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gimmehyuck · 2 years

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reckless heroism | l.dh

summary. you've kept your secret for all of six months, mostly to keep your friends - him - safe. when he finds out, it puts your skills of truly wanting to keep him safe to the test.

or in other words, he's your mary jane. the damsel in distress. and he may or may not be happy about it.

pairing. protective med student!hyuck x spiderwoman!yn, feat. nomin

words. roughly 10.3k~ish

genre. friends to lovers, angst, general fluff, serious mutual pining, seriously, they know they like each other and so does everyone else, some action? idk i wrote this after obsessing over the latest spiderman movie it just took me a century to post it, technically two kiss scenes.

warnings. a bi jaehyun is a Very Bad Guy™, like a bit unhinged and does not nice things. you have been warned. also mentions of blood, injuries, guns, things blow up etc. it's an action based au, whatever else comes from that. also i know nothing about med school, sorry.

p.s. i use an -almost- direct line from tom holland's spiderman... see if you can spot it... hehe

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donghyuck wasn’t sure how he ended up in this position.

categorizing his injuries quickly like his training taught is what helped him stay grounded. his ribs felt as if they had taken a severe beating, and his head was throbbing.

probably a concussion.

his eyes burned from the blood that leaked down his face into them from a gash he got earlier, facial wounds always bled worse he reminded himself. he was nauseous but he assumed that was from the overwhelming smell of smoke from the explosion that destroyed half the building.

he brought his hand up to cradle his head, his ears were ringing so loudly. and they just kept ringing, and ringing, and ringing, and…

“hyuck, please! focus!” he finally heard the yelling over the sound of sirens going off in his head.

he blinked once, twice, trying to get his eyes to lock in and focus; he searched around to try and find the sound of the voice that had yelled for him.

his blurry vision tried to clear but it went in and out in intervals. with the moments spent in focus, he saw you, standing over him, shouldering a very heavy looking slab of concrete, arms shaking from the weight.

“hey, hyuck, are you with me now?” you groaned, face screwing in exertion.

he noticed your suit was torn in places, your mask long since forgotten, dust and debris littered your face and hair. you were bleeding from cuts on your face and even though he could see you physically shaking from trying to hold up the weight, he saw you sigh in annoyance at him.

“hyuck!” you yelled this time, frustration lining your voice.

“yeah,” he croaked out, his voice coming out gravelly.

“yeah, i’m here now.” he squinted up at you, watching as your frustration ebbed away and you smiled.

even in all this, you still smiled at him. and that’s when everything came back in a flood, and he realized…

maybe this was his fault after all.

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donghyuck was playing his game loudly on his PC, rapidly clicking his mouse and yelling through his headset.

“jaemin, no, no, dammit! now i’m dead because you – jeno, don’t yell at me for yelling at your boyfriend, i just died!” donghyuck whined dramatically into the mic, and he jumped a little when he heard his door open and click shut.

“hyuck,” he heard your familiar voice calling softly from across the room. since he was dead anyways, he swiveled around in his chair, a smile already working its way on his face, but the moment he saw you, he froze.

his brain took a moment to process what he saw and even then, it still didn’t make any sense. his mouth opened and shut rapidly, trying to form any semblance of a thought, any attempt of words but eventually he landed on just your name.

“y/n is there? turn on your camera so we can say hey!” he heard jisung say through the headset. you seemed to have heard jisung and you rapidly shook your head no, putting a gloved finger to your lips. you made a motion pointing at his headset and made a slicing motion across your throat. when he didn’t move a muscle, you repeated the motion more frantically, eyes almost seeming to panic. putting your hands together in a plea, then repeating the charades of telling him to turn off the game.

finally he acted, clearing his throat before saying, “no, y/n isn’t here but she is calling. i’ll get back on later, bye guys.” and he was met with a chorus of “ooooh the girlfriend is calling” and what donghyuck thought was very childish kissing sounds coming from chenle and jisung, but regardless of how childish it was, it still caused a blush to creep up his neck and make its way into his cheeks.

clicking the headset off and dropping it around his neck, he and his red cheeks focused back on you. standing across the room, you were dressed in a red and black skintight suit, with a giant spider across the chest.

“you’re cosplaying now?” he asked with an eyebrow raised, his voice taking on a sarcastic tone. “you never showed any interest at all in spider-woman when we’ve all discussed her, and where did you get that costume? it looks nicely made, you nearly failed homec in high school so…”

he watched as you took a deep breath before opening your mouth to say the unbelievable., “it’s not a cosplay. it’s not a costume. it is my suit. it was technically a gift but… i am spider-woman.” you raised a finger for each point you made, your face and tone showing extreme seriousness that he would have found almost comical if he hadn’t begun to notice your face had become a little paler than when he had first seen you enter. narrowing his eyes slightly, his brain trying to figure out what was going on, he went on to huff a laugh. “you’re so full of shit.”

“look,” you ran your hand through your hair and sighed, donghyuck noticing you had started to sway a little, but you began to emphasize your points by talking with your hands again as you spoke. “i know this is a lot to take in suddenly, and i’m gonna go ahead and apologize to you for lying to you these past six months, i didn’t know how to properly tell you that ‘hey i was bitten by a radioactive spider and now i can do things i can’t explain’ because i knew you’d act like this, but i don’t have anywhere to go right now and i really… really need your help.”

and that’s when you swayed so hard, you staggered against the standing dresser sliding down its front, shaking it so hard that his textbooks fell off.

donghyuck flew across the room to kneel by your side, noticing your breathing was a little labored. you laughed a little at how quickly his demeanor changed from sarcastic to serious.

“okay, okay. you’re spider-woman and you’re forgiven for lying, what happened?” he said, going into what you called his No Nonsense Mode. he ran to his desk to grab his med kit and rushed back to your side.

“i was shot and the bullet is lodged in my arm, and i can’t remove it myself, i’ve tried and i can’t heal unless it’s out. i need you to pull it out.” it was matter-of-fact the way you spoke about what had happened to you. donghyuck placed his stethoscope on your chest and listened for any irregularities, not missing the way his heart lurched when you mentioned you were shot with nonchalance. once he couldn’t find any irregularities though, he got out scissors and began cutting the fabric away from the wound on your arm, that he wasn’t sure how he didn’t notice it earlier, but, he told himself (in his defense) the majority of the suit was black, it didn’t really stand out.

“you really should have gone to the emergency room to have an actual doctor do this.” he scolded softly, taking gauze and wiping away the excess blood from the site.

you snorted. “what? just, swing into the ER and go, ‘i can’t take off my mask for you but i need you to treat my gunshot wound’? yeah, that’ll go smoothly. besides, you’re a doctor.” you murmured as you watched him rummage in his kit for whatever tool he needed.

“i’m training to be a doctor, i’m not a doctor, yet. there’s a literal board certified difference.” he corrected, cutting his eyes at you. you lifted your other hand in surrender.

“it’s all the same to me.” you replied.

“how have you not needed me before now?” he asked before taking off a cap of a bottle and looking directly into your eyes as he said, “this is going to sting a little.”

“i heal quickly, broken ribs are nothing but – ah, shit!” crying out sharply in pain, eyes bulging at the liquid that burned worse than you thought it would.

“you said sting, you liar!” and he smirked at you, your heart leaping a little at the look. “that’s for lying to me.”

“yeah, sure. a huge identity secret that could get all my friends and family killed that i kept secret to protect you means you can hurt me with alcohol. sure, sure.” you rolled your eyes as he shrugged.

“it’s all the same to me,” he quoted you, but then frowned a little. “i’m going to dig it out now. and this will actually hurt, do you need me to grab something for you to bite down on, or… or squeeze?” he asked, his laser-focused attention shifting from your face to the hole in your arm.

you shook your head and gripped your thigh tightly. he nodded and began to find the object that was keeping you from healing yourself. you could feel the bruises start to come up on your knee as your arm shook from the pressure you applied to try and take your mind off of the pain your best friend was inflicting on you.

you watched his face as a distraction and distantly thought it was cute that he stuck his tongue out between his lips in concentration. after agonizing minutes, he finally let out an excited, “got it!”

he showed you the offending metal excitedly between the long medical tweezers and you let out a heavy sigh of relief, and you could feel your body jump into overdrive to try and heal the area.

“i think i’m going to pass out, and if i do… just leave me here. i’ll wake up in thirty minutes, tops.” you mumbled a little too softly before doing exactly what you said you would do, and slumped over onto donghyuck’s lap. considering you warned him beforehand, he only let himself panic for all of thirty seconds before he grabbed a pillow from his couch and gently moved your head from his lap to the pillow.

he rummaged around in his kit for more gauze and started to clean the area of the blood that had gushed out during the process of him removing the bullet, as he did so his hands froze midair. he could only watch in awe as he saw your skin start to heal itself, the tissues and skin closing up from the inside out. and sure enough, within thirty minutes, it was as if you had never been injured, and five minutes after that, you stirred awake. you blinked a few times up at him, and he continued to stare down at you as if he were mapping out the details of your face.

“you lied.” he said, and you groaned, throwing an arm over your eyes.

“i told you i was sorry!” you immediately went on the defensive.

“it took you thirty-five minutes, you said thirty tops.” he raised one eyebrow, giving you his signature irritating smirk that always gave you butterflies.

you thought for a moment, “hmm, must have lost more blood than i realized.”

you both stared at each other for a few awkward seconds before you let out, “so you’re…. not… mad at me? i wanted to tell you the moment i found out, i swear. but every chance i got i – ” and your voice came out smaller and smaller with each word, more than you had hoped it would. you weren’t sure why, but you knew that if he was angry it would hurt you more than you had realized it would.

“hey, chill. how could i be mad?” he sounded confused, looking away to put something in his kit. “no, i couldn’t be mad at you. i can rationalize why you did it. it makes sense why you didn’t tell me. but no more secrets from here on.” he cut his eyes over at you sternly.

“promise, no more secrets.” you agreed with a nod.

“but… now that i know…” he said, stern look morphing into a more mischievous one and the smile he wore made you shift. “i have so many questions.” the intense staring contest came to an end when you smiled back.

“alright, shoot.” you offered and sat up. when you noticed he gave you an instant unamused look, you amended sarcastically. “oh, too soon? sorry. you may proceed, your majesty.”

and oh, he did.

two hours of nothing but rapid fire questions, answering everything from:

“what are your powers?”

“the powers of a spider, hyuck.”

“yes, i can tell, but what exactly can you do?”

to:

“have you really robbed banks like that tabloid said?”

“do i look like i’m suddenly millions of dollars richer to you?”

after the intense game of twenty thousand questions, he seemed satisfied with all of his answers he received until he came down to the last one.

“what were you doing when you were shot?” he asked, deep concern written all over his face. you had scared him, you realized. he was just now processing everything that had happened, the excitement was falling away so he had to deal with what had happened and you had frightened him more than you thought you would.

“there’s a mob boss, he’s trafficking in a new kind of drug that is killing so. many. people. i think he may have manufactured it to kill but i’m not sure on that part. i was getting close to the warehouse, and he knew it. i ran into an ambush, but not before i destroyed a case of the drugs. they seem to be highly flammable somehow but anyway, there’s still so much more though, hyuck. i just acted first this time before coming up with a plan.” you became more and more enthused as you spoke but when donghyuck didn’t respond, you looked up to find him picking at his fingernails. he did this when he had something to say but wasn’t sure if he wanted to say it, you noticed in elementary school and it was his biggest tell when he had secrets. which meant he never really had secrets from you.

“hyuck, what is it?” you leaned over and touched his fiddling fingers, stilling them. he waited a few more moments before looking up and making eye contact.

“you’ve been doing all of this for six months… alone. and it’s… it’s dangerous. you’re… why are you choosing to be reckless?” his voice came out accusatory but small, almost a little unsure of himself. and it made you pause, because it was so unlike him. your hyuck, the extremely smart med student. almost overly, frustratingly self-confident, was always self-assured, but the last half hit an uncomfortable spot in your chest. a spot that signaled an argument. your eyebrows drew together and you tilted your head to the side.

“it’s dangerous, yeah, but it’s nothing i can’t handle. i’ve been handling it. and i’m not being reckless. i can’t just not use this to help people. it happened to me for a reason.”

“yeah but,” he hesitated again. he didn’t want this to come out the way he was worried it was going to. “you could get hurt, you have been hurt! what if you didn’t make it here in time? this screams recklessness to me.”

“it… it doesn’t matter if i get hurt, and i did make it here in time… look, when you can do the things i can, and you’re given a chance to help but you don’t, and then the bad things happen… they happen because of you.” you argued simply, your voice taking on a tone of pleading to match your eyes.

“it doesn't matt- it matters to me!" hearing you say your life wasn’t as important to you as others nearly gave him a heart attack. he was almost rendered speechless at those words. keyword: almost, "you could be killed! what part of that don’t you get? everything you just said isn’t heroism, y/n. that’s just self-imposed guilt.” he yelled, the sudden rise in his voice startling the both of you.

“no, it isn’t. it’s taking responsibility!” you responded, teeth clenched.

“respons-,” he cut himself off, completely incredulous. he all but rolled his eyes at you, “why do you feel responsible for people you’ve never met?! you could be killed, killed y/n. what part of that don’t you get?”

“yeah, hyuck, i could. believe me, i get it. but so could you, at any given time. people are dying, and if i can help them, then i will.” you didn’t raise your voice, but the bitterness that seeped through your still clenched teeth wasn’t easily controlled.

“people are dying because they’re choosing to take illegal drugs.”

“and you think that just because they chose to get high, off of something they were lied to about, that they should be murdered?” you were incredulous this time at the notion, eyebrows nearly in your hair.

“that’s not what i’m saying!” he threw his hands up, and you stood up abruptly.

“really?” you flung your hands out, exasperated beyond belief. “because it sure as hell sounds like it. it’s not just addicts taking this drug. it’s college kids experimenting. it – it could be our friends next! just trying a normal college experience!” and he scoffed at the defensive stance you took, arms crossing over your chest. he rolled his eyes and that just pissed you off even more. you weren’t sure why he was taking this stance, and it felt like he was against you. this was the argument that your body had warned you of.

“it could be jeno, or jaemin, or… or even mark next. at the next party, they may just try something, or, or get something slipped to them, and then what?” your tone was serious. you meant what you said.

“mark doesn’t do parties-.” he started sarcastically but you cut him off with a scoff.

“that isn’t the fucking point! you’re becoming a doctor to save people, i was given these abilities to do the same. why does it feel like i’m the only one willing to try? why does it feel like you’re… you’re judging me for it?”

“how could you say that? i’ll take an oath to do no harm in a few years, it will be my job to save people’s lives. responsibly. not doing it illegally, like a vigilante. not getting myself injured in the process, not getting myself killed.” he spat out the last sentence with such vehemence that you had no retaliation for it, mouth dropping in a silent gasp.

you just stared at him before shaking your head slightly. you walked across the room and snatched your discarded mask off the floor.

“thank you for helping me.” was all you said and he could only watch as you threw open the door and climbed out of the window in the hall you had originally crawled through. he could only partially see as you slung away. he took a moment to replay the argument through his head and he smacked himself hard in the forehead. he was stupid. he started the argument because he was worried and his smart mouth did what it always did, got him into trouble.

why was saying, ‘i’m worried for you, please be careful next time’ so hard for him?

he crossed the room and closed the door, banging his head softly against the door and mumbling,

“stupid, stupid, stupid.”

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he hadn’t spoken to you in three days, not that he hadn’t tried. numerous texts and voicemails apologizing profusely for what he had said, but he received nothing in return. he had even let slip during gaming with his friends that he had upset you and you were refusing to talk to him.

they all immediately sided with you without even knowing what the argument was about, with jaemin throwing in a ‘you probably opened your stupid mouth and said the opposite of what you wanted to’, and donghyuck couldn’t even argue with that. they knew him well.

but with what was going on, he was, unfortunately, a little distracted doing his clinical hours at the hospital overnight. it was his turn in the ICU, the department he wanted to be in once he graduated. he just couldn’t get the image of your face out of his head when you left, and it made it hard for him to focus.

he had really hurt you, and after having the time to think about it, he understood where you were coming from. you wanted to make a difference, you had always been that way even as a kid, and how could he expect anything less? he was becoming a doctor to do the same thing. what made him any better? he knew if it were him in your shoes, he’d have done the same. he already knew the reason that made him react so negatively.

because it was you.

“lee!” the attending doctor yelled at him, snapping him out of his musings. his head snapped up instantly and he rushed over to his side, he wasn’t technically allowed to help yet but he was to shadow and learn what he could from observation. an ambulance had wheeled in a drug overdose victim, and the nurses were running around.

he finally got a good look at the patient and that’s when he stilled. the guy was in his coding class that he took as an elective, yangyang. he knew he was a good guy, a little on the strange side but he and his friends were the same. donghyuck noticed another guy he knew from around campus was hovering near the curtains edge.

xiaojun was biting his fingernails in worry and donghyuck could tell he had been crying. his attending doctor had called for narcan and so donghyuck made his way over to xiaojun. he looked up from yangyang, eyes lighting up for a second as he recognized donghyuck and he started fumbling over his words instantly.

“we-we were in the club, we hardly drank anything but a maybe a couple of beers and then all of a sudden he just… just f-fell out on the floor. they were saying it was a drug overdose but – but he doesn’t do drugs. he’d never touch them. he – he, wouldn’t. he didn’t do this.” donghyuck was about to offer words, when the doctor yelled at him to get xiaojun out of the way.

yangyang had started seizing, and he knew that xiaojun didn’t need to see it. placing a gentle hand on xiaojun’s shoulder, donghyuck escorted him away and the nurses closed the curtains. seeing this up close proved that he needed to find you. if he didn’t understand you before, he fully understood now.

his shift had ended, yangyang had been barely stable and instead of going home to sleep for his classes in the morning, he went the opposite way to go to your apartment. it was late, but he was hoping you’d be awake.

if not, he’d just wake you up and deal with it when you hit him for it. when he realized the elevator was down he sighed, assuming this was his karmic punishment, he made his way up the five flights of stairs and down the hall to your room.

standing in front of 606 he raised his hand to knock but the door opened before his hand met the wood. he figured it was the senses you had told him about that let you know he was there.

you stood in the doorway, face completely impassive. he coughed once, and scratched the back of his neck.

“i’ve been texting you, and calling…” he trailed off watching for your reaction.

“i know.” your response was cold.

“i’m really sorry,” he started again.

“i know. even jeno has told me. is that all?” and his shoulders drooped a little. when he didn’t respond for a moment, you started to close the door and he put his hand up to stop it, saying all he had to say in one quick breath.

“you were right. i was worried, and i just saw you bleeding and you acted like it was no big deal even though you had been shot and i couldn’t understand it and i’m sorry, really sorry, i reacted that way, but you were right… i… i saw what you were talking about today at the hospital. i saw it, and you were right.” your stony demeanor fell away, because you knew you couldn’t really stay mad at him, and worry seeped in.

you moved out of the way of the entrance to your room and he stepped inside and made his way to sit on your couch. he heard you close the door and shuffle across the room behind him. his elbows rested on his knees as he stared at the coffee table, and you sat on your knees in front of his field of vision.

“are you okay?” you asked, taking his hands in yours.

“it was a guy in my class, you know yangyang?” you nodded in answer and he breathed in shakily. “we… we got him stable for now but he, he wasn’t actively doing drugs. his friend said he never touched any, he was probably slipped something and – you were right. it could have been any of us.”

“it’s scary to watch happen, especially when it’s already too late to help, i know. i’m sorry you had to see it, but this lets me know that they’re getting bolder. a club? right. they’re going to make a mistake soon, i’ll be able to stop it then. you won’t have to see it again, if i can do anything about it.” your voice was honest, and earnest. donghyuck knew you meant it completely, but it made him wonder if you had already seen it be too late after trying to help, and how you were dealing with that trauma or if you were ignoring it.

taking a breath, he finally took a look around the room and you had your computer open and papers strewn around the desk like you were planning something. he got up and walked over to the papers, and he found they were annotated blueprints.

“it’s their main warehouse, i finally found it. i’m coming up with a plan this time. to save me from another hyuck scolding.” he heard you over his left shoulder. he turned quickly and his face came within inches of yours, but neither of you went to move away. his face heated at the close proximity, and you smiled knowingly at the reaction.

“i can hear your heart racing, what’s making you nervous? the plans…” you said looking down at the papers then back up, “or me?” you smirked at the way his eyes widened at the question.

maybe jeno was right after all, maybe you both were aware of how you felt about each other.

he hesitated before answering with an honest, “both, i think.”

“good,” was all you said with a grin.

“i want to help you,” he said looking down at you, searching your eyes for the part that he knew would cave.

“did you suddenly get bit by a radioactive spider too and gain superhuman abilities?” you snarked, taking his usual stance in the conversation.

“no, but i can be your person in the background helping you out. your guy in the chair, you know?” you hesitated at that.

“why not just my doctor in the hospital? i don’t want you to get hurt,” you replied, breaking eye contact to toy with the sleeve of his jacket.

“and you can?”

“i heal quickly,” you retorted. “you don’t.”

“i won’t get hurt, i’ll be sitting behind a computer helping you out with whatever you need. i’m pretty good at hacking things when i want to, if the almost choosing cybersecurity as my minor could remind you.” he wiggled his eyebrows at that and you laughed. you shoved his shoulder, and offered a hum to agree.

“fine, since i know you won’t back down. but don’t you dare think that i’ll take you anywhere near the big guys with the scary guns. i’ve been working on making my suit a little more bulletproof, so what happened last time won’t happen again as easily.” you said gesturing to the table where your sewing machine sat with other materials he couldn’t quite make out. before he could ask another question, he yawned wide, bringing his hand up to cover his mouth.

“do you want to stay here?” you offered to him, and he shook his head.

“i have a class at nine, i should head home.” and at his response you smiled a smile that seemed almost evil and he leaned away, eyebrows knitting together.

“why did you make that face? i don’t like it. stop it.” he joked, laughing a little at how uncomfortable he felt with the mischievousness of the smile.

“oh come on, you love my face.” you responded, expression not changing at all.

“yes but…”

“let me take you home.” you said, gripping the arm of his jacket and he finally connected the dots and he actually stepped back half a step at that as if it had offended him.

“oh, hell no!” he rejected the idea instantly, just the idea of heights making his stomach churn. you started to peel off your t-shirt you were wearing and he covered his eyes to avoid seeing something he shouldn’t, but you just scoffed at him. you tugged his hands away from his eyes and he saw you in your suit.

“i don’t know if i’m going to get used to that,” he whispered. he watched as you walked to the window and opened it, waving him over.

“you will, eventually.” you called. he stepped to the window, you were already on the other side standing on the fire escape. he hesitated, his fear keeping him from wanting to step onto the rickety metal. you reached your hand out to him.

“don’t you trust me?” you asked innocently, looking up at him through your lashes and his heart jumped a little at the question and the sight of you.

“yes,” he breathed before taking your hand and climbing out onto the landing that was a little too small for the both of you. he was chest to chest with you, and he couldn’t get his heart to calm down with how close you were to him. the air was cold and your breaths came out in little clouds and mixed together before dissipating.

he didn’t miss the way your eyes flicked to his lips before you shook your head slightly, he desperatly wish he could know what you were thinking but you only leaned over to grab your mask from the desk that was next to the window. you closed it firmly and turned away, and donghyuck let his body relax a little at the bit of space you created between the two of you.

“i need you to hold on to my neck, if you get scared then wrap your legs around me.” and he paled at the idea.

“i think i’m a little too –.” you cut your eyes at him, and he corrected himself. “right, sorry. super strength. got it.” you pulled the mask over your face while tugging up the black hood over your head, leapt up on the railing in a crouch before standing, perfectly balanced and turned to him.

“come on, then.” he awkwardly stepped closer and reached out, you tugged him up on the railing with ease and he wobbled. he wrapped his arms around your neck to stabilize himself and he laughed a little wildly.

“this feels a little backwards, usually it’s the man that holds the damsel close.” he joked, avoiding looking down at the ground that was a far drop.

“yes, well, i’ll make sure to tell the next spider to bite a man to save you the indecency.” he didn’t have to see it to know you were rolling your eyes. and before he could say that wasn’t exactly what he meant, you reached out your hand, wrapping your arm around his waist and suddenly you both were falling and his stomach had dropped to the ground without him.

he couldn’t even scream out in fear, his breath caught instantly in his throat. but his eyes were taking in everything around him, the city lights at night from this height were breathtaking. the adrenaline mixing with the awe made him speechless, and he slowly felt safe with you, his body getting into the gentle rhythm of the rise and fall as you swung in between the buildings.

“this is beautiful,” he said, barely above a whisper, and you turned your masked face slightly towards him.

“it is, isn’t it?” you replied, and he could hear the smile. a few minutes of peaceful silence later and you used a lamp post to swing and land. arriving in front of his apartment building safely and in one piece. donghyuck breathed a sigh of relief to be on the ground but ultimately couldn’t stop the beautiful smile that was stretching across his face.

“that was exhilarating!” he whisper-yelled. you stepped forward and brushed his hair down to control it from where the wind and swept it all over the place.

“it’s a rush for sure,” you replied and he laughed.

“so you’re a bit of an adrenaline junkie now, huh? i would be.” he said, staring at your mask, wishing he could see your face.

“you could say that,” you let out a laugh at the look on his face. when neither of you moved, you coughed and it sounded nervous to him. he gently reached up to try and tug your mask up with both hands, but you placed your hands gently on his and halted him. he wasn’t sure what he was trying to do, all he knew was that he wanted to see your face.

“you should go in and get some rest, i’ll text you in the morning, okay?” your voice was so soft, and his heart ached. eventually he nodded. “goodnight,” he said and you hummed. you leaned up and pecked him on the cheek through the mask, smiling under it as his heart kicked off within seconds.

“goodnight, hyuck.” and then he watched as you shot a web up to the same lamp post and crouched precariously on it. you sent him a small wave and you shot off into the night, he watched you go until you were out of sight and he stepped towards the apartment building entrance.

he got out his phone and sent you a quick text before making his way to the steps of his building. he fumbled with his keys to the main door when he heard shuffling behind him. he turned towards the sound of the noise, but didn’t get a chance to see before he was sucker punched in the face and the last thing he heard was deep, mocking laughter.

.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.

you were sound asleep, and then you weren’t. a loud banging at your door had you jumping from your bed as if you had been struck by lightening. you checked your phone to see the time, and as you noticed it was half past noon.

you also noticed you had fifteen missed calls and twenty-three text messages, all from your friend group. majority coming from jaemin and jeno, and two texts from hyuck. the knocking persisted and you groaned to your feet. feeling that the knocker wasn’t dangerous, you flung open the door to find a disheveled jeno. he was slightly out of breath and you could only assume he ran the entire way here.

“what’s going on, jen?” you asked, voice still groggy from being woken up so abruptly. you rubbed at your eyes, still trying to wake up.

“donghyuck’s gone,” was all he said and you felt icy fear trickle down your back, your face draining of color.

“what do you mean? he’s probably at class, or the hospital.” trying to be rational, and jeno was already shaking his head.

“no, jaem said he didn’t show up to class and i went to check his apartment and i don’t think he ever made it up to his place because i found his keys near the stairs. and – and there was blood.” at that you were sure your heart stopped. you numbly walked from the door to sit on your couch, staring at the wall. jeno followed you in after closing the door behind him and stood in front on you.

“y/n.” you didn’t respond.

“y/n.” he said and he kneeled in front of you, the same way you had done the night before with hyuck. you didn’t move a muscle, didn’t even blink.

“y/n!” he said, voice a little louder and more serious, and his hands shook you gently. the tone and movement breaking you from the trance you had been put in at the news. you finally focused on his face, and he sighed.

“there you are. i can’t have you spacing out now on me.” you could only nod as an answer.

“i need you to find him, i know you can.”

“what? i don’t –.” and he cut you off with a stern look.

“get yourself together, go put your suit on, and find whoever took him.” and your eyes widened at his statement, your mouth dropping. before you could even deny it, he sighed dramatically.

“i already know. and so does jaemin. we both figured it out after the first month when you didn’t need your glasses anymore, and that one time in the courtyard when you caught that frisbee heading toward your head that you didn’t even see.”

you were speechless so you only answered with a, “ahhh…”

“and your suit is right there on the table.” he smiled at his little joke. “but don’t worry. your secret is safe with us.”

you looked over your shoulder, of course you’d left it out after finishing up adding the enhancements you were working on late last night after dropping hyuck off. you were regaining your thoughts again, and you got up and walked over to the papers that were strewn across your desk, leaning against your desk as you stared at them. jeno stayed put near the couch.

“do you know who took him?” he called over and you nodded, knowing there was only one group powerful enough to do this that you had severely pissed off.

“yeah, i think so. i told hyuck i was coming up with a plan, but i don’t have time to really get the plan together now. they’re not the type of people to really keep… hostages.” you let out a heavy sigh and dropped your head. you felt a comforting hand on your shoulder, and you brought your hands up to rub your face. suddenly a thought registered and you froze. you ran to your phone, and picked it up. opening your messaging app, you skipped the frantic texts from your friends and landed on the messages from hyuck.

clicking on the notifications, you slapped a hand over your mouth. the first one read,

3:37am thank you for dropping me off, talk to you in the morning :)

and the next message was a picture of hyuck, head drooped to rest on his chest, and you could see blood trailing down the side of his face. he was tied to something you couldn’t quite make out. attached to the picture were the words,

come alone.

you knew he was in danger. you were painfully aware. but to see it so clearly made your breath quicken and you felt a sob escape your throat. jeno picked up the discarded phone and swore sharply.

hyuck was in danger.

hyuck was in – your senses were in overdrive and you tried to get a grip on it. if you couldn’t get this under control, how would you be able to save anyone? one important person to you in trouble and you became useless? no that wasn’t going to work. it was just that you yelled at him about what if your friends were next, you told yourself, you just hadn’t registered the same would apply to you just yet. to him.

the thought of hyuck being in danger had your resolve steeling itself. you felt anger begin to course through you in place of the fear and you stalked over to the table and you yanked your clothes off, not caring that jeno was in the room. you shoved the suit on angrily, and turned to jeno. your mouth was set in a straight line. he could only stare wide-eyed and mouth dropped at you in your suit, first time really seeing that it was you in it.

“you’ll get used to it,” you said, fierce determination set on your face as you put your hands on your hips. “don't tell hyuck he'll be so jealous but... i think i’m going to need yours and jaemin’s help.” jeno only nodded as you threw on your clothes over your suit, grabbed the papers and you both stormed out of the room.

.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.

walking into jeno’s apartment he shared with jaemin, you followed quickly and located jaemin studying at the kitchen table, medical books scattered across the table.

“jaemin?” he called to him.

“hmm?” was his answer.

“jaem!” he said, more urgent this time. jaemin looked up and when he noticed you were with him, he shot up and rounded the table.

“did you find him? do you know where he is?” jaemin said, nothing but worry on his face.

“i know where he is i think, but i will need your help. i just found the blueprints last night to the place and i haven’t had time to memorize the layout, that’s where i need you two to help me. jen says you already know everything already, so…” and she unzipped her jacket to show her suit underneath to jaemin.

“that’s still so cool to see,” jeno whispered, eyeing the colors and the giant spider. jaemin narrowed his eyes at jeno.

“focus,” he hissed. jeno raised his hands in surrender.

“what? you can’t say it’s not.” jaemin rolled his eyes at him and turned his attention back to you.

“whatever you need us to do, anything… just tell us.” you moved some of his books to the side, putting a piece of paper to hold the spot in the ones that were open, and laid out the blueprints to the building. jaemin and jeno hovered behind you, each of them taking a shoulder to look over and you explained the half-assed plan you put together on the walk over.

“there are only two entrances to the building, but since it’s two stories, and i don’t necessarily need doors, i’ll enter here on this window, it’s the dark side of the alley, hardly anyone will be there, i hope at least, and make my way through the building. i find hyuck, get him out, and if the building blows up with the drugs inside… then it’s a win-win for us.”

“you’re going to blow up a building?!” they exclaimed at the same time, both turning to look at you.

“this is a kingpins warehouse,” you said to jeno before turning to jaemin, looking between the both of them as you spoke. “he’s manufacturing drugs that are killing people. blow up the supply, and stop the deaths. maybe i can trap him in there until the cops come and it saves more lives than hurts.” jeno nodded as he understood but jaemin was pensive.

