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Can we please get an Eris x Plus size reader!!! I know he would be feral and you would write him so good >3

I will take ANYTHING for him!!! I trust you completely x

Fire Night | Eris Vanserra

Eris X Plus size Reader

It’s Fire Night and High Lord Eris has to complete the Great Rite. He finds Y/N – he finds his maiden.

Warning: Mature themes (18+), swearing, creepy Fae dude, and smut.

MASTERLIST - 1 and 2

"Nervous?" Lucien teased from beside me, the moonlight and stars above beaming down on his tawny skin and the pleased smile he wore.

"High Lords don't get nervous, little brother," I smirked, winking at him as he scoffed, unimpressed by my sure response.

But even my own arrogance couldn't hide the fire I felt simmering in my veins, the intensity getting stronger and stronger as the moon neared its apex. Mud and grass ground under my feet as we moved through the field, the wind blowing a cool breeze that ran over my short hair, my loose slacks, and my painted bare chest.

As if the earth itself was in anticipation of what was to come.

We stopped at the foot of the field, the slight downhill slope allowing us to see the broad scope of just how many of my people gathered tonight. Hordes of males and females – dancing, drinking, partying. They vibrated with anticipation too.

For Fire Night had come at long last.

It was my first as High Lord. For weeks we had been preparing for the Great Rite, for the moment where all the magic would be funnelled from me into the earth, to the soil and trees, to my court to feed it, to flourish it.

It had been all we had talked about for several months, yet now that it was here, it all felt surreal. I could smell the burning log fires, the clouds of soot misting the night air. I could see my people thrum with excitement and arousal, keen to find a pretty stranger to escape into the darkness with.

But most importantly, I felt my power within me, like a beast rearing its head. I felt it sharpening, honing, as a predator would before the ultimate hunt for prey.

"Has anyone caught your eye yet?" Lucien asked from beside me, metal eye ticking as he glanced sidelong at me. If he felt my restlessness, he did not comment on it. "There are many beautiful females here tonight, Eris. How will you choose your maiden?"

My Maiden. The female whom I would join with – mind, body, and soul for the magic within me to be released.

My senses felt acute now, narrowing the higher and higher the moon rose. My attention upon the females here tonight narrowed too. I felt many of their eyes on me, their attention on me, hoping to be chosen, to be given the honour of the Maiden tonight.

Lucien was right, there were dozens of beautiful females here, so many, and all different – tall, short, fair, dark, petite, curved, brunettes, blondes, redheads and –

My wandering gaze stopped, abruptly. And I could not look away, even if I wanted to.

For there, at the far end of the field, stood near hidden amongst a group of females I saw her. For a moment, the fire in me quelled, the noise around me silenced, and it seemed even the breeze fell still.

For her.

She with that bright smile and those glowing doe eyes. She with luscious hair and skin that seemed kissed by the moonlight. She with that body – fuck, that body. Curves upon curves upon curves. A canvas of flesh that I desired to spend eternity exploring.

To touch and taste and pleasure.

"I don't choose," My voice was like gravel, deepening as I watched her plump lips part and her head tilt back with a laugh. A laugh I desperately wished I could hear. "I will just know who my maiden is."

That's what the Priestesses had told me – you will know, Eris, when you see her. You will feel her presence, you will scent her skin, you will hear the sound of her voice and you will know.

I grimaced as they spoke, biting my tongue to stop myself from smarting about how tradition usually came with little logic. But now, now I understood. Because looking at her, I knew.

Mine. That's what my magic hummed. That she was mine.

"It's beginning," Lucien muttered, twisting his braid from his shoulder to swing down his painted back. I watched her, something sparking in my chest as she giggled, marvelling at the moon slotting into its place high above. And then she began running toward the forest with the crowd.

Grinning brightly, her hair flowing behind her with the breeze of the wind. Her bare feet padded against the floor, her hand holding her skirt high enough to expose the soft flesh at her thighs. Incandescent, like a living star she disappeared with her friends into the trees.

The hunt had begun. I felt it in me, the near-painful heat of my fire within, the tension pulling tauter and tauter as if desperate to escape. Desperate to follow – to follow her, down that path and into the darkness beyond.

"I assume Elain is somewhere in the forest, waiting for you," I smirked at my brother, seeing something glint in his russet eye at the mention of the fair female. "Shouldn't you be off to find your mate?"

The fox hunting his fawn. I felt a mixture of pride and joy as my brother began chuckling, meandering down the hill in search of his wife at my teasing words.

"You have your maiden and I have mine," Lucien winked, his heart racing in his chest as he followed that bond, that invisible string toward his mate. "Good luck, Eris."

I laughed as Lucien moved toward the tree line, following the crowds of giddy, drunken Fae every single one of them in a hunt of their own. The drums quickened their beat, the rhythm marching in time to the pulse in me, that raging storm.

The moon was at its apex. The Great Rite had begun.

And as I stormed down the hill and into the forest's mouth, I too tugged on the invisible string within me, tugged on that insatiable power.

I knew it would take me straight to her.

***

"Sara? Maeve?" I called out again, looking aimlessly through the acres of forest and night. My voice died out in the wind, drowned by the noise of people and the beat of drums. "Guys?"

I groaned as I waded over branches and fallen trees, my Fae eyesight the only thing stopping me from cutting open my feet or falling onto my ass. I lifted my muddied skirt higher, exposing my thighs to the brash wind as I climbed over a huge tree root.

"Guys?" I tried again. I heard a feminine giggle, and I whipped to the right – a male and female rushed past me, kissing, and touching as they waded further into the forest. I shook my head at them, knowing they were one of many seeking refuge in another's arms tonight.

Fire Night, or the Great Rite as some called it was for all accounts and purposes a fuck fest. Simply a huge orgy.

Where the citizens of each court partied and drank and danced through the night, where they loosened their inhibitions and ran away with pretty strangers to engage in activities otherwise taboo. It was the one night where no one cared and no one judged, the one night where every intimacy was encouraged, every orgasm needed to fuel the harvest.

Only the High Lord had a true role tonight. To find his maiden, to join with her and through that release all the power within him back into the land. It was their intimacy that mattered the most tonight, their releases that would take us into a fruitful Spring season.

Sara and Maeve had laughed and scolded me for calling it a fuck fest, for diminishing such an old tradition. And yet, they had dragged me along tonight anyway. I was coaxed with music and dancing and alcohol, told that we would frolic through fields and bask in the moonlight and drink until we couldn't see.

And for a while, we had done exactly that.

We had sipped at the Fae wine until all I could taste was grape. We danced around the log fires with ribbons in our hair and the wind on our skin until our feet ached. We had enjoyed the lovely music, Sara flirting with the lute player, teasing him to come find her in the forest later.

And we had basked in the moonlight, frolicked through the forest, and laughed and laughed and laughed – until about ten minutes ago, when I had lost Sara and Meave in a flurry of people, my hand slipping free from theirs until I was carried away by a wave of the crowd in the opposite direction.

I was lost. And I had wandered far enough out into the forest that no one was here but me. I should have been panicked, should have been scared, but the Fae wine I had drank earlier quelled all those instincts, quelled them until nothing but the faint hum of inebriation remained.

"Not lost are you, darling?"

I jumped at the voice, the rough amusement breaking through the distant sound of music and the far-out litter of voices. I turned, my breath caught in my lungs and latched my eyes upon a male standing not two feet before me.

Dark hair, dark eyes, tall, built, attractive – and staring at me like he wondered what my blood would taste like coating his tongue.

"No, no," I shook my head, tightening my hold around my skirt, my instinct screaming at me that I may need to run. The male took a step forward, eyes darting to the exposed skin peeking under my skirt. "I was just looking for my friends."

"A pretty thing like you shouldn't be out here alone," He clucked his tongue. He stepped forward. I stepped back. He grinned and revulsion ran through me. "I can be your friend if you'd like. Take care of you."

I knew exactly how he would take care of me. Knew exactly what depravity was running through his mind as he stalked closer and closer to me. I shook my head again, the forest terrifyingly quiet now as I yielded step after step from him.

"I'm fine, thank you," My knuckles were white from how tightly I held my skirt. I eyed the clearing behind him, the path back to the people and fires and dancing. Back to safety. His dark eyes glinted like he knew he was the one obstacle in my path. "I should return to the festivities – "

"Oh, come on," His voice turned sharp, lethal and I felt bile twist in my stomach as his slender hand clamped around my wrist, tugging me toward him. I smelt the wine on his breath as he yanked me to his side. "We both know you're not here for the music and dancing."

"Let go," I breathed, trying to pull my arm free. He clamped down until it hurt. My wide eyes met his, tears in them as I tried to pull back. "I said – "

"Let go," A voice of a God seared through the air. Tinged with flames and violence. "She said let go."

The male holding me snarled quietly, his drunken gaze ripping from my terrified face to whoever dared interrupt behind him.

His hand was furiously holding me one second and then the next his fingers slipped free. I stumbled back, clutching my aching wrist to my chest and staring at that unnervingly still male as he stared ahead. He was so tall, so broad I couldn't see who was there, couldn't see what had made him so scared.

"I'm sorry," He whispered. His voice cracked. I think I smelt urine too. "I'm sorry, High-"

"Leave," That voice again, as if torn from the Cauldron itself. So much anger, so much death promised in just one word.

And with that command, that trembling weak male scurried away like the vermin he was. Tail between his legs, head bowed and eyes on the floor, so small now as he ran back toward the field. And as he shifted from my eyeline, I saw what, who had begot that fear.

"High Lord," I breathed, the air whooshing from my lungs at the sight of the male stood before me.

Tall, foreboding, broad – Glorious.

I traced his pale, moonlit skin his chest exposed and painted beautifully with intricate dark whorls, every strong hard inch of him. His hair had been cut short, the bright auburn locks like a beacon in the darkness, as were his eyes – amber, and I swore I saw flames simmering in them as he slowly stalked toward me.

The air went taut – as if time and space and life itself had paused at our meeting. And the sight of him, that beautiful, indomitable masculine strength had my body trembling the closer he got.

My back hit a massive tree behind me and suddenly, like a lamb before a lion, I was caged in, trapped. He stopped, so close I could smell the warm cinnamon, the tart apple and rich clove on his skin. I could feel the heat of the fire in his veins, could feel the sweet burn of his gaze as he traced his eyes over my face and body.

"Did he hurt you?" He asked, voice like warmed honey and tart berries. I sucked in a sharp breath when his large hand came forward, tucking my hair behind an arched ear, his fingers brushing my skin just barely. I felt that touch through my whole body.

"No, I'm fine," I whispered, the pine digging into my back. Something in me yearned to go closer to him, yearned to feed into his touch, but I fought it, let the cut of wood against my skin distract me. "Thank you, for your help High Lord."

He stepped closer and I had to crane my neck to meet his furious, wild eyes. His hand lingered on my cheek, burning burning burning. And then his other hand moved, rested against the tree beside my head, and he leaned in, so close I knew he could smell the sweet wine with every shaking breath I took.

"Do you know how I found you, My Lady?" He asked, quiet menace lacing his words. I smelt mint and cider on his breath. I nearly moaned at how good it smelt. He continued when I didn't reply. "I followed my power. Followed the scent of you, the sound of you followed every print you made in the ground."

"Why?" I could hear my heartbeat in my ears as he inched forward, his beautiful face lowering to mine until I could count the freckles across his cheeks, could see the embers crackling in his iris. My eyes fluttered when his nose brushed mine and sparks followed that touch.

"My magic wanted you; it chose you," He said, a growl rumbling through him as he traced his nose across my cheek, letting my scent invade his senses. "My maiden. Mine."

Maiden.

Mine.

There was a lump lodged in my throat as the realisation settled in me. That I had been chosen, that I was the maiden for the Great Rite tonight. Me.

Eris pulled back, dark lashes fluttering as he peered down at me, his aura addictive and dark, assessing each rise and fall of my chest. Calloused fingers cupped my jaw, his thumb brushing along the skin there, leaving fire and need in its wake.

That burning in me it was because of him. It was in response to him.

"Do you accept, My Lady?" He breathed, and the way he addressed me, was full of reverence, of awe. A match for the look in his eyes as he traced my face, languished down my body. "Will you be my maiden? Will you let me worship you tonight?"

Worship me. He wanted to worship me, not the other way around. A night that was for him, that revered his power and yet he spoke as if this ceremony was in fealty to me as if I were the Goddess he would bow before.

That hand languished down my jaw, down my neck, the touch appraising, stopping just at the top of my chest. His amber eyes dipped, darkening at the valley between my breasts, at the material that clung to the small peaks of my nipples.

Worship, that is what his eyes said. Veneration at the foot of my altar.

"Yes, High Lord," I whispered, every word as breathless as the last. His hand on my chest tightened, and the ache that spread through me became nearly unbearable. "Tonight, I am yours."

A tsunami of fire erupted in his eyes at my words and every inch of me was molten at that look. At the promise behind it.

"Then I am yours too, My Lady."

He's upon me before I can even appreciate his words, the oath behind them. And by the Mother, I could taste the fire on his lips, taste the flames burning in his sweet mouth.

My back hits the tree as Eris claims me, his lips moving against mine in a way that could only be described as hungry. Lips and teeth and tongue and spit, the kind of kiss that devoured, that did not leave even an inch of space.

I moaned at the feel of his mouth against mine, moaned more as he pressed his tall, strong body flush against me, letting me map out every muscled inch of him. He growls at the noises that slip from me and into him, one hand curling around the base of my throat and squeezing.

"Eris," I whimper, the breath catching in my lungs as his long fingers close around my windpipe just barely. He groans, like a man starved as I nibble at his lip.

"Say that again," He commands, voice like death incarnate. And every atom in me wants to obey, every atom in me lives to satisfy him.

"Eris," I plead his name again, my back arching against the wood as he begins kissing and biting furiously across my jaw and jugular, the hand at my throat keeping me rooted in place. "Eris, please – "

I cry out at the sound of fabric tearing and suddenly, I feel a cold breeze against my back and hips. More fabric rips and I whimper as Eris yanks my ruined dress from my body, savage as he exposes my naked form to him.

"Fuck," He curses roughly, eyes like Hel itself as he gazes down at my naked body, my dress a ruined heap on the floor behind us now. My body is alight as he traces every inch of me, his chest erratic as he takes in my bare breasts, my stomach and hips, the way I clench my thighs to satiate the ache between them.

"Look at you," He muses, smirking as he runs his hands down the sides of my body, nails scratching at my flesh, his pupils blown out with lust as he takes me in. "Like a blessing from the Mother herself."

I croon at the satisfied growl in every word, back bowing when his hands caress down my waist and hips, kneading the skin before settling over my ass. He groans as he fondles the flesh, canines nipping at the base of my throat.

“Eris!” I squeal when his hand claps against my ass cheek, the sound loud in the silence of the forest. He laughs, massaging the hot, aching spot and it’s almost embarrassing how wet I am, embarrassing how I can feel it dripping down my thighs. “Please, please Eris. Take me – “

“I will, my lady,” He mutters, the sound muffled as he circles his tongue around my nipple, teasing the sensitive buds. I lace my fingers into his short, silken hair and I feel him sink down, down, down, my body.

“High Lord?” My voice is shaking as I stare down at him. He’s on his knees before me, amber eyes peering up through long lashes at my naked, trembling body.

High Lord of the Autumn Court. On his knees before me.

“I’ll take you, sweet girl, don’t you worry,” He muses, and I’m not breathing as his hands come to my thick thighs, parting them and moaning at the wetness dripping from my core. His eyes flash to me, molten and cruel. “But a female as pretty as you has to come on my tongue before she can around my cock.”

He looked ravenous as he curled his large hand around my calf and lifted my leg to hook over his broad shoulder. I should have been embarrassed, mortified at the prospect of being naked in the middle of a forest, for anyone to stumble upon.

But as he neared the wet, aching spot between my legs, I didn’t care.

“Oh Gods,” I gasped at the first broad stroke of his tongue through my folds. Eris growled, a purely satisfied, appraising sound and when he traced his tongue up from my wet hole and to my clit again, my head tilted back against the bark, and I moaned.

I was grateful for the drums and the music pounding through the air, glad for how far into the forest we were, glad that everyone else was preoccupied with their own partners tonight. Because as Eris’s tongue licked and sucked and flicked against my core, I couldn’t contain any of the noises that ripped from me.

Eris groaned, content and satiated, one hand sprawled across my thigh, the other holding down my flailing hip as he lapped his tongue over me again and again, tasting me in a way that had tears brimming in my eyes.

“Taste so sweet,” He muttered, lips plucking back from my swollen clit, the sound so lewd. He didn’t waste any time though, no, he slipped lower, and I whimpered into the night air as he shoved his hot tongue into me, fucking my tight walls furiously.

Eris was a male who took his females pleasure seriously, seemed to feed off it, and seemed to relish it. His tongue slipped in and out of me and his nose brushed my clit back and forth, stimulating two spots that made my body shake from the pleasure.

My climax approached me so fast, that fire that simmered in me from Eris’s presence stoked and suddenly I felt the flames kiss my whole body.

I cried out, his tongue buried in me and his nose toying with my clit, the sounds wet and filthy, his grumble of approval vibrating through me.

“Eris, Eris – “

Everything eclipsed my vision as my orgasm hit me, so hard I felt it rattle my very bones. My back bowed and my eyes rolled, tremors wrecking me as waves of release washed over me. I was moaning, near crying, my stomach and thighs clenching and unclenching as Eris’s tongue lapped and lapped at me.

I felt my release pulsing in the air around us, a living breathing thing. I swear the wind kissed me at the feeling as if nature itself was thanking me for the power I’d let free into the world.

I whined desperately, pushing at his head and writhing, trying to pull my sensitive clit free from his merciless mouth. He chuckled, lips plucking away and relenting. I sagged in relief, back pressed flush to the tree behind me.

“You look so beautiful,” Eris breathed and my heavy eyes blinked open meeting his. He looked beautiful – on his knees, sweat coating his skin, my wetness glistening over his mouth and nose. “I wonder how perfect you'll look coming around my cock.”

He smirked, looking like a Prince of Hel as his hand snaked up my sweating body and wrapped firmly around my throat. He tugged me down, his lips crashing against mine, letting me taste myself on his tongue. My hands fell to his broad, muscled chest and his arm snaked around my back, fingers digging into me.

One second, I was before him and then the next, he yanked me down and flipped me so that I lay on my back against the grass and mud.

I giggled, my heart thundering wildly in my chest as he braced his arms on either side of me, face hovering over mine. The smirk he wore was terrifying, a promise of ruination. I could feel the tension going taut between us, feel his power thrumming in anticipation.

“Are you ready, my lady?” Eris asked, wicked menace lacing every word. I whimpered as his nose brushed mine, one hand slipping between our bodies and pushing down his slacks. He hissed as his cock slipped free, his hand curling around himself and pumping.

“Yes, High Lord,” I whispered, satisfaction filling me when Eris snarled, that title on my lips more arousing than he could think possible. His nails dug into my flesh as he hooked my thigh around his muscled hip, and we both moaned when his tip brushed my centre.

He was big, thick, and long, I could feel it as he traced through my folds, coating himself in me. I curled one hand into his short hair, the other raked down his muscled arm, his skin scorching with intense heat, vibrating with power under my touch.

“Oh – “

He slipped his tip into me, and the stretch from just that one inch was enough to knock the air from my lungs. And then my back was arching against the soft ground, as he pushed in another inch and then another until my walls were burning and my thighs were shaking from the pressure.

“Look at me,” Eris commanded, his voice hissing through his clenched teeth. I blinked my eyes open, meeting a sea of blazing embers. Eris grinned as he maxed out in me, his hips brushing mine as he settled. “Good girl.”

“Er-Eris – “ I choke, my body spasming as he pulls his cock out to the tip, leaving me utterly bare before slamming his hips forward in one brutal thrust, forcing himself back into me until he hits my cervix.

He does that again and again. He pulls out and then he shoves it back in. Every last inch. And I scream for him, I clench around him, I let him ruin me.

My body trembles as Eris begins fucking into me, his hips rolling hard and deep, stretching my tight walls until all the pain vanishes and becomes a pure, euphoric pleasure. His pace is brutal, unforgiving, his hold on my body bruising as he forces me to adjust, forces me to take it.

“Just like that,” He praises the voice of a God, the voice of a High Lord, a male who was in complete control. His lips meet mine, teeth and spit, biting my lips and battling my tongue as he moves inside me.

It was like no other experience I’d ever had, like sleeping with no other male. I felt every stroke through my whole body, felt every brush of his tip in the spongey spot deep in me through my blood and veins. Was it because he was a High Lord? Was it because of the Great Rite? It had never felt this good before.

And Eris seemed to know it, he seemed to feel the same. The noises that came from the High Lord, the snarls and growls, the grumble of deep groans that reverberated into me as he sunk in at a different angle. The small whimpers and desperate moans as I kissed and suckled his lips, his jaw and neck.

His hips jolt into me, hard and deep and fast, hitting a spot that makes tears leak down my cheeks. Tears that Eris chuckles at, a sardonic sound before he gently licks them away. His kisses were soft, so at odds with how his cock fucked me raw.

“Eris,” My mouth gapes open as that familiar pool in me begins to fill. “Oh Gods, Eris I’m going to come – “

His hand wraps around my throat, squeezing in intervals around my windpipe, in tandem with how his cock drives into me. Stars start bursting through my gaze, I see his amber eyes, I see the moon shining above, and I feel my power gathering and gathering.

“Are you going to come, my lady?” He mocks, sweat beads coating his skin, melting our bodies together. I sob, the sound choking out of me from the lack of air. “Is the maiden going to make a mess of her High Lords cock?”

“Yes, yes, yes,” I cry out at his filthy words, my nails biting against his skin, against his scalp as the fire in me rages into a full-blown storm. Eris curses at how tightly I clench around him and his amber eyes light, like candles flickering to life.

The air turns still. The wind stops moving. Even the sound around us dies out. He hits that spot in me again and again, and the power between us is starting to tear apart.

“With me,” Eris snarls, pressing a wet kiss to my lips. His movements become erratic, desperate, and that last thread rips away and he groans. “Come with me, my lady.”

I scream his name, and flames engulf us both as he roars, his cock spasming and spilling his cum inside me. Black dots fill my vision, and all I can feel, all I become is fire – it explodes from us, from him, as release waves and waves and waves over us.

It's unlike any climax I’d ever felt before, my thighs clamping around his waist, my walls suffocating him inside me and both our bodies shaking from the aftermath. Power leaks from him, from me, and I can feel it seeping into the soil, into the trees, into the very air.

I force my eyes open, watching as Eris pants above me, one hand holding my throat, the other braced beside my head. A God, he looked like a God – moonlight beaming over his wet skin, amber eyes a tsunami of flames, his strong throat working as he groaned from the pleasure ringing from him.

The ultimate release, not just sexually, not just physically, but spiritually – he was feeding our land, feeding our Court.

“Fuck,” Eris curses, voice like gravel now. He collapses against my chest, burying his head into the crook of my neck as his orgasm fades, as the Great Rite is completed. I hold him to me, our heart beats pounding in tandem as we come down from our highs. “Fuck.”

I run my hand through the damp stands of his hair, kissing his cheek tenderly, feeling his cock still inside me, softening. His hands curl around my waist and thigh, not even an inch of space between us. It was just me and him, the moon above, the forest around and the wind kissing our skin.

The earth felt fuller somehow, everything felt stronger around us.

“Congratulations, High Lord,” I smiled, feeling Eris chuckle against my skin. He kisses the junction where my neck and shoulder meet. “You’ve completed your first Fire Night.”

“I couldn’t have done it without you, my maiden,” He nipped at my jaw as he raised his head, grinning at the giggle that escaped me. His amber eyes met mine, liquid gold in them and he smiled. “Only your sweet – “

His words stopped, abruptly. As if someone had torn the air from his lungs. As if someone had frozen all movement in his body.

“Eris, what – “

Amber eyes. Pale moonlit skin. Fire, fire, fire –

And then it clicks into place in me too. I feel it like the last piece of my soul.

“Mate,” Eris breathes, and his hands tighten over my flesh. Possessive. Needy. Claiming. “You’re my mate.”

