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runningfrom2am · 5 months

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leveling the playing field IX

summary: with nowhere else to go after getting caught cheating to help lucy gray, you both make some desperately stupid decisions.

pairing: coriolanus snow x fem!reader

wc: 2.6k

tags/warnings: capitol brat!reader, maybe slightly ooc coryo, idk i tried my best. do they love each other or hate each other? who knows (we do, kind of). implications and mentions of abuse, so read with caution!! also a little bit of swearing but that's neither here nor there

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a/n: here we are!! 'season' two!! thanks so much for reading it and I'm SO so glad lots of people seem to love it :) if you do, please reblog it or leave your thoughts in the replies or in my inbox! i love hearing from you and talking about it so don't be a stranger !

without further adieu,, enter buzzcut coryo <3

next part

Coriolanus's stomach twisted as he could hear your screams from the hall, even though by then he was all the way on the other side of the school. He thought that was unsettling, only for them to abruptly stop just before he left. The silence that followed was so much worse. He didn't get any sleep, sitting on the roof in Grandma'ams rose garden with Tigris all night, wondering if you were dead.

He was just sick about it, even as he left the following morning, so early that the sun was yet to rise. It was a long, painful ride, and he spent the entire thing certain that you were dead. It was his fault, he had only wanted you to come with him, so he wouldn't be alone, but now he truly is alone and he won't even have you to write to back home. Regardless, he would try.

Rather than sit with the idea that it might even be pointless for him to live another day, especially with this unflattering haircut and a uniform that challenged the discomfort of the academy one, he decided to write to you on a paper he had found bunched between the train seats to ease his mind.

Y/N/N,

I hope you're reading this. I hope this gets back to you at home and finds you safe and sound, and you're sitting over your desk with a textbook open getting ready for university in the fall. That's not what's happening though, is it? You're probably dead. I probably killed you. If you are reading this in your room, or your library, or over my shoulder as I write this because you are only alive in what's left of your spirit, I hope you know that I am sorry. I did it because I wanted you with me, because in the moment I was so sure you'd be better off with me in the districts than you would be at home with your father. I think I was wrong. But I still miss you. You meant more to me than I ever told you. I guess, more than I ever told myself either until these last few weeks.

I think I heard them kill you after I left you with the Dean. If they did, boy, did you go out fighting. I always knew you would. I can't stop writing in case I never get to speak to you again. But again, maybe you're not dead, right?

Please tell me you're not dead.

Yours,

Always yours, your Coryo

He smoothes out the wrinkled sheet as he writes, hand shaking through most of it. He doesn't know if he should even bother sending it, or if he should just fold it up and throw it out the window in hopes that the message will find its way to your ghost. No, he has to send it. Otherwise he'll definitely never know, at least not for twenty years, and he couldn't bear that.

The wind hits the trees into the windows of the train as it rolls along the tracks, demanding that the branches be heard against the glass. It reminds him of you. Then again, what doesn't these days? Maybe it was just you letting him know you had read his letter, and that you forgive him. That would give him a semblance of peace for the rest of the ride.

When you woke up, it was impossible to tell what time it was. You only knew that it was dark, and your bedroom door was locked from the outside when you got up and carefully tried to open it only to be blocked by the mechanism.

"I have half the mind to agree with you on the Avox thing." You hear your dad sigh, his voice echoing from his study just down the hall. Your eyes widen and you try the knob again. Yep, still locked. "But we could always send her to Nine or Ten as a nurse. She's not staying here, that's certain."

"I don't want to push your decision, here, but she was saying she would tell everyone. She knows more than we thought, more details." Highbottom was here too, great.

"No, that's impossible. What did she say?"

"She knows we're selling, likely that you're storing it all here somewhere, and she knows it's enough to be treason. I don't know what else she knows, but it's risky business ever letting her out of that room again. The procedure might be our best option, here." You've heard enough, quickly making for your window instead. It's locked as well, but draping your old uniform over the lever gives you enough freedom to crush it with a particularly heavy, hardcover textbook without making much noise.

You change quickly, grabbing a few essentials that you could fit into your book bag, then climb out the window and slide down the back porch column before making as quiet of an escape as possible. Adrenaline carried you a few blocks away, but now, you were unsure what to do. You couldn't return, and you couldn't be seen, and you had a tragic shortage of friends at the moment. You find your feet carrying you toward the building you know Coriolanus lives in.

You're not particularly excited to see him, but with no other options, you're sure you can find it in yourself to be forgiving just this once. You could go to Sejanus's family home, but it's not far enough away, and you're not sure what his father would say. He'd probably call your dad in a second and it would all be for naught- you couldn't risk it. So, Coryo's it was.

You enter the building, walking straight for the elevator. He was in the penthouse, so you just have to hit the very top button and figure it out from there. You've never been to his home before, but he's talked about it plenty. Enough that you could find your way there, at least.

You groan when you quickly realize the elevator doesn't work, looking over at the stairs. It's a tall building, so you've got a long way to go. You wonder how he does this every day as you climb up set after set of stairs, taking note of how the walls are basically crumbling around you.

You knew he didn't have money, that he couldn't eat, but you didn't think he lived like this. No wonder he was so thin, and no wonder he still had any muscle left on his body. It was these damn stairs. That couldn't be it though, that wouldn't explain how his shoulders just seemed to go on for miles- maybe he had some kind of workout routine you never knew about.

You're drawn from your thoughts when you reach the top of the last staircase, hesitating to open the industrial looking door in front of you. Just beyond that was the front door to the Snow penthouse, and now that you're here, you're not sure what to do. Do you knock? You don't even know what time it is.

You sit by the door, deciding to think it over for a bit. It doesn't take you long to fall asleep leaning up against the wall where it meets the dusty floor.

Waking up, you're met with a gasp. "Y/N?" You blink open your eyes, seeing Tigris crouched in front of you, forehead creased with worry. "Are you okay? What are you doing here?"

"Tigris, hello." You mumble, gathering yourself to stand up as she helps you. "I, uh, I didn't know where to go, so..."

"Okay, okay. Come in for a second." She nods, holding your shoulder as she guides you back into the apartment. You squint at the sunrise through the large bay windows, she must have been on her way to work. "Can I get you anything? Some tea? You must be freezing..." She says, immediately shuffling into the kitchen.

"No, no. It's fine. Thank you, though." You insist, trying not to stare at the state the apartment has fallen into.

"Okay, well, please, take a seat. Tell me what's going on."

You nod slightly and move to sit down at their dining table where she joins you, reaching out for your hand which you gratefully take. "Did Coriolanus leave already?" You ask and she nods, giving you a sad smile.

"I must admit, I'm relieved to see you." She says, taking you by surprise. "Coryo thought you were dead. He was just so torn up about it, he said it was his fault but he wouldn't tell me why. I was expecting to see your passing in the papers this morning."

"Well, my days are numbered." You sigh, looking out the window again. The view was stunning. Maybe you would prefer a penthouse to your own large, empty feeling home. "My father and Dean Highbottom were discussing turning me into an Avox as a pity punishment, and I don't doubt that my father would rather bury me than have that on his name. I didn't stick around to hear their decision."

Tigris listens intently, squeezing your cold hands between her own. "And now, I don't know what to do. I had nowhere to go, I'm so sorry to intrude-"

"No, my goodness, please. You are always welcome here." She assured you. "But... what will you do?"

"I have to leave." You nod to yourself. "I have to leave and I can't come back, can I?"

"One day I'm sure it will be safe for you to return." She says, notably trying to put a positive spin on it. "I'll tell you what-" She stands quickly, going over to a hall closet and pulling out a large fur coat. "Take this, it can hide you and keep you warm. Take the next train to Twelve, that's where Coryo went." She places the coat in your lap. "He'll be ecstatic to have you and see that you're well."

You nod, standing up and pulling it on in a hurry. It was a beautiful coat, you could tell it was real fur. This must have belonged to one of their mothers. "Thank you, Tigris."

"There's another train headed there in about twenty minutes, if you rush you can make it. I had to check the schedule last night for him. Don't buy a ticket, just climb in a transport car from the opposite side, not the platform." She instructs you hurriedly,

You dig in your bag as you both head for the door, pulling out a handful of money and rifling through it to give some to her. You'll need some, but she will too.

"Here, Tigris. Take this." You say as she holds the door for you, and she instantly is shaking her head.

"No, no. I couldn't." She smiles awkwardly, waving a hand at you. "You'll need it more than I do, Coryo will be sending us cheques."

You smile at her understandingly, holding it out to her again. "If not for your help, then for this lovely jacket. Please take it. I insist."

Tigris sighs, taking it from your hand before pulling you into a hug which you gladly return. "Tell him we love him, okay?"

"He knows," You say, chin resting on her shoulder. "But I will."

It was dark again when your train reached its final stop, and you were curled up under the coat trying to sleep. You scramble to get up, having to bolt from the train before anyone came to unload the car.

Unfortunately, you didn't get the privilege of having a place to stay when you arrived, so once you're out of sight of the train, the best you can do is wander.

You don't have to wander long before you hear music. You didn't realize people were happy here, so the sounds of laughter and shouting and dancing coming from inside what looked to be an abandoned building made you tilt your head at the idea. Maybe you would just sit outside, around the side of the building where you won't be seen and you can listen.

You don't even get the chance to sit before you hear the singing start. It's Lucy Gray. You mentally scold yourself for not thinking of her sooner as you stand again quickly, finding yourself quite lightheaded. You must be hungry. Maybe there will be some food inside, or maybe you can find talk to Lucy Gray and maybe she'll let you stay with her. Just until you get yourself situated here.

Clutching your new coat tightly around yourself you walk in after attempting to dust off and salvage your clothes. Your favourite skirt and shoes took quite a beating throughout the day, and you're disappointed, to say the least. Hopefully Lucy Gray has a washing machine, but you doubt it. Did these people even know what a washing machine is? By the look of everyone in the room, the answer was a definite no.

Sure enough, Lucy Gray was on stage, singing her heart out. You had never seen her smile so wide, of course, and the kids surrounding her onstage were just as talented as she was at all their instruments. You've never seen live music like this before, only classical or opera where everyone sat quietly and listened until the end. This environment was entirely new to you.

Not wanting to interrupt, you wait until Lucy Gray steps offstage and her spot is replaced with a little blonde girl who couldn't have been older than ten.

"Give it up for the amazing Lucy Gray Baird!" The girl shouts into the mic, gesturing to your friend before more music started to play. "She'll be back, she's just taking a little break, but until then, you lot are stuck listenin' to me."

This is your chance. You push through the crowd and step into the hall you saw Lucy Gray go down. "Lucy Gray?" You call out hopefully, watching your step as to not roll a heel. In hindsight, these shoes were not ideal for the journey you took, but your options were limited by a time crunch.

"Lucy Gray?" You ask again, turning a corner and peeling into a large open room. It's a few moments before your eyes land on her, and she turns to face you having heard you walk in.

"Oh my days, I thought I recognized that voice!" She smiles, opening her arms and running up to you. "Y/N, my word, what are you doin' here?" Her excitement fades quickly into concern as she drops her arms from around you.

"Long story..." You chuckle nervously, pulling at your coat again as she nods for you to continue. "We got caught, for the compact. And the snakes, somehow. Coriolanus put our handkerchiefs that you used in the tank so they wouldn't attack you, I guess. I didn't know. Then they pulled us out of class the next day, he told them it was me, so then I put up a fight and they sedated me. When I woke up I was at home and they were talking about having my tongue cut out and turning me into one of those servants but I'm sure my dad would rather have me dead. So," You sigh, trying to summarize it as quickly as possible. "I ran."

Lucy Gray shook her head, mouth agape in shock at all the information she just took in. "Okay, wait... So they were going to kill you?"

You nod.

"But that teacher of yours seemed so nice."

"Sorry?"

"Yeah, he gave me some money and escorted me into the train himself."

You scoff, shaking your head. "He's never liked either of us, but that's only because I have dirt on him. I don't know what Coryo did."

"Well," Lucy Gray sighs, rubbing your shoulders gently. "I'm glad you're here. That you're safe."

"You too." You smile. "Can I just say, too, we were so proud of you. We were so lucky to be your mentors."

"I count myself the lucky one." She grins. "Let's move on, shall we? On the up and up."

"Yes, sounds lovely." You grin at her.

"Can I get you some water? Liquor? What do you need?" She asks, turning at that and going over to a bench in the middle that had a few water bottles.

"I would love some water." You breathe out, joining her and sitting down as she hands one to you.

"Lucy Gray, could I ask you for a really big favour?" You say after taking your first sip.

"Please." She nods.

"Can I stay with you?"

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millie-multifics · 2 months

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Proverbial Dark Clouds • Part 3

Major John Egan x Reader

A woman finally snuck her way into the heart of eligible bachelor Major John Egan, he is all too soon reminded of why he fended off love for so long.

Warnings: Angst. Themes of war, death and violence. Heart break. Spoilers to episodes 1-4. A little bit of steam but nothing graphic.

Word Count: ~2.7k

Final part of Proverbial Dark Clouds. Thank you so much for reading!

Masterlist Part 1 Part 2

x x x

Every moment they were stuck in the Algerian sand, Bucky kept his eyes on the sky, hoping that maybe a straggling plane would come along. The sun and sand were hot, most of the men had stripped to their underclothes hoping for some relief, many thinking about their lost comrades and the prospect of an ice-cold beer.

The only thing on Bucky’s mind was you. He could picture you sitting along with the boys in the sand, hounding them about sunburns and heat sickness but you would be as undressed as your modesty would allow with sweat dripping down your brow- so in love with the fact that you both had made it through alive.

It had all been a blur, the past two weeks or so for John. Being a leader amongst his men meant he couldn’t allow himself to be effected by the disappearance of you and his friends, he couldn’t lay his pain on the shoulders of his men. It had become a morning routine to visit the infirmary. The visits had started as a daily occurrence until Buck had caught on to his pre-breakfast disappearances, but he still stopped by when he could sneak away from Gale’s watchful eye. He’d stand near the doorway, expecting you to walk by, beautiful as ever even with blood spattered on your uniform. You never did.

You quickly learned that the base was always abuzz before and following a mission. While the pilots rested as much as their minds would let them the night before, all the other personnel were preparing to bring the men home as successful and safe as possible. For you it meant one more checkup for any soldiers who were cleared to leave the infirmary, preparing a general medical kit for each plane and hundreds of smaller medical kits for each soldier, a precaution should they need to bail out of the plane.

“Is there a man you fancy on this mission?” Doctor Williams asked, earning a confused frown as you shook your head. “If you keep pacing you will wear a hole in the middle of my floor.”

To put it lightly, you were bored. All of the patients had been tended to, every other task that the doctor had requested you complete was finished and you were full of trapped energy as your body overcompensated for your lack of sleep.

“They should be arriving anytime now, put on a jumpsuit and meet them in the field.” The doctor suggested, glancing up from his paperwork as you continued to pace.

“Am I permitted to do that?”

The man shrugged, just as tired as you. “Well, I’m permitting it. It would be more of a hassle to replace this floor if you wear a divet in it.”

You watched as the planes landed one by one. Most of the men had small treatable wounds until one particular plane caught your eye. The crew worked together to lower a bloodied man from inside, the rest of the medical team quickly rushed toward them with a stretcher. You followed, working to roll up the sleeves on your jumpsuit, ready to get your hands bloodied if need be.

“What’s his name?” You asked, your feet following along with the stretcher as you moved the injured soldiers jacket away from his wound.

“Duval.”

The familiar voice had you glancing over your shoulder as the men loaded the stretcher into the truck. Those gray eyes had been ingrained in your thoughts for the past week. Recognition dawned on his features, and what you could only decipher to be distaste flashed across his face. You had been someone he was not expecting to see again, after all, England had an array of American bases and neither of you had specified your destination during your previous encounter.

“Alright Duval, let’s get you fixed up.”

After helping Doctor Williams assess and treat Duval, you had been placed in charge of treating the men with smaller, more superficial wounds. Since most of the men had smaller wounds requiring only proper cleaning, bandaging and maybe a few stitches the lineup at your station was quite lengthy. Needless to say, your lack of sleep had you on edge and when the final man sat in the chair across from you, you couldn’t help but sigh.

“Don’t sound so sad to see me, sweetheart.”

“I heard you’re the one who treated Duval on the plane?” Your fingers gently gripped his chin to turn his head to the perfect angle for proper light.

“Impressed?”

“Confused.” You dipped the clean cloth into the bowl of water, “You could treat a wound like that but not take a shower to wash this blood off your face?”

“And miss my chance to be patched up by you?” He teased, but you could see it in his eyes, the nervousness he tried to hide. With your time in the medical field you had learned to read people through their eyes and body language, an important part of your job was to detect when people were in discomfort or pain.

“Earlier, you looked at me like I was a ghost or something.”

“I was just surprised is all.” He winced from the sting as you dabbed the dried blood from his hairline, “You this heavy-handed with every soldier?”

You scoffed, “The man before you did not flinch when I put 6 stitches in his brow.”

“Are you calling me weak?” John playfully leaned away from your touch “Maybe I am weak, weak in the knees for you.”

“Do these lines usually work for you?” Your fingers paused their work, your eyes jumping from inspecting his wound to the mischievous glint in his gray eyes.

“That depends. Will you agree to have a drink with me?”

“You are infuriatingly charming, Major.”

“Please, call me John.”

He had been tense lately, slipping closer and closer to the edge. It had become clear to Buck at Dye’s 25th Mission celebration that his friend was in dire need of a break. He sent John to London for the weekend, hoping that it would ease some of the tension in his shoulders and cast away the dark cloud that hung over his head. John felt the hotel was too quiet, escaping to a local pub for some noise and a beer and when a beautiful woman had approached him to share a drink he had tried to entertain her, maybe that would help him forget about you, but when she had gone to powder her nose he had slipped out undetected.

Sometimes John had trouble sleeping before missions, he would still be tossing and turning when a runner was sent to wake them up for their briefing. Now, he had trouble sleeping every night. Nearly two months had passed since you had disappeared, still nobody had any answers of what exactly had happened, either you had died a gruesome death or become a prisoner of war. The dark truth was John wasn’t sure which one he would prefer, resting at peace like the angel you were or trapped, possibly facing cruel acts of violence every day.

When exhaustion took over and sleep was impossible to avoid, he dreamt of you. Always so beautiful, always so you- those nights caused a deep ache to spread through his chest. He almost felt silly for the whole thing, you two had not been together long but he had been so captivated by your whole being. For so long he had sworn off love, not because he did not want it, but because he was certain that he would never experience it.

You smoothed down the soft skirt of your dress, no longer accustomed to wearing such a luxury item. The dress had been gifted to you by another nurse upon hearing through the grapevine that you had a date with the handsome Major. Unbeknownst to you, that Major was the “grapevine”.

A fast moving jeep suddenly stopped in front of your billet, the sound of it skidding along the gravel road pulled your attention away from the small crease along the dresses hem. The handsome Major stepped out of the jeep, his smile grew as he took in your form. There was a glint in his eye as he approached, gently brining your the back of your hand to his lips to lay a gentle greeting kiss.

“Your carriage awaits.”

You inspected the jeep and the patiently waiting solider in the drivers seat. “Have you ordered that man to chauffeur us around this evening? Or is he doing this with his own free will?”

“Half and half,” John shrugged, leading you toward the vehicle, “But that is because I have a plan.”

“A plan?”

The Major hummed as he opened the passenger door of the Jeep, “Do you happen to know how to ride a bicycle?”

Your chauffeur dropped you off at your destination and quickly drove off into the sunset, presumably back to Thorpe Abbott before anyone realized he was gone. John led you into a quaint pub, his familiarity with the other patrons and bartender told you that he had visited it often since arriving in England. He led you to a table in the corner, leaving you by yourself momentarily while he went to get drinks.

“It feels like you are sitting a whole world away,” He gripped the edge of your chair, pulling it closer to the corner of the square table, “Much better.”

“So, what are the components of this master plan?”

