#now you can argue it's just another fabrication to draw someone into his web but there's something to think about there at least!

[reddogf13]

Crossing fates web ch 3

Pennywise x Beverly

summery: Beverly's life had drastically changed since childhood. claws, sharp teeth, the urge to devour human meat. a aggressive clan of vampires trying to claim her forcing her to flee from LA back to Derry for a save haven. where something else has awakened to the sensation that a female deadlight had arrived. a web of coincidences from their pasts have the two questioning fate.

status: In progress

rated: M - fowl language and gore

previous chap: Crossing fates web ch 2

next chap: Crossing fates web ch 4

_____________________________________

~ch:3 Comfort foods~

Pennywise had returned to the wagon with a torn apart rib cage in his arms. Something small and easier for her to eat around then dragging a whole corpse to eat in bed. Concerned by the den looking disturbed and the blankets hanging loosely from the bedding. Setting the meal aside he carefully folded the covers back to check on Beverly.

Surprised that she was no longer there with a twinge of pain hitting his chest. “why'd she leave? Was the den not good enough?” examining the den for any slip ups he didn't notice, however it all looked good to him. In his look over he caught the change in her scent across the bedding. It was much sweeter then before as perfectly ripened fruit in a way.

“Shes going into heat.” this making the steaks higher now in his goal to court. Beverly would be catching the attention of every male and there would be competition in courting her. He had a better chance of showing off when maybe one or two others tried courting in the down time. Without her attention torn in so many directions of a gathered crowd of suitors.

He'd have to step up his game, be more confident in what he presented to her. He also had to buckle down on his territory after the vampire incident. That's why the parasite was prowling outside his territory and first thing he did after entering was hunt down Beverly. penny wise wasn't letting any more parasites pass through his town to make more competition. After securing his borders his next step would be to get a dance with Beverly. It would jump him ahead against the rest of the competition even if it was only a little. He had to get her someplace with enough open space and no distractions to ruin it. With her not here any longer he sat at a vanity mirror desk to eat the little meal he brought. Planning where best to start the dance.

The next day Beverly got up for her class with her alarm clock blaring at her. Another cold shower followed by breakfast of pancakes. Her hunger not as aggressive as it was before. Hoping it was due to the pancakes and maybe after all these years her body realized it couldn't keep eating people to survive. In the back of her mind she knew better then to lean on that hope. Heading out the door to walk back to campus. Her car having been left in the parking lot after the fight incident. Arriving just in time to not be late when she reached the classroom door. Sitting through the boring lectures she heard before, with only a slight change to the project due to the upcoming seasons.

The lecturer showing off examples of last years designs paired with matching masks for a masquerade show. What was done best and what not to do. “your next project will be to make a dress you will present in at the schools upcoming masquerade ball. It can be fall, Halloween, or day of the dead themed. You have one week to make both dress and mask. You cannot make a cheap mask from those blank foam pieces at the craft store!” the professor warned before dismissing the class. Handing out packets summering the project on their way out.

Beverly drove straight to the craft store with her student money card for supplies. Looking over various fabrics that caught her eye. Overall making the dress a dark purple that would fade to orange with various colored autumn leaves decorating the bottom hem of the dress. Black sleeves and a black mask to stand out against her pale skin and bright red hair. Snagging new sewing equipment to replace the ones she abandoned in LA.

Driving home to start on clearing her design on paper. Fabrics trimmed to various measurements she took of her self. Getting most of the top half done and the mask completely ready. A simple design to not over shadow the dress as she wanted that to catch peoples eyes the most. Ignoring her hunger she worked for hours into the rising night. Stopping after she started attaching the longer flowing fabric of the dress to its upper half. Satisfied by how much work she had gotten through on the first day. The foundation set and then onto all the heavy detail work.

Groaning out of her chair from having been in the same position for hours. Cracking her back with a stretch of her limbs. Wanting to take a short walk before trying to eat a dinner not involving another person. Stretching further out on her nightly walk around her apartment parking lot. Taking in the cool fresh night air in their small courtyard with slim trees dotted around the grass field. Stomach disturbing the peace with a loud growl. Being out in the night reminded her too much of her hunts in LA.

She had to face it, she needed to hunt a meal at some point. “regular food doesn't cut it. Stop wasting money on something that doesn't work!” arguing to herself in thought. “i don't want to kill people for the rest of my life! Even if they do deserve it.” sighing out to mumble under her breath. “get it over with tonight and I can work without hunger.” enjoying the thought of working on a full stomach. “where to look?” thinking of checking under the bridges where drug dealers hanged out regularly.

Into the night she began her hunt without any rushing. Either she found someone or they made the mistake of finding her. Sometimes if she walked slow enough through alleys the problem would solve itself and she preferred it that way. It felt better taking those actively hunting others then one sitting around waiting. Steps approaching her from the trees catching her attention. Body locking up for the 2nd time in a row.