“it feels a little too dangerous, something could go wrong.” he said.

“of course something could go wrong, but hyuck is in danger!” you argued instantly, before deflating. “this… this is the only plan i’ve got.”

“maybe we can… take some more time. think about this. come up with a better plan.”

“we don’t have time!” you fumed, shoving your hand in your jacket pocket to grab your phone. you pulled up the picture you had been sent and all but shoved it in jaemin’s face. “he’s hurt! he could be killed if i don’t… i have to save him. i have to save him, before he… before he dies. because of me.” the fear was coming back, doubled up with extreme guilt and you tried to clamp down on it before it bubbled over. you felt two steady hands rest on your shoulders.

“we get it. we’re with you, not against you. we’ll help you.” it was jeno, and you nodded, looking up at the ceiling for a moment to get a rein on the tears that threatened to spill. you rummaged in your pockets again and pulled out another phone.

“my suit,” your voice cracked a little and you cleared your throat. “my suit is connected to this phone, you both can stay here and help walk me through the building. or call 911 if anything goes wrong. i worked on this last night for hyuck, when he offered to do what you’re doing for me now. and look,” you turned on the phone.

“when i do this,” you pressed on the side of your mask above your ear and the screen reflected black. “you can see what i can see.” you pulled out your mask and turned it to look at all three of you. your faces showing up on the small screen of the phone, various stages of stress.

“you made this yourself?” jeno asked, grabbing the phone and inspecting it.

“pretty much, yeah.”

“you’re really smart.” and jeno saw the unamused look you gave him through the screen.

“well i didn’t get into this school on my dashing good looks, did i?” and you let out a laugh. jaemin let out a sigh of relief and you looked over your shoulder at him.

“you’re back, i was worried you wouldn’t be able to crack jokes like you usually do, didn’t want you to go in tense to save him.” and you smiled at them both. it wasn’t a full smile, it didn’t reach your eyes, but the effort was there.

“i’m back. and i’m not going to let him die.” you pulled your mask over your head and snuggly put it in to place and tugging up the hood to follow.

“let’s do this.”

.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.

you waited until night fell, crouched down on the building across the street from the warehouse. the temperature kept dropping and even though you couldn’t feel it through the suit, you were worried about hyuck.

“he’s going to be okay,” you heard jaemin say through the mask.

“how did you know?” you asked, surveying as a few of the lackeys got into the car from the alley you were about to enter through and speed away.

“it’s what i’d do if i were you.” was his answer. you shot a web across the street and slung your way over to rest on the side of the building above the window. you tugged it open easily. with a deep breath, you told them you were going in and slunk through the window, gently closing it shut behind you.

you made your way through the building, turning down hallways the two told you to, opening and closing various doors along the way. all of them turning up empty. you eased your way up to the ceiling and made it down to the first floor where you heard idle chatter.

“i don’t think she’s coming. she’s going to leave you here to die, my friend.” and that was him. the head of all of this and he had hyuck’s head lifted up by his hair, forcing him to look him in the eye. hyuck surprised you by smiling, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth and it had stained his teeth.

“i hope she doesn’t come, just so she doesn’t give you what you want. just to piss you off.”

“but i want to see the desperation and anguish when i kill you, i live for it,” you couldn’t see his face but the way he said the words made your lips turn up in disgust.

you heard jeno come through on the mask, “i can’t wait to watch you kick his ass.”

“yes, well,” the kingpin continued. you still couldn’t see his face as he moved around hyuck, but he wore an expensive suit decorated with gold details. “i have what she wants. do you really think she’d let you die so easily?” and hyuck spit his blood out on his expensive shoes. the kingpin threw hyuck’s head back and it cracked loudly against the concrete wall he was tied to.

“you’re awfully pretty, you know. i could use you. maybe sell you out a few times. break that spirit of yours, make some money off of you before i killed you, or… maybe keep you for myself.” the kingpin mused out loud in a way that could have sounded like he was reading off stocks instead of hyucks fate, all while toying with a strand of hyucks curls gently. finding no better time than now, you released your grip on the ceiling.

“i’d be willing to buy him off you,” you said sarcastically, dropping down to the ground in a crouch. your sudden appearance made all of his guards pull their guns and aim them at you. “for a heavily discounted price, of course. that one has sass for days.”

you didn’t miss the annoyed glare hyuck shot at you from where he was sitting.

“y/n, be careful.” you heard jaemin warn in your ear.

the kingpin turned fully to face you for the first time and he smiled at your sudden entrance, and the sight of him made you pause.

he was breathtakingly handsome, and surprisingly young. the smile creating dimples in his cheeks and his hair was perfectly styled. he screamed ceo, a business man in disguise.

“kill her,” was his order before everything went by in a flurry. knocking the gun out of the first guards hand that rushed you, you punched him hard in the face, knocking him unconscious instantly.

“what a right hook!” you heard jeno whoop. two more rushed you from the side, and you leapt up in the air, round house kicking one into the other. the force of the kick sending them across the room. you looked up to find a gun pointing directly in your face, senses telling you to duck in time as he fired.

crouching low, you swept his legs and knocked him out once he was on the ground. jerking your head up quickly you took notice of the only two left, and you shot webs to the walls directly behind them. they sneered at you condescendingly, “you missed us.”

you only cocked your head and you jumped up high and pulled hard, using the momentum to pull you forward. you kicked them both hard in the face at the same time, neutralizing them at once. you internally winced at the sounds of their noses cracking.

“you’re so badass, where did you learn to fight like that?” jeno said in awe. you didn’t answer him. you turned quickly to face the kingpin again, and you froze when you saw the sight. he had hyuck by the hair again, untied and standing, neck fully exposed. his dimples smile directed at you as he held a needle in his left hand centimeters away from hyuck’s throat, and he kept his chin on hyuck’s right shoulder.

“if he injects him with that -.” jaemin started and you cut him off.

“i know,” you murmured between clenched teeth, voice coming out more curt than you intended.

“take off your mask,” the kingpin requested of you happily. you stood up from your low stance.

“why?” you asked, not moving an inch. your brain was in hyperdrive trying to search the room for another option. you would accept any option at all to help at this point – and there. in the corner. you found it.

“because i want to watch your face as i kill the man you love.” you pretended to pause to think, bringing your finger to your chin in dramatic fashion.

“i will… but only if you tell me your name,” you responded.

“i don’t think you’re in a position to bargain here.” he still smiled, the grin starting to pull at his lips in a way that looked painful. you wished he would stop. the insanity of it all crossed your threshold of comfort ages ago.

“you’re right, but i would at least like to know the name of the man who’s about to kill me. consider it chivalry.” you figured when you survived this, you’d have some sort of leverage. the smile he gave you as he pondered grew more insane, and it made you uneasy.

“my name is jaehyun. what’s yours?” he chirped, a little too happily.

“ah, ah, ah,” you tutted while wagging a finger at him, letting forced amusement filter in your voice for his sake, “you only get one. my face, or my name.” shifting to one foot, you rested your hand on your hip.

feigning nonchalance was not your strong suit, but it helped when your face was covered. jaehyun didn’t hesitate with his answer.

“face.” and it was your turn to pause. you didn’t want to do this.

“please don’t,” hyuck whispered to you, eyes pleading with you, and jaehyun tugged his hair harder, earning a hiss from hyuck.

“come now. a deal’s a deal.” he scolded you both gently. your head slumped slightly as you reached up to your hood and tugging it back. then your hands made their way to your face slowly and you could hear both jeno and jaemin’s protests in your ears.

“y/n, don’t!” they shouted through the headset. you tugged off the mask, head down and with your hands open in a surrendering motion, you laid the mask down against the knocked out guard.

so they could still see.

so they could still call for help in case something went horribly wrong.

you finally looked up to make eye contact with hyuck first, you were surprised when you didn’t see fear there anymore. he looked a little proud, and somehow, also angry.

you finally dragged your eyes away from hyuck’s and looking jaehyun directly in his. he dragged his eyes up and down your body, your senses going haywire with the way he was looking at you, chills traveling down your spine making the hairs on your neck stand on end. everything about this man made your body scream danger.

“you’re surprisingly beautiful… you know what? i’ll make a deal. tell you what, you let me use you instead, keep you as mine only, and i’ll set him free.”

“just like that?” you asked, noticing how his hand drifted slightly away from hyuck’s neck.

“just like that,” jaehyun laughed, his eyes roaming over your body in a way that seemed hungry for a moment, the stare going on far longer than socially acceptable. you resisted the urge to scowl.

“no,” was all hyuck said. the finality in his voice made you jerk your head.

“where do you think you have the footing to defy me?” jaehyun murmured into hyuck’s neck and he inhaled deeply.

god, he was so fucking weird, you couldn’t help but think as the corners of your lips tugged down.

jaehyun still looking intently at you, he grinned widely at the grimace you made at the semi intimate action. you could only watch as jaehyun’s face grew darker and his eyes lit up brightly as an idea struck him.

the insane man stared at you as he forced hyuck’s head to face him, you were out of his line of sight and hyuck struggled against his hold to be able to see you again but immediately froze when jaehyun kissed him hard. it wasn’t a passionate kiss, it wasn’t meant to be romantic. but one with a hidden purpose. it was meant to hurt everyone in the room.

you took a step forward and raised your arm slightly.

“stop it.” your voice was soft.

hyuck didn’t move, keeping his lips shut tightly but it still didn’t help the rage that was bubbling up. jaehyun didn’t seem bothered by hyuck’s struggles, and he finally released hyuck’s mouth at your request and licked his lips. he was satisfied with the emotions he knew he had created in you and rested his head on hyuck’s neck again. you ground your teeth together, trying to compose yourself.

hyuck caught your eyes, and you could only hope the look in yours screamed that you were sorry for getting him caught up in this. you couldn’t help but begin to blame yourself all over again.

hyuck shaking his head caught your eye, he was good at reading you. his eyes burned with a sort of defiance and you felt a bit of tension leave your shoulders at that. he didn’t blame you, neither should you. it wouldn’t be that easy, but it was a start. after long seconds, jaehyun broke the silence, not being able to handle his lack of understanding in the silent conversation.

“you know, i could keep you both. i could have so much fun with the both of you.” he purred and he waited patiently for your response.

“absolutely not,” you and hyuck said together instantly. jaehyun visibly pouted.

“fine,” he huffed, looking up at you from the crook of hyuck’s neck. “i guess i’ll just have to kill you both then.” jaehyun’s hand that was still gripping the needle moved forward, and as if everything moved in slow motion for you, you shot a web to stick his hand to the wall with the needle, and shot another web that stuck to hyuck and yanked hard, pulling him close to you, grabbing a fistful of his hoodie and pulled him close to make sure he wouldn’t fall from the force.

“hey,” he breathed, relief washing over him as he stood so close to you. he couldn’t relax fully but to be near you calmed him somehow. “if you wanted me close, you could have just asked. the man you love is more than willing.” he flirted shamelessly, smirking shakily down at you. he was trying any way he could to break the tension somehow and you rolled your eyes with a smile.

“glad to know you’re still you.” your senses alerted you, and your body reacted on its own. you shoved hyuck to the ground before you even knew what the danger was. realizing a second later what as the sound of the gunshot rang. it hit you fully in the chest, knocked you on your back and you slid across the ground several feet.

the scream of your name you heard hyuck yell broke your heart, you never wanted to hear that again you decided right then and there. as you regained your breath that had been knocked out of you, you groaned aloud, noting somewhere in the back of your mind that if jaehyun was paying attention, he now had your name and face. you would worry about that later.

you struggled to lift yourself on one elbow, a little sore but you didn’t feel the pain that you did the time before. the modifications worked, examples by the fact that you brushed off the bullet as if it were dust. you couldn’t miss how it infuriated jaehyun as he was still stuck to the wall, his face turning red in anger. you slowly rose to your feet.

“damn, dude. can’t even kill a girl right, can you?” you taunted, and you noticed he angled his gun towards hyuck who was scrambling to get up to come to your side and in the same second you grabbed the gun you had landed next to. you found the mark you had noticed earlier and shot the beaker filled with a liquid that you were sure it was flammable if the labels on the surrounding areas were anything to go by. the small bunsen burner underneath it ignited the liquid and started a chain reaction. you stepped in front of hyuck, pushing him back down to the ground to protect him as the explosion rocked the building around you.

.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.°.

you had smiled down at him, and all hyuck could think to say was, “i’m so sorry, this is all my fault.”

“what?!” you exclaimed, and grunted as the weight pressed down further.

“if i hadn’t -.”

“not now hyuck, you know damn well that none of this is your fault. if you don’t think it’s my fault, then you can’t possibly think it’s yours but we can talk about that later, now please, can you stand?” it took hyuck longer than he’d like to admit to process the question, but eventually he nodded. he groaned as he stumbled to his feet, grabbing his side as it revolted against the movement. definitely bruised, maybe cracked.

“good, good.” you said, “now if only you could move about six feet away, that would be…” the slab shifted and your knees buckled slightly. “that would be great.”

“i’m not leaving you!” he argued. and your patience ran thin, the weight and panic of trying to save him getting to you.

“now is not the time, donghyuck! please!” you yelled at him, crying out in frustration at the situation. it caused him to pause, you never used his real name, always the shortened version you had decided on calling him since you were kids. he wavered for a moment, internally arguing with himself before stumbling away the distance you had asked. he turned back to see your knee buckle under the weight and he wanted to reach out to you.

“no, stay there. give me…” the slab shifted again and he watched you sink lower against the weight. “give me a few seconds to think.”

“y/n, you don’t have seconds!” he was frantic now with worry, watching you struggle.

you looked up to glare at him, “you’re not helping!” then your vision drifted to over his shoulder and a familiar idea popped in your head. you shifted as minutely as possible, freeing a hand. you shot a web across the room to the opposing wall and you wrapped your hand around it tightly.

“when i move, this will fall. cover your eyes or turn away. preferably both in case this crushes me,” you ordered, half joking as always, before taking two steadying breaths, once you had watched him turn halfway, and he wasn’t moving further than that, you yanked, pulling hard with all the strength you had left. the slab shifted instantly and the weight worsened but not before you were flung far from the collapsing chunk of building.

the crash of the cement slab echoed loudly in what was left of the room and hyuck ran to your side as you lay on the ground. he turned you over and at your smile, he let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding. you sat up to look at him fully, eyes taking in his injuries. tears sprung in his eyes, and he held your cheeks in his hands.

“you’re okay.”

“you’re okay.” you parroted back at him.

you leaned forward slightly but before you could move more than an inch, his lips crashed into yours. there was a sense of need, urgency and passion in this kiss.

as if the kiss was solidifying that you were safe, you were here. one of his hands traveling down to your waist, pulling you tightly against him, the other holding onto your face like he was afraid to let go.

your hands made their way to his hair and he notated in the back of his mind that it hurt but it didn’t stop him from moving his lips against yours. after what felt like hours, you both finally separated, and he rested his forehead against yours as you both caught your breaths. he couldn’t take his eyes off of your face.

“if i had known getting kidnapped and almost murdered would have made you bolder, i would have told you much sooner.” you joked against his lips, pulling back a bit to smile up at him and he gave you his signature smirk as usual. you paused and tilted your head slightly away and strained your ears, sirens.

“police are coming, guess jeno and jaemin assumed something went wrong,” you said, slowly rising to your feet and reaching out a hand to help him up. you scanned the room quickly trying to catch sight of jaehyun but came up empty. you halfway hoped he had died but something told you that wasn’t the case. and you stopped yourself, realizing that you’d feel guilty for that train of thought later.

“well they assumed right – wait, what?!” he exclaimed and he struggled to his feet but overall was far more steady than he had been minutes before. you attempted to walk a few steps away from him but he refused to let go of your hand, so you tugged him along to pick up your mask that had dust covering it.

“i’ll tell you when we’re away from here,” you smiled at him before raising your mask slightly, hopefully showing to jeno and jaemin if they were still watching that you both were alive.

“you ready for another trip through the city, my style?” and he seemed almost childlike in his response, his giddiness showing through his grin he gave you.

“hell yeah, babe.”

601 notes · View notes

avesque · 1 year

Note

can i please request a drabble with i pushed everyone away because they weren’t you + neteyam? thanks.

of all the girls — neteyam

INCLUDES best friends to lovers. angst to fluff. 0.7k words.

NOTE i need him so bad. you can request a prompt of your own here! (also the great war part i might come out this thursday/friday. i promise i see those asking to be tagged, i will not forget u here is a big kith mwa) OH AND HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY i love you!

neteyam finds you all alone by the docks with your feet submerged in the water. it’s a quiet afternoon and the others are out and about with tsireya and other metkayina kids.

he finds his palms sweaty the second he settles beside you.

you don’t bother to look at him. it makes his heart squeeze painfully as your gaze stays fixed ahead, over the reefs and the horizon that he thinks you’ve mentally reached home.

you cut him off just as he’s about to break the quiet.

“why’d you leave?”

to others, it might sound nonchalant. but neteyam has known you for more than a decade; can read you like that back of his hand. there’s a bite to your tone that makes his heart climb up his throat.

you place your palms behind you and lean back but you do not look at him.

“you left,” he says. “i followed you.”

“no shit,” you scoff. it makes him wince. you always did hang a lot around lo’ak.

he swallows his nervousness.

“listen—”

you’re quick to rise to your feet. “well, i need to go.”

neteyam calls your name.

“i don’t want to hear it.” your tone is cold, biting. if he didn’t know better, he’d think you’re leaving behind snow rather than the sand you’re kicking off as you walk away hastily.

he follows you just as he has for the past twelve years. always behind you, always watching. waiting.

he snatches your arms once he’s caught up and something spears through his heart when he finds tears brimming in your lash line.

“no,” you seethe, wriggling free from his hold. “you leave me alone. go back to ayrona since you like her that much, huh?”

neteyam heaves a deep sigh, latching on to your arm again. gentler, this time. softer. consoling.

“no.”

you scoff again. the metkayina girl had shown interest in neteyam ever since you got here, always there, always lingering. it makes your skin itch, your blood boil. you’ve been watching them all this time, how she seems to enjoy those breathing lessons with neteyam. remembering it makes you want to scream.

but ayrona wasn’t the only one. back in the forest, before you had to flee, you heard other girls’ names tied with neteyam’s from hearsay. you did not have the heart to ask him about it, afraid that the confirmation will break your heart more.

ayrona is just the final straw.

but this is wrong. the lone tear that cascades down your cheek is a burning shame. neteyam is not yours.

at times, you feel like you may stand a chance, against all these other girls and against all odds. you’ve been toeing that line between friends and something more, touches lingering more than they should have, gazes softer and sweeter than most. but nothing has come of it.

you fear what you thought could have been was just a miscalculation on your part.

neteyam holds your cheek so delicately, thumbing away the salt on your cheek.

“oh, y/n.” his voice is honey; says your name like a prayer. you close your eyes, clumped eyelashes still spilling tears. “ayrona—” your stomach plummets, “—is a friend. just like tsireya.”

you sniffle, shaking your head and leaning away from his hold. but neteyam is quick, placing his other hand on your chest, right where your heart is.

“you,” he breathes, “are so much more.”

he rests his forehead on yours and he pulls you close.

“do you want to know why i told rey’nin to stop?”

rey’nin was the omatikaya girl who, despite the people’s disapproving stares, had pursued him.

“the others too,” he adds and proceeds to enumerate the girls who have shown interest in him. something warm lands on your cheek and you belatedly realize neteyam has placed a kiss there before he’s pulling away.

nimble fingers glide over your eyelids and your eyes flutter open to see gold staring right back.

“i pushed everyone away because they weren’t you.” he says your name again, this time, like a promise. “you are the only one my heart beats for. i see you. i always have.”

1K notes · View notes

jjuwuni · 10 months

Text

caught in his web ; choi yeonjun ch. 1 | SWEET DREAMS

pairings — yeonjun x afab reader

genre — smut (lots of it so minors dni please), fluff, angst, college!au, friends to lovers, drama

word count (for this chapter) — ~2.3k

summary — You thought you’d be immune to Choi Yeonjun's charms, turns out you were completely, utterly, shamefully wrong.

And what’s worse? He’s your new best friend's boyfriend.

Wanna hear something even worse than that? His dad and your mom are dating.

MOA University: An educational institution created for the 1%. The elite of the elites. Those who are to inherit large multinational companies, take oath in office, and represent Korea's future in business and politics. This is where it begins.

warnings — almost-stepbro!yeonjun but not really since your parents are in the early stages of dating, kinda slow burn yes, black haired!yeonjun, bad boy yeonjun, all of you are trust fund babies, all the tubatu's make a cameo and are in the same friend group, might reference some other 4th gen idols, alcohol, drinking, drunken mishaps, lots of sex, profanity - lots of it, yeonjun is a menace but he's so cute wtf i'm screaming, jealousy, making out etc. minors dni istg! i'm watching y'all..

A/N: hello! bela here! my apologies for dipping after posting the preview. here is the official first chapter! hope you guys like it. i'll try to update more frequently. 🙏 comments and reblogs are very much appreciated xoxo also please do let me know if you'd like to be tagged for the next parts!

MASTERLIST: [ preview ] | [ 1 ] | [ 2 ] | [ 3 ]

————-　★　-———— . ————-　★　-————

“O-oh..” You clear your throat after telling yourself to get it together about a million times. Opening your mouth after what seemed like an eternity, “I uh.. Uncle Minjun? It’s nice to meet you. I’m y/n.” You offer your hand out to the man who was undeniably a splitting image of Yeonjun - just older.

He was dashing and had an air of charisma around him. One would know that being in the real estate business, you need to have some type of charm after all, so you're not too surprised that he owns the biggest housing and commercial property business in Asia. He seemed like the type to be able to sway you easily into buying things without much hesitation.

Also explains why your mom fell for him.

“y/n.. Very nice to meet you finally. I’ve heard nothing but good things about you from your mother, you seem like a very smart lady. And as expected - beautiful too. Surely you have a lot of suitors by now, eh?” He says in a playful manner, as you finally take a seat to join them, right across from Yeonjun.

“Oh, trust me, dad. Soobinnie's all over her.” The male across from you nonchalantly points out, making you cough right as you scoop the clear soup into your mouth.

“Oh? CEO Dongwon's son? Well sounds like he’s a decent man.” Your mother for sure wouldn't pass off the chance to give her two cents, “Why didn’t you tell me this, sweetie? You should invite Soobin here sometime.” She lets out a giddy laugh as you grimace into your soup.

"Well, we’re not an item, Mom. And you know I want to focus on my studies first…”

“It’s rare you hear that nowadays eh? I wish my son would see education the same way as you y/n. Maybe you should teach him a thing or two, huh?” Minjun replies, sipping from his scotch glass and giving Yeonjun a look to which the younger male replies with a sarcastic scowl.

“I’m sure Chaewon’s got that covered.” You take the opportunity to tease back, it was your way of repaying him for bringing Soobin up. “They’re a really cute couple.” You smile the sweetest one you can muster and look over at his dad who seems to suddenly be interested at the mere mention of a girl.

“Well, if you’re serious about dating her, son, stop bringing random girls home. You know the guards see you when you do that, right? It's quite distasteful really.”

Your eyes widen upon learning this little piece of information, he was still bringing girls home, even though he’s dating my friend? You think to yourself. You could feel Yeonjun’s glare directed at you from across the table, but ultimately decide to avoid it and just eat.

“I-I’ll go get the dessert.” You shoot up from your seat not too long after, wanting to do anything to get you out of that semi-awkward situation.

“I’ll help you y/n!” Yeonjun chimes in, walking behind you and following you into the kitchen- giving you no other choice.

“Ahjumma, can you please take out the cream cake my mom bought this morning? I’ll cut it myself.” You say in a polite tone and a smile to match, watching the older lady walk out back to the refrigerators to go grab it.

You let out an exasperated sigh, leaning back against the expensive Italian marble countertop. “Not even an hour with you and I’m already tired.” You glare at the male.

It’s true, there’s a reason why you never got along with him, as he was always picking on you. But it was more of a welcomed gesture for you because even though it was annoying, you were just glad you are not a part of the population of MOA-U girls who have fallen victim and succumbed to his charms.

“Well, you do know what this means… right y/n?” Yeonjun asks, almost in a teasing tone from what you can pick up.

Soon, his hands lay flat over the countertop, on each side of your hip - effectively trapping you in.

You swallow hard, you’ve never been this close to him before.

Chaewon always had somewhat of a fence around him in school, which is why we’ve never been face-to-face like this. You find yourself taking note of his prominent features- from his black locks, which complimented his hazel eyes, his strong jawline, his raised nose bridge, and even that cute, boyish smile.

“H-huh?” Great, what was that part about being immune to his charms again?

“We’re going to be siblings," He says, arms wrapping around your waist, "..so you’ll see more of me around, most likely.” His smile stretches out even more, and it was like he enjoyed that you were flustered by the mischievous glint in his eyes.

Like a shark being able to smell fear from a few feet away.

"You're... You weirdo." Was all you were able to say, and it took all of your might to push him off of you, and right on time too, as the help finally came back with the cake to save the day.

You leave the kitchen as fast as you could, and even as you briskly walked away, you could feel Yeonjun smirking behind you.

————-　★　-———— . ————-　★　-————

"I don't know how I feel about it, honestly." You say as you plop down on one of the couches in Chaewon's living room after school that day.

"My best friend and my boyfriend becoming step-siblings? Who would have thought..." Chaewon says with a smile, though you couldn't tell if it was a sarcastic smile or one that was of genuine nature.

"I know my mom's been a notorious magnet for rich dudes but I never thought she would end up in the arms of Choi Minjun, tsk. This is driving me nuts." You whine out, pulling at your hair and punching the throw pillow repeatedly.

"You do know there's some business strategy side to this, right unnie?" Minjeong suddenly speaks up. The youngest in your group rarely opened her mouth, which is why all four of you were all ears whenever she decides to give her input on things.

"How so?" You ask, trying to make sense of the situation and guessing where she was going with this statement.

"Mm well... Yeonjun oppa's dad owns a lot of properties, and you guys own a lot of department stores.. So if your companies merge... Then, your mom can expand to more places and oppa's dad will acquire more patrons because of the brand - since your mom does have an insane amount of fans. It will be the merger that everyone in Korea will be talking about."

"Wow.. I never really thought of it that way." You say in a hushed tone, trying to put the pieces together.

"At this rate you'll be richer than all three of us combined. With the exception of Chaewon, of course." Yeji says in a joking manner, her statement causing Chaewon to flip her hair over her shoulder.

You laugh it off, "Ah, well- that's.. that's really not my concern now. All I know is that my mother needs to get her life together.."

"Well look at the bright side y/n, at least you get to look after my baby for me," Chaewon interjects, putting her hand over her chest. "You know, you can report to me and tell me if there are girls who try to flirt with him and all that. You’re basically going to be his younger sister anyways." She points out, nodding her head a few times.

You stay silent, suddenly remembering that one little fact that his dad gave away at dinner.

He was still bringing random girls home at this point.

There was an inner battle in you suddenly - should I say something? Or should I keep it under wraps since their relationship isn’t my business anyway? Something prompts you to go for the latter, not open your mouth and just nod.

You'd rather not be caught in the middle of the drama.

————-　★　-———— . ————-　★　-————

As expected, there was another party that night at Chaewon’s house.

There were indeed perks to being inheritors to future companies: your parents were more often than not, too busy to take note of anyone's whereabouts. Which is why you have the luxury to party whenever you wanted.

Surprisingly, you were actually in the mood to party then. As you’ve managed to down a few shots of soju as well as soju bombs with Yeji.

And not surprisingly, Chaewon was all over Yeonjun that night.

You could feel him staring at you from time to time though. Nevertheless, you don't think much of it- as you’ve always made it a point not to.

He's probably waiting for me to f*ck up or something so he can tattletale on me to my mom next time we have a ‘family’ meal.

“How’s my favorite girl?” Soobin’s voice made its presence known as he wraps his arm around your neck and pulls you into a hug. Your arms instinctively wrap around his torso, and you stay that way for a few minutes.

“Ah- y/n! Before I forget! Remember how you were looking for that limited edition version of that manga we both loved?!” He asks as you pull away from the hug. You, of course, nod quickly.

The two of you have a lot of similarities, and your love for mangas and graphic novels was one of them.

In a swift motion, he then pulls out something from his bag. And lo and behold, in its pristine condition, was the same novel you've been searching high and low for.

“WHAT! NO WAY!!!” You shout over the music, enough to draw attention from the people around you. You envelop him in another excited hug out of gratitude. “I can’t believe you found it?! How did you do it? I had my mom’s assistant look all over for it. Even my grandparents’ staff were searching for it.”

“Ah well, I have my connections. You’re not the only one, y/n.” Soobin winks as soon as you pull away to take the manga and read through the back cover.

The rest of the night was spent with Soobin and a few more soju bottles. And by the end of the night, you were feeling the ugly effects of alcohol.

Cuddled up with him on one side of the couch, with the two of you talking about all the animes you’ve watched the past week. It was pretty fun to have someone with whom you could nerd out, especially in a group of socialites such as the one you both have.

“Ah, you’re remarkable. I can’t believe you like the same things I do.” He said, pinching your nose which causes you to scrunch it upwards.

“y/n...?” He suddenly grows quiet after a few moments of just staring at each other.

“H-huh?” You ask, your forehead creasing in curiosity. Unfortunately, right on time, your vision starts to blur, and the dimmed-out lights in the living room turned party area wasn’t helping. “W-what is it?”

“C-can I k-kiss-- Y-yah.. y/n?! Hey! You ok?!”

That was pretty much the last thing you hear before passing out.

And that was it, your dear old friend alcohol got the better of you, knocking you out on his lap.

————-　★　-———— . ————-　★　-————

“Yeonjun, I don’t understand, you know I can bring her home safely.”

Was I dreaming?

“I know, but I promised her mom I’d take care of her, and that’s what I’ll do so hand her over.” His voice didn’t falter, standing firm to the promise he made to your mom.

W-wait.. I can’t see anything.. I can’t open my eyes. I’m still dizzy, I can only hear faintly.. Ah, what is happening to me?!..

“Pff, alright, fine Jjunie.. But you better not try any funny business.”

You could feel another pair of strong arms underneath you, cradling you as you shifted. The air is crisp and cold as it brushes through your legs. You were outside.

“Babe! Where are you going?! You can let Soobin handle her and the party’s not over yet.”

That was Chaewon’s voice..

“I have to go Chae, I’ll bring her home first and make sure she’s settled. I’ll see you tomorrow in school hmm?”

————-　★　-———— . ————-　★　-————

You wake up to music, a hummed lullaby of sorts. It was soothing and pleasant to hear. You can feel the soft mattress under your tired body. With how familiar it all felt, you could tell you were in your bed.

Apart from that, you can feel someone stroking your hair.

Your eyelids felt so heavy as you open them, curious to see who it was. But you could barely see, vision still blurry no thanks to the after-effects of alcohol.

Add that, and the fact that it was rather pitch dark around your room- signaling that all the lights were off.

Someone was in your room, that you knew. Because you can hear him and his melodic humming, and whoever it was- he was unmistakably sitting at the edge of your bed next to you.

“O-ow..” You croak out, feeling the throbbing in your head. Pressing the palm of your hand against your forehead almost immediately, the melodic, soft voice cuts as you note the mattress' weight shift when the person beside you leans in to check on you.

“y/n, don't get up, just get some rest…” That voice, you know who it belongs to, but it took you a while to process it.

Yeonjun’s voice?

Even though you wanted so badly to keep your eyes open and verify if your guess was correct, you've had way too much to drink to keep up.

You couldn’t believe it though. How can someone so rugged and nonchalant about things have such a sweet voice? Plus, the mere idea that he’s here to make sure you're okay- that definitely does not seem like something he’d do.

Or have you had a skewed vision of him this whole time?

Soon after, You feel his lips against your forehead. His soft buds leave a small peck and a tingling sensation on your skin, and you swore your cheeks felt a lot more heated than it was before.

At that point, you weren't sure if it was all a dream. You feel your stomach churn. Was it butterflies? Nah, it must be the soju. You tell yourself.

“Sweet dreams, y/n.” And with that, you drift off into dreamland.

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ohtobeleah · 8 months

Text

Oh Chute // Bob Floyd

Summary: For some reason you’d never know, yours and Jake personal Heaven becomes a check point for the friends you left behind. One by one the Daggers come through on their way to their forever life after death.