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

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huramuna · 2 months

Text

even in undeath - chapter 1.

lich king aemond x reader a 'world of warcraft' AU. prev | next

The Lich King is the master and lord of the Scourge. Consisting of thousands of walking corpses, disembodied spirits, beasts of the north, and damned mortal men, the Scourge is a terrifying and insidious enemy.

word count: 2.3k

@huramuna-fics - follow & turn on notifications for just my fic postings! no taglists right now, sorry.

content: DEAD DOVE: DO NOT EAT, DUBCON, smut, heavy heavy angst, graphic depictions of violence, allusions to cannibalism, imprisonment, kidnapping, murder, suicidal thoughts and ideation, mutilation of corpses, obsessive aemond, dark aemond, a happy ending is not in our future. PLEASE MIND THE TAGS! This story will be pretty dark.

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It was dark and cold. There was a faint dripping of water somewhere off to the side, but you couldn’t quite see where. The echoes of whimpers ricocheted off of the craggy walls, stinging your eardrums.

This was the descent into madness, wasn’t it?

You weren’t sure how long you’d been chained up for— how long had it been since your village burned to the ground? Since you watched the ghouls rip apart the cow farmer from down the road. Since you watched hellhounds crunching on little Mary Jay’s bones. Since you had watched your mother and stepfather plead and beg for their lives, for forgiveness, for mercy, for absolution of their supposed sins before the death knight’s sword lopped their heads off.

How long has it been?

Shifting slightly, the chain tied to your throat clinked against the wall. There was no light, no passage of time to be had in the dank, pitch black cave they stowed you and a few select others in. You only had on a ragged potato sack as a dress, the sensation of dirt and grime caked on your hair and under your nails making you feel less than human.

But— you were still human. For now. The Scourge had ravaged the Eastern Kingdoms without mercy, swiping through the North and South like a fast traveling plague, curdling and damning everything it touched. Hordes of undead zombies, ghouls and hellhounds were the first to raze the cities, driving out the people like mice from the walls. Then the banshees came, along with the necromancers to raise the dead, adding them to a forever amounting army.

Not even Quel’thalas had been able to resist it, an ancient elven city hewn in magic.

What chance did you have?

More than most, evidently. Your mind wrought itself over and over as to why— why were you alive? Why were you still human and not merely a risen thrall?

The clinking of armor scared you as it ascended the hallway. You pressed close to the wall and closed your eyes.

Please don’t stop here, please don’t stop here.

Clink, clink, clink… closer… closer…

Then it passed, descending further away. You let out a breath, your blood still pumping in your ears.

Clink, clink, clink. They were coming back. Clink… silence. You felt bile rise in your throat as you shook, the chains rattling noisily. You knew they were standing there, you knew they were here for you.

A harsh tug upon your chain, your head hitting the floor— some words were mumbled, the voice sounding far away and broken. Your eardrums rang with the ferocity of your fall, drowning out any semblance of what your jailer was saying to you. Then, you were tugged upward, the cool metal of the collar biting into your skin as you were dragged like a petulant child away from your cell…

You didn’t want to open your eyes. You couldn’t face the horror you knew was around you— corpses, living ones and dead, the clatter of bones, the heavy breathing of gargantuan abominations, bodies and faces of countless people stitched together into a new body, hewn with thread and necrotic magic until it gave way to something else entirely. Something unnatural, something made of nightmares. The dermis of those who were used to make the monsters would still twitch, reach out on its own, and if it had a mouth, it would be twisted into a scream. You swore that you heard them whispering as you were dragged by.

The monstrosities were one of many abhorrent creatures at the Scourge’s disposal. Hellhounds, ghouls, gargoyles, wraiths, crypt lords, geists, banshees, and other things of horrific nature were only some of the power wielded by the Scourge. It felt like it was all pulled out of a child’s fairytale, changed and twisted and defiled into what it was now.

It all felt like a very bad dream.

Your eyes opened on their own and you took in the image of death knights, former paladins who served a higher power, the Light— now are nothing but undead heretics, glowing eyes and gaunt stares that bored through you.

Some of the monsters chittered as you were dragged past them, leering and looking hungry.

‘Scrawny that one. Perhaps she will suffice for hellhounds to pick their teeth.’

‘Speak for yourself, her skin will do beautifully on a new abomination.’

‘She won’t be knighted. Merely a maid’s bastard, I’ve heard.’

You forced your eyes to close once more, the sudden light stinging them. You forced yourself into another time, a better memory than what you were experiencing.

They were right, you were a maid’s bastard. Your mother had served in the royal keep for years, with you under her feet. You didn’t know who your true father was, nor did you care.

You became attached to the second son of the King— Aemond Targaryen. He was a sprightly boy with near white hair and luminous violet eyes. The two of you were attached at the hip.

Childhood friendship blossomed into more as you grew into teenagers and young adults— you shared your first kiss together, you held hands and shared sweet nothings. As he trained by day to become a paladin of the Light, he held you close by night, vowing to never let you go. You were both terribly in love and so terribly, terribly naive. He was your first in everything– your first friend, your first kiss, your first lover. You promised yourself that he would stay your first and only.

‘You can never marry a maid’s bastard, Aemond! You’re a prince of the realm-‘

‘I don’t care! I want her, father. I’ve always wanted her!’

Your mother quit her job at the castle— moreso, threatened into quitting by some of the King’s advisors. She was given a considerable amount of coin and told to take you far, far away and to not contact the prince again.

Heartbroken, you left him your sapphire ring, the only thing of value you ever had, which had been passed down through your mother’s family for generations.

It was left on his desk with a note of few words but much feeling.

‘I love you. I’m sorry.’

That was over ten years ago. You hadn’t seen him since, but you missed him horribly. Especially now. You wondered if he was still alive, fighting against the Scourge like his knightly vows dictated.

Maybe he was married and moved across the sea to Kalimdor where it was safer.

Or maybe he was dead. Dead like almost everyone else you knew.

You heard a rumor, fleeting and without much more information, that his father had died– no, that his father had been murdered. The fall of the king, Viserys, is what started the Scourge war. Did Aemond know, wherever he was?

You imagined him holding his arms around you, kissing your neck and fanning his breath over your skin. He liked to encompass you completely with his body when you laid together— you never could emulate the feeling with heavy blankets and pillows, as much as you tried. Putting yourself back into that memory, you wrapped your arms around yourself, willing warmth into your body.

But you didn’t feel any warmth. All you felt was cold, cold down to your bones. They felt brittle, like ice, splintering into shards as you were thrown on the floor again in a different room. Pain bloomed in your arm as it cracked at an awkward angle. Broken.

Your ears rang again as your mouth opened into a scream, tears of pure anguish squeezing from your eyes. But you didn’t hear a thing besides the rush of blood dampening your senses— and the sickening crunch of your broken bones.

‘What have you done to it, Lady Deathwhisper? It looks broken.’

‘It’s human bones are so brittle, it was merely a slip of the hand. I cannot help that their living constitution is so weak.’

‘His grace will not be pleased if it is broken beyond repair.’

‘Worry not, Lady Alys. Most things can be mended— and if not, it can always be raised.’

‘Physical defects aren’t the only issue. What of its mind?’

You feel an acute sensation over your skull, reaching into the depths of your cranium. Its cold, but not stinging— like a soft caress upon your brain as your mind is rifled through like a tome. You can feel your memories being perused, all of the most intimate moments of your life flashing in your head like playwright’s prose. The physicality of your mind being invaded wasn’t painful, but the act of your memories being ripped from you was damning. Tears fell down your face on their own, your mouth opened into a silent scream.

‘She is the one— I saw it. You are lucky that you did not break her mind completely, Lady Deathwhisper.’

‘As are you. You do not have a deft hand when it comes to memory perusal, Lady Alys. I am surprised that it still has a brain in its skull.’

‘Shut up and bring her to him. He will be pleased she is still alive. Barely.’

You felt yourself being moved again, still reeling from the invasion of your mind. You tried to put yourself back into the safe haven of memories, but they were… locked. Locked behind an iron door with no keyhole. They were lost to you.

What were you trying to remember?

Flashes of white hair and violet eyes flitted behind your eyelids, soft caresses and kisses, heavy breathing and love filled promises, the sensation of skin to skin…

Your eyes opened, vision bleary. A helmed woman followed behind you, wings outstretched. You could see the glint of green eyes under her helm. Val’kyr. The woman behind you was a Val’kyr, a spirit guide who defected to the side of the Scourge. They could move between the realm of living and dead as simply as taking a breath.

“The little human is awake,” she mused. “Your mind isn’t broken after all? I do see a glint of intelligence behind those eyes. Keep them on me, you shan’t wish to look upon Lady Deathwhisper.”

You didn’t want to speak, words caught in your throat like food stuck in your craw. A val’kyr was basically an angel of death and talking to one must mean you are dead.

You wish you were.

The chains scraped against the floor, which was no longer stone like before, but rather, hardened ice. You were ascending upward, it seemed. The architecture of the building was nothing like you’d ever seen— dark metal was plated upon the walls, inscribed with glowing runes. The runes looked… familiar to you, somehow. But the memory that contained them was locked away, or mayhaps stolen by the Val’kyr, Alys.

The temperature was cold, you were being lofted upon ice, of course, but you didn’t wholly feel it. You were partially numb, heat radiating from your broken arm. You knew you should be feeling pain— but you were just… numb.

Your escorts stopped in front of two large doors, inscribed with the same glowing runes. Against Alys’ advice, you glanced at ‘Lady Deathwhisper’. She was skeletal, floating upon the ground with no legs to speak of. Her robes were purple fabric, molded around an incorporeal body. She spoke in a language you didn’t understand, the scratchy voice of hers coming out of a bone skull, but the mouth wasn’t moving, maw open as the words came out.

You should have listened to Alys.

The door opened with a rumble, opened by ancient magic, likely imbued by the runes, as they flickered and flitted above your head as it opened. The room beyond was open and bereft of almost anything, except for a throne. A throne forged of ice and swords.

Someone was sitting upon it in a lazed position, one plated gloved finger tapping on the arm of the throne.

“We’ve brought her, your grace,” Lady Deathwhisper growled, shoving you forward. You skidded across the floor, which felt slick like grazing atop an ice-capped lake. “Alys confirmed it is her.”

The clinking of armor caught your attention, the sound of metal grazing against ice. It was irritating and made you grind your teeth. As whoever was on the throne got closer, the force was oppressive. Whimpers and tiny cries were ripped from you as they walked towards you, the aura exuding from them causing you to fall flat to the ground, feeling as if someone was sitting atop of your chest and not letting up.

The steel plated boot was in front of you now and your hair was grabbed rather harshly, pulling you up.

Don’t look, don’t look. You cannot look.

“Look. At. Me.” the voice growled. It was quiet but commanding at the same time, rattling in your bones and making a home amongst the marrow. It felt familiar… so…

You lifted your bloodshot eyes, not out of your own volition, but from the authority of the voice.

“Hello, little dove.” he mused.

It was him. It was… it… Aemond. You knew him so well, even with ten years gone. His chiseled jawline and chin and the dimple of the tip of his nose…

But his eye was missing, a jagged scar bisecting it. In its place was a sapphire. The sapphire from your ring, grown into something to make home in the socket.

You felt everything and nothing all at once, your stomach flipped and flopped like a fish hoisted from the sea, sputtering for air. You couldn’t breathe, you couldn’t–

Your best friend, your lover, the one you vowed to never forget, to never forsake.

Aemond Targaryen.

Aemond Targaryen was the Lich King. A defiler, a mass murderer, an unholy being in his own right.

“Now you won’t be able to leave again, will you?” Aemond murmured, his violet eye roving you. It was glowing slightly– his skin was a pale gray pallor, cheeks sunken slightly. He was undead.

Your eyes rolled back in your head, vision going black.

#aemond fic #aemond fanfiction #aemond targaryen #hotd aemond #aemond x fem!reader #aemond #aemond one eye #hotd fic #aemond fanfic #aemond smut #dark aemond smut #dark aemond angst #my writing #even in undeath #hotd au

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nothingbynova · 2 months

Text

halloween with luke castellan

summary: planning a halloween party with your boyfriend luke castellan at camp half-blood :p

pairing : luke castellan x fem!reader, reader's cabin not specified.

word count: 2.1k

warning(s) : summerween vibes, lots of fluff, probably too much plot, kissing in the dark, mentions of alcohol, underage drinking, borderline smut but not really, and use of y/n

✩ ‧₊˚ author's note: let me know if you're interested in a part two! it would be covering more of the party itself, moments with luke and also a few other mixed characters.

dedications: my bestfriend @dalgonacafe !

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you and luke have been together for over 2 years now. the entire camp loves you guys together, for multiple reasons. one of these being your incredible ability to throw halloween parties, and you always have the best couples costumes there.

“okay how about bonnie and clyde?” you roll over on the bed and glance in luke’s direction. he’s currently laying on the hermes cabin floor, keeping his focus on the paper in front of him.

“too basic, anything else?” he replies.

this is at least the 30th option you’ve given him, and his responses are all “no” “that's bad” “(blank) did that last year” and so forth. you accept defeat and throw yourself into the pillows, letting out a heavy sigh. luke notices this and stands up, walking over to your spot on his bed.

“we still have a couple days before we need the costumes, its okay y/n” he kisses the side of your head before laying down next to you. the both of you sat in silence for a few moments before a lightbulb went off in your head. “CHUCKY AND TIFFANY” you shout at him excitedly. this is the first idea that he doesn't immediately shut down. you can visibly see the wheels turning in his head before he replies. “yes, you’re a genius, my love!” he wraps his arms around you and pulls you on top of himself. he places playful kisses all over your face while you laugh and try to push him away. “okay okay, we still need to plan luke!!” you peel yourself off his chest and begin thinking about how the costumes will look. although luke isn't much help with the planning, he does get his half brothers, the stoll twins to sneak in some items you needed. after a week of playing with fabrics, costume paint and fake blood, they are finally ready. all you have to do is make sure they fit now.

*time skip brought to you by: clarisse la rue’s curl routine*

you’re walking around camp with a small backpack, all of luke’s costume aspects are hidden inside. you stumble across the dining pavilion, only for him to not be there. you check the 12 cabins, the medical building, and even the vineyards. luke is nowhere to be seen, and the clock is ticking.

“annabeth! annabeth chase!” you sprint toward the poseidon cabin doors, catching her right before it closes. “hi y/n! can i help you?” a light blush is spread across her cheeks, knowing you caught her going to visit percy. they’ve been dating for a few weeks, but refuse to tell everyone. it’s still obvious, and almost every camper knows, even chiron.

“have you seen my boyfriend? i’ve lost him again and we have to finish these costumes for the party tomorrow night” you sigh and rub your forehead, obviously stressed.

“uhhhm, yes actually. i think clarisse was using him as a training dummy for the new kids. they should be up in the fields!” she smiles sheepishly. you thank her for her efforts and walk off, heading toward the training grounds.

annabeth is right, per usual, as you approach the hill, you can see a horde of children gathered in small circles learning how to wield multiple weapons. luke is in the center of one of them, twisting and turning his sword.

his brown curls are sticking to his forehead, his face is red and tired looking. seeing as it's already mid day, they’ve probably been working out here all morning. his clothes are damp and stick to his body, making his abs visible through his shirt. even a completely sweaty mess, he still looks incredibly good and it makes your heart flutter.

he turns around at perfect timing, almost as if he can feel you approaching. he smiles your way before dismissing the kids for a break. you happily walk your way to where he stands.

“hello handsome, how’s training?” you wrap your arms around his waist and beam up at him. he reciprocates the action by looping his hands into the back pockets of your pants.

“hi y/n'' he smiles before leaning down to kiss you, his lips are warm and welcoming. it’s a small moment that’s cut short by a group of nearby kids giggling in awe. you pull away from him and tuck your head into his chest in embarrassment.

“how much longer are you needed?” you pull away and glance up at him “we have a halloween party to throw tomorrow!” you add on, smirking and wiggling your eyebrows excitedly.

“can i shower before you steal me away..?” he sighs and smells himself before fake gagging. you laugh at his actions before nodding your head yes.

you begin to walk away down the hill and back into camp, looking back at him and shouting “YOU HAVE 30 MINUTES CASTELLAN! FIND ME IN 30 MINUTES, GOT IT?” before giving a funny thumbs up and storming off.

*time skip brought to you by: walker scobell’s ginger allegations*

“lucas castellan, i swear if you keep moving i’ll give up right now and you're going to have to figure out this costume on your own!” his small movements are making it nearly impossible to check the sizing and fit for everything needed. although there's not enough time to fix any of the sizing anyway, as long as it's not too small everything should be fine!

“pleaseeee y/n, i'm bored, how much longer do i need to stand here??" he pouts, and kicks, and whines like a little child.

“as long as i say so” you snap the behind of his shirt and then walk back to stand in front of him. smiling innocently at the move you just pulled. luke gives you an upset look but his stare quickly fades back to normal.

“we’re all done now, thank you!” the smile on your face beams happily. luke, thankful to finally be free, picks you up bridal style.

“did you speak to clarisse about the forest being cleared? i know they’ve been working on it for a few days now.” he questions, carrying you over to a small corner of the cabin where your bed stands.

“yeah everything is ready, i'm waiting on the twins to find that alcohol dealing cyclops.” you sigh, bringing your hands to cover your face stressfully, as he gently places the two of you on the bed. within seconds you find yourself wrapped up with luke, hands around waists, legs intertwined, and your head tucked into his chest.

*time skip brought to you by: grovers cgi hoofed feet*

you carry the last of the drink coolers toward the main table, and set them by the others. some of the camp kids have been helping you set up the forest for the party tonight. there's bushes and trees that perfectly block off where camp adults could possibly see what's happening. the beach shoreline is sprinkled with log chairs, a couple snack tables and a lit campfire in the center. nightfall is setting and people will finally be arriving soon

“so clarisse, are you coming with chris?” you turn in her direction and smirk when she meets your eyes. chris rodriguez is a son of hermes, so he’s technically luke’s half brother. he’s also clarisse’s crush, but she won't make a move on him.

“oh shut up, you know he doesn't even like me y/n” she glances at you and gives a mean looking face. all you can do is laugh before replying back “well that’s not what luke told me last week!” you smile cheerfully and hold up a bag of plastic cups toward her. “you are making a move tonight or else i will tell him myself!” clarisse just sighs before nodding her head, silently agreeing.

a few campers start to trickle in, wearing a mixture of homemade and store bought costumes. some of the girls have turned their everyday makeup into scary face paint and fake blood. the twins must have worked overtime smuggling in so many wanted items for the party. annabeth walks in alongside percy, and they’re matching together, prince eric and ariel. it's cute and also funny, ariel is a daughter of poseidon in the mortal made movies, but not in a demi-god way.

“hey i'm gonna run down and fix up the beach tables, can you help me host til i get back?” you smile towards clarisse as she nods her yes. you walk back towards the shoreline, passing the young lovers on your way.

“this, this is amazing!” you bow in awe, annabeth blushing slightly and percy laughs. “i was forced into it, but thank you” he beams happily at you before looking down to beth.

“where’s your boyfriend?” she looks at you, and then around the party, confused.

“uhhhhm great question, running late i assume? i’m gonna go fix up the rest of the tables but feel free to grab some drinks and hang out!” you shoot a reassuring smile toward the two before walking off.

suddenly someone wraps their arms around your waist and rips you into the air, spinning you around. you scream loud enough for a couple nearby kids to glance your way concerned.

“HELLO?? GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF ME!!” you screech and try to wiggle out of their grasp. by the hands gripping onto you, it's obvious this isn't a girl. unless it was clarisse…but you know she wouldn't dare touch someone unless she really had to. “PUT ME DOWN!! WHAT ARE YOU, CRAZY??” you kick your feet and flail your arms. the boy chuckles and places you back down in front of him, you look up and sigh. “really luke??? you scared the shit out of me!” you push his shoulder and scoff, rolling your eyes and turning to walk away. he laughs to himself and reaches out grabbing your wrist, he spins you back toward his body and into his arms. “i'm sorry, it was funny!” he said in between laughing. “i didn't even know you could scream that high! it was amazing baby!” he tries to make you feel better, but all you can do is stare at him.

his hair is normally brown and curly, laying messy over his forehead. but now its carefully slicked back, like an 80’s greaser boy. theres orange hair spray covering the top as well, completing the appeal. the scar he once got from a past quest is highlighted by the fake blood around it. one of the camp girls must have helped him do his additional makeup, because it looks amazing. he’s suited into the costume you helped make him as well, wearing a colorful striped shirt and overalls on top. somehow everything fits just right, he looks good and he knows it too. a sly smirk sits on his face when he notices how your eyes are practically jumping out of your head.

“earth to y/n, you okay down there?” he shakes your shoulders carefully, a small attempt to grab your attention again.

“what? yeah! yes, i'm great! sorry you just scared me is all.” you nervously spit back at him. “i have to finish moving some stuff around for the tables down by the beach. come find me later?” you smile up at him with such love behind your eyes

“oh yes ma'am, yes of course.” he nods quickly before leaning down to kiss you. one turns to two, then three and maybe even four before his arm drops down to your waist. he’s dangerously pulling you closer to him, grabbing onto any parts of you that he can. you allow it to happen as well, dipping your head lower and giving him access to deepen the kiss. your hands find their way to the back of his neck, playing with parts of his hair. the way he kisses you is out of pure hunger, and his movements easily become sloppy with lust the longer that the two of you are together.

you gently pull back, the both of you are breathing heavily and lips glossy.

“okay! okay!” you giggle in between a couple more of luke’s desperate small kisses. he finally pulls back and looks at you fully, eyeing you up and down a few times before replying

“i like the costume, by the way. if you couldn't tell” he smirks down at you before kissing your cheek and turning to walk away. “i’ll come find you later, pretty girl!” you blush and shake your head yes as you watch luke disappear off into the opposite part of the forest.

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#luke castellan fluff #luke castellan x you #luke castellan x yn #luke castellan x y/n #charlie bushnell x reader #luke castellan pjo #percy jackson #percy jackon and the olympians #percy jackson fanfic #luke castellan fic #luke castellan imagine #luke castellan x fem!reader #luke castellan x reader #luke pjo

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sapphos-ode · 8 months

Text

Little Cat

Part 14

Larissa Weems part 13 | part 15 | ao3

Hullo, sorry again for the wait. As promised, another instalment. I hope you like it x (7.2k)

The insistent ringing sound of a phone - muffled by something, rouses Larissa from her sleep. She can’t find the source but the vibrations stop so she lays her head back down onto the pillow. At her movement your hold on her tightens. Larissa’s heart swoons and takes to idly stroking your back. Your phone - she assumes it’s yours as hers is on her bedside table - starts ringing again. With a disgruntled noise she plucks herself from you and slips out the bed.

Larissa finds your phone with ease. Your small bag was open on its side and it’s screen lit up the inside. She picks it up and out of curiosity looks at who was calling, the ID read ‘Twat (Alice)’. She lets it go to voicemail, not sure how well recieved her voice would be if she answered.

The display goes back to your lock screen, and a horde of notifications all from Twat (Alice) flood in from the night.

‘did u get to her place? give the address. me and mari are back at the school btw’

Then some thirty minutes later Alice had sent more texts.

‘u ok?’

‘text me?’

‘call when u get back to nevermore. need to know u got back ok’

There’s about twelve missed calls between 1am and 2am. Larissa also sees her own phone number amongst Alice’s. Then there’s the ones from just now. Four calls. Larissa glances up at the time, it reads 10:32am. She never sleeps in past 9am, her body always - without fail - wakes her up before then.

Larissa didn’t wish for any distractions… she had some explaining to do and she had absolutely zero planning done. The idea of wearing her heart on her sleeve scared her. But you deserved to know.

She pressed one of the text notifications hoping you had set up the option to answer specific texts without needing to unlock the phone. No luck. The blonde swiped up and stared at the number pad mocking her. She knew she really should just accept the next incoming call but you were still asleep and she didn’t want to risk waking you up… she really wanted to climb back into bed and have another few moments just holding you.

A wild guess but she typed in ‘1234’, a bust. The princpal looked over at your sleeping form, then back to the phone where she proceeded to try ‘0000’. Of course that was it. Maybe she should send out a staff wide email with a cyber security refreshment course.