“My crew is set to arrive tomorrow, if all is according to plan. Bicycles are hard to come by at Thorpe Abbott right now and I sure as hell could use one, trying to get one for a friend of mine too.” His breath brushed your face as he leaned closer, keen on hiding the next phase of his plan from any nosy patrons. “He always said that drinking leads to gambling, and where would a better place be than here?”

You gasped, feigning shock. “Major, I hope you are not planning to swindle some poor locals for their bicycles?”

“If all goes according to plan.” His charming smile returned, “But of course that is simply only a singular component of my plan, enjoying a beer and the company of a compelling lady are my highlights.”

You spent your evening tucked away in the corner, John coaxing stories from you about your past, eager to learn more about you. You were both so enthralled that neither of you had noticed your bodies slowly gravitating closer as the night went on. You were sitting on the same side of the table now, shoulder to shoulder, feet tangled together and hands lingering merely an inch apart on the table top.

“It’s getting late.” John glanced at his watch, turning his wrist to show you the face of the timepiece.

You sighed, not wanting the evening to end. “Time flies when you are having fun.”

“That it does.” He finally stopped playing coy, boldly taking your soft hand into his rough one. You felt a chill run through you as his thumb swiped over the back of your hand. “I should put in a little work on acquiring those bicycles, then get you back to base.”

You waited patiently, unsure of what his gambling entailed. What you had not expected was for John to bet another man could hit a bullseye, the target though being an apple resting on top of Johns very own head.

“John, as a medical professional I must advise you against this.” You spoke over the rowdy patrons in the pub “There has to be another way for you to acquire a bicycle, you’ll lose an eye.”

“No I won’t, I trust Tommy.” He assured, the additional beer and adrenaline now running through his blood stream providing him with extra confidence. “Now he wins this, I get both those bikes.”

“Yeah, you’re on yank.”

“And I get a kiss.” John sent you a wink as he stepped in front of the dart board. “Alright, Tommy, not my eyes. Not my eyes, Tommy. All right?”

He placed the apple on top of his head and covered his eyes with his hand, letting a big breath out. “Alright Tommy, whenever you’re ready.”

You held your breath, pulling at the skin on your fingers to keep yourself from covering your eyes as well. The possible outcomes filtered through your mind, puncture wound of the face or hand, loss of an eye; both would not have great outcomes for any pilot. You had to close your eyes as Tommy took aim.

Gasps echoed through the pub as the dart pierced skin, luckily for sake of most peoples it was the skin of the apple.

“Tommy!”

John brushed past you to hug Tommy for their victory, before circling back to pull your body into his arms. You were too shocked with the contact to return it before he retreated for one more celebrity cheer with the other patrons who had witnessed the unbelievable sight.

You gripped your dress in your hand while trying to maintain grip on the bicycles handlebar, not wanting your dress to get caught in the wheel. Only a minute after you had departed the pub, the clouds opened up and the down pour started. You had laughed in disbelief at first, just your luck to be caught in the rain on a night like this.

“Nothing but blue skies do I see,

Not in England though,

Got shitty weather and blue skies, smiling at me.”

John sung at the top of his lungs as he weaved along the road in front of you, making the most of the poor weather with his clever lyrics and self-identified singing ability.

The bikes were abandoned in the rain on the walkway to your small cabin. Against all the rules, you had invited the Major to step inside to escape the rain to say goodnight. He stood in the threshold, his confident demeanor dwindling as a near awkwardness hung by the threshold.

You were grateful that the other ladies in your cabin had been granted weekend passes, you couldn’t imagine this moment if you had five other women watching this moment like it was the next best movie.

“I enjoyed tonight.” You found a shirt abandoned on your bunk, using it to quickly dry the water droplets running down your scalp. “Despite you nearly blinding yourself for a bet.”

“Actually, I do recall the bet including a kiss.”

His words hung in the space between you. You dropped the shirt onto your bunk as he took slow steps forward, almost unsure if you were open to fulfilling the wager.

“You’re right, I think it did.” The words sounded like a whisper coming from your lips, nearly being drowned out by the sound of the heavy rain beating against the tin roof above your heads. You slowly stepped forward, closing the space between your bodies until your finger tips brushed.

“This alright, sweetheart?” His warm breath fanned your face as he asked. Your nod causing your nose to briefly rub along his before your lips connected in a slow kiss. Your hands found his hips as his snaked around to the back of your head, slowly increasing the pressure of the kiss as your body relaxed against his. The kiss had unleashed an array of feelings that continued to smolder throughout the night.

His short trip to London had done nothing to help ease the spreading darkness of his mind- 30 bombers lost.

The headline in the newspaper and his phone call to Thorpe Abbott was all he needed to solidify the fantasy he had of what he must do moving forward in this war. The only way he would make it through without losing the rest of his sanity was to find you, and now Gale with the other missing men.

The heart breaking truth was you had never made it out of your reverie, the last words gracing your thoughts was your Majors sweet whisper.

“My pleasure, sweetheart.”

x x x

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makethatelevenrings · 10 months

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Rest // D. Grayson x gn!reader

Requested? Yes!

Warnings: illness, mentions of child assassins, not Titans!verse I just think Brenton is pretty

Summary: You’re feeling sick but refuse to admit you are. Damian intervenes and makes sure Dick is aware of the problem.

This is apart of Assassin!verse that you can read here

You had been shot, stabbed, poisoned, thrown through windows, and broken numerous bones, but for some reason, this sore throat was going to be the end of you. When you woke up that morning, it started as a simple scratchy throat that had bloomed into some demonic rash of pain that coated your throat and made every swallow feel like knives scraping against your skin.

“You are unwell,” Damian observed. You ignored him in favor of jabbing the small needle through the taut fabric and tugging it down. Cass had recommended embroidery as a hobby you should try out and you found that it was soothing, fun, and an outlet for you. After spending years surrounded by silence and met with anger if you spoke out of turn, sometimes you needed to retreat from the constant noise of the Wayne Manor.

While you had your apartment in Bludhaven, some problems in Gotham required the both of you, and Haley of course, to stay at the Manor for a few days.

Where two of the family members attended school and the others interacted with the public every single day.

So, of course, you got sick.

You stabbed the point into the fabric once more and pulled it taut. You hoped that Tim would like the screaming possum design you were making for him. He loved sending you those memes and delighted in the fact that he gets to teach you about memes and pop culture.

“I’m fine.” You internally winced at how rough your voice sounded. Nothing screamed “picture of health” more than sounding like you were choking on gravel. Your head pounded, the ache radiating at your temples and along the sides, and your nose felt like cotton was shoved up there. All in all, you felt miserable. All you wanted to do was go back to the queen sized mattress shoved in Dick’s old bedroom and sleep for a thousand years.

But Dick, Bruce, and Tim were all making appearances at a gala to collect intel and you needed to stay awake so you could assist if something happened. What if the gala was under attack? Or what if they needed a quick getaway? Or what if-

The couch dipped as Damian crawled onto the cushion next to you. He settled in comfortably, Alfred the cat resting comfortably in his arms, and blinked up at you with those wide eyes of his. You set your embroidery down and gave him your full attention.

While Dick was your closest friend, companion, and lover, Damian understood you better than anyone aside from Cass. Damian knew what it was like to be trained from a young age. When Dick first brought you to Wayne Manor, bloodied and weak and still as fiercely on guard, Damian was the first person to gain your trust aside from Dick. And if this kid was your boyfriend’s brother, then dammit, he was your little brother too.

“When I first came to live with Father, he sat me down one day and told me that it is one thing to know when to be on guard and ready. But it’s another thing to live your life always on edge waiting for the next attack. Father helped me realize that I was living my life feeling like I was never safe made me sure that I would never be safe. He assured me that he and the family would never let anything happen to me.”

Your mind was cloudy with fatigue and fever, but you nodded slowly as you tried to grasp what he meant. “Okay…?”

Damian turned to face you fully, the little tuxedo cat in his lap snuggling in closer to his owner’s arms. “We would never let anything happen to you or to one another. You can rest.”

You swallowed painfully against your aching throat and offered him a tight smile. “Thank you, Dami. I’m fine.”

He huffed and climbed off the couch. “You’re not fine. I am telling Pennyworth.”

“Don’t!” The exclamation left you so quickly that he looked at you with more concern than before. “He’s busy right now. He doesn’t need to be bothered with a little sniffle. Please don’t tell him. I swear I’m fine.”

He stared at you, doubt written all over his face, and then sighed. “You are more stubborn than Richard. It’s a miracle the two of you get anything done.”

With that, Damian and Alfred the cat exited the room. Silence fell over the leather furniture and aging books once more. You inhaled deeply, fighting against the stabbing pain of your sinuses, and focused on your embroidery once more.

It wasn’t a half hour before the door to the library flew open. Dick strode in, impeccably dressed in a perfectly tailored tuxedo. Damian. That little rat.

“I’m fine!” you insisted. Damian peeked out from around the doorframe and you, the adult, stuck your tongue out at him. He merely smirked and disappeared, probably to go find his next victim.

“Richard, I am fine,” you snapped. He ignored your protests and laid the back of his hand against your cheek before doing the same to your forehead. You shuddered at the cool touch of his skin against yours and he immediately stepped back.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” Dick demanded.

“Because I knew you would blow it out of proportion and make a big deal out of nothing,” you retorted.

“You’re burning up. And Damian said your lungs rattled a bit when you took a breath.”

“Damian’s a trained liar.”

“Stop with the bullshit!” His outburst caused you to pause. It really wasn’t that big of a deal. You had been in much worse condition than a little cold.

“I don’t understand what I did wrong,” you said quietly. Therapy with Dinah was helping you express your emotions, as she said. It helped in times like this. Dick’s face crumpled and then he pulled on the mask of assuredness that you were used to seeing. He crouched down so you were face to face rather than him towering over you.

“You don’t have to act like everything is fine, Buttercup. You’re allowed to let your guard down. You’re allowed to get sick.”

“But I can’t,” you blurted out. “If I’m sick and you or one of the others needs me-”

“We have legions of people that can help us,” he interrupted. Dick reached up to gently cup your cheek in the palm of his hand. “You are allowed to rest.”

“My head hurts,” you admitted.

He smiled that crooked grin of his and you shut your eyes, inhaling deeply. He stroked gentle lines across your face and of course he was still there once you opened your eyes once more.

“I’m tired.”

He stood, his hand falling from your cheek and entangling itself with your free hand. You set the embroidery down on the coffee table and stood. Before you could take one step, Dick swept you into his arms and started down the hall towards the bedrooms.

“You realize that I’m going to coddle you until you’re back to normal?”

You tightened your grip on his neck and grinned. “Can we watch Riverdale?”

“I’m going to throw Timmy off of a fucking roof for introducing you to that show.”

Tag List: @someoneimsure @perpetual-fangirl900 @visagebrise @cursedandromedablack @alexxavicry @the-wayward-daughter @raging-trash-of-mind @bunny-kawa @khaylin27

#dick grayson x reader #dick grayson imagine #dick grayson #nightwing x reader #nightwing imagine #assassinverse

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sailorblossoms · 3 months

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"Simon kissing Baz comes out of nowhere" is wild when you consider:

Simon thinks about Baz constantly, to the point you can get a pretty good picture of who this character is, what his style is, his sense of humor, his favorite activities and places he likes to go, that he's hiding parts of himself, and that he's not actually a villain all before Baz even shows up (we know this bitch is funny way before he shows up!) (yes, if you pain attention, you get that this is "just a boy" and not at all A Villain from Simon's POV! When he says he has observed his soul it doesn't come out from nowhere – you can tell Baz feels like shit with tape recording incident without ever entering Baz's mind just because of the things Simon picks up on, for example)

Simon introduces you to Baz way before he introduces you to all the people he cares about, the places he likes, the food he likes... in short, Simon introduces you to Baz before he introduces you to his world. And then, he keeps interrupting those introductions to talk to you about Baz.

When Simon is in danger, his mind goes to Baz. What would Baz do? Baz is so good at this, he's so appealing, he's so pretty, this is how his magic feels like...

Simon's description of Baz's magic (described in the way you would describe passion, perhaps even desire) is more appealing than his description of a kiss (clinic and frankly gross)

Simon is not fully settled (he doesn't feel at home) until he's in the room he shares with Baz, thinking about him, trying to feel his smell and his presence

Penny, the closest person to Simon describes his relationship as "just going through the motions," and as two people who don't have the feelings people who date should have, whose "right place" in each other's life is as friends. (Not in love and not attracted, in case is not clear enough). Simon unconsciously agrees with her – way before he's using her exact same wording in awtwb, he's tellingly thinking of Agatha as "we have only ever been friends" on a page where he should be thinking of her as his girlfriend, treats every single aspect of dating her as routine and fulfilling expectations, is bothered when they break up for reasons that do not actually include her (but do include expectations)... you would expect people out of a 3 year relationship to need some time, to not be ready to date again in a while, and yet this is framed more as a weight being off their shoulders, as having to remind yourself a routine is no longer part of your life (Simon jumps at the chance of being Baz's boyfriend so fast he hasn't even had the time to fully deprogram himself, he's like "wait... no, I'm not dating Agatha anymore, right lol anyway" like twice) and as a post-mortem of "everything that wasn't right but we tried to ignore" (and never once "what we had together" as something even remotely positive or good, they don't have shit). Immediately after they break up Penny assumes Simon is upset because of it, but Simon is thinking about Baz. During the breakup, Simon is thinking about Baz (Baz isn't here!) and truly loses it when it seems like Agatha might be going after him (anyone but him!).

Simon thinks Baz being himself is enough to make him attractive and romantically desirable

Every single time Simon tells you he's doing something because he's worried about Baz "plotting something" is obviously just him wanting to see Baz, spend time with him, or actually worrying about him. You can't seriously be fooled by "I need to figure out the plots of the guy I keep describing as attractive so I'm going to watch him play football every single time and compliment his game."

When Baz is gone, Simon can't eat, sleep or concentrate. Baz notes he's unusually thin when he comes back, and Simon thinks "Yes I am and it's all his fault." He tries to reframe it as "worried because he's out there plotting" but it's obviously "worried because Baz is out there and no one knows anything about him, including his own family."

"I'll do anything to bring Baz back" ... he's unsettled about Baz being endangered in a way he never is with anyone else.

Simon tells you he cares about being the person who knows Baz best

Ebb notes is unusual for Simon to not be at football practice, even if Simon is not on the team... Simon isn't there because Baz isn't there

Wanting to knock Baz on the ground and touch him as soon as he comes back? (wanting to make sure he's okay? that he's real? Is this not a classic "lover has come back and the person who has been worried to death runs to them to make sure they're alright and also to shake them a bit because how dare they worry them so much" reaction?)

His jealousy is always centered around Baz. He never notices interest in Agatha, including a whole boyfriend before him (because he doesn't care) nor does he care about the idea of Agatha seducing someone (he puts in on the same level as not wanting Penny to seduce a vampire, and actually only reacts to Penny, making it platonic concern). He doesn't even care when Baz mentions Dev's interest in her (I have forgotten about this, someone commented that when I mentioned how telling the whole seducing a vampire bit is). He only ever cares if Baz is involved. Some of this stuff is after the kiss, but a lot is there before (If Simon fooled you, you would expect the opposite, but he makes a jealous scene to Baz, whereas with Agatha is either "let's pretend nothing happened" or facing her like actual competition... it's telling then, how he doesn't want her around Baz – Agatha can go after anyone but Baz!)

Simon keeps Baz's handkerchief to himself and doesn't want anyone else to have it. He keeps it in his pocket.

"Baz is wearing this garment that makes him look more casual and approachable and it's also more likely to hug his thighs and ass" is something that Simon finds distracting.

Simon can't sleep well if he's not listening to the sound of Baz breathing (if Baz is not in the same room as him)

Simon sulks when Baz doesn't pay him any attention in a context that has the vibes of a date (and he's the one giving it those vibes with his word choice)

Simon is practically running at Baz's house the second he finds something he feels gives him permission to do so. I know y'all have watched enough romcoms to feel The Vibes of Baz opening his door to find Snow covered in snow, out of breath as if he ran after him, and them breathless at the sight of him ("You're wearing jeans :O")... C'mon!

Simon progressively touching Baz more and more 24 hours after starting the truce. He's fucking starving for it!

Everything about Simon sharing his magic with Baz. I feel like I should not need to explain the gay of it all here. The first time they hold hands? They see stars? Only Baz being able to take his magic??? Compatibility???

Simon can't stand to see Baz in pain. It causes him unbearable pain! He wants to make it better for Baz!

Baz is "the prettiest thing Simon has ever seen." I feel like I shouldn't have to explain how romantic this is, or why this is even romantic lol

There's probably more than I'm forgetting, but most of the things coming to mind are during or after the kiss, which is technically cheating... (I already kind of cheated a bit anyway) (I keep making these lists but I'm getting better at making them lol)

#snowbaz #baz pitch #simon snow #simon snow trilogy #carry on #baz x simon #baz grimm pitch

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writingoddess1125 · 7 months

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I Fell in love Alone pt. 3

Another shot of depression for you all-

Buggy x GN Reader

Angst and Sad

No warnings just sadness

Support me in Ko-Fi

When Buggy woke up the next morning, He felt awful.. his head was swimming and nausea was going through his system like a tsunami. He shifted and felt the emptiness of the bed next to him- The hangover now not being the worse pain he felt..

He laid there, pressing his face into the pillow as he took in what remained of your scent...thinking of the mornings he would touch your hair or look at your sleeping form next to him, He just wished he'd cherished them more. The creak of the door drew him out of his thoughts, turning to see you walking in with some breakfast and water for him.

He sat up slowly and watched you with foggy eyes at every movement you made. Setting down the tray of food and pouring him a glass of water, as well as kicking a bucket closer to the bed just in case he needed to puke, you already dressed and ready for the day which clued him in that he must have slept very late- or you got up very early.

"Feel better?" You ask softly, he nods softly at this- lying about feeling better. The pain from you not being there just stronger then the sickness of the hangover. Awkward silence fell after this, Buggy finally breaking it with a anxious sigh and turned to meet your eyes.

"(Y/N) I wanted to say im sorry for everything and how I acted can we-" You cut him off quick with a shake of your head, sighing heavily as you tried to hold back the tears that threatened to fall.

"Buggy I'm still leaving... This does not change that... I'd never want you to hurt yourself but I am not staying either. I know youre upset but that changes nothing-" You said finally, His face crumbling at your words as he looked away from you. A storm of emotions going over his face as he sat there in the bed.

"I appreciate you being honest with me and honored you shared how you felt... but you are 6 months too late" You say with a final breath, looking to see his eyes flashing with rage.

"Get some rest..." You say softly and get up to leave the room. Closing the door behind you as you heard the first crashed- Him inside the room throwing and destroying the cabin in a fit of pure anger. Taking a shaky breath you walked away, the echoing of his angry cries fading as you left.

You should have known better then to think Buggy would let this go so easily...

For the next 3 days, you saw the love bombing. The gifts magically at your bed, the flowers, the candies and more things you knew possible. How did this guy manage to find a kitten in the middle of the ocean!? The whole crew was also now watching you- you knew it and truthfully that hollowness began to return at having everyones eyes on you all the time like they were waiting for you to fold to Buggy.

You returned everything, bringing it back to Buggys door every chance you got and avoiding even going to dinner your friends bringing you dinner as you didn't want the eyes on you.

Buggy was starting to get frustrated more at himself for failing to get you interested in him again- thinking that you caring for him while hungover showed you still cared and he could keep you from leaving. You almost thought he was going to not port just to keep you on the ship, however it was a pleasant surprise when he did- even if he seemed upset at it as well.

Once at port you exiting the ship with gusto finally the freedom of the small place lifting your spirits from the dead and the idea that you wouldn't be trapped like before filled you to

Spending the day with your friends as you scouted out the village, your crew gathering supplies as you found you way around and planned a new life in the cute village.