Pennywise had not expected Beverly to be out walking in the night. He was hunting for himself when he caught a glimpse of her under the street lights. His approach was meant to start a conversation, but instead triggered a dance to start. Caught off guard, but nothing he couldn't handle, soon as he realized. He took a step, then she did, excitement filling him as the courting dance started. He hadn't done one in ages, but had done so many long ago he knew the best tricks. There were no signals to direct a good guess to the male on where to go.

He figured out however that it was more of proper positioning then direction. Females didn't like being approached too head on. It was aggressive to them and they preferred a males approach from the side, almost out of view, but not quite. Younger males gambled on doing a zig zagging pattern in front that was 50/50 of females liking or not. He found his method worked 90% of the time. He was helped by the female not minding him, the ones that did would stare him down directly. Causing any attempts to crash and burn quickly.

Beverly started out the same, but he took his steps slow and avoided staring as he usual did. His stare having prey grow nervous around him, not wanting that effect here. Her aggressive stare back turning away to watch him from the corner of her eye. Steps between them drawing them both closer to the middle. A mere 5 steps away before he could embrace her and complete the dance. If he had a heart it would be thudding in his chest. Warmth building from his lights shaking at the excitement. Reaching out his hand to touch hers she was startled back.

The dance ruined by a loud gun shot echoing through the air. Beverly fled into the darkness like she did the first day she saw him. His chances crushed by some idiot shooting out in the dark woods. He roared at the air in defeated anger. What was he to do now? His chances of courting dropping to be last pick if he was still on her list at all. He already had a major disadvantage due to their past, he couldn't afford mistakes like this.

“what moron?!” pennywise's heartbroken fury locking onto the shooter in the woods. Twisting down into some wolf like beast running on all fours across the forest leaf litter. Snarling hot air out of his mouth glowing a fiery red. Skidding to a halt at the sight of a pack of idiots hooting and hollering over a killed deer. “red neck poachers ruined it for me?!” all the more insulted at knowing who was the cause.

He roared down the steep hill to them, charging down with paws loudly thudding against the dirt. The poachers didn't make out what was coming until it was too late. One tackled to the floor for his face to swiftly be mauled off. The others taking a few shots that didn't do anything to the beast hunting them. Ripping off limbs to eat away the meat right in front of the fallen friends. Their turns coming soon after one another leaving a gory display of mutilated corpses.

“you ruined my dance with her. Makes sense for you to help me make it up!” ripping out each of their hearts and chunks of good meat he didn't turn to shreds. Vowing to himself he'd get another chance to dance with her, somehow. Starting with all this meat to be turned into a wonderful gift shed love to wake up to the next morning. Preparing it as the sun was rising he quickly left it in her apartment. He shouldn't have invaded her space, but this gift he couldn't leave on her outside door mat.

Beverly woke to the strong scent of something that made her mouth drool. Rising up before her alarm went off to find the delicious source. Stopping in the kitchen door way at the sight of a pie strangely sitting on her small dining table. A perfectly round golden crispy pie in a golden pan to serve it in. the top middle having slits to allow the tasty steam freely flow out its top. Exposing its insides to be at least some part meat. A little crust formed to make a small decorative bow atop its over all covering. The closer she got to the pie appearing from no where the harder it was to resist.

Stomach aching to have a chunk of it, her mind skimmed over that earthly smell attached she would hate. Focusing solely on the juicy savory meat scent filling her small apartment. She grabbed a nearby knife to slice up the pie without grabbing a plate or napkin. At this point not even caring how hot the pie could be as she picked up a slice with her hand. Devouring half the slice immediately to start chewing through the meal. It was the best meat pie she had ever tasted before. Taking a quick glance at what it contained only to see finely grounded meat dripping a thick red gravy. Licking the gravy drippings from her hand before shoving down the rest of the lone slice.

She couldn't help but take a slice soon after swallowing down the last bite of the first. It was so filling unlike everything else disappearing to the void in her stomach. Everything got fuzzy before coming to on her remaining last slice. Passing through a blacked out feeding frenzy as she did after digging into a fresh kill. Pausing halfway through her last slice in questioning what was in the pie to make it so irresistible. Stomach satisfied enough that her mind ran clear again she caught that earthy scent. Stomach knotting over what that meant, yet her hunger refused to let her throw out the remaining pie. She had already eaten most of it without any ill effects or seeing anything out of the ordinary. Cautiously eating the last of it before heading back to bed. Catching her remaining few hours of sleep before the alarm officially woke her for the day.

Back to work on her dress as soon as she was up. Pushing all worry to the back of her mind was helped off the burst of energy she got. Due to that she was sure of the meat from that pie didn't come from any animal. Praying that it wasn't a child, with the only clue to it not being that was Pennywise's lack of immediate mocking. He wouldn't resist gloating that she ate children just like him. Shaking her head of the idea to keep on working without ruining the threading out of anger.