Warnings: Mentions of death. Blunt force trauma. F-18 accident. Bob Floyd Angst.

Word Count: 2.5k

Author Note: This is a spin off Series to Bruises. Masterlist Tagged below.

Bruises Masterlist | Life After Death Masterlist

Name: Robert Floyd: Age: 36 Cause Of Death: Blunt Force Trauma sustained via fall.

***~***~***~***~****~***~***~**

“Where the hell am I?” Robert Floyd had no idea where the hell he was. One minute he was in the cockpit, sitting behind Phoenix like he had done for years, and then? He was in a field somewhere in the middle of nowhere. His head hurt, a lot. But when he came to with a mouth full of dirt he knew something had to be wrong. Very wrong.

“Oi.” Jake Seresin loved golden hour. It was his favorite time of the day. When the sun would kiss the horizon and leave a beautiful golden hume across the fields that seemed never ending. Rolling plains of green lush fields that were all his, all yours. Your own silence of paradise.

“Hotshot!” Jake snapped at the Boxer whose hair stuck up along his spine. His bark was just that, all bark and no bite. “I’m gonna get your vocal cords clipped if you don’t cut it out man.” It’s an empty threat that the Boxer dog has heard a billion times before—and it always seems to fall on deaf ears. Hotshot kept barking in the direction of where he’d sensed danger looming. “Dammit—!”

Jake stood from where he was crouching to fix the broken wire on the fence that bordered what he could only assume was another property. Someone else’s slice of heaven. He hadn’t ever seen what was beyond the rolling hills, but he didn’t care all that much. He already had everything he ever needed and more.

“Hello!? Is anyone here!?”

“Huh?” Jake frowned when he saw it, a figure dragging a parachute across the field in his direction. “Ain’t no way—“ Jake shook his head and rubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand. He pocketed the gloves he’d been wearing and took a few cautionary steps closer to the figure that grew closer and closer. Until he knew for sure who he was seeing:

“Floyd?” It comes out a little bit questionable and albeit hesitant because Jake isn’t sure why exactly he was seeing Bob on his property. “Bob? Is that you?” He calls out again. “Oh fuckk—this can’t be good.” Jake says that last part to himself, he knows that the only people here are already dead or figments of his imagination.

Bob freezes in his tracks, it had been a few years since he’d heard that unforgettable voice. It’s Jake, it’s Hangman. Bob can only just make out the blonde hair and the stupidly symmetrical physique, but regardless of the distance he knows it’s Jake Seresin. Oh crap. He’d fallen asleep before training hadn’t he? He was asleep in the red room right this very second, dreaming of a friend he lost not too many years back.

“Hangman! Oh my god! What are you doing here?” Bob asks all the while he’s back on track, walking towards Jake as he makes his way over. Hotshot is already a mile ahead and at Bob's feet in no time, wagging his tail and licking Bob's hand. A welcome fit for an old friend. “Hey buddy, hi!”

Like Jake said, all bark, no bite.

“Uh, I—“ Jake knows he should probably approach this conversation carefully. If Bobs here then there’s only one real explanation as to why. He’s dead. “I live here.” Jake rubs at the back of his head as he assesses Bob's reaction. There’s hardly a flinch. “This is my home man, and you’re a long way from yours.” It doesn’t make sense, why was Robert Floyd in Jake's own personal afterlife? He didn’t understand the lore as well as you but even this was making his brain itch. Surely you’d know why?

“What do you mean you live here?” Jake can see the confusion all over Bob's face when he finally does reply. He can also see the blood creeping out of his nose. Something had gone wrong, terribly wrong. “I just ejected, my chute got tangled—“ Jakes standing there with his arms crossed just waiting for the lightbulb to turn on. Bobs a smart guy, he should be able to connect the dots. “Hang on, you died.” Bob's frowning while he looks up at Jake once again. “You died years ago. Does that mean?”

“Dead doesn’t mean done Bob.” Jake just smiles, he still wasn’t sure why Bob was here or what happened to bring Bob here, but he was thankful to see an old friend. “You might of—“ Jake doesn’t get to finish his sentence before Bob is cutting him off. Nope. Nope this can’t be happening. Bobs not dead. He’s just asleep.

“I need to get back.” Bob just shakes his head in disbelief. “I uh—I’m dreaming, yeah.” It’s his way of processing what’s happening. “I’m dreaming, yeah, yeah no I fell asleep in the rec room didn’t I?” There’s a silence that lingers in the field while Jake just looks at his old colleague, god he didn’t look a day older than the last time Jake saw the WSO.

“Sure pal.” Jake just sighs while the two men hug for what feels like the first time in a lifetime. He can feel how fast Bob's heart is racing. “Why don’t you come up to the house? I’ll fix you something to drink.” It’s the only thing Jake can think of to help settle the clearly distressed soul. Bob nods, he doesn’t know what else to do. He’s tried to wake up a few times now but damn this dream really feels real.

“Jake, is this real?” Bob nearly sobs while the two men walk back up to Jake's truck. He’d driven up to the border fence a little while ago. “Am I dead?” Jake contemplates how to handle this situation, but he settles on a little humour to take the edge off. He always did love fucking with Bob.

“As a doorknob dude.” Jake chuckles softly all the while Bob just stands there in disbelief. “You probably hit the ground hard too.'' Jake can see the colour draining from Bob's face as he takes his helmet off in the passage's seat. It’s then he sees the blood pouring out of Bob's ears. Damn. The ground must have been really hard. Jake remembers that feeling all too well. The thud, the snow. But for Bob it must have been so much worse.

“Oh god.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~**

“Honey!” You heard Jake's boots against the hardwood floor before you saw him. He’s got that all too familiar walk that lets you know it’s him. Not that it would ever be anyone else, but right now it did sound as if there were a few extra footsteps present. “You around?”

“I’m in the kitchen with Ellie!” You cooed back. Bouncing softly while you waited for your tea to steep. “She’s just gone down for a—“ Before you could even say that your daughter had just fallen asleep against your chest in her wrap, you were rendered speechless by the scared silhouette behind your husband. “Bob?”

“Hollywood?” Bob was in more shock than you were. “Oh okay yeah now I’m definitely dreaming.” He steps past Jake and into the kitchen to give you a hug that was all too welcomed. You send your husband a frown of concern over the WSO’s shoulder and Jake confirms what you think you already know.

Robert Floyd was dead. He’d recently died or was dying as you spoke and he was in denial about it.

“Uh—Bob honey I’d say it’s good to see you but I don’t think you belong here.” You cooed with a soft expression plastered across your face. As much as you loved seeing an old friend you knew for certain that if Bob was dead he needed to get to his own forever home before he got stuck between the land of the living and the land of the dead. “What happened? What’s the last thing you remember?”

“I’ll get you a drink man.” Jake adds all the while you and Bob sit down at the dining table in the kitchen. He finishes making you your cup of tea while he listens to Bob explain the last thing he remembered before he was waking up in the middle of Jake's back paddock.

“It was just a simple training session.” Perhaps the denial was beginning to wear off, you could see how shaky Bob's hands were while he played with his cuticles and looked around the kitchen. “Something was wrong with our altitude gauge, Phoenix couldn’t keep the nose and before I knew it we were punching out.” It all happened so fast. “I pulled my chute.” Bob explained all the while his heart began to race as realisation set it. “But it wouldn’t untangle—“ Your heart just broke, Jakes too. He couldn’t imagine free falling from the sky like that—even though he kinda did. “I think I hit the ground before I could pull my secondary.”

“Bob, do you know where you are?” It was the softness in your voice and the love you held in your eyes that made Jake fall a little more in love with you. He did everyday. Not a day went by where he didn’t fall more in love with you. “Do you hear anything? See anyone?”

When you had died, all you could hear was Jake begging you to stay. The sunset was so beautiful and the homestead was so peaceful and nothing seemed to hurt, you just couldn’t stay. As much as it pained you to turn your back on the faded image of the love of your giving you CPR, you had to see what was inside the home you now shared with that very same man. He’d come racing up the driveway not a few months later.

“I think I’m in a hospital somewhere?” Bob could hear a beeping sound, like a heart monitor reading his pulse. “I don’t remember it hurting, dying that is.” Bob let his chin fall as Jake handed him a glass of water, remembering that the weapons system office didn’t drink in life so he probably wouldn’t in death. “We all missed you, both of you, so much.” It was a beautiful thing to hear, even after all this time. You knew Jake missed his friends and hoped they understood why he did what he did. He had to be with you. If he couldn’t in life then death would have to do.

“For what it’s worth?” You looked to your husband with an all knowing smile before you rubbed your thumb on Bob's hand to sooth his worried soul. “We know, but we’ve been happy this whole time.”

“I understand why you both did it, you know.” Bob added as he sniffed. “Rooster was so mad for so long but I always understood.” It made Jake's heart sink into his stomach, but hopefully he’d get the chance to say he was sorry one day. “Am I really dead?”

“I’m sorry Bob.” You didn’t know what else to say. “If you wanna come into my office with me I can probably help you figure out where you’re supposed to go from here?” You offered. “I’m not even really sure why you’re here and as much as I’ve really enjoyed getting to see you again, but, you can’t stay.”

“Where do I go then?” Bob asked softly and all the more confused. “I don’t know what I’m doing?”

“What’s your perfect world man?” Jake asked as he leaned back on the kitchen countertop. He had his, you were all Jake Seresin ever needed. “Your idea of heaven? Your forever home?” Your little girl was his forever dream. “Surely there’s something—“

Robert Floyd was silent for a moment, he thought about where he’d want to spend the rest of his forever life.

“I had this old drum set when I was a teenager.” You caught the glint in Bob's eye, he could hear the music playing. “My dad owned this old instrument shop that had pretty much everything you ever needed in it, drums, electric guitars, pianos, even clarinets.”

“If that’s where you wanna go Bob then I’m sure that’s where you’ll end up once you step outside our door.” You could see the gears turning in your husband's mind, he was trying to figure out why Bob was even here. It was so random, so out of the blue. Were all his friends going to come through one at a time? Was this how things worked? Did they all miss him so much they couldn’t pass on without saying goodbye?

“I’m not ready to go yet.” It was as genuine as ever. Bob was just scared, he didn’t know how to feel or what to say. All he knew was that he just needed a minute to figure out if this was real or if he’d just fallen asleep in the rec room. “Could I maybe just sit here for a while?”

“Yeah Bob.” Oh how you’d missed your friends, the people who cared the most. “Yeah, take all the time you need.”

“You can go, if you want—“ It was the softest of voices, the most calming of lullabies. Bob could hear her right in his ear. “I’m right here, you aren’t alone, so if you need to go, you go, okay?” Phoenix cried as Bob turned around in his chair to look over his shoulder. He saw the image clear as day. He was in a hospital room being kept alive by machines and tubes.

“Who is it?” You asked as Bob saw his final moments play out right before him. He never wanted that, to end up on life support. Bob had always told the people who mattered most to him to pull the plug if he ever got to that point. Phoenix must have listened.

“It’s okay, you go, say hi to Hangman and Hollywood for me.”

“Nix—“ Bob smiled at the thought of his front seater. He hoped wherever his heaven was that hers wouldn’t be far away. “She says to say hi.”

It felt all too real when you looked over to your husband. These were his people more so than they ever were yours. He’d known them for years and left them all without saying goodbye. Now was his chance.

“I really did miss you Bob.” Jake sighed as he walked across the kitchen with heavy steps. His hand came to rest on the WSO’s shoulder, bringing a comfort Bob didn’t know he’d missed so much. Jake loved you so much, that was clear to everyone who knew him once he lost you. For some it was easier to accept than others. Bob only hoped that if Rooster got a chance to stop by on his journey into the forever that he wouldn’t hold his grudge. “But I couldn’t say, every breath I took since she left felt like such a waste on me.”

Bob looked at you, and then looked back up at Jake. The blood from his ears had begun to fade. There was no more pain. Bob was simply Bob. And he could hear the drums as clear as day just outside the front door. It was his time to go.

“I’m just glad that you guys got your happily ever after.” Bob chuckled to himself. “Even if it was in death.”

***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***~***

Tags 🏷️ @americaarse @blindedbythelightt @tayl0rhuynh @athenabarnes @imaginecrushes @whyareallnamesgone @mjmaximoffbarnes @amiets2 @mads-weasley @gabbyella @ephemeralninon @xoxabs88xox @pedrohoe04 @starkleila @je-suis-prest-rachel @clancycucumber230 @maisie-rebloging-blog @callsign-barbell @obiwankenobis-lap @some-lovely-day @paperbag333 @callsign-magnolia @jhiddles03 @hardballoonlove @shanimallina87 @seitmai i @abaker74 @missemrose @starset21 @kmc1989 @phoenix1388 @emma8895eb @tsofo26 @itsmytimetoodream @angelbabyange

#bruises // jake seresin #life after death //#robert bob floyd #bob floyd angst #Robert Floyd top gun #top gun fandom #top gun fanfiction

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holdmytesseract · 1 year

Text

It's Okay To Be Scared

Daryl Dixon x fem!Reader

Summary: A 'slumber party' ends in a distaster for you and your son. Can Daryl save you two?

Warnings: usual twd stuff, walkers, weapons, angst, panic? fluff! Daryl being an amazing dad and husband

Set in Season 4!

Word Count: 2,5k

a/n: Here we go! 😄 This just randomly popped up in my head, when I watched this scene (I think you'll know which scene I mean.). I had to write it, hehe. ☺️ Also, Teddy's the cutest. I love him. 😍

Divider by my lovely friend @fictive-sl0th <3

Tagging: @km-ffluv @stitchintimefan @sweetpeapod @loz-3 @peaches1958 @fictive-sl0th @lou12346789 @bookofsecretjourneys @azanoni @fuseburner @hotgirlsshareaccounts @in-this-minute

Masterlist

"Mommy?" You turned your head at the sound of your five-year-old son's quiet, hesitant voice urging to your ears. "Hey, bud, what's up?" You smiled at the young boy, squatting down to be on an eye-level with him. The bright sun of Georgia shone through the barred windows of the C-Block, dipping the grey hallway in a soft yellow light. The sunrays got caught in the little boy's brown curls, causing them to shimmer. He may have inherited Daryl's hair colour, but not his actual hair. The kid definitely had your soft curls. Your eyes scanned your son's face and body. From his blue-grey eyes, which resembled his father's, over his little snub nose and rosy cheeks, all the way down his slightly too big clothes. His black t-shirt fitted him perfectly, but the jeans vest was definitely too big, just like his tattered and ripped jeans. You had to smile. He looked so much like his dad. Speaking of... "Where did you leave your daddy, huh? I thought you wanted to help him outside, checking the fences?" You wouldn't have let him join his dad, if you weren't aware that the boy was in the safest hands possible. He nodded, but looked at you with a sad and angsty expression. "Y-Yes, but... There were so many m-monsters, I-I got scared." Your expression softened, before you pulled the boy into a hug, "Oh baby..." and kissed his head.

It hadn't been easy for Teddy to understand, that the world was suddenly different now. Dangerous. Scary. He had been still a toddler when the world went to shit, but that didn't make it easier to explain. Why there was so much blood and death. Why there were suddenly scary looking people, who wanted to literally eat him. You and Daryl had a hard time adjusting Teddy to all of this. He had already seen so much. Things a kid should never see, but you couldn't change it. It wasn't in your hands. You never wanted this life for him, but it was how it was now.

Teddy looked up to his dad, of course, saw how Daryl helped the group, got food on the table and so on. His dad was his hero, without a doubt - and he wanted to be just like him. Be just as brave and fearless. The problem? Teddy was, after all still a child - and got scared very easily. Something he inherited from you. You were just the same, especially as a child and quite often even today. Some might say Teddy was a bit all bark and no bite - what you thought was quite cute. It was okay for him to be a child. He had to grow up into a man soon enough...

"You know that it's okay to be scared, yes? Always remember that, because being scared helps us sometimes. It's important." Teddy cuddled closer against your chest, both little arms wrapped tightly around you. "I-I know, but daddy's never scared..." You backed up from the hug, shaking your head. "Oh he is, Teddy. He's very good at hiding it." You said, running your hand through his long hair. It reached almost his shoulders by now. You could've cut it, of course, but Teddy looked way too sweet with longer hair. The boy nodded, although visibly not entirely convinced by your words and shuffled his feet nervously. "What was it you wanted to ask me, sweetie?" You decided to change the topic, distracting your son's mind from the walkers. It seemed to do the trick. Teddy smiled softly. "Can I stay at Nick's cell tonight?" Nick - one of the Woodbury kids and now Teddy's best friend. "Of course, bud. Does Nick's mama know?" Again, the boy nodded. "Uh.Huh... Nick said he's goin' to tell her." "Perfect." You smiled at him and stood up again. "Now go out play, while the sun's still out. I saw Patrick and Carl playing soccer outside. Maybe you can join, huh?" Teddy nodded, but tugged nervously on the red bandana around his neck, which his daddy had gifted him. There was something else occupying his mind. You could tell. "Is there something else, sweetie?" Once more he nodded, blue-grey eyes meeting yours again. "Can you, uh, stay with me tonight, mommy?" "At Nick's?" "Uh.Huh..." You smiled softly, tucking a few wild curls behind his ear. "I thought you are such a big boy already?" "Y-Yes, but... Please mommy..." Teddy looked at you with big, pleading eyes - and suddenly, you had a guess. "Are you having nightmares again?" The little boy nodded, grimacing, in order to suppress his tears. He tried so hard to be strong. "Oh no, I'm so sorry. Come here, baby." You opened your arms for Teddy again. An offer he took gladly. You lifted him up in your arms, not caring that he got pretty heavy for you to lift meanwhile. A few silent tears wetted your t-shirt. Teddy was plagued by nightmares almost regularly. He always had a hard time sleeping peacefully, but since the death took over the world, it became even harder for him - which was understandably. And whenever he woke up at night, afraid and crying from another nightmare, the only way to help Teddy was his dad. When Daryl wasn't here, you tried to help your son as well, but nobody was as helpful as his daddy.

"I'm coming with you tonight, okay?" Another nod. Teddy wasn't a child of many words - just like another important man in your life was. His small tear-stained cheeks glistened in the sun, causing your heart to ache. You knew exactly what you had to do now. "C'mon." You adjusted him on your arms, before you left the C-Block and made your way through the corridors out on the yard, eyes searching for your husband. Luckily, you found him pretty quick. He was preparing for the run he was about to go on, with Sasha, Glenn, Tyreese, Bob, Zack and Michonne. Daryl saw you approaching him, of course and was immediately alerted, since you were carrying Teddy. He wiped his dirty hands on a rug, stood up and met you on your way. "Hey, babe." Daryl looked at you and his boy, concerned. "Wha' happened?" "Nightmares," you mouthed, which was enough information for Daryl. He didn't need to know more. He placed a hand on the boy's back. "Hey, buddy, c'mere." Teddy didn't let himself tell that twice, unlocked his arms from around your neck and wrapped them around his father's, clinging to him for dear life. You gave Daryl a sorrow look, causing him to lean over to you and place a quick kiss on your cheek, "I got it." before he turned around and walked away with Teddy in his arms. Guess the run had to wait...

"Alright, baby, I'm going now, okay?" Daryl nodded from where he laid in the bed of the cell your small family shared, hands crossed behind his head. "Ya really wanna leave me alone tonight?" He almost pouted, causing you to giggle softly. Teddy wasn't your only child sometimes. "You know that Teddy asked me to, but you can join if you want." He scoffed at your words. "Nah, wouldn't wanna interrupt your girl's night." You giggled again and stepped over to him, in order to kiss him. "Love you." "Love ya, too." "Sleep tight, see you tomorrow." Daryl nodded, pulling you in for another kiss. "See ya." You grabbed your things, blew him a kiss and left the cell, tiptoeing down the dark corridors to cell block D. Little did you know, that staying with Teddy that night in the D-block was going to end in a disaster. A deathly disaster.

That night, you slept way too tight, to hear the soft snarling and growling of the polite and kind young man Patrick had once been, nor the heavy, slurping footsteps which passed the empty cell you were sleeping in, right beside the cell Teddy was sleeping in with Nick and Anne - his mom. You were completely exposed to the threat, lurking in the shadows of the night - but you didn't know it. Nobody knew it.

Daryl had been up quite early that day, just like Rick and Carl. He had just slipped into his beige shirt with the torn off sleeves, as he heard a loud noise ringing through the corridors, causing everyone which was still asleep to wake up - without a doubt. He furrowed his brows. It sounded like a... gunshot! Without hesitation, the archer grabbed his crossbow and stormed out of the cell, just like several others. Carol for example. "What was that?!" "Sounded like a gunshot." "Where from?!" Just after the words had left Carol's mouth, another gunshot was echoing through the walls. The answer of Carol's question was quickly answered, causing the man's eyes to widen and heart to run a hundred miles per hour. The D-Block. It came, without a doubt from the D-Block. "It comes from the D-Block." Daryl breathed out, before he started to run like a mad man, straight towards the block; Carol following him.

The scene he walked into wasn't one he hadn't seen before and yet it scared the shit out of him, because he knew that his wife and son were somewhere in the middle of it... There was blood everywhere. Dead and bitten men and women laid on the floor. The still living people ran around in panic, trying to flee from the walkers, which were trying to get another bite out of the people. There were screams and cries everywhere. "Shit!" The archer cursed, his mind immediately wandering to you and Teddy. He desperately hoped that the both of you were alright. Without wasting another second, he threw himself into the fray, killing every walker on his way. "Teddy! Y/N!" He screamed out, eyes frantically scanning his surroundings. It wasn't easy to overlook this chaos. "Daryl!" He heard Rick shouting at him. "I got it!" Signalling him, that he had the door situation under control. Not that Daryl cared about this in that moment. All he cared about was you and his son. Nevertheless, he gave Rick a short, hasty nod, before he continued his search.

"Teddy! Y/N!" He screamed from the top of his lungs through the loud noise. "Daddy!" Daryl heard a child scream out - his child. He would recognise Teddy's voice everywhere. "Teddy!" He yelled again, looking around to find him and point out where the voice was coming from. To his sheer luck he found him - just in time. The boy sat on the ground, crouched into a corner, crying, with a walker stumbling straight into his direction. Daryl's eyes widened in shock, but nevertheless he reacted fast, ran over and rammed his knife in the back of the walker's head, carelessly throwing the dead body aside. "Teddy!" The archer fell to his knees in front of his son, pulling his small, trembling body immediately close to his. "Are you okay?!" Daryl's eyes scanned Teddy's body for any bites or injuries. The small boy nodded, yes, and clung to his father, still crying. Daryl held him close to his body with his free arm, standing up again. "Teddy, where's your momma?!" "I-I dunno." Cried Teddy. Once again, Daryl looked around frantically, still not able to find you - but he found Carol. "Carol!" His best friend turned to face him. "Can ya take Teddy somewhere safe? I-I gotta find Y/N!" Carol nodded, of course, took the boy immediately in her arms. "You go with aunt Carol, okay? I'll go, find momma." Teddy cried even more, but let himself got carried out of danger from Carol. It broke Daryl's heart to leave his son like that, but he had to find you. "Y/N!" He ran to check the cells, killing another walker on his way. Remembering, that Nick's and Anne's cell was on the second floor, he was quick to run up the stairs, checking the upper cells as well. "Y/N!" "Daryl?!" He heard your voice calling out immediately, causing relief to wash over him. You were alive. He found you locked up in a cell, with a dead walker to your feet and another one in front of the barred door, trying to get its filthy hands on you. Daryl was quick to get disposed of the walker and opening the cell door with shaky hands. "Daryl!" You cried out, running into his arms. You were utterly rattled, covered in blood. "You okay, sunshine?!" Daryl asked you, strong arms keeping you close to his body. "Y-Yes, b-but I lost Teddy. I-I don't know where he is!" You cried, sobbing into your husband's shirt. "W-What if he's dead! Oh g-gods!" You felt how your knees gave in, but Daryl caught you. He immediately shook his head, trying to comfort you. "Hey, hey, hey, Y/N, stay with me, 's alright. I found him. He's alright. He's with Carol." "O-Our baby's o-okay?" "Yes, sunshine. He's safe. Teddy's safe." "O-Oh thank g-god... I-I was so afraid of him, b-but I couldn't leave to search for him. T-This walker had me trapped a-and- oh gods..." "Shh, shhh, it's okay, 'm here." Daryl's calming voice urged to your ears, despite the loud noise. "We gotta get you outta here." He said, before hoisting you up into his arms, carrying you bridal style down the corridor, the stair and past Rick. "You got this?!" Rick nodded. Glenn had joined the chaos as well in the meantime. "We got it! Look after your family!" Daryl gave Rick a thankful nod, before he left the horrendous scene and took you back to the C-Block.

The archer laid you down on the bed in your shared cell, before he called out for his friend. "Carol?" No minute later, she approached with a still shaking Teddy in her arms. "Did you find her?" Daryl nodded, taking Teddy back in his arms. "Thank god. She alright?" "Yeah, jus' quite rattled." Carol nodded in understanding. "I'll go, take care of the other survivors." "Thanks." "No need to thank me," she said, giving Daryl a small smile, before she left.

"Daddy... Where's mommy?" His son asked, voice trembling. "She's here, buddy. She's okay. We are all okay, alright? Everything's goin' ta be fine." His words seemed to calm down the boy a bit, but not as much as being back in his mother's embrace. Daryl stayed with you and Teddy for a long while, even after the boy had passed out from all the exhaustion, sleeping tightly. Hopefully without having nightmares...

Now Daryl sat behind you on the bed, while you leaned against his chest, hands intertwined. "What happened?" The archer asked in a quiet voice, eyes trained on the sleeping Teddy. You shrugged your shoulders. "I don't know, honestly. I was sleeping and suddenly I heard those screams. I got up quickly, looked outside - and there were walkers everywhere. People we knew, suddenly turned. Then everything became chaotic. I tried to react and look for Teddy, but then there were those two walkers..." You said, shaking your head at the vivid memory. "Do you know what happened? What caused this? Did Rick say something?" "Not yet, but we're gonna find out."

#daryl dixon x female reader #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon x you #daryl dixon x y/n #daryl dixon #daryl dixon fanfic #daryl dixon oneshot #twd #twd fan fic #twd oneshot #twd fanfic

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alexthefly · 9 months

Text

Snakes on a Thunderbird

For @godsliltippy for TAG MiniBang 2023 (@tagminibang)

Inspired by this adorable piece of Fishtank art here. (@tippystreasurebox)

Trigger warning for snakes. Also brief mention of animal neglect, plus some minor whump and peril.

As Virgil went through his post-flight checks, Gordon twisted and revelled in the several satisfying pops his back made.

“Oh god, that is so much better! Want me to crack yours for ya, Virg?”

There was a grumble of disapproval from his right.

“I’ll pass thanks. Hearing yours was an experience in itself. In fact…”

His brother reached over and snagged the small metal box Gordon had been carrying on his lap.

“...perhaps I’d better take that before you do yourself any more damage.”

Gordon rolled his eyes and snatched the box back with perhaps just a little too much snap.

“Right Virgil(!) ‘Cos hauling passengers and crates off of a sinking ship was fine, but this last hundred yards to the rescue centre is where things gets really tricky(!)”

The rescue hadn’t really been all that bad physically. The crates in question had been lighter than expected, though that was because apparently properly feeding the various animals inside had clearly not been much of a priority for the smugglers on board; about as high as safety and ship maintenance had been. And although Gordon’s back was definitely starting to twinge a bit now, he’d have been a lot happier to be a lot achier if it meant those poor creatures had been treated right.

Well, whatever. He’d stayed professional. …Mostly. That Johnny hadn’t mentioned his little brother's prolonged blue streak ricocheting over the comms was likely a sign that he’d felt the same way.

The fact the GDF were already briefed and waiting with an arrest warrant the second they’d touched down was probably another one.

A yellow light broke through his thoughts and dragged him back to the present. He batted the medi-scan away with a grunt.

“Would you quit it, Virg? I’m fine.”

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

Gordon opened his mouth, ready to deliver a witty yet devastating retort, but then thought wiser of it. Better to just let the big guy get it all out of his system. He'd only worry otherwise, and a worried Virgil was a pain in the backside, especially with the flight home and debrief to get through. He closed his mouth and submitted to the inevitable with a huff.

Virgil for his part stayed quiet too as he completed the scan; once it was done, he continued to look Gordon over with the practised eye of both a medic and a big brother.

“Well, Doctor Virgil? Are you done? Can we go now?”

Another moment of scrutiny. Then:

“You know today was a good day, right?”

Dammit. The big green angst-detector strikes again.

Gordon really didn’t want to talk about it now.

“Whatever you say, bro.”

“I mean it,” Virgil insisted. “You’ve said it yourself - this shelter is the best. They've got the facilities and the expertise; they’ll take good care of all these guys, big and small. And the GDF will make sure the people that did this get what's coming to them."

“Uh-huh.”

"Gordy, the good guys won. Take the win.”

Honestly it didn’t feel like a win. Not even a tiny one. The memory of all those sad little eyes was too raw. It was going to take a lot for it to fade into the background, and he just didn't have the energy right now. All he wanted was to get everything unloaded, go home, swim ‘til he couldn't think anymore and then crawl into bed and sleep for 12 hours.

"Virg, could we please do the pep talk another time? The shelter staff are waiting for us."

A little frown appeared on his brother's brow, but he sighed and nodded.

"Are they all okay in there?” Virgil asked instead, nodding at the box balancing on Gordon’s dashboard.

It was an obvious change of subject, but a welcome one. Gordon gave the portable incubator a protective little pat.

“Should be. I candled them earlier and they look good. Not pipped yet, but I think it should be soon.”

He blinked as a sudden thought occurred.

“Actually," he said as he opened the incubator lid and retrieved the covered tray inside, "I’m just gonna check they’ve not been turned mid-flight. I’ve been holding them steady the whole way over, but you never know.”

“I thought you were supposed to turn eggs?” said Virgil with a hint of confusion. He leaned across to watch what Gordon was doing. "Grandpa said it stopped the embryo getting stuck."

“That’s for birds. Snakes are different. All the little veins and stuff are fragile; you flip the egg, the umbilical cord tears away and they die.”

Gordon gingerly lifted the lid and peered inside.

"Of course, these guys are almost ready to hatch so I don’t know how much of that appli-”

But the rest of his thought died on his tongue as he lifted the lid and took a look inside.

A beat.

“What?”

“Erm, not sure. Hang on a sec…” Gordon gently slid the eggs to one side of the tray and running his gloved hands very carefully in the sandy substrate below.

"Where are you?" he muttered softly.

"Where's what?" Virgil quickly jumped to his feet, unease radiating from every pore.

"One of the eggs must have hatched in transit," explained Gordon, still rifling through the soft gravel, looking for any flash of movement. "Once the shell breaks they usually take a few hours to come out, but I guess with all the jiggling…"

"Okay, so presumably there should be a snake in there then. Where’s the snake, Gordon?!"

Gordon kept digging, slightly more urgently.

"Some snakes bury themselves down into the substrate after hatching - it’s a kinda protection thing. They wait there for their first shed, then they come out looking for food."

Virgil reached out gingerly over Gordon's shoulder and picked up the soft and clearly empty egg shell, complete with a neat split down the middle. He held it softly in his hands, turning it over and over as if he might find the wayward snake still clinging to it somewhere.

"Exactly what sort of snakes are these, Gordy?" he asked slowly, deliberately.

"Umm…”

“Gordon!”

“I don’t know! I’m not a snake expert, and you can only tell so much from just the eggshell anyway.”

He set the tray onto the dashboard and started checking inside the incubator itself, just in case. He could feel heat starting to rise across his cheeks.

“Gords, could it be… poisonous?”

Gordon swallowed back the sour taste in his mouth.

“I don’t know.”

There was a moment of horrible silence as those words sunk in. Of course, the chances of the snake being venomous were slim - only about 10-15% of known species were after all - and in any event their uniforms were designed to withstand pretty much anything, but there was still that tiny sliver of doubt in his mind. Was Brains far-sighted enough to have considered snake fangs as a variable during the testing phase?

Virgil took a step back, eyes darting everywhere, and tapped his wrist controller.

“I’m not picking anything up. John? Any chance you could run a sweep of the cockpit for… uh… unusual heat signatures?”