Once back to the Big Top your few friends through a going away party for you, Food and drinks being set out as music filled the ship. It was a emotional release you had needed before departing from your life as you knew.

However Buggy's absent from the dinner was very noticable and you knew why.. as the night came to and you giving final hugs to your friends you packed the last of your things in a sack and bring them over your shoulder as you make your way to the Main Deck. Next to the exit you see a figure sitting there, already knowing who it was.

"You really aren't going to stay?..." Buggy said softly as he sat on a barrel looking at the sleepy village.

Stopping you lean against the rails and look at the Captian- he luckily wasn't drunk like before but he looked depressed...

"Buggy... I don't think we are good for each other now-" You say softly, seeing the hurt in his eyes at this. Normally he would throw a fit at being confronted like this- but instead he seemed to accept it and bow his head humbly. "You love bombing me proves that- I know you want to do better now but that doesn't erase what you did before..."

"If...If I became the man you deserve that would treat you right?... would you come back?.." He asked softly, his own fake pride and ego being tossed to the side for the hope of your return.

"I don't know Buggy- I do love you.. But I don't think I can be with you. We are both bad for each other and... You broke my heart" You admit, seeing how he winced at your words. Nodding in a sad understanding that it had been his fault for this- Rubbing the back of his neck.

"But... Maybe in the future, if things are better. We can give it another go." You suggest, unsure of your own words- However you see Buggy look at you, a flash of something you'd never seen in his eyes before. Hope and Drive.

"Really?... If I get better we can maybe see how far this thing can go?" He said softly, you nodding as you adjust the sack over your shoulder. Buggy Biting his lip in thought and nodding, smiling sadly as if he had been told a disappointing joke.

"Well, I'll do what I can to be what you deserve. Even if I am the Biggest Fool in the East Blue, ill be the best there is"

He sadly laughed at this, Opening his arms to gesture to himself in a almost pathetic way.

"You know me! I manage to fail upwards. And Hopefully I can still land before your feet" He said with his signature smile, unable to help yourself you giggle softly.

"I have faith in you"

You kiss his cheek and give his hand a squeeze, tears rolling down your cheeks as you turn and begin to walk off the ship you'd call home for the final time.

"Goodbye Buggs" You say softly as you walk to the pier and into the darkness of the sleeping Village.

Buggy stood there on the deck of his ship, watching the love of his life walk away- taking away what shred of love he had left in his blackened heart- Yet he could only be angry at himself for it... he had driven you away.

His fist clenched as he held back his own tears, looking up to the sky to keep them from falling and let out a shaky breath. Vowing silently to become the best to bring you back to him..

Tag List-

@starsali @nerdisthenewcool @aleisha127 @delectableworm @aleracrovn @myhubbyisbuggy @d1ner @soft-mafia @foggyturtleknightangel @devils-blackrose @valentinass-whotookmyname @onelatenight-longago @natalieisfreeziing @straightedgegoth

#x reader #one peice x reader #one piece #one peice live action #buggy one piece #buggy the clown x reader #buggy x reader

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whereianonymouslypostfics · 7 months

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Blackout

Pairing: Wanda Maximoff x reader

Word count: ~2.2k

Summary: You get your first taste of expensive tequila

A/N: Enjoy!

Warnings: drinking, slight angst, jealousy, vomiting

It’s the incessant buzzing noise that pulls a reluctant Wanda from a deep sleep. She groans in annoyance as she rolls over and tries to pull the covers over her head to block out the sound.

Last night had been a lot. She isn’t exactly sure how a simple dinner with you and her friends had gotten so out of hand. She’d known better than to go along with her brother’s plan to play drunken truth or dare, but you’d seemed interested. Since she was still in the phase of your relationship where she did everything you wanted, she’d gone with it. Now that her head is pounding and her mouth tastes like expensive liquor, she wishes that she’d said no to you. She doesn’t even remember a lot of last night, but she knows that she’s not ready to think about it.

“Turn it off!”

Wanda frowns at the muffled voice and she forces herself to sit up and look for the buzzing phone. She spots her brother’s mussed hair first and she frowns in confusion when she realizes that she’s not in her room. She looks around and sees the mess of clothes strewn everywhere and dishes stacked on the dresser beneath the television. She looks back down to her brother and sees that he’s shifted to turn the alarm off himself. She barely notices this and instead focuses on the fact that they’re both shirtless and for some reason in bed together.

“What the hell? Why am I here and what happened to my shirt??”

Wanda’s looking around for her discarded clothes as Pietro groans and hides back underneath the covers. He remembers more than his sister apparently because the last thing they’d done before blacking out was jump in the swimming pool for some reason.

“You took it off ‘cause it was wet.”

As if this answered Wanda’s question she groans under her breath before finding her shirt is indeed still soaked. She has no idea why but she’s not going to worry about that right now. Her head is spinning and she has to squeeze her eyes shut as she stops mid-step and takes a deep breath.

“I don’t even want to know. I’m going to look for Y/n.”

Pietro just groans again before falling back into bed to sleep off the rest of his hangover. He shouldn’t have brought out the expensive tequila last night, or at the very least he shouldn’t have had so much of it.

Wanda stumbles out of her brother’s room with another groan as she clutches her dripping shirt to her chest. She looks both ways but there’s no sign of anyone so she just heads for her rooms. She figures you’re there, but she honestly doesn’t know what to expect after last night.

You’d only been to the compound a couple of times, but Wanda had invited you for dinner last night with her friends and you’d jumped on the opportunity. You were nervous of course, but you wanted to spend time with Wanda and get to know those closest to her. You hadn’t realized what you were in for when Pietro brought out a bottle of expensive booze. You didn’t drink much and you definitely overdid it because you somehow finished up the night in the pool downstairs in all of your clothes.

You realize when you wake up that your hair is still wet, and you groan under your breath at how fuzzy your head feels and how upset your stomach is. You don’t have enough energy to get up and find a glass of water, or pain medication, so you just snuggle closer to the body that’s in bed beside you. You breathe in deeply as Wanda shifts in her sleep, and you pull her closer before burying your face in her hair.

It takes longer than it should for you to realize something’s off, but you blame the amount of alcohol you had the night before. You’re still stunned that you’d managed to make it to the right room, but you realize later that this had less to do with you and more to do with your escort.

Nat had been the least drunk of everyone, but she had still been more than her normal tipsy. She’d watched as all of her friends had jumped or been pushed into the pool, but she sat at the edge and decided to play life guard for her too drunk friends. You’d been floating on your back and doing flips occasionally as Pietro kept trying to drown his sister. She eventually jumped on his back and tried to return the favor before you’d swam to the edge of the pool and tried to drag her in.

Needless to say you’d failed, but by the time you’d jumped out you’d been so drunk that you nearly fell on the cold concrete floor. You’d clung to Nat while calling Wanda to let her know that you were going to bed. She didn’t hear you but at some point, she turned and saw you walking away with the other redhead and she’d jumped out of the pool to follow. Rather she’d dragged herself out and almost tripped on the way to the door, and her brother wasn’t too far behind.

You’d left Wanda who went to make sure her brother ended up in the right place, and let Nat lead you to Wanda’s rooms. You were still soaking wet and only half dressed, and you’d shown very little interest in getting changed. Nat watched you collapse on your bed before sneaking under the covers with a loud groan. You’d started shivering and held your arms out as you waved her toward you.

“I’m cold. Come cuddle.”

This is all you had to say and Nat obediently got under the covers and tried to warm you up. You really were freezing, and she’d tried to leave and find another blanket to drape over you, but you’d latched onto her and made this near impossible.

Now that Nat was awake and far more sober than you, she realized that she should leave and look for Wanda. She’s not sure where she ended up, but the sound of the door opening makes her want to jump out of bed. You realize that the unfamiliar scent is Nat’s shampoo only seconds before the bedroom door is pushed open. Your body moves much slower than your brain and you’re unfortunately holding Nat close as Wanda walks into the bedroom.

All she sees is you half-dressed clinging to Nat, and she kind of loses it. The fact that Nat is fully dressed is probably the only reason that Wanda doesn’t try to drag you out of bed. She immediately regrets the volume of her voice as both of you cringe, and you jump in surprise.

“What the hell?! Y/n, get up!”

You jump clumsily to your feet, only to double over and squeeze your eyes shut at the sudden dizziness that overtakes you. Your stomach also decides that it’s going to protest the movement and you’re already planning a run to the bathroom when Wanda storms towards you. She redirects her glare toward Nat when she realizes you’re still very hungover, and you can’t help but cringe as your girlfriend continues to shout. At this point, Nat’s standing up as well because she’s sure that Wanda wants her out of her bed and away from you as fast as possible.

“What the fuck, Nat? Why were you in bed with her?”

Wanda’s pissed and it’s taking all of her self-control to not shove Nat back on the bed and throttle her. She’s only recently accepted the fact that you and Nat had history, and it’s way too soon for her to see you two so close, let alone sharing a bed. Her bed. She knows that you’re about to be sick and she figures you were as drunk as her last night, but Nat was the most sober of the group. Wanda wants to know why she had thought getting into bed with you was a good idea.

Nat raises her hands in surrender as she looks to you just as you disappear into the bathroom. She barely flinches at the sound of you cursing and vomiting before shaking her head as she tries to calm Wanda down.

“She dragged me into it because she was cold. She basically just slept on me. That’s it.”

Wanda’s still scowling as she thinks about you clinging to Nat for warmth, and her holding you in return. She’s always been a jealous person, and especially after learning about you sleeping with Nat, she’s had to hold herself back from keeping you from seeing her.

“Well don’t do it again. Get a blanket next time instead.”

You’re coming out of the bathroom before Nat can make a comment about how she’d like to see Wanda say no to a drunk you, and you just sigh and take a moment to taste the mouthwash you just drank. You’re only feeling slightly better, but you focus on Wanda who’s still looking upset and Nat who looked more fed up than anything else.

“Wands, where were you last night? Why didn’t you come back here?”

She opens her mouth to argue more about you ending up in bed with Nat, but you frown as you look at her for the first time since she arrived.

“And why aren’t you wearing a shirt?”

Wanda frowns before heading to the dresser to grab the two of you t-shirts. She throws hers on before handing the other to you with a frown as she glances around the room. Nat’s started to head for the door and Wanda has to resist the urge to hold it open for her.

“I’m told it got wet somehow which is probably why you’re not either, detka.”

You look down as if you’d just noticed and you take the offered shirt with a groan. You look to Nat after you are fully dressed and you walk over to her with your arms held out. Wanda’s seconds away from protesting, but you speak up before she gets a chance. You hug Nat with a groan before following her through the living room and to the front door.

“Thanks for hanging around, Nat. I probably would have frozen otherwise.”

The redhead just nods before she decides to cut her losses and leave. She doesn’t want Wanda to start yelling at her again, and she really should go check on her sister. She smiles at you before patting you on the back as she walks out the door.

“Sure thing, kid. Next time though we’ll make yours a mocktail.”

You laugh at this before cringing at the sound and offering a small nod. You shut the door behind Nat and turn around to see that Wanda’s standing right behind you. You jump slightly before reaching out to hug your tired, hungover girlfriend.

“Where did you end up, Wands?”

The only response you get as you’re led back to your bedroom is a groan with a shake of her head. She’s not getting into this right now. First she’s going to be a little sick, and then she’s going to cuddle you for a while so she can forget about you being in bed with Nat. She sits you down on the bed carefully before she runs to the bathroom for a glass of water. She only just manages to hand it to you before she’s running back to be sick. You drink some water before standing up to see if Wanda needed any help. You hold her hair back as she continues to vomits and your other hand goes to rub her back.

“Maybe you’ll have a mocktail next time too?”

Wanda groans before she nods and stands up slowly. She tries not to look as she flushes the toilet and turns to you with a grimace. You offer her the water and she takes it and drinks too much before shaking her head.

“Yeah, then maybe I wouldn’t wake up in bed with my brother.”

You’re only half listening as your head continues to pound obnoxiously, and you’re certain that you heard Wanda wrong. You frown as you watch Wanda wander back into the bedroom to collapse for a while. She could sleep for the rest of the day, and she just might as long as you join her.

“Wait, what?”

Wanda groans under her breath before she shakes her head and opens her mouth to tell you what happened, but she’s jumping back up with a muttered curse. She really shouldn’t have had so much tequila last night.

“After swimming, I crashed in Pietro’s room apparently, and woke up with him stealing the covers.”

You aren’t surprised to hear this and you grab Wanda’s toothbrush and some mouthwash with a small smile. You’re going to have to brush your teeth too, but you have to find something for your headache first. God you’re not going to drink with Pietro ever again.

“Let’s get cleaned up and then sleep this off. Maybe we can dunk Pietro in the pool later?”

Wanda laughs at this as she grabs her toothbrush from you and nods in agreement. This sounds like a great idea.

“Deal.”

Masterlist

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff x female reader #wanda maximoff fanfiction #wanda maximoff #wanda x reader #wanda x. you #silver springs drabble #silver springs au #mob au

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superlarva · 9 months

Text

"You've got a mustache."

Hey guys! Sorry, my art style is like the least consistent thing on this planet... I just like trying new things out :)

Anyways, continuing on our Rex parenting journey we have Chapter 4 - Pancakes and Apologies.

Prologue: 00 Previous chapter: 03 Next chapter: 05

Summary: Rex gets some news on Echo, pancakes are made, tantrums are thrown.

CW: Implied/referenced child abuse, talk about injuries from landmines (nothing too in depth)

Chapter 4 – Pancakes and Apologies

Rex sunk down into his couch with a sigh, leaning his head against the armrest. Fives had been tucked in and the hallway light was left on. One kid taken care of, one to go.

Rex pulled out his phone and opened a text from Cody: I have some more info. Call me when you’re ready.

The phone only rang once before it was picked up.

“Cody, is he okay?” Rex tried to keep his voice down so he would not wake the boy sleeping in the next room.

“He’s…” Cody trailed off and Rex could feel his heart pounding in his chest.

“What? He’s what?” Don’t say dead. Please, don’t say dead.

“He just got out of surgery. They had to amputate both legs and an arm,” Cody was trying to keep if voice calm and leveled, but the words came out a little choked. “I’m so sorry.”

Rex stared across the living room and into the kitchen, he’d know the boy’s injuries would be bad if he had landed himself in the ICU, but the loss of three limbs? That was too much.

Cody continued, “Echo’s okay for now. He hasn’t woken up yet, so there could still be some complications, but they are optimistic about how the surgery went.”

“Both legs and an arm?” Rex asked, still processing his brother’s statement.

“Yes,” Rex heard Cody take a deep breath on the other side of the line, “He stepped on a landmine.”

“Wh- How?”

“I don’t know. No one told the hospital how it happened either.”

Rex was silent, but his mind screamed.

Screamed in anger.

In sadness.

In pain.

In guilt.

It was his fault. His.

“Rex? You still there?” Cody’s voice cut through the phone.

“Yeah,” Rex said a little absently. “Yeah, I’m still here.”

“Alright,” Cody said, tone laced with worry. “You should get some rest. I’ll text you any developments, but don’t stay up for them.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you going to be able to sleep tonight?”

“I- I’m not sure.”

“Try, okay?”

“I will.”

“I love you, Rex’ika.”

“Love you too, Codes,” Rex dropped the phone from his ear as he disconnected the call.

He rolled onto his side and curled up on the couch, pulling his knees up to his chest and letting the world melt around him as tears spilled down his cheeks.

Rex woke, panicked from a dream he couldn’t remember and drenched in a cold sweat. From what he could tell it was early morning, the living room was washed in a dim warm light. He was not sure when he had fallen asleep, but he could not have gotten more than four hours.

He reached for his phone on the coffee table and found it, bringing the screen close to his bleary eyes. He had some texts from Cody from around 3 am:

Just found out Kix is Echo’s doctor!

He came into the waiting room to tell me that Echo seems to be responding well to the surgeries.

He’s sleeping now, but he woke up for a bit while I was in there and asked for Fives.

Kix said he thinks you guys should be able to visit today.

Rex felt a surge of relief, Echo was going to be okay. He was going to be alright. Not only that, but Rex had known Kix since he’d been in a group home with him and he knew the boy was in capable hands.

Rex swung his legs over the edge of the bed, sitting up to type out a reply, thanking his brother profusely.

“M-mister police officer, sir?”

A small voice cut through Rex’s thoughts, and he jerked his head up. Fives stood stiffly on the other side of the coffee table. Rex was taken aback, when had the boy slipped into the room? At least the kid looked like he had slept well, “Yes? And Rex is fine.”

“Would you like me to make you breakfast?”

Rex was initially going to deny the request and insist that he make breakfast for Fives instead, but realized he could not assume Fives was only offering because it was something required of him previously. Perhaps the boy really enjoyed cooking. Rex wouldn’t know so instead he put down his phone and smiled, “Why don’t we make ourselves some breakfast together?”

Fives’s eyes widened a bit before he nodded consent.

Rex stood and stretched, “What should we have? I’ve got eggs, pancakes, oatmeal, cereal, or bread for toast.”

Fives seemed to debate something before looking up at Rex, “What are pancakes?”

“Pancakes?” Rex parroted, a little shocked.

Fives blushed and turned away, muttering a quiet apology.

“No, it’s okay, it’s good to ask questions,” Rex tried to amend quickly. He hurried over to his pantry and grabbed his box of pancake mix, showing the box to the boy, “This is what they look like. They’re really good and you get to put maple syrup on them.”

Fives whipped his head around to Rex at the mention of maple syrup, an excited grin plastered onto his face, “Maple syrup is from Canada.”

“Uh, yeah?” Rex said taken aback by the random fact.

Fives turned back to the pancake box, “Echo had a book about flags. Canada’s is a maple leaf because of all the maple trees there and maple syrup comes from the maple trees.”

“Do you and Echo like to read a lot?” Rex asked.

“Echo does,” Fives said, shoulder’s tensing. “He tried to teach me, but I’m no good.”

Rex didn’t like the boy’s defeated tone, “You know, I didn’t learn how to read until I was a little older than you.”

“Really?” Fives asked. “Because Echo learned when we were little.”

Rex wondered what “little” meant to the boy because in his eyes the twins were still very much just little boys. “Different people learn different things at different times, it’s not a contest.” Rex shrugged, taking the pancake mix from Fives, “Do pancakes sound yummy? They’re one of my favorites.”

Fives nodded, then shrugged, “But I don’t know how to make them.”

“That’s okay,” Rex said grinning. “I can teach you.”

Fives had been a surprisingly competent chef for a seven-year-old boy. He knew how to measure ingredients and pour things without spilling, and, once Rex had helped him up onto the counter, had proved that he could work a stovetop. Rex made sure the boy was aware he was not to be climbing on things or using the stove without permission first.

Rex watched as Fives took his first bite of pancake. The boy chewed slowly and then grinned up at Rex.

“Good?” Rex asked, taking his first bite as well.

Fives nodded enthusiastically and began shoving the rest of the plate into his mouth as fast as he could. He was finished before Rex had swallowed his third bite.

Rex pushed the glass of milk he’d poured the boy closer to him, “milk first, and then you can have more.”

Fives eyed the glass suspiciously before carefully taking it in both hands and downing it, seemingly without stopping for breath. When he put the glass down, he had a little milk mustache. Rex couldn’t stop himself from laughing.

“What?” Fives asked, looking down at his plate, searching for whatever was so funny.

“You-” Rex broke out into another chuckle, “You’ve got a mustache.”

“No, I don’t,” Fives said, folding his arms.

“Yes, you do. Go look in the mirror.”

Fives gave Rex a confused look before heading off to the bathroom.

Rex shook his head and finished up his breakfast, smiling to himself.

Fives emerged from the bathroom a minute later with a clean, smiling face.

“It was from the milk,” the boy explained, as if Rex didn’t already know.

Rex nodded as Fives joined him in the kitchen, “Do you want some more pancakes?”

Fives shook his head as he sat back down in his chair, then he looked up a Rex, “Could we bring them for Echo?”

