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octoberclidan · 1 year

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Why didn't you say something?

Pairing: Dean Winchester x reader

Summary: Dean and reader (she/her) don't get on, but when Sam can't join Dean on a hunt, he calls reader to go instead. When she gets injured, she hides it.

Note: this was written by myself for myself; there are probably mistakes. My first language is English but I'm not American, so it may sound weird in places if you happen to be American reading it. If you do happen to come across this and spend time reading it, I hope you enjoy it somewhat!

Masterlist

Story:

[Y/N] had been hunting for a few years now, ever since her family had been killed by vampires and she had been rescued by the Winchesters. They had given her 'the talk', which is how she was introduced to all things supernatural. She learned that they hunted monsters and demons, and they saved people. If [Y/N] had known that vampires were real, if she had known how to identify them and kill them, if she had trained to fight, maybe her family would still be alive. [Y/N] had hunted ghosts and werewolves and shifters, even a wendigo once, but vampires were her focus. She had gone on several hunts over the years with the boys, she only lived a couple of hours away from the bunker. She got on with Sam really well; he listened to her, gave useful advice, and they worked well together. [Y/N] would count Sam as a good friend at this stage, even meeting up to hang out sometimes outside of hunting.

Dean was another story. He seemed to take a disliking to her soon after meeting. It had been Dean who had killed the vampires who had killed [Y/N]'s family and taken her hostage. It was Dean who had driven her to the hospital. That day he had been pleasant, sympathetic, caring, and nice. Sam and Dean had explained everything to her in the hospital, and before leaving, Sam had given her his phone number to call if she ever needed.

What [Y/N] needed had turned out to be hunting. She called Sam a few months later when she had recovered and had found a news article that sounded a lot like vampires. He had come out to see her, but Dean had been busy with something else. [Y/N] had been disappointed, she was looking forward to seeing the attractive hunter who had saved her life only months previously; she never really got to thank him properly. That news story did turn out to be vampires, and while Sam did most of the work, [Y/N] had been able to help out a bit. From that day on, she was a hunter.

[Y/N] had gone on quite a lot of hunts with Sam since then, but only a handful with Dean. Never a hunt with Dean without Sam. Dean always seemed distant from her; when she had thanked him for saving her he just shrugged and mumbled something along the lines of 'that's the job'. Over the years that distance had turned into dislike. They would argue from little things to important plans. According to Dean, [Y/N] was always too slow, or hadn't researched enough, or chewed too loudly, or had bad taste in music. She couldn't do anything without him making some snide comment about it.

It was a surprise when [Y/N] received a call from Sam asking her to help Dean out with a local case.

"You mean help you and Dean?"

"No I'm out of state with Cas at the moment helping him with some angel business, it will just be you and Dean"

"Have you asked your other hunter friends if they can help him?"

"I'm asking you [Y/N]"

"Is he aware that you're asking me Sam?" She heard him sigh on the other end of the phone. The conflict between his brother and [Y/N] never failed to annoy him.

"It's vamps [Y/N], everyone knows that's your thing, that you're the expert. Are you around to help or not?" Eventually, very unenthusiastically, [Y/N] agreed to meet Dean. The suspected case was actually pretty close to the bunker, she only had to drive about an hour and a half to meet Dean at a diner to go over what he'd found.

***

"You have to be joking. You are not Jody". Dean groaned when [Y/N] walked into the diner to find him halfway through a burger.

"Nice to see you too Dean". She rolled her eyes at him. "Let me guess, Sam told you it was Jody that was coming to help?"

"Wow, you know, sometimes you are surprisingly quick at figuring out the obvious".

[Y/N] took a seat opposite him. "Let's just try to get through this without killing each other?" She made a slightly disgusted look at him when he tried to fit the second half of his burger into his mouth in one go. What she tried to hide from her face was the strong attraction she still felt for him. Anyone who couldn't see that Dean was an objectively beautiful man would have to be blind. "What information do you have?"

"I think I can handle this one on my own"

"Dean-"

"No [Y/N], seriously, having you tag along will just slow me down. I'll have to constantly be looking over my shoulder to make sure you haven't done something stupid"

"That's not fair Dean. You know vampires are my thing, I've hunted more of them than even you have at this stage. I know what I'm doing, I'm not that helpless girl you had to rescue all those years ago. I am a good hunter, and you know that". Dean was starting off the insults early it seemed.

He just scoffed and turned to look out the window while finishing off his drink. [Y/N] sat back and folded her arms. "So? What do you know about the case?"

Dean rolled his eyes. "Two dead. Two missing, John Kane and Katie Niell, both went missing yesterday. I've already seen the bodies and spoken to the coroner, definitely a vamp."

"You thinking a solo vamp or a nest?"

"Haven't found anything to tie back to a nest, but you're the expert, right? How often is there more than one?"

"More often than not, they live in nests. So unless one was cut off from it's nest for some reason? You find anything to tie the victims together?"

"Yeah actually. They all graduated the same year from the local high school."

"So... maybe it's some revenge thing? Kid gets bullied all the way through school, becomes a blood thirsty vampire with the sudden ability to get back at the bullies? We've had this sort of thing with a wolf before, could be the same thing". [Y/N] offered. They sat in silence for a few minutes while Dean picked off the rest of the fries he had.

"Guess we better interview some families then. You take the victims that were killed, I'll take the victims that are missing. We'll meet back up later and go from there".

"Make sure you do actually meet up again and not decide to just go off on your own with only half the information" [Y/N] warned him.

***

[Y/N] was surprised to see the Impala waiting outside the house of the second victim where she had just finished interviewing, Dean sitting in the driver's seat. She was about 70% sure that he would've gone after the vampire on his own after he finished visiting his two families and that she would be left to try and catch up with him. She opened the passenger door and slid in beside Dean, who didn't give her the benefit of acknowledging her.

"So from the two families I spoke to, the two dead victims were definitely friends, but they weren't close with the two that are missing. Said the names sounded familiar but neither family think either victim would consider the two missing to be their friends." [Y/N] looked at Dean, waiting for him to fill her in on his side.

"Well the two missing victims were definitely friends with each other. I get the feeling they were part of some nerd group. Kinda like you and Sam. Their families were familiar with the two dead vics though, they said they were bullies in school. Bullied three kids, two of which are the two currently missing"

"And the third?"

"Went missing two years ago. Just didn't show up to work one day and no one's heard from him since. They said his name was Robert Harris".

"Think he's killing his old bullies, recruiting his old friends?"

"You know, if I didn't know you better, I'd say you were sort of intelligent" Dean smirked at her while she rolled her eyes. "Got an address off one of the missing guy's wives for the potential vamp, we should head there now and check it out" Dean started up the car and pulled out onto the road.

"You know Dean, you really don't know me. On the rare occasion that we're in the same place at the same time, you either ignore me or are just straight up rude. You don't give me the time of day". [Y/N] was actually getting a bit worked up and could feel her nose start to tingle, a warning sign that tears were coming. She quickly turned her head to look out the window to avoid him seeing; she would never hear the end of it if she cried in front of him. Dean didn't respond, he just started playing one of his cassette tapes.

***

[Y/N] had calmed down once they reached Robert's house. It definitely looked like no one had lived there in the last two years; the grass was dead, the hedge was overgrown, the paint was pealing on the front door, and one of the upstairs windows was broken. She and Dean stayed in the car in silence for awhile, just watching for any signs of movement. There looked to be someone in one of the front rooms of the house.

"You go around the back. I'll knock at the front, do the FBI bit and try get inside without any hassle. I'll call if I need back up"

"What, you want me to go around the back and just stand there while you take him out? No way, I'm coming in too" [Y/N] knew that this idea of Dean's was a way to keep her out of the best part of the hunt; decapitating some vampires. Dean glared at her but made his way to the front door, [Y/N] following closely behind him. Even though she was beyond annoyed at him in that moment, she couldn't help but admire him from behind.

Dean knocked at the door, and after a few seconds it opened to reveal a very pale looking man. "Can I help you?" He asked. Dean flashed his badge.

"FBI. My partner and I are in town investigating some disappearances, mind letting us in for a chat?"

"Now's not a good time, sorry" the man made a move to close the door, but Dean managed to stick his foot in the way.

"Yeah, not really asking". Dean pushed his way in, causing the man to stumble backwards. At the noise, another man and a woman made an appearance behind him, and [Y/N] recognised them immediately as John and Katie. Both Dean and [Y/N] pulled out their knives when, presumably Robert, regained his balance and snared at them bearing his fangs. When he moved to grab Dean, Katie jumped in to help, while John made his way towards [Y/N]. Both of them bore fangs, they had definitely already been turned.

It was a tight space in the hallway for two hunters and three vampires. Dean and [Y/N] fought back to back, preventing any of the three from getting them from behind. [Y/N] managed to stab John, causing him to fall down. In the meantime, Dean cut Katie's head straight off and was now shifting his focus to Robert. Robert lunged at him, causing Dean to take a quick step backwards into [Y/N], and she stumbled forwards onto the ground. She dropped her knife, and before she could pick it up she gasped as she felt a white hot pain rip through her side; John had managed to pick it up first and stab her with it, and was now wrestling with her, trying to sink his teeth into her neck. [Y/N] had almost given in to the pain when a splatter of blood hit her face. John's head rolled on the ground to join Katie and Robert's, Dean stood above her.

"You hurt?" He asked, holding a hand out to her. This seemed out of character for Dean, both the question and the helping hand. [Y/N] wasn't about to admit that she was hurt, even though it wasn't her fault that Dean had knocked into her. If she got hurt on a vampire hunt, which was her expertise, and Dean knew about it, she wouldn't be able to deal with him at all. Being a good hunter, especially with vampires, was all she had to defend herself with when it came to Dean.

[Y/N] swatted Dean's hand out of the way and tried her best to hide her struggle and she stood up. "No, it's not my blood. Can we just get out of here? My car is back at the last victim's house I visited. Can you drive me back there and then we can go our separate ways?"

"Now that is the best idea you've ever had Sweetheart".

[Y/N] climbed into the passenger side, trying to inconspicuously keep pressure on the stab wound in her side. It was only a twenty or so minute drive back to her car, but only a few minutes in and the adrenaline was wearing off. [Y/N] began to feel dizzy, her head felt light, and her vision was blurring. Dean glanced over at her when he was making a right turn and noticed that she had become quite pale and was clearly struggling to keep her eyes open.

"[Y/N] you feeling okay? You don't look so good". She just moaned in response. Dean kept stealing glances at her between watching the road, and he saw her eyes close and her hand drop from her side. "[Y/N], look at me, what's wrong with you?". There was no moan his time, she didn't answer at all and her head fell backwards against the front bench. Dean quickly pulled in and leaned over to take a closer look at her. He shook her, lightly tapped her face, but nothing. She was unconscious. He then noticed that there was a lot more blood on her top than the vampire would have bled, and he lifted up her shirt slightly to reveal the gash.

"Son of a bitch" he muttered. They were too far from a hospital this time, he would have to do something and quick. Luckily, he kept a first aid kit in Baby's glove box. He ripped her shirt to get better access to the wound, and grabbed a bottle of alcohol from the cooler he kept in the back seat. Pouring it onto the wound caused [Y/N] to flinch, but she didn't wake up. "Why didn't you say something?" He asked, not expecting a response. Dean did his best to stitch her up and put a bandage on it, which would hopefully stop the bleeding. He needed to bring her back to the bunker. Pulling back out onto the road he did a u-turn and began his way back to the bunker, calling Sam to ask him to get Cas back as soon as possible so he could heal [Y/N]. Dean was panicking, had he knocked her down? He remembered stepping backwards and bumping into her. Was this his fault? He tried to push the thoughts away as he sped down the road.

***

[Y/N] woke up to a dull, faint pain in her side, and a warm blanket on top of her. She blinked a few times, adjusting to the low light in the room. She felt a squeeze on her hand, and she smiled when she saw that it had come from Sam. He was sitting beside her with her hand in his and a worried expression on his face. "Hey, you're awake". He smiled back at her.

"Am in the bunker?" She asked.

"Yeah, you got hurt, lost a lot of blood and blacked out. Dean stitched you up and then brought you back here. Cas and I got back as soon as we could, and Cas healed you. He's not quite at full strength so it will probably still hurt for a few days, but you're not in danger"

"Dean must think I suck even more now, if that was even possible". Sam just shook his head at her statement.

"He was so worried [Y/N], once he got you back here he was calling us every fifteen minutes to ask where we were. You've been out for two days, he's barely slept, coming in to check on you at least every hour". [Y/N] was confused, that behaviour would suggest that Dean cared about her.

"Oh, you're awake" she heard a gruff voice from the doorway. "Cool, I'll leave you two to it". He started to turn around when Sam spoke up.

"Actually I was just about to go fix [Y/N] up something to eat, Dean why don't you keep her company while I'm gone? Help fill in some blanks maybe?" Sam stood up and kissed [Y/N] on the head. "I'll be back soon".

Dean shuffled awkwardly towards the bed and stood there for a moment contemplating whether or not he should sit down. [Y/N] motioned towards the chair and he reluctantly took a seat.

"So uh, how do you feel?"

"Like shit, but not like I'm dying". She looked up into his face. She hadn't seen that look of concern since the first day they met, when he brought her to the hospital, but there it was staring straight at her. "You saved me".

"I knocked you down. I let that stupid vampire push me back, and I knocked you down. Saving someone who you put in danger doesn't count" he looked away from her. "I'm sorry" he barely whispered. "Why didn't you say something? When I asked if you were hurt, why did you lie?"

"You think I'm useless, a bad hunter, I wasn't going to give you any more ammunition to use against me next time we cross paths on a hunt"

"I never wanted you to hunt. You could've had a life [Y/N]. You were, and still are, a beautiful young woman with so much potential. To think of you looking for danger and getting killed by some vampire or werewolf or demon... it would just be such a waste". This was the first serious conversation the two of them ever had. They had only been speaking for five minutes but that had to be the longest Dean had gone without insulting her.

"Saving people is not a waste. I'm happy with my choice Dean, and I am good at what I do. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. Then after my parents died, I was depressed. I felt like my life didn't have a purpose or a direction. That first hunt I went on with Sam, that lit a fire in me. It feels right. I can make a good difference to the world by killing monsters and saving people. Just like you". [Y/N] felt a sudden surge of adrenaline and bravery and reached out to grab Dean's hand, giving it a squeeze and smiling at him. He squeezed back and looked into her eyes. He never let himself look at her for too long. She was gorgeous to him, and bright, strong, fearless. Everything he admired all rolled into one. He knew if he let himself get too close, she would never have a chance of leaving the world of hunting behind.

What she had just said though made sense to him. Hunting was her life now, and she was one of the best hunters he'd ever worked with. Returning the act of bravery, Dean leaned over and quickly pressed his lips to hers. [Y/N] was caught by surprise, and it took a moment for her to realise what was happening before she kissed him back. She reached her hand up to the back of his neck, threading her fingers through his short hair. Dean touched her cheek, gently stroking it while he deepened the kiss.

"Hey I brought you - oh, OH, sorry, I'll just um, leave this here". Dean pulled back from [Y/N] to see Sam leaving a tray of food down on the desk in the corner and then quickly leave the room. He turned back to her to see a light blush on her cheeks, and he could tell by the heat in his that he was the same.

"I liked you the moment I saw you [Y/N]"

"Why didn't you say something?"

"To keep you safe. To keep my feelings in check. I don't know, I guess I'm saying something now, right?"

[Y/N] giggled and nodded, reaching out to him to pull him back in for another kiss. This recovery in the bunker was shaping up to be pretty good.

The end

#dean x y/n #dean winchester fluff #dean winchester fanfic #dean winchester #dean winchester angst #supernatural fanfic #dean fluff #sam winchester #supernatural #injured reader #hiding an injury #vampires #dean winchester x reader #comfort #dean winchester comfort

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allzelemonz · 6 months

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End: Micah Bell X Male Reader

Fictober Prompt: Day 25, Crying Pronouns: None Mentioned, Reader referred to as ‘man’ Physical Sex: None Mentioned Rating: T/Violence, language Warnings: Angst, crying, betrayal, Reader doesn’t take Micah’s side, violence, guns, shootout, drinking, Micah doesn’t know how to do emotions, Baylock is a good horse, extreme coping mechanisms Summary: The end of the gang, everything is going Micah’s way. There’s just one little snag that Micah doesn’t know how to handle, something he didn’t know how to account for.

Micah almost doesn’t believe his own eyes. Your face, usually fixed with a smile or some annoyed smirk, now twisted in anger, resentment, and betrayal. You’re standing next to Arthur fucking Morgan of all people, holding a damn gun at Dutch… at him. And his hand nearly shakes, but he steadies it. He has to focus on Dutch right now, has to keep him down this path to get what he wants. You… he can deal with you later. He can make up some story, suck up and stare you down with the eyes you love so much. Now, now his focus is on… Pinkertons!

And the chaos goes on. First it’s the Pinkertons, then it’s Morgan and Marston getting away, then the big fight, then Dutch leaving, and then… Micah is left alone. Except for Baylock, that horse carries him away to a nice corner of the Heartlands where he actually has a minute to lick his wounds--literally in some cases. Micah gets a fire going, pours whiskey over his cuts, pokes at the bruises, then he finds himself laughing.