She found your chat with Alice and sent off a reply.

Atikah: This is Weems. Atikah is back safely.

Twat (Alice): oh

Twat (Alice): ok glad to hear was worried

All the way in the staff residential wing, in her room, Alice was biting her fist supressing a scream. Not wishing to wake her redhead companion who slept next to her.

Larissa turns the phone on silent before placing it on the nightstand and clambering into bed again. Her weight shifting the mattress must have woke you and she swore silently.

Your eyes, still hazy with sleep, meet hers. Before you squeeze them shut, your hangover making itself known. Your body vibrates with anxious energy and your head throbs with full aches. There’s also a threatening lump rising in your throat but you think you can keep it at bay. You can’t tell if this is the type of hangover where food would either kill you or cure you. With a bedraggled groan you pull the covers over your head and curl into a ball.

The night before comes back to you, and you really wish the world would swallow you up. Had you really looked that sad and pathetic that your boss - who didn’t like you and deemed your feelings as trivial - had to get you to bed? You were sure you’d find a notice of your termination in your inbox soon. It would look great on your cv, fired a few months into the school year. Maybe you could find a rich old man and marry him.

“I’m so sorry Ms. Weems,” you mumble from under the duvet. Your face burning with embarrassment.

Larissa doesn’t deign to answer. All you can feel is the covers being lifted and Larissa joining you under them. She scoots closer to you and places a hand on your waist.

“Give me five and I’ll be out your hair,” you talk into your arms. Not wanting to look at her.

“Didn’t I tell you to call me Larissa,” she keeps a light tone to her voice.

She hates you calling her by her surname. That name doesn’t belong in your mouth, not like her first name does. The way you always seemed to take your time saying it, as if you were savouring the way the syllables rolled off your tongue.

You peek up from your arms and give her a withering glare - you have no time for her games, she made it clear she had no interest in you. She shot you down, so you certainly don’t plan on being friendly again… you’ll keep it civil and professional and that’s all.

You remember what she said last night, mostly. She needed to talk to you about something - clearly it was very pressing if she bailed on her fuck buddy. You think you maybe had a conversation in her bed before going to sleep but that’s all you can recall. On the topic of Larissa’s friends with benefits situ - you don’t remember seeing an adult you don’t recognise coming into Nevermore after working hours. Had Larissa ever had them over? Had they fucked in her bed? The one you’re lying in right now-

The blonde clears her throat and begins to stroke your waist with her thumb out of nervous habit. “How- how are you feeling?”

You blink slowly, “Rough. I feel like I got hit by a truck…” your candor has Larissa giggling.

“I’ll grab you some water and painkillers, wait here,”

You nod and do as you’re told. You might be feeling hurt and angry at her. But you would do anything she asked of you without question. You hate to admit that to yourself.

The whole three minutes it takes Larissa to fill a glass and push two pills out of a blister sheet feel like an eternity. An eternity where you sit under her covers bricking it. Larissa didn’t seem angry but you know that woman was a master at masking how she felt, she had it down to an art. Schooling her features and masking what she truly felt was an inevitable skill with her job.

You feel the covers being lifted and turn to face Larissa. Who has one knee resting on the matress as she peeks under the duvet. She offers out a glass of water and you take it gladly, sighing contentedly as the liquid soothes your dry throat. Larissa watches how the muscles in your neck move, she so badly wants to press her lips to it… cover the marks that litter your skin with her own.

“Here, paracetamol,”

You don’t look at the pills, blindly trusting Larissa as you take them from her and swallow. Washing them down with the remaining water. The glass is taken from your hands and placed on a nearby surface. Then Larissa’s telling you to move over she she can slide back under the duvet with you.

Once you’re both settled back down, lying on your sides facing each other, Larissa takes a few deep inhales. Closing her eyes as she figures out where to start. Meanwhile you take this moment to appreciate her - it would be the last time you could marvel at how her hair pooled around her neck before it splayed across her shoulders. How her eyes were so doe like, caressed with crows feet - a marker of all the times her blindingly brilliant smile has graced the word. The frown lines bracketing her lips saddened you to think she ever had cause to frown, to be burdened, but at the same time they were a testament of her emotions. How she felt pain and sorrow - adding a human element to her despite how godlike she was in your eyes.

You’re so confused by everything and all you want is to throw yourself into Larissa’s arms and block out the world. But at the same time you want to run - bury yourself in work and bad tv shows so you can’t dwell on Larissa. But that would be futile, Larissa was everything to you. And it would be stupid to think otherwise.

“Atikah… I owe you an explanation.” The blonde’s eyes open and search for yours. Her pupils dilating the second they meet.

You stay quiet, confusion brimming underneath your surface. Your eyes flit between her aquamarine. Hoping to find a preview of what she’ll say next.

“I- wait, how much do you remember from last night?”

You really don’t want to speak. But you can’t possibly leave the woman in front of you hanging. You’re about to answer when you feel her hand, her soft and warm hand, push the hair from your face and rest on your cheek. Idly stroking it.

“I don’t remember getting into bed, but the rest I do.” You sheepishly admit. Your voice hoarse.

“You don’t remember what was said before you fell asleep…” Larissa talks slowly and calculatingly. More of a statement to confirm her knowledge than a question.

She was hoping you had, the notion of having to say she liked you again made her queasy. Despite your feelings being in the open she was still fearful of rejection and the idea of hiding behind a faux indifference seemed much easier. Old habits die hard.

“No, sorry,” you lay your hand on top of hers. Watching her, hoping she wouldn’t pull away.

Larissa’s eyes flick down to your neck, “You are okay? Right?”

Your stumped expression makes Larissa elaborate. You weren’t dead in a ditch so yeah? You were fine?

“Last night,” she nods to your marked neck, “it was consensual, you weren’t taken advantage of?” She should’ve asked that last night.

“Oh, yeah… it was,” you mumble, not really wanting to acknowledge your activities.

Certainly not with the woman who rejected you. Why did she care other than to be nosy and chastise. Your eyes must have taken on a hard look. Your lips must have pressed into a line as you look at Larissa’s chin. No longer wishing to see into her eyes.

“That’s a relief, I was worried. When you didn’t come back with Marilyn and Miss. Hansen…”

Oh? She was worried. You feel guilty now, and a fondness for Larissa grows in your chest.

“How did you-?”

“I know everything that happens in this school,”

Larissa’s joke (or maybe it wasn’t a joke) has you laughing. Bowing your head. She wiggled closer to you, so when you look up she’s right in front of you - certainly a very effective way to have your attention on her and her only.

Your laugh stops with a sharp halt, your breath catching in your throat as your eyes wander to her lips - pale pink, lacking the usual red lipstick. In another life you’d lean in and kiss her. But not this one.

“You cried. Last night, a lot actually,” Larissa’s voice draws your eyes back up to hers. You cringe at the information. “We… you didn’t make much sense but you did manage to ask me why I said I didn’t like you.” Larissa pauses.

Your entire body has tensed, you did want to know. Kind of, but you had your answer. Buried in the layers of her guilt. You didn’t need her to list all the reasons why you weren’t what she was looking for. Or why you weren’t enough.

“I did? I’m sorry,” you say weakly. Shying your gaze away from her. “I don’t want that answer,”

You turn and go to slip out of the bed. Having to traipse through the covers but Larissa’s strong hand pulls your back flush to her front. Her much longer body curls around yours and holds you tight. Your body betrays you as it feels a sense of security.

“I think you do,”

You still against her body, and then begin to tremble as you fight back tears, your lower lip wobbling as you screw your eyes shut. You really don’t.

“You asked me that after I said that I like you,” she continues.

Was this a cruel game?

“Stop,” you feel wetness trickle to the side of your face. Getting absorbed by the fabric of the bedsheets.

“Atikah please… I can’t let you go, I shouldn’t have lied. But I was scared- ” Larissa cuts herself off, her own tears threaten her eyes. “Can you face me?”

Wordlessly you turn in her arms and give her a distrustful look. You don’t think you can talk without the dam behind your eyes breaking.

“Thank you,” You note how Larissa’s face softens as she studies yours. “Your feelings are returned…”

Your eyes light up.

“But,” your shoulders sag, “there is a significant age gap- ”

Ah, you were just too young. A pity.

“And I was worried that it would become an issue, I have- ” god, she really is about to admit aloud parts of her she barely acknowledges herself. She presses on, “I’m- I’ve had my heart broken many times, and I’ve grown distrustful…” a deep breath, “so many people wanted me for what I could give them, do for them.

“I’m shamed to admit but I’ve been taken advantage of, I’ve ignored red flags because I kept hoping that if I just changed. Became different for them they’d want me… for me. But that never happened,” Larissa’s voice cracks.

“And because of all that I have a lot of… issues. I have this horrible habit of denying myself anything good that comes along in my personal life… I sabotage my own happiness and with you during the sunset, I did it again.

What I’m trying to say is I’m not the best partner…. And I’m also at that point in my life where I just want to have a simple routine with someone. With you…” she speaks with a tremor.

“But?” You prompt her on.

“But I couldn’t do that to you. You’re young and you still have so many things to experience that I already have- I’m afraid I just don’t have the thrill or excitement you’d want, my problems aren’t something you should have to deal with.

“When you confessed, oh Atikah I wanted to say yes so badly, and- but- you’re so young and I’ve become a bit of a bore in my progressing age,” Larissa sighs in defeat.

You roll her explanation around in your mind. Mulling over what she said in silence. Larissa seems to take your lack of answer as a cue to explain herself more.

“I also worried that me being your employer might have made you feel like you were being coerced… and I- all I want is for you to make your own choices. And not feel tethered,”

You lift a hand to take a lock of silken hair between your fingers. Absentmindedly running it through your digits, focusing on how it feels against your skin.

“Larissa, who said I didn’t want a simple relationship?”

“What?” It’s a ghost of a whisper.

“I’m sorry you’ve been used before… no one deserves that, least of all you.” You slink your arms around her neck, pulling her incrementally closer, you can feel her heart pounding, “I’ve been in a few relationships where it was all about doing new and exciting things together, but I honestly wasn’t happy. I want to go to work, and then when the days over I want to go back to you, I’ve always been a creature of habit.”

You nudge your head into the junction where her neck becomes her shoulder. Your warm breath tickles her skin.

“My job keeps me very busy…” Larissa practically whimpers.

“I know, but even a quick smile when we pass in the corridors is enough,”

“I’m bitter, I can get jealous… I’m insecure, and I’ll always worry I’m not enough,” Larissa’s hand begins to stroke your hair. Her voice shaking.

“Yeah, you are.”

“Ow…”

“But that’s how you are, and I want you, as you are. Flaws and all…”

The blonde’s entire body freezes and you begin to worry you said something wrong. You pull away from her just enough to look into her eyes. They’ve glossed over and a salty tear drops onto your cheek.

“Larissa?” Panic sets in.

You scoot up and cup her face. Wiping away the tears that begin to fall in abandon from her eyes. Her chin wobbles as her lips press together. She sniffles and tries to cover her face but you won’t let her.

“Talk to me, please,”

Many shaky breathes and wet sniffles later and Larissa is able to form words. “I- I know you do, but my mind tells me not to believe you- I’m sorry, I’m so sor- ”

“Shhh, it’s okay,” you haven’t stopped wiping her tears away. Her grip on you is so tight you’re sure she’s white knuckled now.

“It’s not. I know I can trust you, I shouldn’t doubt you… I’m sorr- ”

“Larissa Weems, I want you so badly, I want all your bitterness and insecurity and jealousy. They’re parts of you and because they’re part of you I love them. But I also love your passion, the way you command an entire room just by walking in. The way you care so much about every single student.” Your eyes pierce Larissa’s as you look between hers.

Desperate for her to understand your feelings in their entirety. Hoping that she’d see herself how you do, even if fractionally.

“Larissa, I want you. Just as you are, I don’t want a different version of you, I just want you.”

That seems to do the trick. Larissa breaks down into heavy sobs as she surges forward to bury her face against your chest. Her cries not only wrack her body but yours as well. She manages to hold you even tighter as she releases decades of pain and hurt and heartbreak. For so many years Larissa had been yearning for, begging for those words. And here you were, you gave her those words without her having to work for them, to earn them. You wanted her not because she had done something good, but because she existed.

Her t-shirt that you're wearing is soaking wet and wrinkled. You run a hand through her hair in languid motions while the other wraps around her firmly, hoping it helps ground her. All the while you murmur little words of reassurance, only loud enough for her ears to catch.

Eventually Larissa’s cries turn to hiccups and broken inhales, then she’s speaking again.

“I- hic I love you, please. I want hic- you hic- I want you to be hic- mine,” Larissa’s hold on you gets even stronger as she mumbles into your body.

It hurts but you barely notice, too focused and concerned about how her muscles quiver and tense. You smile at her words and slowly pry her from your chest, cupping her face with your hands as you guide her to look at you. Her eyes are red and puffy and her nose is running. She sniffles again and fights off another fleet of tears. You press your forehead against hers.

“I’ve always been yours, ever since I first met you,” you whisper. The huge grin was evident in your voice.

It was true, when you had first walked into her office - after another teacher had shown you our quarters so you could drop off your luggage - you had stood in the open doorway dumbfounded as your eyes drank in every detail about Larissa as she sat at her desk. A smile on her cherry lips and an alluring tilt to her head as the window behind her cast her in an angelic light. You remember she had jokingly asked you if you were a vampire and needed an explicit invitation into the room. Her English accent had washed away all your nerves about the new job and replaced them with a different kind. The kind that felt like butterflies parading in your stomach, the kind that made your hands shake but in a good way. From that moment on you knew you were condemned.

Larissa’s eyes water more and this time it’s tears of happiness. Her smile threatens to split her face.

“Will you be mine?” You speak with the gentleness of a summer’s breeze that carries dandelion seeds through fields.

“Yes, yes, god yes!” Larissa can’t get the words out her mouth fast enough.

You can’t help the peals of giggles at her enthusiasm. It was so endearing and you just wanted to kiss her.

“What are you doing today?”

“I have an empty schedule until late afternoon,”

Larissa adores the way your face lights up.

“How about we get lunch?” You ask, then with hope you add, “As a date?” You pray you aren’t overstepping.

“I’d love that,”

Larissa sat in her living room, clad in one of her elegant dresses, hair pinned to perfection as always. Her leg bounces up and down as she lets the silence suffocate her. Blue eyes flitting to the door periodically. How long did you need to get ready?

Seconds pass, accumulating into minutes.

Doubt begins to claw its way in, forcing open the doors of her mind, perhaps you changed your mind. Some things are too good to be true. And this may have been one of them.

The faint ticking of her watch marches on dutifully.

Once you had reached your quarters you only had thoughts for your shower. A relieved moan escaped past your lips as the hot water hit your skin, you always liked to have it just a touch away from scalding you. You let it wash over you as you begin to lather your hair and clean your body.

You keep it as quick as you can, water falling off the ends of your hair in fat droplets onto your bath mat. After doing your teeth and applying whatever skincare products your hands reached first, you were now ready to get dressed. The clothes from yesterday had been tossed in your laundry basket.

You wanted to wear Larissa’s t-shirt, it smelt of her - faintly of that delicious spiced citrus perfume she wears but more so of her, her natural smell. You couldn’t describe it for the life of you but it smelt familiar and it felt like home. That feeling you get when you arrive back at your house after a week away, when you discard your suitcase in the hall and turn on all the lights to cosy the place up. When your pet runs up to greet you after you come back from work. When your dad calls out from the kitchen that he has your favourite meal in the oven. But you had slept in it, so you opt to fold it and place it on your pillow before chucking on one of your own t-shirts.

You wring all the water out of your hair with a towel and toss it onto your bed - it would air dry quickly. You dress yourself quickly before chucking on the nearest pair of shoes and make to leave but your reflection in the mirror gives you reason to pause. Your neck. You should cover Maven’s marks.

With a disgruntled sigh, the time it takes to cover them is less time spent with Larissa, you head to your vanity and dig around your makeup bag for colour corrector and concealer. If your memory serves you correctly, your foundation is on the floor by the leg of your desk.

You conceal the hickeys with a little too much proficiency. But soon enough it’s as if they never existed. You’re too busy inspecting them to hear your front door open and a familiar voice call out, nor do you hear your bedroom door creak open. Only when you sense a presence to your left do you turn, screaming when you come face to face with Alice. Out of survival instinct you launch whatever you were holding - your tube of foundation - at her with all your might. It hits her on the cheek.

“Ow- what the hell?!” The lycan nurses the growing red spot.

“I’m sorry! You scared me!” You counter. A hand on your chest, you can feel your heart raging inside.

“If you started locking your door maybe you wouldn’t have home invaders!”

“I keep meaning to… I just forget,” you mumble.

“It’s alright,” Alice sighs, running a hand through her fair hair. “I just wanted to check you were okay, you didn’t text,”

“Sorry, I got back safe though, and I’m sorry if I ruined your night by not texting when I said I would,” the hangxiety starts to make its home

in your stomach.

“Girl you didn’t, Mari and I had a great time, also I know, Larissa texted me,”

“She did?” Your eyes squint as one eyebrow raises.

“Yep, you weren’t answering any calls, and she texted on your phone this morning,”

Your lips form a small ‘o’. You’re not sure what to say.

“Anyways last night??? What happened?” Alice is dying to know.

“It’s… I’ll tell you later, I need to go see Larissa!” With that you give Alice a quick hug before running out of your room, a Cheshire Cat grin on your face. Tactfully avoiding the questions she’s throwing at you.

As you’re trotting down the corridor you pass Alice’s door - just missing a disgruntled botany teacher exit, wearing Alice’s hoodie.

You forgo knocking on Larissa’s office door, simply letting yourself in. You study the room again - it looks so different without the chandeliers on and the fire burning. It’s still no less opulent though. When you had left this room you were in a rush, and hadn’t noticed the filing cabinet with several drawers open. Some files sticking out. You also didn’t pay any attention to Larissa’s desk, it’s strewn with more employee files.

You walk closer to it, eyes soaking in the taxidermied crow and the black rose housed in a glass container. You cock your head and read the open file that lays atop the rest. A small passport sized photo of you smiling looks back at you. Oh. This was yours. Why on earth was Larissa digging around?

You shrug it off and knock on the door that adjoins the Principal’s quarters to her office. It’s more of a courtesy, you give Larissa enough time to register the knock before you enter.

Larissa jumps at the sound of knuckles on her front door. She had moved from the living room to her bed again - she had made it, and sat with a blanket and the stuffed cat you had won her cuddled in her lap, one hand idly running over the soft material. She placed her phone down beside her and swung her legs off the bed. Just then you burst through the door.

There’s only three things Larissa can recall from that moment; the pure and utter relief that you did come back, the way your face immediately took on the world's widest grin when you saw her, and the guilt that sneaked its way in for doubting you.

She wasn’t given long to wallow in her conscience because you’d crossed the room and enveloped her in a hug, savouring the way her body relaxed at your touch. You really could kiss her but you figured that might be too much for her. After all, the woman had problems born from past lovers’ cruelty and you both still had a lot more to discuss. You had waited so long for this, you could wait a little longer to feel those lips on yours.

“Sorry I took ages,” you hum into her ear, letting your body weight push her back down onto the mattress.

You lay there content, half on top of her with both your legs dangling off the edge of the bed. Delighted to feel her warmth against you.

“You’re here now,” she purrs, her arms finding purchase around your waist.

“You look good by the way,” you chirp into her neck. Larissa can feel the smile on your lips.

Her cheeks take on a pink tint. “Thank you,”

You spend a good amount of time cuddling, awkwardly hanging off the bed. Neither one of you daring to move and disrupt the tranquillity that’s blanketed the air around you. Larissa feels as if she is whole again, your body wraps and melds to her as if you were one entity. She listens to your breathing - calm and even. The blonde allows her eyes to close as she adjusts her own breathing to fall in time with yours.

Sleep must have claimed her because when she next opens her eyes they’re heavy with sleep and her mind is foggy. You’re still awake, having propped yourself up on your elbow so you can just admire her. Your hand traces patterns on her cheek - Larissa’s own one covers yours, stilling it and holding it to her face.

“We should get going, anywhere in mind?” Larissa’s usually silken voice is just a touch gravelly. It stokes a fire in you.

“Ms. Barrick actually suggested this small bistro place just outside Burlington… unless you’d prefer somewhere else?”

“No, that sounds nice,”

The drive was mostly silent apart from the radio station, and your occasional commentary whenever you passed by a field of cows or horses.

The bistro was the embodiment of rustic chic, raw wood tables lined the place with mismatched chairs and cutlery, even the crockery was varied. Despite this all pieces seemed to complement each other - and paired with the low lighting created an embracing ambience. All the art pieces hung on the wall were for sale, created by local artists, and wooden bookcases displayed bags of gourmet coffee beans also available for purchase.

It was busy enough without being overpacked - a lovely buzz filled the room accompanied by the sound of forks hitting porcelain as people ate. Jazz songs play in the background.

Larissa reached the door first, and held it open for you, guiding you in with a hand in the small of your back. You can’t help the rosy glow on your cheeks at her chivalry. Once you’re both inside a young woman greets you and guides you to a cosy table against a wall. You sit next to Larissa rather than across from her.

At her inquisitive look you go to justify your actions, “I just want to be close to you, that’s not a crime now, is it?”

Larissa gives it some thought, in the past whoever she had been dating always sat across from her, she had to agree that sitting side by side afforded a closeness, a sweet intimacy. She quite liked it.

“Even if it was, with such an innocent face you wouldn’t be charged,” she chuckles as she shirks off her coat and takes off her silk headscarf. You watch her mesmerised.

Your trance is broken when the waitress places a glass jug of water and two crystal glasses. She asks if you want to order drinks.

“Hot chocolate, please,” Larissa is armed and ready with her request.

You smile to yourself before asking for an Americano with an extra shot of espresso. Your hangover had pretty much subsided now but you were a tad tired, and caffeine sounded like the perfect solution.

“They have so many options,” the blonde murmurs more to herself than you.

You watch as her eyes flit across the menu. It’s printed on off white handmade paper. By the looks of it, it’s recycled given by the little flecks of imperfection on its rough surface. The deckle edge adds the finishing touch. It’s marred with coffee stains and parts of it are warped from drinks being spilled on it. You wonder how often they need to replace them.

You pick up your own menu, your fingers playing with the frayed edges. Larissa was right, there was a lot to choose from. The smashed avocado with lemon and chilli flakes on sourdough toast sounded amazing but so did their French toast with maple syrup and seasonal fruits.

“Oh! The pancakes sound exquisite,”

Your attention is drawn from the menu, Larissa’s eyes have a childlike twinkle in them and you both know she’s made her choice. Given her sweet tooth you’re not surprised. You study the slope of her nose and then her lips that are pulled into a smile. Your eyes follow the curve of her chin and on to the contour of her jaw. You fight the urge to pepper kisses along it.

“The Americano…” the waitress is back, she places your drink in front of you, “and the hot chocolate,”

You smile at her and thank her.

“Are we ready to order, or do you need another few moments?” She has a notepad and pen poised.

You look at Larissa and nod. Letting her go first. As expected she’s getting the pancake stack. It’s only now that you realise you are not ready, too busy admiring the woman next to you. The waitress is now looking at you and you still have no clue what you want. You glance at the menu and order the first thing you read.

“Wonderful, I’ll get those out to you soon,” the waitress chirps before leaving the pair of you.

Larissa wastes no time in bringing the ceramic mug to her lips, enjoying the first sip of her hot chocolate. A moan of unadulterated satisfaction rumbles from her throat and has you wide eyed, blushing, and biting your nails to keep yourself in check. Her eyelashes flutter as she relishes the warmth travelling down her throat, unaware of the effect she has on you.

It seems that this place doesn’t use hot chocolate powder, opting to melt actual chocolate into cream mixed with a little brown sugar to ensure its sweetness. Creating a beautifully thick drink that slides down with ease.

A tiny drop has found its way onto Larissa’s bottom lip. Without a second thought you wipe it away with your thumb, blue eyes meet yours with a hint of confusion before she realises. A sheepish smile plays on her mouth and she’s about to thank you but you take your thumb and lick the stray bead.