“Unusual?”

John’s projected image leapt out of the dashboard holo’ right in front of Gordon’s face, causing him to almost fall off his chair.

“What sort of unusual?”

Virgil cleared his throat in a far-too-obviously guilty way.

“We’ve kind of… misplaced something.”

“O-kaaay… What sort of something?”

Gordon opened his mouth to say… Actually he wasn’t sure what he was going to say, but in any case Virgil got there first.

“Can you just do it please, John?” he asked, brow furrowed. "Now?"

The look John shot them both could have stripped paint, but he turned away and started swiping.

“No unusual readings found,” he said after a few seconds. "Perhaps if I knew what I was looking for…”

Gordon caught Virgil’s eye. Despite his obvious concern about the situation, the big chonk was clearly still trying to cover for him.

He really was the softest marshmallow.

But as touched as he was, right now the most important thing wasn't avoiding blame; it was finding the snake before anyone got hurt, including the creature itself. There would be time to wriggle out of Scott and John’s inevitable lecture later.

“The signal’s likely very subtle,” he said, drawing John's attention. “He’s cold-blooded, so his core temperature’s gonna be mirroring the immediate environment. Look at components a little below body temperature and check for tiny, unexplained fluctuations.”

“Cold-bl… You lost a reptile?!”

“A snake,” clarified Virgil.

There was a moment while John processed this new information, then he closed his eyes and pinched the top of his nose.

“Of course it's a snake(!)” He sighed. “EOS? Did you catch all that?”

EOS’s voice rang through clear over the comms. “Yes, John. Checking now…”

“In the meantime,” said John, “I suggest you put your helmets back on, just to be safe. The less exposed skin you two have the better.”

The brothers nodded.

Gordon set the incubator down and grabbed his helmet from the dash in front of him, just as EOS brought up a schematic of the cockpit onto the screen in front of him.

“There’s a slight irregularity in temperature around the co-pilot’s control panel, but it’s too indistinct to pin down to a specific component.”

Gordon’s eyes darted all over the dashboard in front of him.

Where?

Scrabbling to push his chair back and get his helmet on, he vaguely heard Virgil say something about lifting the main cover off the console before he was suddenly distracted by a sharp, stabbing pain in his right cheek, just above the jaw.

“Yeow!”

Virgil was by his side immediately, mediscanner in hand. “What?! What is it?”

Gordon remained in his chair, sitting stock still.

"Don’ scan.”

"What?"

"Don' scan. Th' noise'll scare 'im."

Virgil's eyes went wide.

"Where is it?" he whispered, looking him up and down.

“I’z on m’ face."

“What?!?”

“On. M’. Face. W’z inside th’ helmet.”

Virgil and John exchanged a panicked look.

…Yep.

By rights, Gordon should have been scared. After all, there was a chance he could die here; the little danger-noodle might be pumping deadly venom into him by the second. But surprisingly he wasn’t overly worried about that possibility just now. In fact he felt strangely calm and clear-headed. What was done was done after all, and the priority now was to a) not do anything to make the snake strike again (him or Virgil); and b) get it secured.

“Ah’m gonna slowly r’move th’ helmet," he mumbled, trying not to move his mouth too much. "When y’ see ‘im, grab ‘im c’refully b’hind th’ head an’ unhook ‘im.”

Keeping his head stock still, he looked sidelong at his big brother to check he’d understood. Poor Virg looked pale, but he nodded and shifted into position in front of him, mouth set in a grim line. Behind him, John's face was a picture of worry.

“R'dy?” Gordon asked.

Virgil nodded, hands poised.

He gave a little blink in lieu of a smile. “Okay."

Deep breath.

"One. Two. ‘Hree.”

And slowly he took off his helmet.

Virgil reached forwards and closed his hand next to his face. Gordon's skin pulled painfully for a moment, then released, leaving a sharp echo across his cheek.

He exhaled in a big whoosh that seemed to come from his very soul, and raised his eyes to finally look on the thing that had bitten him.

“Scanning for a species match now,” said John urgently as Virgil stepped back, holding the offending creature out at arm’s length. “Cross-matching size, markings and-”

“It’s a Children’s Python!”

“A what?” Virgil asked roughly.

John took a massive breath in. “Oh thank god! Are you sure?”

“Certain,” replied Gordon, finding his feet and bouncing over to look a bit closer, all concern for his safety gone. “We had one as a class pet in 5th grade. Native to Northern Australia. Fantastic pets.”

“I can confirm the identification, John” said EOS. “The species is non-venomous.”

All the remaining colour drained from Virgil's face. He lowered himself down shakily into his chair, arm still outstretched. “Well in that case would someone please come and take this thing out of my hand before I have a heart attack?”

“Oops! Yep, give me one second…”

Gordon grabbed the tray of eggs and fished out a roll of electrical tape from one of his console drawers.

“This should keep the lid secure until we can get him into the shelter, at least.”

Gordon reached out and gently took hold of the little snake, who had stopped thrashing around and instead seemed content to curl its body gently around his hand. He took a second to admire its beautiful mottled markings in light and dark brown, and the gentle undulation of muscles pulsing as it moved.

"Hey, little guy."

The tiny snake flicked its tongue at him, tasting the air.

Slowly, gently, Gordon encouraged the snake back in the tray, extracted his hand, and then put the lid on and taped it down.

As soon as the tray was closed, John seemed to deflate like he was the one who’d been punctured.

“Please, for the love of god, don’t ever scare me like that again, okay guys? My cortisol levels can't take it."

"Take it easy John," soothed Virgil as he stumbled over to examine Gordon's cheek. "You sit back and have a float and we'll finish up here."

He took Gordon by the chin and turned his face to the side.

"...C'mon Blofeld, let's get you cleaned up."

…

Fifteen minutes later and sporting a natty Baby Shark band-aid on his cheek, Gordon skipped across the animal shelter car park towards the front desk. Alongside him, Virgil carried the now-definitely-sealed incubator. (Gordon had argued it was his privilege as 'the walking wounded’ not to have to carry stuff. Virgil had just rolled his eyes and agreed, muttering something about checking for himself to ensure no more 'jailbreaks'.)

Behind them, a dozen or so vets and other volunteers were unloading the various other crates of animals from Two's hold, checking them over and directing them to their respective enclosures.

Gordon grinned.

"Feeling better now?" asked Virgil, quirking a smile in reply.

He was, in more ways than one. Somehow, staring into the face of that tiny serpent had made him feel a lot more positive about everything. Nature really was amazing. If a baby creature, just out of its egg, could survive and protect itself in a hostile environment like that little one had today, then with a little bit of care he was sure the other animals they'd rescued would as well.

Life was good. He had his health, he had his family, and they’d done good today.

Suddenly overcome with happiness, he couldn’t help doing a little jumping air punch, earning a low chuckle from his left.

"You were right, Virg. Today really was a win.”

Virgil raised an eyebrow at him. "Not sure I'd quite describe it that way, but if you say so. You did still set a snake loose in my ‘bird, though.”

“Hey, don't blame me! I'm as much a victim as you are. Little Hissy Houdini's a force all of his own.”

A pause. “You named him?”

“Yep! Kinda fitting, don’t you think?”

Virgil’s eyes narrowed.

"You’re not keeping him.”

Gordon gasped dramatically.

“Virgil Tracy, I am shocked! I would never-”

“Sully the Gully, Puppy Longstocking, Razorbill Bob, the Swift Family Robinson…”

“...again. Never again.”

“Well that’s just as well then, because I don’t think Scott would appreciate finding this little escapologist in his sock drawer, do you?"

As Gordon contemplated all of the delicious trickster-y possibilities that that image brought up, he stretched and gave his back another series of cracks.

Virgil regarded him coolly. "You sound like a goddamn popcorn maker," he grumbled. "Speaking of, I wonder if the others'd be up for a movie night tonight? I feel like we've earned a bit of down time."

"Sounds good to me," said Gordon, flinging an arm around the big man's shoulders. "And I have the perfect one in mind… You like Samuel L Jackson films, right?"

#tw: snakes #tagminibang2023 #thunderbirds are go #gordon tracy #virgil tracy #tagminibang

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chemistryread · 1 year

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she is both hellfire and holy water

- part IV

I choose to love you in silence, for in silence I find no rejection, I choose to love you in loneliness, for in loneliness no one owns you but me, I choose to adore you from a distance, for distance will shield me from pain.

jake seresin

callsign: scorcher

part III

part V

disclaimers/tags: female!aviator!reader. jake is a tired loverboy. slowburn and angst.

a/n: this chapter was hard to put together tbh, alternating between jake and scorch, but i hope it's good enough. the pace picks up from here, i promise. i'm also teasing a few things that will get explained later. another gentle reminder i don't know how navy rankings and inner-workings go. thank you so much for all the attention, the first part hit 1k notes and that's a first for me, so i'm really happy <3 anyways, enjoy :)

tagging: @thedroneranger @shanimallina87 @peakascum @cherrycola27 @iwantmyredvelvetcupcake @untoldshortsofthefandoms @thecraziestcrayon @lovingperfectionsblog

Bradshaw found another way to make his life harder.

What the hell did he tell you last night?

You were late for training. Sat in the back, next to Fritz. Stayed mostly quiet in the comms. When Maverick asked why you didn't take the killshot, you replied that you got distracted. Curt, annoyance drenching your words. Definitely uncharacteristic for the two of you.

At lunch, he asks everyone if they've seen you. Turns out you went off-base, supposed to go with Bob and Trace but they were ahead of everyone else in the programme so Cyclone wanted a word with the duo.

There's no reason for him to worry about you going alone. You must have done it many times before. But he's agonizing over not having heard a single thing from you all day, not directed to him.

He doesn't want to overstep, either. For all he knows, this sudden silence has nothing to do with him. So he spends as much of his free time at the gym, pushing to the point of failure to have something else to think about.

When he gets to The Hard Deck, you're already there. In your moss green dickies and a tight top, looking unbothered. He wonders if you put effort into looking so effortlessly pretty.

Javy is back too, holding the darts as he shoots.

Bradley is playing the piano, and you're sitting next to him. Watching with a pleased smile on your face, shoulders dancing to the song. To be fair, most of the squad are doing the same, but he doesn't look at them.

"Dude, if you don't want me to ask you should hide it better."

He calls out, handing another dart for him to prick right into the red circle.

"Nothing to hide, Coyote, absolutely nothing."

Voice leveled, cool-headed.

"If you say so." Another dart flies too close to his friend's nose. "Oh, and, uhm, you should definitely not look now."

With that, Jake turns mid throw and finds a now standing Bradley turning a shot glass, with his arm around your shoulders. Hands intertwined as you drink with him.

Throws. Dead center again.

"C'mon, let's go over there."

Javy laughs. At him, he knows.

Phoenix bugs her eyes out, licking her lips, ready to lunge. "Look who decided to join us. Tired of playing with yourself?"

"Not as much as you must be. Drought's still pretty bad, huh?"

She's unclenching her jaw to respond, but you surprise everyone first. "Would that make him a mirage?"

They follow your gaze to a young man, a civillian, shamelessly checking Trace out.

The dark-haired woman leans to whisper in your ear, and Rooster fails in his attempt to discreetly overhear, annoyed face being shoved back by your hand.

He backs up to give you privacy, but you keep him close with fingers still laced together. Hangman takes a long sip, noticing the angry unsteadiness of his hold on the bottle. You catch the way his hand trembles, sending a questioning look his way, but he ignores it.

Nodding along, eventually, you push Natasha in the direction of the guy, saying only "Please. Have fun."

You finally let go of Rooster's hand - Jake perks up, hoping you might finally acknowledge him, and ends up letting beer trickle down the corner of his lips - standing up and announcing you're going to get another round. Leaving him looking silly, eyes still tracking your body as you walk away from him again, back of his hand clumsily wiping at his chin.

From afar, he watches you slump on the stool. You look upset, running your hands through your hair and smiling weakly at Penny. Maverick is on your side, a mischievous energy about him.

The trouble you're in is truly indescribable.

Seeing Maverick finally join the squad at the Hard Deck, you run to him and Penny, probably ruining their night if you're honest.

If you could have a superpower, you would chose being able to keep your feelings to yourself. It kills you to overshare, regretting it every time.

But these two love a gossip, completely enthralled by your current problem and encouraging you to open up with booze.

"You guys are enablers, that's what you are."

Pete laughs, his smile jovial and cheeky. Not too different from his girlfriend's. Made to be, truly. It makes you thoroughly envious.

The woman was the first one to put everything together, on your first round back at Fightertown. She was nice enough not to tell Mav until he got to the same conclusion on his own. When he did, however, they had cornered you separately a handful of times in the span of a week, testing and comparing the answers you gave them until you finally confessed.

Lieutenant Seresin makes you feel a certain special way. And you hate it, so much.

Mav is a friend your academy days, when he was called to supervise the testing of a new aircraft. You were handpicked to be one of the reserve pilots, which had meant you might get a chance to take it for a test drive too. (You did.) It was only for a week, but you grew particularly close, bonding over losing a backseater.

When you were called back to Top Gun for the uranium mission, you quickly put together that the Hard Deck's owner and your old friend had history. Possibly lending a helping hand to their happy ending.

This is karma, then. You meddled with their situation, and now they feel comfortable enough to do the same with you.

The difference is, there's no history. Jake doesn't even know.

All those months ago, getting comfortable with the squad, you liked everyone. Apparently he didn't realize, but you liked him too. Despite everyone's fairly placed mistrust of Hangman, something nagged at your heartstrings.

It doesn't happen often. You're not one to feel strongly about someone you don't even know either way. So this continuous faith in him, it had to mean something, even if you don't truly understand it.

His imposing attitude, his ego, those are not palatable, to be exact. But are they surprising, for a Navy pilot?

Looking past that, you saw an ambitious, gutsy man. Accomplished and confident. Benevolent, tenderhearted. (Some would not agree with the last, but you know. Or you think you do, anyway.)

None of those traits are frowned upon. Even the ones that get people to roll their eyes at first glance, they make sense once you see the rest of him. It's just one side, that settles in perfectly with the others. Completes him in a fascinating fashion.

He's interesting.

But you understand meeting Hangman and writing him off as one more self-absorbed dickhead who won't improve your life. Can do without. And you wish that's how you saw him as well.

However, your conscience furiously screamed at you to be smarter than the others. Don't pass on this great person just yet, because you were too busy following everyone else. Some of the best are not usually what they seem.

Once your brain captures the potential of a special someone, your heart doesn't hesitate to follow. Again, rarely happens. But when it does, it's all-encompassing. (And scary.)

That persistence to dig deeper, obssess over believing in him, for no apparent good reason, it'll take you to an early grave.

Your eyes would track him around the bar and you'd go quiet, wondering if you're imagining or hoping for things that aren't really there. Spiraling into an isolating back and forth with yourself.

That's when Penny took notice of your unique treatment of Seresin.

Smart woman, she read you for filth. You act indifferent because you're terrified he might see you care for him. More than you do the others. If he finds out, you might have to explain to him something you can't even explain to yourself. If he has no idea, you never have to deal with it.

You're not good with this. Emotional connection, hope, asking, rejection.

As much as you are curious, and you wish you could see it through, you're too afraid it will only drag you down.

There's also the stomach-turning consideration that he likely doesn't even think of you. Paying attention for nearly a year, you concluded he enjoys the company of bubbly and happy-go-lucky personalities. So do you, to be honest. Who doesn't?

You're a little more rough around the edges, too busy licking your wounds and guarding up from others to remember to let your hair down. You can joke as much as the next aviator, but you'd never be truly lightfooted.

It's like something haunts you everywhere you go. A fear of intimacy, to be completely forthcoming. You do your best to hide it, offering a friendly face to most, but it wouldn't surprise you if people called you distant.

"What I don't understand is why you're running away from this. You said it's been a great time! Are you this scared of loving someone?"

"Whoah, hold your horses, woman! 'Love'? Who said anything about that?"

The two look at each other with knowing smiles. Hot anger brews inside, bothered when people try to tell you how you feel. Even if you are being stubborn and purposefully deceiving yourself.

"You know what I mean. Maybe you don't love him yet, but you're so scared you might one day get there and not know what to do with it, so you deny, deny, deny. It's ridiculous."

"Yeah, it is ridiculous."

You joke, clearly trying to shoot down her assessment of you, but you don't sound too sure.

"Didn't you come over to us, asking for help with your troubles?"

It's Maverick's turn at the end of your glare.

"Correct. To help murder whatever it is that's growing inside of me." They shake their heads. "Hey, you guys are speaking as if you're so sure he feels the same, when you have absolutely no reason to believe as much. For all we know, he tolerates me at best. Maybe not even that. If this becomes something real, what happens when I screw up or he realizes I'm not that great? What then? Going through all of that for nothing, you're encouraging me to get heartbroken. It's sadistic!"

These last few weeks, letting him in, they were a mistake. You should have know better.

Jake's sweet. He listens, he looks at you, and when he does you memorize every speck of green in his eyes so you can dream about them later. It's maddening.

A mind of his own, you enjoy when he rambles. As you had considered before, the ego and the self-confidence are not fronts. He is like that, a little full of himself. And you like it so much. Every time he talks, he stands tall and puts his foot down. Velvety voice booming, confident cadence, claiming his right to be heard. Beautiful.

And you knew all of that, surprised only by the part where he hears back. Props you up to put your two cents in as well, and although you're much calmer in your approach, he drives you crazy with some points.

Rarely, in your entire life, have you enjoyed just talking to someone so much, for a person who prefers to only speak when you have a point to make.

It's not all serious, and you're thankful for that. He has always been clever with his remarks, and when you don't know how to reach out to people, you make them feel good by laughing with them. Whether he's being charitable or not, he laughs with you too.

It's a mutual shedding of walls. You wonder if he takes it as seriously as you do.

When you're together, all the other things surrounding you struggle severely to draw you away. All that matters is being in his presence, and wishing he enjoys being in yours.

That's why you're in trouble. This hasn't happened before. You've never…well, you've never been in love before. Or even close to it. And here's this pretty boy, with a lot of personality, giving you his full attention even after you were less than friendly with him. Insisting on breaking into your heart. No one has ever fought this hard for you before, with the exception of Maverick. It does feed hope into your heart, no matter how hard you push against it.

Penny pulls you away from your thoughts by squeezing your hand.

"And if it doesn't happen that way? What if he likes you more everyday he spends with you?" She looks to Pete, clear blue eyes softening, tight lips turning up. Another squeeze. "We know this doesn't happen to you, so it would be nice to see it develop."

"C'mon, Pen, you've seen thousands of Navy men pick up women here, including him. It would take someone special to pull him out of that comfortable life, and I'm not it."

"Stop talking about yourself that way! And I don't think Seresin is like that. You're right, I have seen thousands of men who don't give up that life even after they get married. He's not one of them. I know, like you knew he was worth believing in."

She holds your gaze, a lot less patient than Pete, and you can't stop the rolling of your eyes.

"It'll go away." You say it with stern determination, as if you had a magic spell prepared and all. Behind the bar, Penny huffs. "I don't want it. Throw it away. How do I do that, now?"

It's the older man's turn to laugh at your drunken words.

"Sweetheart, that's not how it works. I know you're not well-versed in feelings, but c'mon, you're smarter than this."

"Mav, I really, seriously, honestly don't want to fall for him."

Tears pool at your eyes, and you can see him jump a little at the sight. A lot of new things around here. Because of Jake. You kind of want to go punch him right now.

Your fingers run through your hair nervously, you're a mess.

"And what's your plan, then?" Penny asks, drying clean glasses to have an excuse to avoid the waiting patrons. "Because, this- Being friends without confronting your feelings first, I don't think that's going to work. You can't do that, honey, it's not healthy."

"I can't just stop talking to him now, can I?" Both shake their heads. You sigh. "I thought, maybe, knowing him better would force me to see that I was either wrong or overshooting, but all it did was fuel this hopeful feeling for more. In my heart, not my brain, that one is yelling at me to take three big steps back."

The three of you laugh together.

"You don't have to figure it out tonight, maybe you're right and it'll go away. In the meantime, don't overthink it."

Penny and you groan in synch.

"Don't worry so much, is that your advice?"

"Works for me."

You hum, considering. Pete Mitchell, one thing about him is that he does take control of his own life, for better or worse.

"Rooster disagrees."

Two pairs of eyes widen at you, but the man is the one who asks. "Bradley knows?"

"Not exactly. Last night, he pulled me away with a bullshit excuse to warn me that he thinks Hangman has ulterior motives, with me." You snort, taking a sip of your forgotten drink. "I yelled at him for thinking he has any right to be protective, and for making assumptions. Anyway, long story short, I lied and said there was nothing to worry about. I'm on top of it, and I can handle him if I have to."

"Huh, and he doesn't even know that what you want to be on top of and handle-"

"Penny!"

You shush her and Maverick shudders next to you.

"Please don't say that out loud, ever again."

"Sorry. Is that why he's all over you tonight? Like, more than usual."

"Uhm," You scan the bar to look for your friend but find Jake first, and he winks at you. You can't help but smile, bitterly amused by the absurdity of being brought to tears over a man who has absolutely no clue, while the same man inconsequentially flirts with you across the room. You look away, before you can start blushing.

"Did you mean that 'honey', the other day?"

Enraptured by your presence (after not hearing much from you all day), it seems Jake didn't notice everyone run to the pool table as soon as the group who was hogging it left, and he was alone with Rooster.

"First of all, it's none of your business what I call Scorcher-"

"I mean, can't even call her Scorch, that sort of speaks for itself, no?"

"Secondly. Why do you ask? Feeling threatened?"

He can't see the big hazel eyes behind the thick sunglasses he's wearing, but Bradley stands up straighter, taking his time to answer.

"Just don't do anything stupid. I'm watching you."

Instinctively, Jake puffs his chest and stands up nose-to-nose with his fellow aviator.

At the perfect moment, your gazes cross, finding each other across the bar. A bashful, flirty smirk grows over his lips and he winks. Cheesy and transparent, the same unbeatable confidence that irks Rooster whenever he pulls the girl they were both looking at first.

Much to his surprise, you grant him a genuine smile, the first one that is a positive unmediated response to his antics.

He imagines himself glowing in front of Bradshaw, energy renewed by your approval when the dirty-blonde was just talking his ear off. He comes out on top, again. Did you watch that, asshole?

A deep growl rises from the bottom of the man's throat, accepting defeat. Too intimately for his own taste, ungraceful hands drag him along to the rest of the group.

"Think so, yeah. Again, he thinks he needs to shelter me or something."

"Sounds like him."

Penny hums in agreement, with a sly smile on her lips. You don't even want to know.

"Makes you want to shake him by his stupidly broad shoulders and yell at him to relax."

"The day Rooster relaxes, I'll be able to fucking sleep at night."

Snorting at the uncommon instance of Mav swearing, you excuse yourself to the bathroom.

In a moment of quiet, you miss Phoenix. Maybe you should get her opinion on everything, she usually has her head on her shoulders about things. Then again, she's dealing with a lot on her own.

The Jake thing wasn't the only problem Rooster had last night. You would've broken the juicy news to your favorite couple, but it was not your secret to share.

You're gone for a while, but every time he looks, you're still with the couple, and it's clear that you're the one doing most of the talking. He hopes to get a chance to pull you aside later and ask what's going on. Cautiously, of course.

When you finally return, your speech is a little slurred and your cheeks are flushed. Hair loosened from all the times you ran your fingers through it.

It distracts him from Bob handing him the pool stick.

"Where's Tasha?"

"With mirage man."

"Still? He wasn't that good." Heads snap up to you, and Jake's eyes look away from the table, taking in your heedless state. "What? Friends share."

Rooster chokes on his beer and Fanboy inches closer, both men drowning you in questions.

Did you say something weird? You're a little too tipsy to care.

Just because you're not romantic doesn't mean you can't have fun. The Hard Deck was a special spot, constantly blessed by many handsome faces, and you weren't denying yourself everything, despite what Miss Pretty Penny might think. Then again, like you said, they were hardly ever that good and they certainly denied you actual pleasure, sometimes.

You warned Trace of that when she leaned into your ear to ask if you wouldn't mind her sneaking off with a guy you had been with before. That was your only qualm with it. But she could use the distraction, so you ultimately ushered her away with him.

A bit of regret spreads through your chest as you wish she was here now, helping ward off the curious naughty boys trying to interrogate you. Those who dine in silence, enjoy it the best, you tell them.

The next best contender comes to the rescue.

After a purposeful horrendous miss, he returns the stick to Floyd.

"Personal space, creeps. Don't be invasive." You take his hand before he can even ask. "Air?"

Your fingers don't lace with his, letting go as soon as you're outside, and he pretends not to notice or care. Drowning the knot in his throat with a sip of his warm beer, which he started neglecting when he noticed you were going a little over your limit, planning on keeping a watchful eye, take care of you if needed.

Instead, they pull at the hairband, finally letting all the strands fall down your shoulders, threading them impatiently. It's messy and unkempt. He enjoys getting a glimpse of the curls fully.

Your movements are automatic as your mind wanders off, eyes on the ocean but not really focusing.

Jake is not touchy. It's unexpected, boys like him - confident, good-looking, used to female attention - tend to be. But he's very respectful, keeps to himself. In the gym, the closest he gets to you is the tip of his fingers poking your side if you're doing something wrong, only doing more if you explicitly tell him you need help. It's brief, though, and sturdy. Helpful. You chuckle to yourself, thinking you like it when he helps you. You hate feeling incompetent, but if it meant Seresin would pick you up, well you might just trip over your own feet.

"How did you get drunk? It's so early."

His grin is tight and sincere, gorgeous.

The image of the couple flashes through your brain and you almost cuss them out.

"Penny and Mav! Who knew old friends could be so scheming."

"Why were they scheming?"

"To get me to talk."

"About?"

Jesus. When did you get so careless?

You turn with a glint in your eyes. Shaking a finger, hilariously, at him. "Nope. Not telling you, of all people."

"Had to try." No, you really didn't. His eyes sharpen. "What do you mean, 'of all people'?"

Damn him. Sober and clever. Would he let you punch him, if you asked? Maybe he'll give up if you distract him.

"Shut up, Seresin, look at the waves!"

Yeah, you're pretty gone.

"C'mon, talk to me, for once."

The light tone you had is replaced by a husky, exasperated one.

"What do you mean, 'for once'? I talk to you more than the entire squad! Maybe Phoenix, but it's pretty equal. Not like proportionate to the time we've been friends, but meaning. Does that make sense? I tell you more than I tell them."

At the same time, you want to bury your head in the sand to stop talking, and also shake him from his shoulders, ask him if he really doesn't see it.

So you cross your arms over the railing, bumping your forehead lightly as if it's going to bring you back to your senses and erase all the feelings you have for the man leaning so close. He's so close.

Something wicked twists inside him, feeling his lips dare to twist up.

Desperation oozes from him, yes, but he wants to know. Banking on your absent-mindedness and the fabricated tilt of teasing in his voice covering for him.

"C'mon, you don't need to lie to make me feel better. I would say if there's a top three, it would be Trace, Bradshaw and maybe, then, me. Right?"

Honestly, your ranking is more like Tasha, Floyd and Rooster. The order can alternate depending on the day.

His gaze is searing hot, sweat trickling down the back of your neck, nearly enchanting enough to convince you to give everything away.

How would he react to knowing you're just another girl captivated by him? The hooks of desire and curiosity and interest ripping you open tear by tear, with every smirk you catch on his face.

Looking into pretty little green orbs, you want to gently cradle his face (maybe butthead him first) and connect your lips as delicately as possible, dreaming about how it would feel when it picks up, moaning your admiration straight down his throat.

Fucking bastard, doesn't even know.

"Seresin, you're on a whole different ball park." Stretching your arms in front of you, holding onto the railing and leaning your head back, your heart is a lot more still than you expected in a moment like this. Maybe it finds relief in being put first, chosen over your brain, just this time. "Don't bother comparing."

It burns him deep. He can feel the wrinkle in between his brows.

Are you saying you don't even consider him as much as the other two? He wouldn't put it past you, to say something so gut wrenching as if it's nothing. Or, just maybe, you mean you've made a category just for him, a special spot, exclusive. A slot not even Rooster can break into. Jesus, he can feel his muscles contract with how strongly he wishes for the second.

He's silent. For a minute.

There's your answer. His reaction was uncomfortable silence. Well, what else did you expect?

Chancing a look, you notice the tension in his shoulders. Maybe he thinks he has to reject you now. A pitying Jake Seresin speech sounds like the worst thing that you could go through at the moment, so you gather all your strength to come across unbothered. Only joking.

"You look really serious right now. It's kind of funny."

He turns his full body to you, hands massive against the thin wooden board, chest pushing against the thight shirt. Your smile falters a little, swallowing roughly. So much trouble.

Remembering how well you took his flirty wink earlier, he puts effort into making sure you feel the drag of his eyes, half-lidded, from your head to your toe.

"It's your fault. I keep trying to figure you out, but you make it real hard, darlin'."

Like a flashback, Rooster's words come back to you. Was he right? Did you need to worry about this?

Figure you out.

"Is that what this is?"

The change is so quick, he has trouble keeping up. Your voice is small, but your eyes glimmer in the moonlight, something entirely different taking over. He's seen it before in fucking wolves.

He thinks he imagines your tongue licking your teeth. It's his turn to shiver.

"This?"

"Yeah, this." You step closer to him, perfect posture and folded arms. "Let's be honest, Hangman, you're not the kind of guy to unpretentiously start a friendship. There's gotta be something you want, ultimately. So, what is it?"

Jake can see the fire slowly growing behind your eyes and he feels like he can't trust the floor not to give way under him and swallow him whole.

For the entire time you've know each other, this is the first chance you've given him to learn things about you. Slowly. You were the last of the squad to open up to him. Maybe he sees you as a challenge, while you see him as- God, you feel stupid. And too drunk to hold back your tongue.

So you attack him, of course. It's in your nature. Too easy to slip back into your shell, standoffish and suspicious.

"What? I'm trying to get to know you, that's just how people become friends, Scorcher."

"Figure me out?"

It won't help, he knows, but he can't stop himself from laughing. Loud and honest, rolling his eyes.

"Manner of speech, beautiful. Tell me, is every time we have a conversation just a waiting opportunity for you to fucking pick my words apart and get on my nerves? Is this revenge, for all the times I pissed you off?"

"Oh, if it's so bothersome, why do you stick around?"

I really like you.

The wind is blowing your hair, and you look kind of like a deity. Taller, darker, fearless.

Eyes are boring into him as if you know something he doesn't, like you've discovered an entire plan he had against you. Except, there's nothing.

Well, there is one thing. The craving he's resisting of grabbing you by your hips and pushing you against the wall, shut you up for a long hour or two with his tongue deep down your throat and his thigh perfectly placed in between your legs. Punishing and devoted in the same breath.

But he's pretty sure you have no idea that's what's on his mind. Would you even like that? No, you'd probably knee him in the crotch and go back inside, laughing at him with Maverick and…Oh.

"Wait a minute." His expression of utter loss twists into anger, an accusation. Biting into the cold air. "Rooster. That little show in the TV room last night. What did he say to you?"

You take a step back, looking away when he steps forward.

Dead little birdy, he swears.

"Whatever do you mean…"

You shrug, faking innocence, but he's not in the mood for joking right now.

"Scorch."

A shaky breath, gasp cut short by teeth trapping your lips shut. Yes, he is playing dirty, but it's not like he hadn't been patiently waiting for the right moment to use it. It feels holier than your name.

It is endearing from everyone else, and earth-shattering from him.

That's what those who know you call you by. Honestly, you never expected to be on his radar, not really. Not in a way that was important. More like someone who passed by, who's remembered vaguely, not lingering too long on your memory before changing the subject.

It is also just a name. So you quickly compose yourself before he can notice the catastrophic impact he has on you.

Nose high in the sky, you recollect yourself. Stubborn and predictable.

"Hangman."

Your stubbornness has the desired effect, wearing him down until he gives up.

A juvenile bitterness (also called jealousy) takes over. He sighs and starts to walk away.

"You know what, forget it."

But then he's leaving you, threatening to dismiss everything, and a pathetic urgency to keep him possesses your body. Throwing all of earlier's caution and hesitance out the window.

He's halfway to the door when you unfold your arms and lean back to grab him, pulling on his sleeve.

