked back towards the manor. “It’s already getting late.”

Jou glanced back towards the stone and the lake. Night set in faster here. He raced behind the beast.

Lanterns now lit the halls of the manor, some hanging loosely from hooks, others just left on the floor. Cold pressed in from the open roof, but the light helped stave it off. There were more sections of the manor, rising up along the rocks as though climbing the mountain. More painted silk decorated the walls. One mural showed blue herons in flight across the water. Another showed the mountain painted in black and surrounded by cherry blossoms. The staircase curved up, but the creature curled up at its base, daring him to move past.

“I’m not unkind,” the beast said, tapping its clawed hand against the stone steps. “You’ll have a room, and food. I won’t have my new servant die.”

“Jounouchi,” he said. The creature blinked at him. “Jounouchi is my name. I’m not your servant.”

“We’ll see,” it said.

Jou’s lip twisted, and he shook his head. “And what should I call you?”

The creature lifted its long head and leaned in close to stare at him. He didn’t back down from the glare. Lifting back onto its hind legs, it stood proud and regal, wings stretched out.

“I am prince of this castle,” it said. “This is my domain. All here are beneath me.”

“King Kaiba,” Jou said with a mock bow.

The creature’s feathers bristled. “How do you know that name?”

“It’s the name on the gate,” he said. “Unless you ate them too.”

Its teeth bore back in a grimace. “I did not. No, I’m inheritor of this estate. The last Kaiba bore me up. I am his final curse.”

“Then,” Jou said, “this is your home. This was your family.”

“In the strictest sense.”

The beast’s stance had gone from regal to tense. The wings folded back, the tail curled tight. Jou looked closer at the creature’s face. The eyes, blue eyes, seemed so cold, but now he could see something almost human. It–he must’ve sensed his searching gaze. The beast turned his head away.

“I’m tired of this conversation,” he said. “You can rest tonight. With sunrise, your work begins.”

“What about–”

“And don’t bother me.”

Before Jou could add anything else, the beast raised its wings and pushed off to the floor above. His tail disappeared into the tattered wooden planks, and he could only hear his creaking weight against the beams. Jou took a step onto the stairs, looking up, but he couldn’t see anything in the dark. Kaiba had made things clear. He was sequestered down here, while the beast could go where it pleased.

Jou opened the doors he could. There was a bed made up for him, simple but not uncomfortable. The kitchen was huge, with a fire started that didn’t quite reach the edges of the room. There were fresh bags of rice and simple vegetables, enough to make a meal out of. Jou’s stomach was in knots, and they only grew tighter as he took inventory of what he had. His host had prepared for him to stay a long time.

There was a room to bathe, though the water came from the pond around them, and Jou wasn’t ready to trust. A half-shuttered door was impossible to open, but he could peek a tea room through it. A long corridor came to a shoin where the shelves had been knocked aside. Scrolls and statues littered the floor, long ruined by weather. In most rooms, the doors and walls were torn apart by the nature around them. Tree limbs burst in and grew to the ceiling. Water grew higher where floorboards had sunken in, and wood beams fell against doors, making them impossible to force open. Jou’s exploration earned him little. He returned the hearth and rested his head beside it. Overhead, he could hear the movement of the house in the wind. Was it the beast that crawled around? Was he watching him now? How quickly would he tire of his new toy and, when he did, would Jou be allowed to leave?

Jou closed his eyes and thought of Shizuka. He’d promised her he’d return. No beast would stand between him and fulfilling that promise. He was absolutely sure of that.

#this needs a better title #it's still being worked on #i've been wanting to write this for so long #i'm really going to try to finish it #joukai week #kaijou #joey wheeler #seto kaiba #Jounouchi Katsuya