Rex shook his head, giving himself a few seconds to figure out the best way to explain to Fives, “Right now Echo’s in the ICU. Do you know what the ICU is?”

“Like the hospital?”

“Yeah, it’s a part of the hospital where they put the people who need a little extra help to get better. It stands for intensive care unit.”

“Is he going to die?” Fives had clearly picked up on the fact that someone already in the hospital needing extra help was bad. His voice was so small.

“We think he got through the worst part. He woke up last night and asked for you, which is a really good sign, but we can’t bring him anything from outside the hospital because he had to have some really big surgeries and we don’t want him to get infected.”

“Oh,” Fives’s eyes darted back and forth before they made their way back to Rex’s. “Can- can we still-? Are we allowed to see him?”

Rex nodded, “We can head on over after we get dressed and brush our teeth.”

Fives jumped up out of his chair in excitement and made a beeline for Rex’s bedroom. Rex marveled in the boy’s ability to switch his emotions so quickly, and his inability to hide any of them.

As Fives got dressed, Rex washed all the dishes as quickly as he could so he wouldn’t have to keep the boy waiting for long. Not surprisingly, Fives finished getting ready before Rex put the last dish on the drying rack. The boy bounded into the kitchen, bouncing on his toes and grinning.

Rex couldn’t help but match his grin, “Alright, get your shoes and coat on while I get dressed.”

Fives nodded and hopped over to the entry way where his tiny set of shoes sat next to Rex’s boots.

Rex threw on his clothes and swished some mouthwash around in his mouth (brushing took too long) before joining Fives in the entry way. The boy was practically exploding with energy and Rex had to tell him multiple times that his shoes were on the wrong feet before he stopped jumping up and down and sat so Rex could fix them.

As soon as they got onto the road Fives asked how long it would take to get to Echo, and not wanting the entire 45 minute car ride to consist of 45 “are we there yet?”s, Rex made Fives his navigator. He knew the way to Kamino General well enough that he would tell Fives to remind him to turn right when they got to the next intersection or get off the highway when he saw a green sign with the number 79 on it. It kept the boy surprisingly occupied as he seemed to take his role very seriously.

As they neared the hospital and sat waiting in city traffic, Rex glanced at Fives in the mirror, “Fives, there’s something I need to tell you about Echo before we see him.”

Fives twisted forward to look at Rex from his position analyzing the city outside his window.

“He got really hurt and he- his-” Rex started to explain, struggling to find the right words.

“His legs were gone,” Fives interrupted, eyes wide.

Rex stared at the boy in his mirror, “You saw?”

Fives nodded, “Yes.”

“I’m sorry,” Rex didn’t know what else to say.

Fives shrugged, “Green light.”

“Huh?” Rex gaped before he realized what Fives was referring to as the car behind him honked, “Shi-oot!”

Rex slammed on the gas and turned into the hospital’s visitor parking lot, “Sorry about that.”

“S’okay,” Fives mumbled. Then his head shot up with excitement, “Are we here?”

“Yep,” Rex said, pulling into a spot.

Before Rex came to a complete stop, Fives unbuckled his seatbelt and opened the car door, ready to leap out. Rex stomped on the breaks and lunged back to grab the boy’s wrist, lest he fall out of the car, “Fives!”

The boy yelped as Rex dragged him back away from the door.

“No!” Rex yanked the boy towards his face, “No. You do not get out of the car until it’s stopped moving! Do you understand?”

“I’m s-sorry,” Fives stared at Rex, face going pale.

“Do you understand?”

Fives tried to yank his arm away, but Rex had him in an iron grip.

“Do. You. Understand?”

Fives’s tiny fist came up from where it was clenched at his side and struck Rex on the cheek. Rex was so surprised he almost let go of the boy as Fives began screaming “sorry” repeatedly, flailed his captive wrist around, trying to bash Rex’s hand down into the console, and used his free hand to hit Rex’s arm with as much force as he was capable of.

Rex caught Fives’s other arm to prevent any further damage to either of them and held him still while he struggled. Even though Fives’s eyes were screwed shut, Rex tried to soften his expression from the angry one he was sure it held a few moments earlier to one as neutral as possible.

Eventually Fives’s struggles grew weaker, and his apologies died down to a faint whisper. Rex realized the boy was crying, tears leaking out the corners of his shut lids.

“Fives?” Rex said softly, loosening his grip on the boy so if he wanted to remove his arms he could.

Fives opened his eyes and tears gushed down his cheeks, “’m ssssorry.”

“It’s okay. I’m not mad, see?” Rex held up his hands.

Fives stared up at Rex with big watery eyes before slowly reaching out one of his own hands and placing it against Rex’s opposing palm.

Rex curled down his fingers so his hand enveloped Fives’s, “Are you okay?”

In response Fives pulled his and Rex’s hand towards his chest.

“Hug?” Rex asked, remembering last night.

“Please?”

“Alright, come here,” Rex said, hoisting the boy up over the console and into his lap.

Fives held Rex’s hand to his chest as Rex held him to his and they sat just breathing in silence together until Fives shifted to look up at Rex, “Are- are you very mad at me?”

Rex squeezed Fives a little tighter and smiled sadly, “I’m not very mad at you.”

They sat together for a few more moments and this time it was Rex who broke the silence, “Can I explain why I got upset?”

Rex felt Fives nod against his chest.

“Cars can be very dangerous if we aren’t careful in them or around them,” He felt Fives nod in understanding and continued, “One of the rules when you’re in the car is that you always keep your seatbelt on and you never open the door unless we are parked in a driveway or in a parking lot, does that make sense?”

Again, Rex felt Fives nod against him.

He continued, “When you opened the door, I was scared that you might get hurt, so I got upset. But I was more upset that you might get hurt than I was upset at you.” Rex rubbed Fives’s arm, “I’m sorry for yelling at you and for grabbing you.”

“I’m sorry, too. For- for breaking the rules.”

“It’s alright. You were excited, I get it. But next time we don’t jump out of moving cars.”

Fives nodded, sniffling.

Rex grabbed a tissue and handed it to the boy, “Ready to go see Echo?”

Fives smiled, blowing into the tissue, “Ready.”

@marierg @stressed-cherry @ffdemon @renton6echo @bambambunny @tearfulsolace @rndmpeep @brokenphoenix99 @xylionet @tazmbc1

#sorry for the late post #it's technically still sunday somewhere...#Also #I think tumblr's not letting me mention certain people :(#IDK how to fix that #so I am super sorry to anyone who's not being alerted properly when I update #clone wars #the clone wars #tcw #arc trooper fives #arc trooper echo #captain rex #clone trooper echo #commander cody #clone trooper fives #superlarva #domino twins #baby dominos

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heartfullofleeches · 2 years

Text

Yandere husband x Gn Psychic Reader

Word count: 900

“See you later tonight, honey.”

Lips press softly against your forehead in a gentle kiss, hand smoothing your hair back as they touch. Your husband smiles down at you as he reels back, moving down to caress your cheek. A look of unrivaled adoration was plastered on his face. It made your stomach tie in knots.

“See you..”

You wave as he grabs his bag and heads for the door, arm in a continuous wave until he made his exit. Smiling; acting like the happy spouse that you were meant to be. As soon as the lock clicks into place, your façade falls. You shut your eyes, concentrating on the darkness behind your lids. Shapes swirl in the abyss, forming into the vague outline of a doorframe; three padlocks embedded into its wood. Faint whispers come from behind its frame; growing louder and louder the more you focus.

“Help me.”

Your eyes snap open, tears forming at the realization at hand. Your husband. That kind, loyal man, had always been so protective of you, but you never thought much of it before this month. His little pot of honey – as cringy as it sounded. With such a gentle soul, you could never wish harm on him, which is why you never told him of your abilities. You hardly ever used them on him either; his near every thought all about you.

“Oh God, they’re so perfect. I want to give them the world ”

“Work was so hard. I’m glad to see Y/n's smile.”

“Am I really getting married to such an amazing person? I’ll do anything to make them happy for the rest of our lives.”

Even now, those times made your lips pull into a smile. You remember him asking what got you in such a good mood, but you kept your lips shut. You wish things could have stayed that way.

One blissful eve, while the two of you were getting about to go to bed, you lay in his arms secure and ready for sleep to take over. His hand in your hair, a kiss to your forehead like moments prior. He had been noticeably tense the entire day, but by its end he was at peace knowing he could be by your side. The thump of his heart in his chest played in your ear, so soft and gentle – until his inner self slipped through the cracks.

“It had to be done. Don’t worry about it anymore. They’re with you. That’s all that matters.”

Back then, dread had begun to sneak into the back of your mind; but you remained faithful for a better excuse. A hope murdered within the coming days. While he got his coffee in the morning, watched movies with you late at night; his consciousness plead guilty to his untold crimes.

“Still no missing person report. That’s good.”

“What would Y/n think if they saw what I’ve done?”

“Been a while since I fed them. Should I just kill them already?”

“I’m a horrible person. I don’t deserve you.”

You clench your hands together tight; the metal of the keyring in your hand heated by your sweaty palms. While the two of you kissed and held each other before work; just like the good ol’ days, you grabbed his keys from his pocket – need to see his misdeeds for yourself. A part of you didn’t want to go through with this. It almost felt like a – betrayal, of some kind. He loved you, he cared for you. Always would until death do you part.

You steel yourself; standing up from the couch and heading to the kitchen. This was not something you could ignore. The cold morning air slaps you in the face like the pain of his lies. Always telling you everything was alright when you questioned the distance look in his eyes. You step outside, wet grass crunching beneath your feet as you enter the backyard. A space had been cleared for the garden your husband planned to start; a shed for the new tools in its corner.

It’s the place where you head to. The place where you heard screams for mercy. Begs for the end. Sleepless nights spent wondering if it was truly reality or a cruel nightmare. Three padlocks bolt the door to its wall. You pull out the keys. Only two fit into place on the door. The last is what broke your heart completely into two.

You remove the necklace from around your head. You had matching jewelry, so he was none the wiser when you switched his for yours that morning. Opening its locket, you find the final key; placed over a photo of you and him on your first date. He had gotten food poisoning from the pasta he had eaten, but insisted on taking a picture when the photographer asked if you wanted one. Though a bit pale in the face, it was easily his most favorite picture of you both.

With all three keys, you unlock the door. No light exits, but it wasn’t necessary; the scent was all you needed. Rot and a thick must tainted the air, the buzz of flies ringing in the darkness. From where natural light reached, you could see splatters of dark stains plaguing the walls and floor; clinging to various tools littered about. The worst thing that comes is the wheezing. Dying breathes from extinguished lungs, body given up and mind too far gone for any hope of recovery. They lie just out of eye sight, bond wrists all you’re able to see.

“I knew I forgot my keys somewhere… I know I promised to work on the garden by now, but that didn’t mean you had to go snooping… honey.”

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ellieluvr420 · 3 months

Text

We meet again, darling pt.4 (detective Abby Anderson x criminal reader)

Synopsis: Abby Anderson is a skilled detective that's never let a criminal escape her grasp, until you. You've infiltrated every part of her life and she still can't get you. As she grows more and more intrigued by you she finds herself descending further into darkness until there's no way back. She takes your hand and follows you as if your presence is the only thing giving her life knowing that you are the most dangerous thing for her. Her life will never be hers again and she will stop at nothing to keep following you down your path of corruption.

Smut... kinda, MDNI please xxxx

Abby jolts awake at the sound of her phone ringing. She had struggled to fall asleep earlier that night just like she had most nights since Dan. His face haunted her sleep. Sometimes it was memories from her childhood where he looked happy and carefree as they did when they were kids but sometimes his face was pale and sweaty and twisted up in pain, both physical and emotional. No matter what the dream was it always ended the same: Abby stabbing him and him choking on his own blood while he asked why? How could she do this? Every night she'd wake up in a cold sweat, hyperventilating with tears threatening to spill over her cheeks. But tonight, she didn't. She woke because her phone rang. Because you rang.

Abby looks at the number only to see its unknown and she sighs already knowing who it is.

"Do you know what time it is?" Her voice was groggy and deep from sleep and your breath hitched at the sound of her disgruntled words.

"No, isn't it 2pm?"

Abby can practically hear the grin through the phone and she sighs even harder this time.

"You're not funny."

"Yes I am don't lie, that's a sin"

"Your whole life is a sin."

"Jeez someone's grumpy."

"You wake me up at.." Abby takes the phone from her ear to look at the time. "THREE AM?? Have you lost your mind?"

"Yes, years ago."

"Do you enjoy being the biggest pain in my ass? Is that why you called... at 3am?

"Yes and kind of. I'm calling because I've got everything set up for you to start your part of the plan, I think we should give it a name I was thinking: Mission take over, what do you think?" Abby rolls her eyes and lays back down with the phone still at her ear.

"No, that's awful. What about.... Mission call me at 3am again and I'll kick your ass?"

"I'd like to see you try. You don't have a good track record."

"Hanging up now."

"Wait a minute, we're going to dinner tonight. Be ready 8pm sharp and dress nice."

"Anyone ever told you you're bossy?"

"Everyday of my life. It's part of my charm. Okay that was all I wanted to tell you so get some rest sleeping beauty."

"You called me at 3am to tell me we're going to dinner?"

"Yeah, pretty much."

"I really don't like you."

"Aw yes you do. Goodnight sunshine!" You do a loud kiss through the phone and hear her sigh before she hangs up. You giggle and put your phone down as there's a knock at your office door.

"Come in."

Richter walks in with a bottle of wine and two glasses. He sits quietly and pours you both a glass.

"What's got you up at these hours?" You look at him with an unamused look.

"When am I not? And I could say the same for you."

"Fair point. I'm actually just about to head back to mine but I thought you'd want to know that Eddie rang."

You sigh and rub your forehead knowing that is never good.

"What now?"

"Cops bagged Marlow, apparently they've offered him a deal to talk."

"They always do. Do you think he will?"

"No I don't think he will, but..."

"Oh there's always a but."

"Eddie's worried, there's been more arrests recently, not all of them get charged but he's worried they're getting closer. We've went under the radar for so long now, is our luck running out?"

"It's not luck Johnny for fuck's sake. We're smart and we're careful. This. This is a rat. Come on I'll walk you out, I need to pay someone a visit."

Richter gives you a strange look but shrugs and starts walking as you follow him out.

Abby jolts awake for the second time tonight as she feels herself being shaken.

"AH WHAT THE FUCK!"

"Sorry, sorry. It's just me."

"You are fucking insane, how and why are you in my apartment at 4 in the fucking morning?"

"You have crap security we've been over this" You begin to pace at the foot of her bed. "I need a favour."

"A favour? You really think you're in a place to be asking for favours right now."

"Hey, when I came in it looked like you were having a really bad dream so er your welcome for waking you up from that. Please just listen to me this is serious." You stop and look her dead in the eyes as you say this and for the first time you notice she's not wearing anything on her top half. You can see the protrusion of her collarbones and the definition of her muscles and you don't even realise you've been ogling her until you meet her unimpressed eyes. Although she's gracious enough to not mention it, you gulp as you know you've been caught.

"Right. Well, um, I think there's a rat. Lower down of course but clearly high up enough to know a good amount about the structure of my business. More of my men have been getting arrested and some of them are getting charged. I need you to find out who the rat is so I can deal with them. Abby this is so important, I need you to find out today or this could fuck up mission: take over."

"Are you actually going to start calling it that?"

"Abby!"

"Jeez. Sorry, I will find out what's going on today."

"Oh thank god." You sit down on the bed next to her and put a hand on her strong thigh and squeeze. "Thank you, sorry for scaring the shit out of you... and waking you up... twice." You smile at her and she smiles back.

"It's okay I guess, only you could get away with this shit."

"Oh yeah?" You tilt your head and smirk at her. "Am I special?" You lean in close so your faces are centimetres apart. Abby brings a hand to your cheek and pulls you closer so your noses are practically touching. She leans in until your lips are touching.

"Yeah. You are." She lunges forward and presses her lips to yours in a hungry and desperate kiss. The shock you feel at her actions immediately subsides as want takes over. You feel her tongue licking at your lower lip, begging to be let in. You can't help but feel the need to tease so you go to pull away until her other hand finds its place on the back of your head keeping you firmly in place. She bites down on your lower lip and as you gasp she takes this as her opportunity to slip her tongue into your mouth. You feel completely out of control as you moan into her mouth. She pulls away for a second to raise her eyebrows at the noise you let out.

"Shut. Up." You grab her face and immediately start kissing her. Harder and more passionately this time. You straddle her hips and her hands immediately find their places on your hips squeezing so hard you expect bruises to form. You pull away from her lips and start kissing down her jaw and neck. You hear Abby almost growl and you feel her strong hands pull you away from her. You frown until you notice her hands pulling at your t-shirt. You help her by lifting your arms up and she throws the t-shirt somewhere on the floor of her room. You realise you didn't have a bra on when you see her eyeing your boobs hungrily. She looks up at you and down at them again. She grabs them and squishes them together and then kisses each nipple, she looks up with her face still resting on your chest and the sight is enough to make you cum right there and then. She gets a mischievous grin on her face.

"You have a great rack."

"Oh you just had to ruin the moment." You say giggling as you push her face away from you. She grabs you and pulls you down with her so you're laying on top of her.

"Hey I mean it."

"I will get up and leave right now." She wraps her arms tightly around your waist so there is absolutely no space between you two. "No you won't."

"Oh whatever." You go back to kissing her and her hands go back to your hips as she starts rocking you atop her. You groan into her mouth and you feel her smile into the kiss. She flips you both over and starts kissing down your neck and your chest until she reaches your left nipple. She sucks it into her mouth while making dead eye contact with you. You gasp as she pinches the right nipple and immediately swaps her ministrations. Once she's paid both nipples sufficient attention she kisses down your stomach and licks a strip back up and finishes it off with a kiss between your breasts. She shuffles down the bed and wraps her fingers round the band of your bottoms.

"Can I take these off?"

"Obviously."

She rips them down and throws them also onto the floor. She goes to kiss the hem of your underwear but stops when you thread your fingers through her soft hair.

"Wait. Come here."

"Yes boss." You giggle as she crawls back up toward your face and pull her into a messy kiss. You palm her perky breasts and roll her pink nipples between your fingers, she hisses.

"Aw is someone sensitive?" You pout at her and she smirks at you as she grabs your cheeks and squishes them together as she presses a chaste kiss to your lips.

"You are so much cuter when you don't talk." She squishes your cheeks with each word she says and then leans down and bites at your neck hard enough you're sure there will be a bite mark.

"I hate you so much." She looks at you with raised eyebrows as she places a hand over your mouth firmly.

"No you don't." She moves back down your body and takes the hem of your underwear between her teeth as she slides the underwear down your thighs, You instinctively clamp your legs shut as you're exposed in front of her but she grabs one of your thighs and pushes it down flush to the bed.

"uh uh uh, come on darling, no hiding now." She echoes your words from your conversation on the balcony with a wicked grin on her face. You roll your eyes and groan into her hand. She peppers kisses and leaves bruises all over your thighs until your bite her hand.

"Oh someone's impatient aren't they?" She leans down and licks a stripe from your hole to your clit moaning as she tastes you on her tongue. She sucks your clit into her mouth for a second and then presses a quick kiss to it before she crawls back up to be face to face with you. She grabs your neck, gentler than the other times she's choked you, her intentions different this time and kisses you hungrily so you can taste yourself on her tongue. You both kiss until you have to pull away to gasp for breath and she sits up giving you the most hot look you've ever seen as she wipes her mouth with her thumb. She leans back down and presses her thumb over your lips and you happily take it into your mouth and suck. She moans as she feels your tongue swirling around her thumb and sucking, hard. She pulls it out with a pop and smears the spit over your lips and chin. She bites her lip and flashes a devilish grin before she begins to get up and pull her top off the ground as she puts it on over her head.

"What are you doing?"