“Morgan…” He spits the name out like poison.

With a whiskey bottle in hand and a smile on his face at the thought of his dead rival, Micah stares down at the fire. And his face slowly drops. He can see you in the flames, images of what feels like a ghost. You must’ve gone with Marston, long gone. Caring, loving, and gone. Micah is reminded of the first time you touched his stomach, smiling rather than grimacing. Your gentle hands holding him like he was made of glass.

Micah sits down, feeling the burning behind his eyes. It’s been a long time since he last cried but he knows there’s no one out here to see him and you are certainly worth a few tears. Such a betrayal really warrants a bullet to the head, but Micah can settle for drinking his emotions down while he wets his face for now. You’d comfort him if you were here. Despite his best efforts to convince you that sympathy is a weakness, if you were here you’d be such a sympathetic asshole about a few damn tears. Maybe you’d hug him… Micah’s always kind of liked when you do that, not that he’d ever admit it.

He takes a swig from his bottle, sniffing and coughing when he feels a sob rising up. Tears, you’re worth those, but not sobbing. You’re a traitor, more of a rat than anyone. So Micah takes another drink and tries not to think about the memories of you. It’s the time that you comforted him after his first nightmare in front of you that gets him. You woke him up softly, quietly, promised never to tell anyone, held him like a damn child… a sob bursts from him. He grips the bottle tight, taking another swig and trying to drown himself.

In the end, when there’s just a few drops left, he hurls the bottle as far as he can throw it. Then he sobs again, holding his head in his hands once he tosses his hat aside. There’s and urge to pull at his hair that he resists, making himself take his gun out to calm down instead. His hold on the grip is tight, his hand shakes and when he spins the revolver it’s messy and uncoordinated.

Baylock makes a sound, huffing as he wanders next to his owner. Micah looks up at the horse, sniffling and trying to right himself as if Baylock would judge him the way a person would. He’s a little surprised when Baylock lays down, nudging his head onto his lap. Micah swallows nervously at the affection, almost as nice as your hugs are. He carefully holsters his gun, not wanting to spook his horse, and puts his hands lightly on Baylock’s big head. Stroking the horse’s mane feels calming and Micah doesn’t sob anymore, but the tears still roll down his face.

Everything was perfect. Micah had everything. Dutch was falling into his hands, Morgan was dying, the weak links in the gang had gone, and he had you. He had a sweetheart, one that cared when he got hurt or acted strange. Someone that would fuck him without being paid. Someone that understood him. Someone that stood by fucking Morgan and Marston instead of him.

So Micah wipes his tears off with a cold leather sleeve as his mind fixes on a new thought. No longer thinking of sweet memories, but of how he’s going to kill the man that left him.

#red dead redemption 2 #rdr2 #micah bell #red dead redemption x reader #red dead redemption x male reader #micah bell x reader #micah bell x male reader #x reader #x male reader #fictober #kinktober

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anotherrosesthatfell · 5 months

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I honestly never make Alive angst opinion on everyone- 💀 (or if I did, then I forgot 💀) so let's go. I will also change some of his old opinion to new one because Cherry and I uncovered the dark side of Angst

Sunflower Au belong to @abloomingsunflower / @itzcherrybonbon

His personality explanation:

Angst is quiet and mysterious man. No one actually hang out with him expect for Gradient. (Plus Angst is depressing 💀)

He is a bookworm and very intelligent. Angst never reveal his full power unless he snapped.

Appearance:

He wear royal clothing in some occasions but mostly wear comfy clothing. On his daily life, you can see he wearing a red scarf and pairs of black earrings.

Magic/Power:

This dude is stronger than corrupted Nightmare. Only in E.L.A of course- yet, he never use his full power.

Angst power is almost alike to E.L.A Lily. His power is 10/10, second strongest after Dream. Even if Palette and Lux awaken their true form, Angst is still stronger.

Other than that, he has the ability to see ghosts even memories from the past when he touch an old object (or a person)

His opinion on people he knows

Adult

Dream

"Dream Light, the king of sun. Rumours says he committed many crimes years ago by letting the wars to happen. How did I know it? Well, let's just say I have little friends to tell me."

Ink

"Ink Comyet or her now name, Ink Light. Hmm.... Honestly this woman has another last name but I don't think I should mention it. She drinks to forget her loveless marriage. How sad..."

Swap/Blue

"The ex royal guard. He was very useful to the light kingdom. Sadly, father took his power away... This is why people sometimes should live quietly."

Hope

"The last witch of this generation or should I say the current Queen of witches? People think witches extinct but there are many of them, hiding and not knowing their abilities... Hope, she know witches are hiding but she didn't do a thing about it. All she said was 'it's better to move on'... ... But I am more interested about the revengeful spirit watching her."

Error

"the destroyer and the man who lose his wife. I am not fond of him and him too, hating me."

Alphonse (corrupted nightmare)

"I hate father."

Killer

"mother... I don't sympathize with mother at all. It feels bored to do it... Mother has the witch to support her."

Cross

"the babysitter, he had a crush on mother until he met Albedo. Hmm, I remember he used to protect mother and us from the abused... I don't like him after knowing what he has done to the king of light kingdom. He don't even know Lux is his daughter."

Dust

"A pawn of father. I am surprised she didn't run away with Swap when she had the chance... Stupid woman, she could live a happy life but instead she chose to stay."

Horror

"the most sympathetic man I know... I like to eat his cooking."

Albedo

"That Albedo guy, I seen him carries many sins in his back. His emotions are overwhelming and lots of negativity.."

Ship children

Palette

"a bothersome hero. Why grandma chose this weak boy to be a protagonist... He is nothing but a scared little kid. How annoying..."

Goth

"she live a quiet happy life. I am jealous, really. She somehow is able to sealed her ability to see spirits but that can't stop her curse of having a deadly touch."

Lux

"Ah yes, the antagonist of 'Palette story'. Can you believe it? A little girl who were abandoned by her parents and isolated from the world, was chosen to be the antagonist... Isn't it a sad reality? Yet, she is very intelligent which is I like it."

Merciless

"My heart dropped when I found out my dear little brother is the sidekick of the antagonist. Hmm... Well I don't mind it, he is strong one. I believe he do well to destroy this dammed world."

Crescent

"My 'twin brother'. I am ashamed to have someone like him to be my brother... He believes in whatsoever God and he is in love with Palette, someone who is younger than him... Love is love my ass.. All he love is the ideal of having Palette."

Artemis - @abloomingsunflower

"My little sister is the sidekick of the protagonist. Sad reality isn't it? Now my little brother has to fight our naive little sister. I wonder when will there's a timeline where she found out I know how many times she died. I want to laugh thinking about it, I hope she will start to live quietly when she found out."

Gradient

"My 'friend'. It's not like I love his attention or affection anyway, I just got used to him. Since he made me feels like this, he should take the responsibility."

Paperjam

"I don't know much about her. Gradient only says the same thing over and over again. Luckily, a silly ghost told me she has a crush on Crescent."

Spirits

Nim

"grandma can be nice sometime but mostly she just complain about her old life. It was nice when she sang a lullaby."

Passive nightmare

"The revengeful spirit who is guiding Lux and watching over Hope. He is the one my father hate the most... He look nothing like Merciless. If father open his eye, Merciless face resemble mother. He is a bit annoying and lose himself while playing this useless game."

Lanny

"The Queen of magic. She has no descendant to manage her kingdom. Now the magical kingdom is nothing but forest for remaining mystical creatures."

Quetzalcoatl

"He hates my father for taking over his kingdom and manages it badly."

Bonus (what if!)

Vivi - @canon-vi

"the daughter of Dream and Ink. She is not on Palette side rather on Merciless and Lux side. It was a nice sight. Just image having your own sister to choose people who killed you... Artemis can relate to that."

Starcross

"he was an annoying brat but I'll be glad to educate him some manners. Maybe I should let him know that he is capable of taking Palette's power."

Callisto

"The child of Hope and Dream. He has a very handsome face and very respectful despite hating me. Pfft, I like to see this now prince of witches capable of."

Tasya - @canon-vi

"Ah, Hope died because of her? Hmm... She has a little elemental magic such as to grow plants unfortunately she don't realize it yet. I should lend her some witchcraft books."

Shelki - @canon-vi

"A petty little ghost told me this little one got a deadly kiss as her curse. She can't see spirits that well... It should stay like that or else I'll to take action."

Lily

"she's a very interesting little one. Unfortunately, I must hate her actions on making my dear little brother traumatized. She can torture Palette as much as she want but she should never touch my little brother... And I will make her regret it."

#evil lux au #angst sans #undertale au #ship child #a sunflower in full bloom au #dream sans #ink sans #passive nightmare sans #corrupted nightmare sans #dust sans #horror sans #swap sans #Lux sans #merciless sans #crescent sans #Artemis sans #palette sans #lily sans #LilyLunætic

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ltghosty · 1 year

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Rapacious (Simon "Ghost" Riley ﾒ Female "Cobra" Sergeant)

A/N: After the blow up my previous one-shot, 'Violation', got, I can't thank you guys enough for the love and the feedback I've been getting. Thank you so much. <3

Summary: Ghost finds out that you've been sleeping with Roach just when he started to have feelings for you and confronts you

Warnings: strong language, angst

Wordcount: 8.3k (holy moly, somebody stop me, this is getting out of hand)

(Also I've been playing with the thought of writing Alejandro one-shots because that Vaquero is all over my feed again, not that I'm complaining tho)

Happy name day to me :)

”Well, someone has to be hurting at the end of the day, right?” Ghost tried to pull it off as a joke but his eyes betrayed him.

Gary "Roach" Sanderson was the only one who could get really close to you without having his head blown off. Which was an ironic thing compared to the first time you had met him two years ago. He and Ghost were the least sympathetic members of Task Force 141.

Ghost was cold and distant, barely acknowledging your existence. It didn’t take you a lot of time to put the pieces together that stood behind his actions. He was the type of person who’d rather push everyone away than build an honest relationship with anyone.

Not that you couldn’t understand his way of thinking. You were living a dangerous life where any mission could be your last one. It was both thrilling and scary. One minute you might have the upper hand with a smile on your face and then everything would fall apart if you were too late.

A lonely bullet penetrating to a certain part of your body that would drag you through hell before tearing your soul away from your body…

Not being careful enough and practically running into your death without the slightest suspicion in your head. You could be fine, then in the next second, pieces of your body – meat, blood, bones – would go out of curl on the ceiling and blemish the ground.

You always wondered how would you go out someday. Not that you desired to die, more the opposite, actually. But sometimes you couldn’t help but wonder what fate life was about to give you maybe tomorrow, a week from now, or when you would be fifty years old.

Roach wasn’t interested in his possible endgame. If there was someone who wasn’t afraid to use his head and voice at the same time, it was him. Roach was smart and an excellent fighter. He’d spend hours to days working out, pushing his own limits until he was barely able to stand on his own.

You wondered if his past has got to do anything with his compulsion to conform. Roach’s personality was raw and honest. Sometimes it caused an unpleasant conflict between the Brit and you because you weren’t used to talking to someone who was that complex and straight with everyone.

When he first met you, he told you that if he’d ever met you outside the base, not wearing the uniform but normal clothes, he’d have never guessed that behind the beautiful eyes and kind smile a determined and deadly soldier was hiding in plain sight.

You couldn’t explain why but you felt embarrassed by Roach’s statement which wasn’t an insult but still felt like one to you. You could spend hours overthinking and analyzing what Roach had told you and it would only spice you up even more.

From that point, you were working extra hard on missions to show him what kind of soldier you really were. Needless to say, Roach was impressed by your tactics each time you showed him something new. And that made you proud of yourself.

It was puzzling how annoying Roach could be but you knew he’d take a bullet for you without hesitation.

Before you realized it, you two were always around each other. After a lonely night that ended in cuddles, once you’d told him about your nightmare, you grew to like him.

The only time you weren’t that comfortable around him was if anyone could see you two being close to each other. Even if it was only an innocent hug or an arm over your shoulders.

Especially around Ghost.

He didn’t need to open his mouth to startle you. He was muscular and his eyes always pierced through your soul. It made you feel like he knew something you always wanted to keep hidden.

It was fascinating how much power Ghost was able to hold. Compared to you, he was a tower and he could slam you to the ground with one fast move.

You saw Ghost and Roach train once at the gym back at the base while Soap taught you a few new moves.

You had to stop in your movements when you saw Roach’s face. You’d never seen him fight with his fists, he usually fought his wars with guns and bombs on the field. He looked completely different once he’d grown serious and stepped into the ring. He was shorter than Ghost but that didn’t make him back down.

That was when you knew things would get serious. Roach could be surprisingly fast and violent.

After long minutes of struggles, grunts, punches, and dodging, it looked like Roach had the upper hand but with one shift movement, Ghost tore Roach’s hand behind, grabbed his waist, and threw him to the ground.

You were so horrified by the weight of their punches that Soap had to reassure you about Roach’s well-being. ”They always train like that.”

After swallowing your worry, you couldn’t help but tease Roach about his defeat.

”It’s your fault that I lost,” Roach said with sparkling eyes. You couldn’t help but stare at his sweaty appearance.

The way his hair was wet but messy and his shirt tightened around his athletic torso. It was a sight you wished to see more often.

”Why?” You asked with a smile.

”Because he doesn’t want to admit that Lt. kicked his ass, so he tries to blame it on someone else,” Soap joined you two as he wiped his sweat down with a towel.

Roach’s eyes narrowed and he hit Soap’s stomach, earning a grunt from the Scot.

”Can’t help but stare at Cobra’s beauty whenever I can.”

You raised an eyebrow at his compliment, trying to brush your blush off.

”Even during training?”

Roach sighed and looked down at you. He found it extremely attractive when you wore leggings and a short-sleeved top that left your stomach uncovered.

”Especially during training,” Roach winked at you and butterflies started to awaken in your stomach.

Ghost however wasn’t keen on listening to Roach flirting with you. Not only because it wasn’t his business but also because his chest tightened at the thought of you liking Roach’s compliments.

He dragged his hand across his shoulders as he made his way toward the changing rooms, however, it was impossible for him to ignore you three since you were standing in the way.

”You are a sight for sore eyes, after all, Cobra.” Roach joked and you huffed then shook your head.

”Am I now?”

Roach tilted his head to the side, his wet hair falling into his eyes that never left you.

”You always were.”

You felt blood rush into your face as you bit into your lower lip. You didn’t handle compliments really well but you didn’t want Roach to think you weren’t grateful for his kind words.

It’s been a long time since you got a compliment. And it was usually from some random guy at a pub where you’d always go to chase your loneliness away after departing.

It was different to hear those words coming from someone whom you have known for years.

”Stop terrorizing her, Roach.” Ghost’s raspy voice caught your attention as he approached you.

Roach gave him a side look, ”It’s not terrorizing if she likes it.”

Ghost narrowed his eyes before they landed on you. You almost believed he needed an approvement of you that Roach was right which didn’t sit well with you at all.

You liked the attention Roach was giving you but you didn’t want to admit that to either Ghost or Soap.

You didn’t want to build a conflict between them. It almost seemed like Roach and Ghost had been friends for all of their lives.

”Don’t be so sure about that,” Ghost murmured and Roach crossed his arms.

”I’m pretty sure she would have kicked my ass already if she despised me.”

You started to pick on your fingernails the more nervous you became. Soap gave you a questioning look but all you did was shrug. You tried to ignore the tension that has cut through the air like a knife.

You dragged your eyes across the men standing around you like guardians, suddenly feeling small and exposed. You didn’t know what to say anymore.

That was when you noticed the blood that was drooling down on Ghost’s arm.

”Ghost, your arm.” Your eyes widened and everyone looked at the tall man examining his injury. Was Roach this hard on him during the fight?

When Ghost glanced down at you for a brief moment and saw the terror in your eyes, he only sniffed as if it was nothing.

”That’s not new, must have scratched it open.” Ghost said flatly and you sighed.

”I’m sorry, Ghost.” Roach flinched at the ripped scar, guilt filling his eyes.

Ghost took a deep breath and patted Roach’s back with his left hand, ”Don’t be sorry, Gary. I’d be angry if you would have gone too easy on me because of my scar.”

Roach gave him a short nod but he couldn’t hide the guilt that was darkening his eyes.

Ghost shook it off as if it was nothing and bumped his fist into Roach’s shoulder as he walked around you and left the gym.

”How bad do you think it is?” You asked as your eyes followed Ghost’s figure until it disappeared around the corner.

”You know Ghost,” Soap said. ”If his arm was torn off he’d still say he’s fine. I’m sure he’ll be all right.”

You almost smiled at the comedic relief Soap had given you. However, you couldn’t help but worry if he’d get an infection.

”I’ll go check on him, just to be sure,” you let them know and followed Ghost.

The changing room was empty and silent. You almost thought he wasn’t here anymore but suddenly, you heard a bit back grunt that you already were familiar with. Walking around the lockers, you saw Ghost sitting on a bench, wiping his blood off with a cloth that’s already turned crimson, losing its original color.