It was quiet for the whole week, at least for Beverly. Keeping her self mainly indoors to only leave for more supplies. While Pennywise was heavily patrolling his town for those leeches scrambling around his boarders. They weren't leaving despite him having killed their leader. “what are they waiting for? Still after Beverly?” he snorted toward the air with a laugh. “they wont have a chance.”

watching out for Beverly between his territorial inspections. Tempted to get her more food, but he couldn't keep invading her space to deliver it. He had to wait until she was out for longer then 10 minutes to personally give it. Sighing at when ever that would be. “what is she doing inside all day? Nesting? Nesting wouldn't take that long and not with those crummy fabrics for bedding.” he watched and waited until one day she left her apartment in the night. wearing a lovely flowing fall themed dress for something that must be important.

“was she going to a date?” worrying that some male had slipped by to court her. He forgot that she had a phone and could have been talking with someone this entire time. He followed the short drive to her collage where he figured out why such fancy dress up. The campus having a large “masquerade fall ball” banner hanging over the building entree way. Seeing her put on a mask gave him a grand idea on how to get close. Sneaking in with his own special disguise of dark dress ware far more old fashion and in tune to when balls were held in the olden days. Not his normal Victorian silver clown costume, nor even his clown face. One more human covered by a mask that he found a bit funny in layering on top.

Beverly and her class were called onto the stage for judging. Giving mini report cards afterwards with ratings and judge comments. She beamed at the high remarks under a large A+ on her card. Free to party the ball went on to start dances on the floor or group conversations. Hooked into a small group of classmates talking about their grades and dresses. A few girls she was getting close with to being friends. Talking over hanging out after the ball to do things around Derry for some fun. At one point Beverly wanted to grab another bottle of cola. Separating off from her new friend group in passing through the crowd. Annoyed the place was treated more like a rave with darkness aside from bright lights forming various patterns all over the place.

The corner of her eyes catching a small orange light that stood out from all the cold colors swirling around. A glance paying more attention catching them as a pair of bright golden eyes locking onto her through the dark crowd. She froze and so did he. Surprised she readied for a dance at all in such a cramped area full of distractions. She was certainly a strange one for their species, but her creation wasn't exactly normal in comparison. You were either born as dead lights, or like him, you were one of the originals first created by the other. A cluster of star dust and ever changing energy's crushed together to build a intelligent form.

He was more cautious this round between all the distractions winding between them. Heading toward her more aggressively to keep her focus on him at all times. Reaching a mere few feet away his lights shook in fearful excitement it'd be ruined all over again. When his hand touched her arm he went for the full grab to pull her into him. Hugging her close against him in a gentle warm embrace. Sensing her tense at first then relax into him. Beverly wasn't sure why she did all that, yet something felt right about it.

Something inside telling her to relax around him. Wrapping her arms around him to start into a bit more of a slow dance together. Taking in the large man gracefully dancing with her for what felt like the first time. Picking up that she blanked out again on how the two of them started dancing. Alarm bells going off in her mind she looked over him more though roughly. He was very tall, almost 7 feet with wide shoulders on a muscular build. Bright red hair like hers, pale smooth skin, grey silver eyes … but that wasn't right. His eyes weren't grey the entire time, they were bright like- taking a deep inhale she caught the scent of IT.

The glare he received from her told him he had done something wrong.

Shoved back by her, she bared her teeth at him. “get away from me!” running away again out of the large party room.

He didn't know what he did, however he couldn't let her run away again. They needed to come face to face at some point in order to communicate on anything. It wasn't best to chase her, yet he did through the crowded halls. Shedding his human form to track her easier without restraint. One mistake on her part cornering herself in a large coat closet she thought would be a stair case. Claws out and teeth bared at him shutting the door behind for privacy. He stood back in giving her all the space of the small coat room.

She snapped first. “what do you want?!”

“to speak with you.” he answered boldly. Spotting her condition still not doing well even after that small pie he gave. Did she eat anything at all? “do you want food?”

“not from you.” his answer making her angrier.

“are you having trouble hunting? I could feed you.”

“I AM NOT EATING ANYONE!”

he adjusted his posture to be very lax under her anger. He didn't want to fight her, unfortunately her anger was increasing. “you have to hunt someone. Your deadlights are dim, they'll starve and you'll die at this rate.”

mentioning that she had deadlights catching her attention. Enough to put her claws away that he mistook it a sign he could get closer to speak. “nothing else is working, correct? You have to-” stepping far too close for her liking.