"That's what you get for waking me up in the middle of the night... twice." She goes to walk out the room but turns back and looks at you. "And for shooting me." As she walks out of the room you throw your head back in frustration and begin trailing your hand down your body to your heat. Abby appears back in the doorway with two bottles of water and an unimpressed look on her face. She pulls you by your foot to the end of the bed and brings her face inches to yours.

"Don't even think about it."

She drops a bottle of water onto the bed for you and you throw yourself back in frustration as you hear Abby laugh as she walks away.

"Fucker."

psa: sorry sorry i had to do it, going back and editing these now i've decided to actually post has been fun. Hope you enjoyed whoever has made it this far and more action is coming i promise, in more ways than one... ;). New chapters coming soon because i love this story and Abby is perf <3 okay byeeee

#abby anderson #abby x reader #abby anderson x reader #abby tlou #abby the last of us #tlou abby #abby anderson x female reader #abby x fem!reader

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euphoricimagination · 5 months

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Summary: After the match against the U-20 you are given 2 weeks of freedom, with your decision taken, you use this time to tell the truth to as many as you can and spend time with the people you grew to love

Part 11 - Part 12 [Final] -> Masterlist

"So this is where you live, quite big for living alone" you say walking around Nagi's place, you could see the last drops of light from the sunset entering through the windows,

After the match you were given 2 weeks off where you could finally go outside. You were planning to go back to Hyogo, but the guys had planned to do a reunion outside of the project to finally see each other in another ambience. You weren't planning on going, since Hyogo was far away from Tokyo and you didn't want to spend half a day just getting there, but Nagi told you you could stay with him for a day or two.

Now, your relationship with Nagi has been quite different since that kiss. He hasn't asked you out, therefore you weren't technically together, but he's definitely much clingier with you; you didn't mind this, though, it was too soon to actually date each other.

"Yeah, my parents chose it" he says, passing his arms through your shoulders "it's nice, and it's close to a lot of things"

"I noticed, i think i saw an arcade coming here"

"Yeah, there's many actually" he says, kissing your shoulder before moving to his bed, starting a game on his phone. You took some of your clothes out, putting them on top of a dresser he had, you feel uneasiness in your stomach for tomorrow's reactions

"Are you telling them tomorrow?" Nagi asks, you didn't know if he noticed your discomfort or if he knew you that good already

"Yeah, I'm telling them everything. They deserve to know"

"I don't get why though, why does it matter so much?"

"Not everyone is so unbothered like you are Sei" you chuckle, sitting on the bed

"But the princess didn't care either, so why are you so nervous?" He asks once again "agh, i died"

"Chigiri…he's different, it's nerve-wracking telling everyone that what they thought was a lie" you say, your feet tapping the floor nervously. Suddenly Nagi's hands wrapped around your waist, pulling you closer to the window in where the stars were starting to appear

"It'll be fine, don't worry too much about it" he pets your head "By the way, that's Choki, he helps me wake up"

"Don't tell me you purposely touch it to wake up" you chuckle

"I won't tell you then" you both stay like this for a few minutes, you watching the view while Nagi lazily lays his head on your shoulder "...are you sure about leaving Blue Lock?"

"Yeah, i already thought about it, it's the best for me and everyone"

"Then I'll allow it" he presses his head closer in your neck

"I don't need your permission" you chuckle "I'm gonna go to arrange the couch"

"The couch? Why?"

"Where else am I going to sleep?"

"You're not sleeping in the couch" you feel him frown, pulling you down into the bed with him as he puts himself on top of you, laying his head on your chest "you're comfy"

"Thanks" you chuckle, playing with his hair "we should order some food, it's pretty late already"

"What a paiin" he whines, getting his phone anyway.

You woke up pretty late, around 10 am, with a pair of arms tightly holding in place and warmth feeling warmth breath in the back of your neck. After eating dinner yesterday Nagi decided to cuddle with you while he plays on one of his consoles, you sitting in between his legs as his hands were right in front of both of you; and once you both got tired, he simply laid you down on your side and proceeded to fall asleep.

"Oi, giant baby" you poke his side, making him groan "you're phone just rang"

"What a pain. Who is it?"

"Isagi, we have to meet them, remember?"

"...Right, ugh, don't wanna" he says, answering his messages before stretching out

You get up from the bed and go to the bathroom to get ready, it was late already, so you went to get ready first assuming Nagi will take forever to do something. Once you leave the bathroom Nagi was already sitting, waiting to use it

"You look pretty" he says to you "it's weird seeing you with a skirt, thought"

"This is the first time you see me with outside clothes, of course it's gonna be weird"

"Well yeah, but i like it either way" he kisses your head while going to the bathroom and getting ready. Once done, him wearing an oversized white hoodie and sweatpants, you both go out "hey, let's go that arcade"

"But we have to meet the guys.."

"They can wait, let's go" he takes your hand, dragging you towards the arcade

You decided to give in, after all it was a vacation, you could enjoy things freely for now. At some point you started playing different games, you were stuck in a claw machine while he was playing Street Fighter since he wanted his online record to go up again. After you got another figurine from one of the machines, you heard a big commotion coming from where Nagi was, noticing a bunch of Blue Lock members.

You started to feel nervous, but at this point there was nothing you could do, so you started walking towards them.

"Hey Sei, i got the figurines" you say, instantly getting intimidated by the fact all eyes went to you, looking at you up and down. Chigiri eyes looked at you amused, crossing his arms as he winks at you

"Oya? Did we interrupt a date, Nagi-chin?" Karasu asks with a cheeky grin. Reo was looking at you confused, almost as if he could recognize you

"How did you score such a hottie? You, out of all people" Otoya adds "hi there cutie"

"But didn't you know we had a reunion? Why did you plan it for today?" Asks Yukimiya

"Maybe she's a classmate?" Asks Bachira

"Nah, I've never seen her at our school" adds Reo

"Eh?" Confused faces appear

"Ok, why don't we let her introduce herself so we can know?" Chigiri says, giving you an encouraging look

"Well first…" you go to sit next to Nagi, your heart beating fast "hi again guys"

"I'm Yn…i was your teammate" you say, even more confusion arises

"Yn…Yn-kun? Is that you?" Isagi asks, making you nod "you were a girl all this time?"

"Yep"

"There's no way…how were you able to play in the match against the U-20 while being a girl?" Otoya asks, Chigiri raising his eyebrow annoyed at the comment

"Well, she's just amazing, isn't she?" Chigiri comes closer to ruffle your hair, you trying to stop him

"So you knew, Chigiri? And you Nagi?"

"Yeah" simply shrugs Nagi, as he keeps playing

"Nagi untied my binder and almost saw my chest, then i told Chigiri cause i felt bad about lying to him" you explain, some heads nodding "Ego ask me to join to help Team Z bloom and give him information, i was only supposed to be until the first round, but i proved to be too good to just…leave the project…sorry for lying to y'all"

"It's alright, it doesn't change much to me, especially if Ego knew" Yukimiya says, smiling to you as he extends his hand "it's nice finally meeting you Yn-chan, you're very pretty"

"Thanks" you shake his hand, smiling at him

"Well, that explains why Nagi suddenly started to act like this with you, nice meeting you Yn-chan, take good care of that idiot for me" Reo says nudging your shoulder with a grin, making you roll your eyes

"It doesn't change much for me either! I like you because of you, not your gender!" Bachira passes his arm through your shoulder, hugging you tightly

"Me too, plus you're a good player" Isagi adds, smiling at you like everyone else "but…why are you telling us now? You could have continued like it was, couldn't you?"

"Well, yeah…but I already reached a conclusion. I'm leaving Blue Lock" you confessed, some eyes widen

"What!? Why? You're soo good to just leave!" Retorts Isagi

"Well, I can't tell you exactly what's coming for the project, but it's supposed to help you out for your futures in a more direct way, and I can't have that. I can't be on a professional team because I'm a girl, and I can't play professionally on a woman's team because I'm too used to playing with dudes, so I'm gonna leave the project"

"Well, it makes sense, now that we won against the U-20 there's probably gonna be a lot more professional teams looking at us, you won't be able to hide this type of things to them" adds Karasu, making you nod

"Anyways! Let's enjoy this free day even more then! Since we won't have Yn-chan with us after this" Bachira stands up, grabbing your hand while taking you with him to the claw machines you previously were in

You end up with a lot of prices given to you after some of the guys won in them; then you move to the darts, where Nagi was forced to "accept his punishment" by being in the front of the darts board while you were losing in a battle with Yukimiya; then you move to pool, where Aryu showed his stylish moves; and then to ping pong, where you took turns to play into teams.

"How about karaoke?" Reo asks, his arms on your shoulders as you guys walk

"Let's go"

"We can hear you sing, darling, that'll be interesting" Reo adds, petting your hair

"Shut it, elite, who says I'm singing" you hit his stomach, making him laugh. In that moment you all noticed some girls coming out of a room angry, Aiku being the reason. You didn't know if you wanted to tell him who you were or not, so you stayed quiet while they exchange some words

"Oh? Who's this girl? Of course you would have a girl already, Mikage-kun, but bringing her with you while hanging out with the boys?" Aiku tells him, you exchange a look with Reo, shaking your head slightly

"She's a friend of mine, she happened to be here today too, so she joined us" he says skillfully, understanding your signs as he takes his arm off

"I see…well then, may I know your name, pretty girl?" Aiku says to you, making you scrunch your face. It wasn't that he was ugly, he sure wasn't, but it still made you awkward

"Yn, nice to meet you" you say shortly

"Pretty name for a pretty lady, want to join me?" Aiku winks at you at the same time you feel a pair of hands sneaking on your waist, pulling you back until your back touched a chest and a chin rest on your head

"We fighting?" Nagi says, beside you were also Yukimiya, Karasu, Otoya and Aryu, all saying some type of comments while the door of the U-20 team opens and reveals the whole team there.

"You okay, pretty?" Nagi whispers at you

"Yeah, just didn't know how to react" you say, taking his hand

They decided to bet dinner with a bowling match, in which you find Barou playing by himself, who ends up joining the match since you weren't playing; after all you decided to not tell them about it. You were waiting for Chigiri to play when Barou sits next to you, looking at you inquisitive

"Oi, you are Yn-kun, aren't you?" He asks you

"Eh?"

"Don't play dumb, you are at Blue Lock with us, only a fool wouldn't be able to tell, even though you have make up on today" he says

"Yeah, that's me" you say, high fiving Chigiri when he does a strike

"So, do you swing to the other side or…"

"I'm a girl, but I'm also leaving Blue Lock now" he nods at the information

"You were good, you scrub, well played" he adds, ending the conversation right there

Nagi does a strike after falling down, which ends up with all of you calling the game off since it was getting late. All of the guys say their goodbyes to you, Bachira and Chigiri hugging the longest, leaving you with only Nagi and Reo left

"So, I'm assuming you're staying the night with Nagi again? It's too late for you to leave to Hyogo now" Reo asks

"Yeah, I don't know if leave in two or three days"

"You can stay with me as long as you want, just saying" Nagi adds, petting your hair

"Yeah, you should stay until our vacation is over, since we won't see you in Blue Lock after this we can enjoy time together and you get to enjoy Tokyo more!" Reo says excitedly

"I still haven't got paid by Ego, so i don't have much money" you answer, you were going to get paid for your work after the two weeks were over

"Don't worry about it, I'll cover you" Reo winks at you "besides, if you need money for anything let me know and I'll give it to you"

"What are you? A sugar daddy or something? Do rich people have the need to spend money?" You raise an eyebrow

"Nah, i just don't mind spoiling my treasure's girl, i can afford it after all" he adds

"I mean…if you insist, I'm not denying that offer" you shrugged, making him laugh

"Alright, let's hang out again, bye!" Reo says when you arrived to Nagi's place, his attendant waiting for him in a limousine in front of his place

"Bye"

"See ya!" Both you and Nagi say, entering his place

You took all your makeup off and put on comfortable clothes, which means you were wearing one of Nagi's hoodies since they basically reach your knee. You got out of the bathroom only to find Nagi laying down on his stomach while playing a game, so you go and lay on top of him to watch him

"...you really can stay here as long as you want, by the way" he interrupts the comfortable silence you were in

"I know, but i do also need to go back to Hyogo soon, i have to go back to classes" you say, your head laying on his back

"Classes are such a pain" he whines "can't you just transfer here? I'll ask Reo to help you out"

"Isn't your school one of the best in the country? I doubt that nepotism can just help me enter"

"You'd be surprised" he says

"Even if i transfer I'll have to wait until next year, besides, we don't know where you'll be next year, maybe Blue Lock gets you an offer in an international club and you'll have to transfer there"

"True, that'd be cool" he pauses, moving both of you with ease until you are laying down in the bed with his head on your chest "then I'll tell them to include you too"

"Eh? Why?" You ask

"I like having you around, i like you" he simply states, as if it was the most normal thing to say, as if it was such a simple thing, as if it didn't make your heart flutter "and you like being around me too, so it's a win win"

"Who says I like being around you that much?" You ask

"Your heart beats and your blushed face speak for themselves" he looks at you, slight smirking on

"Shut up" you hit his head

You spent the rest of these two weeks like this, sometimes you hung out with Reo in his penthouse, sometimes you went to the arcade with Nagi, you even got to meet Chigiri's family and stayed with them for a few days after explaining the whole situation. Now two weeks later, you arrived at the place where they were picking the guys up with Nagi and Reo, since apparently a huge crowd of paparazzi were waiting at the entrance of the project.

"This kinda bring back memories" you say

"It does, we didn't even knew each other back then, who knew we would be friends now" Reo says, ruffling your hair "by the way, i already told Baya-san to pick you up later so she can take you to your house"

"You shouldn't have, it's like 5 hours driving" you say

"She insisted too"

"I don't bel-"

"Ynnnn-chaaan!" A scream interrupts you, soon a pair of arms wrap around you and shake you around "you came to say goodbye to us!"

"I did, I can't just let you forget about me, Bachira"

"I will never!" He hugs you tighter

"You're going to kill her if you keep squishing her" Chigiri takes you out of the embrace, pulling you into a side hug himself "you know, I'm sure you can still come with us, just change into a uniform and hope on"

"I can't, i already know what's waiting for you and it's not gonna be beneficial for anyone" you say, knowing well what the phase two of the project was

"But you want to" Chigiri grabs your shoulder, he was able to tell how wet your eyes were, how your hands were shaking slightly, he knew that you still wanted to be with them

"I do…we can't have it all, can we?" You say, making him hug you harder "don't forget about me when you become a famous pro player, you better maintain me once you have money"

"You already have people ready to maintain you, but if it doesn't work out with him or his best friend, I'll think about it" he jokes back, kissing your temple affectionately "see you after I'll become the best in the world, little one"

"See ya" you chuckle, saying some quick goodbyes to some of the ones that enter the bus when a pair of arms wrap around your waist, a pair of arms that were already used to do this

"I'll see you after this, okay?" Nagi says, pulling you closer

"Of course, I'll make sure to watch you, so keep doing your best"

"Watch me? How?"

"You'll find out soon, just do your best and play amazingly like you always do" you say turning around, fluffing his hair

"I will. See you" he bends down, giving you a quick kiss in the lips

"See you"

You watch him enter the bus as it closes the door right behind him, being the last member to enter. Some of them scream their goodbyes to you while the bus leaves, so you wave back at them until you are sure they can't see you clearly, finally letting the tears roll down your face. You wanted to go with them, you wanted to keep playing with them, you wanted to be on the project, but since Blue Lock was turning into a reality TV for scouting, not only you wouldn't be able to keep up the secret but you also won't be able to join any team, it would do nothing more than waste your time. At least that's what you told yourself to feel better about this.

"Hello" Anri appears beside you, looking at you carefully "Ego-san told me to give you this"

She gives you a package, inside was the same uniform the guys were given before leaving, the same custom size you had for the first phase

"He thought you'd miss them, and since you're technically still part of Blue Lock until a few more minutes, we managed to get you one too. It won't make you less sad, but it's the best we can do to help you"

"Thanks" you hug it, smiling through the tears to Anri, who gives you a hug before walking away.

You'll miss them, of course you'll miss those idiots, but you'll see them again once they're on the top, you know you will.

-The end-

Taglist: @suyaaachin - @anurst - @celestair - @futuristicxie - @miyanaranagikenmal-intp - @kaldurahms-lover

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teigo-the-explorer · 1 year

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Infected

MAIN MASTER LIST | SERIES MASTER LIST

Previous | Next

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Word Count: 12.7k

Disclosure: I do not own the plot or the characters from The Last of Us. This is a “what if” fic based on the HBO television series and the game The Last of Us.

Warnings: Character deaths, canon typical violence, zombies, detailed descriptions of gore, detailed descriptions of violence, crude language, mental issues, unhinged characters, usage of firearms and weapons, (let me know if I missed any!)

Authors note: finished this at 3.00 am in the morning, but I don’t care! hope y’all enjoy this chapter!

꧁_____________꧂

Piper should have been tired, yet there she sat. Her back was stiff, tall, and defiant. Hell, even Joel could admit to himself he was exhausted and sore from the night before. Not to mention, the throbbing pain in his hand. Joel felt as if he had a million splinters stuck deep within his skin. Each time he moved his hand, the pain would spark a chain reaction. At least the swelling had gone down. That was a good sign. A sign he would have taken notice of if he wasn’t so busy staring down the teenager in front of him.

There was no indication in her stance and glare that she was at all affected by the events of the night before. The only sign of otherwise was the dark circles under her eyes. A biological betrayal. Joel hadn’t noticed it before, but the more he observed Piper the more he began to think that those dark circles may be a permanent feature on her face. Yes, he remembered clearly now. She had those same dark circles when they first met. However, this time, they were a few shades deeper than before. Missing a whole night’s rest would do that to you. Joel was all too familiar with the dark circles that grew under his own brown eyes. It was hard to get a good night's rest when it felt like everything was out to get you. It didn’t help that it was actually the case. One wrong move. One extra second of sleep could mean death.

“If you stare at her any longer you may implode, Joel,” Tess muttered. Her voice filled to the brim with sarcasm.

He didn’t respond to her. Only kept his eyes on the girl in front of them.

Tess sighed and followed his gaze. From her perspective, she saw the falter in Piper’s posture. Her posture was slumped over ever so slightly, though, from Joel’s view, it would be mistaken as perfect. The young girl's body looked about ready to collapse to the floor in a deep sleep, however, Tess knew that in cases like these, the mind won over the body.

It reminded her of her son when he was a toddler. The argument of ‘I’m not tired’ flashed in her mind. Her kid didn’t know any better. He wanted to stay up and not miss a single thing, but as a knowing mother, she knew that rest would allow him to experience the world untainted from the grumpiness that came when one was tired.

So Tess wasn’t surprised when she told Piper the exact same thing she’d tell her son.

“You know, life’s just a bit more pleasant when you get some sleep. Trust me,” Tess said softly. She knew it was best not to push this subject. “Why not get some shut-eye before your sister wakes up? We’ll stand guard.”

“Thanks for the offer, but I’d rather not place my life or my sister’s life into the hands of someone who got us caught by FEDRA last night.” Piper kept her gaze on Joel as she replied. Her genuine tone had the same snarkiness that was present in her sister’s voice.

Tess chuckled at the encounter. “Suit yourself.” She sat back in her chair and looked between Joel and Piper once more. The two were more similar than she’d like to admit. They had that same tired yet proud look in their eyes. Their bodies were on guard in front of those they protected. The unwavering stubbornness that Tess had grown all too comfortable with was apparent in both Joel’s and Piper’s demeanour.

Ellie stirred awake from behind her sister, causing Joel to tighten his grip on the gun. Instinctively, Piper moved her body so that it defended more of her sister. Tess sighed. Joel wasn’t making this easier and neither was Piper who sat even more on edge, any sign of weakness in her posture was long gone.

“Morning,” Tess called out. She saw how Ellie wiped the sleep from her eyes only for them to land on Joel’s gun. Great now, both girls were on edge. Way to go Joel.

“Do I look like I'm infected?” Ellie mumbled bringing up the elephant in the room.

Joel grunted, leaving Tess to interpret for the girl. “Show us your arm.”