Of course, he heard your footsteps. That man could almost hear everything even during an explosion. His ears were as sharp as a bat’s.

He looked up and when he saw you, you could see the surprise that took over his eyes before he pushed his feelings away.

”Are you okay?” You asked, your voice small.

Ghost’s heart leaped at the vulnerability in your tone. He wouldn’t have thought that you’d ever be worried for him. Hence, you barely acknowledged his presence not only on the missions but also here at the base. He’d always thought that you hated him by the cold looks you were giving him.

And now here you were, leaving your audience behind, worried for him.

”I’ll live,” he cleared his throat.

You chewed on the inside of your cheek before letting out a shaky breath. Even when taking care of himself, you still found him intimidating.

”Mind if I take a look?”

He looked up at you in suspicion. ”Didn’t know you were a medic.”

You clicked your tongue as you shrugged. ”I always took care of my bruised knee when I was seven, so that should tell you something about my medical knowledge.”

Ghost scoffed to hide the laughter that tried to escape from him. He often found himself trying to be softer when you were around and he didn’t like how complicated you made him. He didn’t know how to act around the thoughts you awakened in him.

He guided you toward him and you swallowed before closing the distance between you two.

His eyes were glued to you the entire time as you took the last step and slowly knelt down in front of him. His closeness burnt your face like a burning iron and suddenly you were paralyzed.

If you weren’t afraid of him then why were you this nervous around him? Especially when you were alone with him?

You always tried to get away from situations where you’d be paired up with him because you didn’t want to disappoint him. There was a reason he has been a lieutenant for many years now and that also meant he was extremely trained and experienced.

Focusing on the blood that was trailing down his arm, you reached out and took it into your hands.

Meanwhile, Ghost couldn’t help but wonder how smart your hands were compared to his. It was almost like two different worlds were crossing each other’s borders. Your touch was soft which was something he hadn’t felt in years.

Even on your knees, Ghost was still hovering over you as you wiped the blood down to get a better look at on his opened scar. It didn’t look too bad but you didn’t want to believe he wasn’t in pain.

”Well, you won’t die, that’s for sure,” you said, breaking the silence.

Ghost almost smiled at your statement, ”You would be one hell of a doctor, Cobra.”

You looked up at him, feeling your cheeks warm up as his eyes bore into you.

”Chose the wrong career, I see.” You played along as you grabbed the bandage he already placed down next to him.

Starting to bandage his veiny arm, you still felt his gaze grazing over you.

”You ever thought of getting a normal job?”

You shrugged, ”Normal as in not killing other people and getting intel by torturing others?”

Ghost nodded.

”I wouldn’t want anything else,” you admitted. ”Without being in special forces, I might have ended up killing my neighbor a long time ago.”

Ghost was surprised to hear your dark humor crawling the surface.

”Are they that annoying?”

”And he hates women.”

”You are allowed to neutralize him then,” Ghost answered and you smiled.

The silence that fell on you two was no longer tense or sharp, it was comfortable and peaceful which was something you never experienced with Ghost before.

”You are a good sergeant, Cobra.” Ghost said, his voice quiet.

His words surprised you. You stole a glance from him, expecting to see smugness in his eyes to let you know that he was only joking but you found none of it.

Instead, you were faced with comfort.

”I’m everything but good, Lieutenant.” You said firmly and dropped your gaze. Only if he knew how much his words meant to you. You never found yourself good enough your entire life and hearing your lieutenant say this opened your heart in a way you would have never thought was possible.

”Why would you say that?”

You licked your lips, avoiding his eyes.

”Because I make mistakes quite often.”

”Like all of us.” Ghost replied.

You softly shook your head. ”Everyone but you.”

Ghost remained in silence as your words sunk in. You might have been right but you also didn’t know the amount of work and pain that made him want to be this excellent at his job. He learned the hard way how mistakes could affect someone’s life and all he wanted to do was never letting himself down ever again.

”Mistakes will help you learn.” Ghost said. ”I’ve seen what you can do, don’t you even think to underestimate yourself.”

”Yes, sir.” you nodded and Ghost’s chest warmed up a little.

He studied your peaceful face for a moment wondering if you were always this beautiful. He found himself daydreaming about how good it would feel to lay next to you and let your head rest on his heart. The heart that hasn’t been this alive for a long time.

His own thoughts were startling him because it’s been years since he had craved someone’s closeness this much. There was a time when you got shot during a mission and his heart was about to rip his chest into two, he didn’t know how much you had grown on him until he almost lost you. His thoughts were more than desperate when he helped you to exfil, little did you know that he wasn’t only reassuring you that he’d get you to safety but also himself.

And the worst thing was that he somehow, after all this time, caused you to always put distance between the two of you which saddened him each time he saw you turn away from him.

”What is it with Roach nowadays?” Ghost asked and you blinked.

”What do you mean?”

Ghost tried to ignore the solid pain in his chest as he remembered how flirtatious Roach has become around you. He also wished he could give voice to his thoughts as much as Roach could, maybe then you wouldn’t try to run away from him.

”He follows you everywhere like a fucking puppy,” he explained and you let yourself smile a little. ”And he doesn’t seem to be able to shut up anytime soon.”

”We got to know each other a little better lately,” you said, focusing on the bandage.

Ghost’s shoulders tensed as your words played over and over in his head like an alarm.

”Are you two together or something?” he asked, hoping your answer would be no. He wouldn’t know what to do or how to react if he’d find out that you’d been with his best friend all along.

You jerked up, your hands freezing around Ghost’s arm. When you looked up at him and saw how intense his eyes were while waiting for your answer. You knew any kind of relationship would have consequences within the team.

You shouldn’t tell him that you once imagined how your life would change if there was something more between you and Roach. You didn’t need to hear the speech that had been burnt into your brain on day one when you joined Task Force 141.

”No, of course not,” your eyes bored into his as you tried to sound confident.

Something flashed through Ghost’s eyes like a rumble of thunder but disappeared quickly.

Finishing his bandage, you tightened your fingers around his arm, just to make sure it was in its place. Putting the rest of it away, you stood up and were ready to leave.

”Just change it before you go to sleep,” you said. ”If you need help, you know where I’ll be.”

As you stood up, getting the higher ground physically, Ghost’s good arm reached out and grabbed your wrist before you could step away from him.

The breath caught in your throat as you felt his fingers caging your wrist. You thought you angered him with something but when you gave him a questioning look, he only looked back at you with softness.

”Thank you, Cobra.” His words shook you to the core and your mouth went dry. You didn’t know why but his words had more effect on you than they should have. And you didn’t know what to do with that realization.

”It’s nothing.” You shrugged and pulled your hand out of his grasp. You didn’t dare look at him again, so you quickly turned on your wheel and walked out like a teenage girl who did something embarrassing and wanted to get away from the attention she was getting.

----

Only Ghost didn’t find you in your room later that night.

He had some struggles, trying to change his bandage, mostly because his left hand automatically stopped once pain shocked through his right lower arm and he knew he needed another hand.

He was confused because he specifically remembered that you told him you would help him change his bandage. He knew that you never left your room past nine p.m., he usually took long walks during the night once he had woken up and he had never seen you outside of your room this late.

Your absence was alerting Ghost and at first, he thought that something was wrong. When he walked down the hallway, he met Gaz who was just about to head to the showers, and asked him if he saw you.

Gaz told him that you were out with Soap and Roach which made Ghost sad, just a little bit. He didn’t want to disturb your fun time, so he headed back to his room and closed himself away from the others.

What he didn’t know was that you never returned to your room. You went to Roach’s room which was on the other side of the building. Roach made you sure that he’d be there for you if you’d have another nightmare which was more than enough for you to agree and follow him to his room.

Spending the night with a handsome man who also knew his way around women? Who would say no to that?

For a brief moment, Ghost’s intense eyes crossed your mind as you were walking next to Roach, almost stopping you in your tracks.

You couldn’t tell anyone about your little visit because you might be transferred to another unit which was the last thing you wanted to happen.

Roach didn’t waste any time undressing you after closing his door and you were more than happy to return the favor. You couldn’t keep your hands off him the entire night, especially when your bodies melted into one, breathing each other’s names in the air.

Roach was surprisingly good at sex. He knew how to please a woman and he never once missed a chance to prove that to you during that night.

His lips left invisible marks and his hands were careful but confident on you. Especially after admitting to the fact that he has been dreaming of this moment for months now.

You were in euphoria after a few hours, you also were exhausted but wanted to keep going, enjoying the way Roach has made you feel both with his body and his words.

It was only a one-time thing. At least, you made a promise to yourself about that. You were already trading on thin ice when you went to his room since anyone could have seen you. You even were disappointed in yourself that you put your job on the line.

Until Roach made you change your mind. And remembering how incredible he was in bed made you miss the way his hands felt on you.

Soon, it became more than a one-time thing. You weren’t in a relationship and Roach let you know that he’d never try to convince you to start one with him and in the end, both of you had agreed to sleep with each other from time to time.

At first, it was hard to keep as a secret, especially during missions when Roach would stare at you shamelessly and would wink at you or touch you when no one saw it. But now that it’s been about a month, you became quite the expert at keeping it a secret.

Ghost seemed to be more open and trusting with you since you followed him to the changing room and helped him change his bandage which made you feel less stressed in his presence. He definitely didn’t forget how you opened up to him and admitted to your doubts.

The more he’d say reassuring or encouraging things to you, the less you’d tried to avoid him. And now, you didn’t even have a problem with being paired up with him once in a while.

He’d always make sure that you were behind him and would teach you guerrilla tactics while cleaning the houses and engaging with terrorists.

You liked how Ghost seemed to let his guard down around you. It meant a lot to you that he trusted you more each day. You liked it so much that you started to wonder why were you always avoiding his presence in the first place. Maybe because he was the lieutenant and he could kill anyone with one move.

Yes, that part was pretty scary, you had to admit that to yourself.

Once your time was up and there were only days that isolated you from going home for a while, you didn’t go to Roach’s room that much. At first, it was weird but when you reminded yourself that anyone could see you because the others had too much time on their hands getting their things packed, you knew it was the right thing to do.

However, you were happy to join the others when they decided to go out to Soap’s favorite bar. You didn’t wear anything special other than jeans and a hoodie but Roach’s eyes still found you every once in a while.

While tracing your fingers over the edge of your glass, you focused on Soap who was telling stories about the old times before you joined the team.

”And then the next second I was bleeding out on the streets of Las Almas while Lt. had already occupied the church and kept himself warm,” Soap said and you giggled. ”He was probably laughing at my misery the whole time.”

”So, he just left you like that?” you asked with amusement.

Soap nodded and gave Ghost a side glance who was sitting next to him, still as a rock. ”He really meant it when he said he is used to working alone.”

Ghost blinked before grunting in his seat. You watched in silence as his mask moved a little with the change of his expression. ”One dead man is better than two.”

You almost laughed but when Ghost’s eyes landed on you, you tried to hide it with a cough and took a sip from your drink.

”You are heartless, Ghost.” You said with a smile and Ghost studied your face for a moment.

”I’d argue with that.”

The way he searched for your eyes made you feel exposed and touched at the same time. If there was anything you were sure about, it was the fact that Ghost was everything but heartless… Especially with you lately.

You wondered if you’d get injured and were forced to flee, would he do the same as he did to Soap back then in Las Almas? Running away and not even looking back?

For some reason, you couldn’t imagine Ghost leaving you behind.

It wouldn’t fit with the image you have built up about him over the past few weeks. The amount of time he spent making you feel involved and teaching you new useful things proved otherwise.

Perhaps, you might have grown on him a little bit.

”Simon might have grown a heart this time,” Roach grinned and downed his drink.

Ghost didn’t like the fact that his people were teasing him about his feelings but if he would have denied it then he would have made you feel like you meant nothing to him.

Simon didn’t want to admit to the fact but deep down he knew that you meant more to him than he would have expected it. The first time he met you, he thought of you like another sergeant.

But you weren’t just a sergeant anymore.

He didn’t know how to explain it but he slowly got attached to you and he didn’t know how to act on those feelings. That was why he decided to teach you new things so that he could spend more time with you and would get to know you better.

Little did you know that he remembered every little thing you mentioned to him. You might have thought that he didn’t even hear you complaining about the scope cracking on your machine gun, but he made sure you could aim perfectly, handing you the other gun that he didn’t use.

”And get this, Cobra…” Soap spoke again, pulling Ghost out of his thoughts. ”He tried to distract me and keep me alive by telling me jokes.”

You couldn’t hold your laughter back this time. And Ghost liked the sound of your genuine, happy laughter, it didn’t even bother him that you were laughing at him.

”You know jokes, Ghost?” you asked, still smiling.

He stared at your beautiful smile before his eyes found yours. ”Some. I bet you wouldn’t find them funny, army humor is a little bit dark.”

”Try me.” You rested your head on your palm, your eyes fixing on him.

Ghost found himself fidgeting under the table as you were staring at him. He would have preferred to have your undivided attention in private.

”All right…” he shifted in his seat, his gaze meeting the table. ”Why did the man miss the funeral?”

You furrowed your eyebrows in confusion, not finding the right answer to his question.

”I don’t know. Why?”

”Because he wasn’t a mourning person.”

You let out a forced breath and you traced your fingers over your cheeks.

”That’s bad.” Roach said but with a smile.

Ghost looked at Roach and narrowed his eyes. ”Yes? Do you know where you’ll go after getting lost in a minefield, Sanderson?”

Roach pressed his lips together, a frown taking over his face, ”Tell me.”

”Everywhere.”

You laughed as Roach’s expression dropped while Ghost kept his eyes on him. Roach leaned back and gave you a questioning look.

”You think this is funny?”

”I think it’s hilarious.” You said, still smiling.

Ghost almost smiled at you praising his joke about Roach. Maybe he wasn’t such a stoic person after all.

”I thought we were best friends and now you’re laughing at my death?” Roach asked and touched his chest.

”I’d miss you a little.” You answered.

Roach tilted his head to the side. ”I thought I was important to you after everything that happened. I guess I was wrong.”

”Of course, you are.” You reassured him and leaned your head on his shoulders. ”But you still annoy the hell out of me.”

Soap and Gaz shared a brief laugh at your answer while Ghost tensed in his seat.

If it was anyone else, they wouldn’t have noticed the way Roach glanced down at you as you were this close to him. They wouldn’t have thought that Roach’s after everything might have had a double meaning.

And they definitely wouldn’t have noticed the dog tags falling forward what hung on your neck after you shifted.

He might have been paranoid, people with feelings could get paranoid and he might have overthought that.

Only, they weren't your dog tags.

They were Gary’s.

Ghost needed to look twice at the name carved into the metals before he felt the blood turn into ice in his veins. His stomach turned at the physical closeness you two were having at the table, not even daring to think about what else has happened between you two.

When you turned forward and were faced with Ghost’s cold eyes, you felt your heart skip a beat. You had never seen this storm raging in Simon’s eyes and you wished you could disappear into nothingness.

His eyes landed on the dog tags again and when you looked down, you realized that he knew. He didn’t need to see you two sneaking around at night or to hear you and Roach flirting with each other.

But he knew.

And you felt guilt starting to eat your heart at the disappointed look he was giving you.

You didn’t know why but sadness lightened its way through his eyes, causing you to drop your shoulders.

”And guess what…”

Whatever Soap was about to say was interrupted by Ghost’s sudden movement as he pushed himself away from the table and stormed out of the place without a word.

You felt your heart in your throat and could hear your heartbeat in your ears as you watched him walk out of the bar.

”What happened?” Gaz asked, thinking he missed something despite sitting with you and paying attention.

Soap glanced around and shrugged.

You weren’t so sure about his sudden leave either but you had a feeling that it got to do something with you, even though you hoped that wasn’t the case.

”I’ll be right back.”

Roach gave you a questioning look but didn’t stop you from following Ghost. Trying to fight your nerves and ignore the way your stomach kept doing loops, you stepped out into the chilly evening.

You crossed your arms over your chest as the cold hit you like a truck.

Ghost was not that far from you, it seemed like he was immune to the cold. Or at least that was what you guessed by taking his sight in.

His balaclava was rolled up so that he could place a cigarette between his lips. You watched him in silence as he lit his cigarette and placed the lighter into his back pocket.

”I thought you didn’t smoke.” You spoke quietly as he breathed the smoke out.

He didn’t turn around but took note of your presence. When he decided not to face you, that’s when you knew that something was off.

”You thought wrong.”

You swallowed the lump in your throat and glanced around the empty parking lot.

”That thing can kill you,” you continued as he fixed his gaze in the distance.

”Either this or a bullet, we’ll die from something eventually,” he remarked, his voice sharp.

His words took over your thoughts, forcing yours into a corner at the back of your mind. It always amazed you how much his voice could get your attention, didn’t matter how much you tried to ignore it.

”What’s going on, Ghost?” You asked, trying to fight the cold that was slowly tearing at your skin. You should have grabbed your jacket.

It took him forever to finally answer, ”Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

You knew he was lying but you didn’t know if it was a good idea to call him out and let him know that you saw through his attempt.

”Figured,” you murmured, turning away.

Ghost finally gave in to his temptation and his eyes found you when you were staring at the cars around you. He took your small figure in, wondering how a fragile woman like you could end up being an excellent sergeant.