Now it’s her turn to blush.

“It tastes heavenly,” You give her an innocent smile.

She just nods at you dumbly, swallowing thickly as she slowly places the cup back onto the table. You scoot a little closer to her, your thighs pressed together.

“You know…” you talk in her stead, “the past few days, I…” you pause, unsure if you want to continue, “I missed you, quite a lot,” you whisper the last part whilst fiddling with your hands in your lap.

Larissa blinks and regains her composure, guilt gnaws at the back of her mind. She takes one of your hands in her own and gives it a firm squeeze before interlocking her fingers with you, they slot between hers perfectly.

“I missed you too,” she admits. Relieved to find no trace of anger on your face, although if there was she would understand.

“I think you’ll agree but we have a few things to talk about… about us,” your other hand comes to rest atop your joint ones, stroking the smooth skin on the back of Larissa’s. “But I’m glad my feelings are mutual,”

The blonde hums in agreement. Content that she had managed to tell you in the end.

“As backwards as this sounds, I’m glad you came back to Nevermore covered in hickeys,”

You cough on your own air, head whipping round to look up at the principal.

“What!?”

Larissa’s laugh is deep and wholehearted. You wait patiently for her to calm. Your face strewn in a delightful mix of confusion and embarrassment. You’re glad you had run into Larissa and not a student out past curfew but now you’re beginning to think differently.

She speaks with soft giggles interspersed between her words, “if it weren’t for them- well, it made me realise I couldn’t bear to picture you with someone else,”

“Oh…” it’s barely audible.

“Seeing them… It made me realise my feelings for you were stronger than my fear. That I couldn’t let you go without trying,” there’s vulnerability laced in her voice.

“Possessive are we?,” you lean in closer to her. A playful hint to your voice.

“Wouldn’t you love to know,” Larissa’s voice drops an octave as she whispers to you almost conspiratorially.

She catches how your breath hitches and your eyes widen. Her eyes flit between your lips and your neck which she only now notices the lack of hickeys. She knows they’re under a layer of makeup but seeing your unblemished skin has her dying to latch on and leave her own love bites. Little red circles to show that you’re hers to enjoy.

“The pancakes?” Just like that the charged moment is dispelled.

You look away and do your best to recover whilst the plates are being placed down. You utter a small thank you before taking a steadying breath. Unknowingly, Larissa had you wrapped around her finger and finished off with a bow.

A beautifully plated serving of eggs Benedict sits in front of you, steam wafting off of it. Two English muffins toasted to perfection sit beneath cured ham and poached eggs that look soft but not too runny. The hollandaise sauce is proportioned well, not too little that the meal would be dry but not too much that it makes everything soggy. The flecks of green from the dill garnish adds a feeling of freshness to it all.

“That looks delicious,” Larissa comments.

Her pancakes look equally as tasty, they’re perfectly fluffy and don’t look dense at all. Crispy bacon is placed between them and the maple syrup sits in a small ceramic jug, a few berries and dollops of whipped cream sit next to it and a light dusting of icing sugar coats the entire meal. You’d admit that you are a little jealous.

“You want to try some?” You regretfully have to take your hand from hers.

“No no, I don’t want to deprive you- ”

“Nonsense,” you wave her off.

You make quick work of cutting off a bit for Larissa, making sure you have a little bit of everything on your fork before lifting it to her mouth. Your other hand rests under her chin to catch anything in case it falls. You’d hate to stain that lovely dress of hers.

The blonde looks at you a miffed, but she plays along and opens her mouth for you. Accepting the morsel, enjoying the combination of flavours that bloom in her mouth. Her lips wrap around the prongs of the fork as you pull it away, your eyes focused on them. You really wanted to kiss her.

Larissa let’s out another satisfied moan and you have to bite your lip, almost drawing blood. You have to concentrate on your breathing. You close your eyes and take measured inhales.

“Here,”

In front of you Larissa offers you a mouthful of her own dish, returning the favour. You gladly accept it - enjoying the delightful mix of sweet and savoury. You’d definitely be coming back here.

You both eat in silence, a sign of good food. Your plates are cleared and you end up sitting there talking for hours. Before you know it, it’s time to head back to Nevermore. You silently curse whatever meeting Larissa has.

Back at the school you and Larissa stand in the quad, the leaves of the tree have turned to orange, a few red ones dapple its branches. Occasionally some flutter to the ground to join its brethren that dot the grass. The autumn breeze ruffles the tree and makes it move with an uncanny likeness to a breathing beast.

You have to part ways here, sadly. You’re facing her, both her hands clasped in yours. Idly chit chat being exchanged - both of you trying to stall and steal a few extra seconds.

“This was lovely,” you hum, getting lost in her eyes.

“It was, yes…” Larissa tilts her head as she regards you with a fond look.

Her phone buzzes in her pocket with a reminder. She needed to head up earlier to sort the mess of files on her desk.

Your eyes land on her pocket with a melancholic smile, “you’re always welcome to swing by my quarters, Rissa, any time,” you chirp.

“Duly noted,” her heart soars.

You go to pull away, to let her get on with her day but she moves unnervingly quickly. Her hands cup your face as her body bends forwards. Her lips - god her lips were so soft, velvety even. She presses them to yours and in your shock you can see her eyes are screwed shut and her brows tense. You let your eyes flutter shut and kiss her back. Your arms snaking around her waist pulling her flush to you as you arch your back to fit against her like a puzzle piece. Your hearts thrashing in your chest and you feel lightheaded. Only able to focus on the feeling of Larissa’s lips on yours. How you’ve dreamt of this and now it was finally happening.

It was chaste and sweet, and you stayed there for longer than needed, savouring the sensation. Electricity spikes through your entire being, originating from your mouth. The blonde is the first to pull away - a look of wonder in her lidded blue eyes. She’s just a touch out of breath but with the dreamy smile on her lips you know she’d gladly run out of air if it meant she could kiss you nonstop.

Her phone vibrates again.

“I need to- I’m sorry,”

“Go, you have a school to maintain,” you understand. And what you said was true, even just a passing smile was enough.

You give her one last peck on the lips before sending her on her way. You stay in the courtyard watching her retreating figure, and returning her smile when she looks over her shoulder just before disappearing from sight.

“Come on, pick up,” you mutter at your phone as it rings.

You’re speed walking through the halls, feeling giddy and light as a feather. Finally Alice picks up. Her voice sounding tin-like and metallic.

“Hello?”

“Are you free right now?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m coming to yours in five,” you hang up on her and hurry to the lycan’s quarters.

Unlike you, Alice locks her door. So you attack the door with your knuckles. Impatiently waiting for her to answer it. She opens it with a muddled look of worry and confusion.

You spend the rest of the day with her, giving her a rundown - carefully censored for the sake of Larissa’s privacy - of everything that had happened since she lost you on the dance floor.

Taglist - @weemssapphic @h-doodles @blessmysouljessisonaroll @eveymay @lvinhs @enchantressb @a-queen-and-her-throne @vmpnano @opheliauniverse @emsgwenstan @renravens

#larissa weems #larissa weems x reader

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magicamicitia · 27 days

Text

WARNING: Mentions of suicidal/intrusive thoughts.

Volume One, Chapter Two

“You’re not alone anymore.”

Beep.

Click!

Sunset Shimmer once again woke up to the sound of her alarm clock, and carried on with her morning routine as normal. However, the memories of the previous afternoon refused to leave her thoughts.

She was aware of the existence of magic in other worlds, but… This one wasn’t supposed to be one of them. So what’s up with all of this? Magical girls? Witches? A talking cat-with-bunny-ears freak? It was weirder than anything she’d ever seen in any other world. Apparently, humans like her weren’t supposed to be able to see witches like she did. Sunset figured her background as a magic interdimensional traveller could explain that abnormality.

Whatever this all meant, she hoped Twilight knew what she was doing.

“I have no idea what I’m doing!” Twilight Sparkle skipped nervously around her room.

“Don’t worry!” the small white creature, who referred to itself as ‘Kyubey’, carefully groomed its fur in a corner. “If you ever need any help, you can always ask me.”

Twilight couldn’t help but roll her eyes.

“Yeah, that’s real reassuring. The last time I asked for your help, You-“

Her train of thought was crudely interrupted by a knock at the door.

“Sweetie?” Her mother’s voice called. “Are you okay in there? You’re gonna be late if you don’t come out soon!”

“Shoot! I’d better get going!”

She left her home in a hurry as to avoid being late, despite her family’s attempts to tell her she still had twenty minutes until her usual time of departure. With a half-eaten sandwich in her hands and a trusty Kyubey over her shoulders, she was surely ready for another day as a high school student AND magical girl!

Huh?

Twilight Sparkle suddenly felt a strange weight on her chest. looking down at the soul gem ring on her finger, she noticed it emitted a strange glow.

“What’s all this now?”

“Your soul gem is reacting to magic,” kyubey answered. “There must be a witch nearby! We have to go after it!”

“NOW?! I can’t go after a witch NOW! I couldn’t even finish off the last one, and if I take too long fighting it… I’ll be…”

She gulped, terrified.

“…TARDY!!!”

“Twilight! You’re a magical girl now, the future of humanity relies on you battling witches!”

“I know, I know… But… Like, can’t you do it or something?”

“Unfortunately, there’s nothing I can do about witches in their physicial form. But once you defeat the witch, I can collect its grief seed and make sure it never comes back!”

“Ughhhh!!! Fine, I’ll do it, I’ll do it…”

Her soul gem’s magic led her to a beautiful hedge maze just outside an ancient history museum.

“Wow… this place looks so peaceful. Odd spot for a witch to make its lair.”

“You’re right, Twilight. Usually, witches will try to hatch in locations where they can collect the despair of nearby victims. But this maze is a total ghost town…”

“Well, then that must mean this one doesn’t feel like it needs any extra power, huh?”

“Yes. We’d better get ready; we’re about to enter the labyrinth, quite literally.”

As Twilight moved towards the center of the maze, she could feel reality around her become more and more distorted. But she noticed a strange consistency among the chaos.

“These patterns… these creatures… This is the same witch from yesterday!”

Kyubey backed up against Twilight’s legs, looking for refuge. “Looks like we got real lucky then. If we had decided to fight it then, with a human tagging along, things would have gotten real dangerous.”

Twilight spared no time - casting her magical power, she transformed into her magical girl self and barged through the horde of familiars with her shield. The familiars, however, laughed at her futile attempts. Their torn bodies sewed themselves back together to take on another form.

“P…Principal Celestia…?” Twilight felt an enourmous weight fall onto her shoulders.

“Twilight Sparkle,” said the mirage. “What are you doing here, when you should be at school? You used to be such a good student…”

“U-Used to be? No, no, I still am! In fact, I was on my way back-“

“It’s too late for that now. You’ve already been expelled from Crystal Prep, do you want me to expel you from Canterlot High as well? That won’t look good on your records.”

“No! I wasn’t expelled! Candace just thought it would be better for me if…”

Her legs were shaking.

“I… I’m… You’re not supposed to be here!”

Mustering up her strength, Twilight attacked the illusion of Celestia with everything she had. The familiars, however, simply dissolved themselves while laughing, leaving Twilight to fall to the ground, crying and defeated.

“What’s happening… Why am I… So weak…?”

The laughter around her turned to chants.

“End it!”

“What good is a magical girl who can’t fight a witch?”

“End it!”

“Give up your soul gem and feed us!”

“End it!”

Her vision was starting to get blurry. Why did she accept this awful offer in the first place?! She didn’t have what it took to be a magical girl at all!

Oh,

That’s right…

The reason was…

“Hold on tight, sugarcube!”

From the skies, a mysterious sillhouette came down to Twilight’s aid. Once it landed, she was surprised to see another magical girl, just like her!

Well, maybe her clothes were a little different. Very country. And instead of a shield, this girl took out five mint-condition flintlock muskets from her stylish cowboy hat. With the aim and confidence of a professional, she took down the monsters without missing a single shot. Then, she whipped her hair around, adjusted her hat, and turned to a baffled Twilight on the ground.

She smiled and reached out her hand.

“You alright over there?”

Before she could even say anything, four other girls made their way to Twilight and the mysterious magical girl.

“AJ, no fair! You said this one was mine!” A feisty girl with rainbow-colored hair rushed in first, clearly very upset.

“Oh, darling, please, that was clearly not the witch. You’re making a scene for no reason.” Added a purple-haired girl dressed in gorgeous modern-victorian couture.

“Wait,” said the multicolor girl. “Who’s that one over there?”

“I-I’m… Twilight… Twilight Sparkle…” She clumsily adjusted her glasses and got up.

“Pleasure to meet ya, Twilight.” The girl with the muskets smiled. “Name’s applejack.”

“I’m Rainbow Dash!” the spunky girl added.

“My name is Rarity, but you may call me Miss Rarity if you’re a fan.”

“Oh, I’ve heard your name before! You’re like, a prodigy star of the design world, right?”

“You’re quite right, darling! And those two over there are Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy.”

“W…Woah… So, you’re all magical girls…?”

“ALMOST all of us. Flutter can’t seem to come up with a wish, so we just drag her along as moral support.” Rainbow Dash cut in with a sarcastic tone.

“Rainbow, don’t say that!” Applejack reprimanded. “Don’t you worry, sugarcube. I know how scary it is to fight them mean witches all by yourself, but you’re not alone in this no more. We got your back!”

#magicamicitia #mlpmagicami #mlp au #pmmm au

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historiaxvanserra · 17 days

Text

A small snippet of something I've been working on! (yes it is dual POV but you'll see why in good time, babes) it's a whole ass novel that's why! a preemptive acotar 6 re-write, if you will!

I'm just testing the waters to see if anyone is remotely interested and because I'm really excited about this one! I think maybe, at least until my teacher training year is over this is going to be my main (only) writing focus other than original work. Like I said its a BIG undertaking but I'm really hyped for it.

AZRIEL'S POV

She had first come back to him on a night like this. In flashes of violet and onyx; painted in the seraphic light of a bleeding star. Haunting and prophetic.

It’s his first Starfall in Illyria in half a lifetime and he’s alone; far from anywhere that feels like home. That’s when he feels it. A cataclysmic vein of power that reverberates through the Illyrian wilderness. So profound that he swears the mountain trembles in the wake of it. Some dark star streaks across the sky; bleeding silver and cerulean into the velvet abyss that saturates the mountains in Ramiel’s long shadows, and for the first time in a long time Azriel finds himself uttering her name like an oath.

There in the heavens, and saturated in the darkness at the edge of the world, he finds her again. Azriel reaches out a scarred hand and tracks the star as it arches across the cosmos in veins of violet and cerulean, his fingers ghost a smattering of silver stars that form a constellation in the shape of her. She calls to him. In a language so old, and lost to time, that only the earth itself might infer some meaning from the whispers of power on the westward wind.

A secret contained between him and the sky.

The Solar of Rhysand’s mother’s cabin is reminiscent of the Temple of The Mother in Velaris; sacred and saturated in the technicolor light of the stained glass crescent moons that curve across its high-domed ceiling. A myriad of indigo and amethyst; incandescent with flecks of gold and jade as the crystals inlaid into their center catch in the light of a thousand silver stars. This room is a testament to the craftsmanship of the Illyrian people and on nights like tonight that domed ceiling is the lens through which he sees the world.

The stars continue their ascent across the heavens into the small hours of the morning and Azriel watches every last one, hoping to catch one more fleeting glimpse of her as she crosses over the constellations stitched into the very tapestry of the sky over Illyria. At some point as the brightest stars burn blue against the black Azriel finds himself reclining into the makeshift bed in the Solar of the cabin as his body, weary and worn, begins to flirt with sleep.

That night when he dreams, he dreams of her.

Azriel waits beneath some ill-fated sky as the scene unfurls from the dark corners of his memory. Like a hand reaching through the veil of the dark-- and he reaches back.

The sky is a thunderstorm, heat swelling beneath the skin's surface as the clouds begin to gather in hordes and Ramiel’s dark shadows veil the world as he knows it in a shroud of black. The seraphic blue light of the three pointed star cuts through the blanket of the dark, offering Azriel a reprieve from the suffocating blue-darkness that swallows everything in its wake. Drawing peace from the shadows.

In his dreams, the storm-streaked clouds loom ominous on the darkening horizon as midnight encroaches on the Illyrian wilderness and Azriel finds himself wading into the stretches of the wild, emerald forest. A voice, disembodied and cruel, calls out to him from the emerald wilderness. It’s laden with malice and dark intent as it whispers to him on the westward wind.

The road ahead of him is muddy and foxgloved and there's this ache. It’s a dull kind of agony that cuts through his chest and makes a home in the spaces between his ribs. And there is a girl. She’s screaming into the vacuous twilight beyond and the stars seem to flicker in and out of existence each time the howling wind catches in her throat. Uncertain feet carry him over the threshold of the encampment and every now and again his feet feel a tremor in the muddy earth-- a recollection of all that he had lost.

The atmosphere is oppressive and the acrid smell of smoke and rain linger there, clinging to the half-eroded stone and decaying wood. This cabin, once warm and breathing itself to life with the symphonies of her gentle laughter and Azriel’s mournful song. But this place had been abandoned long ago. Now, it lies desecrated, amongst the climbing ivy and dying jasmine. The cabin breathes an unsteady breath each time the wind catches in the hearth; it’s aching and heaving like every breath might be its last.

Azriel’s shadows convulse and contrort violently. Like ghosts in his periphery. The world goes dark for a moment and the war drums echo in the night air. Something ancient and long dead calls his name.

Azriel.

Through the blanket of the dark all that he can see are her eyes, glinting and violet in the unforgiving light. It’s then in the light of the waning moon that his eyes map the constellations of scars that adorn her body. All silver and incandescent as though she is wreathed in starlight. She comes to him like night; veiled in shadow and shook up with the sound of the storm. She looks half-divine and Azriel thinks that she must be both, ghost and Goddess. Lithe and brutal. The apparition of some ancient deity. There is something wild and sacred in her eyes. Some strange melancholic beauty that almost brings him to his knees.

She had been lovely in life, Azriel thinks. But now. Now she is fucking annihilating.

The storm on the horizon shakes the earth and the world is afire with forked lightning as it illuminates the velvet night. She waits beneath the same storm-streaked cloud and a ripple of devastating power shakes the earth beneath her feet. The world falls silent as she falls to her knees at the foot of the hearth and Azriel swears he can hear her praying. The prayers that fall from her lips are in some ancient tongue; the words are unknown but the sentiment is clear.

She’s searching for salvation on unholy ground, like a shadow unearthed from its grave. Lightning cracks and the cabin heaves its dying breath and Azriel holds out a scarred hand to her.

She reaches back.

Azriel wakes with the first light, the mournful song of his shadows severing his tenuous connection to the Otherworld. It’s an old melody; sung softly to babes while still in their swaddling. Its words are uttered in the Old language and much of its meaning has been lost to time but Azriel still recognises the tragedy embedded into its verse. His own mother had often hummed the words of that ancient melody in those hours when he and her were reunited in the darkness of his fathers house.

The shadows sing of The Fates; the severing of sacred threads and a blue star that reigns over the valley that heralds the coming of the Old Gods. It is a song that maps the history of his people, brutal as it might be. The shadows tell the tale of Enilaus' defense of Ramiel and a temple beneath the great mountain. Azriel clings to each word, searching for some semblance of meaning in the shadows' cryptic verse.

With each passing hour Azriel finds that his return to Illyria brings with it a strange sense of remembrance; of things passed, of things long forgotten.

#acotar #acotar x reader #azriel x reader #azriel x you #WIP

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pieroulette · 1 year

Text

ROUTE 1: HEESEUNG

A STORY THAT STARTS WITH A TEXT

2023 ・18+ ・15k ・YANDERE SERIES: ROUTE 1 MASTERLIST

pairing: lee heeseung x fem! reader

warning: cursing, panic attack, manipulation/emotional manipulation, kidnapping, mentions of drugs, major character death, descriptive death scene, murder (use of guns), violence, force kiss, mild sexual harassment, implied noncon (sa)

AUTHOR'S NOTE: rest assured my brain are now totally fried ^^ thank you for reading!! and reblogs, comments are always highly appreciated! they're the ultimate motivation fuel <3

| EPISODE 10: CARNIVAL |

The gut wrenching text in your glowing screen never ceases to mock you with each and every word.

[9:05PM] Hee01: sweet kitten, let’s start the game, shall we? Now, now, who do you think is the traitor sweetheart? :)

It fucking hurts that you wanna rip your head apart.

And when you think you've done enough crying and screaming to the top of your lungs—that your tears have gone dried and your voice had disappear into nothing—another one escapes before you can stop it.

As pathetic as you think it can be, you couldn't stop.

Your teeth gritted to its deepest core despite the possibility of it cracking, you didn't mind as your arms were shivering in a menacing pace as you had this another utter disbelief spiralling inside you.

How funny and pathetic you could be to stay fool like this, not aware of who the fuck had betrayed you.

[9:07PM] Hee01: still thinking?

Another piece of you were uttering a horrendous amount of questions in your head — questions that had no answers, going on and on like a broken radio.

Or perhaps, you were the one broken right now.

Broken like your trust.

Betrayal, betrayal.

Who could've possibly betrayed you?

It couldn't be your best friend who you've grown up with and have grown to care and trust — Chaeryeong?. .

But it can't be her! It can't be! I refused to believe this bullshit! There it was again — the same words that you utter and screamed a dozen times in your mind, convincing yourself that this is another game, another manipulation of that bastard.

Because you just couldn't believe that this might be the case.

Raging steps of the officers scattered all over the place which pushes the crowd out of their way to form a free path — those people had their arms caging that of EJ's helpless form, dragging him away from the scene.

Your eyes falling on EJ's pathetic form being dragged away brought you a sudden epiphany.

A shock wave of cold riled up across your entire body.

Jungwon! Where is he? Your eyes searched for the said boy but not even an inch of his presence was nowhere to be found — not even amongst the crowd nor on the stage itself. The boy was never present from the beginning of the festival.

Gritting your teeth in this immense pressure, you couldn't bear to get it wrong.

Your eyes fought it's best to blink away its tears but you couldn't fathom the possibility of how he, too, could be the one who betrayed you and EJ.

Possibilities, possibilities. What could be his reason to betray you? To do such an atrocity?

He was the one who brought the tape to you and EJ, if it was him then why would he even go through all that trouble in the first place?

For what? To fool you? It doesn't make sense.

Not even Chaeryeong herself could've possibly had a reason to turn her back against you.

Nothing, there was nothing! What if?! — Your eyes shoot up searching for him, what if this just another game of his to break you apart? It could be!

Your mind ran like a horde of horses racing through the sea of blood, searching for the corpses reeking in the mud. It smells musty, sinister and awful.

But no matter how you searched through it, the deepest depths contain nothing but an empty void.

You couldn't find a single thing of what one of them could have done to betray you.

Were you really dumb? Or were they too good?

Or have you just really thrown away your trust as if it was a dust within your fingertips?

You snap out of your daze as the crowds begin to dissipate—on and off they go to whatever they planned or wished to.

Out of blue you felt this ominous stare digging on your back.

Glancing over your shoulder to look up to the said group you've been wishing for their demise, yet there's no one but one boy who stood still behind the curtains covering the stage.

You gasped unable to fathom the expression of the brown haired boy—it caught you off guard but you didn’t let his dark gaze controlled you.

Next time, next time. You chanted in your mind, eyes darting from him to the entire place—letting out an exasperated sigh before rushing out of the venue.

A gigantic sea of neon lights along with cold breeze hitting your face as soon as you did so, sprinting to the pathway where crowds begun to leave and there your eyes fell on those who you were trying to chase for— screaming at them to stop at once.

"No! No—" you panted as you pry off their arms from the boy, "P-please he didn't do anything! What fucking proof do you have to arrest him like this?!"

They didn't respond rather throwing you daggers and glares through their dark gaze, red bluish lights illuminating the sharp edges of their face and silhouette.

They were firm, huge and strong — and they didn't seem to care even a tad bit of what you were saying which made you grew desperate.

Yet you tried pathetically once more, begging for them to let go of EJ who has by now given up, teary red eyes and gritted teeth. "Who did this, (Name)?!"

"I don't know! I really don't know!" You whimper, holding on to his leather jacket.