“I AM NOT EATING CHILDREN LIKE YOU!” fully bearing her sharpened teeth in a snarl as she clawed into him for a fight. He bared his teeth right back out of reflex. Not wanting to hurt her he submitted under her aggression. Putting his teeth away as she slammed him into the ground. Pinning him by straddling him while her hands held his head down. Her growling at him dying down as he laid limply under her control. Losing the want to fight against one laying so submissively. She watched him as she stayed where she was in confusion. Tired after all the anger drained from her and unknowing how to proceed in getting off him to run away again.

Thoughts passing through her mind. “Why isn't he doing anything? He said I had deadlights, why, how? Did he do all of this?” starting to shiver off all the Adrenalin draining from her starved body. “no! I cant do this right now! I have to run.” panicking that she had no more energy to fight with.

Her glance toward the door had him bolting up to grab her. Holding her in another tight gentle hug she struggled against before giving in to the comforting surroundings he was providing. He didn't want her fleeing so soon on such negative terms. Soft rubbings along her arms calming her down enough to stop shaking. He moved to show minor amounts of affection. kissing her face to down along her neck to lightly lick across her delicate skin.

The feeling of what he was doing not as gross as she first thought. Giving into the long warm licks leaving behind a trail of heat. His scent sticking to her the longer she was kept in his embrace. That warmth across her skin pooling down to settle at her hips. Relaxing back onto his hips to feel something hard rub her back. That burning ache wanting to feel more of what was beyond the fabric. She shut her eyes in wincing at the need to slam herself down onto something. Mind pushing her to let him taking control. He could do exactly what she needed to cure this wanting ache between her legs. Even that long tongue wrapping around her would do. Imagining that twisting around inside to rub at her walls.

Even the clown under her was tempted to push somewhere more intimate. The scent of her heat churning a fire from his lungs down to his hips. Instead he kept himself under control with all his attention kept to her neck. The more he cared for her the more likely she was to accept his presence being around all the time. His attention giving shut down by her panicking in the shifting mood. Her claws scratching his face having him back down for her to freely be let go. Her attack not as aggressive this time, more flustered by the over attention. Leaving light markings that would heal in seconds.

He didn't chase her this time, being satisfied. He got to complete his dance with her, had her calm in his grasp long enough to not feel threatened. as well as seeing first hand he could arouse her in such a way. He was still a possibility on her list of selections to allow all of that. Tomorrow he would collect more food to present to her. Since she didn't like hunting, he'd hunt for her and prove he would be the best provider.

Unaware, to Pennywise and Beverly, outside of Derry was infested with the vampire clan fighting over who would rule next. One coming out on top after slaughtering all his challengers. A ruthless male lining up his new followers under his fresh position of clan leader. Grinning proudly to himself in satisfaction as he addressed the crowd.

“i told you that old fool would get himself killed. Now I am in charge and unlike him I'll get that female hiding in the beasts territory.” gesturing a hand toward the Derry border. “she'll be mine and we'll be the most powerful pair. All our future children will rule above all the clans! My dear marauders we will grow in ranks from my lead! Go out and hunt freely until we can make the next step.” sending the gathering clan to infest the woods like a plague. No visitors were going to make it into Derry now nor could anyone leave.

The safety of the new morning sun being the only mercy the small town would get from now on. Yet even that now had two predators searching for food. All the stress left Beverly feeling starved in class. Fidgeting uncomfortably in her seat, caused by that burning cycle rising to make her on edge. It was a miracle she was able to get notes down for her class, even if it took some deciphering of her shaky chicken scratch. Heading off campus during lunch break to take in the fresh air of the surrounding pine tree forest. Standing under the shade of one tall pine by the slow flowing river. The sounds of running water and its refreshing scent covering the approach of a stranger.

Beverly's attention snagged by the male speaking. A thuggish looking dude with a white wife beater, sleeveless denim jacket. Ripped black pants a greasy mullet and a toothpick hanging out of his mouth. “didn't expect such a lovely girl hiding in the forest.”

Beverly subtly let her anger slip through a deep growl. Not in the mood to deal with some creep when she clearly wanted to be alone. “i am trying to get some fresh air. Leave before I decide to fill your shoes with barf.” lightly threatening him, although she wasn't sure if she had anything to throw up.

“your probably sick from hanging out in these woods. Getting attacked from mosquitoes and all the creepy crawlies out here. Ain't safe for a little girl to be in the dark woods. We can go to my place and hang out their with a couple of drinks.” stepping too close for comfort.

“not interested.” Beverly growled again, feeling her teeth shifting to a sharper threat.

“come on.” its not far, grabbing her hand.

Beverly snarled as she lashed out with her claws. God, she hated when morons thought it was perfectly fine to touch her. She could be the rudest person on earth and they still wouldn't take the hint she wouldn't just stand there passively as they felt her up. All of them before him learned their lesson quick, and now was his turn. The memorable feeling of her claws shredding through meat so easily. Like waving a hand through the water, easy with minor push back. Coated in liquid that dripped from the tips of her fingers. The powerful smell most would explain as bitter copper, but not her. For her it was something mouth watering as a juicy hunk of meat finely grilling, covered in rich spices for flavor.