The more he would be worried for you on missions, the more he’d panic about whether it was a good idea for him to let himself have feelings for you. And he didn’t like losing control over his emotions.

He didn’t want to like you at all but you somehow broke through the walls he had built around himself and then suddenly, you were already inside his head, consuming his thoughts and dignity.

Just when he decided to fight against you, he was about to let you into his heart willingly.

And that was when his world crashed.

”Figured what?” Ghost asked.

You sniffed, still avoiding his gaze even though it burnt your skin like fire.

”That you’d do that. Shut down, again.” You couldn’t help but feel anger fill your voice and he noticed that too.

Here you were, trying to be there for him and ask if you were the reason for his disappointment but he didn’t want to talk with you.

”If you paid attention, Cobra, that’s not a fucking surprising thing from me,” he snapped and lifted the cigarette to his lips.

”I thought we were past this,” you said with a head shake. ”And now we are back to square one.”

He glared at you, ”Tell me about it. You can’t even look at me.”

His words pushed through you like a tsunami and almost washed your anger away, leaving nothing but doubts and questions behind.

Did he know how much you tried to avoid him in the beginning? That’s what he meant by that?

”What do you want from me?” You asked, meeting his eyes. ”I came here to see if you were okay and now you have the nerve to play the victim card and turn it all back on me?”

Ghost weighed your words as you shivered after the wind touched your exposed skin. He looked down at your shaking figure, noticing how much you tried to ignore the cold even though it cut through your flesh, until your bones.

Putting the cigarette between his lips, he unzipped his jacket and stepped closer to you.

When you realized what he was about to do, you pressed your lips together and stepped back, earning a questioning look from him.

”Don’t.” You gritted your teeth as you felt your hands turn ice cold, your fingers desperately pressing into your arms.

Soon, his eyes grew almost sad as you refused his jacket. He couldn’t stand the thought of you being cold and not wanting to accept his help.

How did we get here?

”Cobra.”

To your surprise his voice wasn’t angry or demanding as you had expected it to be, your callsign falling off his lips was more of a silent plea just above the wind and it tightened your heart.

You dropped your gaze to the ground, trying to collect your thoughts as he stepped in front of you and placed his jacket around your shoulders.

You couldn’t help but move your arms through the sleeves and Ghost carefully zipped it up so that you’d be protected from the cold.

His jacket was much bigger than you, as you expected it but as long as it kept you warm, you didn’t care how ridiculous you must have looked in Ghost’s oversized clothing. As Ghost’s scent filled your nose, you tried to shake it off how much you liked to wear his jacket.

Ghost, on the other hand, admired the view you were giving him by wearing his jacket. Yes, your arms basically disappeared in the sleeves and the jacket reached the middle of your thighs but he found it cute how small you were compared to his massive figure.

He almost started to wonder how adorable it would look if you would compare your hands to each other’s. Not even mentioning holding your hand while…

He quickly shook his pathetic thoughts out of his head as he reminded himself of the discovery he has just made. It didn’t matter how much he’d try to calm himself, the thought of you being with Roach caused pain throbbing through his heart.

He would take physical pain any time over the pain you just gave him without a single touch.

And you had no idea how much power you were able to hold over his head with a simple smile.

Just when everything was about to fall back to its place, you pulled a card he never would have thought was in your hands.

”What is it with you and Roach?” He suddenly asked, still standing in front of you.

You felt your eyes widen for a second as you looked up at him. The way his eyes held your stare like a cage made you realize that things might have been more complicated than you ever would have imagined them to be.

”Nothing.” You tried to brush off your nervousness but Ghost wasn’t buying it.

In fact, he looked disappointed that you weren’t honest with him.

After all this time, he was always honest and open with you, even vulnerable but when you couldn’t return the favor, it hurt his feelings. More than he wanted to admit.

Finishing his cigarette, he simply shook his head and threw it to the ground.

”Who’s shutting down now?” He asked and stepped on the smoking butt.

Your throat was dry as if you’d been in the desert for days now as Ghost’s presence kept you at bay.

”I don’t think it’s any of your business,” you said quietly, suddenly not finding any courage to continue this confrontation.

You shouldn’t have come here.

”If you are fucking my best friend then I think it’s pretty much my fucking business, Cobra.” Ghost answered coldly and you almost flinched at the aggression hiding in his voice like a shadow.

”It’s nothing serious, don’t be dramatic,” you held your ground and he tilted his head to the side, pulling his balaclava down on his jaw.

”You are wearing his fucking dog tags.” Ghost remarked and you froze in your place. ”And you call that nothing?”

You didn’t want to admit anything but the more Ghost brought things you buried away to the surface, the more you felt that you had no choice but to play his game.

”I don’t think I ask for too much when I tell you I want you to be completely honest with me,” Ghost continued, his voice quiet this time, after realizing how much his anger startled you.

He was right. The least thing you could do after everything was be honest with him. This conversation wouldn’t have a happy ending either way, so why try and make it worse by lying and denying things that were as obvious as undeniable intels?

”We get together sometimes,” you admitted, tearing your gaze away from him.

And with that sentence, you broke Ghost’s heart and you didn’t even notice it.

”Are you with him?” His voice was defeated.

The thought of losing you without even having you first hung above his head like the day of doom.

Licking your lips and tapping your foot against the ground, you tried your best to fight the urge of running back inside.

”No.”

He let out a deep breath and stepped closer to you, making it impossible for you to look anywhere else but at him.

”Cobra.”

You looked up at him firmly, ”I said no. It’s just a fling without emotions. Nothing serious. It doesn’t affect Roach’s partnership with me if that’s what you’re worried about.”

”That’s the last thing I’m worried about,” he admitted and stepped back.

You watched him as he backed away to the closest car behind him and sat down on the hood. His eyes studied the bar and the flickering lights while you stood still in your place.

You thought of Roach as a good friend but that had nothing to do with anything. How could you be intimate with someone who wasn’t close to you emotionally anyway?

You, personally, couldn’t sleep with someone who was a complete stranger to you or had no respect for you.

”Then what’s the matter?”

Ghost put his hand on his thigh as he distanced himself from you. Seeing the storm in his eyes, you tried to pull yourself together.

”I was about to take you to England with me.” Ghost’s eyes fell on you like clouds. ”I remember you mentioned once that you always wanted to go there.”

You felt the color drain from your face as his words floated around you in the air like a hurricane. And Ghost didn’t miss an inch that shifted in your face.

You remembered how once, while you were in the helicopter, you were talking with Soap about the furthest place you both had been away from your home.

You didn’t even know that Ghost heard you admitting to the fact that you always wanted to visit England ever since you were a kid.

And that was when you realized the real reason why Ghost stormed out of the bar all of a sudden. Between him being more open with you and now letting you know that he was ready to take you with him, showing you his home, you didn’t know how you missed the signs he was giving you and also the way he grew tense whenever Roach was around you.

Everything made sense now.

The glares to Roach. The softness in his voice whenever it was just the two of you. How protective he was over you when you were paired up with him…

Everything.

You were enjoying Roach’s physical attention so much that you missed the way Ghost’s attitude and body language changed around you.

How could you be so blind? You almost slapped yourself with the absurdity of yours.

”I…I didn’t know…” your voice silenced and Ghost sighed.

”It doesn’t matter.”

The guilt once again found its way through your veins like venom hearing the sadness in Ghost’s voice.

You hated to be the reason for his sadness.

”I didn’t want to hurt your feelings, Simon.” You admitted shamefully because it was true.

Ghost felt melancholic at you calling him his real name. It’s been so long, he started to wonder if you forgot his real name. Over the last month, you always called him Ghost and it disappointed him every time.

It felt ironic how he always thought that he wouldn’t be capable of caring for someone other than himself. Then Roach and Soap came and treated him like another human being which made him puzzled at first. Then he let himself be Simon again.

Then you came and you took over his heart which he didn’t mind at all.

He wanted to reassure you that you could never hurt his feelings, not even if you tried but that would have been a lie.

And Simon Riley despised lies.

”Well, someone has to be hurting at the end of the day, right?” Ghost tried to pull it off as a joke but his eyes betrayed him.

You bit into your lower lip and made your way over to him. He watched you in silence as you stopped between his spread legs, not caring about the closeness of your bodies.

God, how much he’d been dreaming about the moment when you’d willingly come close to him and give yourself to him. He has been alone for so long that he was almost desperate for you.

But this wasn’t a fairy tale and happy endings didn’t exist in your world.

You didn’t know what to say, so you leaned closer to him, your heart dropping.

When Ghost breathed your name, your real name, into the air between you, you felt shivers run down your spine. And not from the cold this time.

That was when you realized that whatever you had going on with Roach could ever only be a temporary thing because he didn’t look at you the way Simon was.

Yes, Gary found you attractive and couldn’t stop flirting with you but his stare was always full of lust and not something more meaningful.

While Gary was about to shake your world with his touch, Simon was ready to make you feel loved with everything he had in him.

That was the difference between someone who was shown love and someone who only got a glimpse of it his entire life.

Keeping his stare like your life depended on it, you carefully rolled his balaclava up until his lips were uncovered.

Ghost held his breath back as you closed the distance and placed a soft kiss on the corner of his lips. It was a silent way of making up for the pain you caused him unintentionally.

Something changed in you as you felt his skin on yours, his stubble scratching your mouth.

Ghost’s skin was burning where your lips touched him, and all of his worries washed away in a second.

”Don’t play with me, Cobra.” Ghost’s voice shook you like an unstoppable storm.

”I was never good at games, Lt.” You admitted and were about to step back but his hands were fast to grab your waist and pull you back to him.

Your face was burning as he shamelessly roamed his eyes over you, his pupils getting bigger like a cat that’s found its new favorite toy.

”Is that so?” Ghost hummed and raised his hand to wipe your hair out of your face.

When his fingertips brushed over your temple, you swallowed hard.

”Do you have any idea how much you played me all this time?” Ghost’s eyes were both sad but playful at the same time.

You pressed your lips together as he kept you close to him. It made you feel like he wanted to know you close to him not only by words but also physically.

”I didn’t mean to.”

Ghost’s gaze softened as he caressed his fingers on your arms.

”Do you have feelings for him?” He didn’t need to say Gary’s name out loud. It floated between you like the wind.

”Why are you asking?” You furrowed your eyebrows.

He gave you an exhausted look, ”I know how the ’we’ll only sleep with each other without the feelings’ shit works. I might be older than you but I’m not stupid, Cobra.”

You sighed and dropped your gaze to his chest, suddenly having the urge to hide your face there.

You started to wonder if he himself had had something going on with someone that eventually turned into more. Fighting your jealousy, you lingered your gaze where his heart must have been.

Ghost’s hand found your jaw and carefully lifted it, his eyes curious but also calm, waiting for you to return his gaze.

”Don’t lie to me. I’ve had enough of that shit.” He asked softly.

”I don’t want a relationship with him if that’s what you’re asking.” You said firmly. It was true but deep down you were slightly afraid that Roach might have had a change of heart on this road he took you down on.

You hoped he didn’t. You didn’t want to hurt him either.

”Had he ever taken you to England?”

This question broke the ice and you let out a bright laugh which was music to Ghost’s ears.

”No.”

”Is he planning to?”

You tried to wipe the smile off your face but you didn’t succeed. Not that Simon minded that. More like the opposite.

”I don’t know,” you teased him and he took a sharp breath in.

”He better not or I’ll kill him in his sleep.”

Your eyes widened and you pushed at his shoulders but they didn’t move an inch.

”You’ve really got some dark humor, Lt.”

”Does that disturb you?”

You let yourself sink into your thoughts as his fingers traced circles on you.

”I’ll get used to it.”

”Will you?” He asked, surprised that you were talking about the future with him in it so confidently.

”I mean…” you shrugged. ”If you want me to.”

The look you were giving him was worth all the pain he has been in because he knew that you meant every word you said. Some of them were better left unsaid but deep down he knew everything.

”There is nothing I would love more.”

Your heart warmed just when he leaned down to you and pressed his lips to yours, sealing his promise with a kiss that was only meant to be yours.

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mozart-the-meerkitten · 5 months

Text

I'm tired, stressed and overwhelmed so I'm going to try and vent frustration by ranting about the movie we played for the preschoolers today (tomorrow's Thanksgiving so we're off for a few days so we had a movie day).

So we watched an animated adaptation of "A Christmas Carol" that I didn't know existed but apparently came out last year that was just literally called "Scrooge: Christmas Carol" and boy lemme tell you the movie was as bland and unoriginal as the title.

Tell me this: why would you make a Christmas Carol adaptation and then take out everything from the book?! Like, there are fundamental plot points they skipped in favor of flashy over-the-top special effects that served no purpose and didn't further the story at all.

Anyway, here's the thoughts I typed up on my phone while watching it:

"We should have watched the Muppets Christmas Carol (oh my word that's the first one how telling xD)

Why did they give Scrooge a dog?! He never spent extra money on lamp oil, why would he for a dog?! (dog had -17 narrative value btw)

Too many random characters in this

Scrooge hasn't said humbug enough (Idk if he actually ever DID say it at any point and to be fair the movie wasn't very loud but he SHOULD say it a few times at the beginning it's his CATCHPHRASE)

Why does the ghost of Christmas past look Like That? She's supposed to look like a kid not a candle (also she was irritating)

Too many theatrics (why did they travel through the Time Vortex every time Scrooge went somewhere with the ghosts?! why did reality keep fracturing during musical numbers?!)

Where's my nice aesthetic scene of Scrooge flying over rooftops?

If Scrooge isn't scared witless by the ghost of Christmas yet to come you're doing it wrong.

(at the end when he's changed) Where's him tricking Bob and being mischievous?! (like seriously one of my FAVORITE parts is when he goes to Bob's house like "how dare you not be at work today, jk here's a pay raise :)")

Ugh, this movie was annoying, gorgeous animation but the story was BUTCHERED in favor of special effects.

On the upside, Tiny Tim was adorable."

Also Scrooge wasn't really... how do I say this? I was more annoyed than horrified by him. Like, he's not a *presence* like he should be, he's just kind of grumpy. They tried to portray him as sympathetic from the very beginning which is NOT how he's supposed to be and I think it backfired in all ways. He turns out feeling kind of wishy-washy, not an awful, evil miser, but also not a nice guy.

The whole ending was a mess, it COULD have helped the movie A LOT if they had gone the traditional route but nah, Scrooge invited some random kids into his house and they decorated it offscreen and then all the people he ever wronged just showed up at his house for dinner. No turkey the size of Tiny Tim, no shocking everyone by showing up and being suddenly friendly, Idk, it was just extremely disappointing.

I think the theatrics around the ghosts actually made them less intimidating/frightening, especially the ghost of Christmas future. Like, ghost of Christmas present just kinda melts and turns into Future and there's a storm and a ring of fire and Idk man, it was just too over the top. The whole movie was like that and it just got really old really fast.

And WHY did they give Scrooge a weird tragic backstory? The whole point was that he CHOSE this life, he wasn't FORCED into it by circumstance (I read a review that pointed out that instead of his traditional backstory they gave Scrooge Dickens' backstory and just... why).

Also the songs were totally unmemorable, there weren't even lines or tunes from it that stuck in my head. You know what's been playing in my head instead? Songs from the Muppet Christmas Carol.

The only good thing was that it did keep the kids' focus for quite a bit. Like, for prek it was fine I guess but it was just kind of mind-numbing and annoying as an adult. tbh I think the kids only were interested because of the flashing lights and colors and they largely lost interest after snack and I can't blame them.

I think the movie could have been decent if it had kept the original plot points and had Scrooge be miserly and totally unperceptive to Christmas at first like he is traditionally. They could still have added stuff but they should have kept the original story. Like, I didn't mind the scene where I think??? Scrooge and Marley evicted Bob Cratchit's parents when Bob was a baby. Like, that could have added some interesting depth if they'd DONE anything with it besides show it to us. And Scrooge's "transformation" was so watered down it hardly mattered.

Anyway, it kept the kids entertained for an hourish so I guess that's the important thing, but next time we have a movie day I'm definitely offering to bring something in to watch. xD

#movies #a christmas carol #rant #scrooge 2022 #no hate to anyone who liked it btw it was simply not my cup of tea at all

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rutilated-quarz · 1 year

Text

The tumblr sexyman polls and mcytblr sexyman bracket were super fun, so I thought I'd run a small one with my own OCs ^_^ Links to the polls will be added as they go up!

Ennui vs Ruti

Flux vs TBN

Synchronicity vs Roulette

Lumin vs Electra the Moth

Warden vs The Alchemist

Null Pointer vs Callum

Ren vs Neo

Quarz vs NitroLock

More info about the characters can be found under the cut!

Ennui

[profile link here]

Originally a D&D-inspired OC, now just a general OC

Lich that was so so shit at magic when he was alive but now that he's dead he's actually sort of decent at it

Worldhopper - he travels between universes, using a jury-rigged super powerful explosion spell to catapult himself into a different universe by destroying the one he's currently in.

He only cares about one person, and that's his demonic boyfriend Alu. Anyone else can get fucked, as far as he's concerned.