"EJ, please don't do anything! Just don't! They could hurt you or anything so please don't do anything!"

"What else do you expect me to do?!"

"Just listen to me please! I promise I'll get this over with as soon as I can, just— just don't do anything!"

It was obvious that EJ, too, were breaking down in this huge dilemma where he and you are unaware of who could've been the culprit.

This was never the plan! Both of you screamed into the deepest void in your minds.

You whipped your head at the remaining officer who had just finished from interrogating the crowds, "Please it's not him!"

The officer looks at you with confusion written all over his face but soon understands.

"There has been a witness proof, kid."

"Who? Who was it?!" your eyes widened in mild shock, desperate to know who it was.

"We can't say who. But consider laying back, you might be an accomplice as well with your attitude right now, kid." He patted your back before walking past you and there you could only watch EJ's form drooping in utter disbelief.

You knew that you and him had the same question running inside your minds ever since then.

Yet you can't let this pass and so you tugged at the officer's jacket, preventing him from leaving in which he turned to you with his dark eye bags that showed his restless and overworked days.

"Then help me please! My family, someone had kidnapped them!"

His eyebrows creased in annoyance, uttering words so fast you couldn't catch up but he eventually extended his hand asking you about proof and so you hurriedly turned on your phone, the bright screen illuminating the edges of your face.

However, someone behind you grabbed your phone and it made you fumed with anger when you snapped your head around to see the person in question — Taehyun, with a bubblegum sticking in his cheek.

"Hm?" The officer raised his eyebrows at the boy's attitude.

The brown haired boy with a smug grin splattered on his face as the flickering lights from the officer's car from behind you formed a hideous reflection on him that you were unable to fathom but this growing menace aura surrounding him had you frozen.

"Give me back my phone!" you reached out for your phone in his tight grasp but he dodged you so quick that you nearly stumbled to the ground.

“Please don’t mind her, Sir. She got some screw loose in her head after getting a few shots for the day." He suddenly pulled you into his tight embrace much to your protests, "Good job for today though! Didn’t had a single thought that this dearest friend of mine could ever think of to do such a hideous thing, how unfortunate.”

"Fucking liar! Do I look drunk to you?— Give me back my phone!"

"Are you sure bout that? She doesn't look even the slightest drunk—"

"She might not look like it but her boyfriend's are telling us to look after her so no worries!"

"N-no he's lying! Don't believe him!" You keep struggling in his arms and this somehow alerted the worn off officer.

"Kid, get your hands off her."

EJ slowly raised his eyes only to see the commotion outside the car window in which he hissed inside the car, squirming against the metal cuffs over his wrists and pathetic attempts to get off from the car.

Taehyun lets out an irritated sigh, leaning down to your ears whispering something so low only you could hear it, "C'mon now, (Name). Heeseung's waiting, you wouldn't want him to wait that long, aren't you?"

You froze.

Leaning backwards he did as he increased his voice in a normal volume.

You didn't move an inch in Taehyun's cage-like embrace till the officer wasn't taking this anymore as he nonchalantly told you to go off and not waste his time before leaving.

You could only watch as the car drove away and the window had EJ in a panic manner as he shouted for you inside.

Clenching your fists in pure agony is what you did as you threw a glare so deep in hatred at the taller boy.

“Give me back my phone! Bitch!”

“Ah, ah, chill.”

“I don’t know what you’re saying, you should've sharpened the edges of your damn brain first before acting with your pretty little useless plans.” Taehyun mumbled and then lowered his gaze at you.

“Give it back, you son of a bitch! I can’t believe you, he’s your friend and you’re doing this to him?!”

Taehyun’s eyebrow furrowed in amusement, “Friend? Last time I checked a friend doesn’t betray their own friend, unlike yours.”

“Wh-what are you talking about? What did you do!” You pulled his collar, forcing his back to bend to level your height.

“What did I do? I don’t know, you tell me.”

“I’m not in the mood of your games! I knew what you did, what you and all your shitty friends did! How could you? What kind of human are you? I guess, no. You’re not a human or even a fucking sane being. You’re a fucking monster who are all desperate for money!”

Taehyun’s eyes seem to darken at your words in a split moment but it soon dissipates and one more giggle emits in the air.

“So you knew, pfft. Obviously,” He paused, then his lips tugged up in a sinister way, “You speak as if you could live without money, though. I thought you were kleptomaniac, could you be a liar too?"

“Is that all you fucking got to say about me? Bitch, that doesn't work on me anymore."

"You know, I have no idea what Heeseung finds interesting in you that he had to go through all that trouble. But I guess, I can see now."

"Wha—"

"You are just like us, you just don't see it."

"The fuck you saying? You and I are not the same. I'm not like you who are selfish enough to use someone's body just so I can get money!”

Taehyun grins, "Are you sure bout that? You're just as messed up as we are, because if you weren't, then you wouldn't have known Heeseung nor end up in this shitty situation."

You froze.

"Because if you've never knew him, then Heeseung wouldn't have been the maniac he is right now if it wasn't because of you. You just don't understand do you?"

He leans forward, exaggerating each word. "It's all because of you."

"But gotta thank you for that, though. Heeseung won't even bat an eye or help us with our gigs but because of you he changed."

Silence, silence, the cicadas formed a thickening burst of faint claps while your claws dug deeper into the boy’s collar.

Your fingertips finding its way to tug on your white dress looking for a safe haven, was it really because of you?

Taehyun spoke in amongst the soft murmurs of the crowds behind your back, "(Name)."

"You really didn't know, did you?" a giggle escaped from his lips.

You flinch ever so slightly as his fingertips find its way on your hair as if to stroke it, and your expression screams "what are you doing."

"Oh, relax. There's a tiny bug." The grin on his face never disappeared as he showed you the crushed tiny red bug, "But you know, it's quite amusing."

"Heeseung said you were damn smart, and so he thought you would be able to catch up quickly when you saw us."

Still, a slight frown washes over your eyebrows along with the growing glare in your eyes, "The fuck?"

A giggle softly escapes his cherry lips, "Ah~ I shouldn't be saying much. But there's one thing I could say," He slowly leans forward, his boba eyes widened in each passing second as if to devour you alive.

"Sweetheart, don't you remember me? Ha, maybe you don't. But how about this?" an ear-wrenching silence ensues when he finally spoke.

"Don't blame me, I'm only doing what Heeseung told me to do." Taehyun giggled.

Huh? What the fuck is he— your eyes followed the necklace twirled around the boy's fingers as he playfully dangled the object before you.

Your world seem shattered to shatter as it the realisation dawned on you, the view began to dissipate in and out and it felt like it was the two of you in this place despite the enormous crowds cleaning up their mess, leaving through the exit, or still in shock over the previous ordeal.

“Now go and play.” and with that, Taehyun left with a smug grin on lips—leaving you frozen all alone by yourself.

You couldn't move, your eyes stuck in such a way that it starts to get strained because of how long you were standing there.

What the fuck? Knees weak, you fell on the ground as you all the memories from the past crashed right into your mind.

The dark room, a pair of strong arms that immediately pulled you and does unquestionable things to you.

“Mmmhhh!!”

The stranger's hands that found its way all around your skin, heavy cologne that you smelled on him even when you didn't see him because of the darkness.

The voice that you eventually forgot, words that surfaces right back to your mind.

“…….”

No wonder, you felt there was something downright odd by Taehyun's scent the first time you met him in the studio.

"Don't blame me, I'm only doing what Heeseung told me to do."

It was him. The one who had stolen Heemin's necklace.

[9:44 PM]

The sharpened edges of the digits splattering on the top of your phone's screen seem to put you in a deeper dread past another one.

Cold ice bites every inch of your skin as you rushed out further and further away from the venue, heading to the main street where you keep waving for a cab. you stormed off out the exit, searching for any signs of Chaeryeong or Jungwon.

The carnival, carnival. You panted. There’s a carnival situated around this venue’s area. Clowns, arcades, cosplays — everything was there.

Every moment under this thickening darkness — your heart pounded under your fragile ribs—reminding you that you had no one right now but yourself. The sea of neon colours hits your perspective as you looked out from the cab’s window, it’s lights illuminating on the edge of your face, making you tear-stained eyes glow and dance along with each and every reflection of this gigantic insect-like city.

Gripping the phone in your hand as you clasped your hand in despair, you waved your hand in attempts to get a cab but it went on and on and still you were unable to find one, before a police car pulls up before you — noticing your ragged form and your immediate relief.

You rushed over to the car, tapping the window in desperate impatience, “Help me, help me please!”

The officer were stunned by your ragged form, "Huh? What's wrong?"

“Help me please! My family! They had been kidnapped!"

The officer didn’t question much and was quick to let you in and drove you to the location, promising that he’ll call for backup soon. You couldn’t think properly nor answer properly and so you just nodded, scared for your family’s life.

Foot tapping the floor of the car relentlessly, you asked the officer for the third time, "How long are we still?—"

"Don't worry, it's traffic." The dark red hue encircling the edges of his face were something you could only see.

You gulped, impatient. It's okay, it's okay! I still had time, I'm not alone, it's okay! You comforted yourself for the nth time.

Pass, pass. It felt like an eternity.

A blaring noise of bells, roaring music and squeaking shoes overflowed through your ears and it had your eyes shooting up to where the source of the noise came from. This was it, the carnival Heeseung wanted you to go to.

You immediately went out, your heels stepping on the soil. “This is the place! They must be here! Let’s—”

The car door immediately closed before you as if to shut you out from it.

“S-sir? What are you doing inside there? We have to find my family!”

You slammed the car's window pleading for him to pull it down but you could only observe as the officer slips in a cigarette in his mouth, lighting up ever so lightly as he gave you a disinterested look, finally pulling the window down.

"What are you doing? You said you'll help me—"

“Here kid.” The officer pulls out a card from his pockets, a puff of smoke blows through the air as he pulls out his cigarette with his other hand.

“The fuck is this?..”

"Get out, kid. This is least thing we could do for you, be grateful." the window immediately pulls up leaving you speechless after you took the card.

Shaking your head slowly, “I thought you were going to h-help me?”

Then it hits you. Hard as a fucking brick. You scoffed. You let out a mocking scoff, your hand trembling as it clenches.

“No don't tell me.. You’re one of Heeseung's?!—” your face contorts in immense disbelief and yet the officer was not a tad bit faltered by your outburst.

You slammed the car window on repeat, rage written all over your face as you gritted your teeth so hard, “Fuck. Fuck. And here I thought you’re going to help me?!”

You screamed at the top of your lungs at the car driving off—leaving you in this pathetic situation.

It kick you right in your guts.

Clasping your hands over your head, you clenched your fists admits your pouring tears from your eyes, a fit of sniffles here and there until you wiped off your tears—not wanting to dwell in your misery— before heading into the main entrance of the carnival, the lights above overflowed through your line of vision and you felt lost at this vast space. Childrens and adults alike scattering all over this place.

Your eyes burned from all crying you did and the piercing lights from all over the place wasn't helping either.

However, you were most overwhelmed by relentless outbursts of noises coming from the distance and when you look over to the source of the noise; a stall with a wooden hanging board above—tarot card shop— with a long line of gleeful children and people in all age groups queuing with cards in their hands.

That brought you back to the card the officer gave you; a blank white card.

Was this the game Heeseung told you to play?

You went to the stall in a frantic pace—unable to wait in your dreading situation however your hasty actions earned a harsh glare from other people, murmurs echoes and harsh narrow glares were thrown at you.

You couldn’t wait anymore, you couldn’t wait but the staff told you to go back and wait and so you did, biting your lip as you scratch your neck in utter impatience every now and then—your feet unable to stay still, tapping it on the ground as you waited for your turn where the children queued up in a long line before you.

The thickening impatience spiraled over you, the moonlight glows so bright signifying that the night is still young.

Hurry up, hurry up! You shut your eyes as you screamed in your mind.

"Next!"

Your eyes shoot open as you realise it was finally your turn and so you hurriedly approached the counter where a clown stood behind it.

The clown's face were painted with twisted expressions that reminded you of him.

"Card?"

Snapped out of your daze, you blinked in utter uneasy you placed the card on his hand.

The clown seems to take a whole minute in inspecting the card you gave and suddenly he lets out a cackle, hands curled in a fist as if to suppressed himself from cackling any further.

You frowned at his strange behaviour.

It took him awhile as he bend down to get something under the counter, sharp sound of shelves opening and closing, and when he finally fixed his posture to face you again — a pair of cards was what he presented on the table before you.

Cards that presented a drawn out painting of a cat and a fox.

"Pick one card whichever you wish to, however remember that the card you chose decides someone's fate."

"Who these cards reminded you of?" The clown strokes his fingers over the cards with eyes that seems to scratch every inch into your soul.

And then realisation dawned on you, pair of cards—a cat and a fox—eyes that screamed those auras.

[9:05] Hee01: Who do you think is the traitor?

Heeseung's text crashes through your mind like a speeding train.

The clown gave you a long, deep hard stare as he watched you picked between the cards.

"Choose! Who do you think it is? Choose wisely, miss." The clown exclaimed each word as if it didn't hold a heavy weight on you.

Who? Who? Your fingers hesitates to find its way one of the cards. To choose. To pick.

"Remember, if you fail. There will be consequences waiting for you."

Your ears started to tear up to the colossal weight of reality on you. The multiple things from the game centre, joyous screams from children behind you, faint sound of photo capturing, the sea of neon lights dancing in this gigantic carnival that almost resembles an insect with all its legs on all fours.

Eating you up on your insides and fleshing your intestines out, devouring every part of your brain.

Who should you choose?

Bam! Bam! Bam! The roaring clap of crowds, the exploding sea of flowers on the nightsky, the overflowing round colour of lights illuminating on the cards before you had you drowning in downright dilemma.

Your mind once again travels through the passages of memories with Chaeryeong's and Jungwon's presence in them, lingering inside it's episodes to see what went wrong and who did the ultimate betrayal on you.

You trembled— tremendous wave of guilt washes over you as your hands keep switching back and forth — wanting to get it right but at the same time, you don't want to.

Tap!

With your eyes shut tight to prevent your soul from withering inside, your hand finds it way to the one of the cards in a swift speed.

Trying to flip it over, the clown stopped you and pulled the card away from you which made you frown deeply.

I'm sorry, Jungwon. But I never really trusted you in the first place! You screamed inside your head, hoping for it to be true but at the same you can't bear to see the truth.

Silently praying that you were wrong.

"Ah." The clown smiles. Thus, the music box in his hand turns opened and its contents begun to dance like a spiralling loophole of hell.

Were you wrong? Did you make a mistake? Your soul were draining from your body like a soap wiggling its way out of your grasp.

His clown face snickered upon seeing the content of the card and there he flips it over, presenting it before your very eyes.

"You were. .—"

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The clown flips the card of the cat and the true form was a fool. You raised your eyebrow in confusion.

His red bob nose bounces ever so slightly, "You're wrong! Deadly mistaken, that is!"

"What? No.. It wasn't him?.." you couldn't form words, "Are you t-telling me it's?"

"We never know, why don't you guess?"

"Don't fucking play games with me! Who was it!" You pulled the clowns collar, your mouth trembling in the process, “You can’t be telling me it’s her!”

"Aw, young miss. Why so upset? This isn't you. Control your emotions."

Utter distress filled you in.

"Relax, the game doesn't end yet, but how unfortunate it is that someone has to bear the mistake you made."

Your hand trembled in a frantic manner as tears instantly filled up the edges of your eyes.

“What?..- so w-what’s going- don’t tell me you're going-”

The clown’s red painted lips curved up in the widest twisted grin as if to mocked you so hard.

“NO! PLEASE DON'T DO IT I BEG OF YOU!” you pleaded, slamming the table.

“It’s not like you can save either one of them, miss.” the clown cackled.

“Now choose one more card! And we’ll see who’ll take your sweet punishment. It’s lose a limb time!”

“I don’t want to choose! I don’t want to! You can’t fucking force me!” you bawled in tears as you clenched your fists.

He tilted his head, “Then if you won’t choose, we’ll gladly do it for you.”

The clown's head immediately picked the card from the table.

“How about this, since you chose that boy, he should take it on himself then!"

"NO! DON'T DO IT PLEASE!"

You shook your head in desperation, eyes widened in complete horror, mouth drooping so hard saliva was streaming down your jaw. Pain, pain it was as it breaks every bone in your body. Scared and desperate, you took out your phone texting Heeseung.

[10:03PM] you: please!! Don’t do anything! Heeseung!

you were typing . . .

[10:03PM] you: HEESEUNG! Heeseung! Answer me!

Bending over your knees, you couldnt stop bawling in tears as you tapped the call button, trying to get to him but to no avail, you were left ignored.

What's going on?

“I’m sorry, Jungwon! I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry, i’m sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!” you keep apologising like a repeated mantra. "EJ, I'm so-sorry!"

Dread consumed your insides as you begin to have a panic attack.

Your cries of pain consumes the place but no one can hear you as your cries were drowning in the roaring sound of the fireworks, the people too deep in their fascination for the booming flowers on the nightsky.

“Hmm? Seems like Heeseung had taken a pity on you.” you snapped your head so fast to look up at the clown with the phone on his hand, exaggerating each word of his. “You know the cafe all of you three went to once? Go there! He might be around the corner! However probably dead! It's just around here, right?"

Laughter echoes behind your back as you didn’t think even further nor hesitate but sprinted to the exit, fists clenching as you keep waving off your hand for a cab to appear.

But it was useless.

You ran around in this massive crowd, suffocating in pure agony as they passed and hit your shoulder in opposite ways.

Yet, even the pain wasn't as much as the pain you're going to feel if something has happened to Jungwon. Even EJ won't forgive you once he knew what you did.

Lips trembling, eyes darting in utter chaos, never faltering nor losing focus — you ran to the park, panting, your entire figure so ragged and tired as your eyes darted all around the park looking for him. “J-Jungwon?"

Soft strokes of rain drops dropping onto a stagnant lake from the distance, clouded and dull sky emitting a faint clap of thunder — a foreboding melody approaching each passing second.

Pit pat, pit pat.

You called out for him again as your foot brings you around, "Jungwon! Jungwon? Where are you?!"

"Please answer me!"

Yet the presence of the boy was nowhere to be seen, almost as if he was never in this place. However you refused to give up, still walking forward looking for the boy.

But something, or someone in the distance caught your attention from your peripheral vision.

Halt.

Your breath hitched, but a huge wave of relief passed through your body as you let your feet raced its way to her. “Chaeryeong? Are you okay?! Chaeryeong! CHAERYEONG!”

"(Name)—?" Chaeryeong's eyes widened.

"Chaeryeong! Thank god you're here— are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere? I've been trying to call you for the past few hours, why the hell weren't you answering?!"

Chaeryeong whimper, her eyebrows knitted together and mouth trembling, "(Name).."

"We have to go, it's not safe here anymore! Somewhere, somewhere—" you grabbed Chaeryeong's hand, voice panting so hard as your eyes darted around your surroundings—thinking of what to do and where to go. "Fuck, let's just leave please!"

"How amusing."

Your feet froze, head snapping to the direction of the voice and you swore your heart sank into deeper fear when you saw Beomgyu leaning against the tree. You immediately pulled Chaeryeong behind you, using your figure to shield her away from the red haired boy.

"The fuck you doing here?!"

"Why? Can't I?"

You scoffed, eyes growing wide in such a way as to mock the red haired boy. "Just get lost! I'm not letting you get close to her! So get lost or I'll fucking murder you!"

Panic consumed your entire body that you just want the boy to get out of your sight. Your hands tightening the grip on Chaeryeong's wrist. You ain't gonna let anything bad happen to her.

Not now, not ever.

"Pfft!" Loud laughter emits from the red haired boy as he hold his sides with his arms, mouth wide open and eyes shut as if the whole thing was an entertainment show for him.

Silence finally consumes everything for a brief moment when he open his eyes, staring at you intensely but you soon realise he wasn't looking at you but at Chaeryeong.

"Yah, don't you wanna tell your goodie bestfriend what you did?"

Huh?

Suddenly, you felt Chaeryeong's hand trembled in yours, her fingers now tightening in your hand. "Let's just l-leave. ." she whimper in a very tiny voice, her head low as if to avoid Beomgyu's intense gaze.

This wasn't how Chaeryeong usually act. What's going on?

"What? What's wrong?—" you brushed her hair, worried to death if Chaeryeong was hurt anywhere. "Did they hurt you? Did they give you something?!"

"Fuck, I can't watch this anymore!" Beomgyu exclaimed as he pushed himself forward.

You walked backwards, alarmed by the boy's approaching presence.

"Yah, if you don't wanna tell her then I will." Beomgyu pouted, "(Name), you are too kind don't you think? Or maybe too dumb, pfft. That girl behind you are the reason why your plan are now messed up!"

Stop. You stood still as a stone.

You didn't know what to expect nor think about it. Heck, you don't know what to do about what you heard just now—from the boy across from the street before you.

"Y-you're lying.." stuttering as your eyes blinked in an unstable manner. "You're trying to ruin our friendship—"

"Then why didn't she bring your sweet, sweet family to the concert?" Beomgyu tilted his head in a mockery manner.

You froze in utter horror with every word escaping the boy's mouth—lips falling apart, the tightened grip you had on Chaeryeong's hands loosens as you struggled to accept what you heard.

But the girl behind you refuses to let go, tightening her grip on your hand with both her hands—tears now pouring down her cheeks.

"Is.. it true?" your voice came out more as a whisper laced with downright pain and even though you let it out as a question, you wanted her to say no.

Tears brimmed out of Chaeryeong's eyes as she started to shake her head, softly saying each word which turns into high-pitched at the end “Th-this isn’t what you think!”

It dawned on you and yet part of you refuse to believe it.

Your feet made its way backwards. What is this? What is this? What is this?

“NO! (Name)! I didn’t meant it! I was unable to do anything! I’m sorry (Name)!” she tried to tugged your stone like arms, you could only look at her with wide open eyes that screams pain.

“Wha- what did you do? What- What have you done?—” you choked on your breathe, eyes shooting up to glare at her. "WHY DID YOU DO IT?!"

You shoved her arms away, avoiding her frantic approaching hands in a way that shows how your hatred were growing stronger for every drop of the rain falling on your bare skin.

Chaeryeong shook her head, crying, “I—”

“D-don’t touch me! Don’t you fucking touch me!” you trembled as you avoid her touch like it’s venomous to your skin, “Bitch? How dare you betray us!”

You saw red. Everything was growing red as the pure affection you had for the girl seems to vanished bit by bit.

“Where and how did you betray us?! You knew it was important for us! But, but!” gasping for air as this ugly betrayal surges it way to your heart, "I TRUSTED YOU! WE TRUSTED YOU! I—"

High-pitched scream of yours made the cicadas grew silent, lizards went back to their shelter and only the ominous glow of the yellow lamp was what accompany the both of you.

Now, there was only silence deathly silence.

Chaeryeong clenches her fists while breaking down in tears as she continued to apologized to you on repeat, like a broken radio. Broken radio. But really who’s the truly broken radio between the two of you? Was it you or her? Should you blame yourself or her?

Who?!

“It— it wasn’t easy! I wanted to s-stop! But I really couldn’t escape from him (Name)!” Chaeryeong wailed in pain, hanging her head low.

Pit pat, pit pat.

Silence forms as if mother nature had seen enough.

A soft chime!

Your phone’s screen lights up with another notification from him popping up.

[10:03PM] Hee01: you lose the game. Now your family had to pay the price.

[10:03PM] Hee01 has attached an image.

Your breath had caught up on your throat the moment your eyes fell on the attached image he sent to you.

He was too cruel, too cruel, too fucking evil.

Cupping your mouth with your immense trembling hands as tears overflowed out from your eyes for a dozen times.

"(N-name)?.."

Your parents had their heads tied around on a noose as they were laid on a place you couldn't understand where it was from.

[10:05PM] Hee01: let's play another game, shall we?

You were lost at words as if your system had shut down, the horror of this betrayal was something you couldn't bear to have a thought of anymore and now you had to go through another miserable pain.

Your heels spun around in a throbbing pain in your veins as if you've been standing there for an eternity.