The man, still on his feet with bleeding gashes across his chest let out multiple curses. His words a blur to Beverly as she pounced on him. Ripping a chunk free of his neck to quickly swallow down. Her vision twisting red to a desperate hunger with a single goal, to feed.

Disturbed by a sharp pain to her stomach forcing her to back up. Looking down at a knife wound the man caused before fleeing away between the trees. This was a little surprise for Beverly that wasn't going to slow her hunt in the long run. Chasing after him for another aggressive bite leading into a viscous mauling. Ripping chunk after chunk of meat of the screaming man. Taking even more after he fell silent from the severe wounds he suffered.

Blood dripping from her jaws to stain the collar of her shirt. Sleeves suffering the same fate as her hands dug into her fresh kill. Chewing one mouthful the red vision left her to calm down on a full stomach. Stuck chewing a bit of her meal while not feeling to great. She hated when this happened and rather have full control of her self when doing this. Swallowing down the bite as she looked over the corpse before her. Wanting to take more of her meal, but having her appetite lost. Taking another moment of the surrounding fresh air she caught wind of a scent almost similar to the pines. That underlying brewed coffee snapping her attention toward the source. That clown crouching, similar to her, in the nearby brush. Giving her space around her fresh kill.

“why don't you finish it?” he asked curiously with his usual smile. Receiving aggressively bared teeth in return from her. “you took him down a lot quicker then I expected. How long have you been hunting?” further questions building her agitation.

“go away.” she snapped, about ready to maul him the same as the meal below her claws.

#It (2017) #pennywise #beverly marsh #pennywise x beverly marsh

[redfoxwritesstuff]

Clover and Lace, Chapter 15

Chapter warning: References to childhood abuse, forced childhood prostitution and graphic description of spousal abuse/murder.

Well kids, this chapter is two days late but about 800 words longer than normal. Ever wondered what Rosemary and Julian's childhood was like? What sort of childhood would make these two people?

A quick thanks to @winterisakiller who has had to put up with me while I write this and pretty much everything else in the last few months. Somehow she hasn’t murdered me yet and that’s worth a whole hell of a lot. Into RPF and Tom Hiddles? Check her out (That’s a order, not a request. <3)

As always, you can find my masterlist on my page or by searching “Kit’s Masterlist”. Just four more weeks of Clover and Lace to go! 

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

Chapter 15

Rosemary’s shoulders ached. Her fingers were slightly numb though she wiggled them periodically to make sure she still could. Her joints hurt and part of her would kill for the chance to just get up and stretch, though she was sure if she tried to stand her knees would buckle under her weight.

Around her, men spoke in a language she didn’t understand. The cabin of the small aircraft vibrated with the force of the engines as they sailed through the air, high above the ground. For the life of her, she couldn’t remember getting on the plane. That gap in memory caused her to rightly believe she had been drugged at some point.

With no memory of take off, she had no way of knowing how long they had been in the air. They could have taken her anywhere. If she didn’t know where she was it would make it even harder to call for help.

She wondered where they were taking her but part of her feared she already knew the answer. It had been a mistake to save Steve’s life. It had been a mistake to step into Avenger business. She tried to tell herself that she should have just let Steve and his team die, though she couldn’t get herself to believe it.

A man walked up to her and with a thick accent that seemed to confirm her fears, he spoke. “You have questions, yes?”

“Can I get a large quad shot mocha? And maybe unchained?”

Perhaps sassing wasn’t the best idea. Actually, when the man reached out and slapped her hard, she was pretty sure it had been a bad idea. Still, it made her feel better for a second. But she did learn something valuable, at least one person on this plane spoke English.

“What do you want with me?” She shouted as the man walked away. The more he talked, the more she could learn. “Where are you taking me?”

“We want location of weapon.”

“What weapon? I don’t know anything about a weapon. I think you’ve kidnapped the wrong person.”

“You’re Lady Ramsey.” Well shit- they kidnapped the right person.

“My name is Sara Wilson.” If only they would take that answer.

“Sara Wilson has only existed for one year.” Gosh, has it been that long already? “You are Lady Ramsey. You are the Lady Spider.”

She spent the rest of the flight trying to deny it. She argued, supplied facts from her fabricated childhood that could be verified on the surface level. After a few hours, she had tried to convince them to let her out of her chains. She asked for a bathroom break and was offered a bucket and a group of men who seemed all to eager to watch her use it. Turned out, she didn’t have to go that badly after all.

It had been a long flight and the sun had gone down hours before when they finally descended into a clearing. The plane made a rough landing on what appeared to be a private airstrip in a thick jungle. The air was thick with misquotes eager to feed from them. It was a shame applying bug spray wasn’t a part of her morning routine though in reality she knew it would have worn off by now anyway.