Ruti

[profile link here]

Technically a general OC, but mostly used for minecraft.

he was born on a minecraft skygrid world all alone

Body is comprised almost entirely of solid magic. He can shapeshift, but only really uses that to change if he has legs or not.

Never got taught how to control his magic, so he has to use an enchanted mask to hold his power in - this has the side effect of compressing his magical body mass enough that he has to forgo the wings while it's on to avoid spreading himself too thin.

Can eat a lot of things normal people can't eat. Like diamonds. And swords.

Flux

[profile link here]

General OC in the same world as some of my and my friend's kinsonas

Her species infects the brain of other species, appearing as a sort of ghost or hallucination until they mature enough to become physical, bursting out of the host's body and killing them in the process. They usally give their host immense bloodlust and taste for raw meat. [mmm flux hungy feed her tasty prion diseases]

On that note, the most lame and cringefail of her entire species. She's supposed to get her host to kill and stuff like that, but she mostly just annoys and makes fun of him.

TBN

[profile link here]

General OC, worldhopper.

Shapeshifts whenever it goes into a new world to match the appearance of the creator-inserts or gods of that universe. [e.g. would look like the annoying dog in Undertale/Deltarune, would look similar to the Dev Gnomes in everhood, etc.]

It chooses a different name for itself in every universe it goes into. [It's called Showtime in my JJK AU that has it, and Usurper when I put it into a Digimon world, for example]

Any world it enters immediately splits off into a different timeline with its arrival, and that timeline dies/disappears as soon as it loses interest and leaves.

It's fiction-aware, and totally chill with that - mostly because, considering it's my sona and thus an extension of me, it's pretty much in control of the narrative. If it were to ever lose that control, it would likely become incredibly paranoid and anxious.

Synchronicity

[profile link here]

Minecraft OC

One of the fair folk, lives in the deep forest and would quite like not to be disturbed.

Finds great fun in tormenting whatever non-fae might cross their path

Thought NitroLock_ was fun to 'play with', so when they got his name, they kept him around to do some work for them.

Kind of sadistic, sometimes. Usually. Most of the time.

Has stolen peoples blood to use for sympathetic magic before

Roulette

[profile link here]

General OC

Demon, under the domain of luck and gambling.

Plays the part of a carefree hedonist, but almost always knows more than she lets on.

Knows how to use people to get what she wants, and has no issues doing it.

Lumin

[profile link here]

Originally designed as a general oc, but quickly adapted into a Cosmosdex (Tegyp) OC.

Almost never wears a shirt under his open suit jacket, unless he's pretty much forced to.

Kind of an alcoholic. Tries to pretend he's a fun partyboy, but he just gets all miserable.

Very into modifying robots. He claims he improves them, but he's fucked up a perfectly good Cupid unit is what he's done. Look at it, it's got anxiety.

Electra the Moth

[profile link here]

Sonic OC, builds and codes robots for a living.

She has built a robot that she considers her son, so she could technically be a MILF, if you're into that.

Mega autism and hyperfixated on engineering. Would love to infodump about whatever her current project may be, and gets super attached to everything she builds.

Warden

[profile link here]

General OC. He's the god of space-time and oversees a large collection of worlds and thus deals with worldhoppers semi frequently, despite not being one himself as he only really exists in the space between worlds.

Has gay thoughts re: one of his coworkers/fellow gods. But he'd never admit it

Kind of stuffy and stuck-up

Dear god, I forgot he was originally based on G-Man from Half Life VR but the AI is Self-Aware

The Alchemist

[profile link here]

Minecraft OC, an AU of Ruti.

Basically what would've happened if Ruti grew up with other magic users who could've taught him how to use his magic.

It speaks primarily Standard Galactic.

Never calls people by their names, instead using a title/other noun ["shopkeeper" or "friend" or "thief", etc.] because names have immense power in a language as soaked with magic as Standard Galactic is, and that habit carries over into other languages.

Makes potions. Definitely legally.

"ruti" "the cooler ruti"

Null Pointer

[profile link here]

BNHA/MHA OC, but liable to become a general OC any day now.

he/she girlboything

Has the ability to lag herself out of reality for a bit; from an outside perspective, this looks like freezing in place and loosing all collision before abruptly teleporting.

Also has the ability to hack any sufficiently complex technology, as long as line-of-sight is maintained.

His mascot [the little demon dude shown next to him] shows up on the screen of any technology he hacks. Just to be cocky about it.

Generally very cocky and aggressive while fighting/sparring, or just in general.

She has 97 mental illnesses and is banned from most public spaces

Callum

[profile link here]

Sonic OC, lusts after their AU's counterpart of Eggman

the gay gay homosexual gay

Sort of a bratty little twink

The type to pick fights and then be like "aah im just a little guy nooo im just a little guy and its also my birthday im a little birthday boy"

Has a cool copper [possibly radioactive] robot arm, but usually keeps it hidden

Ren

[profile link here]

OC for Monkey Wrench [by Zeurel on Youtube]

Big bear of a man [in the gay sense]

Mechanic/weaponsmith/arms dealer

Former mercenary. Would take out entire ship crews by sneaking on under the guise of a mechanic and "fixing" their ship [rigging it to blow as soon as he got to safety.]

Neo

[profile link here]

Minecraft OC, specifically for Empires SMP Season 2

Has ice magic powers, and lives in an Ice Spikes biome.

Its moral compass is a fucking roulette wheel

Tries to be nice, but has a very skewed idea of what "nice" and "good" is.

Would probably keep you as a pet if you asked

Quarz

[profile link here]

General OC

Shapeshifter, and he uses this power for evil. [Shapeshifts into whoever he's talking to in order to psych them out, though he claims it's to "level the playing field".]

Sort of a sardonic personality, often deriding others and putting himself above them. He does it to distract himself from feeling shitty about himself, but you could never get him to admit that.

Loves to inflict terrible events and circumstances on others [my ocs. or sometimes my blorbo du jour]. It is his favorite activity

Nitrolock_

[profile link here]

Minecraft OC

Dumb of Ass

Accidentally gave their name to a fae (Synchronicity, specifically) and signed a contract to get it back. Because of said contract, which they didn't fully read before signing, they now owe them a bunch of other stuff, too.

Being made to use customer service voice is the one thing that could truly break their spirit. I believe this wholeheartedly.\

so. so tired. emotionally physically mentally the whole thing.

Used to be part of a formidable PVP duo with their sibling Necrolock_, but the two of them have kind of drifted apart.

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winterrose527 · 2 years

Note

“you came”

“You called”

jonsa but rlly anything if it does spark you

Wreck My Plans

The beeping was steady and annoying, even as it reassured him. He was annoyed by its very presence, let alone the sound, the fact that his heart skipped a beat waiting for it every time.

He had stopped stretching. Every time he moved one muscle, seven others reminded him that he had neglected them as well. So he just sat there, hunched forward, as though he was helping.

“Jon.”

Only she could sound so frustrated and relieved and accusatory and sympathetic with one syllable. Only he could be impressed by something as inconsequential as the way she said his name.

“You came,” he greeted her.

“You called,” she stepped into the room.

Her heels clacked on the linoleum floor, her silver sequin dress catching under the bad fluorescent lighting. Her fair skin looked nearly iridescent, as opposed to all the sallow faces he’d seen as he walked back to this room.

“I didn’t think I’d… sorry,” he shook his head.

He had called her in a moment of weakness, before he remembered that they’d only been on three dates. That this wasn’t her problem, that he wasn’t. He had thought he’d hung up quickly enough that her phone wouldn’t even register it.

“You didn’t think you’d what?” she asked, stepping more fully into the room and walking towards the bed.

Her heels kept time with the beeping, an exclamation point at the end of a sentence he never wanted to read again. She turned from the bed to him, and stepped closer, in between his legs. Her fingertips pressed to the hollows of his cheeks.

He sighed, closing his eyes, “I didn’t want to ruin your birthday.”

Tonight was going to be more than a fourth date. It was her birthday and she’d invited him and she hadn’t really said it but it had felt like a big deal. So far, he’d met her best friend Myrcella, the pretty blonde who was dating her older brother. She’d been the reason he met Sansa, actually, she was so busy talking to Ghost that Sansa had kept him company. Other than that, though, he hadn’t met anyone else in Sansa’s life and tonight he was supposed to meet the most important ones.

They hadn’t really talked about what he was meeting them as, if he was just going to be another party guest, or what. It hadn’t seemed like it though. She’d been too embarrassed about the venue, a place her other friend Marg had rented out for the night, too specific about how she had plans with just the girls for dinner but that if he got there right around 9 then that would be perfect. She’d repeated 9 at least four times, so he’d gotten the hint that it was less around and more on the dot.

The other morning they’d been in bed and he’d almost asked. So when you introduce me am I… but he hadn’t known how to finish that sentence. It felt like more than three dates, more than a casual invite, but he’d been wrong before. He’d gotten so much shit from his last girlfriend about his need to ‘label’ things and how people weren’t property, which was less of a political statement and more an allusion to the fact that she was sleeping with other people.

Sansa was different from her though in just about every way, and he knew how close she was to her best friends and her family, and he couldn’t imagine that she’d invite him to meet them even casually if it didn’t mean something.

He felt that so strongly, that when he’d been calling her earlier, it hadn’t been to explain why he wasn’t going to make it, it was to ask her to come here. He’d thought better of it immediately, but the urge had been there.

In that moment he felt like he needed her to be there and it felt like she cared enough about him to show up and it had been so long since he’d felt both of those things at once that he’d just given in.

Her knees bent and she wrapped her arms around his neck. She couldn’t be comfortable, not like that, but she stroked his hair as though she was. He pulled her to him, so that she was resting on one of his legs, and then he buried his face in her neck, breathing in lavender and that hair oil she’d made him try and her.

“You get to ruin my birthday,” she told him, her lips at his ear. “Because if there’s something happening in your life important enough for you not to show up for me, then I want to show up for you. Just stay on the line next time, long enough to tell me where you are, and I promise, I’ll be there.”

He felt tears come to his eyes and he gripped her tighter.

“Do your friends hate me?” he asked.

“No, they think I’m psychotic,” she told him.

He pulled away from her and asked, “Why?”

Those blue eyes looked down, her lower lip pouting out, “I might have overreacted slightly about you not being there.” His stomach twisted and she let out a deep breath, “It’s just I’ve been let down before and I just forgot for a second that you’re different.”

“I forgot too,” he told her. She looked up at him and he explained, “That’s why I hung up… plus I really didn’t want to ruin your birthday.”

“I don’t really care about my birthday all that much,” she told him.

He smirked and gestured to her, “This is what you look like when you don’t care?”

She blushed and he stroked his thumb against the warmth of it, her voice little more than a murmur when she said, “It’s possible I was dressing up more for you than the occasion.”

He sighed and leaned his forehead against hers, shaking his head.

She stroked his cheek, “I’m so sorry, Jon. How’s he doing?”

“Nice of one of you to remember I was here,” a gruff, annoyed, amused voice cut in.

Sansa nearly fell off his lap with how quickly she whipped around. He caught hold of her though in spite of his surprise.

“How long were you listening, you old creep?” he asked, his heart leaping with relief.

“Long enough to know you ought to introduce me to the birthday girl before I die in here, what are these damn machines?” Mormont asked, jostling about.

Sansa giggled, her hand going out to stop him from unplugging anything, “It’s nice to meet you, sir. I’m Sansa Stark… Jon’s girlfriend.”

#omg haven't written Jonsa in so long #sorry that this is a little sad #jonsa #my rotten soldier #also in case anyone is wondering she knows where he was because she tracked down Sam who told her

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namixart · 1 year

Text

Crossing lines, hand in hand, ch. 8

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The one good thing about being stuck in the Gold Saucer was the Ghost Hotel. Not the general aesthetic of it, or the many cheap scares hidden in its halls—Cloud had never particularly cared for horror or generally spooky stuff, and he wasn’t about to start now—but the free apology stay in single rooms was nothing short of a blessing after months on the road.

As Cloud let himself fall heavily on his bed, he almost had to remind himself that he was supposed to be annoyed at the time they were wasting. But then he thought about Barret’s snoring and Yuffie’s constant tossing and turning, and remembered there were actual walls between him and them, not to mention an actual bed instead of a sleeping bag under him, and the annoyance melted away completely. He sighed deeply.

He so needed the rest.

He was more tired than he had been in months, with his limbs heavy and his brain foggy and slow. Dio’s arena had been rough: Cloud had been sent flying through the air more times than he could count, been badly burned all over his arms, and narrowly avoided getting skewered by a tiny green… goblin thing holding a kitchen knife. He’d even missed Dio finally forking over the Keystone because, after he’d cleared all eight rounds, he’d had to sit down with Aerith in a side room so she could heal all his burns, bruises, and cuts.

It was odd: more than once, he’d found himself looking around for his friends as he fought, only to remember he was the only one there. He couldn’t trust Barret to keep the enemies at bay while Cloud backed down for a second to catch his breath; there was no Tifa to help him keep the pressure on the monsters; Aerith couldn’t clear out the battlefield with a flick of her hand or keep Cloud safe from where she sat up in the stands. It had been just him down there.

A few months earlier, he wouldn’t have batted an eye at the prospect of facing down a slew of monsters alone. But things were different. So many things were different. Cloud furrowed his brows as he took a deep breath. Was it a good thing, that he’d started to rely so much on his friends in battle? Or would it eventually come back to bite him while fighting alone?

His thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door, a rhythmic and cheerful rapping that could only be coming from one person. Cloud smiled as he sat up. “Door’s open.”

After a beat, Aerith entered the room accompanied by a creepy screech that was for sure a feature of every hinge in the Ghost Hotel. She took a few steps forward and linked her hands behind her back with a smile. “Heya,” she said.

“Heya.” Cloud stood up, ignoring his sore… well, everything. “Need something?”

Aerith hummed. “Sorta. First, I wanted to check on you. Feeling okay?”

“Sorta,” he parroted with a half smile, slowly rotating his shoulder. “Still feels like I got run over by a truck after I ran a marathon.”

She winced sympathetically. “Ouch. Well, I guess… The other thing’s probably a no-go, huh?” She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, looking a little crestfallen. “Another time.”

Cloud furrowed his brows. “What other thing?”

Aerith nodded towards the door. “Well, I just figured… We’re stuck here anyway, right? Might as well go have some fun and check out the park.”

“Oh.” Cloud bit his lip. He’d really been looking forward to an early night in a real bed, but… “I’m not that tired,” he said slowly.

She looked at him for a moment, then huffed out a laugh. “You don’t have to do that. Just rest up, okay? You don’t need to force yourself to go out for my sake. I probably shouldn’t have asked, anyway. I’ll just turn in early as well.”

Cloud furrowed his brows. “What? What about the others? Did everyone say no?”

“Oh.” Aerith giggled. “I haven’t told anyone else. As much as I love our friends, I was kinda asking youout on a date.”

Cloud stared at her. She calmly held his stunned gaze with an amused smile on her face.

He blinked. She waited.

“Huh?” he said eloquently.

“A date,” she repeated.

Cloud looked away. “Yeah, I—uh—I heard that.” Although he’d thought he’d heard wrong because what!? “It’s just—a date? Y-You? With me?”

Aerith hummed as she rocked on the balls of her feet. “Yup.”

“…Why?”

Aerith burst out laughing, clutching her stomach. Cloud took a step back and crossed his arms over his chest, feeling his ears burn. “Hey, don’t—”

“Sorry, sorry,” she wheezed, waving a hand in the air. But she was still giggling. “It’s just—why?” She covered her mouth as another chuckle spilled out. “Sorry, gimme—gimme a second here. I swear I’m trying to—why!”

Cloud waited for her laugh attack to pass, drumming his fingers over his arms. “Alright, alright, I get it,” he muttered. “I’m an idiot.”

Aerith straightened up with a deep, shaky breath. She was slightly red in the face and her eyes were still full of mirth “Whew. Wow, I’m sorry about that,” she said, panting a little bit. “You just caught me by surprise. No one’s ever asked me why I wanted to go on a date with them. Though I guess there were a couple of jerks who asked why I thought they would want to go on a date with me. So, like, screw them, right?”

Cloud nodded slowly. “Right.”

“Anyway,” she continued, putting her hands on her hips. “To answer your question: first off, I still owe you for your bodyguard services.”

Oh. Right. Cloud hummed, hoping the disappointment didn’t show on his face or in his voice.

“Second, I like spending time with you,” said Aerith. Her expression softened into the fond smile Cloud had discovered in Cosmo Canyon, and his heart skipped a beat. “You talk more, when it’s just us. About stuff other than the mission, I mean. And you smile more too. I like that Cloud.” She giggled. “And maybe I wanna keep him all to myself for a while.”

Cloud nodded slowly, then blinked twice and shook his head. Shit, he was supposed to reply. And also breathe. “I—uh, I mean—” What was he even supposed to say? To pinch him because there was no way this was real? That he needed several moments to process the fact that she wanted to go on a date with him? That he was completely, desperately, and embarrassingly in love with her? How could he tell her any of that without coming off as the creepiest weirdo to ever walk the Planet? He cleared his throat and averted his gaze. “Like I said. Not that tired,” he muttered. His face was on fire. Damnit. “We can go out, if you want.”