"(Name)! (Name)! I'm really sorry! Please where are you going?!" Chaeryeong tries to to grab your arm but you pushed her away in your solemn state.

“G-get lost. Just get lost..” you nonchalantly said it, leaving the girl behind despite her desperate protests and relentless apologies.

A faint clap of thunder, roaring its wrath to the tenants of this vast world. For some, it’s a joy for the crops to drench in for them to grow to their glory, for some it’s in a form of punishment and that someone was you right now.

One, two, a few almost like a soft stroke of the raindrop fell on your skin — disguising as one of your tears dripping down your face. Your phone illuminates for the nth time, every text from him was a pure hellbound tying you with him and you were hoping to cut it off with possibly a knife or a scissor.

Though how unfortunate you were, as you were fighting restlessly to cut it off — it was pulling you even deeper like a sandman’s lair. His lair.

There, and then in the midst of the roaring thunder and the mother-like pit pats of the rain drop — you stumble upon a kid in a raincoat, swinging his arms as he let out his little hops on the tiny puddles across the street.

Fuck, you thought.

The long and wet, grey pathway. Your dress, hair and skin has been now drenched like you’ve drowned.

Laugh, laugh, how pathetic you were. Was it all coming back to you? The petty game you’ve started from the beginning? Karma has bitten you back, isn’t?

All because you sent a text, with a seemingly petty child-like games of yours and it has now been turned into a bloodbath by the very boy you fooled instead.

All the lamps flickered like a bunch of psychos dancing in a round circular pattern.

“I’m tired. I’m tired. .” a whisper so silent it felt like you had no one in the first place.

A soft chime!

A series of notifications pops up on your phone’s screen and you swore you can’t take it anymore as you read through his texts.

[10:07] Hee01: now let me explain our little game!

[10:07] Hee01: your little family and friend is hidden around in the city and you must find them before ur time ends, you got 1 hr :)

As if your life hasn't been shattered completely, you were proven wrong as you lose your footing on the ground — eyes widening in utter horror as you typed out a text so vigorously.

[10:09PM] you: TF YOU THINKING?? HOW AM ELSE I SUPPOSE TO FIND THEM?! ARE YOU FUCKING INSANE?!!!!

[10:10PM] Hee01: oh honey, dont worry. I’ll give you two hints. Rooftop. Red flag.

[10:10PM] you: what?.. are you trying to tell me that that..

[10:10PM] Hee01: the night is still young, baby. You got 1 hr, that’s all u have. If u fail to find them all, their fate would end up of their blood dripping from their head on the street :’)

Distress etched all over your face as your knees bring you all around the city. Your heavy white dress that flows along with the cold breeze as you keep running, running and running up and down the stairs.

Wiping off your tears in a vigorous manner as you stride off to the street with multiples buildings around you and you felt that there was no hope for you to ever find them.

An endless labyrinth of misery.

[10:13PM] Hee01: time starts now.

Run, don’t stop, if you stopped — they will die. Don’t stop!

Your eyes shoots up up to see a red flag sticking up on the edge on top of the building's rooftop

Sigh of relief.

Eyes darting all over your surroundings and hasty breathing as you went insidr building, sprinting upstairs and pushing open the rooftop’s door and yet you were met with nothing but the empty voids of the night sky and the sea of neon colours of this gigantic city.

Where are they?..

You almost want to cry again. If you want, you could've jump from this building just so you can end this pure torture that Heeseung puts you in through.

But you know you can't, you can't!

You walked slowly to the edge of the building and there your breath were suck out from your lungs when you notice the numerous red flags sticking on every rooftop you can ever see.

You clasped your head in your hand, bawling so loud that there's no way you could find your parents in all these buildings.

Tick, tock.

[10:19PM]

You should be getting up on your feet right now, you should be but why, why can't you stand?

[10:27PM]

You still haven't got over Chaeryeong's betrayal and here you were on the edge of your life trying holding yourself back together, but everything seems to be useless at this point.

Soft chime!

[10:39PM] Hee01: have you found them?

[10:39PM]

The glowing screen of your phone had by now been drowned by your tears.

The entirety of this huge pressure made you gave up. It was too much to bear. You keep panting and panting, searching for an air to breathe but it your lungs ache, pure fear of what could happen if the timer runs out and you weren't able to save them or more frightening was, not even one of them.

But your feet still won't stand up on its own.

It's all over, isn't?

“(Name)?!”

You slowly look up to see those familiar feline eyes. You burst into tears letting out small apologies for accusing him as a traitor and finally told him everything of what had happened to you today including Chaeyeong — it was too much to bear, apparently.

“It’s okay, I cannot guarantee I won’t do the same thing too if I was in your shoes.” Jungwon comforted you.

You nodded, tears forming in your eyes but then your gaze fell on his bandaged hand. “W-what happened to your?—” and Jungwon seem to catch up fast as his left hand brushes it over.

“Oh, it's nothing! Got on an accident earlier, it's nothing serious.”

“But it seems really serious, are you sure you’re fine?’

Your hoarse voice made Jungwon realise how consumed you were with fatigue but he chose to remain silent.

“Yeah I’m fine!” Jungwon tries to pull up a smile as he helps you get up on your wobbly feet. “C’mon, we don’t have enough time anymore. Let’s find them okay?”

Jungwon and you scattered all around the city searching for the red flags hoarding over the rooftops.

Rush footsteps echoes all over the stairs as the two of you barges into the rooftop. An enormous weight of pressure were suddenly released from your chest when you finally found your parents.

Cry, cry.

“Mom! Dad!” you knelt before them, helping them up but soon you notice that they were given drugs so they’re in an unconcious state.

It took you and Jungwon a sudden realisation that it will take you a horrendous amount of time to carry them both.

However, both of you kept going on.

You carried your mother on your back as best as you can while your father on Jungwon’s, your knees was burning in horrendous pain as you went down the stairs, being careful as you as to not accidentally letting them off.

The circular motion of this stairs are starting to make your head feel light, your eyes forming dust and air.

Jungwon notices you and tried to get your senses back, “(Name)! We’re almost there!”

After dropping off your parents inside a bar with an excuse of them being drunk and that you'll come back later — you and Jungwon once again wander limitlessly across the streets, repeating the same action over and over again in the midst of the joyous music of this city.

“This won’t do, we have to split up.” Jungwon pants as he put his hands on his knees.

You nodded, spinning your heels around but before you do, you shouted for Jungwon, “Be careful please!”

Jungwon was taken aback but nodded in return

You didn’t know why you said that out of blue but somehow you already had this growing fear inside you that he, too, could possibly lose his life for helping you like this. You were afraid that something might happen out of nowhere, you can’t rest nor take a moment to think properly — you were running out of time and you swore your head was about to burst.

Was this what Heeseung really wanted?

You keep searching and searching for them, for EJ and your sister. But you weren't sure whether they're on the same rooftop or being separated from each other plus another problem was the rooftop of each building had no longer red flags on top of them so you were going back and forth, circling each intersection and blocks. But don’t worry, you still had time.

I still had enough time!—

Bam!

A full crowd of high-pitched screams suddenly emits high up in the air which had you clasped your head in your hands instantly but you turned around to see crowds gathering in a certain spot and then you looked up only for your stomach to churned in utter fear.

There it was, the red flag dancing with the cold breeze on the top of the building.

No, it can’t be. You let out an awkward laugh as you brought your attention back to the gathered crowd.

Tap, tap, your heels formed a faint soft clicks as you approached the crowd, looking down to your phone

[10:53PM]

You still had time. . .

You still had 10 minutes left before the timer ends so this can’t be.

This must a pure joke, isn’t? Your hand shivered but you stopped it, still giggling inside your empty void.

Tap, tap.

And as you find your way in to the crowd, you were met with the gruesome sight of the lifeless body on the ground and you found yourself unable to move as if your system had shut down. Your brain unable to hold it’s cells for you to think, your heart unable to move so it can pump up blood to your entire body, your lips had gone pale and your pupils dilated to the canvas of horror laying before you.

You fall before it.

Soft chime!

The canvas of horror holding this familiar and gentle brown hair, eyes that hold sincerity inside it which was now left open as if it’s looking up to the air, lips had gone pale and purple as if he had died instantly as soon as his head hitted the ground.

EJ.

—Soft chime!

You couldn’t stop yourself from shaking violently nor held yourself together from falling apart on this cold, rough street. You couldn’t cry, though. The crowds had gathered around the lifeless body of him you couldn’t open your eyes for.

You spoke silently, breaking down inside, “I- still had 20 minutes l-left. .”

You couldn’t stop choking on your breathe, clasping your head when you look up to the rooftop from where you left him initially. W-what’s going on?..

You couldn’t see Jungwon, you couldn’t see him. But there he was, with the expression mirroring yours as he approached the lifeless corpse on your arms. This enormous weight pulling you down even deeper into this empty void.

“Why. . why are you here?” your hand frantically brushes over EJ’s face, a complete contrast from your dead expression, “No, come back. C-come back.”

Too deep in your labyrinth of despair, you failed to notice Jungwon falling behind you—emptiness circulating in his eyes. But he tries to quickly regained his composure, wiping off his tears before pulling out his phone to call for the ambulance.

His hands trembling with the phone within his grasp, his voice stuttering as he tells them your current location.

Another soft chime! And yet you ignored it, eyes with dried tears staring into the empty space hold EJ's freezing hands in yours.

"Why are you so cold?.." you choked on your throat, the freezing weather making your nose aches with every tiny sniff.

Your ears were muffled with this drowning and growing bass and yet despite all of that you could hear ambience Jungwon's desperate voice calling for the emergency.

He's dead.. Why are you still trying? You asked Jungwon deep inside your mind. You couldn’t believe either, was that really the last time you would’ve ever talk to EJ?

“EJ! Remember don’t do anything! Just stay calm! I’ll save you later, I promise!”

Another chime, two, three, four, five, countless of tings emerges from your phone which then results in the gaze of the gathered crowds on you.

Ha, you failed. You failed to keep your promise.. to him.

“(Name)! (Name)!” Jungwon tugs your shirt in hopes to get you back.

Snapped out from your spiraling anguish, your look at the boy beside you with heavy eyes.

"Your phone."

Shaky fingers taps the numerous notifications from him. You're unable to comprehend the texts on your screen as your chest and heart were overflowing with too much anguish from the body laying before you.

This familiar name. Another enormous weight falls on you just after another.

[11:06PM] Hee01: attached an image.

[11:06PM] Hee01: I miss u :( I'm sure your sister miss you too so u better hurry up

From the distance, something caught your attention. A dark, black car pulls up across from the street and you instantly recognized who it belongs to.

Heavy eyes falling back on the lifeless boy on the ground before you, your lips trembled as your fingers stroked his cold rosy cheeks and down to his dry chapped lips that was once full of life.

"Just go, (Name). I'll handle this, just leave your parents to me." a voice like a stroke of a feather as Jungwon's head lies low, you knew that he too were unable to cry nor scream as you both have thought that you two could've save him.

That you still had time.

Silence, silence.

You remained silent throughout the entire drive to the church where Heeseung and your sister was. Curling into your knees, head buried deep inside, only hearing your slow breath amidst the sound of the radio of the car.

Though, the radio seems to be broken.

Broken like you are.

The enormous weight and heavy pressure this snowy dress you had on you is so painful you couldn’t bear to take another step to the colossal church waiting for you across the path.

But you still did, you still kept going on — pushing the enormous main door and there your eyes met his.

The same eyes you grew to despise, love, disgust, loathe, despair for.

Small, slow steps you took as you cross the aisle. The church was so high up to the intricate patterned ceiling, the dark brown painted walls, the holy statues and the entire vibe of this place that was supposed to give you serenity feeling but the devil himself was standing across from you with a wicked smile adorning his face.

“Ah, at last, my darling. You’re here.” Heeseung opens his arms wide for you.

But the only person you had your utmost attention for was your sister, Chaewon who was laid against the wall, blood dripping from her head all the way down to her cheek. For awhile, you thought she was unconscious but you realise that it was far from that by her heavy eyes and fatigued form.

“Unnie!”

Before you could approach your sister, Heeseung stood before you with a smug grin on his face which turn into a pout, “How rude, don’t you miss me though?”

Seeing his face made you wanted to punch him and curse at him for eternity but you can't, not when your sister were right there, a few more meters away from you.

“You fucking dare even ask me that?” your face contorts into utter disgust which doesn’t affects him a tad bit.

"Feisty, I like that." Heeseung grinned as he wrapped his hand around your wrist, pulling you into his embrace despite your protests. “Look at you, so ragged and so tired. I must have made it so hard for you to enjoy your night out, did I?”

It was only now that you notice the presence of an old priest in his all-black attire when you glance over Heeseung's shoulder It gave you a uneasy feeling. What is this. You just wanted this bullshit to end for once and for all.

“You did such a good job playing the game I made for you, now let me see,” He strokes your face with his fingers, eyes scanning every edge of your face, “I’m glad your face is as pretty as it is, all mine.”

His voice caressing your ears irked you so much— Pretty. Mine. All mine.

Your hard and cold demeanour finally broke over his softened ones, you seriously can’t take this twisted words of his.

You suppressed the need to choke on your throat and gather your courage, your lips unable to control itself anymore. “W-what do you want? Please. Let’s just get this over with.”

“Oh, darling. Why are you rushing? We all had the time we needed in this world! Don’t we?”

“I don’t have any fucking time to play your little games!” Finally, tears spilled from your eyes as you pushed him away, “Tell me what do you want me to do just so you can let go of my family!”

Broken you were, helpless you felt as you dug your claws beneath your palms. You just wanted to fall on the floor and crouch in your little world because you were so betrayed by what she did, by what Chaeryeong did. By EJ's death, his lifeless body flashing through your mind. Your sister's worn out form against the wall.

Everything, everything fucking hurts as you shoot a glare full of hatred towards the man standing before you.

A mocking sigh emits from the young man. “How impatient. But fine.”

Your teary eyes shooted up to meet his lovesick gaze, “What?”

“Darling, you’re too dense, aren’t you?” Heeseung giggled, gesturing to the priest standing before you, “Remember? You agreed to marry me.”

You shook your head in a pathetic, small way. "No.."

“Marry me, and then we’ll leave this place, let’s live somewhere where there’s no one but us!” He took your hands in his, voice growing desperate every second, eyes brimming in utmost affection as you shook your head vigorously, “If you do that, then I might be kind enough to leave your family and friends alone. I guess, it’s fair right? You can’t ask for something without giving something darling.”

“But why? Why! We've only known each other for seven months! Why—” you bit your lip so hard.

A spine chilling chuckle escapes Heeseung's cherry lips, “(Name), Isn’t it obvious enough? It is because I love you that I’m doing this for you, for us!”

"For us?! Us?! You're fucking insane!" You yelled at the top of your lungs.

"I wouldn't be this fucking insane if you didn't text me in the first place! And then fooled me as if I was a mere game to you! You knew I like you and yet you gave me fake name! Fake face! Everything is fucking fake!"

Heeseung's voice echoes through the church's hall that had you shuddered in utter fear.

Blood drained out from your face as your lips trembled with the words you let out, "Y-you knew..?"

Raising his eyebrow in a cocky manner, "You think I wouldn't knew? Oh god, darling! You're so smart and yet so dumb!

Air. You need to breathe. Breathe. You need to say something, something — the fear of being caught consumes your entire being.

Shutting your eyes tight you did as you screamed out every single words. "I know i’m sorry for doing such thing! But this doesn’t make sense, you couldn’t have possibly love me — someone you’ve never met! I’m really sorry! I’m really sorry! I'm sorry for doing that to you!”

A gut-wrenching silence consumes the insides of the church.

You slowly opened your eyes to look at him with so much fear spiraling in your wounded heart.

“Shh, shh.” He pulled you into his embrace, brushing your hair in a loving manner, his mouth pouting ever so slightly but in contrast to his dark gaze, “You don’t have to apologise, it’s true it pissed me off that I wanted to rip you to pieces once I met you but when I finally saw you with my own eyes.. I didn't think it would make me you made me fell more harder than I think I could've been.”

You remained silent in fear.

“But I just thought I still had to teach you a lesson.." Heeseung stroked your cheeks with his finger, "The game was fun isn’t? That’s how you made me felt all this time, wandering like an insane and looking all over the places for you. Remember the card game? Choosing between two people whom I never know which was the real person i’m looking for? That was how you did it by choosing your sister as your face, how funny. And the betrayal part? Now you know how it feels, that’s how you made me go through it. It hurts, didn’t it? All these games was what you put me into.”

You gritted your teeth, suppressing your tears as you look down ashamed of what you did.

“Now it’s only fair, that we had gone through the same thing. It’s settled, love.” Gripping your jaw, forcing your eyes to met his intense gaze, "So marry me darling or else.. you wouldn't want your sister to end up like that, do you?"

“If you want, your sister could be our guest, the witness to our love.”

You gritted your teeth. “You’re insane..”

“Yes I am, insane for you and my love for you, isn’t it so obvious at this point?” A devilish smirk adorned his cherry red lips as he reached out his hands for you, “C’mon, (Name).”

"Heeseung, do you take (Name) for your lawful wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

What is this.. You trembled within his grasp and suddenly his fingers find its way to your neck, softly stroking your skin—so sickeningly sweet.

"I do."

The way he said it was dreading you.

The priest then turns to you, "(Name), do you take Heeseung for your lawful husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

Your lips felt like it had been sewed by a thread, choking on your saliva in this unnerving situation because of his lovestruck eyes that was observing your every bit of action which was so extremely disturbing and unsettling.

It was as if his eyes were screaming— say it! Say it!

You knew there's no turning back right now as your sister were on the edge between life and death, and more specifically being hanged on a noose that's decided by the choices you made.

Hissing in almost like whisper, "I— I do."

When you let such an answer, only then you notice how his sharp expression of waiting you to say that one sentence turned into a sheer satisfaction—absolute exhilaration consumed his eyes.

His teeth came into view as his cherry red lips tugged up in the wildest grin you've ever seen—so wicked and terrifying that you whimper in utter fear.

"Till death do us apart."

Bloodcurdling scream erupts in the empty air—you on your fetus like form with your trembling hands clasping your ear in attempts to recover from what you've seen.

The lifeless corpse before you.

With a gun in his grasp, one loud shot ended the priest’s life as he fell on the floor in a loud thud — his blood scattering all over his face, the holy status on the table and the floor all being stained in red.

"W-why did you have to kill him?!"

You couldn’t process everything, it was too much! it was too much, too much to take.

Heeseung finds it rather amusing to see your state, tilting his head as he blows off the smoke from the gun’s tip. “One out, darling. We don’t need another damn pest crouching into our life.”

"W-why.. Why would you do that?! He didn't even do anything!" You bawled in tears once again.

Witnessing death one after another, wooden like eyes once the soul left it's host, blood sucking out from their once vibrant skin—every single time, your soul are sucked out along with them—one more time, and you are sure to death that you will be only a living doll void of a heartbeat in the end.

Approaching your pathetic wailing form in a light hearted manner as if nothing had happened—brushing your hair in the utmost affection he can give to you because he loves you so much that it hurts, “Hush, love. You'll very well forgot it soon, how about we grab some dinner while we're on our way to our honeymoon?”

The witness to all of these absolute madness had remained stone cold this entire time.

“Fuck, stop crying. I get it that you're adorable but atleast save your tears for later. Hm, how about this? As a present to my lovely wife, i’ll let your sister live. I’m just that kind, right?” Heeseung smiled so sickeningly sweet at you.

It caught you off guard as you sniffed frantically, you find it unbelievable that he was willing to do just that for you but are we still surprise? This guy is a living form of mental derangement but if this is what it takes for your sister to survive then you won't mind a single bit.

Not when you already lose someone so precious to you.

You nodded in a quick hasty manner with your eyes filled with burning tears—darting all around the space, blinking in utter anxiety as he wrapped his arms around your waist — gleefully telling you all the future he could think of with you, to you.

Anyone would've had their hearts swell in pure bliss with his every confession of love and loyalty—but for you, he's akin to a mad dog disguised in an innocent pup image that will eventually devour you if you ever dare so to rebel against him.

Heeseung looked over his shoulder to look at the girl laid against the wall with so much contempt in his eyes.

"So much for all that trouble, I’m letting you live, happy?” was what he said before dragging you away with him to the entrance, his arm wrapped around your waist as it finds it way to your hair, brushing it affectionately like there's no tomorrow.

Only hanging your head low and obedient all for the sake of your sister.

Rain had by far vanished in a silent manner outside the church, yet the clouded sky remain firm and steady.

Nails dug on the carpeted floor resulting in a slow burn screech.

“I’m..” Chaewon clenches her fist as she raised her head up to look at you and Heeseung.

“Huh? Still able to talk?” Heeseung scoffed in amusement.

“You—” you couldn’t bear to see your sister like this and you notice that even though Heeseung had this cold demeanour up, his tense grip on your hand says otherwise.

“You fooled us.” Chaewon cried out in pain, face contorting into immense pain.

Taken aback by her simple cries of pain, Heeseung just laughed. “What a joke, c’mon love. She’s just wasting our time.”

“I’M NOT GOING TO BACK DOWN WITHOUT A FUCKING FIGHT! LEE HEESEUNG!”

—Shriek!

The scene before you was downright a scene of dreadful horror.

Eyes stretched out in such a way you couldn't believe what had happened; an excruciating and agonising outcry of pain emitting in the air and everything happen in a split second when Heeseung fell before you, his grip on your hand loosening as it returns to cupped his forehead pooling out a waterfall of blood.

"Unnie.." you called out for your sister who was shocked to death by what she did as she look down at a holy statue in her grasp, the blood of the boy dripping from the statue's head down to her fingers and staining the red carpet into deeper shades.

"Fuck! Fuck— Fuck! IT FUCKING HURTS! BITCH!—"

You couldn’t move. The loud shriek of Heeseung screaming in pain and Chaewon standing just right there. It all feels like as if death has truly starting to tick it’s bell.

Chaewon immediately recovered from her frozen state and tugged your arm, pulling you with her out of the church.

A menacing glare shoots up to you and your sister's form.

"YOU— ARGHHH! . .FUCKING RUN THEN!" the boy's bloodcurdling scream had you and your sister frozen in an instant and you don't want to look at him but you did and you regret it.

His body trembling so wild while his knees on the floor, hands miserably cupping his forehead which was pooling down half of Heeseung's face in a waterfall of blood had your stomach churned in disgust and not only that—rage, hysteria, madness, agony—eyes widened in such a way it would crawl out to peel your skin alive and mouth contorted into the wildest form of unnerving laughter. "Once I catch you, you'll fucking regret it."

Run.

Run!

Breathe in, breath out, breath in, breath out.

In this empty labyrinth in which you and your sister desperately tries to search for an exit; the way to the city. Every step you took feels like an approach to death instead to freedom, it was starting to drain you and out and your sister was losing it too.

Heeseung had really planned it all too well.

Your knees begin to burn and lungs tightening with each breathe you took and your sister was no different—air sucking out from her face and it dawned on you that Heeseung might've given her drugs.

Ushering her to rest—you two hid behind the tall and overgrown bushes just nearby.

"Are you okay?"

Your hand finding its way to tuck her hair in the back of her ears, voice like whisper that soothes her being, that same affection never vanished into empty air despite everything — it broke Chaewon's insides to pieces, into something she wasn't able to fathom— was it shame? Was it embarrassment? Was it regret?

Every way she think of it, memories from the past crashed right before her eyes—reminding her of every single thing she did and said.

Ah, I'm such a fucking fool. . Chaewon whispered in the back of her mind, wanting nothing but to slap herself, for not fulfilling her responsibility as an older sister to you.

And even more foolish she was that even after that entire ordeal back in Heeseung's mansion that day—she still refuses to believe that Heeseung would've never done such a thing if it wasn't for you seducing him. How funny.

Only then when she was left laying against the walls of the church, forced to take drugs and left to observe the true colours of the boy she grew to love—did she truly accept that everything she had ever felt from the boy; be it affection, sweet words or candy like smiles—unfortunately was only the result of her own delusion.

Or she had been simply fooled.

Witnessing your worn out form had her wondering how of an awful human being she turn out to be for the fake love she was dying to protect this entire time, not realising that the true love has always been standing still and firm just behind her from the very beginning.