“Yeah, it's not getting any worse, is it?” Ellie spat as he pulled up her sleeve to display the bite mark on her arm. She wasn’t liking the idea of waking up to the threat of a bullet in her body.

Tess nodded allowing Ellie to return her sleeve to normal.

It was quiet in the building and Ellie didn’t like the quiet. Her eyes darted across the room and widened in remembrance. They were out of the QZ. In the open city.

“If we're out in the open city, why aren't we getting swarmed?” Ellie asked. It was her dying question. After all the rumours she had heard floating around the QZ, you couldn’t blame the girl for being curious.

“Don't worry about that,” Tess replied. It only served as fuel to the flame. Ellie opened her mouth to ask another question when Piper cut her off.

“Well, I'm gonna,” Piper growled. It was then Ellie noticed the tension in the air. A shiver ran up her spine as she saw the glare her sister was sending Joel. Joel’s glare was just as harsh. Man was Ellie glad to not be on the receiving end of either of them.

Tess cocked her brow. It was her turn to be curious. “What was Marlene doing with an infected kid?”

“She’s not infected,” Piper spat. Her voice was seething with anger and only served as an instigator in the battle between Joel and Piper.

“She found me after I was bitten,” Ellie blurted, hoping to diffuse the tension.

Tess moved her attention to Ellie. “And she didn't shoot you.” For a moment Tess could swear there was a new line on Piper’s forehead.

“Clearly not. She locked me up and had her guys test me every day to see if I was getting sick,” Ellie explained.

Now this interested Tess. “Test you how?”

Ellie sighed and rolled her eyes. “I have to pee…”

“Test you... how?” Tess repeated.

“They'd make us count to 10 and hold out our hand and then keep it steady. But, you know, I think what really impressed them was the fact that we didn't turn into fucking monsters. There. Happy?” Piper spat.

There was a momentary pause in the conversation. Joel’s eyes narrowed and Tess’ brow furrowed. Did their ears hear right?

“Wait, both of you?” Tess finally enchanted her confusion.

Without another word, Piper yanked back her jacket, just as Ellie had done before, and presented her arm for the adults to see.

The wound looked different from Ellie’s, at least to Tess it did. No prominent veins were spiralling out from the scabbed-over wound. In all honesty, it just looked like a normal bite mark. The only thing that dismayed Tess was the depth of the wound. It was deep. Something that would only happen if there was a determined force behind it. Something she’d only seen from Infected.

“Now can I please?” Ellie grumbled. She was squeezing her legs tight to her body.

Tess took one more look at Piper’s arm before dismissing Ellie to use the makeshift bathroom. “Fine. Back there. You can find a spot. And here. Tear out a few pages.” She chucked a magazine she had found to Ellie who caught it with ease.

“There's not gonna be anything bad in here?” Ellie asked as she tiptoed over to the room Tess had pointed to earlier.

“Just you,” Piper smirked back at her sister.

“Oh, funny,” Ellie responded.

Tess smiled. That simple action reminded her that they were just kids. Kids who were doing the best they could with the world handed to them. Kids who were bit and infected, but still kids. A grumbling beside her shook Tess out of her nostalgic trance.

“Broken. Maybe a hairline. It'll heal fast,” Joel mumbled just loud enough for Tess to hear. He was cradling his hand. Nasty bruises had formed along his knuckles. The skin was an angry red as Joel’s free hand brushed over the injury.

“She made it through the fuckin' night, Joel. Apparently so did Piper.” Tess said in disbelief. These girls were the fucking future. They were something she hadn’t had in a long time. Hope. They were hope.

“It doesn't matter,” Joel scoffed. “It's gonna happen sooner or later. All right? We're still close to the wall. We sneak them back into the QZ. We find a different way to get the battery.”

“This is our best shot. We take them back to the QZ, someone's gonna notice their arms, they're gonna scan them...then they'll kill them. They kill those girls.” Tess couldn’t help the desperation that slipped into her voice.

“Well, better them than us. You need to stop talkin' about these kids like they’ve got some kinda life in front of them.” Joel said.

Tess ignored him. Joel was never one to believe. It would break his stubborn ass if he ever did believe in anything. Ellie emerged from the back room and sat down next to her sister. She nudged Piper’s shoulder and nodded toward the backpack.

“You two hungry? You can share some of ours.” Tess offered. Joel grimaced as Tess raised the food out to the girls. Fuck, Joel thought Tess. She was going to hope no matter what he said.

“Thanks,” Piper replied, her voice empty of gratitude. “Marlene sent us with our own.” Just then she handed a sandwich to Ellie and retrieved one for herself. The two girls didn’t waste time digging in.

Tess smelt an old scent that hit her nose. Her stomach began to grumble at the thought. “Is that chicken?”

“Yeah,” Ellie replied. Her mouth was full of food. “Marlene said they get it from smugglers.” She paused. “...Guess not you guys.”

Tess was surprised when she heard Joel’s voice speak up. “Hey. Hey! Why...why are you so important to Marlene? And don't lie to me or we'll take you back.”

“You take us back, you don't get your battery.” Piper plainly said.

“You heard that?” Joel asked in disbelief.

Tess butt into the conversation before it could sour again. “Then you must've heard that he wants to shoot you too.” She stood up from her seat despite Joel’s protest and crouched down in front of the girls. “I'm gonna talk to you two like you are adults. Okay?”

Ellie immediately nodded in understanding. Piper just glared at Tess, who glared back until the girl nodded as well. Tess needed them to understand.

“Joel and I aren't good people. We're doin' this for us because, apparently, you're worth something. But we don't know what you're worth if we don't know what we have. So answer my question.”

In a quiet voice, Ellie muttered, “She told me not to tell anybody, and now I'm telling the first people that I…” Ellie was cut off by Piper.

“There's a Firefly base camp somewhere out west…” Piper explained.

“…with doctors. They're working on a cure,” Ellie finished.

“Mm-hm. I've heard this before,” Joel grumbled.

“And whatever happened to me...to us...is the key to finding the vaccine,” Ellie replied. Her voice was unsteady but full of belief.

Joel was taken aback. Did this girl really believe it? “That's what this is? We've heard this a million times. Vaccines, miracle cures. None of it works. Ever.”

“Fuck you, man. I didn't ask for this.” Ellie cried. She was hurt, but so was Joel.

“You and me both. This isn't gonna end well, Tess. We need to go back.” Joel instructed.

Tess turned her efforts back to Joel. “Let's just finish it. It doesn't matter if she is or she isn't what the Fireflies say. If they believe that she is then...we get what we want.”

Joel narrowed his eyes at Ellie. “If she so much as twitches–” Joel warned.

Suddenly there is a loud screech followed by hollow clicking noises.

Immediately Piper, Tess, and Joel all turn to Ellie. “Don't,” they say in unison. The power of their voices makes even Ellie pause for a moment.

“Okay. Okay? Okay.” Ellie receded back behind her sister, but not before catching sight of Joel’s gun.

“Can I have a gun?” Ellie asked.

Once again three voices fill the air. “Absolutely not–No–Ellie, don't even think about it.”

“Okay, Jesus! Fine. I'll have to throw a fuckin' sandwich at them.” Ellie groaned. She didn't like the idea of having three versions of her sister. One Piper was enough.

“Let’s go,” Tess told the two girls.

Without another word, the two of them pack up their bags and in one motion, swing them over their shoulders. Joel grunted as he lifted the makeshift barricade from the door. The shelf was heavy and put an unnecessarily large amount of weight on his injured hand. It didn’t take long for the barricade to be moved and the door to open.

Light from the sun flooded into the room and for a moment it looked as if Joel had disappeared into the light.

“It's clear.” Joel’s gruff voice started before he fully submerged himself in the daylight.

While some light found its way through the cracks back in the building, it could not prepare Piper’s eyes for the vast amount of light outside. Her eyes closed shut before opening once again. Her pupils shrunk as they adjusted to the early morning light.

“Whoa,” Ellie gasped in disbelief.

“Yeah, looks different in the daylight, huh?” Tess said.

Tess was right. Things did look different illuminated by the sun. Piper could clearly see the decaying buildings that were overgrown by vines and weeds. The greens swirled around the greys and browns on the buildings. She could even see some trees that poked their way through the giant holes in the roofs. Underneath her feet was a road cracked and crumbled. There was barely a hint of the yellow and white paint that once outlined the streets. Cars were rusted over and doors were forever glued shut. On top of it all was a layer of dew. The rain storm from last night left its mark as the plants and wildlife try to soak in as much water as they can before the sun's heat dries it up.

Joel let the two girls take in the view. It’s not every day you get to see the ghost that humanity left behind. “We should get movin'.”

The group trudged along the roads. Broken glass from the buildings glittered as the sun reflected off of it in just the right spot. They twinkled almost like stars in the night sky. As they journeyed deeper into the city, more and more buildings made friends with the ground, no longer having the strength to stand as tall as they were designed. In the road ahead, sat a crater. The indented in as the grey shade of the road turned a deep black.

“It's like a fucked-up moon!” Ellie cried out in awe.

“Ellie, be careful,” Piper warned as she saw her sister approach the crater. Her legs pushed up onto the side of the crater to look down into the vast hole.

“Is this where they bombed?” Ellie asked. She picked up a stray rock and dropped it into the crater. Her brown eyes followed as it scraped across the ground finally resting in the center of the circle.

“Yeah. They hit most of the big cities like this,” Tess explained. “They had to slow the spread somehow. Worked here, but it...didn't in most places.” She walked over to Ellie to help nudge her along. Then she stopped and so had Joel. Piper and Ellie shared a puzzled look.

“So, the State House is across there. It's about a 10-minute walk if you could go straight.” Tess noted.

“So?” Piper asked.

“Long way or short way?” Joel replied. His question was directed towards Tess.

“I mean, it's the long way or the "we're fuckin' dead" way,” Tess stated.

“Well, I vote the long way just based on that limited information,” Ellie muttered.

Tess and Joel ignored Ellie’s comment and continued to talk amongst themselves. Piper, just for a moment, noticed the similarity to a book she had read. Something about how parents will converse amongst themselves as if the kids aren’t even there. But to think that, Joel and Tess would have to be parents and Piper and Ellie the kids and together they’d make a family. Once again, an idea that Piper wholeheartedly disagreed with.

“We have to check it from the hotel first,” Joel directed Tess.

“Okay,” Tess replied, she looked back at Ellie and Piper. For what reason Piper wasn’t sure.

Soon after, Joel readjusted his hold on his gun before taking a step forward. Then another and another. There was the crunch of gravel under Piper’s shoes and she found herself and the group walking once more.

꧁_____________꧂

Her feet were sore and the soles of her shoes were worn. The sun beat down on her back and a smooth layer of sweat had formed on her back. It was making her shirt uncomfortably stick to her skin. Her socks rubbed against the back of her heels scraping against the sensitive skin. She imagined it was turning a shade of red from all the friction. Ellie was soon to change the way her weight balanced on her feet. Toe to heel instead of heel to toe. This seemed to ease the friction, however, it produced a dull pain in her feet. One that seemed only to be relieved with a good complaint or two. “Why aren’t we already fucking there?” Ellie groaned. Already she felt a relief just sharing.

“You'll know it when we're close,” Tess replied.

“I didn't know last time,” Ellie muttered.

“How did you get bit?” Tess asked in an attempt to distract the young girl.

“Ellie–” Piper whispered, but Ellie interrupted her.

“You know the old mall in the QZ?” Ellie asked. She didn’t care if her sister was as cautious as a mouse around cats. Ellie liked Tess and her instincts told her that Tess could be trusted. Almost.

“The one that's sealed off and boarded up, and no one's supposed to go in... ever? That one?” Tess clarified. She looked back at the two girls unsure that they would have been stupid enough to go in there.

Piper lowered her gaze to the ground. She stuck a foot out to kick around a small pebble on the highway. She was adamant about not looking at Tess, Joel, or Ellie for that matter. Her shoulders slumped over and Joel took notice of how quiet it had gotten.

“Whatever. I snuck in. Wanted to see what it was like. Didn't think there was gonna be anything in there, and then one just came at me outta nowhere. Thought I got away, but…” Ellie’s voice grew quiet. Maybe she didn’t trust Tess enough with this information. The blood. The pain. The screams were all too fresh. Ellie knew that if she closed her eyes she would see Piper. She would see her sister tear into her skin. She would replay the scene. Ellie felt sick thinking about how the Piper she had grown up with disappeared when she was bitten. Piper was desperate and afraid. But what disturbed Ellie more was the thought that grew in the back of her head. Something in her knew what would have happened to Piper if Ellie had turned.

Tess’s voice broke Ellie out of her thoughts. “So it was just you in there, alone?”

“Yeah–I mean Piper was with me, but yeah. Just us two,” Ellie mumbled.

Tess halted. She turned to Ellie and Piper. There was a curious look on her face. “How old are you?” Tess asked the two girls.

“Fourteen.”

“Seventeen.” Piper and Ellie said at the same time.

In Tess’s eyes there flashed a hidden respect for the girls. “Wow. Well, I mean, you got some balls on you, sister.”

“Thanks,” Ellie muttered to the two of them. She didn’t know about Piper, but Ellie grew to like Tess. The woman wasn’t a complete asshole like Joel was. In fact, she was almost like a mother. Almost.

Piper had told Ellie what she remembered of their mother. Blue eyes. Light-coloured hair. Piper wasn’t sure if it was blonde or light brown, but Ellie was confident it was light brown. After all, Ellie and her sister’s hair was brown. When Ellie was young, she liked to imagine what her mom would look like based on the vague description Piper had. For some reason, the image that came to mind was Piper. An older version of the course, but it was still Piper. Piper had always been there for Ellie. She stepped up when no one else would. But now as Ellie was thinking about it, the image of her mom changed into one that looked like Tess.

At first, Ellie disliked the idea. There were no similarities…except that Tess had light brown hair and blue eyes. Just like Piper had told her. Tess was kind in her own way. She would walk next to Ellie and talk to her. Hell, Tess even stood up to Joel for the girls and offered her some of her food.

Well, shit.

Ellie shook her head to toss the thoughts out. She can’t get attached. She’s just cargo. Tess will leave just like everyone else. But it couldn’t stop Ellie from hoping.

“Nobody's gonna be comin' after you, right? Like, Mom, Dad ...boyfriend?” Tess wondered.

The momentary lap in Piper’s character dissipated. She snickered under her breath as if having anyone out there who would care enough about the two girls was just as possible as pigs flying. “Dead, non-existent, and no. No one gives a shit about anyone other than themselves,” Piper scoffed.

She didn’t notice the flash of sadness in Tess’s eyes as she heard the teen’s response. “Yet you care about your sister,” Tess noted.

Piper’s jaw clenched as she raised her gaze to glare right at Tess. “That’s different,” Piper hissed.

“Right,” Tess replied. She knew when to not bite back.

Ellie, sensing the tension in her sister’s attitude, chose to change the subject. “Everyone said the open city was crazy. Like, swarms of Infected running around everywhere.”

Again Piper scoffed and rolled her eyes. She kicked the pebble she was playing with so hard it cracked a rusted car’s window. “It’s fucking propaganda that’s what it is. Want us to stay inside the QZ. Keep us to be their soldiers and dogs.”

Suddenly Joel spoke up from behind the group. “No…not exactly like that.” He eyed Piper carefully just like Tess did moments before though with a tinge of appreciation. Piper was right after all.

“You know, people like to tell stories,” Tess explained.

“So, there aren't Super-Infected that explode fungus spores on you?” Ellie wondered. She twirled around on her heel. Her hands made what seemed to be an explosion, as she created sound effects. Her eyes went wide as her hands flew apart.

“Shit, I hope not,” Tess laughed.

“Or ones with split-open heads that see in the dark like bats?” Ellie continued acting out what she thought each Infected would look like.

The laughter faded from Tess’s voice. “Uhh…”

Suddenly there was an inhuman screech. It echoed off the decaying buildings. The noise got louder and louder as the sound travelled. The group froze. Ellie’s eyes widened.

Piper clenched her eyes shut and clenched her fists. Her nails dug into the palms of her hands as she slowed her breathing. Her nails pierced her skin and the warm trickling of blood forced Piper to open her eyes once more. She quickly looked around the group. No one was paying attention to her. Piper quickly brushed her hands on her jacket, wiping the blood away.

“What was that?” Ellie asked. There was a tinge of curiosity in her voice.

“Let's keep movin',” Joel instructed. He looked to Tess who nodded in agreement. As the group continued on, Joel couldn’t help how his sight moved down to Piper’s hands. What really drew his attention was the tiny punctures in her skin that were bleeding. Tearing his eyes away from Piper’s hands, Joel fought to keep the thoughts of concern that popped up into his mind.

This kid was cargo. Nothing more. Nothing less.

꧁_____________꧂

When Joel and Tess discussed going to the hotel, Ellie and Piper didn’t think much. However, the two teens couldn’t help the gasp that left their mouths as they took in the building in front of them. Tess chuckled to herself upon seeing the girl’s reactions. While Piper’s reaction was a bit more subtle than Ellie’s, Tess knew that the young girl was still excited.

The hotel was overgrown with nature. Vines snaked up the walls. Surprisingly, most of the glass windows were still intact. The layers of dust that accumulated after twenty years reflected the midday sunlight creating an unearthly glow. It was almost like the hotel had a halo of light surrounding it. Inside was even better. The main floor had flooded and was transformed into what Piper imagined a jungle would look like. Trees shot out from the murky water and their green leaves reached towards the sunlight that trickled through the gaping holes and cracks in the hotel’s ceiling and walls. Piper could hear the sound of trickling water and the croaking of…frogs?

“You've gotta be kidding me! Ya ever stay in a place like this?” Ellie exclaimed. She spun around in a circle as she gazed up at the ceiling and the treetops.

“Uh, no, a little out of our league,” Tess replied.

“How do you even know what this is?” Joel asked.

“Have you heard of books?” Ellie said with as much sass as her small figure could produce. “Wait, are we going in there?” She wondered. Her voice was no longer filled with sass and instead was replaced with fear.

“Yeah, we gotta get to the stairwell on the other side,” Tess explained.

“Well, I…” Ellie eyed the murky water. There was no bottom in sight and it looked deep. There was no way to tell what could be lurking in there. “...I don't know how to swim.” She looked to Piper and Tess for reassurance.

“Seriously?” Joel shot back. His tone was full of disbelief.

“Do you think we have pools in the QZ?” Ellie retorted.

Joel rolled his eyes. “No, smart ass. I mean…” He jumped from the steps and into the water.

Ellie’s eyes widened and her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. “I don't know how I was supposed to know that.” She said defensively.

Piper came up beside her sister and placed a hand on Ellie’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Ellie. Do you have your extra pair of socks?”

Ellie grinned and rolled her eyes. There was the Ellie that Piper knew. “Yes, Mom…” Ellie said.

“Good,” Piper nodded before stepping into the water. It rose just below her hips. There was one thing for sure, Piper did not like being wet. She hated how the water sloshed in her boots. She especially didn’t like the feeling of her socks being drenched. To make matters worse. Her pants were sticking to her legs making it even harder to move through the water. What Piper didn’t like most was that she was slow. The water dampened her speed and reflexes. Something that made her vulnerable.

“This is so gross!” Ellie exclaimed. She, unlike her sister, was enjoying the experience. Ellie dropped her hands into the water and splashed around a bit. She even flicked some water at Piper who sent a tidal wave in Ellie’s direction. Ellie was now positively drenched but loved every bit of it. It reminded her of playing with those water guns Riley had found.

There was a box-like shape in the corner of the room. Next to it was a brass suitcase holder. Ellie’s eyes widened with excitement. “Oh, check it out!” She trudged over to the desk, Piper in tow after her. “Ding, ding.” Ellie rang the bell on the desk.

Piper appeared behind the desk. Her arms pushed up to slightly raise her body out of the water. Something she regretted as the cold air hit her soaking-wet clothes. “Good evening, madam. How may I help you?” Piper said in her best impression of what she thought a hotel worker would sound like.