She could just imagine cuddling with Steve while covered in the strong scent of bug spray. That would surely increase the odds of a repeat of this morning. Every man loved to smell of it, right?

This morning seemed so long ago. It was another lifetime. One where she could pretend that she was just Sara Rose Wilson. With how they parted- did he even know she’d been taken? Had he tried to reach her? Did he call? She should have let him in. She should have trusted him. Perhaps he did turn her into Shield, perhaps he did just use her but Shield wouldn’t have killed her. Probably. Hopefully.

It didn’t matter- Julian would be looking for her. He would have called within 20 minutes of her text message. She should have just stayed home and packed. But no, she wanted one last milkshake from the ice cream store down the road.

She was pushed along the dark pathway from the plane with a hand firmly in her hair. Really, it was starting to piss her off. They shoved her into a small shack with one light bulb hanging from the ceiling and a metal chair bolted to the ground. It wasn’t lost on her how stereotypical the scene was and if not for the fact that she wasn’t sure if she was going to live to leave the shed, she would have laughed.

They secured her chains to the chair and left her there, turning off the light as they went out the door. Moonlight shone in through the small dirty window. Rosemary listened for signs of life outside. When she found none, she pulled on her chains.

They held fast, tightly secure with very little give. The reality that she was stuck there, trapped with no way out hit her hard. She even had her damned phone- at least she was pretty sure, silent in her jacket pocket. It did her little good with no way to reach it. She could only pray that it connected to some sort of radio tower near by, if it wasn’t shattered from how many times she had been thrown onto hard surfaces. Rabbit was not activated and she had no way to activate it in her current position.  Even in the best case, that the phone was still in her jacket pocket, had charge and wasn’t shattered beyond use it wasn’t useful in that moment.

She had no way to help herself. All she could do was sit and wait. If she got lucky, she would see a friendly face who owed her a favor. The odds were slim however- much of her web she wouldn’t know on sight and she was so very far from home.

This was a terrible situation. Rosemary closed her eyes and leaned her head back. Would Steve come for her? Would he miss her? Did he betray her? While she was alone, she may as well think back to happier times as tears gathered in her eyes.

A smile graced her face as she thought back to being a young girl, running through the forest with her brother while the sun glittered off the leaves and grass as if they were emeralds. Their task had been to gather wild food but it meant valuable time out from under their father’s thumb. It was a rare time when they could play and act like children as they ran through the greenery and played in the sun. Still, if they didn’t gather enough food there was a mighty beating that would greet them when they got home with too light pockets.

She thought back to the way Steve looked when when she had first seen him from across the crowded room, the warm lights making his hair look more like warm caramel than gold. Her heart had skipped a beat when he smiled the first time. Butterflies seemed to take up residence in her stomach when he spoke to her, his voice smooth and low. While she felt like a nervous mess with his imposing size, handsome face and hardly hidden muscles yet he seemed to be just as nervous.

Their fist date had been perfection and absolutely nothing she had expected. It had been so perfectly them when at the time there hardly was a ‘them’ that even for those things that went wrong, it was everything she needed it to be. It felt amazing to dance in his arms. It felt amazing to be with him.

She was addicted to him. She couldn’t help but fall for him and fall she did. It happened hard and fast, leaving her terrified yet wanting more every moment. Steve’s kiss seemed to draw new fire to desires that only simmered within her before. He gave her a taste of what being in love could be like, what being desired could be like.

Their easy conversations brought her peace even when she was having to make less than wholesome deals. Never had she feared for someone the way she had feared for him during his mission. It was a deep fear that shook her to her core. Never did she think she could feel that sort of fear in her life.

She may have slept for short spells as she sat in that metal chair, dreaming of what could have been, what had been. Somehow that first night felt impossibly long. Each time her head would jerk and she would wake from the light sleep, it felt like no time had passed at all.

Rosemary sang herself some folk songs from when she was a child, filling the dim and musty space with the sounds of the few happy childhood memories she had. Morning light began to come through the small window and fill the space when morning finally came. She could see how small the room was.

It was just as small as she feared. The floor, though solid, was covered in dirt, grass and straw. Water pooled in places and looking up, she could see the light coming through areas where the tin roof had rusted through. She was thankful it hadn’t rained during the night though if it had she could have possibly gotten a sip of water.

Rosemary was resigned to the fact that she would likely die here. Perhaps they would keep her alive for a few days or a few weeks. Maybe longer. They wanted the information she had access to. They wanted to use her web for their own gains.

She wouldn’t allow them to. The threads of her web reached far and wide. If her contacts fell into the wrong hands she feared for the world. Governments could topple with shifts in the balance of power. Her web would die with her and that would be worth it. Rosemary watched a disturbingly large spider crawl out of the shed as she decided that she’d lived a good life.