Cursing and worshipping him with one balled fist, the warm woodsy smell giving you a headache.

"Fine." You snicker at his smirking face. So he can get what he wants, even with you. Save that for later. "He did say something."

You adorably tug on his shirt again, asking for him to move back to his previous spot.

Purposefully sliding very close in front of you - noses would be grazing if you hadn't moved your head away in embarrassment - he leans back against the railing one last time. Eyebrows raised, satisfied grin.

"Well?"

"You're fucking aggravating, you know that? It's important to me that you know how much of an annoying little prick you are."

"Not little. But the rest I can agree with." You groan, totally not joking, and he gets the feeling of Deja Vu. "You're just mad you're about to throw your friend under the bus for me, angel face. To be fair, I would be confused too. After all this time, what changed?"

He almost forgets what you were meant to talk about while he has a bit of fun at your expense. He's teasing like he used to before, but it's more rewarding now. You're looking at each other, words at the tip of your tongues, instead of abandoned in your throats. He finally gets to hear what you have to say to him.

"Yes, Seresin, you have bewitched me within seven days and now I must betray all of my good friends for you in hopes that you'll feel the same." He smiles at your theatrics. You're happy to see the idea amuses him, because you're terribly afraid it might come true. "No, I'm not trying to burn Rooster, he's just a fucking idiot."

Big grin, crossed arms. "I'm all ears, darling."

You sigh and take the space next to him, elbows brushing lightly, mimicking his pose.

In your defense, you told Bradley the same.

His ways are complicated. You understand, wholeheartedly, that he was raised on the honorable principle of watching over your own. And you're more than grateful to be one of his people. Hopefully, he knows you'd do the same for him, in a heartbeat.

But the way he spoke to you like you didn't know any better, it was condescending. He was overbearing and selfish. And that's not true to your friendship, you never went over each other like that.

You were always very supportive of his relationships, romantic or otherwise. You mediated for him and Maverick whenever they butted heads, which is (not at all surprising) often.

This thing with Tasha.

You were there for him, through and through. So you felt blindsided by this petty possessiveness, and the utter lack of belief in your judgement.

During training, you were so fed up, still irritated by his behavior, that you couldn't even focus. For the sake of being fair, you also wanted to consider Rooster's theories.

The young man didn't know, obvioulsy, but you looked at Jake with rose-colored glasses, for sure. As attentive as you are to who you can or cannot count on, it is possible you'd let something slide for him. You were so appalled at the idea that you couldn't look anyone in the eye, not even Mav.

(He noticed. And he sent you off-base after lunch to clear your head.)

Bradley asked for truce, offering you a ride to The Hard Deck after bumping into you in the base's hallways.

On the way, he lets you scold him a little more before apoligizing. And you know, God, you know he meant well. You want to tell him that, actually, you're not so much Hangman's new victim. Or that you'd be mostly alright with that. Mostly. But that would start a whole new discussion, instead letting him blissfully bask in ignorance.

So, yeah, it feels icky to criticise him to the cause of his worries.

"I don't know, he has this complex, that he needs to look out for everyone or he's a bad friend." Your brows are furrowed, chewing on the inside of your cheek as you think. When the words came out, it sounded like you were already regretting being so harsh. "I- That's not a bad thing. I'm not saying it is. But- It's just-"

"It's too much. You don't like being fussed over, I know."

He knows. Rooster doesn't, but he does. Now, that's a statement.

You meet his gaze poignantly, leaning on the tip of your toes absentmindedly and causing you to look as tall as him. He wants to squeeze your jaw and force you to let go of the meaty inside of your mouth. You've probably drawn blood by now.

"Hm. I thought you said you couldn't figure me out." He watches the spark in your eyes when he shrugs, looking impressed, only half kidding. A combination of sorrow and amusement. They definitely flick to his lips before returning to your shoes. "Yeah, that's terrifying, I regret everyhting. Is it too late to pretend we never met?"

His shoulders shake with laughter, and he bumps you gently.

"What did he say, Scorch?"

You look at him again, pained expression reigning over your features. It's cute, that you have this much of a hard time selling someone out. Loyal, he remembers. To Bradshaw, he remembers and cringes.

"Keep this between us?"

"I had a dream where you said that, once." Twice, three, four, countless times. You take advantage of your new height to push the back of his head, smiling. It's a pretty sight. "I might tell Javy, can't promise not to, but I'll make sure he doesn't tell anyone."

"Whatever. He was, or is worried. That you have a game plan, or something. And whatever it is, is the reason why you got close to me recently. Basically, he wants to know what your intentions are."

You speak slowly and laugh at the end, uncomfortable and awkward. You're right, it does feel wrong to talk about this.

Bradshaw has no fucking idea what his intentions are. But he can imagine what he thinks they might be. A hypocrite, since he has done it to so many girls before.

The minute you tell him, you recognize it as a possible mistake. It'll change things. Question is, which way?

It's definitely a bad thing for Bradley to say. He's accusing his fellow aviator of being slimy, treacherous, untrustworthy. Things that have been said about Seresin before by others, a lot of times to his face, but as far as you know this is the first time it comes from someone this close, someone who is part of a tight-knit team with him, bickering and gossiping to someone who was also close.

"Okay, I can see the cogs turning in your head. Look, you are diametrically opposed personalities. Of course he has a hard time trusting you."

"Please, Scorcher, it's not about trust. It's about you, he thinks I want to take advantage of you. He's insulting both of us in the same breath, or do you not think that it's a bit infantilizing, to you?"

You surprise him with a smile. You can appreciate Jake's concern for you during his rant.

"I do. And I already gave him a piece of my mind for it, he apologized profusely. You would've loved it, I'm sure."

"Probably. Still, if he thinks he can just-" He relaxes when you whisper his name. It's not a warning, it's a plea. Let go. Just one thing, he can't help. "Okay, so you believed him, then? Otherwise, why did you grill me a few minutes ago, basically with his words, I'm assuming?"

The soles of your feet are fully planted back on the floor. You take a second before looking at him again.

"No, not initially. If I did, I wouldn't have gotten mad at him. But, you said something specific there, and it weirded me out. I'm sorry."

"It wouldn't have weirded you out if you just trusted me."

Instantly, you step away from him and he regrets the acidity in his voice.

"Jake, we never even talked before this week. It's only fair-"

"That you take Bradley's word on it? Remind me to congratulate him on how well he brainwashed you, just like every other girl who waltzes around here." He knows he's being unreasonable, but it's too late. You don't give him anything yet, waiting for him to apologize. "I'm just saying, you didn't look too mad at him tonight."

Heat comes to his cheeks as he remembers your fingers laced with the other pilot's.

"No, what are you actually saying?"

He shouldn't. But of course it bothers him, and he needs to scratch that itch.

"C'mon, you don't think he's a little too territorial of you? He didn't even flinch when Trace went off with that guy earlier. But he needs to have a whole conversation with you. To warn you. Of the big bad guy. If he was so concerned, he would've talked to me! Not try to push you away from me, that's manipulative as fuck, please tell me you see that?"

"I don't think he meant it like that."

You're smaller, hugging your sides, but still defiant.

"Scorcher, he likes you."

All the wind is knocked out of you. How can one brilliant man be so daft?

(In all honesty, last summer, during one of your many barbecues with Mav, Penny and Bradley, the latter had said something. If you never find someone, I can be the guy. You had laughed, and then apologized when you noticed he was serious. A long conversation that could've been summarized by simply saying it isn't like that between us. He had agreed. Ever since, you're certain his admiration of you had grown into feelings of companionship, more than anything else. But neither of you had discussed it again. Regardless, he had confessed it to you, and so you feel the need to stick up for him, pay him back for being so trusting and honest.)

A scoff, and you walk right up to him, arms still crossed over your chest.

"Are you sure you're not projecting, Hangman?" He is furiously biting his tongue so you can enlighten him. "Scheming, stabbing in the back, manipulating. That's sort of your thing. Maybe you just don't like the sour taste of your own medicine."

Your lips are parted, a sliver of drool connecting from them, just barely.

Both of his hands come up to your face, thumb ghosting over the bottom lip, jolting when he feels your shudder.

He looks upset. Discouraged.

"You didn't deny it."

Eyelids screw shut for a second, before you laugh again and abruptly cut all physical contact with him.

"What does it matter? Truly."

It matters that he can't do this, compete with Bradshaw. He's lost a few times. He's the step-in, he knows.

It's stupid, but...he wants you to look at him with the same eyes people look at the enviable Bradley. Defend me.

He doesn't care if he takes this too far for a friend.

"Hey, I get it. He's the one you take home to the family. Enjoy."

You don't think he hears the constrained way you laugh. What family?

He's halfway up the deck when you stop him again. Your nails dig into his tanned skin. A weird sensation to hear his name strained in your voice. Bad, he hates it.

"You don't get anything, Seresin. And you didn't ask me. Doesn't it matter?" You punch him in the chest, not your full force but it's meaningful. "That I'm not in love with him."

I'm not in love with Rooster. It's not Rooster. Please.

There's no air coming in or out of you. Your eyes sting, and your hands are sweaty. Please.

If he was only listening, he would've guessed you were on the verge of tears. Now that he's looking down at you, he sees that you're angry, undoubted and unmistakenly.

The answer is no. As long as you put Bradshaw first, it doesn't really matter who you are or aren't in love with.

Didn't he say like, instead of love?

His head hurts.

"I need a beer."

Your body demands you put some distance between you, disappointed in his response, watching as he pulls the door open.

God, you're an idiot.

"Asshole!"

"You already knew that, my dear."

And he walks back inside, not minding the way he bumps both Phoenix and Rooster.

Not until he notices the latter walking outside to make you company. Natasha gets a weird look on her face. Whatever, not his business. He'll find something, or someone else to take up his attention too.

The smell of the beach suddenly makes you terribly nauseous, and you have to ground yourself quietly, struggling not to follow Jake and apologize. For what? What is happening to you?

A shadow catches your eye and Rooster leans next to you.

"What did you do to him? He did a whole power walk just now, nearly took me and Phoenix with him."

"Why should I know? You think I have that much power over him?"

"I don't know, maybe you do."

Your eyes meet, face contorted in complete disbelief and both of you break into laughter. You let your head fall back on his shoulder, taking advantage of his bent posture.

It's a peaceful moment.

"It smells especially horrible out here tonight."

"I know, right? I think I need another drink."

"C'mon, I got you."

Bradley is a touchy guy, and his warmth is always welcome. Most of the squad sent you suggestive looks when you kept close at the bar, in one way or another. But you only had to tell them once that if you wanted Rooster, you would've had him already, and they never joked about it again. Of course, he didn't hear you say it.

Jake had. That was important.

You wonder if he remembers it, because when you walk in with your fellow pilot glued to your back, hands on your hips guiding you towards Penny, his eyes snap away from a pretty blonde and flicker between the two of you.

He chuckles, and returns to the girl.

It seems like you won't need to cut this friendship off, he's doing it for you.

Instead of Rooster's suggestion of more shots, you ask for water.

#jake seresin x reader #hangman x reader #tgm fanfic #tgm x reader #top gun maverick fanfiction

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sesamestreep · 8 months

Text

damned to pining through the windowpanes

(read on AO3)

(read the whole series here)

SUMMARY: Foggy and Matt have a rare chance to catch up while Foggy's in New York for work. Unfortunately, this also means they have to talk about what happened at Rosslyn... [ AKA - The West Wing AU circa season 2 ] A/N: It's time for part 3 of The West Wing AU, baby! This time we're dealing with the aftermath of 'In the Shadow of Two Gunmen' and 'Noel' (though "dealing with" is putting it a bit strong...), which means there's a little angst and the slightest hint of hurt/comfort (??) ahead. But mostly it's just banter and ambiguously reciprocated flirting. I continue my trend of only letting romantic things happen in the rain. Foggy does math in his head and pretends to be Cary Grant. Matt gives his professional opinion and refuses to whistle. Other stuff also happens. Please enjoy. [Full content warnings and tags can be found on AO3 as always!]

The bar that Matt chose for them is not precisely what Foggy imagined it would be. It’s a mildly swanky Midtown bar with leather chairs and couches everywhere and iron light fixtures drenching everything in an amber light that manages to be warm in name only. He doesn’t know Matt that well, but this still doesn’t feel like his vibe. It feels like a place you take a client, impressive but ultimately impersonal, which is not insulting exactly, but somewhat surprising. It’s not a business meeting after all. At least, Foggy didn’t think so when they arranged it.

Matt is there when he arrives, looking simultaneously like he doesn’t belong and like he owns the damn place. That, he realizes, is Matt’s vibe; he always sticks out in a crowd but in a good way. He’s impossible to miss.

Foggy calls out before he gets to him, on the assumption that Matt, like all people, appreciates a heads up more than a surprise arrival but doesn’t always get one, on account of being blind. He's gratified in this choice when Matt surges to his feet with a wide, delighted smile in response and wraps Foggy in a hug once he’s within range. It had been raining outside, just lightly, but Matt is warm and dry in his arms. Foggy has to remind himself to pull back before it gets weird.

“Matt,” he says, too eagerly, but he can’t stop himself. He is happy to seem him, after all. “You look great.”

“Thank you,” he replies, sincerely. “I’m sure you do too.”

Foggy laughs. “Yes, my full Gandalf beard is coming in nicely.”

Matt’s hand immediately comes up to caress his chin and investigate this claim, making Foggy’s breath hitch in a way that is probably obvious to the bartender across the room, let alone Matt himself.

“Liar,” Matt says, feigning disappointment. “Are my hands cold?”

“A little,” Foggy lies. Matt is always so warm.

“Sorry,” he says, rubbing his palms on his thighs. “Let’s sit,” he adds, gesturing to the other chair across from his.

“Yes, of course. Nice place.”

“Oh, thanks. I’ve honestly never been here before. A client recommended it, when I said I needed to meet a friend in the neighborhood.”

“Oh,” Foggy says, over his heart attempting to beat straight out of his chest. He’d just called them ‘friends’ for God’s sake. It’s not a marriage proposal. “Well, thanks for arranging everything.”

“It’s no trouble,” Matt says, waving a hand to dismiss the praise. “I always look forward to seeing you when you’re in town.”

“Yeah, it’s been a minute, huh?”

“A long minute,” Matt replies, pointedly mild in a way that Foggy recognizes immediately. “In your case.”

“Right,” Foggy says, awkwardly. He’s spared from having to come up with an intelligent response by a waitress appearing with a glass of water for him and asking if they’re ready to order. Foggy asks about their beer selection, as a stalling tactic, even though this is a fancy enough place that he should order something more grown-up. He chooses a Guinness anyway, and is so nervous he doesn’t hear Matt’s order.

Once she departs, Matt tips his head in Foggy’s direction. “So, how are you holding up?” he asks, as neutrally as possible.

“Oh, you know,” he replies, even though Matt doesn’t. He wouldn’t have asked otherwise. “I’m doing alright.”

He leaves out the part where he goes to therapy twice a week now and the fact that he’s got someone from ATVA on speed dial and so does Karen. He can feel his pulse racing in his palm, where he cut his hand putting it through a window around Christmas after having what was later identified for him as a panic attack fueled by his PTSD from being shot. His hand is fully healed now but there’s a scar that he touches instinctively with the fingers of his opposite hand the moment he thinks of it. As if Matt will notice that and know he’s lying somehow. Matt probably doesn’t want to talk about that, or his astronomical medical bills, right now, though.

Matt nods profusely, and Foggy gets the distinct impression that he’s both disappointed and not surprised to be getting the smoothed out, small talk version of Foggy’s answer to that question. He’d feel worse about it, but Foggy’s had some iteration of this conversation about 80 million times in the last ten months. Nobody wants him to just word vomit about the stress of getting shot for twenty minutes, he’s found. He doesn’t even want that.

“I meant to call,” Matt says suddenly, with more force than Foggy suspects it warrants. It sounds like he only just managed to get the words out against their will. “I’m sure you’ve gotten that a lot lately, but I did. I wanted to reach out sooner.”

“That’s fine—”

“It isn’t,” Matt interjects, looking truly miserable, like he's the one who shot Foggy or something. “When I saw it on the news, I almost called. But there was so much going on, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to reach you directly because—well, you know.”

“Yes. I do.”

“And I thought of calling Karen, but I figured she was probably busy with…everything. And honestly, the news didn’t mention her but I worried she was hurt too.”

“Karen wasn’t at the event,” Foggy says, gently. “She stayed late at the White House to meet with someone for me, and I told her to take the night off when she was finished. It’s just about the only smart thing I’ve ever done in my life, and she absolutely read me the riot act for it when I woke up from surgery.”

“Good,” Matt says, with feeling, though Foggy’s not sure which part he's addressing. “And she’s okay?”

“She’s a pain in the ass, as always, but yeah. She’s good.”

Their waitress appears with their drinks at this stunningly awkward moment, which is a mild relief in its own way. She refers all her further questions hopefully in Matt’s direction, which is almost enough to make Foggy laugh but he manages to rein himself in. After she’s been pleasantly dismissed, they’re back to the stilted silence.

“I know it’s not the same as calling, or—I don’t know—sending something, but, for what it’s worth, I prayed for you,” Matt says, in the direction of the floor. Judging from his posture, he could be praying now.

No one has ever said that phrase to Foggy in a positive context before, so he doesn’t immediately know how to respond. “I appreciate that, Matt,” he eventually says, which is not something he’d ever say to the evangelicals who often claim they pray for him to change his mind on gay marriage, abortion, and school prayer.

“I don’t think you’re religious or anything like that, so maybe it doesn’t mean that much…”

“I’m not,” Foggy says carefully. He’s never seen Matt look this uncomfortable before, so he figures he should tread lightly. “But you are. That’s what makes it meaningful. Thank you for thinking of me.”

“I couldn’t stop,” he says, and it’s not the context in which Foggy wants to hear that a hot guy was thinking of him, but it still makes his heart race nonetheless. “I’m so glad you’re okay, Foggy.”

“You and the entire Democratic party, my friend.”

Matt laughs in a way that suggests he tried to fight it. “Glad to see your humility is still intact.”

“The neo-nazis are going to have to wake up much earlier if they want to take my oversized ego away,” Foggy says, lightly.

“And your sense of humor,” Matt says, wryly, which is as close as he’ll get to calling Foggy out for deflecting.

“Yes, you got me there. I’m obviously kidding. The DNC is actually terribly sad I survived. The President’s approval numbers would have skyrocketed while mourning a member of the senior staff.”

“Christ, Foggy. Don’t…talk like that. You’re not just some senior aide, you’re a full person. And you almost died.”

“I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be so macabre, really. But you spend enough time in professional politics and you get very comfortable with your own replaceability.”

Matt looks like he wants to say something to that, if the way his mouth twists is any indication, but he just ends up glowering in the direction of his drink instead. Foggy fights the instinct to apologize for the way he’s chosen to cope. He’s working on healthier mechanisms in therapy but he’s also been instructed to not let other people’s expectations of how he should feel dictate how he does feel. He likes Matt a lot, but they’re nowhere near close enough that he owes him anything.

Still, he can’t help but add, “You gotta laugh at this kind of stuff. The only other alternative is to take it seriously and how can you? These morons took aim at the President because they felt the administration was too ‘diverse’ with too many women and minorities in positions of power and the only guy they really hurt was a WASP-y little nobody. Tell me God doesn’t have a sense of humor.”

“That He does,” Matt says, bleakly. “Though I imagine there’s quite a few things you stand for that the white supremacists could find it in their hearts to object to.”

Foggy feels his heart drop like a stone into his stomach, but he manages to keep his tone light in spite of it. “Ah, so the rumors have reached you.”

“I was speaking ideologically,” Matt replies, but doesn’t actually deny the thing Foggy accused him of.

“Yes, that’s true. Me and the neo-nazis are, blessedly, on opposite ends of the political spectrum. But even if we weren’t, shooting a queer man would probably still count as a victory to them.”

“You don’t think—?”

“No,” Foggy says, crossing his legs as effetely as possible for what he imagines is dramatic effect. “I think they would have been happy with anyone they hit. And, despite how careless I am with my reputation, I’m not out out, you know?”

Matt nods, again directing the gesture towards his drink. Foggy takes a long pull of his beer, and decides to do nothing to alleviate his discomfort. As much as he instinctively wants to, it’s not his job to make another grown man comfortable around him because he had the audacity to say the word 'queer' out loud.

“I hope you don’t think so poorly of me that you’d imagine that’s how I would choose to broach the subject with you,” Matt says, eventually.

That certainly gives Foggy pause. “What do you mean?”

“If I wanted to ask if you were gay, I wouldn’t use ‘so, do you think you were the victim of a hate crime or just a regular crime?’ as my opener. I really hope you know that.”

Foggy laughs, unexpectedly. “You’re right. You are absolutely better than that. I apologize.”

“I don’t need an apology.”

“Well, too bad,” he says, amiably belligerent. He probably shouldn't find Matt's extremely careful handling of this topic so endearing and amusing, but he does. That probably says something about him, and likely it's nothing good, but this isn't therapy. He doesn't need to psychoanalyze himself to death about it right here and right now.

Matt spreads his hands out wide in a defensive gesture that Foggy also finds cute. “I'm serious. It's not—I wasn’t chastising you.”

“No, you were fishing for praise. And now you can have it: you’re far too nice to behave the way I implied you were behaving. I’m used to people wanting to speak in code on this subject, unfortunately, which is why I jumped to conclusions. Sorry about that.” Foggy exhales noisily, preparing himself, before he adds, “And, for what it’s worth, I’m not gay.”

Matt’s brow furrows in confusion. “You’re not?”

Foggy lets himself read way too much into Matt’s tone, as a little treat. It’s probably pure confusion, but since he’s treating himself to some delusion, he lets himself hear some disappointment in there too, in the moment before he corrects him. “I’m bisexual. It means I date people of the same gender and other genders too. I’ve had significant relationships with men and women and—”

“I know what bisexual means,” Matt interrupts, though he still appears to be thinking hard.

“Some people don’t,” he replies, casual. “They think it means ‘gay, but too precious to say so.’”

“That’s not what I think.”

“You don’t think I’m precious?” Foggy asks, faux offended.

“Oh, you’re precious alright,” Matt replies, with a stupidly sweet smile. “Adorable, even.”

Foggy blushes and thanks whatever deities he can remember that this extremely hot, straight guy that he can’t stop himself from flirting with is blind. “Good, I was worried for a second there.”

“Another toast to your deeply debilitating injury not having any negative effects on your ego.”

“Hear, hear!” Foggy says, and takes a long drink of his beer. Afterwards, he pauses and gathers his courage to say the thing that’s been on his mind all this time. “Listen, Matt, I don’t know what you had in mind when you invited me here tonight, but—”

Matt looks perplexed by this when he cuts him off. “I’m sorry, I hope I didn’t give you the wrong impression…”

“No! God, no!” Foggy has to laugh. For all it’s the first thing on his mind, he knows it’s the farthest thing from Matt’s. “Sorry, that was the wrong time for a conversational segue. I was not trying to implying that at all! I know you’re not hitting on me. Relax.”

“I am…? Relaxed, that is,” Matt says, though he doesn’t look it. He doesn’t look tense in a homophobic way, though, just a regular 'this is awkward' way, which, yes, there is a difference and Foggy is an expert in its discernment.

“I just meant, maybe you have some business to discuss, or maybe you just want to catch up, but I—I have something I want your advice on, I guess.”

“Okay.”

“It’s just that, you and I, we’re friends, but we don’t see each other all the time, and I need someone with a little distance, for the sake of perspective. You know?”

“Foggy,” Matt says, as he places his hand on Foggy's elbow gently, “did you hear the part where I already said ‘okay’?”

Foggy laughs, tension flooding out of him. “Right, yeah. I steamrolled right over that, didn’t I?”

“What’s on your mind?”

“Well, as you know, I was shot.”

“Yes.”

“Uh, by the KKK.”

“Yes, Foggy, I knew all this.”

“God, this all sounds so absurd,” Foggy says, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes. “How is this my life?”

“Politics,” Matt says, with a humorless smile.

“Yeah. Well, so the situation is this: Marci wants me to sue them.”

“She wants you to sue the Klan?”

“Well, her and the Southern Poverty Law Center want me to sue the Klan.”

“God, you weren’t kidding,” Matt says, looking a little green. “Your life is…unreal.”

“Yeah, yeah, that’s the perfect way to describe it. Anyway, she thinks this is a good idea. Some people over there think we have a case. I…”

“You don’t?”

“Hey, I’m a lawyer by training, same as her, same as you, same as…well, everybody. I’m sure there’s a case there. They wouldn’t push me to do it if there was no chance. It’s just…she says it’s up to me, whatever I choose to do, but…”

“You don’t want to do this,” Matt says, without even having the good grace to pretend it’s a question.

“I don’t,” Foggy admits for the first time out loud. “I really, really don’t. God, that makes me feel like a coward, but you’re right; I don’t.”

“You’re not a coward, Foggy. You took a bullet for the president.”

“Oh, don’t do that,” he says, nearly choking on his drink in his effort to not laugh—or cry—at that description. “I did no such thing. I was standing around, like a moron, when someone tried to shoot the president and missed. I didn’t dive in front of anyone. I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”

Matt tips his head to the side, considering this. “You took a bullet while serving the president, then. Still not cowardly.”

“I don’t really know that much about your life, Matt, and I don’t want to assume, so here’s an insane question: have you ever been shot before?”

“Mercifully, no,” he says, gamely. “I’ve gotten into some scrapes in my life before, but that’s one I’ve never had to deal with.”

Foggy leans forward to rest his elbows on his knees, bracing himself to explain this thing—this huge, terrifying thing that's been living in his brain for months—to another person, and risk it meaning nothing to them. “Well, then I’ll let you in on a secret about taking a bullet: you don’t have to be brave to do it. It’s just a thing that happens to you or it doesn’t. And if it does, it’s a split second and then you’ve done it. If that bullet had been a few inches over in any direction, I might have died, or it would have hit someone else entirely. Nothing I did or did not do contributed to my survival at all. It’s just…a thing that happened.”

Matt takes this all in with an outward appearance of calm and looks thoughtfully into the middle distance. “I’m sorry,” he finally says, after a few moments, his voice decidedly not calm.

“I don’t want you to feel bad for me, Matt. And I don’t want you making me into a hero, when I’m not. I just—”

“You want to move on,” he says, nodding. “And a lawsuit wouldn’t allow you to do that. You’d have to live and relive that night over and over again, in court, in the press, everywhere. I imagine you'd also have to step down from your position at the White House in order to do this and I'm guessing you don’t want to do that either. None of that sounds like what you want to be doing, if that's not too presumptuous of me to say."

Foggy swallows with great effort, because his throat has gone completely dry at having someone read his mind like that. “Yes.”

"It is presumptuous?"

"No," he says, shaking his head. "I meant, yes, you're right. That's—none of that is what I want to do."

“Then, that’s okay.”

“Is it?” Foggy asks, suddenly aware that this is a crazy conversation to have in a bar. “I mean, what if this lawsuit could help people?”

“It doesn’t have to be you,” Matt replies, touching his arm again. “Not this time.”

He snorts. “And what if I never get shot by a white nationalist ever again, Matt? What then?”

“It’ll be too soon,” Matt says, smiling and squeezing his arm.

“I meant—”

“I know what you meant, Foggy. Give me some credit.”

“I’m saying, what if this is one of those ‘make lemonades out of lemons’ type situations?”

“It’s your life, though," Matt replies, with a shrug. "Yes, it would be brave to do this. Important, even. But you work for the White House. Most of the stuff that crosses your desk is important. Most of it has the power to change people’s lives in some way or other. For some people, this would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a difference. That’s not true for you. And it’s okay to admit that you’re tired of this fight. You got shot. You survived. And then you did the truly brave thing of continuing to wake up in the morning. You kept going to work, even though that’s the thing that nearly killed you. You didn’t resign or back down. You’re still showing up. So, no, you don’t need to sue anybody to prove you’re brave. You did that already. You can say no. I’m giving you permission, if that’s what you need.”

It is, startlingly, exactly what Foggy needed. It's nothing he would have been able to ask for, because he certainly couldn't have put it into words even a minute ago, but it is somehow the precise thing he needed someone to say to him for days now. Something that’s been tightening and hardening in his chest for a long time finally loosens and he takes his first unrestricted, unencumbered deep breath in what might be months. He has to take a drink to hide how shaky he suddenly feels.

“I can put that in writing, if you’d like,” Matt adds, when Foggy doesn’t immediately say anything in response. “I’m not sure how you foresee breaking the news to Marci going, but if it would help...”

Foggy waves a hand, pretending to be more calm than he actually is. “Marci won’t give me grief about it,” he says. “I mean, she will, but no more than usual. She’s used to me disappointing her, being my ex and all.”

“Marci is your ex?!”

“Yeah, you didn’t know that?”

“No, how would I—" Matt looks utterly perplexed by this revelation, for whatever reason. "I—where was I supposed to get that information from?”

“That’s a good point,” Foggy allows. “It was when we were in law school, so it’s basically ancient history. She just makes a point of telling everyone I got to where I am because I slept my way to the top, which is why I assumed you knew.”

“That’s just—” Matt shakes his head. “So hard to imagine.”

“You did claim to understand what bisexuality was earlier…”

“Yeah, it’s not the woman part that’s throwing me,” he says, sarcastically. “It’s the Marci part.”

“Despite the reputation she cultivates, she really doesn’t bite,” Foggy says, amused, “unless you ask nicely.”

Matt pulls a face. “Thank you for that.”

“Speaking of too much information…”

“Oh, I don’t like the sound of that segue.”

“Can I ask you another insane, possibly impertinent question?”

“No,” Matt says, but then immediately continues with, “I wasn’t always blind.”

“God,” Foggy says, burying his face in his hand, “everyone asks, don’t they?”

He shrugs. “It’s a reasonable question.”

“I’m still sorry. I just—I don’t know if this makes it better—but we talked a lot about me tonight and I feel like you know me better now, and I wanted to…I don’t know, reciprocate somehow? Does that make sense?”

Matt cocks his head to the side, as if considering him. It’s a funny little gesture—cute, too—but Foggy definitely feels like he’s being evaluated. It’s strange to feel that way when he knows Matt can’t actually see him.

“It does, make sense and make it better,” he finally says. “There was an accident when I was a kid. A complete freak accident.”

“How old were you?”

He seems surprised by this question, of all things. “I was eight.”

“Is that a weird thing to ask?”

“Not really, no.”

“I just—you look confused…”

“Yeah,” Matt says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I guess it’s just not people’s usual first follow up question. They tend to ask me what happened.”

Foggy winces. His own recent medical issues should have cured him of this, but he remains stubbornly squeamish. He’s not sure he wants to hear about an eight year old getting into a horrifying accident, especially when that kid grew up to be this person he likes so much.

“Do you want to tell me about that?” he asks, hesitantly.

Matt's laugh is just a surprised huff, but it’s a comforting sound. “No, I actually don’t, if I’m being honest.”

“Then feel free to tell me anything else about yourself, instead.”

Matt takes this to heart and tells him instead about other parts of his childhood—growing up with a single dad who ran a boxing gym, splitting his time in school between the debate club and the wrestling team. Foggy controls himself enough during that portion of the conversation not to ask if all that wrestling didn’t make him even a little bi-curious, which he considers a major victory, and talks about doing high school theater himself (which did make him a little bi-curious, a fact he does mention, because once he’s out with someone, he’s out) and breaking his dad’s heart by never making the varsity hockey team.

“Ice hockey?” Matt asks.

“Yeah. I was just okay, so I’m not surprised it didn’t work out for me in high school,” Foggy says. “I always wished there was field hockey for boys. I feel like I would have crushed that.”

Matt seems delighted by this answer. The rest of their conversation for the evening revolves around how they both grew up in the city and somehow their lives never intersected until that meeting almost two years ago now in D.C. They both applied and got into Columbia, but Matt ended up at Fordham because they offered him better financial aid. Same with law school, where Foggy continued at Columbia but Matt went on to St. John’s in Queens. Matt’s dad taught classes at the same YMCA where Foggy and his siblings learned to swim when they were little. Foggy mentions the diner his aunt and uncle own in Hell’s Kitchen and Matt’s certain he and his dad got lunch there a few times. If he asked his mom, Foggy is certain she’d know somebody who knows somebody who knew Jack Murdock back in the day.