“Yes, sir. I would like your finest suite, please.” Ellie replied. Her voice was just as ridiculous as Piper’s had been.

Piper raised her brows and broke character. “I’m a sir?”

Ellie sighed, breaking character as well. “Well, fuck, you sounded like a man just there. Your voice was deep an’ all.”

Piper waved her sister off. “Okay. Fine.” Then Piper switched back into her “man” voice. “Yes, ma'am. Would you like me to take your luggage?” The words were over-enunciated and Piper’s mouth exaggerated the movements of her mouth. A hint of a smile appeared on her face. She was having fun.

“Of course, sire,” Ellie replied.

“Yes, ma'am. Right away, ma'am…” Piper motioned to the suitcase carrier. “Here get on the thingy,” she instructed Ellie.

Ellie eagerly hopped on and Piper began to push the cart. Ellie squealed with delight even though the cart was moving slower than a snail. A giggle escaped Piper’s mouth just loud enough for the entire group to hear.

Tess smiled fondly at the scene.

“You're a weird kid,” Joel muttered. There was no malice in his voice. In fact, Piper was even sure she heard a hint of amusement.

“You're a weird kid.” Ellie spat back.

Piper smirked at Ellie’s response. Suddenly a dark figure splashed in the water below Piper. It touched her leg and she yelped. “Oh fuck!” She quickly jumped back from whatever it was. Her body was stiff and defensive as she tripped and fell into the water.

Joel moved to the girls without thinking. His gun was ready to fire and protect them. He didn’t notice how his breath grew tight realizing he couldn’t see Piper. At that moment, Piper’s head shot out of the water and she gasped for breath. Adrenaline was pumped into her system.

“Oh, my God,” Ellie said as she saw what scared Piper. It was a skeleton of what she assumed was a hotel worker. “Uh, sorry,” she mumbled to Joel.

He let out a small sigh of relief and lowered his gun. He kicked the skeleton away from the two girls. Then he found himself looking down at Piper with a look in his eyes that he couldn’t place. Joel extended a hand out to the teen.

“You okay?” He asked her.

Piper stared at Joel’s hand. Water droplets trickled down her face and dripped down her brow bone. She wiped her face and for a moment considered taking his hand. Maybe she could let someone care…never. Piper brushed the thought away just as she did with Joel’s hand. She didn’t need his or Tess’s help. Piper and Ellie were just fine on their own.

“Yep. Fucking fabulous,” she growled.

꧁_____________꧂

Piper had been silent the rest of the way through the swamp of the hotel and up the ten flights of stairs the group climbed. She didn’t even let out so much as a breath. Joel was pretty much the same. The two of them shared a strained aura. Their boots sloshed and water continued to drip onto the floor.

“Fuck... Holy shit.” Tess grabbed her lower back and sighed in relief. Her joints ached.

“Come on, it wasn't that bad,” Ellie teased. She and Tess had talked the entire way up. Ellie was positive their conversation kept Piper from losing it.

“You try climbing ten fuckin' floors with our knees. See how ya feel.” Tess’s gaze moved down the hallway and she groaned at the sight. A wall had caved in. Something that wasn’t there the last time she and Joel were at the hotel. “Well, when the fuck did that happen?”

Joel was already down the hall. He was trying to open the doors, but each one seemed stuck.

“Maybe that one,” Tess suggested. It was the last door in the hallway.

Joel tried the door and shook his head. “No.”

Tess sighed. “All right, well, I mean, maybe I could climb up there, work my way around, and open it from the inside?” She suggested. It would be a tight fit.

“Uh, no, well, I'm the smallest, so it'd be easier for me to get through,” Ellie replied.

“No,” Piper stated.

Tess nodded in agreement with Piper. “I’d listen to your sister. If you die then we get nothing. You stay.” She turned to Joel. “Can you give me a hand?”

Joel extended his hand and Tess took it. He lifted underneath her thigh and boosted her up. Tess was able to grasp some rubble and squeeze her way through the debris. “You good up there?” Joel called out.

“Yeah, uh, it's a bit of a mess, so I'm gonna need a few minutes,” explained Tess. Her voice was muffled.

Now that Tess was gone, the group grew silent. Ellie huffed in boredom before leaning against the wall. Piper stood looking at the crack where Tess had disappeared from. She clutched her arms close to her body and shivered. The mix of cold air and soaking wet clothes was a deadly combination. Joel peered down at Piper’s shivering body before he reached into his pack and pulled out his jacket. Without a word, he draped it over Piper’s shoulders. He didn’t give her a chance to refuse as he walked away and sat opposite Ellie.

Piper sighed and drew Joel’s jacket closer to her body. Her shivering calmed down. “I’m going to change into my spare clothes. Ellie?” Piper shot her sister a look.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll change my socks,” Ellie mumbled.

Piper nodded and turned around and walked to the end of the hall before opening the doorway to the staircase. Joel was not worrying about Piper as she walked away from his presence and into the dark stairwell.

Ellie, in the meantime, had peeled over her wet socks and switched them out for dry ones. She leaned against the wall and huffed in boredom.

Joel felt a weight in his pockets and remembered he still had Ellie’s switchblade in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw how Ellie’s expression changed instantly.

“Where did you get that?” She asked, extending her hand out. Joel tossed it to the girl.

“Pulled it out of the FEDRA guy’s back. Thought you might need it.”

“Thanks,” Ellie whispered. Then she flipped out the switchblade and began to play with it. The silver blade turned and twisted in her grasp.

“Nice knife. Where'd you learn to do that?” Joel asked.

“The circus. Where are you from?” Ellie replied.

“Texas.”

“What about Tess?”

“Detroit. It's in Michigan.”

Ellie scoffed. “I go to school. I know where Detroit is. So, uh, you two like a…”

“Pass.”

“How'd you end up in Boston?”

Joel grumbled. These questions were serving as a shitty distraction. “Pass. No more questions about me.”

“How long do Infected live?” Ellie asked. She stopped flipping her knife.

“Oh, I thought you went to school,” Joel leered with a tilt of his head.

“It's a really shitty one.”

“Well, some last about a month or two. But there's others been walkin' around ‘bout 20 years.” Joel explained.

“Ever kill one?” Ellie asked.

“Yeah, I killed lots of 'em.”

“…Was it hard? Like, knowing they were people once?” Ellie’s voice got quiet.

“No,” a voice from beside Joel and Ellie spoke. It was Piper.

“Sometimes,” Joel said at the same time.

Joel turned his head to look at Piper. She was wearing his jacket over a brown, green, white, and blue striped tee shirt underneath along with a dark pair of jeans. She had the sleeves of his jacket rolled back. It was huge on the teen girl.

“What about that guy last night?” Ellie asked Joel, bringing his gaze off of Piper. It was another question Joel did not want to answer.

Suddenly there was a rustling noise from behind one of the doors in the hallway. Joel shot up from his seat on the floor and pushed Ellie and Piper behind him. His gun raised.

“You can put the gun down, Joel,” Tess's voice instructed from the other side of the door. There was a click and the door swung open. There was a look of unease on Tess’s face.

“What now?” Joel stressed.

꧁_____________꧂

Well fuck, was the collective thought as they stared down at the writhing pile of Infected. The sight was nauseating. The bodies of the Infected slithered along the ground. Moans filled the air and merged into one sound of death. Piper couldn’t help the foul thoughts that plagued her mind. Her entire body was on edge as she watched the Infected below. She felt like something was crawling underneath her skin, prickling the hairs on the back of her neck. Something that would shred her skin apart and kill her from the inside with its sharp claws around her heart as it tore her apart.

“There's so many,” Ellie muttered. She was in shock. The image of the Infected on top of her from three weeks ago was still fresh in her mind.

“The last time we were here, they were still deep inside the buildings. Then I guess enough people came through looking for the QZ, they went inside seeking shelter… and that's how they get more and more of the city bit by bit, year after year,” Tess said.

“They're connected,” Ellie whispered, scared her voice would alter the Infected below.

“More than you know. The fungus also grows underground. Long fibres like wires, some of them stretching over a mile. Now, you step on a patch of cordyceps in one place, and you can wake a dozen Infected from somewhere else. Now they know where you are, now they come. You're not immune from being ripped apart. Do you understand?” Tess leaned close to Ellie. Ellie was quick to nod her head.

Piper on the other hand turned away from the ledge. She took in a sharp breath in an attempt to control her shaking. She clenched her eyes tight and felt a cold tear slide down her cheek. The mark from where she bit her arm burned as the screams from that night thundered in her head.

NO. NO. ELLIE! NO. NO. PLEASE…I CAN’T…NO!!

“It's important. I'm tryin' to keep you alive,” Tess told Ellie.

The words twisted in Piper’s mind. You can’t keep Ellie safe. You can’t keep her alive. She got bit because of you. It’s your fault.

No…I’m sorry. I can keep her safe. I CAN!!

It’s when Ellie speaks that Piper was taken out of her dark thoughts.

“So, we're not goin' that way,' ' Ellie noted.

“No,” Tess said.

“What do we do then? Short way?!” Ellie’s eyes flashed with worry. If she remembered correctly, the short way was the “we’re fucking dead way”.

“Museum,” Joel's voice said.

Ellie shivered. She wasn’t sure if it was from the cold or the knot that formed in her stomach. The “we’re fucking dead way” it is.

꧁_____________꧂

“You've gotta be fucking kidding me,” Piper snarled.

The museum was overgrown with fungus. Yellow and white tendrils slithered up the withering walls of the museum. Like roots, the fungus spread out from the entryway of the museum. The fungus almost looked painted on. It reminded Piper of the spray paint art found on the walls of the buildings in the QZ. However, this design was deadly.

“Well, there's a way across from the top floor,” Tess told the two girls. She pointed upwards.

“Well, then I guess it's fine,” Ellie shrugged.

“No, Ellie. It’s not fucking fine!” Piper exclaimed. She wasn’t about to let her sister walk in there. Had she not remembered what Tess told her? The Infected were connected by the fungus. One wrong step and hell would descend upon them.

“We used to take it all the time,” Tess reassured Piper. Well, I tried to.

“Okay,” Ellie said.

Piper shook her head. “I’m not fucking going in there. Neither is Ellie.” Piper grabbed the hood of her sister’s jacket and pulled Ellie to her side. “We’re not going in…,” Piper growled.

“Look, it was fine. Piper, you’ve gotta trust me.”

“Trust the person who walked up straight into that FEDRA agent? Hell no.” Piper’s eyes narrowed and her body grew stiff as Tess took a step forward.

“Awesome,” Ellie said sarcastically. She sighed and tried to remove herself from Piper’s grasp, but her grip was too tight. “Jesus Pipes, calm the fuck down. Tess says it's fine, so –”

��It's bone dry. It could mean they're all finally dead in there,” announced Joel. Joel’s deep and calm voice eased some of Piper’s nerves.

“Oh, man. See Piper, we’re fine.” Piper sent Ellie a warning glare. “Mind if you let me go?”

Reluctantly, Piper released Ellie’s hoodie. Ellie shrugged off her sister’s hand and turned to Tess and Joel who were on the ground sifting through their backpacks.

Joel pulled out a large flashlight and waved it in front of the girls. “Marlene pack you one of these or just sandwiches?”

“Yeah,” Ellie nodded. She and Piper pulled off their bags and began to look for the flashlights Marlene had so graciously given them.

Piper groaned. “Where is that fucking thing?” Then she reached into her pack and began to pull out everything in search of the flashlight. First, it was her wet clothes, then a makeshift first aid kit, some rope, and her gun. Joel’s eyes widened as she pulled out the gun from her bag. His hand instinctively hovered over his own.

Something that didn’t go unnoticed by Piper. “What?! I know how to use one of these things.” She waved the gun around. “It’s not like I’m gonna shoot you. Plus it's empty.” She opened the cartridge and indeed it was empty. Joel’s hand left his side. “Just grabbing my fucking flashlight,” Piper grumbled finally finding the damn thing.

Joel’s shoulders didn’t relax until Piper had shoved the gun back into the bag. She made sure to place it at the very bottom of her bag. She didn’t need to give Joel another reason to shoot her.

“Okay, so… more ground rules.” Tess swung her bag back over her shoulder and placed her hands on the girl’s shoulders. Her eyes switched between Piper's and Ellie’s eyes. “We're gonna go slowly. If we come up against anything, you get behind us and ya stay there, okay?”

“Yes,” Ellie said.

Tess sent a look to Piper as she scoffed. “Yeah. Jesus. I’ll stay behind you.”

Tess pulled back accepting the girl’s acknowledgement and pulled out her gun.

“I have a spare hand…” Ellie suggested. She pointed to the guns in Tess and Joel’s hands.

“Congratulations,” Joel said as he stepped over the dead fungi and into the Museum.

“Yeah... cooked,” Joel noted as the group settled into the building. The only source of light came from behind them and their flashlights. Piper was surprised to find that the roof and walls were intact. Part of her was half expecting half of the building to have collapsed and to be overrun with plants and fauna just like the rest of the city.

“Oh, finally, some fuckin' luck,” said Tess.

“I guess we should've gone this way in the first place,” Joel confessed as he looked around the museum. All was quiet and still. He and Tess quickly check a side room to make sure it was clear. Maybe they were in luck.

Ellie on the other hand did exactly what Joel and Tess told her not to do. She wandered away. Piper followed her sister. Her hand tightly grasped her own switch. Ellie turned a corner and jumped back. “Oh shit! What the fuck did that?” She pointed her flashlight behind the corner and Piper ran to her side, her hand ready to strike. It seemed like Tess and Joel had the same idea.

“Ellie…” Piper muttered. She pulled her sister away from the dead body.

It was a man. His throat ripped open and his shirt torn. Thick blood seeped from the wounds. His eyes were wide open with terror; Frozen in time the moment his life was stolen from his body.

Tess tensed beside Joel.” Maybe… maybe he was attacked outside and crawled through the doors. The door was open. Could've been him. I don't hear anything.” She said hopefully.

“Who would you hear?” Ellie asked curiously before Piper’s hand flew up to cover her mouth. Piper leaned in close and shushed her sister.

Ellie got the message and pulled Piper’s hand away. “Who would you hear?” Ellie whispered. She looked at Tess and Joel. “Are you saying an Infected did that?”

“Shh,” Tess pleaded.

“Because I've been attacked by one and it wasn't like that.” Ellie pointed to the body, her voice growing louder than a whisper.

“You know the bat-like ones?” Piper said. Ellie nodded. “Well–”

Joel’s jaw clenched as Piper spoke up. “Okay, from this point forward, we are silent. Not quiet. Silent.” He brought a finger to his lips.

“What…?” Ellie asked.

“No. No questions. Just do it.” Joel commanded.

Ellie sighed, or she would have if Joel was not giving her a death glare. Tess motioned for Piper and Ellie to walk behind Joel. The girls followed Joel as Tess took the back. Her eyes darted from side to side to look out for any sign that could warn her.

Piper and Ellie stepped over the fungi that spread all across the floor and spanned across the walls and ceiling. Piper didn’t care that Joel stated the fungi were dead as she walked on her tiptoes to avoid even the tiniest fragment of fungi.

As the group moved up the stairs of the museum, Piper could see piles of debris and shattered glass mixed between the large root-like tendrils of the fungi. It seemed like the stairs were the focal point for the fungi. It grew denser making it harder for Piper to find a safe place to step. Ellie resorted to hopping from one place to another.

There was a creaking sound from above before a rumbling CRASH! Suddenly a part of the ceiling collapsed down onto the stairs just a few feet in front of Joel. The group froze: Their breath stilled, the blood in their body stopped pumping, and every muscle in their body refused to move. All were focused on the sound. They listened as the dust stilled and fell to the floor. They waited for what felt like a century as they were reassured nothing was altered.

Joel was the first to take a step. His movement created a chain reaction in the rest of the group. Everyone now continued to make their way up the stairs past the decaying bodies of lifeless infected. Fungi grew out of their cracked skulls and shot out of their eye sockets.

Ellie couldn’t help but be fascinated with the Infected. She could clearly see the hollowness of the human that the monster was created from. She soon became lost in her thoughts as she imagined what these people must have been like before they were turned. Her steps soon grew careless and less calculated.

CRACK!

The group froze again as Ellie winced. The sound pierced the air. The sound came from below Ellie. She cautiously lifted her foot off the ground and glanced down at the crushed hand of the Infected. The hand was reduced to dust and bones. She mouthed a quick sorry to Joel who was staring right where her foot once was and the group trekked up the stairs once more.

Piper felt a wave of relief fall over her as she realized the fungi were getting less dense. The stairs finally reached an end and now she and the others stood on the second floor. Light seeped into the hallway from the windows making it just a fraction easier to see.

Once again, Joel was the first to move. He crept towards the end of the hallway and pushed the door slightly ajar. Just enough space for him and the others to get through. Piper was the next to walk through the door.

The second Piper stepped into the threshold, the building began to groan and croak. The ceiling screeched and a rumbling began. Tess ushered her and Ellie forward. The ceiling cracked open. In desperation, Tess shoved Ellie forward. The two of them came crashing to the ground. The two of them struggle to contain the groan of pain that built in their lungs.

The crashing was much too loud. The sound thundered in Piper’s ears. It was all that she could hear. Then came the silence. It was deafening. All of a sudden, Piper became consciously aware of how ear-splittingly loud everything was: her breathing, the creaking of the building, the roaring of her own heart, the blood sloshing about her body, the dust settling around what used to be a doorway.

Piper preferred the silence to what came next. It was a bone-chilling scream. One that was followed by a screech from the other direction. There were two. The creatures flocked to the sound. Tess pulled Ellie up by the scruff of her neck and backed away from the collapsed debris. Joel placed a hand in front of Piper and backed her away from the scene. The group walked step by step backwards. Their eyes filled with uncertainty as they looked for any sign of the creatures.

Click. Click. Eeraahh! Click.

It was coming from behind them. Piper pulled Ellie close as the Clicker came into view through the glass of one of the display cases. Ellie’s eyes widened in fear as she turned away from the shadow of the Clicker.

“They can't see, but they can hear.” Joel mouthed.

Ellie nodded in understanding. She needed to be silent. Not Quiet. Something was proving difficult to do. The image of the Infected on top of her clawing at her chest appeared in her mind. The creature spat and snarled as it growled into her ear with a twisted animalistic smile on its face. Ellie couldn’t help how her breath quickened in her chest as the clicking grew nearer.

The Clicker has rounded the corner of the display case. Its’ body is only a foot or two away from Joel.

Suddenly, Piper’s hands come to the sides of Ellie’s face. “Look at me. Breathe in and out.” Piper mouthed. Her own hands trembled viscously against Ellie’s skin.

Ellie does what Piper asked. She breathed in and looked at her sister.

Click.

Ellie looked away. She saw the Clicker. Its arms twisted and fingers pointed sharp like claws. She saw the blood seeping from its mouth and the fungi that split apart its’ skull. Ellie breathed out.

A simple breath. That’s all the Clicker needed to whip around towards Ellie. It screeched and reached out its hands. Joel was quick to aim his gun and shoot. The clicker screamed out in pain as bullet after bullet lodged into its stomach.

“Run!” Joel cried as he fought the Clicker.

Tess didn’t hesitate to pull Ellie and Piper away from Joel and run. Another Clicker jumped out from behind the wall and growled at Tess who fired her own gun. She dragged the girls away in the other direction. Her head whipped back to shoot once more. A fatal mistake. Ellie tripped, causing Piper and Tess to come toppling over her. The Clicker charged them. Tess instinctively kicked a nearby stand over. The noise served as a distraction to allow the three of them to crawl away. Tess motioned for Piper to take Ellie and run, just as the Clicker learned of their deception. Tess pulled out her gun once more and shoots the Clicker, effectively leading it away from the girls.

Piper and Ellie do not dare stand up. They crawled under a nearby display case as chaos ensued around them. Shots were fired. Clickers screeched. Ellie’s breath grew heavy and tense as the sounds grew louder and more frequent.