And still is here, right in front of her.

"I-I'm okay.." Chaewon stuttered, suppressing the urge to cry and then because what right does she have to cry after all the things she did to you?

Pathetic indeed, isn't?

“Where’s mom and dad?”

“They’re fine, I’ve hidden them somewhere.” you gave a small smile to your sister.

No words were exchanged any further — as too many harsh words, words that cross the line and hurt so bad had been blurted out so many times you two couldn’t count it.

Shame, shame was all Chaewon felt. Yet she couldn’t find words to form nor find the courage to say sorry, and the only thing she could do was take your hand in hers, tightening her grip onto yours which formed warmth, as if she was telling you that she was sorry while she’s avoiding your gaze.

Rustle!

You snapped your head to the sudden rustling noise of fallen leaves far from behind you.

"Did you hear that?!" You whisper yelled at your sister in which she raised her eyebrows in confusion but was also alarmed.

“Gotcha!” a dark and alarming giggle emits from the smiley red haired boy who starts to approached you both. You and your sister walked backwards, panicking— not sure of what to do in this downright despair.

“Stop running. It’s getting tiring and so fucking useless, you know? Heeseung’s coming. Just. Give. Up.” Beomgyu tilted his head, gesturing behind him.

"As if. Fuck you, bitch." Chaewon spat out which earned an amusement scoff from the boy.

Approaching danger.

"You speak as if you had the favour right now." Beomgyu shakes his head and in a deep breathe he took, "GUYS, THEY'RE HE—"

Before you and your sister could spun around to run or before he could finish his words, someone jumped out and punched Beomgyu.

Pure shock splattered on your face, "Jungwon?! How did you?—"

“The fuck?” was Beomgyu’s reaction when jungwon appeared. Trickles of blood dripped out from the corners of Beomgyu's mouth, his eyes screaming insanity.

“Not you too? Fuck are you all traitors then?!”

Jungwon gritted his teeth, using all his strength to overthrow the other boy and yet he won't stop screaming for his group. "Fucking stop— screaming!"

He punched the red haired even harder until it resulted in his unconsciousness.

It went on for a horrendous amount of time that felt so long but in reality it wasn’t.

Your feet couldn’t stick to the ground, eyes darting to the distance and the commotion before you over and over again.

"They're coming, Jungwon! We have to go!" You cried out, your hands sweating as you tighten your grasp with your sister in which she did so as well.

Panic, panic, panic surged inside you and it's not only you. It was evident that it was eating Chaewon and Jungwon as well.

Your head shoots up along with the other two, shouts and screams — voices of men, familiar voices approaching from the distance.

Jungwon immediately gets up, almost stumbling on his feet before backing off before you and your sister.

"We have to split up." Jungwon said.

"Wait why? Wouldn't that be too dangerous?!"

"It's better this way, if they couldn't catch one of us, we could call for help."

"But—"

"We don't have any other choice. Chaewon, you have to follow me."

"No why my sister?"

"(Name). It's so obvious that he wanted no one but you! Give me a piece of your wedding dress and I'll lure them over."

"It's too dangerous!!" You cried out as you dug your nails on your dress, clenching a fistful of it.

"We have no choice!" Jungwon gritted his teeth, as he, too — was in pure fear and desperation. The atmosphere, the situation, the reality of where you three are in right now was a call for death bell.

You two eventually split up after a much hard decision to do, racing into different directions within the woods hoping to reach for the city soon. You turned on your phone, desperately looking for a line to call for the emergency. Someone, someone please pick up, you screamed in your mind.

"Agh, fuck Beomgyu." Yeonjun lightly kicks the unconscious boy on the ground, "You lose like a bitch."

"Your face really gotta be the first thing I see in this broad fucking daylight."

"I'm so sleepy, ah." Kai whined from the distance, slipping his hands in his pockets to avoid the freezing weather.

"They're not so far, I guess." Soobin muttered, "Right, Heeseung?"

There the boy appeared with a fresh red scar on his forehead, the same disinterested and dead look when you're not in his presence.

Looking far in the distance in the woods, he sighed but instead in a dejected tone, it was amusement lingering in the air. "Huh, hide and seek I see."

Run! Run!

Fatigue overwhelmed their body as ragged and unstable patterned of breathing filled through the empty air in this isolated woods that never seem to end like a labyrinth of maze—sweat trailing down their forehead and neck, wide opened eyes growing heavy but ears never faltering from any incoming noise that could be danger.

A torn out piece of your dress had been thrown to the trail they just came from a few minutes ago—all just to lure in the demons away from you.

"Agh!"

"Chaewon!"

The girl fell onto her hands after stumbling upon a laid branch on the ground—yelping in pain as fresh wound on her leg pools out a small amount of blood.

"Are you okay?!" Jungwon knelt down to inspect the wound.

"It's n-nothing—" stuttering and gulping on her throat as she snapped her head to the distance from where they just came from. "We gotta h-hurry, Jungwon."

Frightened, frightened they were as they took each others' hands, heels continuing to sprint forward and away from the devil himself.

Racing forward as faster as they could with their hands interlaced tightly than ever—suddenly a silhouette came into their line of vision—ultimately stopping them right in their track.

"Ah fucking finally!"

Outburst of joy and a series of whistles echoes through the air, those that sang a sheer melody of danger.

"Found you two! Ugh— do you think there's a way out of this place? Dumb you are, aren't you?" Yeonjun sing sang.

The boys gathered around the two, snickers and giggles emitting up in the air – the bluish grey sky that signify morning’s about to come.

The two hissed not knowing what to do at this point; fighting won't be in their favour as they were outnumbered.

Cautious eyes watching each others' every shift of movement.

—Leaves crinkling!

Heels sprinting into the opposite direction resulting in one of the boys' abrupt shift of position, preventing the girl from escaping.

“Where do you think you’re going, huh?!” Taehyun raised his eyebrow, licking his candy in the process.

Kai giggled, a smirk splattered on his face, “Fuck, what a waste of time. Just give up, will you? I could’ve used my time to practice right now!”

“Bitch who cares?!” Chaewon scoffed, eyes and eyebrows widened in such a way as if to mock the younger boy before her, “You could’ve been dead and I won’t give a fuck!”

Her head snapped to the boy she grew to love this entire time.

“And you? How dare you. How fucking dare you? You messed up our family and I did nothing but to believe you!” punching her chest on repeat as she gritted her teeth, wanting nothing but for the boy to understand her pain but she know he won’t.

For the disinterested look in his eyes never ceases to amazed her in a frightening way. Why she’ve never noticed all this time? Was she really too blind?

“Don’t you fucking touch her!”

“Huh? Do you actually think you’re excluded? How stupidd!” Taehyun punched the shit out of Jungwon which causes him to stumble backwards to one of the trees however Jungwon didn't back down without a fight.

Downright chaos erupts as Jungwon threw a hard punch at Taehyun, hands tugging and nails digging in each others' skin—fighting and fits of screams and yelling at top of each others' lungs.

Soobin ushered Yeonjun and Beomgyu to hold the Chaewon down and they did so without much hesitance as they begin to approach her.

And yet, the two won't give up and the horrendous cycle repeats over a dozen times.

Chaos, chaos—a downright spiral of madness.

Heeseung only stood there to watch the chaos he himself had created and he wasn’t the least affected by it. How funny, he thought.

At last, the pair were separated from each other; their arms caged in such a way that only their legs could kick in the air in a pathetic attempt.

The clicks of his leather shoes crinkled the sea of leaves beneath him as he approached them.

"What's so hard about staying away from her? Why are you so fucking stubborn, huh? Was it too hard?" Heeseung bend down to their level with his face screaming a twisted expression and the dried blood on his forehead wasn't helping either.

Twirling the knife between his dainty fingers, humming a song within the depths of him of what should he do with them.

Whose thread of life should he rip apart? Whose heart should he pierce with the sharp edges of this weapon in his grasp? Should it be one or two? Should he spare their lives or not?

Those are the questions that run through his mind and yet, and yet— Heeseung couldn't care less about their pathetic heartbeat as he stared at the two with absolute contempt.

Grey, clouded skies.

As the round source of light refuses to rise,

Those round of life finally fade out of sight.

Blood, blood at last adorned the skies.

Through the silence of the deep woods, leaves beneath goes roaring with every hum escaping from the young man's twisted grin as the soul within his grasp had by now perished to the sky.

“Told you to stay away from her, bastard.” burying the corpse under the ground, relieved that another pest was out of his sweet darling’s life. "Just what's so fucking hard about that."

Low, low sigh of relief. What wonderful day it is.

[ 4:08 AM ]

Woods.

The burning marks of the branches hitting your skin kepts reminding you that this was reality, this wasn’t a dream nor a wild imagination you had while you were having a nap in your sweet home, on your sweet bed. That this would all end after the clock strikes signifying that dinner is ready and you’ll go downstairs, to eat with your mother, father and sister like always.

Yet, you could only hope.

Church. Another abandoned church came into view. It caught your attention.

You sprinted to the nearby abandoned church that came into sight out of nowhere, in this vast and isolated place. Panting, you pushed open the huge main wooden door and use up all your efforts to close it off.

The roaring clap of thunder made you jolted in surprise, the grey cloud sky mocking you with it’s relentless raindrops.

You gulped nervously, striding off to the aisle, eyes darting around in complete anxiety. You cant breathe but you must breathe and yet, you were catching that breathe that seems to go away everytime you reach for it. The dusty air were mixing with your panic breath, it’s only presence that were heard in this silent place was you and your breathe.

Without further hesitance, you turned on your phone — the object that holds the key to your freedom and yet also holds the sword to mercilessly chop off the wings of your freedom.

This cold and hard object that has been the start of everything, the one that bears the story of the fallen fruit, the fruit that you’ve eaten and therefore had summoned the serpent himself.

You hated this, you regret it, you wanted to scream and pray for everything to end all at once, this object that has been in the grips of your hands for awhile and the mocking result was the overbearing print mark of it’s edges gracing your palms. You don’t want think much anymore, you don’t want to for there’s only one thing, only one thing you wanted so bad to do.

To save yourself! You wanted him to go away! To get rid of your unfortunate red thread with him that has been now stained with so much blood, those that scream insanity and morals of his that made your stomach churned in utter disgustment.

The emergency dial — you tap, tap, tap and so on however your slippery fingers as the result to the mixture of the rain and sweat was making you pressed all the wrong digits for eternity.

You gritted your teeth in pure annoyance wanting to throw off your phone, but you can’t.

You can’t, you can’t, you know you can’t.

You have to call for help before they can get you, before he can find you, before your tear-stained and burning eyes drowned even more in this hell called him.

You took a huge deep breathe, your nose sniffing the dusty air of this abandoned church. Looking up, your eyes met those soulless eyes of the holy statue that everyone knelt before, prayed to their heart’s content and begged for when disaster or tragedy befalls upon them.

Worn out and devastated you were as you finally gotten the right number but it was out of line because of the once soft rain that turns into roaring thunderstorm. How unfortunate you were, (Name).

Bawling in tears is what you did, your voice broke and you choked on your saliva as you fall on your knees, weeping silently in your pathetic form and without much thought, your feet bring itself to kneel before the holy statue itself.

The sky that was supposed to had been adorned with the sunrise has now hid due to the grey clouds forming and mingling together, and raindrops returned to it’s glory and within a few seconds.

Lightning strikes and along with it thunder roared. An ominous sign that never ceases to fear you to your core.

But you still keep praying in silence.

Pray, pray. They said pray when you need something, pray when you want to be grateful, pray when you need guidance — pray, pray and pray. That’s what you did, you whispered yelled in the oblivion of your prayers like a repeated broken radio.

Holy sweet grail, holy sweet love.

And yet as you were begging for the enormous holy statue before you, deep you were into your despair of oblivion, you failed to notice the silent and grim arrival of the boy who had you as his image of goddess and love, his lover, his one and only, his soulmate.

Feathery like steps that were left unheard as he approaches and halts behind your praying form.

No amount of prayer would make this incarnation of devil himself to refrain away from you for you had been a part of him since the day he declared so.

“What are you praying for?”

Sheer sound of deathbell in a disguise of an angel’s voice, you whipped your head to the boy in question and no words could express the utter fear in your body upon laying your eyes on his angelic features yet sinister smile on his cherry red lips.

You wanted to scream, yet your breathe were caught on inside the depths of your heart, you couldn’t move yet your shivering nails dug the carpeted aisle, resulting in a sound of like when you tap your laptop’s keyboard.

Heeseung seems to be amused at your reaction, lovesick eyes spiraling into madness as he looks you up and down, eyes that adores every inches of you — bending over to be as close to you as he wishes, this grim situation were eating you alive and yet to him, it was a breathe of satisfaction and achievement.

His dainty fingers that were stained with dry blood made it’s way to the locks of your hair, brushing it in a soft and loving manner, his dark gaze never leaving yours, never breaking nor faltering.

His face graced with dried blood that you knew belongs to him—a menacing glint of the metal object he was holding, his exquisite suit holding the flattering rose that only holds a sweet nightmare for you from now on. His lush black hair sticking to his forehead due to the efforts he had gone through for you, his doe eyes overflowing with loyalty and immense affection for you.

Feverish eyes that held so much madness in its depths. Then you notice his blood stained hands which made your breath hitched.

You couldn’t talk.

He hummed utterly delighted that he found you as he approached you—grabbing you to his side.

"Have fun running around like the doll you are?"

Heeseung yanked you playfully like a mere ragdoll, laughing so hard, bliss splattered on his face. Mouth wide, big grin and eyes crinkled like half moons. His lush wavy hair were drenched by the raindrops and yet it’s still so fluffy. His eyebrows furrowed in complete amusement—eyes so lovesick and so sadistic. Blood from god knows whom painted over his rosy cheeks.

Mixing altogether in a perfect shade.

But nothing can be more perfect as this breathtaking sight that he was patiently waiting for are now standing before him—all his to take.

A silly grin adorns his lips, "But still, it's kinda amusing how you think you can escape so easily with your dead friends."

“W-what—?”

“Hm?” Heeseung brushes his finger over his cheek, seemingly satisfied over the red liquid on the tips of his fingers, “Try to guess, who do you think it belongs to?”

You stumbled backwards but he managed to pull you back by wrapping his arms around your back, you shivered within his touch — compared to his big stature, you were smaller and weaker. Yet that wasn’t in the least of your worries right now as your mind were running through that one and only question.

“W-who?..” your face contorts into the deepest form of despair, lips trembling.

“Why don’t you guess? Is it your lovely sister, Chaewon? Or my friend, Jungwon? Or your bestfriend, Chaeryeong? Or is it our dead buddy, EJ?!”

Your world shattered over and over again.

“Guess who? Of course, we only had Chaewon and Jungwon right? Oh god, only if you weren’t such a brat and listened to me like the obedient girl you were then it wouldn’t have gone this far! Now who do you think i’ve skinned alive?! Or possibly crack their dumb brain until it spilled off for trying to take you away from me!”

You screamed in pure horror, mouth gaping in attempts to heal the overflowing wound in your heart— fingers curling to cupped your mouth.

"It's all your fault, babe. Only if you listened to me earlier."

“How dare you! You’re fucking insane! You’re insane, you’re fucking insane!” Yelling at the top of your lungs you did as you punched him on his chest on repeat.

Lightning and thunder roared into it’s highest void yet.

“WHO? HOW DARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS TO ME?” you screamed and screamed, “if you touch them, if you fucking touch them i swear, i swear—”

“Swear what?” Heeseung raises his eyebrow, “(Name), darling! Don’t you think it's too late to threaten me like this? But I don’t mind, it’s so cute seeing you so weak and helpless. It makes me want to protect you even more–”

“Don’t touch me!” you yank his arm away, walking backwards away from him.

Gripping your white dress, you shut your eyes. “WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?! Why you didn’t follow what you said, you told me as long as the timer don't end, you won’t do it anything! So why?! Why did you kill him?! WHY DID YOU KILL EJ?!”

A glint appears in Heeseung’s eyes which you weren’t able to fathom what it was as it soon dissipates into the dark deep void and instead that same smirk adorns his cherry lips again and giggles soon follows.

“Hm? I've never said I'd play fair.”

You hissed in bitterness. That's right, why did you ever thought he'd play fair?

“Why?..— why are you so damn cruel to me, huh? You said you love me then why are you doing this to me? What kind of love is this?! This is not love at al!”

An eerie silence forms in the void of this church.

“It’s not love? You still don’t understand, do you?” Heeseung pouted, but his eyes had pain lingering in it, “What should I do to prove my love for you? I fucking killed them all and you told me it isn’t love? I hate it so much when people stick to you like a damn pest and you’re telling me it isn’t love? I stayed patient even when you go around like a dumb slut, touching other bastards as if you weren’t mine, being so fucking oblivious but yet so adorable and you’re telling me it ISN’T LOVE?!”

The ground beneath you seemed to sway under your feet as the fear emitting from this boy was too ominous, too big, too dangerous.

And before you could try to avoid his grasp, he pulled you in closer to his embrace.

“Look at us! You and I, in this world — nothing could tear us apart anymore!” His words gets even more maniacal with every passing second. “Look, look! The the ring I specially made for you, the dress i’ve been dying to see you on, your goddamn face that I couldn't even fucking forget for a second”

His finger lovingly stroke your cheek, “So fucking gorgeous, fucking sweet, adorable. All mine, all mine! After all that patience i’ve been through, all that troubles I've willingly put myself in just so I can have you like this in front of me, you had the guts to tell me it wasn't love?"

Remaining silent you did as you were horrified by everything he says to you—he was far too inside his inner world of chaos.

Your hands trembled frantically within his grasp and he felt that, scoffing so slightly as he raised it up to his cherry lips—planting an affectionate kiss on the top of your hand which had you frozen.

However his short and brief kiss turns into a rabid mode; like a starving mad dog feeding on your skin.

Eliciting a pure scream of horror, you struggled to pull your hands and arms away from his teeth and lips and even when you use your little bit of strength left in continuously hitting him with your left hand—your efforts were to no avail as his hands caged yours within his suffocating grasp.

"Stop! Stop!"

Your outcries of disgust engulfed the entire church like an echoing choir, still everything fell to deaf ears for the boy himself as he continued his morbid and disgusting deeds to you—his tongue licking every inch of your hand, teeth biting and sucking your fingers.

You were forced to witness it before your eyes, feel it against your skin and still so helpless and frail before him.

Heeseung finally let go of your hand, his face twisted in such a way that screams absolute satisfaction and exhilaration itself.

Feeling your hands that has been violated for god knows how long, you yelled at the top of your lungs at him, "YOU'RE INSANE!"

You had nothing left to say anymore; mind empty and broken, eyes strained with so much tears and your body aching with all that had happened.

Yet, the boy before you wasn't even the slightest done with you at all.

Heeseung laughed, "My darling, it’s only wise that I ask for something I deserve, hm?”

You didn't understand what he said, confused you were but then the realisation dawned on you. "Wh-what do you mean? Stay away!"

Your eyes widened in utter horror upon understanding his words, stomach churning into throbbing pain when his hand tries to tugged down the sleeves of your dress.

“No! N-no! Get off me— get off me!” You thrashed around, kicking him to his chest which made him stumble backwards. "Heeseung, let go! I beg of you!

Yet, he only laughed. "No, darling. I must be making it sooo hard for you to understand my love for you isn't?"

You panted, you screamed, you whimper — all because of fear, all because of what he’s about to do to you in this isolated church.

Heeseung crashed his lips into yours within a blink of an eye.

A long and deep, hungry kiss that left your lungs burn in pure pain of suffocation. Your hand slapping his back, pulling his hair and scratching his neck, doing everything you could to pry him off away from you and yet it lasted so long that your feet lose it’s footing making you fell on the floor on your but with a loud thud and yet—

And yet, his arms wrapped around your waist never loses its grip and foremost, his lips never leaves yours. Your eyes begun to teared up due to this harsh kiss of his, no, this isn’t a kiss.

It felt like he was devouring you — his prey, alive— wanting nothing but to taste you deeper and deeper till he can get ahold of your soul to taste it as well.

Someone! Help! Drowning in your despair you did as you were forced to feel every inch of him.

He pulled back at last and you catched for the air that was there for the entire time however before you can do even more so, he gripped your jaw with his long and dainty fingers — forcing you to meet his oh so innocent like eyes that scream pure horror of insanity and twisted love.

“Now who’s gonna save you from me, hm?”

🐱AUTHOR'S NOTE: thank you sm for reading! <3

🖇️ TAGLIST: -> @mimikittysblog , @zanyduckkitten , @skuiall , @teugiie , @naddii , @bloodline1632 , @duolingofanaccount

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thatsthewrongwallcraig · 9 months

Text

Closer

Summary: Pegging your perfect puppy boy.

Pairing: Kappa x fem!Reader

Word Count: ~1.2k

Content Warnings: Puppy Play Smut! 18+!, Pegging, Collared And Owned Kappa, Praise Kink, Bondage, Petnames (duh), Very Cockdrunk Kappa, A Sprinkle Of Dumbification, Overstimulation, Crying, A Handjob, Implied Chastity, Implied Aftercare

A/N: I love me some mean!dom!Kappa too, but overly eager puppy!Kappa just does things to me 🥴🫡

Tagging the horny horde: (pls let me know if you want to be part of the horny horde so I can tag you with the next fics 🫶🏻)

@crypticsewerslut @quicksilversg1rl @cc-luvr @icarus-star @milaeth @roryculkinsgf @roryculkinsbf @spookyorchid @arch1viste @whoareyoi @angelsanarchy @b4sementgrl @blueberrypancakesworld @rocketqueen-world

You tear down my reason

(Help me) it's your sex I can smell

(Help me) you make me perfect

Help me become somebody else

- Closer By Nine Inch Nails

"Fuck..I missed you so much!" Kappa panted in a breathy tone, your hands firmly on his hip bones to keep his posture nice and steady on top of you.

"It's only been one week. Was it really that bad for you, babe?", You asked with your eyes practically transfixed on his face, studying his slightly furrowed brows and the way his upper lip quivered with every upward thrust of your hips, "One week of not touching yourself and not getting fucked by me so hard on you, pup?"

"Uh-Huh…", He whimpered, trying to keep his torso up straight with his arms tied up on his back, "Was so lonely without you!"

A sly smile tugged at the corners of your lips seeing him struggle like that, wanting to be a good puppy for you so bad.

"I'm so sorry, baby, but you know I had to. I didn't want to go on that stupid business trip either, babe." It rolled over your tongue in a shaky voice whilst your gaze slowly wandered from his face downwards, admiring his trembling chest for a moment until your eyes stopped between his legs.

Kappa's rock hard cock pressed itself against his lower abdomen, dewy droplets of pre-cum trickling down the nearly purple tip down onto his balls that slapped onto your skin with every rut of yours inside of him. Right below, in the barely even there space between your bodies, encased by a black leather harness, you could see a few inches of the colorfully marbled glass dildo sliding into and back out of his ass in smooth motions.

"But now I'm all here for my perfect, little puppy boy, no? Will fuck your pretty ass all night of you want me to." With a wet squelch you drilled the strap-on all the way into him.

At that, Kappa's head lolled back eventually and his eyes fluttered shut as a deep groan emitted from deep inside his ribcage.

"There you go, good boy, just let go. No need to hold yourself back, yeah?" You praised and encouraged in a soft voice.

"It's so much, Ma'am.", Kappa bit down hard on his bottom lip, his cock twitching against his stomach, "Feels so fucking good, though."

"C'mon, be a good bitch boy for me and bounce on that cock, I know you can do it." Your grip around his hips fastened, assuring him that you got him if he were to flail and fall over.

"Issomuch..", It spilled from between clenched jaws as he joined in on your pace, "Feel so full, Ma'am."

"I know, pup, I know, but you got this. You can take all of that cock for me, don't you?" You rutted into him again, feeling how the ring of muscles tightened up, gripping around the glass dildo and making it a little harder for you to pull out again.

"You're such a slut for this, aren't you, huh?" You teased whilst your half-lidded gaze shot back up to his face.

In the way Kappa mewled and whined into the thick air of the bedroom, its walls illuminated in deep red neon lights, you knew that he was about to shed tears before you saw them running down his flushed cheeks.