“How long has he been gone?” Foggy asks gently, once he clocks the fact that Matt only refers to his dad in the past tense. “If you don’t mind me asking, that is. Which you’re allowed to, by the way. Mind, I mean. You don’t have to answer.”

Matt smiles. “Wait, I’m sorry, can you explain that more clearly? Do I have to answer, even if I don’t want to?”

“Okay. Dick.”

That just makes him laugh. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t resist,” he says, and he’s still somehow smiling when he continues. “My dad died when I was sixteen.”

“Man, that is rough.”

“Yeah.”

“You and multiples of eight just do not get along, do you?”

Matt actually throws his head back and laughs at that one, which just makes Foggy wish they knew each other when they were kids even more. Nobody laughed at his math jokes back then, either. “I guess not. Although, I graduated law school and passed the bar when I was 24. And 32 wasn’t half bad either, so maybe I’ve grown out of it.”

“You’re what, 34, now?”

“Yeah, 35 next month.”

“Hey, happy early birthday,” Foggy says, clinking the glass of his nearly-empty second drink against Matt’s where it’s sitting on the table, and definitely not trying to figure out if that means he’s an Aries or a Taurus. “We’ll have to check back in when you turn 40.”

“Somebody knows their times tables,” Matt says, appreciatively, and Foggy is for sure in love with two-drink Matt.

“I can do long division too,” he replies, way flirtier than that sentence warrants, but he can’t help himself.

“In your head?!”

“Sometimes, baby,” Foggy says, with a wink that Matt can’t appreciate.

“And you’ve got a steady job?” Matt exclaims, finishing his drink. “How are you single?”

“I could ask you the same thing, my man. Wait, you still have a job, right?”

“Yeah, but I cannot do long division for the life of me.”

“Oh, yeah. That’ll do it.”

“So, what’s your excuse?”

“Well," Foggy says, gesturing with his glass, "I work at the White House, which means I basically live at the White House and even when I’m not at the White House, it’s all I talk about, so dating is not something I have a ton of time for or much success with, when I get around to, uh, doing it.”

Matt makes an unimpressed face at that. “We just spent the last, I don’t know, forty-five minutes talking about everything but the White House, Foggy, so I’m having trouble believing you.”

Foggy drains his glass, and tries to think of a response that isn’t just asking Matt on a date already, since they apparently have such an easy time talking to each other. “Maybe the eligible singles of Washington D.C. are just less interesting than you,” he says, which isn’t asking him out but it’s only barely better.

Matt clears his throat awkwardly. “Foggy, I—”

“Or they’re afraid of inheriting my mountain of medical bills when things get serious,” Foggy interrupts, trying to get them back on solid ground. He definitely put them to close to the sun with that last comment.

“Well, that’s…valid,” Matt replies, fixing his jacket's cuff in what might be a nervous gesture. “The healthcare system in our country—”

“Oh, do not get me started,” Foggy interjects. “Hey, there’s another reason I’m single!”

Matt laughs. “Well, we have that one in common, then.”

“You’re really not seeing anyone?”

“Oh, I mean, I meet people,” he says, in a way that implies he’s getting laid regularly. Foggy kind of hates him for a second before he gets a hold of himself. “But I’m not dating anyone.”

“Right,” Foggy says. He might actually be a little relieved they didn’t know each other when they were younger. At least Matt knows him now as Foggy-who-works-at-the-White-House. There’s at least some cache to that. Foggy-who-understudied-for-the-role-of-Tevye-in-Fiddler-on-the-Roof was maybe less impressive. “Well, unfortunately for you, my friend, this is where our magical evening together must end. I’ve got to catch the train back to D.C. out of Penn Station in—” he checks his watch—“an hour, so I’d better get going.”

Matt frowns. “You have to go back tonight?”

Foggy tells himself he’s projecting an air of disappointment onto Matt in this moment, because it’s definitely not actually there. “Yeah, unfortunately. I’ll probably go straight from Union Station to the West Wing.”

“I guess working for the White House really does put a pretty serious damper on your personal life, huh?”

“Oh, god," Foggy laughs, "is this the first time you’ve had drinks with someone and they haven’t gone home with you afterwards? Is this a new experience for you, Matt?”

He ducks his head, looking thoroughly embarrassed. “You’re such a dick.”

“Hey,” Foggy says, putting his hand on Matt’s shoulder comfortingly, “it happens to the best of us. Don’t beat yourself up, champ!”

“Seriously, you’re the actual worst,” Matt says, laughing. “I’m glad you’re leaving.”

“Aw, don’t be like that!”

“Believe it or not, I was actually trying to imply it’d be nice if you could stick around so you could see your family, or maybe a Broadway show, or something.”

“Nah, I’m not allowed to have any fun until they vote us out of office.”

“Bite your tongue!" Matt objects. "I like having you guys in the Oval office!”

“We’ll see how long that lasts,” Foggy says, standing to put on his coat. “But I appreciate the concern for my social life, and I’m sure my mother would appreciate that someone out there is trying to get me to visit, since I can’t be trusted to do it myself.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not exactly an unbiased observer here. I’ve got a horse in this race too.”

“You do?”

“Sure,” Matt says, using the arms of his chair to push himself up to standing, “I like it when you visit too.”

Foggy ignores the way that stupid, minor admission makes his heart thump in his chest like it wants to break free and land directly in Matt’s hands and stay there forever. “Keep talking like that and you’ll never be rid of me,” he quips, weakly.

“Oh, no,” Matt replies, without a hint of inflection. “What a terrible fate.”

“Alright, enough getting my hopes up,” Foggy grumbles, as he picks up his scarf from the chair and loops it around his neck. “I’m going to miss my train, so…”

“I’ll walk you out,” Matt says, nodding in the general vicinity of the door as he shrugs into his own coat.

“You don’t have to!”

“I’m going home after this, so I'm headed in that direction myself,” he says, with a smile that suggests he thinks Foggy’s being unnecessarily demure about all this.

“Well, fine, then.”

There’s the typical cluster of people by the front door, waiting for the rest of their group to arrive or bothering the hostess about something, so Foggy needs to gently and politely push his way through the throng to get out. Somewhere in there, he angles his arm back until it makes contact with Matt’s, a sort of invitation that he can always plausibly deny later, but he feels Matt’s hand settle on his elbow after a second. Foggy offers a friendly apology to the person he nudges out of their way and pushes the paneled door to the outside world with his free hand, letting in a gust of damp air. He drags Matt after him and tows them to a protected corner of the entryway, where there’s enough of an overhang to shield them from the rain for a moment without putting them directly in the way of the door.

“I should hire you as a bodyguard,” Matt says, cheerfully, as they crowd together in the corner. “That was very smooth.”

“Spend enough time with Secret Service agents around and you start to get a knack for crowd control,” Foggy says, and then regrets it, because it brings the specter of the shooting back into the conversation. He tries to fob it off with a joke. “Besides, you couldn’t afford me.”

“True enough,” Matt replies, with a soft smile. He looks like he’s going to say something else, but the door behind him opens suddenly and swings wide, which he feels as quickly as Foggy sees it and he’s forced to step closer to Foggy to avoid it.

Foggy’s hand comes up protectively and almost settles on Matt’s neck before he gets a hold of himself and puts it on his shoulder instead. It looks, more or less, like they’re hugging goodbye, he imagines, but it’s still an awkward position and it forces him to reckon, once again, with how good and warm Matt feels in his arms. It’s functionally torture. A group of well-dressed, attractive women—getting drinks after work, if he had to guess—emerge from the bar and the first one out gets the brunt of Foggy’s glare and glares right back.

“You really shouldn’t stand there,” she says, probably more harshly than she meant to with the defensiveness of someone who narrowly avoided doing something wrong by a very slim margin. “It’s not safe.”

“Yeah, thanks,” Foggy replies, not particularly interested in getting into an argument here and now.

Matt steps away from him, then, and clears his throat like he’s going to say something but doesn’t actually follow it up with anything. He shifts enough that his face is no longer hidden from the light over the door and the woman sees him properly for the first time. Her face clears of some of its annoyance and the fight goes out of her immediately.

“Sorry about that,” she says, much more kindly, though her eyes land on Foggy’s hand, still clutching Matt’s shoulder, and her expression remains somewhat wary. Foggy takes his hand away guiltily.

“Don’t worry about it,” Matt says, politely but disinterestedly, as he adjusts his jacket. After the woman and her group have swanned off into night, he clears his throat and adds, just to Foggy, “At least she didn’t do the whole ‘What are you? Blind?’ routine. That always ends awkwardly for everyone.”

“Yeah, I imagine it would,” Foggy says, mildly, even though he's feeling what's likely a very inappropriate surge of protective feeling towards Matt right now. “You okay?”

Matt nods. “Fine. Yeah.”

“Do you think people generally feel worse in those situations because you’re blind and they almost injured you, or because they’ve clearly ruined their shot with someone so handsome?”

“Shut up, Foggy,” Matt says, but his thoughtful expression has been disrupted by his embarrassed smile.

“What? It really could go either way!”

“Don’t you have a train to catch?”

“Weren’t you just saying you like it when I visit?”

“I’ve changed my mind,” he says, smiling wider.

“Yeah, I figured that might happen,” Foggy mutters and then surveys the scene. The rain is coming down heavily now, and this is a busy street populated with bars and restaurants that are full of young professionals meeting clients or blowing off steam after work. Getting a cab is going to be a nightmare. “Alright, here goes nothing.”

He steps out onto the sidewalk from under the shelter of the overhang in front of the bar, and opens his umbrella. Matt steps forward with him, presumably recognizing the sound and knowing it means he’ll stay dry. Without thinking, Foggy hands off the umbrella to Matt, whom he realizes doesn’t have one of his own, and lifts his free hand to try to hail a taxi. As predicted, many of the cabs he can see further down the street are being claimed before they can get to him by other people as anxious to get out of the rain as he is.

“You don’t know how to do that really loud whistle that people do in the movies to get cabs, by any chance?” Foggy asks, turning back towards Matt.

Matt shrugs. “It doesn’t actually work in real life, I don’t think.”

“But you can do it?” he asks, impressed.

“It’s not going to get you a cab!”

Foggy shakes his head, disappointed. “Fine, deprive me of my movie moment. Taxi!”

Finally, after several more attempts, a taxi pulls to a stop in front of him and a few people get out, presumably to go to the bar they just left. Matt steps forward to hand over the umbrella.

“It was nice seeing you,” Matt says, as Foggy grabs the door.

“Yeah, you too,” Foggy says, before turning to the driver. “He’s going to Hell’s Kitchen. What’s your address?”

Matt looks at him like he’s grown a spare head. “I thought this was for you.”

“I’ll get another. It’s fine.”

“Foggy, your train…”

“I’ve got time and you haven’t got your own umbrella. That’s easy math to me, so get in the damn cab.”

“It’s fine. I don’t mind the rain. I can get my own cab, or walk. Really!”

“Or you could take this cab right here and stop arguing with me.”

“But you’ve got to get to Penn Station!”

Foggy sighs, feeling silly as he lingers by the door of the cab, having an argument with Matt while the cabbie eavesdrops and rain soaks through the sleeve of his jacket. “I grew up here, remember? It's not that far, and besides, I could get to 34th Street with my eyes closed.”

“So could I,” Matt points out, amused, which is fair.

“Just let me be a gentleman and take the cab, please,” Foggy says, exasperated. “I’ll feel a lot better knowing you got home safely.”

“You’re really…” Matt pauses, like he’s searching for the right word and can’t find it, which means Foggy is left there to consider what exactly Matt thinks he is while rain drops tap melodically on the fabric of the umbrella above their heads and the barrier gives the erroneous impression that they’re separate from the rest of the world for a moment. He gets a second to watch the amber and white lights of the city freckle across the bridge of Matt’s nose as he thinks too hard about whatever it is he’s trying to say, and Foggy gets his movie moment after all, because there’s a split second there where he feels like Carey Grant or something close, standing on one side of a rain soaked taxicab door with the object of his affections on the other, arguing about who should take the cab. He thinks about the end of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, which doesn’t star Carey Grant but a similar type of handsome mid-century man, and wishes he didn’t have a five-hour train ride to a different city and a lonely trek back to the office ahead of him. He wishes very suddenly that he and Matt were headed to the same place, or maybe just that he’d never left New York and that he was only a quick cab ride away from home on a rainy night like this. It’s all foolishness, of course, but he wishes for it, nonetheless.

“In or out, gentlemen,” the cab driver calls from the front seat.

Foggy’s about to say something to him, asking for another minute to finish this argument, when Matt surges forward to hug him. It’s awkward, of course, because there’s the matter of the car door between them, but his arms wrap around Foggy’s neck and they end up pressed cheek-to-cheek. It feels so stupidly nice that Foggy’s brain stops working momentarily. He can’t even imagine what anything more would feel like; it would probably kill him.

“I’ll see you around, Matt,” he says, awkwardly, after a moment. He even pats him on the back, like they're estranged cousins who only see each other at Christmas or something.

“Yeah,” Matt says, faintly, as he lets go of Foggy and steps back. “Don’t be a stranger.”

“Sure,” Foggy replies, trying to sound light and easy, but feeling every inch of distance between them like a personal affront right now. It’s like there’s an alternate universe breaking off from this one right here in this moment, one where he and Matt don’t go their separate ways at all, one where they share the cab with only one stop in mind, and he’s not too terrified of rejection to ask Matt a simple and inoffensive question once and for all. But he told Matt earlier tonight and he meant it: he’s not brave. The fiction of maybe someday in his mind is better than knowing for sure what he cannot have. He’ll take delusion over disappointment any day.

“And don’t get shot again,” Matt says, interrupting his thoughts.

Foggy laughs, unwillingly. “Okay. I promise.”

“I’m serious,” Matt replies, with a smile that might even be fond. “If it happens again, I’ll come down there and kick your ass myself.”

“Well, now I’m going to get shot just to see you again!”

“You’re impossible,” Matt says, as he ducks into the cab. Foggy moves to shut the door behind him, but Matt stops it with a hand. “I’m serious, though. Take care of yourself, Foggy.”

“I will,” he says, feeling like Deborah Kerr or Audrey Hepburn or whoever now. “Just for you, I will. I promise.”

Matt laughs, which is a good sound to be left with until they see each other again. “Good. See you around.”

“Goodnight, Matt,” Foggy says, far too wistfully, and closes the door. He hears Matt give the driver his address as the car pulls away from the curb with the slushy noise of tires over wet pavement. He stands there, stupidly, watching the cab disappear down the street and around a corner, letting more rain soak into his jacket and drum against his umbrella for a long moment before he’s ready to return to reality and set about hailing another taxi for himself.

#NOBODY HERE HAS ANY COUTH WHATSOEVER BABYGIRL #THEY ARE LOUD SO LOUD ABOUT EVERYTHING #okay now that that's dispensed with #mattfoggy #mattfoggy fic #the west wing au #daredevil fic #daredevil #mcu fanfiction #matt murdock #foggy nelson #we are in our itsotg and noel eras be advised #it be stressful out here #homelywenchsociety #that's my writing tag! don't worry about it!#series: a more perfect union

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limetimo · 1 year

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👀ask you for a rosekiller rant you say?

(also did you mean to rec my own fic to me? lol)

AlRIGHT take two on RoseKiller rant, this time at 1AM. also tagging @leogichidaa

The popularisation of the pairing is great. I love that there's more fics with them. But sometimes it feels like just an additional pairing. Like the writer says "Everybody needs to be paired up" so they go with Jegulus, Wolfstar, Marily, Dorlene and RoseKiller. (Peter gets an OC if he's lucky but did you notice? Did you notice how he never has an in-group partner?) Like they don't write them because they like them but because it's something that's done now There's 639 Barty Crouch Jr. / Evan Rosier fanfics on Ao3 rn. Do you want to take a wild guess how many of those are RoseKiller-centric? I know there was an Ao3 search hack for this but I'm not above finding out manually.

Ace Evan is top notch good shit good shit uh-huh I love that for him. Also impeccable pecs.

I've noticed this trend to make them OH MY GOD THEY WERE ROOMMATES AND THEY WERE PINING BUT THEY DIDN'T THINK THE OTHER COULD LOVE HIM AND THEY WERE ALWAYS TOUCHING BUT TOO AFRAID TO MAKE A MOVE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO RISK THEIR FRIENDSHIP like shut up that's just Wolfstar 2.0

I need more Ravenclaw Barty, or Barty who's a year younger than them or Evan who's a year older. They don't have the friends-because-forced-proximity vibes at all! These two assholes CHOSE to be stuck together! One of them BULLIED a dormmate out of the bedroom so that the other could move in!

speaking of Ace Evan, pairing him up with Horndog Barty and them making it work is *100 twice underlined emoji*

they're both canonically capable of murder and I think that as a fandom we should do more with it. Even in modern AUs. Especially in modern AUs. RoseKiller being killers Week or something

internalised homophobia is a good look on them imo. Pile the angst

Neither is into anal sex it's just too much work, instant gratification is where it's at for them

asdfghjkl I didn't check the author

The ship asks

#leogichidas not legoichidas #propheciesanddreams lads and gents #holly shit i have mail #barty crouch jr #evan rosier #there's probably more

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atherix0 · 2 years

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HIII ive been trying to write this ask for a whole Day atp but writing these is a full time job lmaoo and Real Life (work….) has been kicking my ass so .

scar:( i feel so bad everytime he talks about his condition and. it's so fucked up that he can't make fairy rings safely, like, he's fae but he can't even do all of the stuff that's like second nature to other fae without hurting himself:(

the fact that small covens are being targeted and scar just found out that maybe (definitely) mumbo sees grian and him as his coven….. and now he wants to learn how to make fairy rings….. to keep grian and mumbo safe…. yeah i'm normal about this

grian waking up in scar's room, in scar's bed, with mumbo still asleep next to him, and immediately coming down with messy hair and all to greet scar<3 and then he took scar on a date right away<3 that's so gay of him<3

grian is very gay in this chapter in general. yeah dw grian, it's completely normal to call your friends tempting and alluring without even thinking about it, definitely platonic and not gay at all!! just bestie things right!!! AND THE ELVEN JEWELRY PIECE. HE BOUGHT IT HE'S SOOO. scar said yeah so it's a jewelry piece you give to elves to court them and grian's brain went I Need To Have It In My Possession For No Particular Reason. obssessed with him fr. i will go crazy if grian and mumbo give it to scar later....... oh and btw everyone who took one look at grian and scar that day totally thought they were boyfriends, they were acting soo<3 they make me sick fr<3

UGHHH GRIAN'S PAST..... god all the little glimpses into what his life used to be are so interesting, can't wait until it gets explored more<3 i'm looking at the tag about him not being a watcher /yet/ . and poor grian lmao scar just really made him have a Horrible realization by saying one sentence.

JELLIE!!!!!!! :3 i've been waiting for her to appear<33 and of course scar spoils her to hell and back, as he should<3 that's all i wanted to say, i just think jellie deserves her own paragraph<3

protective mumbo protective mumbo<33 he has to make sure that grian and scar are okay at all times, they're his priority<3 ahhh scar teasing grian about mumbo being worried about him while being totally oblivious to the fact that mumbo was worried about both of them . oh look, they went on another totally-not-da[GUNSHOT]

grian and mumbo heard scar mention dancing with someone else and they immediately had to know who it was, why did they dance together, what does scar mean by partner, they're not even trying to hide their jealousy lmaoo. AND YESS CUB MENTION CONVEX MENTION AHHHHH i love convex<33 i hope cub will make an appearance later :3 also i need to see scar dancing now . preferably with grian and mumbo<3

THE HAIR BRAIDING SCENE KILLED ME. IT'S SO CUTEEE AND SWEET AND GAY AND EVERYTHING I'VE WANTED AHHH<3 it made me so happy, i was smiling at my phone so hard when i was reading it :3 i just know grian has been wanting to braid scar's hair for ages. and scar let him and mumbo do it....... bc he trusts them and loves them..... AND IT MADE MUMBO REALIZE HE HAS FEELINGS FOR HIM . he took one look at scar and thought "oh shit, i might be in love with him", took a second look at scar and thought "oh shit, he might be in love with me too". and now he's thinking about how will grian react to this, little does he know grian has been a gay mess because of scar for the whole day and he's even ready for the proposal while they aren't even dating yet lmaoo<3 grian and mumbo are gonna have one hell of a talk soon huh . mumscarian will be real in 3 <333

OH AND ANOTHER UPDATE HAD DROPPED WHILE I WAS WRITING THIS (which has been a while, i'm very easily distracted lmao), I FEEL SPOILED . of course i had to go and read it and write a reaction to it too :3

OHH AND OF COURSE IT'S AMAZING. THE PROMISED GRIAN ANGST IS HERE . it's his time to suffer now huh. his poor wings:(( god but everything about this update was so fucking cool, i can't get over how good your writing is<3 the blood on the glyph, the fighting scenes, the feelings and angst and drama ahhh <33

scar and mumbo going to rescue grian and mumbo going completely feral<3333 i'm so obsessed with mumbo being Scary and Angry but still gentle with scar.... and scar is not afraid of him because he knows mumbo would never hurt him. someone kidnapped grian and mumbo will kill them when he finds them and he is seeing red right now but he will still touch scar gently,,,

doc my silly little guy<3 it's so sweet that grian really wanted to save him, i hope he will get lots of therapy now LMAO. especially after witnessing mumbo biting scar. yeah . definitely gonna need therapy after that

mumbo finally got to be a little feral and unhinged and violent<3 and got to kill people too<3 good for him tbh! AND OH MY GOD. THE FEEDING SCENE I'M SOOO NORMAL ABOUT IT (lying). scar had been fed on agaisnt his will recently and it was such a traumatic experience for him, but now mumbo is injured and needs his blood to heal and scar trusts him enough to let him feed on him ahhhh...... homoerotic blood drinking<3 mumbo bit him in the same place as blondie did and now his mark is there<33 grian was watching his boyfriend fangs deep in his best friend's neck and thought "that's so hot" lmaooo he's such a gay diseaster<3 they are all tbh .

mumbo feeling guilty about being in love with scar and being like oooh it would be so convenient if only grian was Also in love with scar. boy do i have some news for you...! he literally saw mumbo biting scar and was one gay thought away from making out with both of them right then and there

mumbo was close to talking to grian about his feelings for scar but of course he's not gonna do it yet, he's functional but not that functional! but i'm obsessed with mumbo confessing things that would make him despicable in the eyes of any other vampire to grian and grian just telling him that he loves him no matter what<33 god i love them so much<333

this took me so long to write . i started yesterday but i was too tired to finish and today i didn't have time until i got home from work and then a new update dropped . i don't think i've ever been this invested in a fanfic before, my autistic brain has decided that this is The Thing for me now and i'm very glad because i'm enjoying it a lot :3 oh and ive been struggling to send it too . so sorry if i ended up sending it ten times but tumblr keeps trying to stop me for some reason

<3 That real life thing is such a mood <3 In other news I was so focused on writing/posting Midnight Folly yesterday that I forgot to do my daily quests on Origin Realms and lost my 157 day streak </3 But I posted the entirety of Folly so it's okay <3 I can start over, not like having a 157 day streak actually did anything special <3

Scar has really gotten the short end of the stick of life </3 And I'm about to add on top of it, though this one finally isn't centered around the fact that he's dYING- But yeah <3 he can't even make Fairy Rings and it's so frustrating because he's honestly just really amazing with magic and the fact that he can't figure out something that comes so naturally to everyone else he grew up around is just hjkfdskl </3

:) He did start researching the Fairy rings before finding out Mumbo sees them as his Coven but it WAS after discovering they're targeting small Covens and he absolutely at the very least considered Grian and Mumbo their own small little Coven and he wants to protect them <3 he wouldn't even try if not for them <3 hhh

He is so gay and somehow takes a trip the da Nile river to spend all day there <3 hahahahaha <3

I was giggling like a MADMAN when I wrote that <3 so normal, so platonic, nothing wrong with this <3 Just BESTIES yeah totally <3 <3 YEAAHHHHH he looked at it like "oo" and then heard Elven Courting Gift and was like "aight mine now" LMAO OH? BIRD? WHO ELSE WOULD YOU FIX UP AN ELVEN HAIR/HEADPIECE FOR HUH? hahahaha <3 Oh yeah no everyone saw them together, they saw Grian come down out of the back of the shop where the stairs to the flat above are with messy hair and sleep-mussed clothes and went "aw our local Sorcerer got a boyfriend <3" and no one corrected them- I love how no one realizes that the Elven headpiece lore could also be used for angst reasons hehehehehehehe-

Heeee <3 I'm looking forward to finally getting it out in the open but we're not quite there yet <3 Not quite there <3 Scar really went "yeah from one palace child to another wtf?" and Grian just REALIZED-

Jellie deserves her own story tbh <3 Maybe I might make a little sidestory to post with a more serious story, just something to awe at before I make y'all cry <3 He ABSOLUTELY spoils her, that cat has him wrapped around her teeny tiny little claw <3

Yessss he must make certain that they are Safe <3 This man be thinking "PROTECT THEM they don't need protecting PROTECT THEM ANYWAY make sure they're sAFE THERE WAS AN EDGE TO HIS VOICE-" and still hasn't realized he's a frikkin Lord now smh Scar totally missing the fact that Mumbo was speaking in plurals <3 What a man, what a man <3 NO YOU'RE RIGHT AND YOU SHOULD SAY IT-

Scar: I tried dancing alone and my partner- Grian & Mumbo: WHAT Scar: We were fourteen and bored at a big fancy party Grian & Mumbo: Acceptable

They were very openly jealous until the moment they realized it was a childhood memory and then they went "oh okay that's acceptable" lmao SO I GREATLY ENJOY CONVEX TOO but I am going to make you so sad with how the past!ConVex ended because it was not pretty <3 And is a huge source of a LOT of Scar's current issues with self-worth tbh <3 Cub is a good boi, best boi really, he did nothing wrong but oh my god did something happen </3 Bold of you to assume I haven't already written a dance scene <3

I LOVED WRITING IT AND JUXTAPOSING THE HAPPY CUTE PRESENT WITH THE TRAGIC PAST <3 Yessssss Scar hesitating for just a moment but his only reservation being "do you even know how to braid hair" AND THEN LETTING GRIAN BRAID HIS HAIR ANYWAY <3 and then giving Mumbo permission to also touch his hair <3 <3 <3 (and yes that little nod of consent specifically for Mumbo was really important for me to include <3) YEAHHH MUMBO REALIZING THROUGH THIS <3 Such a sweet little moment though Mumbo has a bit of an "oh shit" reaction to it because Grian is RIGHT THERE and oh gods he wants them both but he doesn't realize Grian is Very Gay for Scar too and just jkgfkds Mumbo worrying about how to approach this with Grian meanwhile Grian has essentially already done the equivalent of picking out a ring LMAO they have DEFINITELY gotta have a talk especially considering they gotta come to an agreement here, they gotta talk to Scar TOGETHER or else Scar ain't gonna listen to them </3

HAHAHA SURPRISE (but they do take a while to write, it takes me like an hour to respond tho that's my fault for listening to music, pausing to read messages, petting my pups and occasionally pausing to play MC which I forgot to do before going to sleep last night <3) I LOVE TO SPOIL MY BELOVED READERS AND ANONS <3

I HAVE DELIVERED UPON THE GRIAN ANGST + FERAL MUMBO + HOMOEROTIC VAMPIRE FEEDING ALL IN THE SAME FIC MWAHAA <3 Yeah god his wings :( Especially considering they're his main tool when he's fighting hjfdskj do you know how long it takes clipped wings to recover? This mans is GROUNDED. For MONTHS. Thank you so much aaaaa <3 And this won't be the last time we see blood magic hhhjfjdfgjkdhehehe <3

He might be half out of his mind but he is always aware of Grian and Scar <3 always <3 He will hold them gently and protect them and try his best to stop any pain even though his mind is racing a million thoughts a second <3 He will make them all pay <3

Grian saw Doc and saw a kindred spirit in him and probably saw a little but of Mumbo in him too </3 All the Vampires will get therapy and be put into good Covens to try and recover and Grian may or may not keep in contact with Doc after this and Doc may or may not join their Coven after being released from his rehabilitation hjfdks Doc saw Mumbo bite Scar and went "oh shit that's gay good for them oh shit he's glaring at me-" ahahaha <3

Mumbo deserves a little feral time and some righteous murder <3 And Grian deserves to silently cheer him on <3 HEEHEEHEEEEE do you know how I was cackling when I brought up the Fae blood thing and had Myrani/Blondie bite Scar, knowing damn well I was gonna write this fic not too long after <3 Scar, relatively recently being attacked, willingly offering to be bitten by Mumbo so he can heal <3 He wasn't expecting Mumbo to go for the neck but he wasn't struggling so it didn't hurt past the initial skin breakage and he may have enjoyed it a little too much and definitely wasn't gonna complain about being held like that by the guy he's been mad about for ages now hhhhh <3 Me, briefly mentioning how Mumbo hates that scar and wishes he could cover/get rid of it: I am gonna give the gays everything (me, I'm the gays) Grian, who is selfish greedy jealous and possessive, seeing his boyfriend pull his best friend into a very compromising position and biting into his neck instead of the offered arm: Holy shit yes- They are all such gay disasters and Mumbo was so close to being the only competent one smh

HAHAHA we can't make it THAT simple <3 but don't worry Mumscarian is coming soon I won't drag it out that long because I'm not that patient, just got a couple more stories to get through before we get the good <3 BUT YEAH HAHA Mumbo being like "ah if only Grian loved Scar and Scar loved Grian this would be amazing and so much easier" MEANWHILE Grian and Scar spend SEVEN HOURS OUT TOGETHER and buy fuckin ELVEN COURTING JEWELRY and Grian not only LETS Scar let Mumbo feed on him BUT IS PLEASED BY THE FACT THAT MUMBO BIT HIS NECK, OVER BLONDIE'S BITE, and satisfied that he REPLACED Blondie's mark on Scar and hjfdsjfds

Yes <3 Mumbo doesn't know how to say it yet <3 He'll figure it out, tho. He'll figure out eventually that they're all basically already dating and they're the last three to know lmao <3 <3 YEAH Mumbo confessing the real reason he doesn't interact with other Vampires <3 And the reveal he's not nearly as petty as everyone thinks, the ties are just a way for him to always remind Cleo of their conversation and how their (past) beliefs have affected victimized Turned everywhere hjgdjskfds (not that he went THAT into detail about it but it's what was implied by "it was never about the tie" and that Cleo is a good Lord who just doesn't/didn't understand jkgfld) And Grian loving him anyway <3 (and knowing that Scar knows all this too, and that he also loves Mumbo anyway <3) Promising to stay by his side always and assuring him that what he did was within his rights <3 hhhhh <3

That's such a mood <3 Hahaha and the new update was four whole chapters I don't know whether to say I'm sorry or you're welcome <3 HHHH Thank you so much <3 it's been a long long long time since I've been this invested in writing (depression and adulting is a bitch <3) so I'm so happy you're taking this journey with me <3 Thank you so very much <3 No worries, it only sent it once! Tumblr sometimes is just Like That <3

#Ask #Midnight Series #hermitshipping #mumscarian

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seelestia · 2 years

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that's what i get for always spending time with him i guess lmao and yes ofc you're v v welcome to invade my inbox anytime you so wish <3

the two hu taos running around is sure to turn anyone's hair grey lol i can't for the life of me imagine the shenanigans you're both up to when put together /j

ah the social status gap ;;;; THAT'S 3 TROPES IN ONE HLDJSFLKSJDL OH MY LORD i can already taste the bitter angst at the tip of my tongue....