If she died now, that was okay. She had done all she had dared to dream of and more. She had seen the world. She’d lived a good life, better than she had dared to hope when she was nothing but a small child cowering under her father’s fists. She had even found and experienced something she never expected, love.

Closing her eyes, she tried to imagine Steve’s touch. She focused on the way his hands felt on her and the way his kiss made her beg for more. She would have given anything just to see his smile one more time. In her head, she played back the sound of his voice when he said he loved her. It didn’t matter to her in that moment if it was true or not, if he had used her or not. What mattered was that she loved him.

The door was chained closed at some point. It must have happened while she dozed in the middle of the night because she had no memory of hearing the rattle of chains. She would have remembered the sound, had she been awake. It was loud as someone outside unlocked the chains and let them fall to the ground.

Slowly, the door came in and someone Rosemary hadn’t expected to see at all walked in holding a tray of absolutely delicious smelling food. Spiced broth spilled a bit as the woman walked in and smiled warmly even as Rosemary’s blood ran cold. Detective Mary O’kelley was the one person she didn’t expect.

“Don’t look so surprised.”

“I’m pretty sure this violates more than a few international laws.” Rosemary put a bright smile on her face. “How’s your dad?”

“He died.”

“I’m terribly sorry to hear that. He was a good man and a good cop. Mostly.”

“He wasn’t willing to do whatever it takes to put down the parasites who would go so low as to kill their own father. You know, we found your mother’s body. I bet you two killed her too.”

“We took no part in their deaths. That wasn’t us. Now come on, you were an honorable cop. Don’t do this. Let me go.”

“Tell me why you killed him?”

“We didn’t!” Rosemary yelled before schooling her emotions again. “We planned on it. We intended to. We would have. But we didn’t. He was already dead when we came home that night. There was so much blood.”

“You were heard talking about slitting his throat. Just admit it and this can all be over.”

“We talked about it, yeah. But we were going to wait till he drank himself to sleep and suffocate him. Why does this matter so much to you? It didn’t matter this much before.”

“Because this murder we can prove. I can prove. But you killed her too. You killed my mother.”

“No one even knows who your mother was. You dad just showed up with a babe. At least that’s what they said.” Rosemary was thoroughly confused. Mary was older than they were but it was well known that her father had just came home one day with a child he called his own.

“Somehow, she loved you two more! Why wasn’t Pap good enough? Why wasn’t I good enough?”

“What are you talking about?”

“She was my mother too!” Mary screamed. “And you killed her! You killed her and then you killed your own father.”

“You’re mother… That’s why?”

Mary threw the bowl of hot broth at Rosemary before throwing the whole tray at her. Bowls clattered around her and rice flew everywhere. She could only watch helplessly as Mary stormed out and the shed door was slammed shut behind her.

Calmly she sat and listened as the chain rattled outside and the door was locked again. Passively, she wondered exactly how Mary- and now she was only Mary and not worth of the title Detective- expected her to try and escape the shed if she was chained to the chair.

When the rattling stopped, Rosemary desperately licked what grains of rice she could reach that had clung to her face. It was hardly more than a few but it was all the food she would have and she wouldn’t waste anything she could get.

Sitting there she watched bugs run around on the ground, eager for the spilled food as she thought. Mary held a personal grudge. She was being blamed for the death of Mary’s mother, someone Rosemary hadn’t ever known. Except it seemed she did know who Mary’s mother was.

Rosemary remembered the night that their mother died clearly. It was one of the few things she could never forget regardless of how hard she tried. Their father yelled and screamed, though such was normal for him. Items were thrown and broken and through it all, Rosemary tried to remember exactly what had triggered that last fight.

“You bloody cunt!” The booming voice of their father seemed to rattle the walls. A small girl clung to her brother and together they prayed that he wouldn’t notice them.

“Don’t you yell at me!” The woman with hair the color of fire screamed back, throwing a pot. It was a scene they had seen countless times before and yet somehow, this time it felt fundamentally different in a way they would only understand when it was too late.

“You think you can run around behind my back and hide the money?” The man slapped the woman hard. The blow sent her down onto the dirt floor in a crumpled heap.

“There is no money!” She cried as her fingers dug into the dirt. “I didn’t charge him a coin.”

“You’re nothing but a whore. The world’s cheapest whore apparently!” The man’s leg pulled back and he kicked her hard in the stomach before reaching down and pulling her up by her hair in order to scream in her face again, calling her a useless whore and other vile things the children had all heard before.

“He loves me!” She yelled as she slapped at him. “He said he will take me and the kids in! I just have to ask and I will. I will leave you!”

“Bet that little bitch of his would love having a whore like you to call mum.”