Aerith tilted her head to the side. “You sure?”

He nodded.

She didn’t say anything for a couple of seconds, so Cloud hazarded a look at her. She was smiling softly, eyes gleaming with affection. “You’re so sweet,” she said. She reached out to take one of his hands out of its nervous arms-crossed-knot and squeezed it. “It’ll be fun, I promise. What say you we grab a late-night dinner?”

“Yeah. Sounds good,” said Cloud, and let her lead him by the hand out of his room and into a date.

The park was as crowded at almost-midnight as it had been in the afternoon. Aerith caught Cloud’s perplexed expression and giggled. “It’s Enchantment Night,” she said, dangling their joined hands between them. “All the rides are free.”

Cloud hummed. “So that’s why you picked tonight to pay your bill,” he said. It was a bit easier to talk about the fact that they were on a date if he was teasing her.

Aerith laughed and stuck her tongue out at him. “Unlike some people, I’m not a cheapskate. It’s just a coincidence.”

“Uh-huh.”

She pulled a faux-offended face and let his hand go to cross her arms. “Well then, maybe I’ll just call the whole thing off. That’ll teach you.” But she was trying to stifle a smile.

“You wouldn’t,” said Cloud, looking away from her. “You have a debt to settle.”

Aerith hummed. “I wouldn’t, and I do. And I’m a woman of my word. Hey, I think that over there is a diner. Sound good?”

Cloud nodded and followed her as she walked ahead towards the diner, her braid swishing behind her. He kind of missed the contact of her holding his hand, but he couldn’t very well just reach out and take hers back. Aerith led them to a small table at the back of the diner, which was right by a large window overlooking a big arena with a stage to the side. It was slowly filling with people, and someone was on stage talking into a microphone, but Cloud couldn’t make out a word they were saying from behind the glass.

“Dinner and a show, huh?” said Aerith, gathering her skirt under her knees as she sat down. “Shame we can’t hear any of it.”

Cloud hummed. “Maybe there’s a later showing? Um, if you want to go.”

Aerith tapped her lips in thought. “I think I saw posters about the show, but I don’t remember the times. Oh, well. Are you hungry? Now that there’s food around me, I’m kinda starving.”

“I could eat,” said Cloud, eyeing a server weaving through the crowd while carrying two large pizzas. A low grumble came from his stomach, and Aerith giggled. “A lot. I could eat a lot,” he amended, feeling his cheeks heat up. “I actually don’t think I had anything after Dio’s Battle Square.”

Aerith clicked her tongue. “Well, that won’t do.” She waved to a waiter to get their attention. “Just hang in there.”

Only a few minutes later, the waiter returned with their food—a pizza for Cloud and a very well stacked burger for Aerith, plus a large plate of fries to share. She squealed happily when the server set the plates down in front of her. “Oh, I love food,” she said, clasping her hands together.

Cloud chuckled as he took off his gloves and grabbed the very blunt pizza cutter from the cutlery box. “Who doesn’t?”

She giggled. “Fair enough. By the way,” she said, grabbing two fries from their sharer plate, “this is familiar, isn’t it?”

“Oh. Yeah, I guess.” Cloud hummed. It seemed so long ago. “You’re not gonna pass out on me, are you?”

“Absolutely not,” said Aerith, popping the fries into her mouth. “Dates aren’t for passing out. Which, shame about that time in Wall Market, ‘cause other than the dizzy spell it almost was a date.”

Cloud furrowed his brows. “It was a rescue op.”

She shrugged. “As I said. Almost.”

He rolled his eyes and Aerith giggled. “Come to think of it,” she said with a sly smile, “last time we were here, too. Very date-like.”

Cloud frowned. “Last time…?” He shook his head. “I was trying to cheer you up.”

“And you did. With date-like activities.” She waved a fry in the air. “We went to see a Chocobo race, we went to a fair… you even won me a plushie! Very romantic, I must say.”

He planted his eyes on his pizza. What is she saying? “That’s not—”

“Of course,” continued Aerith, with a mischievous glint in her eye, “we could say the same about Wutai too.”

“Wutai?” Cloud crossed his arms. “You wanted to teach me gardening!”

Aerith waved a hand in the air. “But I didn’t! We just hung out in a lovely flower field and talked while I turned you into a human bouquet. It totally counts! Remember what I said in Wall Market?”

He pursed his lips. “You said… a lot of things.”

She laughed. “It’s not a trick question.”

“I just mean that you talk a lot.” He gave a half laugh at Aerith’s faux-offended gasp. “Wouldn’t know where to start.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “Meanie. I was talking about the date I promised you.”

“You mean this one?”

“Yeah—well, no, not at the time.” She leaned forward with her elbows on the table. “I said I’d take you somewhere nice and surprising. Like… a pretty meadow in a foreign country? And that there’d be lots and lots of flowers.”

Realisation dawned on Cloud. “…Maybe a pocket flower,” he said, echoing her words from so long ago.

Aerith hummed, satisfied, and sat back in her seat. “See? Totally lines up!”

“I, uh… I didn’t know those were… dates.” He inwardly cringed.His clinical awkwardness would be the death of him.

She shrugged. “Well, neither did I. But they could’ve been. We could just say they were.”

He looked up again and furrowed his brows. “We could?”

“Sure.” She winked. “Who’s keeping count, anyway? The dating police?”

That got a laugh out of him. “That’s a thing?”

Aerith winked. “Let’s not tell them, just in case. So?”

“So what?”

“So… were those dates?”

“Oh, um…” Cloud scratched the back of his neck. “I, uh…”

Aerith pouted. “Oh, no, don’t do that. You were doing so well. You forget to get flustered when you’re being argumentative.”

Cloud frowned, but only to suppress a smile. “So what, you want to fight?”

She laughed. “Yep, just like that.”

Cloud rolled his eyes. When he looked at Aerith again, she had her hands linked under her chin and her elbows resting on the table. She was still waiting for an answer. He swallowed. “I, uh,” he started, “I don’t think they count. As dates.”

Aerith lifted an eyebrow. “Oh? How so?”

He averted his gaze. “Well, neither of us knew they were.”

She giggled. “Why does that matter?”

“Because if they were, we’d have been dating for, what, months? Without realising?” Cloud huffed. “That’s dumb.”

Aerith burst out laughing. “It really is. And yet.”

He frowned and crossed his arms. “No. Absolutely not. This is our first date.”

Her smile widened. “First? You mean you want more? My, how direct.”

It was like she’d stolen the air out of his lungs and then taken a lighter to his face. He ran a hand over it, vaguely wishing he could wipe off the flush. “I—I, uh…”

Aerith laughed again. “You know,” she started, reaching out to gently pry his hand from his face, “in all of this very normal conversation, we’ve never once asked the one thing that matters.”

Cloud hazarded a look at her. “What’s that?”

“If we want to be dating. Do you?”

It was a point of no return. He could lie, and save himself the rejection. Or he could be brave.

He closed his eyes and nodded.

He wasn’t brave enough to trust his voice.

Aerith giggled and let go of his hand after giving it a final squeeze. “Great! Me too. Now, finish your pizza before it gets cold—I’ve got an idea for later.”

“H-huh?” Cloud blinked dumbly at her. “That’s it?”

Aerith hummed as she took a bite out of her burger. “Sure. Sometimes things are that simple. You ask someone out, and they say yes. What were you expecting?”

Rejection. Barring that… More coherent words out of my mouth. Telling you I’m in love with you. Kissing you.

Cloud shook his head. “Never mind,” he said, picking up a slice of pizza. It was going kinda cold.

Aerith levelled him with an amused look, but didn’t tease him any further.

They ate more or less in silence for a little while after that. Aerith would make little comments about what was apparently going on in the play—some kind of fairy tale? There was a dragon and someone dressed as a wizard—or about the people around them, light-hearted and casual. She was smiling the entire time, though, even when they were just eating in comfortable silence, so maybe Cloud wasn’t the only one who couldn’t stop thinking about their conversation.

It was astonishing how much and how little seemed to have changed with the simple change in status of their relationship—from “friends” to “dating.” Aerith wasn’t acting any differently, and yet there was a shift in her tone, her eyes, her smile—little changes that all added up to… not much of a change after all. Or maybe it was just Cloud being hyper-aware and over-analysing everything. It got him wondering if maybe she’d been onto something with her claim that they’d been dating for a while.

They were dating. In a relationship. And it had happened with only an awkward conversation and a simple question. There had to be a catch. But, glancing at Aerith, he couldn’t help but think that it was safe to trust her and everything she said. He was safe with her. He silently vowed that she would always be safe with him as well. And, maybe, someday he would find the words to tell her.

He shook his head, and found her looking at him.

“What?” he asked.

Aerith smiled. “I know you were tired tonight,” she said. “But thank you. I’m really glad I’m here with you.”

Cloud nodded slowly. “Uh, sure. I told you, I—”

“Wasn’t that tired—I know.” She rolled her eyes playfully. “Still, thanks. Hey, you done?” She shoved the last two fries in her mouth. “If we hurry, we should make it just in time.”

Cloud had finished his pizza a little while earlier—his mom’s complaints that he ate too fast were still fresh in his mind after all those years—so he nodded. “Where’re we going?”

Aerith stood up and held out her hand. “Surprise!”

Cloud took it and followed her—only stopping to pay for the dinner.

Once out of the diner, Aerith pulled Cloud through the crowd, weaving between families and couples like a woman on a mission.

“You sure you know where we’re going?” he asked, ducking to avoid a man’s enthusiastic gesticulating. “This place is a labyrinth.”

Aerith nodded without looking back. “Don’t worry! We’re almost there.”

Suddenly, she pulled him in front of her, pushed him into one of the chutes—he didn’t see which one—and got in after him. They stood close to each other in the small space, panting slightly from the run. Aerith was smiling and her face was flushed, and Cloud was hit by the almost overwhelming need to kiss her, to run his hands through her hair, to hold her—but the chute arrived at its destination and both of them stumbled out onto a small platform. A woman in uniform standing by a wooden kiosk eyed them disapprovingly.

“The chutes are single-person only unless you’re accompanying children,” she recited, frowning.

“Sorry, sorry,” said Aerith, straightening up. “We didn’t mean to. It was crowded at the Terminal and I kinda got pushed in too,” she lied casually and, judging from the woman’s unimpressed glare, unconvincingly.

“Uh-huh,” she said. “You here for the gondola? We close in ten minutes.”

Finally, Cloud realised where they were. Just beyond the kiosk was a small cabin suspended from a rail whose path Cloud couldn’t make out past the first bend, as it looped back around the main body of the Gold Saucer.

Aerith rocked on the balls of her feet. “Did we make it in time?”

The woman shrugged. “Barely. Get on.”

Aerith beamed and grabbed Cloud’s hand again to drag him to the cabin. The inside was even more cramped than it looked from the platform and, with the two of them sitting on opposite sides, there was barely any room between their knees. The attendant secured the door and then headed back to the kiosk. A second later, the cabin shook slightly and began to move.

Aerith gave a soft squeal and peered out of the window to her left. “I saw the gondola ride above the theatre, earlier. It goes over the whole park!”

Cloud hummed. “How did you know we were cutting it close?”

She shrugged. “Guessed. It is getting pretty late.”

Cloud vaguely remembered spotting a clock in the Terminal Station. It had read one in the morning. “So much for our early night, huh?”

Aerith giggled and leaned back. “Yeah. Still, I’m glad I’m here.”

“Me too.” He smiled.

The gondola rose higher and higher up in the sky while they sat in comfortable silence for a little bit. Cloud had half expected to have to hide the nausea, but for some reason the ride didn’t bother him at all. Maybe it was because his stomach was way too tied up in knots already to even think about getting sick.

Aerith was leaning with her elbow on the windowsill, watching the view. Fireworks had started to go off, and the light they shone on her was colourful and gorgeous—like the flowers she loved so much. Like her.

She sighed, and Cloud realised he’d been staring. “Thank you for tonight,” she said. “This is… so beautiful. I’m glad I’m sharing it with you.” But she didn’t look glad. She was smiling, yes, but with a sad tilt to her lips, a wistful air in her eyes.

“Are you okay?” asked Cloud. He thought about reaching for her hand, resting on the windowsill, then thought better of it.

Aerith shook her head. “Yeah. No… Yes—it’s complicated. Ah, it’s nothing. Don’t mind me.”

He furrowed his brows in a silent question. Aerith sighed again. “I’m so, so happy I’m here with you,” she repeated. “It’s just… at first, you reminded me a lot of someone. Someone who’s… not in my life anymore. It bothered me a lot, at first.”

“Someone?”

Aerith waved a hand in the air. “Someone. You had all these little things in common—in the way you move, or talk…”

Cloud looked away. “That bad?”

She smiled a bit. “Not bad or good. At first, I thought maybe…” She shook her head. “But no. Things are different. You’re different. And I’m happy I’m here with you. Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

She reached out to take Cloud’s hand, and gave it a little squeeze. He squeezed back, feeling his cheeks heat up a bit. They smiled at each other, but hers was still stained with sadness. “But…?” he asked.

Aerith huffed a bit. “When did you get so observant?”

“You’re not as sneaky as you think you are,” said Cloud, shrugging. “Something’s still bothering you. You, uh, don’t have to tell me, though. If you don’t want to.”

She shook her head. “It’s okay. I don’t know if any of this’ll make sense, though.”

He gave a half smile. “Try me.”

Aerith sighed. “It’s just… Sometimes, I look at you, and it’s like I can’t focus my eyes right. You’re here, but I can’t find you.”

Cloud furrowed his brows. “But… I am here.” I’m with you. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. What does she mean?

She giggled. “I know, I know. I told you it didn’t make sense. Don’t worry about it, I’m just being weird.”

He hummed after a second of hesitation, then leaned back in his seat. Aerith sighed, shook her head, and turned to look at the fireworks again. “Tonight isn’t for sad memories or vague premonitions. It’s for appreciating all the wonderful things happening right now.” She glanced at him. “Like the fireworks, like our friends. Like you.” She took his hand again.

Cloud hesitantly entwined their fingers. “Like you.”

Aerith didn’t turn to look at him, but she smiled softly as she stared up at the sky, at the fireworks dancing across the stars and painting pictures of light. Cloud wanted to keep that image in his memory for the rest of his life.

I could kiss her right now. She’s right here, we’re on a date. I could…

He pressed his lips together. “Aerith…”

She turned. “Hm?”

He opened his mouth, then closed it. His resolve had evaporated the moment she’d turned her big, curious eyes on him. He shook his head. “Uh, never mind.”

Aerith cocked her head to the side, then gave a perplexed smile. “Okay? Oh, no, look.” She pointed out of the window. “I think the ride’s almost done.”

She was right. They were right back in front of the rollercoaster they had started from. Cloud swallowed his disappointment and regret. If only he wasn’t such a lovesick idiot. A bell rang as the gondola wobbled to a stop. The attendant from before hastily opened the door and motioned for Cloud and Aerith to get out of the cabin.

“Looks like our magical ride is over,” said Aerith. “That was really special. Thank you,” she said to the attendant.

Her sour expression softened a bit. “Yeah, yeah. Enjoy the rest of your stay at the Gold Saucer.” She waved her hand in a shooing motion. “Now scram. I gotta lock this place up.”

Aerith giggled and took Cloud’s hand again as she made for the chutes.

“Only one person per chute!” yelled the attendant.

“We know, we know!” laughed Aerith.

She trailed to a stop in front of the doors to the chutes, still holding Cloud’s hand. “See you at the Terminal Station?” he said.

Aerith hummed. “Can’t wait.” Neither of them let go of the other.

“Can you two take the flirting somewhere else?” called the attendant. “Some of us wanna go to sleep.”

Aerith giggled and finally let go of Cloud’s hand. “Sorry, sorry.” She waved at Cloud. “See you in a minute.”

Then she stepped inside the chute. Cloud watched the door close behind her and took a deep sigh.

“Whipped, huh?” said the woman behind him.

He turned around and shot her an annoyed glance. She shrugged. “I calls it like I sees it, Blondie. Go on now, don’t make her wait. Be disgusting somewhere I don’t have to see it.”

He rolled his eyes. “Roger that.”

When he stumbled out of it at the almost-empty Terminal Station, Aerith was right there waiting for him, rocking on the balls of her feet with her hands linked behind her back.

“Missed you!” she said with a smile.

Cloud huffed good-naturedly. “It’s been thirty seconds.”

Aerith put a hand on her chest. “Longest thirty seconds of my life.” She giggled, then cleared her throat and smiled fondly. “I loved tonight. Really. Thank you.”

He nodded, then frowned a bit.

Aerith cocked her head to the side. “What’s wrong? You didn’t have fun?”

“No, no. That’s not it.” Cloud looked away. “I was just… thinking about what you said.”

“Which part? I talk a lot, remember?” She winked.

Cloud rolled his eyes. “On the gondola. About… not being able to find me.”

Her eyes went a bit wide, and she waved a hand in the air. “Oh, that. Really, ignore everything I said. It’s nothing.”

But Cloud shook his head. “It’s not nothing. It’s bothering you.”