Piper raised her hands to cover Ellie’s ears. “Calm down.” Piper mouthed. A hypocritical statement for Piper’s mind was in turmoil. She was just as helpless as she was that night in the mall.

FUCK. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK. FUCK.

YOU’RE GONNA DIE. ELLIE’S GOING TO BE RIPPED APART.

CRASH!

Piper and Ellie jumped out of their skin. They collectively decided to move to another hiding place. The two carefully crawled across the floor. They froze at the sound of glass breaking. A Clicker ran past them roaring as it searched for them.

In the corner of her eye, Piper saw a display case. It was low and could cover her and Ellie’s bodies. She carefully moved towards the case. Ellie followed after her.

Click. Click. Click.

The Clicker was closer than ever. Piper could see the shadow of the creature inch closer and closer near the edge of the display case they were hiding behind. Suddenly Joel tapped on her shoulder. She had to cover her mouth before she yelped. Joel looked at Ellie and Piper and then at the Clicker on the other side of the display case.

“Follow me.” He mouthed and turned around on his heel.

Click. Click. Click.

Joel raised one foot and then another. His body was crouched low as he stepped in the opposite direction of the Clicker. Foot down. Foot up. Foot down.

Crack.

Then he was on the floor. Piper and Ellie were screaming as the Infected jumped on top of them. Their arms thrashed as the Clicker claws at Ellie. Its’ mouth growled as a mix of saliva and drool dripped onto Ellie’s face. Piper cried out as she managed to lodge one of her arms on the Clicker’s neck and face. It began to snap its’ jaw open and closed. The clenching of its’ teeth pinched a chord in Ellie’s ears. Piper’s grip on the Clicker slipped. The creature fell onto Ellie, biting down. Piper cried out in pain as Joel’s gun fired. The Clicker turned its attention to Joel. It lunged at Joel knocking his gun away. Ellie froze as she saw Joel struggle. The Clicker growled and hissed fighting to rip into Joel’s skin.

BANG!

The Clicker fell still. Joel shoved the clicker off of him and looked up. It was Piper. In her hands, she held his gun. It was a perfect shot to the head.

A screeching appeared beside Piper as the other Clicker lunged at her. She jumped back and cried aloud in fear. The gun dropped to the floor in her moment of horror.

“Run, run!” Joel screamed. He shoved Ellie to the side and reached out for Piper. His hands grabbed onto the jacket she was wearing and pulled her out of the Clicker’s charge.

Suddenly, Tess appeared. She raised an axe and swung it at the Clicker. The weapon was now lodged into the Clicker’s neck. It howled in pain and turned to Tess, now preparing to jump at her.

Immediately, Joel retrieved his gun and raised the barrel. Locked. Loaded. Finger on the trigger. Fire!

Silence.

The Clicker dropped dead.

“You all right?” Joel heaved. He had asked everyone in the room but his attention was directed to Tess who was on the floor holding her ankle in pain.

“Twisted ankle, but... yeah. You all right?” Tess asked.

“Well, I didn't shit my pants, so…” Ellie said.

“Piper?” Tess inquired.

The teen was in shock. Her ears were ringing and there was a dull pain in her arm. She felt something warm trickle down her skin.

“Piper?” Tess asked again. Worry filled her voice.

“Fuck–” Piper cried. She was looking at her arm. “I mean if it was gonna happen to one of us.”

The group's eyes fell onto Piper’s arm. Where she had rolled back the sleeves of Joel’s jacket was a bite mark. It was bleeding profusely as Piper clutched the wound. Her whole body was shaking, and she bit her lip. The taste of copper and iron flooded her taste buds. Ellie seemed just as terrified. A fear both Joel and Tess chalked up to being attacked by two Clickers. An experience that a majority of people don’t live to tell the tale of.

“Hey...let's get the fuck outta here,” Tess muttered.

Joel nodded and looked around the room for the window that led to the rooftop. He found it already cracked open. Ellie was the first to step out onto the roof. Then Piper, Tess, and, lastly, Joel.

Tess groaned in pain as her ankle throbbed. Joel instructed her to sit down as he pulled off his backpack. He reached inside and pulled out bandages. He held them out to Piper who was still in shock clutching her bleeding arm.

“Put this around your arm,” He instructed her.

Piper looked at the bandages before taking them. “Thanks.”

Ellie stood near the ledge. “Over there?” She asked and pointed to the boardwalk that connected over the next rooftop.

Joel nodded, “Yeah, I know. It looks scary.”

“That was scary. This is wood.” Without another word, Ellie crossed the wooden plank and jumped onto the next rooftop.

Piper adjusted her backpack and gripped the bandage tightly as she walked across the plank of wood. They were high off the ground. One misstep and she would go tumbling down to the ground. But Ellie was right. The thought of that was nothing compared to the bloody mark on her arm.

“Just wait there. Give us a minute,” Joel called out.

Piper assumed he was gonna help Tess. She walked over to Ellie who stood staring at the view of the city in front of them. Piper silently observed her sister as she began to wrap her arm. Something she struggled with. The bandage never stayed in one place. Piper furrowed her brows in concentration.

“Pipes,” a small voice whimpered. It was Ellie. She was crying as she looked at the bite mark on Piper’s arm.

Piper frowned and her lips trembled. “Look. You’re immune, right? We’re sisters, so I’ve got to be.” Piper’s sight grew blurry. “I just– Just help me, please.” She raised her arm up as Ellie took the bandage from her hand.

Ellie snatched the bandage from Piper’s hand before fishing something out of her pocket. Piper’s face paled as she saw the silver blade fling to position. Ellie raised the knife over the palm of her hand.

“My blood’s the cure, right? I’m immune so if I mix it with yours then–” Ellie winced as the blade sliced into her hand. The silver knife drew across her skin before being closed and placed back into Ellie’s pocket. Then Ellie raised her hand over Piper’s arm, who was quick to draw it away.

“Ellie-” Piper begged.

“Just–fuck! Piper. Please!” Ellie whimpered.

Piper shakingly stuck out her arm again allowing Ellie to squeeze her hand shut over Piper’s arm. It was like juicing a lemon, as Ellie’s blood dripped onto Piper’s wound. Then for extra measures, Ellie took that very bloodied hand and proceeded to mix Piper’s blood with hers.

It had to work. Ellie knew that she was immune. It was in her blood. That’s what Marlene had told her. The cure was in her blood. So, if she put just enough of her blood in Piper’s system then Piper wouldn’t turn. It had to work. It had to. Ellie didn’t know what she would do without Piper. It was always Ellie and Piper until the end. The panic in Ellie grew as she gripped her sister’s arm tighter as if she was afraid that if she let go Piper would disappear.

“Ellie,” the panic as Piper's terror grew. “Ellie that’s enough!”

Ellie yanked her arm back and stood clutching her bleeding hand as her wide and trembling eyes glared at the bite mark on Piper’s arm. Her breaths were short, and tense and they grew quicker and more frequent with each second.

Piper shot her hands out and cupped her sister’s face. “Breath. I’m okay. We’re okay. I’ve got you, Ellie,” Piper whispered to her sister.

Ellie was able to calm down enough to bandage her sister's wound. In turn, Piper tore off some of the fabric to tie it around Ellie’s cut. Ellie giggled as Piper kissed Ellie’s boo-boo. It was just like old times back in the QZ.

“We’re okay. We’re gonna be okay. It’s you and me until the end.” Piper said as she wrapped an arm around Ellie’s shoulder and turned the two of them to face the view of the city. The calming scene was just what the girls needed to pull them out of the water threatening to drown them.

The afternoon sun cascaded down on crumbling Boston. The Capitol building shimmered like a lighthouse in the dark as the gold-tinted dome roof caught the warm light of the sun. The sky was a picturesque blue and there was hardly a cloud in sight. Occasionally the dark outline of a bird would fly into view above the buildings.

“If I had a superpower, then I would be able to fly,” Ellie muttered as her brown eyes flowed the latest bird to grace their view.

“Oh yeah?” Piper said as she pulled her sister in closer.

“Yeah. Then I’d be able to take you and we’d fly someplace safe. Somewhere there is no Infected. No FEDRA. No fireflies. Somewhere where it’s just me and you,” Ellie explained as she snuggled into her sister's side.

Then there was a shuffling behind them, and Joel and Tess appeared, finally catching up with the girls. Joel came to a stop next to Ellie. He crossed his arms over his chest and let out a deep sigh before glancing down at Ellie.

“Is it everything you hoped for?”

Ellie sniffled before answering Joel. “The jury's still out. But, man, you can't deny that view.” Then Ellie smiled.

Joel furrowed his brows as his gaze softened. There was no malice or sassiness in Ellie’s voice as she answered. But then the girl smiled. It was a soft smile and not one that was noticeable. But it was a smile. An honest-to-God sweet smile.

Tess looked at the location of the sun in the sky before limping over to a ladder attached to the building. “C'mon, let's get there before it's dark.”

Tess raised her leg over the edge and began her descent down the ladder. Ellie stepped out from under her sister’s arm before walking over to the ladder and climbing down after Piper.

Joel took a step forward, but something in him made him look back at Piper. There was a dullness in her eyes as she looked at the view. So unlike Ellie’s simple adoration for it. To Piper, the view was just a little greyer and darker too. It was as if her whole world was tinted. Cursed to dull and eventually fade away.

“You good, kid?” Joel asked.

Piper took a moment to respond back. “No.” Then she stepped forward and walked over to the ladder. Her figure descended from view.

Joel just stood there. His brown eyes fixed on the spot Piper once stood. It was only a “no”, yet Joel Miller was frozen in his step. It wasn’t dullness in her eyes. No, it was defeat. It was the glance at a broken soul whose pieces have scattered so far and wide that there is only the hollowness of what once was.

Then Joel found himself glancing down. The broken glass of his watch gleamed in the sun. One thought alone was in Joel’s mind as he looked at the watch. One thought alone was in Joel’s mind as he climbed down the ladder.

꧁_____________꧂

The sun had begun its descent in the sky and the crickets decided to make an early appearance. They chirped as a light breeze danced through the long grass. The leaves rubbed together making a wave-like noise every time a gust of wind flew by. Tess, Joel, Piper, and Ellie stood behind a rusted old car that had spent too much time under the harsh gaze of the sun.

“Where the fuck are they?” Tess harshly whispered to Joel.

Before them stood the Capitol building. The drop-off point. The place Marlene said a bunch from out west were. The Capitol was anything but alive. There was no sign of the Fireflies, except for a gigantic truck. A truck that looked entirely too new compared to the numerous rusted and crumbling cars that were scattered around the grounds.

Joel’s eyes narrowed on the truck as he stepped out from behind the car. “Stay back,” he instructed.

The gravel crunched under Joel’s boots as he stalked towards the truck’s driver-side door. The door was slightly ajar which allowed Joel to pry it open with his gun. The leather seats were drenched with blood. Not a person in sight. Joel’s worry grew as he trekked around to the back of the truck before opening it as well. Empty.

“Joel? What the fuck is going on?” Tess said. She stepped out from behind the car and began to approach Joel. Her face fell upon seeing what Joel had found.

“I don't know,” Joel replied.

Ellie and Piper approached the truck as well. The two girls circled around to the other side looking for clues as to where the Fireflies could have gone.

Ellie gulped as she spotted a trail of blood leading into the Capitol building. “They went inside,” she said. Piper came up next to Ellie. Her eyes followed along the blood trail.

“Come on,” Tess dictated as she grabbed Ellie’s sleeve and pulled her into the Capitol building.

Piper and Joel ran after Tess.

“Tess!” Joel called out.

“Come on!” Tess hissed as she pulled Ellie along.

“Tess!” Joel repeated.

The scene they had found inside the building was a massacre. Ellie was the first to enunciate what they were all thinking. “Holy shit.”

Bodies lay along the marble floor. Some were shot, blood still oozing out of their deadly wounds. Others lay face up with their necks sliced open or knives gouged into their heads.

Ellie turned around taking it all in. She stepped closer to a particular body lying nearby. Joel tensed before pulling Ellie away from the body and into the centre of the lobby.

“Oh, Jesus. Okay.” Joel looked around and caught sight of Tess. She was digging through the numerous crates and boxes that the Fireflies had kept in the building.

“I mean, there's gotta be a, a fuckin' radio or somethin', right?” Tess’s voice quavered.

“Who killed them? FEDRA?” Ellie looked at Piper as she said FEDRA.

Piper shook her head, but it was Joel who answered. “No. One of them got bit. The healthy ones fought the sick ones. Everyone lost.” He stepped towards Tess whose movements got more and more frantic. “Tess? What're you doin'?”

Tess turned on her heel and marched towards Ellie and Piper. On instinct, Piper grabbed Ellie’s sleeve and pulled her sister back behind her.

“Where did Marlene say that she was taking you? Ellie! Piper!” Tess demanded.

Ellie shook her head. “Uh, I don't know. Just west.”

“Just west. Fuck.” Tess ran her hands through her hair. Her fingers gripped tightly around her light brown locks. “Okay. Well, I mean, one of them's gotta have a map on them, right? Joel, can ya help me?” Tess walked over to one of the bodies and began searching the pockets.

“No! Tess... it's over. We are going home,” Joel said. His voice began to fill with worry. The most emotion Piper and Ellie had ever heard from his voice.

“That's not my fucking home!” Tess yelled. She glanced back at Joel. “I'm stayin'. I mean... our luck had to run out sooner or later.” Her voice faltered.

There it was. Defeat was embedded deep within Tess’s eyes. A look–a feeling that Piper knew all too well. “Fuck. She's infected,” Piper stated.

Joel looked back at Piper before returning his gaze to Tess. “Show me.”

“Joel,” Tess stepped towards Joel, but he raised his gun at her. She let out a nervous chuckle. “Oops, right?” Then Tess marched over to Piper pointing at her arm. “Take your bandage off,” Tess commanded.

Piper glanced at Joel before she lifted up her sleeve and removed her bandage.

Tess snatched Piper’s arm pulling it close to Joel. “Look.”

Joel’s jaw clenched as he did as Tess told as did Piper. The bleeding had stopped and a layer of scab was growing over the wound. It was healing. Relief fell over Piper. She was immune. She was healing.

“Joel?” Tess caught Joel’s attention once more. “This is real. Joel, she's fucking real. They’re real…” Tess finally let go of Piper’s arm. “I need you to get her to Bill and Frank's.”

Joel shook his head. “No.”

“They'll take her off your hands,” Tess continued.

“No.” There was desperation growing in Joel’s voice.

“They'll handle it from here,” Tell told Joel.

“No, no, no, I can't. They won't take her. They're not gonna take her,” Joel replied.

“They will. They will 'cause you'll convince them.” Joel shook his head. “Yes, you will. I, I never ask you for anything, not to feel the way I felt.”

Joel’s eyes began to water. His hands gripped his gun tighter as if it was his only lifeline. “No.”

“Shut the fuck up 'cause I don't have time.” She stepped close to Joel. “This is your chance. You get them there… you keep them alive...and you set everything right. All the shit we did. Please say yes, Joel, please,” Tess begged.

Suddenly there was a snarling behind Piper and Ellie. The girls whirled around and cried out in fear. The dead never seemed to stay dead.

“Oh fuck!” Ellie exclaimed.

Instinctively, Joel raised his gun. The trigger was pulled. The Infect collapsed to the floor. Its hand fell to the floor and then time froze.

Why hadn’t he noticed it before? Joel scolded himself.

There’s a howl in the distance and it feels as if hell has descended upon them. Piper clutched Ellie close as the unanimous snarling from the distance filled their ears.

Joel ran over to the entrance of the Capitol building and stuck his head out the door. His face paled at the sight.

“How many?” Tess asked.

“All of them. Maybe a minute.” Joel closed the door and ran back to the group.

Tess ran to a nearby container before dumping its contents out. Yellow gasoline spilt across the pristine marble floor. The smell of petrol swarmed Piper’s sense of smell.

“What are you doing?” Ellie asked as Tess ran around the room dumping out the gasoline.

“Making sure that they don't follow you.” Tess raised up a small lighter before turning to Joel. “Joel… save who you can save.”

Joel’s whole body clenched tightly as his eyes said goodbye to Tess. He couldn’t say it. She knew he couldn’t. Then Joel listened. He did exactly what Tess told him to. He saved who he could save. His large shoot out to grab tightly onto the girls’ arms before dragging them away.

Piper and Ellie look back helplessly at Tess. Ellie grunts and yells as she tries to fit Joel’s grip. She couldn’t leave her mom behind.

“No! We're not leaving her!” Ellie screamed.

Piper smiled sadly at Tess. Her brown eyes said thank you over and over hoping Tess knew. She did. Of course, Tess did. She was a mother after all.

“Get off me, you fucker!” Ellie began to hit Joel with all her might. But Joel was hardened to violence and pain. “Piper!” Ellie began to plead with her sister.

Piper shook her head before using her other arm to loop around Ellie and help Joel drag her out of the building. “Ellie, we have to.”

Ellie cried out in frustration. “I'm not going with you!”

Piper didn’t exactly know when they exited the building. What she did know was about twenty seconds after, as Joel continued to haul Ellie’s thrashing figure into the field of tall grass, the building exploded.

Clouds of fire fumed out of the windows. Glass shattered. The ground trembled and then all was silent.

Ellie’s fight broke down. Joel let her go he watched as she scrambled forward her arms reaching out to the burning building before Piper stepped in her sister’s path.

“Ellie,” Piper soothed. Her hand reached up to wipe away her sister’s tears.

“Fuck you!” Ellie screamed as she shoved Piper to the ground.

“Ellie!” Piper said, trying to stand back up to calm her sister down.

Ellie growled before jumping on top of her sister. This wasn’t like their games where Piper was in control. Ellie was on top. Ellie was going to win. Her finger scrunched up and formed a fist. Then that fist flung through the air finding a place on Piper’s body. After the first punch came another. Then another.

Piper raised her arms up in defence. Her body squirmed under Ellie’s weight as she tried to get the upper hand, but Ellie gave her no such opportunity. Hit after hit Joel stood by and watched. He couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak, so he just let it happen.

Then there was a sickening crack as Ellie’s fist landed on Piper’s face. Blood trickled down Piper’s now broken nose. Ellie froze. Her knuckle felt warm with her sister’s blood. Then Ellie was on the ground. Piper was on her feet clutching her nose in pain. Joel just looked at the teen as she tried to nurse her wounds.

Tears are falling down Ellie’s cheeks now. She doesn’t feel them. All she can feel is the blood of her sister’s body tainting her skin. She feels sick but there is nothing to puke up.

There was another crack and Piper winced in pain. Her nose adjusted; the blood was no longer spilt from her nose. She could breathe now, but the blood was in her mouth. She hated the coppery taste in her mouth that was becoming more and more frequent. Piper spat out the blood in her mouth. The red liquid mixed with her saliva as it hit the ground. Piper wiped her nose, her eyes on Ellie’s stilled figure.

She felt Joel’s eyes on her. Her dark eyes met him as she shoved her way past him. Piper began walking. She didn’t care if she had no clue where she was supposed to go. All she could think of right now was getting away. Away from the burning building. Away from the terrors that crawled in her mind and scarred her soul. Away from Joel. Away from Ellie.

Joel let out a shaking breath before looking down at Ellie. He lowered his gaze to the ground. The earth beneath his boots rattled as Joel departed after Piper. He too needed to leave. He needed to leave before the sins of his past swarmed to the surface. So he left.

Ellie was the last to move. Piper’s figure was now small in the distance. Joel’s figure was a couple of inches larger than her sister’s. The blood on her knuckles ran cold. Ellie sniffled and wiped away the blood. Her hands found refuge in her jacket pockets as she took one step forward. One after the other. She was deserting–leaving a shell of herself behind in that burning building. Just like she left a part of herself in that mall with Riley’s body. Just like she would continue to do for the rest of her life. Piper couldn’t protect her anymore. No one could.

꧁_____________꧂

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