The children watched as their father’s hand clamped around their mother’s throat and squeezed. She clawed at his arms and neck, leaving long angry red lines crossing along his skin. Finally, possibly by luck, she managed to scratch deeply at his eyes as red blood beaded up on his arms. When he let go of her, he shoved her away from him violently. Her body was weak from lack of oxygen or perhaps the adrenaline was why her knees buckled and she fell harshly to the ground. A sickening pop rang out as her foot twisted in a way that the children both knew it most surely should not twist.

She screamed as she crawled away from him but he was on her in nearly an instant. With a fist in her hair, he lifted her off the ground again. Terror was clear in her eyes and fueled her as she kicked out wildly, catching him on the shin repeatedly. When he let go, she fell hard in front of the stone ledge of the fireplace.

He was enraged at her for having the nerve to finally fight back and this time when his hand gripped her hair he didn’t lift her head more than a foot off the ground before he slammed it down. The sound of her skull hitting the stones around the fireplace was sickening. Though Rosemary could clearly hear it in her mind all these years later, she could never begin to put words to that sound. He repeated the action again and again as blood spilled from the side of her head and her nose. Though she had gone limp, he did not stop.

The young girl that had grown into Rosemary clung to the boy who would later choose Julian as the name he would give himself. He held her face into his shoulder and whispered in her ear, trying to drown out the crushing sound of their mother’s bones breaking. Her brother was always her rock and this night like so many others, she clung to him.

They didn’t sleep that night. Instead, they clutched each other as they cowered next to the couch. Rosemary couldn’t look, even if she had tried. Julian held her face lightly in the crook of his neck and one could easily wonder if protecting her from the sight gave him some sense of control over the situation. He would grow into a man who greatly favored being in control.

“You’re mother left. You saw her walk out the door. She didn’t love you.” Their father announced as if that somehow overrode their eyes.

“Yes Papa.” The children both responded dutifully, as if they didn’t see the blood and hair pooled by the hearth.

His eyes however were glued to the mess that had once been their mother’s head. It no longer looked like the face of the woman who would sing them to sleep when their father passed out for the night, kissing the hurts inflicted by the man who should have been protecting them. Their father dragged the lifeless body out into the back garden with a shovel. For the first time in many years, they were allowed peace that night as he buried their mother.

It was the first time in months they had enough time to get some solid sleep through the night. It was a shame neither of them managed to sleep that night or the following night. When Julian did finally sleep, he often woke with nightmares that would force the air from his lungs in a violent scream. Rosemary would do everything she could to muffle it, even if it meant risking holding a pillow over his face. If father was woken up by the noise they would both be beaten.

Within six months their father had brought another woman home. She was tall and her hair lacked the warmth in the color that their mother’s had. It was a cold blonde, frizzy and wild in a way that lacked the grace of their mother’s soft curls. The woman’s face was sharp and angular. There was no kindness or love in her eyes for anyone, let alone the children of another women.

“This is your new Mum.” Their father said as if that was all it took to make it so. The children nodded and agreed, as if he had declared that the sky was blue.

The woman would go on to become one of their greatest abusers. It was her that suggested and encouraged their father to take his greed to greater heights. It was her that told him how much people- terrible horrible people would pay to have time with a young girl to indulge in vile acts.

As the now adult Rosemary sat in the dim shed alone with her thoughts and memories, she wondered what ever happened to that woman who they called ‘mum’ and had never once thought of as a mother. Did the police ever investigate her? Did it even matter? Rosemary didn’t care who did the deed and offed their father but she had dared to dream that they had taken her out as well. It was that woman’s terrible idea to sell off her virginity to the highest bidder. It was her idea to sell Rosemary’s body to men night after night. If the woman had been violently killed, Rosemary would still think it wasn’t enough of a punishment.

Long ago Rosemary had moved on, he was dead and that was all that really mattered to her. He would never harm them again. Their lives were their own now. Their decisions were their own though it had taken Rosemary a very long time to make a choice without Julian’s opinion and approval.

If she was going to die with Steve being the only choice she made on her own, she would indulge in the memories of him. With what little time she had left, she would put side the thoughts about what had passed as a childhood. It was far better to indulge in the fresher memories of far better times. It was better to spend her last hours or days thinking about the taste of Steve’s kiss, how safe she felt in his strong arms and the way his warm hands would touch her.

There wasn’t a better thing she could pick to have as her last thoughts.

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

Tag list: @0-0-0-0-0-0-0-7, @theoneanna, @alexakeyloveloki, @dangertoozmanykids101, @j-u-s-t-4, @missaphrodite23, @bambamwolf87, @princess76179, @fairlightswiftly, @nonsensicalobsessions, @tinchentitri, @michelegurl

Want in on the tag list? Just drop me a word and let me know. 

#steve x oc #steve rogers x original female character #steve rogers x reader #steve x reader #steve rogers x oc