Aerith was silent. Cloud pressed on. “I… don’t really know what you mean. I don’t know how I can be here and far away at the same time.” He scratched the back of his neck. “But I wanna fix it. I wanna try. I… I don’t wanna be far away from you.” He swallowed a knot in his throat. “You’ll always find me right here. Whenever you need me, wherever you need me.”

A long moment passed. Aerith was looking at him, eyes wide and full of wonder and surprise. Cloud held his breath.

Then she laughed. “Oh my god, Cloud… How do you always know what to say?”

He let out a huff. “What are you talking about? Have you met me?” He felt the tips of his ears burning.

“Okay, fair, maybe you don't.” She slipped her hand in his and looked up at him. “Maybe you're a flustered hot mess who stumbles over his words when he’s trying to be nice. But it's okay. I can hear what you're really saying.”

“Oh?” Cloud swallowed a knot in his throat. “What am I saying?”

Aerith smiled and stepped right up into his personal space. “You're saying, ‘I wanna make you feel better,’” she said. “You're saying, ‘I care about you.’” She leaned up until their faces were just a breath apart. “I wanna kiss you.”

Cloud was glued to the floor, pinned in place by her gentle hold on his hand and the pull of her eyes, so close that he could count the specks of brown and gold in them. “I—I'm saying that?” he stammered, like an idiot.

Aerith giggled, but she didn't step away. “You tell me, mister,” she whispered. “Are you?”

Thankfully, the answer was simple and short—no chances of messing it up. “...Yeah,” he breathed.

“Awesome.” Aerith's smile widened. “Me too.” And then she finally closed the distance and pressed her lips to his.

It still caught him by surprise. If not for Aerith’s warm hands cupping his face, he would have instinctively recoiled back and regretted it for the rest of his life. Instead, he tentatively brought his hands to her waist to nudge her closer as he kissed her back.

Gently. Softly. Afraid to mess up.

Aerith giggled quietly on his lips, and the vibrations shot down to his chest like electric shocks.

“Been wanting to do that,” she whispered, stepping back just enough to speak.

Cloud nodded a bit shakily. “Yeah. Me too,” he said, and kissed her again.

Finally.

He kissed her until, in a display of pure evil and poetic parallels, a loud boing sound effect played and the two of them sprung apart to spot Cait Sith standing at the other end of the Terminal Station, holding something that greatly resembled the Keystone Cloud had just fought so hard to get from Dio.

#final fantasy vii #cloud strife #aerith gainsborough #clerith #my fics #my writing #my stuff

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izzythehutt · 1 year

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I keep thinking about my "God Meth Us, Everyone" Breaking Bad Christmas Carol idea and the thing that cracks me up about it the most is the thought of Mike Ehrmantraut as Jacob Marley.

I mean, it's interesting because Mike is the only character (besides Jesse) who actually was business partners with Walt, and a lot of their fraught relationship involves Mike telling Walt shit he doesn't want to hear/doling out unsolicited advice about the "right way" to be a criminal, so it feels thematically appropriate for him to have that role in the narrative.

Not to mention that besides Gus, Mike is the character who was probably the biggest influence on Walt as far as the gradual calcification of his heart/his moral descent goes. Mike and Walt are two sides of the same coin, really. Both men use their families to justify the lives of crime they ultimately enjoy, whatever they claim about ends and means. So Mike works as a cautionary tale for Walt, even if he is in many respects a far more sympathetic character.

.....But it's also hilarious to imagine exasperated Ghost!Mike appearing to the person who literally murdered him, who he always found annoying as hell, and having to warn him about where he's going after death. Presumably Marley!Mike is doing this because it shaves off a couple thousand years of purgatory, or will lead to Walt saving Jesse from the Nazis, but he 100000% does not want to be doing it.

"Listen, Walter. Three ghosts are coming tonight. You can listen to them, don't—it doesn't matter to me. I could zip tie you to a radiator again, and I know it wouldn't make a damn difference. And I'm not going to bother trying to explain that no, I'm not a Clarence Odbody figment of your scientific imagination, I'm actually here. I have a job, I'm doing it, I'm getting afterlife payment. It wasn't a pleasure knowing you in life, and it sure as hell isn't in death."

#mike ehrmantraut #breaking bad #walter white #brba #breaking bad christmas #breaking bad meta

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floating-in-the-blue · 1 year

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#catfloat - 133 posts

#hellhome - 132 posts

#trekfloat - 117 posts

#metalfloat - 115 posts

Longest Tag: 139 characters

#but i guess you don't think of people writing dark fic or whatever as actual people so...their deaths wouldn't trouble your precious morals

My Top Posts in 2022:

“Hot dog?” The kitten jumped up again and meowed loudly. Willie on the other hand was suddenly sitting down. “Alex? Is … is that you?” The kitten meowed loudly once again and headbutted Willie’s shin. “You’re … you’re a cat.” As the kitten tilted its head and stared at him, eyes narrowing, hysterical laughter bubbled out of Willie. “Okay, yeah, that’s you. Definitely.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Well, shit.” Alex the kitten meowed his agreement.

Kitten fic is finally here! I'm probably going to post the second and final chapter soonish too but I really, really ought to do the dishes now (and some other chores ... yay) so I'm just throwing this out here.

Thanks eternal to @merihn for being my first enabler and first reader, aka beta on this, to @innytoes for being excited about the idea and drawing amazing fanart that finally kicked my butt into writing this, and to @chanihobbit for cheering me on. You guys are amazing 😻😻😻

28 notes - Posted August 6, 2022

Give me a 5 sentence Snake/Otacon AU where one is an cryptid please!

"Wait, I can explain."

Snake winces at the throaty growl of his voice - it's been a while since he's talked to anyone other than his dogs - but then tries to school his features into a harmless, open expression and suppresses the urge to reach out to the man in front of him.

The man takes a step back anyway - so much for appearing friendly.

Mentally, Snake is already compiling lists of things to pack, how quickly he can get his dogs settled and harnessed and he absolutely refuses to get distracted by the familiar weight of sadness creeping in at the thought of losing even this last connection to humanity - his email friendship with a man who was never supposed to find him in the middle of Alaska.

But then Otacon smiles and it's not a nervous smile or even a sympathetic smile, it's a smile full of enthusiasm and awe that only gets brighter when he reaches up and wipes the mist off his glasses, pushing them back up the slippery slope of his nose and takes in all of Snake.

"This is the best thing that's ever happened to me!"

Thank you, hunny!! God it's been a while since I wrote these two disasters. I couldn't decide what kind of cryptid Snake would be so I'm leaving that up to you. I hope you like this (even though it's six sentences ... shhhhh)

40 notes - Posted February 15, 2022

Please be more careful about accidentally stealing tags, especially on reblogging original art posts!

I know tumblr is a trashfire and there's issues with the app and accidental tag stealing. I operate on a 'good faith' interpretation system. But while copied tags are vaguely weird when it's 'normal' tags, annoying when it's very personal tags, hilarious when it's a personal tagging system suddenly appearing on a different blog, it's just plain wrong when you reblog original art from the op and tags like 'my art' or 'I drew a thing' are copied over!

Sure, every dolt with half a brain will probably be able to figure out it wasn't your original art if you reblogged it but as we all know, this site unfortunately has too many dolts with less brain than that.

(edit: I've been informed that the iOS glitch means you can't see if the tags get copied before you hit reblog, which sucks majorly. But if you use that app, maybe just form a habit of checking your blog every now and then to see if anything got copied over you didn't want to get copied or give blanket permission to people to point those posts out for you)

So.

Please be vigilant to NOT EVER copy tags like 'my art,' 'my writing' etc.

45 notes - Posted July 1, 2022

Can you imagine all the dramatic fights Emily and Luke would have over the scraps of paper he leaves in his laundry? Emily complaining about all the paper fluff she had to pick off her laundry and Luke wailing about all the lyrics he's lost?

Anyway, this post is sponsored by the shopping list I forgot in the back pocket of my jeans ...

53 notes - Posted August 28, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

It's worth it sometimes, you guys. I just got a comment on a five year old fic and I'm ready to cry:

"i thought of this fic again and had to come back and leave a comment on how impactful it has been to me. [...]"

This was not a person who had commented on this fic before. So, to me, this was a new reader but their comment makes it clear that they didn't just read the story and liked it but that they've read it before and it stayed with them. Which is really the highest praise I can think of.

So for anyone thinking about deleting a fic or orphaning it: don't. You take your chance away of getting a comment like this at some point down the road.

204 notes - Posted June 29, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #my 2022 tumblr year in review #yeo tumbles #tumblrfloat

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allenvooreef · 1 year

Note

👻💥🌋🙈🌌✂️ for Raiden? :D

👻 GHOST - do they believe in ghosts? what are their “ghostly experiences”, if any?

The party has actually battled several ghostly specters! So not believing in them isn't much of an option anymore haha.

💥 COLLISON - what emotions do they have trouble dealing with?

OH MAN. Regret. Fear. Grief. Love.

🌋 VOLCANO - how bad is their temper? is it a slow boil, or a instant explosion?

Definitely a slow boil. He is quite easily annoyed, but it takes quite a lot to get him to really lash out out of anger. He holds on to that control for as long as possible.

🙈 SEE-NO-EVIL - whats a side of your oc that they don’t want to show other people?

The side that secretly wants all those things he says he doesn't need. Connection, sincerity, community, safety. The side of him that knows how to be selfless and sympathetic, the side that's vulnerable and unexplored.

🌌 MILKY WAY - what was the inspiration behind your oc? what was the first thing you decided about them?

His name, ironically! xD Raiden was a character in a fantasy novel I wrote with a friend, and he was my fav and I missed him. Since I didn't have much experience creating characters, I decided to take one I had already created and modify him as needed for a D&D setting. OG Raiden was a metamorph, a shapeshifter, and I changed that to him having alternate identities instead. He's changed a lot compared to OG Raiden since then, but his humble beginnings were right there.

✂️ SCISSORS - what is the “last straw” for them to cut someone out of their life? how easily do they let go of people?

Interestingly enough, the hard part for Raiden is not cutting people out. It's letting people in. He has ghosted so many people he once associated with for many reasons - sometimes circumstances caused him to have to disappear, sometimes the sensation of people coming too close set off his fight or flight response. Letting people go is the baseline. Keeping them around turns out to be much, much trickier - something he's currently learning the hard way.

Thanks so much for the asks!! Having a blast answering them

#raiden #eef talks

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redrobin-detective · 2 years

Note

Second Christmas with ghost powers Danny still hates the hollyday but has learned not to blow stuff up in frustration. But not having that outlet, he's pretty short with the ghost who invites him to their truce party. They ask what his problem is and he just rants. To his surprise, the ghost is sympathetic (they are reminded of their own dreaded yearly Thanksgiving Family Feud) and actually mean it when they invite him to the Truce party again.

The annoying part of most DP episodes is some of them could have been Really Good if they just tweaked it suddenly. You can keep Danny's hatred of the holidays, keep Jack and Maddie's fighting and turbulence but let Danny be swept into the Zone for the Truce. Have him meaningfully connect with his enemies, if only for a while and learn more about this side of himself and others.

He leaves the party, finally feeling warm and spirited only to find his parents have abandoned their feud to search for him. They bring him home to not a normal or even totally happy, safe house, but one that is trying every day to be better for their family. That is was Christmas is about. End credits. Like fucking come on, that took my 20 seconds to come up with and is so much better than the shit we got.

#i wonder how butch sleeps at night knowing he cant draw and he cant write #and teenagers bully him and his crappy skills and bad opinions on the interent

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five-rivers · 3 years

Text

Management

For @phandom-phriend

“I want to see your manager,” declared Karen.

The employees’ laughter cut off instantly. Ha. Served them right. These giggling teens didn’t know anything about her, didn’t know what her day had been like. Didn’t know what it was like to be her, with three screaming brats at home and only three days of vacation time.

This stop was supposed to be short. It was supposed to be a rest stop. A place to refuel and pick up her supplements. A ten-minute detour on the way to her spa retreat in the countryside.

But as soon as she’d driven into this town everything had gone wrong. Immediately. It was like the place was cursed. Nowhere more than this garbage hole mini mart. This mini mart which was both too large to easily transverse and too limited in selection.

“Ma’am,” said one of the teens, a girl with an incredibly unprofessional haircut and dye job. Not to mention her piercings. “You really don’t want us to do that.” She licked her lips and some of her cheap black lipstick came off.

Didn’t this store have any kind of dress code? Any kind of professional standard?

“You either get me your manager, or you get me what I asked for.” Drawing a line in the sand was the only way to get things done. The only way to keep people from walking all over you.

The teens exchanged nervous looks.

“Ma’am,” said the other, a boy. “We would, but we’re out.”

“Then you shouldn’t have advertised them,” said Karen, venomously.

“That was last week,” he protested. “It was a sale to make room for new products. We don’t—”

“Unless you’re treating me the way customers should be treated, I don’t want to hear it,” snapped Karen.

The teens exchanged a glance. “Fine,” said the girl. “I’ll get him.”

Karen huffed and crossed her arms, satisfied. About time.

She let her eyes rake over the dismal little store while she waited for the girl to come back. God, it was disgusting in here. She’d be glad to be back on her way.

Three employees, if she could call them that, in this tiny store and it still managed to get this bad. Not to mention the rest of this pothole-ridden town.

If her car didn’t have new tires by the time she got back, oh, there would be hell to pay.

The overhead lights flickered.

The girl jogged back. “He’s coming,” she said.

“Is he too busy to come with you?” asked Karen. Of all the inconsiderate things…

“He has health issues,” said the girl. The lights strobed again, the darkness lasting longer.

“Do you not pay your power bills or something?” asked Karen, annoyed. The flickering was giving her a headache.

“Look,” said the boy, “when your town’s been through as much as ours has, then you can complain.”

“Excuseme? Is that how you talk to a paying customer?”

“You haven’t paid for anything yet, lady—”

“You little—”

“Excuse me. Are you harassing my employees?”

Karen jumped. The young man had, somehow, managed to appear behind the teens while the lights were out. As the lights blinked again, he loomed above her and—

No. He was shorter than she was. About the same height as the teens, in fact. A trick of the light? Whatever. It didn’t matter.

What mattered was getting something to make up for the time she was wasting here. Honestly. This stupid town owed her.

Not that these children would be sympathetic to her plight. No, if life had taught her anything, it was that she had to fight for what she deserved.

So, she presented her case to the manager—And if he knew what was good for this place, he’d let her win. She could and would write an absolutely scathing review and she was in half a dozen Facebook groups that would support her in writing them, no questions asked. There was this one woman on the opposite coast who was practically a genius when it came to reviews.

“Are you listening?” she snapped halfway through, when the manager had failed to respond at all. Usually, by this point they’d tried some kind of spineless, stuttering appeasement.

“Yes,” he said, without any emotional inflection. “Please continue.”

Karen shivered. “Your AC is on too high, too.”

“This is how I like it,” said the manager, voice still flat. “This is how our customers like it.”

“What customers?” sneered Karen. “I’m the only one who’s been here for the past half an hour.”

The manager shrugged. “You should get your prescription checked.”

The lights flickered. The other two employees were gone, nowhere in sight. When had they left? Had they edged out of sight while she was discussing their abysmal performance with the manager.

“You should leave.”

“Excuse me?”

“You should leave. Ma’am.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Dead serious. You’re upsetting our customers. Also, I have real work to do.”

“You don’t have any customers.”

For a long moment, the manager simply stared at her. Then he grinned, the expression not reaching his eyes at all. His teeth… bothered Karen. It wasn’t that they weren’t clean… maybe they were too clean?

She felt herself taking a step back, sweat prickling the back of her neck.

“We don’t have any customers that you can see.”

The lights went out, this time for long enough for Karen’s eyes to adjust. Over a dozen pairs of glowing eyes stared back at her.

She jumped, and the first split second of a scream made it past her lips before she realized the prank being played on her. She scowled.

“I’ll be bringing you and your unprofessional conduct to the attention of your superiors, I’ll have you know,” she said.

“Good luck with that,” growled the manager, looking down at her. “I own this place.”

Growled. Looking down at her.

His eyes burned neon green, brighter and more real than any sticker or glowstick Karen had ever seen.

“Let me spell this out to you, Karen,” rumbled the thing in front of her. “You are not welcome here.”

She ran.

“That was kind of mean, Danny,” said Tucker, tone entirely judgement-free.

Danny, who was telekinetically reshelving the stuff the woman, a particularly annoying and non-perceptive out-of-towner, had knocked down in her haste to get away, shrugged. “She probably didn’t even pick up the details,” he said, sadly, shaking his head. “Some of my best work, gone unappreciated.”

“I think she appreciated it all right,” said Tucker, an edge of glee creeping into his voice. “Did you see how fast she ran?”

“Yep,” said Danny, inhaling deeply and drinking in the last lingering dregs of the woman’s fear. “Y’know, I think her name might have actually been Karen, considering her reaction.”

“Oof, that almost makes me feel bad.”

“Eh,” said Danny, shrugging. He stood on his tip toes to get a few extra inches over the shelves. “Hey, Sam, you good on the register?”

Sam shot him a thumbs up, not even looking away from the blob-like ghost she was currently ringing up. Danny dropped back to his heels.