I THINK SO lol black + blue palette on ayato... and with all the signature fatui accessories... gosh. i really can't. any artists seeing this, if you ever want to draw it please tag me 🙏🏻 yeah no the moment he starts liking your presence you're locked in for life sis i am so sorry- /j

that's so fast sldkjfsldf i'm still on part 2 atm and i probably won't continue anytime soon cause of vacation plans sobsob

the rng gods blessed you with that one lollll nahh i am hopeless at building characters i tell you. i have no idea what i'm doing 80% of the time 🤣 i'm just here for the lore and music/voice and zhongli ✨

literally us:

"a child holding a bomb is two terrible signs manifested into one." i am dead, deceased, wheezing, tearing up with laughter-

oh al haitham is coming home whether he wants it or not 😈 i think i might skip 3.1 banners entirely in favor of saving up... the remelting tablet has got me hooked on ayato's playstyle so i'm eyeing for when he reruns too. probably not gonna be soon but still... also i want scara when he comes out solely bc his jp va lmao (and on that note, maybe childe hmmm)

definitely, more chars >>>>>>> constellations!!! yeah that's actually a good thinking hahah being on guaranteed is fun but also stressful sometimes.... my brother is at 60 pity rn and he actually wanted dori but he doesn't dare to pull bc he doesn't like ganyu or kokomi's playstyle lol rip

oooo strawberry and passionfruit tea, those sounds gooooood <3

i imagine zhongli very much approves of our tea addiction lol

atp, you should put copying zhongli's speech to a tee as your hidden talent 😭 i guess, this is what happens when you write for him sm, huh?? + all that listening to his voicelines, uh-huhhh 👀 i cannot blame you for that will also be me when i get ayato 🚶 (the day i start using, "ah, yes. naturally." like him is the day you'd know i've gone off of the deep end /j)

i may make your hair grey, but you will love me either way, right??? *innocently bats eyelashes* (/lh) hu tao and lia in one room would fr be the most effective aging process because i'd honestly laugh at her jokes and then add on to them 😭 also, i vividly recall that one time when zhongli did his osmanthus wine idle and i just absentmindedly responded, "i think your friends are six feet under tho". THE SILENCE AFTERWARDS WAS SO LOUD. idk how i can be both chaotic and chill at the same time (is this where my venti side comes out /j)

a love triangle with ayato and thoma is such a concept 🙏 but with a more realistic twist to it and with that, comes the harsh realization that reality brings. after all, a fairytale-like love is pleasant to indulge in; an escape, an almost surreal-like lantern of hope but you can't keep your head buried in books forever, can you? reality where capitalism reigns (/j) will always call, whether you wish to turn a blind eye to it or not. MMM, REALITY, THE ENEMY OF DAYDREAMERS *hiss* 🤺 (/lh)

fatui!ayato, what an enigma (don't lock me up, please. at least, let rin jie visit me because she'll help bail me out /j) 👀 yeahhh, you can't escape him if he's locked onto you <//3 which makes me think about how he'd be as your ex... i feel like ayato would be that smiling yet salty on the inside + passive aggressive ex. LOLLL he would 100% sneakily trip your new partner in public and extend an oh-so gracious and concerned helping hand to them (wowww, talk about sneaky).

rin jie, the only thing keeping me going with the quests is the aranara's <//3 i just divided the quests neatly, so i followed the process of completing at least one or two quests per day — THIS WAS EXACTLY HOW I DID MY STUDYING AND I GOT WAR FLASHBACKS FROM MY LAST EXAMS 😭 i love it when i apply my studying technique to long genshin quests, hehehe 🥸🏃 (/s)

who cares about meta because even at ar 50+, we're just cruising thru 🏂 does your brother beg to differ with his op builds??? we shall abandon him. (/j) i still remember when you told me he started building diluc after the new skin was released LOLLL and speaking of !! have you read up on enkanomiya's lore yet??? because remember my boy, caelin?? i think i might post his profile soon 👀 but absolutely dw if you haven't, the lore related to enkanomiya is only in the trivia section at the very end~

YEAHHHH, the way we are saving for both al-haitham and ayato 🤝 no because i was so happy when i saw ayato in the fayz trials + remelting tablet event 😭 the way he does his normal attacks, hello??? it was enjoyable being an ayato main even for a few minutes, i'm getting a taste of my future <//3 but let's wish scara and al-haitham won't be on the same banner because that shall be your true test + you're softening up to childe, it aeems??? 👀

#your brother isn't gonna take a chance for dori huh HELDPOWK i hope he'll get her again in the future! >:)#and tell zhongli i said ty for approving my fondness of tea and sorry for giving him grey hair (/lh)#i hope you're having a nice day! auper ultra mega life-squeezing hugs for rin jie 🫂 (don't suffocate /j)#ask box! 📬#visitor: dearest rin! 💠

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moomv · 3 months

Text

- till death do us part - chapter six: the guild

when a girl vows to save an ever-destined agency from death, even if she's been trying 106 different times and even if she's died 106 different times in the process.

-chapter one & prologue | series masterlist

-word count. 3.8k

-genre. fic, comfort/angst, eventual romance

-tags. fem.reader, mentions of blood

-note. i give a little context to something going to happen in this chapter at the end!

The days had passed by in short harmony.

You did a mission with Kenji — which was nice, he was all smiles and the mission ended shortly. A quick bad guy to beat up and to return some stolen things and then you returned to the agency after having stopped by a crȇpe stand.

You also enjoyed a nice outing with Yosano where you had caught up, it was nice to go shopping with her again. It brought back fond memories you wouldn’t change for anything.

You had set things straight with her; she gave you a scolding for leaving before you both fell back on old habits and you were chatting like you had never been apart.

Things were peaceful, nothing notably big happening and you should have known that was when something was going to happen.

You should have recognized the date, you should have noticed it but you didn’t and now the day was upon you quicker than you remembered last time.

Atsushi had come barreling into the agency; Kyoka not far behind him.

You briefly looked up at him before resuming the paperwork that Fukuzawa had assigned to you. Their idle chatter between him and Dazai filled the silence that previously loomed over the agency.

You enjoyed it; the carefree chatter and their presence. You couldn’t quite put into words how much you enjoyed being by them, surrounded in their presence till you didn’t know where you started and they ended.

You were so thoroughly entwined with them at this point you don’t think you could ever untangle yourself.

“- bet [L.name]-chan knows all about them!” Dazai turned to you, a teasing smile across his lips. “Don’t ya?”

The mention of your name pulled you out of your thoughts, you looked up at him, you tilted your head to the side. If it was around this time you had an idea of who they were talking about. “Hm?”

Dazai gave a loose smile, “The Guild! You're familiar with them. If I’m not wrong.”

You nodded, “Oh.” you looked over at the calendar on the wall, you let out another internal oh. You looked over at the awaiting gaze of Dazai, Atsushi and Kunikida, “ Yeah, I know them.”

Kunikida pushed his glasses up. “I thought they were a legend. They actually exist?”

You nodded again. “Mm. They do. I met them plenty of times too. Or well, had. I haven’t met them in this timeline yet.”

Dazai gave a smile and snapped his fingers. “Knew it!”

Atsushi gave you a stare. “What do they want with me?”

You shrugged. You did know what they wanted with Atsushi but you’d rather not say, not now at least.

Atsushi frowned at your silence, Dazai gave you a skeptical stare before dramatically sighing. “We’ll have to ask them to know… But it’ll be hard to meet them.”

“Ah… They’ll be coming to us… actually.” Your voice was a breathless whisper. Dazai turned in your direction, he looked like he wanted to ask something but before he could the door swung open and in came Tanizaki and with him the low thrum of a helicopter.

Everyone in the office but you ran to the window.

You didn’t have to look to know who was there.

The familiar feeling of cold pinpricks danced across your arms, you picked up your tea and gave a sip of it, act one begins, huh? You gently placed the teacup back down, a clink with the movement.

You stood up, “Seems we didn’t have to wait long, hm?” You gave a smile that held no humour, a low thrum in the back of your head danced, a calling to what will happen, fate’s guillotine sat heavy and awaited those who dared to defy.

“Let it start then.”

You placed the tea on the tabletop, Fitzgerald gave you a smile as he picked up the teacup.

“I don’t believe I’ve seen this design before. And here I thought of myself as some sort of porcelain expert.” His eyes gave a light of something akin to amusement; as though you were a rabbit at a zoo. “Where is it from?”

You briefly glanced at him before going back over behind Fukuzawa, you gave a smile that you hoped conveyed your heavy dislike for him. “Shimomura Ceramics next door, Fitzgerald-san.”

“Oh?” He gave a slight laugh. “You know of me?” He took a sip of his tea as he awaited your answer.

You nodded, “I do.” you tilted your head, “We have met before. Though I’m sure you have no recollection of the meeting.”

You have always enjoyed being a little mysterious, if not for the simple reason of it being fun.

His eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “What a pity that is, to have forgotten someone such as yourself. I’m hoping I can remember this encounter.”

Your lips tilted into one of a smirk; a challenge.

Fitzgerald leaned back. “Then let’s get down to business now, yes?” He pushed forward a business card. “My name is Fitzgerald, as you now know. I run a group called The Guild back in America.” He gave a laugh that sent a cold sensation across your spine.

Fukuzawa narrowed his eyes, “Fitzgerald-san.” his voice was calm; cold. You pitied Fitzgerald now that he has been caught on the bad side of Fukuzawa. “I have heard that you have used a bounty to tempt the Port Mafia into attacking us. Is that true?”

Silence lapsed between the two before Fitzgerald laughed. “Ah! A little mistake on my part. Dearest apologies.” He motioned to one of the people behind him. “As an apology, I have an offer for you.”

A briefcase was placed on the table. Fitzgerald tapped the teacup he held. “This isn’t a bad place. A bit too few stories for me but the scenery is nice.”

His smile slipped into one that spoke volumes of how easily he was used to getting his way. The briefcase opened, money splayed the inside like glittering stars. “I’d like to buy your company.”

The words he spoke weren’t unfamiliar.

You’ve heard them so many times you know them better than you knew yourself.

You’d like to say they didn’t faze you anymore. You’d like to say that Ranpo teasings didn’t faze you. You’d like to say that Dazai’s smile didn’t faze you. You’d like to say that you don’t have nightmares every night of your own failure.

But just as the sky is blue and the stars ever bright, the truth is still the truth no matter how much you like to say that it isn’t true.

Your smile grew wider; cruel and unforgiving.

You had long grown protective over the agency members, you had long grown protective of keeping them safe, long grown unforgiving to those who would dare take away their safety, threaten them so casually.

“Oh but don’t get the wrong idea! I have no interest in this structure or in fact, the people who work inside it!”

Fukuzawa narrowed his eyes; the tension in the room sat heavy. “You don’t mean…”

Fitzgerald laughed, “But I do!” he leaned back like he already owned the place, “I want your license to operate using special skills.”

He tilted his head. “If I want to conduct a certain “search” of this city without attracting attention… I will need that license. And those crusty old fossils of the Home Ministry’s of Special Abilities Agency are hard as stone and simply won’t be bought off!” He gave a laugh. “So what’ll it be?”

Fukuzawa glared at Fitzgerald. “I refuse.”

“Oh?” His voice was of surprise. “Do you?”

He sighed before his lips tilted back into a smile. “I could throw in this watch too.” He took off a watch he was wearing and swung it around his finger. “It’s a limited edition with specially ordered diamonds-”

“A human life is priceless.” Fukuzawa closed his eyes and leaned back into his chair. “And in its own way, so is that license. That is the soul of our company.”

Fukuzawa opened his eyes and truly once more, you pitied Fitzgerald. “You nouveau riche types, heads stuffed with only cash, couldn’t ever dream of attaining one that easily.” Fukuzawa's voice was filled with unwavering calm, an endless sea, cold waves and darkened depths, the never-ending expanse so vast and scarily calm; who knows what lurks beneath what the sea shows on the surface?

Fitzgerald grit his teeth, ““Money can’t buy everything?” The poor really do love that one.”

He stood, his lips tilting into a smile of plain cruelty. “But act as long as you want. For no company can continue with its entire employee base gone.” He straightened his tie, “It will be far too late for you to change your mind once that happens.”

Fukuzawa sighed, “I’ll keep that advice in mind.” he stood, a clear meaning that he didn’t want Fitzgerald around anymore. “You may go.” He waved his hand in the direction of the door.

Fitzgerald closed the briefcase and took hold of it, he turned around, “I’ll be back.”

You gave a tilted smile and went for the door, opening it for him, “I’ll guide you out, Fitzgerald-san.”

He gave you a brief glance before looking at Fukuzawa. “I’ll have a message printed in tomorrow’s edition. I’d advise taking a good look at it, eh?” His eyes narrowed, “Because whatever I want, I get.”

You ushered them out before giving a look to Fukuzawa; gently pressing a folded note on the edge of a potted plant that stood just by the door.

You turned back around and walked out, closing the door behind you with a soft click.

You guided them to the elevator and pressed the button; the soft ding of the elevator echoed throughout the hallway.

“I never got your name.” Fitzgerald was so close to you you could smell his cologne, you felt the sudden urge to take a few steps forward.

“Oh? My apologies, it’s [L.name].” You didn’t bother to look back but you gave a slight tilt of your head in indication that you were listening.

“[L.name]?” He said the name as though he was familiar with it, in some ways he was. “Is that your last name?”

You nodded. “It is.”

“What’s your first?”

You finally looked over your shoulder at him, a smile making its way to your face, “[Name].” the elevator came up just at that moment, the soft ding of it ringing in your ears.

You didn’t wait for his answer as you made your way into the elevator. “Right this way, please.” You took a step in first; they came in after you, you pressed the ground floor button.

You gave a look at Lucy just before the doors closed. “Such a brilliant shade of red you have, Lucy.”

You could see her eyes briefly widen before her hand was on your arm and you couldn’t see anything; darkness kissing your body whole in frosted reassurances.

“This is their warning?” Kunikida furrowed his eyebrows. “Making a building disappear completely overnight?”

“I haven’t seen [L.name]-san since yesterday either, do you think they took her too?” Atsushi hunched his shoulders upwards.

“I doubt she let them take her so easily.” Dazai pressed a finger to his chin, “She seemed to know them quite well.” he gave a laugh. “I would’ve thought they were friends.”

“Yes… But-” Atsushi started.

Kunikida sighed. Atsushi swivelled his head in the direction of Kunikida, he continued. “Dazai’s right. [L.name]-san seems to know them and for whatever reason walked right into their palms.” He drew a breath, “But… If they can do…” he waved his hands at the TV in front of them that showed the news of the disappeared building, “this. Then we should be careful.”

He turned to Tanizaki, “No more solo activity, got it? Team up with Atsushi and look for [L.name]-san, even if she did willing let them take her we still should look for her and… Dazai meet me in the meeting room. We must talk with the president.”

Kunikida started towards the meeting room door; Dazai right behind him.

Kunikida turned around, “And if you come into contact with the enemy, do not fight, run.”

You could hear the soft roar of the sea and the lap of waves; you could hear the low thrum of the ship and the faraway call of birds.

You could feel a cold, sticky metallic substance on your hands and you could feel your stomach churn and your heart pound; you could feel the ship’s edge dig into your back and the coolness of it on your legs.

You see the blue, blue, blue sky and the painted red on your shirt; you could see the sun dip into the ocean, you could see your fate swing upon you in a see-saw, life or death? It called.

You could taste iron on your tongue and the aftertaste of something that once was; you could taste the familiar feeling of death descending upon you in cruel reasoning. You have been fatally hurt, it is only fair for death to take you. It whispers gently, the sound a soothing balm to your open wounds.

You could smell the salty air and the longing feeling of what you want. You smell death and you smell vanilla and sweets, you smell home and all you want to do is eternally lay in the feeling.

You smile, the action feels foreign on your dying lips. “I was a fool.” You say, and the words are a breathless whisper.

Ranpo sighs, “Yeah, you were.”

Your ability tingles in your fingers, aching and evermore the cruel.

“I’m sorry.” The words are painful to say, you want to say them a thousand times over in hopes they soothe whatever cruelty you have inlaid upon your agency members, upon Ranpo.

“I don’t forgive you.” His words are tired; aching, you want to reach over to him.

You can’t. Your arms are numb and the world tips every time you try to move.

“I… ” You can’t seem to find the right words. You open your mouth again before closing it.

“I’m sorry.” Finally, you speak and the words sound more like a plea than an apology.

He sighs again. “I know.”

You can feel tears bubble through your lashes and coat your cheeks; you can feel your heart shatter, piece by piece, feeling by feeling. “I don’t want… I don’t want this. I’m afraid.”

You can feel his hat being placed on your head, the familiarity of the action sends a soft spike of pain through you. “...I don’t want you to forget. I’m afraid of doing it all again.”

“I know.”

You suck in a too-quick breath. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah. And I can’t forgive you.” He gives a soft pat to your leg, “You’re a fool, [Name]. An utter fool.”

“...Don’t hate me. Please don’t hate me, I just wanted the best for the agency… for you.”

You could feel your ability in your legs now, it was quickly consuming you whole.

“I don’t hate you.” His eyes are open and you have never seen such a brilliant shade of green, emerald bathed in the summer moonlight; summer nights where the streets are loud and the buzz of the air is warm, summer nights where he’s been glued to your side the whole night while the rest of the agency is scattered around. Summer nights where you can forget and summer nights where you’re okay and you don’t have to worry about the next enemy, you don’t have to worry about your ability or how many times you lived before this moment, summer nights where it’s him and you.

You smile and it's wobbly, he continues, “I can’t hate you. [Name], you cannot be hated and that’s what I can’t forgive you for.” he leans backwards as though he has all the time in the world. “I want to hate that you can so easily sacrifice yourself for us, I want to hate you because you’re reckless and an utter fool, I want to hate you because you look like dying moonlight and I want to keep you close and I want you to be okay.”

He lets out a breath, “I cannot hate you.”

Your eyes glanced down at your hands; they sat in your lap, you took in a stuttering breath, the air felt like cool summer nights, fireflies and the ocean. “I… I won’t be as reckless.”

He smiled, shattered glass and something that felt like you died all over again, “Don’t go saying a promise you can’t keep, [Name]-chan.” his tone took on a more playful tone, teasing.

You shook your head and it sent shooting stars of pain through your body, you ignored it, “I’m going to keep it. This… Is going to be the last one, the last life. I… I promise.”

You look at him, desperation and determination all in the same breath, “Ranpo I-“

The dream fades with a harsh click.

Your eyes opened with a jolt, your breathing was heavy, your heart running a marathon; you placed a hand on your chest and blearily looked around at your surroundings.

Bright pink and orange kid toys and the like looked back at you, Lucy stood in the middle of it all with Anne by her side. t

You let out a stuttering laugh; the sound felt forced.

You straightened yourself, your hand dropping with the movement, “Good to see you again, Luce.” Your lips tilted upwards, “Not such a warm welcome you’re giving me, are you?” your voice still shook with an undertone of your nightmare.

It lingered in the forefront of your mind like a toothache that you didn’t know the cause of.

Lucy narrowed her eyes, giving no sign to the inner turmoil you were having with yourself.

Her hair shone in the pinky light of her ability, a glowing halo of fiery red that mimicked her personality. “Don’t call me that. How do you know me? It was like you were expecting this.”

You tilted your head in mocked confusion, “...Was I?”

“Is it your ability? You weren’t on the files.”

“I wasn’t?”

Anne crept up behind her, “Stop avoiding my questions. You’re in my ability now. You have no power here.”

“I don’t? Are you sure, Luce?”

“I said don’t call me that.” Her eyebrows furrowed.

You took a few steps in her direction, your hands clasped behind your back. “I can’t? But it’s such a cute nickname, it suits you.”

“Answer my question.”

You blew a raspberry; your inner childish emerging to help cover up the slight quiver in your hands and your heart that still pounded in your ears like a resounding rhythm of your inevitable fate, “But if I tell you, you’ll go to your boss. And that’s such a pity if that happens…” You pressed a hand to your cheek and sighed, “And when that happens he’ll want me for my ability and I don’t want that.”

She huffed. “Then answer how you know me or you’re never getting out of here.”

You gave a smile and dropped your hand from your cheek before sighing. “You’re an old friend of mine. We met a couple of timelines ago.”

Your words seemed to catch her attention, her expression softened, if only slightly. “Timelines?”

“Curious are you?” You let out a hum, “That’s fine, curiosity is good. But now’s not the time.”

Anne crept closer towards you, Lucy placed a hand on the puppet, “Do I need to remind you again? You’re in the hands of my ability.”

You straightened. “Part of my ability, Luce. You’ll find out when the time’s right.”

She looked like she was thinking a million things, her eyes glazed with so many unsaid words, questions she probably wanted to ask you. She glanced at you briefly before huffing, “Fine. Don’t answer. I’ll just hand you over to Fitzgerald-san, he’ll know what to do with you. He’ll be interested in your ability.”

You nodded, “Mm. Sounds good to me.”

She narrowed her eyes further. “You’ll be staying here until he can take your little agency, you’ll have nowhere to return to once he gets everyone. Your president can’t help you then, whatever knowledge you possess can’t help you then.”

You gave a little sigh, soft and one almost of pity. “It’s not going to work. The little bounty you placed on Atsushi? He’s going to be your downfall, he’s stronger than what you give him credit for. His ability for the book… You’re not going to be able to get it, you’re not going to be able to get him. I would know.”

Her mouth opened but no words escaped, she scrunched her shoulders upwards as if she wanted to say something before finally she did, “You know nothing. Nothing, okay?”

Your eyes softened, if there was one thing you wanted to do in this timeline it was to help Lucy sooner. “I am only trying to help, Lucy. Don’t follow him, he doesn’t deserve you.”

“Shut up! You know nothing!” She hastily turned around, “I’m tired of this back and forth.” She waved her hand and Anne came forward, you didn’t move as the puppet came closer towards you.

“This isn’t the end, Lucy. Fitzgerald doesn’t care about you, it’s your ability he’s interested in, not you.”

She didn’t answer, her silence mixed with the air, you narrowed your eyes. “The agency can help you. I can help you.”

“You don't know me so don’t pretend you do.” Her words were fierce but soft, so incredibly soft, paper feathers that had far too many tears in them.

You swallowed, Anne’s hand wrapped around your arms and started to drag you to the door on the opposite wall; you could see the murky depths of what lay inside through the small window. “I do know you, Lucy, that is why I want to help you. You deserve more than what The Guild has given you.” Your words were soft, reasoning.

You wanted to help Lucy, she was someone you had considered a dear friend. She deserved happiness, she deserved so many things The Guild wouldn’t give her.

“He’ll help you even if I can’t.” The door opened and you were dragged in, your eyes fluttered, your vision turning fuzzy. You gave a smile even if she couldn’t see it.

Atsushi was to save her; give her a place where she really mattered, where she was worth more than her ability.

The door closed with a slam, your eyes fought to stay awake, you could barely make out Lucy’s form leaving through the other door.

You hoped your words at least made her think, make her at least question Fitzgerald.

Your eyes fluttered closed and for once, in all the times’ darkness greeted you, you didn’t dream.

[previous chapter] [next chapter]

the dream that happens with ranpo is set between mc's 10th and 15th attempt at trying to save the agency and is set in the guild arc. i thought i'd specify because it's mentioned again in further chapters!

#bungou stray dogs #bsd #bungou stray dogs x reader #bsd x reader #bsd fic #bsd imagines #ranpo edogawa #atsushi nakajima #dazai osamu #kunikida doppo #ranpo x reader #atsushi x reader #dazai x reader #kunikida x reader

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minho-hoho · 2 years

Text

Husband!ENHYPEN's reaction to: S/O mentioning divorce in an argument

❁ Pairing⇛Husband!ENHYPEN's × GN!Reader

❁ Genre⇛Angst with a somewhat fluffy ending??

❁ Warning⇛Cursing, crying

❁ A/N⇛Request are closed! Also hmu if you want to be part of my tag list! Hope you all have a nice day~

MASTERLIST

Intro

You were sick of arguing over meaningless things with him. It stressed you out, whenever he came home or whenever you did, you always ended up arguing. You didn't sign up for any of this, it tired you.

Today was one of those days and you said things that you didn't really mean.

❁Lee Heeseung ¦ 이 희승

“If you're this fucking pissed off then why not just sign the divorce papers, huh?!” You shouted at him. He was taken aback, even when he was angry at you, the thought of divorcing never even crossed his mind. And to know that it crossed yours broke his heart. Did he go too far?

“D-divorce?” He stuttered, his eyes watering. You realised the impact of the words that you used and regretted it, yet you didn't want to back out.

“Y-yeah!” You sighed. “No.. I mean, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. I think we both need to cool down.” You hung your head low in shame. He nodded, this whole argument was going too far, and you both needed to calm down before talking it out.

❁Park Jay ¦ 박 제이

“Jesus Christ Jay! You're being so annoying right now! Let's just fucking divorce if you're going to be like this all the time!” You told him in the heat of the moment.

“Yeah, let's fucking divorce since that's what you want!” He replied. You immediately realised what you said. You didn't actually want to divorce him, but did he want to?

“You want to divorce me..?” You asked him on the verge of tears.

“No! Of course not! I love you, I don't why qi said that. It was just in the heat of the moment. I'm sorry” He reassured you quickly seeing how you were about to cry.

“No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that in the first place. I think we need to calm down and then talk like adults.” He nodded and you went outside while he went to take a shower.

❁Sim Jake ¦ 심 제이크

“Oh my god Jake, if you can't calm down then why not divorce huh?” You told him pissed. You didn't actually want to divorce him, but you wanted to make your point come across.

“Whatー Divorce? I don't want to divorce you! But d-do you want to?” He asked you worried.

“N-no! I just thought thatー I don't want to divorce you at all!” You fumbled over your words.

“You know what? I think we both need a small break to think about what is happening before we talk it out.” He sighed, scared of the route your relationship might go to, but he agreed and went to take a bowl of fresh air while you went to your bedroom.

❁Park Sunghoon ¦ 박 성훈

“Let me live please! I didn't marry you to have this shit Sunghoon! Should we divorce for you to understand?” You told him, filled with frustration and tears threatening to spill.

“Youー Do you want to leave me?” He hung his head low.

“I'm sorry, I'll stop. I don't want to divorce you, I can't function without you, I don't know what came over me these days...” Tears rolling on his cheeks. He truly felt sorry, he never meant to make you feel this bad. Seeing him in this state made your tears finally spill, you went to hug him and you stayed like this holding each other and being crying messes until you felt better.

Kim Sunoo ¦ 김 선우

“You know what? Sometimes I regret ever marrying you.” You said tears running down your cheeks. “I feel like we should divorce sometimes...” His eyes widened. Despite the anger that filled his mind, he was now shocked and heartbroken that your relationship was falling down to this degree.

“Iー I didn't know I made you feel this way... I'm truly sorry, Iー” He took a pause knowing that tears were going to fall soon.

“I should go, I'll come back.” He didn't kniw how to deal with this revelation. He decided to think about it on his own before making any decisions, he needed to calm down before speaking with you, he didn't want to fuck up any further.

Yang Jungwon ¦ 양 정원

“I'm so tired of this. Can't we have a normal night for once? Can't you just calm the fuck down for once Jungwon? Is divorce the only way to calm you down?” Your head was in your palms. Your head was hurting because of all the arguing. You didn't even notice but Jungwon was almost shaking by your statement. It was one of the worst things he heard, he never wanted to hear this coming out of your mouth.

“IーI'm sorry, I'll c-calm down. But please, I promise you, we don't need divorce okay? We'll work through this together.” He told you and went over to you. Hugged you while he silently sobbed to prevent you from noticing how hurt he actually was.

From now on he'll make an effort to be more understanding and calm toward you.

Nishimura Riki ¦ 西村力

“Holy hell Riki! Grow up for a second, calm down and at least try to understand me!” You raised your voice, annoyed and angry.

“Sometimes you make me want to divorce...” You sighed and turned around, not wanting him to see how you were about to cry.

He was deeply upset by your statement. He never meant to make you feel that way, he wanted to apologise to you, but his ego was stopping him. But as soon as he heard the smallest sob from your side he rushed to you, hugging you tightly and apologising profusely. He kept reassuring you, apologising to you and giving small kisses on the top of your head hoping that you would forgive him, and that you'd work work together and move forward with your relationship stronger than ever.