“Okay, then, if you’re both good out here,” he said. “I’m going to go finish that negotiation for the ectoplasm cookies.”

“Good luck,” said Tucker.

“And if someone is like that again, call me right away, okay?”

“Got it, boss.”

“Gross. Don’t call me boss.”

“Boss. Boss man. Chief. Mr. Manager. Head honcho.”

“Okay, that’s worse. Seriously. You and Sam are on the deed, too.”

“Ah, but you’re the one our ghostly suppliers will negotiate with. Better get back to that, by the way.”

Danny sighed. “I’m promoting you.” He walked away.

“You- No, you can’t do that! Danny! Wait! You can’t promote me! Danny!”

#danny phantom #phic phight #phic phight 2021

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psychicbergara · 2 years

Text

so.. idk what this is but i wrote this in like 30 minutes so if this is bad, i'm sorry SLKDFJ

after a long day at work, ryan and shane both decide to take it easy and decompress. despite popular opinion, they don't do everything together. they do almost everything, arguably, but not everything. in this case, shane's playing red dead redemption which is a type of video game ryan doesn't really get into. he can't do story games because for some weird reason, his anxiety would make him feel shitty; a type of guilt that he isn't playing something relatively productive, like a sports multiplayer game or even call of duty. it doesn't make any fucking sense but he accepts the fact that it's the way his brain works.

ryan doesn't mind watching shane play though. it's so fun to tease him whenever shane makes a mistake and kills his character. but ryan's not a monster (he might be a little bit of a monster). he'd gleefully give shane sympathetic pats on the back for trying while shane gives him one of those scary glares of his. it's nice.

ryan's reading a book on the couch, legs draped across shane's lap while shane's focused on the screen. he likes that he and shane can live in these companionable silences while they do their own thing. the versions of them at the office, in ghost files with their skeptic/believer dynamic, and with other people, those versions are loud. loud in their laughter, their inside jokes, their shared glances, and even those secret smiles they give each other across the office. their love is loud, and it rests in the easy quiet of their apartment.

finishing the last bit of the chapter he's on, ryan folds the corner of the page, bookmarking his last reading spot. he hears a groan of disgust. looking up from his book, shane's looking at him like he insulted the kids he doesn't have.

yet, ryan thinks.

"i still can't believe you'd ruin a perfectly good book like that. how dare you?"

shane's eyes gleam, and ryan knows a bit when he sees one. he plays right into shane's hands like he always does.

"excuse me, sir, but it's practical. i don't have the time to grab a bookmark when i could just use the paper they provided in this book, right here," ryan says, shaking the book in his hand.

shane scoffs, but his expression is fond. "please, you're not following book etiquette like a true bookworm. it's abysmal, actually."

"book etiquette? what the fuck is that? did you suddenly betray me for the elites, madej?" ryan asks, softly kicking his feet into shane's stomach.

shane laughs in surprise, dropping his ps4 controller onto the other side of the couch, the game basically abandoned. shane pushes against ryan's legs, his hand wrapping around ryan's ankle. ryan stops his movements with an exaggerated sigh of protest, but rests his legs on shane's lap again when he feels shane gently rubbing his thumb back-and-forth against the bone of ryan's ankle.

there's a light in shane's eyes. "i would never, you know that," he says, still holding ryan's leg. shane moves his hand up to his clothed calf, fingers hovering over the skin exposed through the holes of his jeans. then shane grins. "but what you think is elitist is actually called common decency."

"oh fuck you, man," ryan snickers, repeatedly digging the side of his foot into shane's belly.

"fuck, stop," shane protests with mirth, smiling while trying to stop the soft attacks into his abdomen, again.

once ryan finally gives in and ceases his mini jabs, he says, "you're so annoying." his voice is light and happy. he sounds a little bit in love. it's not like shane doesn't already know.

"i know," shane says fondly, confirming ryan's thoughts. but in the soft undertones of shane's low voice, ryan also hears, i love, love, love you.

ryan's about to kiss the hell out of this man before he feels gentle lips kiss his knee, with shane bending down to reach the skin that his jeans reveal. his own breath hitches and shane does it again. leaving kiss after kiss on his knee.

ryan laughs restlessly. "you weren't kidding about the ripped jeans, huh?"

shane stops for a brief moment, raising an eyebrow, saying with a judgmental tone that shane knows makes ryan aggravated, "did i ever give any indication that i was?"

"fuck off, i'm just saying."

shane snorts, "i know, i know." he raises an arm. "hey, c'mere."

ryan takes his legs off shane's lap, shifting his weight so he snuggles into shane's side, burying his head into shane's chest. shane tightens his arm around his lower back, his cheek resting on ryan's hair.

i could sit here for the rest of my life, ryan thinks.

hearing shane's sigh of contentment, ryan knows shane would too.

#shyan #skeptic believer #sophie writes #idk i just felt like writing this LSKDFJDFDFJ

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subwaysurf45 · 3 years

Text

Winter Makes Ice (Ep.3)

Summary: you’re captured after a brawl at the Avengers building, Bucky and others must save you before Hydra makes a new Winter Soldier out of you, Bucky has given up that title.

Words: 2799

Episode: Three

Warning: not much, flashbacks, talks of violence

Masterlist! Winter Makes Ice Episode: Two

Time: 1:00pm

Date: October 2nd 2024

It didn’t take long for everyone to board the helicopter and for it to take off, no one was lounging around this morning so they assembled quickly. Bucky sat by himself on the heli, the file was still open in his hands with the page turned to Dr. Wright. Bucky looked over the information that was given; he double and triple checked. There was a car waiting for them when they were going to arrive, Bucky would get dropped off and then Steve, Nat, and Wanda would drive around Halifax but would keep watch for a distress signal. Bucky made it clear it would only be him talking to the doctor, he was practicing his script in his head.

“Five minutes ‘till landing,” the pilot spoke into his headset, the sound went to their ears sounding like a 1940s radio show.

“Copy,” everyone replied without unison.

The plane got lower and lower until it touched the ground; it was a private tarmac for primarily military forces and other important people; SHIELD was always allowed to use it. Everyone got off the plane after the propellers began to slow down, Bucky had jumped off once while they were still at top speed and got flung forward but the air. The all black car stood a ways in front of them, they all took their bags and headed over.

“What a ride…” Steve muttered as he ran his hand against the perfect hood, this car was brand new and probably had never been in the sun before. It wasn’t a low sport car but rather an everyday car that was bullet proof and decked out with an AI on the inside, no one would take a second glance at it but the four of them marveled at how this car could fit in amongst others. The black rims matched the black tires and the black paint, this was Bucky’s dream car.

They all got in and the ride began, Steve drove while Wanda sat in the back with Bucky, Nat was in the passenger seat playing her music. Every so often Wanda would look over to Bucky, he could see her out of the corner of his eye, she’d give a sympathetic glance and maybe open her mouth as if she was about to say something but chose against it. Bucky had Dr. Wright’s address on the file sheet; he was giving directions to Steve as they drove through the colourful houses.

They had never seen houses like this, around four to five houses lined up next to each other, each of them were painted a different colour but they looked the same. Flowers grew in little holders under the two window sills at the front of the house, tulips were the most popular, vines would grow on the side where the sun didn’t shine too much and pain would chip around the bottom of the houses. Some houses still had Halloween decorations up, red leaves scattered on the ground and blew everywhere. There was a brown hue to the world around them, pumpkins were scattered on some door steps while other people still had Christmas lights up from last year.

Bucky tapped Steve’s head rest and the car slowed to a stop, they looked out to their left to see a house that looked like it belonged to the community. It wasn’t modern and square with sleek grey tiles on the outside, it was old and run down. A ghost hung from the single garage light, one pumpkin was sitting on the doorstep. This house didn’t look like one of a nazi group member, nevermind just a person with their doctorate.

Tons of leaves crunched under Bucky’s combat boots, the road was littered with them, it made it seem like it was a red and yellow road. He looked both ways as he crossed even though no cars were on the road except for the military grade undercover car, Bucky looked over his shoulder to see Wanda waving. They were going to head to a farmers market in this town to pass the time, and Bucky would walk over there when he was done. He gave a thumbs up and the car drove away and down the street, he didn’t watch to see it disappear, Bucky only had one thing on his mind and it wasn’t some apple pies Wanda was looking for.

The driveway looked new as well as the cobblestone walkway, one car was in the driveway and it looked to match the house, no crazy sports car. There was a screen door before an actual green wooden door, Bucky pulled back the screen and didn’t bother with the doorbell, he banged on the door. When he pulled his fist away there was a flake of green paint on his middle finger’s knuckle, a quick swipe and it was gone. Bucky stood back because he saw that in the movies, his back turned to the door as he looked out to the town. It was a lovely day, most people were probably at this farmer’s market, Bucky had never been to one even though you had offered to take him.

His head whipped back at the door opening, the same man, but only older, opened the door. He looked tired and worn out, this was probably his last Halloween. The cane he was holding was shaking in his grip, the other hand gripped the side of the door extremely tight. You could see the white through the speckled skin.

“What can I help you with, son?” the old man spoke with a smile, he licked his gums. A Canadian accent seemed almost cartoon-ish.

Bucky froze as he looked at this man, the sight of him brought him back to his nightmares and everything he’d been through. The name ‘son’ rolled off this man’s tongue and down Bucky’s spine and sent a shiver running all through him, it was obvious this man didn’t know who Bucky was. Bucky almost felt bad that he was bothering him, it was obvious he wasn’t a walker and standing seemed to be his exercise for the day, but at the same time Bucky couldn’t help but think about all the ways he could rip this doctor apart.

“Son?” the name came again.

Bucky looked up with a shake of his head, “hello, are you Dr. Wright?” he asked quietly.

“Yes it is, what do you need?” he didn’t seem freaked out that Bucky knew his name, it was a small town.

“My name is James Buchanan Barnes,” Bucky started but the man didn’t seem to figure it out, “I am the Winter Soldier- used to be actually…” Bucky added.

“Are you here to kill me?” the man’s voice shook, “because if you really are him then you have every right to do so,” he stepped back and opened the door for Bucky to walk in.

“I’m here to talk, you’re not going to die.” Bucky walked in and kicked off his combat boots, he’d heard it’s a thing in Canada to take your shoes off in the house. He also heard there was bagged milk which didn’t make any sense to him, but he wasn’t about to argue.

“That’s always good to hear, eh?” the accent slipped out again, it was weird for Bucky to see this man who haunted him just laughing. “Would you like some hot chocolate?” Dr. Wright asked as he made his way into the kitchen.

His house was small, not many walls as one room just faded into another. Knick-knacks littered shelves and tables, everything brought a homey feel to it all, the house was very lived in. “No thanks,” Bucky waved up a hand to signal no.

The doctor came and sat across from him, Bucky was sitting on a chair while Dr. Wright took the sofa, they both were wrapped in plastic. It made a squeaky sound when either of them moved but it didn’t seem to bother the doctor at all, Bucky one final time before swearing he wasn’t going to move again and hear that annoying sound. Both of Bucky’s hands were clasped in front of him, he felt too large and bulky for this petite chair, his fingers fiddled with each other. He’d pick and poke at the massive gloves he wore, his long sleeve was covering everything he needed.

“So, Dr. Wright-”

“Jacob, son,” he corrected, “though I am a doctor,” Jacob hesitated, “I go by Jacob.”

“Is that your real first name?” Bucky asked, he was met with a smile and nod, “then call me Bucky, please.” Bucky smiled back, there was a growing tension between the both of them but they chose to ignore it.

“Nice to meet you, Bucky.” Jacob seemed to relax at the name, he was scared of Bucky and Bucky could tell. This man had seen Bucky train for years on end, and Jacob knew what the Winter Soldier was capable of. “What do you need to talk to me about?” his cane rested beside him, his hand found its way there and just held it.

“I need to talk to you about Hydra, any information you have on the Iceland base- or any base in Halifax, Iceland, Greenland, and there’s one more…” Bucky brought a gloved hand to his stubbled chin, the leather making a rough noise when it brushed against the facial hair. “Oh! It was Newfoundland, anything you knew about those four places.”

Jacob thought for a moment, he didn’t have stubble to rub. Though he was old it was obvious he still thought that it was the old days, hair slicked back and a very fresh shave, facial hair wasn’t allowed unless you had grown it out in private. Bucky had always remembered Howard Stark’s mustache; he couldn’t picture him without it.

“I mean, I was just a scientist, I ran labs and tested things on animals. I didn’t come up with the world ending plans, I was never told the reason for what I was doing, I was just told to do it.” Jacob sounded worried, “when I used to work for Hydra I was worried for my life everyday, they were so paranoid all the time that someone could be a rat. If you said ‘hail Hydra’ a little too quietly then you’d have a bullet between your eyes, I just kept my head down and did what I was told.” Jacob’s hand got increasingly tighter on the handle of his cane.

“Was there something new they were working on?” Bucky asked, and he pulled out a little flip book to keep track.

“I quit a total of ten years ago, when I was seventy-one, the only thing they were thinking of was keeping you in their grasp, there was no other plan.” Jacob shrugged, “Hydra couldn’t see a life source without you, they never intended on losing you the way they did.”

“So you have no idea what they could possibly be working on, at all?” the hope Bucky had was falling, this was the only lead they knew and if all he could say was there was never a plan B, you were screwed.

“I’m sorry Bucky, I really want to help, but I just don’t know.” Jacob stood and walked back to the kitchen. He filled a glass of water and grabbed three pills from a container before heading back over to his seat.

“Out of the four places I mentioned, Iceland, Greenland, Halifax, and Newfoundland,” Bucky paused and watched Jacob mutter them to himself and then take the pills, “which one is the strongest?”

Jacob swallowed his pills with water, “Iceland.” without any hesitation, no second guess, nothing giving away he was lying for didn’t know. “Iceland was hell for me, it has the best of the best for agents, scientists, and…” he glanced out the window, “cells and tourture.”

Bucky shot up right away, he headed to the door. Jacob followed him, glass still in his hand. When Bucky was about to leave Jacob placed a hand on his shoulder. When Bucky turned back around the hand traveled along the center of his chest, “I'm not wired, Jacob.” Bucky eased.

“Some things just come second nature, son.” Jacob kept his head down, “y’know, I never wanted to hurt you. I thought I was making my old man proud, but I never stopped to realize what I was doing was actually wrong.” Jacob looked up with glossy eyes, “I actually wanted to find you at some point because I know I was the one who woke you up last, I remember clearly the way you looked, right then, I knew I needed to leave that place.” Jacob shuffled over and stood completely square to Bucky, Bucky just looked down at Jacob with a face of horror. The man Bucky saw every night was crying and apologizing to him, he didn’t know anyone who worked with Hydra had a heart. “I’m sorry for everything I did to you,” Jacob reached in his back pocket, he had placed the glass of water on a side table. “Here, take some money-”

“No, none of that, Jacob, really,” Bucky held his hands out, “you’re forgiven, don’t worry about all that, I just need to find someone.” Bucky reached for the door.

“What do you mean?” Jacob fished in his wallet.

“Hydra stole my girlfriend, I think she's in Iceland.” Bucky’s eyebrows knitted together at Jacob who was given him a coin.

“I think you’re right,” Jacob dropped the coin in Bucky’s palm before closing the door, the screen door creaked as it shut quickly with the wind.

Time: 2:33pm

Date: October 2nd 2024

Steve, Nat, and Wanda were walking around on the closed road, stands of every fruit and pastry lined the streets. Wanda was on top of the moon, she had a tote bag with some apple turnovers in them, that was really all she wanted. Nat had actually bought something too, Steve was genuinely surprised when Nat bought some earrings from a vendor, they were very small and dainty moons that would go in her ear lobes. Steve didn’t buy anything but just liked walking around, there was a lot to see but in a good way, no screens or jumbotrons, just people being people.

As Bucky made eye contact with Steve, Steve’s phone rang. Nat and Wanda rushed up to Bucky and were asking how it went, but the unknown caller was what Steve was focusing on.

“Steve Rogers,” Steve lowered his voice.

“Captain Rogers,” an all too familiar voice hit his ear.

“King T’Challa?” Steve turned his back to the group.

“We have three Hydra agents in custody, they tried to take out my sister,” his accent flowed and bounced as he talked.

“Keep them in the cells, we’re on our way.”

“Will there be more of them?” T’Challa asked before he could hang up.

“I don’t know, but hold them and don’t kill them, they might be our only hope.” Steve said his goodbyes and hung up.

When he turned back to Bucky and the rest of them, they seemed scared, Bucky had overheard Steve’s call, super hearing, and was looking at him weird.

“What was that?” Bucky asked.

“King T’Challa, says there was an attempted hit on Shuri, doesn’t know where they came from but they want her.” Steve shoved his phone in his back pocket, “what did you find?”

Bucky just held up a silver coin, “we’re going to Iceland.”

“We need to go to Wakanda,” Steve stepped forward.

“Not all four of us,” Nat pulled everyone aside from the farmer’s market, “I’ll go with Steve to Wakadna, you go with Wanda to Iceland. We’ll be talking and before you ambush the Hydra base in Iceland we’ll confirm y/n is in there, deal?” She looked to the other three.

“Deal.”

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