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itwasthereaminuteago · 2 years

Text

|| Seeya ||

Frank Castle x gn Reader

Rating: T

Tags/warnings: Established relationship, fluff, tiny angst, some swears, mostly fluff though

AO3 link

~~~

You didn't know why but you were awake. Through your bleary vision as you slowly opened your eyes, there was a shadow moving against the soft glow of the hallway light spilling into the bedroom. “Frank?” You croaked, voice scratchy from sleep, rubbing your eyes.

“Ah, shit.” Frank said softly. “Hey baby girl. S'okay, go back to sleep.”

You watched as he pulled a black t-shirt on. He rolled it down over his muscular torso, so easily hiding a multitude of scrapes, bruises and cuts from nights before.

“Frank you know it doesn't work like that.” You said. You pushed yourself up to lean your back against the headboard. Turning on the bedside lamp at your side illuminated the black duffle on the floor.

“Work?” you asked, already knowing it was.

He sighed. The bed dipped as he sat down on the edge near you, leaning over to kiss the top of your head, fingers carding gently through your messy hair.

“Yeah. Work.”

“Okay. Well I guess I'm up now so tell me about it.”

Frank shook his head. “It's nothin' you should be worrying about. Promise.” He tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, fingers skimming along your jaw to your chin, tipping your head up to plant a little smooch right on your lips.

You grumbled.

You knew about a lot of the things he had done in the past. Things he'd seen. It was sort of a condition of you being together, you didn't have to keep anything hidden from each other. He'd fought so hard to spare you, to lessen it somehow, but how can you possibly lessen taking a life? Even if it was a 'bad guy'? Fact stood, he didn't do that now. Wouldn't. Not since Red came into his life, kicking his sorry ass, battering all the reasons for fighting the good fight straight into Frank's skull. He was relentless but it had worked. It took some figuring out, some fucking hard to swallow pills but he wasn't the Punisher any more. Not like before anyway.

Fucking Catholics and their guilt. Jesus.

“Please be careful Frank.” You were also the reason.

“I'm always careful.”

He winced as you prodded a recent deep cut in his side with your finger. “Oh yeah?” You scowled but he just laughed at your grumpy expression, leaning into you nuzzling and nipping where your shoulder met the base of your neck, that weak point, where he knew you were the most ticklish.

“Ahh Frank, ngghh!” You squealed and wheezed with laugher, wriggling and ducking to try and get away from the scratchy feel of his scruffy jaw and playful nips of your skin. He finally relented and you pushed him back.

“I'm serious.”

“So am I. I'll be careful.” He made a little scout's honour gesture with a smirk and you shoved him again.

“Fucking hell Frank.” You sighed, running your fingers through his hair. He leaned into it, closed his eyes briefly. “Is Matt gonna be there?” You asked.

“Mm. Yeah. We uh, we look out for each other, y'know?”

You smiled, relieved. “Yeah. It's good you're working together, he's a really great guy.”

“Aww, you sweet on Murdock babe?” Frank teased.

“No, I'm just glad he found you.” The last thing you wanted was Frank out there alone if the unthinkable happened.

Frank scratched his chin, grinning at you. “Little altar boy get you hot huh?”

You grabbed a pillow and smacked him with it.

“Oof! Okay okay! I take it back. I know, I know... kid probably saved me more times than I deserve.”

“Remind me to thank him properly next time he's round...” You winked. When it came to teasing Frank you gave as good as you got.

“Hey now, guy's got some sorta sixth sense for befriending beautiful women. You sayin' I need to watch my back?” Frank chuckled and shifted over to sit beside you.

“When do you have to go?” You asked, hopeful it wasn't too soon.

Fuck, he hated this part. Hated leaving you, even if it was only for a few hours. He knew you'd stay up till he got back. Waiting to check him over, put him in the shower, patch him up if need be. It wasn't till he was in your arms that it was over, that he was sure he was home.

“We got a lil' while. C'mere.”

Frank pulled you against his side, arms draped around you. Curled against his broad chest you rose and fell with his breaths, heard the steady thump of his heart near your ear. You tapped the rhythm out on his shoulder.

A half hour must have passed when realised you'd drifted off and Frank was stroking your bare arm, saying your name, saying he had to go.

“Don't know how long I'll be...” You knew the script. He never liked to give an estimate, just in case something changed. Didn't want you fretting. He'd give you a text when he was safe and on his way, always did, and that seemed to be enough at least.

“I know.” You missed the heat of him as he got up to grab his stuff. Jacket, keys, phone. Bag stuffed full of weapons.

He dipped down, pressing his lips to yours. Warm and sweet.

“I'll seeya.” he said. That was your code for 'I love you' when he had to work. Somehow saying it outright made it seem like he wouldn't be coming back.

“See you. Say hi to Matt for me?”

He shouldered the duffle and headed for the door. If he didn't leave right now he'd never go.

Frank gave you wink and a smile. “Sure.”

#frank castle x reader #frank castle x you #punisher fic #fluff #frank castle fic #frank castle fluff #frank castle x gender neutral reader

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navybrat817 · 3 years

Text

Wear Me Down

Pairing: Soft!Dark Ari Levinson x Female Reader, OMC x Female Reader Summary: You never wanted a soulmate, but fate brought Ari Levinson into your life. Word Count: Almost 6.9k (Yup! Sorry!) Warnings: Tagging Dubcon to be safe (please do not read if this upsets you!), explicit sexual content, unprotected sex, vaginal sex, possessive behavior, manipulation, mind games, angst, porn with feels, soft!dark Ari Levinson (he's a warning!) A/N: For @stargazingfangirl18 's Siri's 5k Soft Dark Challenge (quote: "I can't stop thinking about you.") and @sweetlyscared 's Sweet Lee's Sad 1k Challenge (quote: "Do you love him?"). Congrats, lovelies!!! This is my twist on soulmates and I hope everyone enjoys. ❤️ Beta read by the wonderful @tuiccim , but any and all mistakes are my own. Moodboard by yours truly. Divider by the beautiful @firefly-graphics. Comments, likes, reblogs and asks are appreciated. ❤️

I have discontinued my tag list. Please follow my sideblog @navybrat817-sideblog and turn on notifications to see new fics! I will only post fics, my writing schedule and updates there.

I do not consent to have my work posted on any third party site or app. If anyone sees my work anywhere but here or archiveofourown under my same username, it has been reposted without my permission. 18+ Please!!! By reading this, you agree that you are at least 18 years old. Enjoy, lovelies!

Soulmates. Two separate beings condemned to spend their lives in search of each other. People yearned to find the other half of themselves. They prayed and begged for them. You weren’t one of those people.

You decided long ago that fate shouldn’t get to dictate who you were destined to be with. It didn’t seem right or natural. You didn’t need a stranger to complete you. Besides, what if your soulmate didn’t exist? Were you expected to be alone forever? And if they did exist, who was to say you would even like them? Let alone want to spend your life with them?

Luke wasn’t your “fated” soulmate. You knew that the moment you met. There was no aura surrounding him. Your minds didn’t link the moment you touched. But it didn’t matter. You fell in love with him as a person. It was your choice because you were free to make your own path in life. And you were happy with how things were.

“Oh, my god,” Luke moaned, bringing you back to the moment.

You smirked as you watched his eyes roll back. “That good, huh?”

“Good? It’s heaven,” he moaned again, licking his lips.

“Well, don’t hog it all,” you teased, reaching over to pull the dessert plate across the table. “I knew we should have ordered two.”

“You didn’t tell me it was that good,” he chuckled, trying to take the plate back as you smiled. “C’mon. One more bite!”

“No! You’ve had more than half.”

“Okay, okay. You win,” he said, holding his hands up in defeat as he gazed at you.

“Don’t do that.”

“Don’t do what?” he asked innocently.

“THAT. That puppy dog look,” you answered, taking a slow bite of the chocolate cake.

“Should I switch to…” he trailed off as his head dropped, lifting it slowly with a pout. “The smolder?”

You almost spit your bite out, covering your mouth as you tried not to laugh. “Not even close.”

One of the things you loved about Luke was his ability to make you laugh. He was against the idea of soulmates, too. He saw too many people rearrange their entire lives just to appease others. He also saw people tear themselves apart when they didn’t find their other half soon enough. It was heartbreaking to see people crumble into themselves and so quickly. Neither of you wanted that.

“Actually, you probably should finish it. I can’t have another bite,” you said as you slid the plate back his way, wiping your mouth with the napkin.

“The smolder did work,” he winked, stopping in mid-bite when you rubbed your arms. “Cold?”

“No, no. I’m fine,” you replied, your eyes darting around the restaurant. It was a warm and cozy atmosphere, but you couldn’t shake the feeling in your gut that something suddenly felt wrong.

“Why don’t I pay the check and we can get going?” Luke offered, looking around for your waiter.

“Yeah. Maybe I’m just anxious to get you home,” you smirked, trying to be playful. Judging by the raised eyebrow you got in response when he looked back at you, it fell flat.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, taking your hand.

“I’m okay, Luke,” you assured him, trying to convince yourself as well. “I just want-”

“ARI! There you are!” a man across the room shouted, making a few heads turn. Including your own.

You stopped breathing when you saw the man, who you could only assume was Ari, begin to cross the room. If you had to describe an alpha male in look, it would have been him. The man exuded confidence and power, his muscles and large frame hardly contained under his clothing. The long, dark hair and beard only added to his allure. In fact, he was the most attractive man you had ever seen.

But that wasn’t what struck you. What got your attention was the glow around him. The red aura seemed to flicker as he got closer to you. Of course, it was red. Power. Passion. Love. It was him. Your soulmate.

You turned your head away before he could make eye contact and slid further into your seat. You prayed he didn’t see you, but how could he miss you? And why was he here?! You went all this time without him.

“We need to go,” you whispered as Luke flagged down your waiter.

“We can go as soon as-”

“We need to go. NOW,” you hissed, bumping the table as you got up. “So much for not attracting attention,” you thought.

“Is everything alright, miss?” the waiter asked as you fumbled to grab your purse, your hand shaking.

“Babe?” Luke asked, already out of his seat.

“I’m fine. I’m fine. I just need some air, okay? I’ll wait outside,” you said quickly, grabbing your purse and bolting from the table.

You knew the moment Ari stopped walking, his head slowly turning toward your fleeing form. You made the mistake of glancing back, seeing his blue eyes flash as he looked at you. He looked as if he would follow before his friend stopped him.

"I took the liberty of ordering you a scotch," you heard, thankful that you got the chance to slip outside.

The cold breeze hit your face as you stumbled outside, nearly losing your footing as you shivered. You concentrated on your breathing to steady yourself as you grabbed your keys. You debated getting in the driver seat as you got to the car before you decided on the passenger seat, too overwhelmed to drive. The car smelled like Luke's cologne and it only soothed you a bit.

You weren't sure how much time had passed when the driver door opened, making you jump.

"Woah. It's just me," Luke gently said as he saw your face, getting in and taking the keys from your hand. "Babe, you're shaking."

"Let's just go. Please."

He didn't say anything as he buckled up and started the car. You looked in the mirror when he backed out of the parking space and drove away, holding your breath until the restaurant faded from your vision.

"It was him."

"It was who?"

"It was him," you said again, refusing to say the word. Because that man wasn't… He couldn’t be. "Please, don't make me say it."

"Wait. Him? Your soulmate?" Luke asked, his grip tightening on the steering wheel.

"Yes. I saw his aura," you answered. "But it's okay. Maybe he didn't notice mine."

"I doubt that," he muttered, glancing in the rearview mirror.

"He didn't follow me out," you assured him with more confidence than you felt. You didn't want him to be upset or worried. "Can we just forget I mentioned it? Please?"

"How can you just forget?"

"Because I can," you stubbornly replied. Because you had to. You had your own life. You didn't need a stranger to mess it up. "Because I love you."

"I love you, too," he swore.

But for the first time, you heard uncertainty in his tone.

The automatic door buzzed as you stepped into the liquor store, shivering. The fluorescent lights made you squint as you went down the aisle. They never bothered you before, but you were on edge. You had a hard time sleeping the night before. A night in with a nice bottle of wine would help relax you. And it would hopefully make it up to Luke since you ruined the rest of that nice dinner.

You rubbed your arms as you searched for the right bottle. Why was it so cold? Or did you just need some rest? Smiling, you finally found the one you were looking for. But as you reached for it, a hand suddenly clamped over yours. The cold you felt was replaced by heat, like an electric current throughout your entire body. And it shook you to your core.

"You have good taste."

You drew a deep breath into your lungs and slowly exhaled as you turned your head. It was him. He found you. The aura surrounding Ari seemed to glow even brighter with his touch. Oh, God. He touched you.

"I'm Ari," he introduced himself, though you knew that. "What's your name, sweetheart?"

You mumbled your name in response when he kept his eyes on you. He repeated it, like he was tasting it on his tongue. As if he had the right. "How did you find me? You know what? It doesn’t matter. I should-”

"Did you really think I wouldn't notice you, sweetheart? Even if you weren't my soulmate, you know how to get a guy's attention."

You yanked your hand away, taking the bottle with it. The action made him smirk and you wished you could slap him. But you were afraid to touch him again. "You're not my soulmate. We don't know each other. And it's going to stay that way. I'm sorry."

He chuckled as if you told him a hilarious joke. "Let me pay for that."

"No thanks," you said, trying to walk around him. You gasped when he gently grabbed your arm to stop you, that current running through you again. Was it like that for everyone? How could they stand it?

"You already feel it," he whispered.

You wanted to deny it, but he would see through the lie. "I need to go. My boyfriend is waiting for me."

"Leave him."

You chuckled this time at how simple he made it sound. "I'm not breaking up with him."

"Yes, you will. Or he'll break up with you, but I'm counting on you to make the right decision."

"You think you can tell me what to do because we have forced chemistry? It doesn't mean a thing. It isn't real."

Something you could only identify as deadly filled his blue eyes as he stepped closer. "You don't know the shit I've been through… What I've seen. I'm owed something."

The irrational part of you was curious and wanted to comfort him, but the real you took over. "Just because you're owed something doesn't mean I'm going to be your prize. Maybe fate was wrong. And I told you. I have a boyfriend."

"You're loyal. I respect that. But you should end it. It's only going to hurt him if you don't."

"Is that a threat?" you whispered as he brought a hand to your cheek.

"It's a promise," he whispered back.

You stumbled back, the bottle almost slipping from your hand. "I don't want a soulmate, so stay the hell away from me," you snapped as you walked away. You knew better than to push, but you stopped and looked back. "You know, I can't even feel you in my mind. Maybe this whole thing really is bullshit."

Something in his smile warned you that you just began a dangerous game when you walked away. And that you were going to lose.

"You've been quiet," Luke said as he opened the bottle of wine.

You were trying to decide how to tell him that Ari found you. It wasn't your fault, but you felt guilty. "Still tired."

"Maybe we can go to bed early," he suggested, smirking as he poured each of you a glass.

"Except I won't be sleeping," you teased, taking a sip as he handed one over. "Mmm. I needed this."

"Didn't I say you had good taste?"

The glass shattered at your feet. Your breathing picked up, trembling from head to toe. Ari's voice was like velvet in your mind, intimately brushing along the walls. A place you never invited him to, but he had the key. And you couldn't take it back.

"Babe, you okay?" Luke asked frantically, grabbing something to clean up the mess. "Be careful. I don't want you to cut yourself."

You tried to stand still, unsure of what to say. Maybe your mind was playing tricks on you. That had to be it.

"I know you can hear me."

You didn't move until you felt Luke take your hand. His touch was familiar, but feeling his hand in yours felt… wrong. You refused to accept that. He was the one you wanted. It was your choice.

"You're scaring me. Say something," he urged.

"Luke," you began, looking at him uneasily.

"What is it?" he asked, brushing his thumb along your palm.

"If he doesn't stop touching you, I'll break his hand."

You ignored Ari, but the threat was there all the same. "When I went to the liquor store earlier… He was there."

Luke pulled away, your arm falling to your side. You knew he didn't mean it as a hurtful gesture, but it still felt that way. "Did he touch you?"

You flinched at the accusatory tone. "Yes, he did and I'm sorry."

He searched your face, as if he was trying to see through you. "So, you can hear him? He can talk to you?"

You nodded. You weren't going to lie about it.

"Why didn't you tell me as soon as you got home?"

The accusatory tone again made you angry. "What was there to tell? I told him I have a boyfriend and that soulmates are bullshit. My life is still mine and that's that."

"But he's in your mind now!" he snapped, tapping his temple with his index finger. "You can't just… shut him out!"

"Yes, I can!" you shouted, taking a breath to calm down. "I don't want to fight."

His shoulders slumped as he pulled you into his arms. "Neither do I."

"I love you. This doesn't change anything."

"Oh, sweetheart. It changes everything."

You knew Luke couldn't hear him, but you already felt him slipping through your fingers.

You groaned when Luke held a shirt up from the rack. "No. Absolutely not."

"What? I think this would look good on me," he smiled.

"I wouldn't wipe my ass with that," you joked.

"That's good because I'm wiping my ass with it," he said without skipping a beat.

You burst out laughing as you took it from his hand and put it back. "No. That's a deal breaker," you teased before your smile fell.

"It's okay, babe. I won't buy the shirt," he promised when you looked around.

"No, it's…" you had that feeling again. Only it wasn't a chill any longer. It was like a blazing fire.

"See someone you know?"

As if on cue, Ari walked into the store. He looked like a predator on the hunt and you couldn't tear your gaze away. It wasn't fair how handsome he was or the fact the power clung to him like a second skin. And the smirk he gave you as he walked your way sent a spike of arousal so sharp your knees almost buckled.

"That's him," you whispered, your heart pounding as you reached for Luke's hand. Instead of taking it, he grabbed your arm instead and pushed you behind him. The protective gesture brought a soft smile to your face.

Ari stopped in front of you and you took a moment to compare the men. Luke wasn't a small guy or easily intimidated, but Ari looked like he could eat him alive. He also looked like he had wanted to toss you over his shoulder like a caveman and take you away.

"You must be the boyfriend," Ari said smoothly.

"Luke. And you must be her… Oh, wait. Nothing. You're nothing to her."

The words shocked you and filled you with a sense of pride.

Ari smirked as he took a step closer. "End it."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" Luke asked.

"I'm her soulmate," he replied confidently. "And I promise it will be much less painful if you just walk away. And if you don't? I'll bust down your door and fuck her right in front of you. Just so you can see how good she should feel before I get rid of you myself."

Blood rushed to your cheeks. Hearing that made you furious, but it didn't stop the image from filling your mind. Your body pinned beneath his, taking everything he gave you, until you screamed.

"You son of a-"

"Stop!" you demanded before they came to blows. "Ari, please. You can't just interfere in our lives. You have to understand that."

Ari's gaze softened surprisingly as it swept over you. "Don't make me do something to him you won't forgive me for."

You swallowed as his voice lingered in your mind. "Please, go."

“Get your stuff and get out. I’ll know if you don’t. Consider that your warning," he said, turning to walk away. You hated the way your eyes followed his frame and the way your heart ached with each step he made.

"We'll be fine," Luke assured you once he was gone. "What could he possibly do?"

"Morning, sweetheart."

Every morning for the last three mornings, the moment you opened your eyes, you were greeted with Ari's deep voice in your mind. And, every morning, you ignored him. You admitted to yourself that it wasn't easy. The natural pull made you want to answer him.

"Are you getting enough rest? You need your strength."

"When you move in with me, I expect us to have breakfast together. Work can keep me busy, but I won't neglect you."

"We'll have to go shopping together. I want this to feel like your home."

It was always a combination of things. What he wanted to do to you, how he saw your lives together. He always made sure you were taking care of yourself, which didn't make sense to you. He had to know you weren't resting well. Maybe the arrogant asshole was taunting you.

Oh, you picked up quickly that he was arrogant.

"I woke up so hard thinking about you. Are you wet? I know you're thinking of me. I can feel it."

"This shower would be better if you were in here with me. Your cries would sound so pretty when I bend you over."

"You'll be addicted to my cock. You'll wonder how you went so long without it."

Luke tried not to worry when he saw your strained smile as you both got ready each day, but it was all over his face. Truthfully, you were worried, too. It was a distraction. You weren't sure how much longer you could ignore him. And his words were getting to you.

When you looked to the future, Luke's face was no longer there. It was a blur. But the focus was slowly shifting to Ari. You tried not to think ahead. You didn't want to see in your mind what your heart was fighting.

"Let's call in," you suggested as Luke poured his coffee.

"I can't today. I'm in meetings all day."

"Are you sure? We can go shopping. See a movie. Stay in," you ticked off, giving him a small smile.

Luke set his mug down. "You really want to call in?" he asked suspiciously. "You never skip work. What's going on?"

"What do you mean?"

"Is it…" he trailed off, touching his temple.

"We talked about this. I'm fine," you brushed off.

"No, you talked about it," he argued. "You keep saying you're fine, but he isn't leaving your head, is he?"

"No, he isn't, but I'm ignoring him. I haven't answered him at all."

"And how's that working out for you?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"It's fine, like I said. I thought you were on my side. You said we'd be fine," you reminded him. And you had believed him.

"I am on your side, but ignoring him isn't the answer.”

"Then what do you suggest?" you pressed. Because you certainly didn't know what to do.

Luke contemplated before he grabbed his phone. "I'll see if I can conference in from here. I don't want you here by yourself. You take the day off and try to get some sleep. We'll figure this out."

"Thank you," you whispered, getting your own phone to message your boss.

"I'll keep the door shut so the noise doesn't bother you," he said, kissing your forehead before he made his call.

You groaned as you flopped back on your bed a few minutes later. Thankfully, your boss was understanding and you had more than enough personal time saved up. Maybe Luke was right. Sleep would help and your head would be clear.

"Skipping work, huh?"

You groaned again. Of course, he knew. God, how did others stand someone being in their minds? The strange thing was, it didn't feel bad with him. That pissed you off because it shouldn't have felt good.

"Talk to me."

You closed your eyes, seeking out the link. You weren't sure what you were doing, but instinct took over. "Ari, you need to stop this."

"You have a beautiful voice."

The compliment made you heart somersault before you could stop it. "Thank you."

"So tell me what's so bad about being mine."

"That right there. You think I'm yours. You feel as if you have some kind of claim on me when you don't. I built a life for myself and I don't want to live depending on another. I know that isn't fair to you and I'm sorry."

"I built a life for myself, too, but I'm adapting so you can be part of it. We can adjust to this together, but you have to give me something to work with."

You sighed as you pinched the bridge of your nose. "I can't. I'm sorry."

“Don’t you feel empty, too, being apart from me?”

One of the bitter things about soulmates was the distance. Too much time apart, especially denying the bond, made it harder. “I’m not talking about this anymore. You need to try and forget about me.”

“I can’t stop thinking about you.”

"There are plenty of others out there."

"They aren't you, sweetheart. They'll never be you. Trust me. I tried to fuck you out of my heart before I even met you. All it did was make me feel empty. And now that I have you, you think I want to let you go?"

Your gut twisted at his words. "You don't have me."

"But I will and it's going to feel so good.”

You inhaled sharply, your heart beating faster. “Please, don’t say anything else.”

"Just imagine it, sweetheart. On my knees in front of you, slowly peeling down your soaked panties. Oh, we both know you'd be drenched and twitching for me."

Your pussy clenched as an image of him looking up at you, his pupils blown, flashed behind your eyes. "Ari."

"Fuck, I can practically taste you on the tip of my tongue. So sweet. So wet."

You gasped, swearing that you felt his tongue lick a strip along your folds. Fuck, you felt his beard, too. How was that possible? "Stop."

"But the first time I really make you come will be on my cock," you could hear the gravel in his voice. "You're going to say my name when you do. And when I fill MY sweet cunt, you'll know in your fucking soul that you. Are. Mine."

You almost reached between your legs to relieve the ache, but you gripped the sheets instead. "Ari, stop!"

"That's not what you really want. You know what you want more than to be wrecked by my cock? You want to feel whole. I'm the only one who can do that."

You wanted to scream in defiance. Or burst into tears. There were cracks in your heart that you didn’t know existed, but what did he have to fill them?

"Believe it or not, I actually admire your will. I'm not trying to break it. But we'll see how much longer you last."

You took off the rest of the week and couldn't find it in your heart to feel bad. Not with the images that refused to leave your mind no matter how hard you tried to block them out. You scrubbed the counter, unable to stay still as you tried to distract yourself. Adrenaline continued to surge through your veins as you finished, moving to the next task.

You used to pride yourself on your resolve, but maybe you were weak. How else could you explain how easily and quickly you were breaking down? You wiped your hands when you heard the front door open, rushing to see Luke. He was there. He was real.

"Hey, babe. I thought I'd come home early and-"

You pressed your mouth to his, not giving him a chance to breathe. "Bed," you ordered as he picked you up.

"I really need to talk to you," he tried as you kissed along his jaw.

"Bed," you said again.

He groaned as he carried you, not questioning what had gotten into you. Not even a minute later, you were tossed on the bed. Luke crawled up your body, his mouth finding yours again as pinned you down. You reached down and popped open the button of his pants as you kissed him deeper, making him gasp when you unzipped them and pushed them down as far as you could.

"Babe, we can go slow," he offered, sitting up a bit when you hiked up your shirt.

"Just fuck me," you hissed desperately, pushing your underwear down. You could talk later. "Please, just fuck me," you begged in a softer tone, reaching for him when he took himself out of his underwear.

Luke was always good to you with foreplay, making sure you were ready. But you saw the lust in his eyes from your demand as he settled between your thighs. There was something else there that almost made you pause. Why did it look like his heart was breaking? He slid his hands beneath your ass to lift you before you could think more on it, the head of his cock rubbing against your slick hole, before he slid in.

You moaned as you closed your eyes, putting your hands on his shoulders to keep you steady. The familiar stretch had you clenching around him and you wondered just how quickly it would take for you to get off. The broken whimper you let out made him groan as he pressed you further into the mattress.

"I love you so much," his voice cracked as he thrust deeper.

"I love you, too."

His mouth found your neck as he rocked his hips, his beard making you shiver as it scratched your skin. Your eyes flew open as your nails dug into Luke's skin because he didn't have a beard. "Luke," you gasped.

He moaned your name as you looked up at him, but his eyes were shut in ecstasy. You blinked and you saw Ari above you, staring right into your eyes. You felt him in you. Blinking again, it shifted back to Luke. Your body went lax beneath his as you squeezed your eyes shut.

"How badly do you need to come, sweetheart?"

The hands that moved to your hips felt different. It wasn't the touch you knew, but it was the touch you craved. It terrified you. You dared to open your eyes again and all you saw was Ari. Your soulmate. Bringing you higher and higher.

"Please."

"Come. Give him one last treat."

You couldn't stop your body from seizing, crying out from your release. You didn't give yourself a chance to enjoy it as the image fell away, shoving Luke off of you as you tried to catch your breath. He called after you as you rolled from the bed and bolted to the bathroom. You barely had a chance to shut and lock it before you went to the toilet, retching.

The pounding at the door seconds later didn't even make you look up. "Babe, are you sick?" he asked, trying the handle. "Please, let me in."

"Be right out!" you called, gagging again as you began to cry. How could you face Luke when you thought about Ari? When you felt him? How could you tell him you came because of another man?

"He'll get over it."

"Shut up! Shut UP!"

"He will. He knows he's losing you. He lost you before he even had you. And he has his own soulmate out there. You do realize you're hurting them, too?"

You got to your feet, your stomach still rolling as you went to rinse your mouth. "Please, leave me alone. Please.”

"It hurts when you reject me. I know you can't stop thinking about me. I know you ache for me. I ache for you, too."

You wiped your eyes, looking in the mirror. You looked worn out. "I mean it, Ari. Stay the hell away from us and stay out of my mind."

"All this hurt and pain for what? Giving fate the middle finger just so you can say that you're right? Guess what, sweetheart? You're wrong. And I am fucking tired of you denying me. So… fucking tired."

You rubbed your arms as a chill rolled down your spine. The soft growl in his soft voice was enough to intimidate you, which angered you because you didn't owe him a thing. You stubbornly clung to that.

"I'll see you soon."

*****

Luke sat on the sofa with you, not speaking for a few minutes after you told him what happened. You felt sick seeing the look of betrayal on his face. "Do you love him?"

"What?! No. How could you ask me that?" you asked. "I love you."

"But you're thinking of him. You're seeing him," he said, putting his face in his hands. "I've seen others fall apart. I didn't think it would happen to us."

"Falling apart? It hasn't even been a week since we saw him at the store."

"And look at you!" he shouted as he lifted his head, making you move back. "You're skipping work. You're thinking of him when we're sleeping together. You realize it's only going to get worse, right?"

Your lip trembled as you shook your head. "No. We love each other. That's enough to make it work."

Luke stood up, slowly pacing back and forth. "Except it isn't enough."

"Yes, it is," you said, standing up to take his hand.

"No, it isn't," he said, stepping back before you could touch him. "That's why I came home early."

"Why?" you whispered when he wouldn't look you in the eye. "Why?!"

"Because I’m saying we're done," he whispered, tears in his eyes as he finally looked at you. "I love you. I do, but… I can't do this. Neither can you."

You let out a bitter laugh, shaking your head in disbelief. "You don't mean that."

"Yes, I do," he said with a finality that broke your heart.

"Did something happen?" you asked, tears clogging your throat when he shook his head. Was that why he looked so heartbroken in bed? Because he knew he would walk away? "I don't want to lose you or what we have. Please."

"I'll stay somewhere else for the next few days until we can get this sorted,” Luke sniffled, like he was trying to hold himself together. "I'm thankful I had you as long as I did. And I know love exists because of you. I'm always going to cherish that."

You let the tears flow freely. You two were supposed to beat fate. But was this the path all along? "So, that's really it. You're done with us?"

Luke took cautious steps toward you, placing a kiss on your forehead. “I’m sorry,” he said against your skin, walking around you as you crumpled to the floor.

Sobs wracked your frame as you tried to process what just happened. It felt like another bad image in your mind, but the sound of the door slamming shut made you cry harder. He walked away. Was it your fault?

You cried until your head hurt, not lifting yourself from the floor when you stopped. You expected to feel Ari’s voice brush in your mind, but you didn’t hear anything. There was no warmth. No comfort. Nothing.

“Ari?”

You were met with silence. That was what you wanted all along. So why did it feel like your heart broke all over again?

A knock at the door made you open your eyes. You pulled yourself up, cracking your neck. Sleeping on the floor wasn’t your brightest idea, but you were too hurt to care. You didn’t even check your reflection before you went to open it.

You felt the warmth before you saw Ari on the other side. You wanted to bask in it. As he stepped inside, making you step back, you wanted to know why he was there. And how he found you. But he was your soulmate. He would always know where you were and when you would need him.

"Are you happy?" you asked. “He left. Isn’t that what you wanted?”

When Ari didn't respond you shoved his chest. It was like pushing a wall of pure muscle as he stared with that stoic expression. You tried again and he didn't budge, your anger surging.

"Damn you! And fuck you!" you shouted, your mental walls crumbling to rubble. "You ruined everything! Because of you, I lost the man I lo-"

Ari gripped the back of your head before you could finish the word, crushing his lips against yours in a bruising kiss. He bit down on your bottom lip, dragging it between his teeth. His tongue followed, slipping into your mouth as you gasped. The dam broke completely as the taste of bittersweet sorrow was forever committed to your memory.

"Don't say his fucking name and don't you dare you say you love him. I'm going to spend all weekend fucking him from your memories until all you know is me."

The distinct sound of fabric tearing hit your ears, your breasts spilling free from the ruined shirt. “What are you-”

“You were soaked the moment you saw me. Don’t deny it,” he snarled, your panties joining the torn shirt on the floor.

You felt his hunger and it fueled your own. His need filled your mind until it was all that you felt. It was manipulative. It was euphoric. The desire that only a soulmate could fulfill.

“He’s gone, but I’m here. He gave up on you, but you have me.”

His hands explored you as he sought the silken heat of your mouth again. Every touch lit a fire under your skin. You leaned into it, wanting it branded on your skin. Your heart began to piece itself back together as much as you wanted to wallow in the pain.

“Doesn’t it feel good to give in? To know that you have someone who will never let you go?”

“I don’t love you,” you argued as he stripped down. Why weren’t you stopping him? Why did you want to see all of him?

“You’ll learn to love me. Unlike you, I took the time to explore your mind. Because I never left.”

You trembled as you saw his muscles ripple. He really was built like a god. And you knew he was there in your head. He would always be there.

“I love you with everything I have,” he swore, his hands finding your breasts with ease. They ached and swelled as you pushed against his palms. It was like your body wasn’t your own. “And I’m not letting you go.”

Your throat tightened as he took you to the floor, like the bed was too far away. Fighting this bond ruined the life you had. You knew you would never have it back. With Ari hovering over you, you felt ruined all over again because you needed him. You couldn't stop the tears that filled your eyes and you didn't care if they made you look weak. You had never felt so helpless in your life, but he was there to anchor you.

“Do you remember what I said?” he asked as he slapped his hard cock against your pussy. The feel made you jolt. Would he tear you in half with it? As much as you feared the pain, you knew your body would accept him. “You’re going to scream my name when you come on my cock. That’s a fucking promise.”

He surged forward and sheathed you in one, deep thrust. You cried out in protest, even as your body molded to his. He gripped your chin when you tried to look away, making sure your eyes were focused on him.

“Relax, sweetheart. You were made for me.”

His hips rolled once some of the tension left your body, his grip sliding to your neck. Your pulse beat frantically as he surged in and out, feeling him squeeze gently before he let go. Each movement drove out the terrible longing you felt. Your back was likely to be sore later from how he was taking you, but you didn’t care.

“I would have made our first time beautiful if you let me. Gentle. Tender. But you’re fucking stubborn. And this is just as good.”

He pulled back until only the head of his cock was inside you, snapping his hips to bury himself into your wet heat. He repeated the motion as you shouted, a dark smirk on his handsome face. Your arms slipped around his neck, keeping him close as he thrust deep. You shuddered as your eyes rolled back, your hips moving restlessly against his.

"There you go, sweetheart. Your pretty little hole is hungry for my cock. Knew you’d take me so well.”

“Fuck!” you cried, your body humming in undeniable pleasure. You felt him in your heart, mind, body and soul. He was everywhere. You’d never get him out. And, after having a taste, your soul didn’t want to let him go.

“You’re mine, do you understand me?” he grunted as you tried to meet his thrusts.

“Yes,” you moaned, shuddering again. The countless, perfect thrusts had you clenching rhythmically around him. A hand reached up to grab his hair, unsure if you wanted to make him groan in pleasure or pain.

“Say you’re mine,” he growled, licking his thumb before he reached between your bodies. You nearly sobbed when he found your clit. “Say it.”

“I’m yours!” you shouted, seeing him flash a smirk again as he rubbed the swollen bundle of nerves. “Please.”

“Please what?”

“Cocky bastard,” you thought.

“Heard that. You know what you need. Just say it.”

“Please, let me come!” you begged, your head falling back as the last word ended on a choked breath.

“Come on my cock and say my name, sweetheart,” he said, pinching your clit.

You screamed his name, nearly sobbed it, as you arched and clutched at him. It was the most powerful orgasm of your life, the aura around Ari exploding in colors you didn’t know existed. Your cunt sucked him in to the point it was almost painful to keep him there, but your body refused to let him go.

“That’s my girl. Fuck, you drenched me. Trying to drown me with your beautiful pussy. Never letting you go.”

You were pliant as you lay there, your body still buzzing as he lost his rhythm and rutted into you. The warm splash on your insides moments later was like the final balm you needed, his moan of pleasure sealing the fate you denied. You were complete. And you knew he was, too.

You shook again as you clung to him, trying to catch your breath. You felt the link from your mind spread everywhere, irrevocably tying the two of you together. The intensity almost smothered you. He rubbed your side soothingly as he kissed over to your ear, panting gently against it. “Who do you belong to?”

“You,” you whispered.

“And I’m yours. Don’t forget that.”

Barely a week. That was all it took to make you forget Luke and wear you down.

Ari studied you later as you slept, smiling to himself as he touched your cheek. He leaned over to check his phone when he knew you wouldn’t stir, dialing one of his contacts. “Where is he?”

“Checked into a hotel. We have eyes on him.” “Keep it that way,” Ari said, looking down at you again. “Remember, if he comes back this way before we’re gone, kill him and his family.”

“Consider it done. Though I would think the visit we paid him at his office would have been enough to scare him away for good. But, Ari, are you sure you still want him alive?”

Ari smirked a little. “She thinks he gave up on her and he’s going to have to carry that around the rest of his life. Each time he looks at his family, it’ll be a reminder of what he let go of. And he knows she’s really mine because he was too much of a coward to actually fight for her.”

“You really are a cruel bastard.”

“I know, but I warned him. He should have let go when he had the chance,” he chuckled, wrapping a leg around you to keep you close. “And my girl really is special. She’ll adjust.”

“And if she doesn’t?”

“Then I’ll make her. She’s my soulmate, after all.”

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