"No, please…it's so much, so so so much, pretty please." He whimpered and his voice hitched in a breathless hiccup.

With every reckless thrust of yours the metallic jingle of the tag dangling from the o-ring of his collar alongside a little bell clashing against each other mixed in with his desperate sniffles.

"You got this, babe. You're such a good, obedient puppy boy for me right now, just a little more, yeah?" To take the edge off at least a little, you took one hand from his hip and wrapped it around the angry, purple head of his aching cock, fisting his girth in quick yet gentle strokes.

"Fuck…", He groaned in a brittle tone, "Good god, fuck, shit…"

Wayward, hot tears fell from his face downwards onto your chest as you jerked him off at the same pace as you railed the strap-op inside him again and again. By now, Kappa was nothing but a whiny, whimpering and drooling mess on top of you, riding you like the little whore that he was for you.

"Look at you…all fucked out on my cock, good boy." Watching him losing his composure bit by bit had your head feeling all fogged up and borderline intoxicated.

"C'mon, cum for me, babe. You must be so pent-up after a whole week, no?" You pumped his rigid cock from tip to shaft and back again.

"I wanna cum so bad…fuck.." Kappa’s voice was nearly gone entirely.

"Just let go, it's okay. Cum on my tits, pup." The words had barely left your mouth as you felt his balls tighten up against your hand.

"There you go." Sticky, warm ropes of his seed practically erupted out of his cock that was throbbing and pulsing in your grip.

They splurged all over your stomach, all the way up to your chest, a week's worth of cum covering your sweaty skin.

By the very second the last shaky mewl had left his mouth and every last drop of cum was milked out of him, you stopped thrusting immediately, letting him just sit on the strap on to slowly come down from the intense high.

"Such a good boy, I'm so proud of you! You did so well, baby!", You praised while your own chest was heaving up and down heavily, your lungs trying to catch a breath, "Are you okay, love?"

"Uh-huh…" Kappa mumbled positively out of breath, his sobbing and sniffling calming down little by little.

You watched him closely as he slowly opened his eyes, his head slumping back forward.

"Let's get your arms out of the rope, shall we?", You suggested in a soft tone, "And after that I'm going to clean my perfect puppy up and tuck you in right next to me, how about that?"

"I'd like that, yeah." He answered after a moment, his bright blue eyes sparkling down at you in an orgasmic afterglow, satisfied yet equally exhausted.

"Everything you want, babe." You smiled at him with nothing but pure adoration.

#kappa #kappa black mirror #black mirror #black mirror: beyond the sea #kappa x you #kappa x fem!reader #kappa smut #kappa x reader #rory culkin

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mymreaderlibrary · 4 months

Text

Maybe it's just cause I'm replaying Dying Light but with Cod zombies being a thing I'm thinking about the TF141 in an apocalypse type scenario. Just a blurb idk if I’ll do anything with this.

Gonna lean heavily into the story of Dying Light here because I love it. Note that mc/ reader takes a combined role of Bracken, Jade, and Kyle C. That being said there is no Bracken, Jade, or Kyle in this universe and Rahim is reader’s younger brother.

[TF141 x male reader, no relationship (yet), zombies, death and gore, ramblings/ lore skimming]

[Length: 1,480 words]

The 141 are given a private mission to infiltrate the city of Harran and hunt down a terrorist residing in the area. He's stolen highly sensitive documents and is threatening to have them released through an informant if something happens to him. A standard deal where the task force is concerned however Harran itself is the dangerous part of the mission.

A disease has ravaged the city, being the first documented case of what is now known as the Harran Virus. It is a strain of rabies that zombifies any of those infected, making them instinctively hunt down other warm blooded creatures to spread. The city has been completely quarantined and the virus has not gotten outside of it yet, but this also makes the area a cesspool, concentrated with death and disease. Reports say there are no living (or at least non infected) residents remaining aside from the terrorist group which have holed themselves in an unknown location. Because of this a strike has been permitted to raze Harran in hopes of destroying the virus or at the least any violent infected. A counteractive medicine is in development with its prototype being given to the task force in case of emergency, however there is no solid solution beyond massacring infected. It's not pretty work but the world can't risk this disease breaking out.

The 141 are given specialized equipment, thick gear, loads of medical equipment, and a collection of high end firearms. The team are air dropped into the lower city and instructed to start their search immediately.

The sun is already beginning to set by the time they land. It would almost be pretty if it weren’t for all the viscera in the streets creating a sour rotten stench. Both Gaz and Soap wretch but do their best to push through, keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of life. It doesn’t take long for them to find hostiles except to their surprise it’s not infected. Instead a group of well armed thugs attempt to corner them. They’re all carrying machetes and nail bats, some with masks while others have paint creating three jagged stripes across their face. Ghost notes their lack of firearms as odd but chalks it up to lacking proper equipment (even if their body armor told otherwise).

Regardless it goes about as well as you expect for the thugs against such well trained soldiers, however hell breaks loose when Soap decides to fire his pistol. A banshee like scream is heard from across the street and their attackers scatter without hesitation, even leaving behind their wounded. Quickly a horde of infected begin rushing towards the task force, mouths gaped wide and moaning. The zombies they were told of were slow and bumbling but these were ravenous. They ran, yelled wildly, clawed at the 141 with a fervor, and with each shot of the team's firearms another horde would soon follow. It was clear they were overwhelmed and the fear that the mission was over before it even began quickly hit. A pained hiss sounded from Ghost as a zombie managed to pull off his glove and bite into the calloused flesh of his hand. Another slammed Gaz onto the pavement and began chewing into his shoulder. Price and Soap just barely threw off their friend's attackers but the assault only continued.

As another infected went to claw at Price's face the zombie's head flew clean off. The corpse flopped down to the side, convulsing wildly, but unable to keep attacking. A group of young men and women, wearing uniforms unlike the thugs from before, began dragging the team out from the horde. They threw firecrackers over their shoulders and onto the street, catching the infected's focus and separating their numbers. A man in particular seemed to be leading the 141's saviors, giving quiet orders through hand signals to his comrades.

They got a solid distance before the same man began looking them over for injuries in a building. The lowered visibility from the growing dark made it difficult but not impossible. Gaz and Ghost were the only ones bitten meanwhile Soap and Price were scraped from their scuffle with the thugs. Despite the bites being small they bled heavily and the two men had already broken out into sweats. Shaking violently Gaz’s legs buckled and he began to cry out in pain. Ghost faired no better his eyes looking dazed and unfocused as he could only hiss out panicked breaths. Gaz's pain seemed to recapture the attention of the infected outside as banging began on the door of their refuge. A young woman went to barricade the entry but the vicious sound persisted. A fist broke through the wood and scratched at the woman's eye but she didn't falter, using her back to block the entry.

In the commotion Price recalled the prototype medicine he had been given by their contractor and quickly pulled out two small syringes. Their rescuers gave them an odd look before the leader snatched it out of his hands and injected both men without question. It took a moment for the medicine to take effect but the pair began to go lax, heartbeats slowing to a normal pace. However they were still too weak to stand and the door was beginning to buckle. The woman barricading it was grabbed and dragged out into the dark street by the vicious creatures. The rescue leader tried to pull her out but it was too late.

With a pained look in his eye the leader commanded the remaining men and women to take the 141 back to "The Tower" while he distracted the zombies away from them. He left no room for argument and they were whisked away quickly from the regrowing horde. The now nearly black streets greeting them as they ran, carrying their fallen comrades.

The journey to this tower, which turned out to be an apartment complex covered in UV lights, took a lot of climbing but eventually they were welcomed through the front gates. Or well, welcomed was an overstatement, it was more like begrudgingly let through after some convincing from their rescuers. The guards at the door glared at the men and Price could hear them scoffing about their missing leader and how “Rahim is gonna be pissed”. Seems that man wasn't just a leader to those runners but to this tower as a whole. And well if that wasn't a way to instantly ruin your reputation.

They were transferred to the medical ward where Gaz and Ghost stayed, far too out of it to get out of their cots. It was honestly quiet odd seeing the two laying dazed and pale. While the medicine seemed to have some sort of effect, there was no saying for how long. It was still only a prototype.

Soap and Price on the other hand could leave after getting bandaged, only suffering superficial wounds. They were instructed to rest, guided to some rooms a floor below where they saw several civilian types. Men, women, children... a mother in the corner cradling her crying baby trying to convince him to go back to sleep. A father sitting beside his two daughters resting on a cot covered by a thin sheet. A teen boy sitting alone, curled up on a chair shaking. Life. Something they were told didn't exist down here outside of terrorists.

One day on and the mission was already a mess, two soldiers down, emergency meds already in use, a whole community of civilians discovered, a possible ally MIA, and they had not an ounce of info to show for it. Sleeping after that just didn't feel right but the two men supposed there was nothing they could do as the tower was locked until morning. If the screams and yowls of dead were anything to go off of, it sounded like the infected were more active in the night. Who knew if this tower’s leader was even alive out there amongst the savage undead.

It took what felt like a year for the sun to rise again but just as daylight cusped the window Price could hear commotion downstairs. Cheers, shouts, panicked calls for a medic. As him and Soap peered onto the floor above they spotted that same leader from before now being dragged in to the medical ward from the stairs. Blood trailed behind him, his arms littered with cuts, bruises, and bites, but he was conscious and attempting to walk. A thick stream of red pooled from his temple down his chin and for a split second his gaze caught Price. His eyes were near unreadable, murky like Ghost's but still alert enough to be aware of what was going on. He seemed almost satisfied seeing the captain alive and well but quickly was taken away to be bandaged.

This mission was already hell.

#mw #my work #cod #cod mw #dying light #crossover #captain price #soap mactavish #simon ghost riley #gaz garrick #male reader #unspecified male reader #x male reader #cod x male reader #zombie apocolypse au #zombie au #dying light au

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ace-of-gay · 11 months

Text

A Mountain is home

I currently dont have a masterlist set up for this collection but i hope you enjoy this none the less, this will eventually be posted on ao3 but i dont have an account currently

Warnings: age regression (not very in depth) , self destructive stimming like scratching pulling on tail thrashing and hitting ones self during a neurodivergent meltdown, quite panicked reader, reader has trauma, reader is a full ghoul this time cause this is still my interpretation of a fantasy universe <3, cuddles and ghoul-piles!!!

The word muzzle is used multiple times over but is referring to a mouth cover to symbolize silence

I headcannon mountain as autistic, no shoes for lifeee yup thats all

age regression is a coping mechanism that can be both voluntary and/or involuntary it is entirely safe and reccomended by therapists if they believe it would be effective for said person but as mentioned for some people it is entirely unpredictable, if this makes you uncomfortable please scroll away thank you <3

Not betad or edited

Word count: 5,611words (it basically wrote itself)

Youd been summoned just a week ago and it already seems as though youre once again fading into the background, no one had taught you if someone of your neurotype was acceptable in todays world, the bok-hord in hell or library as you read above the one here in the church of sin was not at all up to date on whats acceptable yet.

This is your second time being summoned, your first ritual was terrifying but what made it worse is they thought you were impossible to become a domestic ghoul, the uncertainty of being sent back from this one weighed on you, if you went back again no one would be there for you.

Holding yourself back and biting your tongue from doing or saying anything including the strange chirps and trills that kept you regulated, taking it upon yourself to be even more docile and quieter than the tall ghoul behind the drums, no matter the situation not a peep has been heard from you, all you did was play your instrument, there was no jumping around putting on a presentation, the others however did so, its just practice but you hadnt earned your place, you could always be sent back for even the most minor of slip up, its happend before and you for sure wont let it happen again.

《~♡~》

Friday nights are prime for the others, the guys in a ghoul-pile and girls raiding the fridge for snacks while watching a film, in the common area designated for only ghouls no one wearing their mask but yourself, only passing through doing your best to keep in the shadows, if youre out of place surely youll be duely punished, the first time you were summoned your family and friends were disappointed to see you sent back but your mother worst of all had said she had expected it , you had no place yet, so your room was for you the closest to safety.

Locking the door to your room as soon as you returned; taking off themask and the muzzle of sorts, some ghouls had facepaint instead but you weren't vocal so there was no reason, finally now to a safe place you let everything fall from its people pleasing manner into what felt most like yourself, jumping up and down to get your blood flowing and thoughts swarming.

"Who needs others when you can feel at home just being yourself", clicking and pacing and flapping your hands you were trying to catch up to what your body demanded, but

It just kept spilling, from the deepest places in your mind, crevasses full of discomfort, confusion, irritation and just the most overwhelming feeling that could muster itself from your being.

Nothing was working, it was too late to regulate and your mind took to a melt down, shaking your head wasnt good enough, grabbing hold of your horns, you violently shake yourself around, tail whipping and slashing all around you, and than the crying.

Oh how the crying was the worst part, shoving the muzzle back on it didn't do much for silence but its still an attempt, everyones expectations ringing shrill in your ears, you didn't come from a happy home, your family torn apart by sinners from christs hall a completely different take on sin, as it caused harm.

Hands over your muzzle to silence just a bit more if possible and than the silent choked sobs, more physically painful but it wouldn't draw attention, thats the last thing you wanted, slamming your fists down against your thighs followed by tugging on your tail and scratching the spade of it until it hurt, the only thing that could regulate you was small jolts and shocks of pain and than it stopped, you were right back where you started, silent but this time you felt like a kit.

A tiny kit who got told that they need to learn to be normal, but for the time being there was the innocence, nothing would happen if you weren't, you were just different, and you were alone but you were still safe.

Putting the helmet back on, you take all of the blankets and pillows that are in your room and shove them under your bed, taking the cover sheet and creating a curtain between the floor and the frame, all of your tiny kit-like self holed up in one place, a place as small as the family and friends in your life had made you, maybe this time you were sent here to be safe.

Fixing up the nest you made under your bed you let yourself hide away from the world, be as small and pure as your mind could muster and let all the terrible feelings melt away, chirping and trilling quietly as you lay there eventually being held close and coddled by darkness, falling asleep you would not return to the common rooms until most necessary.

Grabbing food and hiding once more, at some point when you were in the library and had found scratch paper, a sketchbook , a couple pencils and a mess of tacks set out in a bin that had the word 'FREE' in print on it for anyone to partake in the activity of drawing, collecting the supplies and a few books on ghouls with neurodivergencies, and just a simple fairy tale, you embark back to your room.

Over the weekend you had covered the walls in the corner of the room under your bed with fantastical pictures of your dreams, and drawings of each ghoul and papas youve seen so far.

《~♡~》

When monday came it was back to breakfast and lessons in the morning, lunch after practice around noon and communal chores, the others were very loud today, as for yourself youd been silent like predicted but you could feel eyes on you and could hear bickering but nothing quite clear of their words.

making dinner for everyone was the last thing, it was easy, it was one thing your family didn't ridicule you over, your cooking made anyone who was having a bad day feel better, there was so much passion that anyone could see and taste.

your tail flowing in an easy, comforting sway and a smile hidden under your muzzle, the first smile to bare your face outside of your room and it felt like this was what would give you your place to stay.

Dishing everyones plates with your home-made meal and taking it to the ghouls and ghoulettes where they each were was apparently unexpected and out of their ordinary, but you had no idea, how would you when you hide away, maybe they would take that into consideration. This was also one of the first times you got to hear others address you, smiles and bright eyes shared when they where blown away by your cooking, you dished up yourself and sat at the island counter crouching on a wooden stool, sitting on them hurts the backs of your legs and crouching was more like hugging yourself anyway.

Soon enough people would march in putting their dishes in the sink giving a thankyou and a smile or a compliment to your cooking, slowly eating your food, savoring each bite, the comments from others causing your tail to pick up its sway with a little flick in it, maybe itll be okay.

You go to put your dish in the sink after rinsing it off when the tall guy from behind the drums approaches, while just as quiet as you he was also playful like the others.

"Hey y/n dinner was amazing, i cant wait til next week to see what you come up with" he exclaimed, "im mountain by the way, i know i didn't exactly introduce myself at all since you first got here, we wanted you to settle in, you seemed very stressed" he added before someone shouted for him from the other room, leaving with a smile and wave.

There was no expectation for you to respond, no expectation to look someone in the eyes, you let out a small chirp joined by a small movement in your hands.

《~♡~》

Back in your room you let your tail wag wildly, pulling the books you'd been reading up on, you had gotten from them the fact that over the years some churches of sin have allowed a better understanding and acceptance for people and ghouls alike with neurodivergencies to be better recognized and seen as equals, there were things they didn't tell you about back in hell when you were told of your neurotype, like your sounds and movement for self regulation was called stimming and that it can be harmful but it can also be helpful just depending on the purpose and action, you had copied information from the book down on resources and important things you thought would help, these books were the most helpful and the fairy-tale was perfect however you needed a new one since youve read this one so many times you knew every line, you take the books back to the library.

Putting them back on their respective shelfs you pick out two new fairy-tales and stop by the free stuff bin, taking pencil lead an eraser and a new sketchbook, youve already filled your first one in just a few days, you dont have anymore room on the walls around your nest for more loose paper sketches so you need the sketchbook instead.

On your walk back to your room admiring the stained glass windows, lost in thoughts somewhere between regression and big feelings, letting them mingle and intertwine,

So lost in thought you dont see when papa copia started coming closer until he spoke up, "good evening y/n" a small scream torn from you as you are brought back to right now practically jumping out of your skin, your eyes big as you process who it is, the first time anyone has heard your voice in any way and it obviously had to be a panicked scream, this wouldn't sit well with your family, your mind shifting farther into regression, just wanting to be in your room again.

"My apologies little one" littleone? Is it that obvious you think to yourself, "it was not my intention to frighten you, i see youve taken a liking to the library, what books have you got there?" Hanging your head in shame and slight worry you show him the two fairy-tales and he breaks out in a grin "i remember reading those, i might have to look at them once more! A very good choice, Molto bene indeed" finishing up your silent-sided conversation you rush quickly back to your room, theres been too much interaction and what did papa copia mean by 'little one?'

《~♡~》

After a few days of this halfsided banter from the ghouls and papa youre started to feel a little more comfortable.

A knock on your door pulled you from your slumber, the first couple times had made their way into your dream, you get up and open the door to the ghouls and ghoulettes standing in the hall, a few smiles making their way on a few faces, and thats when you realize youre not wearing your mask or muzzle, heat rushing to your ears and cheeks causing your cool grey skin to tint purple, hanging your head in embarrassment while rubbing the sleep out of your eyes, "were sorry to wake you but were meeting early today because papa has a meeting with the clergy and after lessons and practice mix we have the rest of the day off", nodding you return into your room to get changed and to put on your muzzle and mask, the group waiting outside of your room for you to walk with them.

Lessons and practice going by quickly you find yourself in the library,helmet off, curled up and tucked into one of the couches reading another fairy-tale, looking intently at the pictures, your eyes irritated from not getting all of the sleep you normally get, theyre slowly drifting shut, you can only stay awake so much longer before your mind takes you to a rem sleep.

Waking up to mountain shaking you awake he smiles gently, "hey sleepy head, i was looking for you, its lunch time but it seems as though youre tired, we'll get you to your room and ill bring lunch to you there" he was a gentle giant ghoul and although you haven't said anything to anyone youre starting to warm up to him, he puts a book mark in the book and helps you up handing you your mask, you decide to just carry it with you.

Opening your door he hands you the book and you set it down atop your bed along with your mask, "do you want me to knock when i come back?" Thinking for a moment and shaking your head 'no' you'll probably just be asleep again, taking off the muzzle you set it with your mask getting ontop of your empty bed you curl up waiting while slightly dozing.

When he returns he walks in with your plate in hand, "wheres you stuff bud? Did they move you into an unready room?" You once more shake your head, pulling up the bedsheet curtain putting your nest on display, "aaah a safe spot, i completely understand, im here if you need anything, just holler my way" he kids while stepping out.

"Can you- stay?" You mutter through a slightly broken voice, catching him off guard, youre not sure why you asked but he seems easy to open up to, hes kinda like you.

"Id be honored"

You sat there mostly quiet eating but occasionally you'd respond and every time he would be looking elsewhere but the smile on his face said he was paying attention.

The more you got to know him the more you realized youre very similar to him.

《~♡~》

The next couple weeks youd spend lunch with him sharing stories while you sat in your nest and him at your desk, he talked about how fond the ghouls and ghoulettes and even the papas were of you, they all looked forward to you hopefully someday talk full sentences with them but for now with you slowly coming out of your shell, wearing your mask and muzzle less often and spending more time somewhat near the group, for now they were content watching you grow and become more of yourself.

You gave each person a sketch youd do of them from observation and mountain even brought you another sketchbook when he noticed you were running low on pages, you told him why youve been scared to come out of your room and your past experience with your previous summoning, you however didn't tell him why it failed but he understood itll take some time.

《~♡~》

One evening after another one of your delicious meals you were invited to watch a movie with everyone, accepting the offer you show up in your hoodie you just recently bought and pajama pants, socks with sticky tabs on the bottom so you didn't slip on the marble floors, you balled yourself up in a beanbag chair, others had grabbed pillows or stuffed animals from the pile in the corner, you go over to look through the pile, pulling out a well loved multi-textured dog plush, smiling and taking it over to your spot with you, focused on the textures, "very good choice little wisp" mountain hummed, your tail thumping against the bean bag chair, your cheeks and ears dusted purple once more, "i haven't held one since i was very small" you return.

After the movie you gave the plush one last hug before placing it atop the pile, "you know if you want you can take it to your room with you, we have them here for everyone" he encouraged but you shook your head, "he would miss his friends and i dont want to take someone elses opportunity of loving him away", little did you know the ghouls left in the room all felt their hearts melt, this wasnt new to them, theyve met ghouls and people whose minds are permanently part kit, they wouldn't say anything until you said something first, youre part of the family, you deserve to do it on your own terms.

Just the next evening when you returned from the library you come to find a black gift

Bag infront of your door with a tag that has your name on it.

Entering your room you set everything down before you open the bag, youre met with a soft multi-texture plush almost identical to the one from the other night but this one had weighted feet,and a book of several fairy-tales with a few purple tabs on certain pages along with it. A card that says, "a plush specifically for you and your love, i hope you give him a wonderful name, and a book my mother read to me when i was just a kit, one that you dont have to take back to the library"

Holding the plush out infront to look at him your headspace slipping quickly, thankfully you were in the safety of your bedroom and he would fit perfectly into your nest with you.

With plenty of time between now and dinner time, your chores being done and someone else being on dinner duty you took right now to relax.

in comfortable clothes you lay down in your nest with your book and the stuffy you named chip cause he reminded you of chocolate chip cookies, you named him late at night when you were feeling very small and it just stuck.

Closing your eyes when the words in the book were adding to the strain, from all the light today, hunger pulling a whine from you, if you slept for now youd wake up at the perfect time to eat dinner, you might even sit with rain and talk about the books youve read recently outside of the fairy-tales.

Being pulled out of your dreams by someone gently shaking you awake and calling your name, confusion built it way to your face, he doesn't need to knock but normally he chooses to, what brought him in?

"I know youre sleepy but its dinner time and i know you like your routine, i tried knocking but you were out cold" he states after reading your scrunched and slightly confused face, handing you your bowl, tonight cirrus and swiss made dinner together.

Mountain sits on the floor across from you as you both ate in a comfortable silence, thats one thing about him, he tries to make sure hes not being a trigger for anyone with misophonia.

Eating slowly and running your hand along the textures of your stuffy, "s'named chip" you just barely say aloud, causing him to smile, "thats the most perfect name for him, does he give the best of cuddles?" Nodding youre completely unaware of the fact hes talking to you as if you were a kit, he was just being kind and attentive for all you knew, and while yes thats completely true he also saw through your silence, hes talked to semi-permanent kit-minded ghouls and he knew it was for safety of mind.

Both of you done with dinner, you pull out your sketchbook as he gets up to take the dishes to the kitchen, standing in the doorway looking down at you with a smile upon his face, "do you want me to come back after i put the dishes in the kitchen?" Watching as you ponder for a moment before nodding, looking up at him, never once more than now have you longed for physical contact with someone but you little mind craves it.

He returned quickly to see you moving your nest about, your movements less exact and a little choppy, he could see the irritation when the blankets wouldn't flatten out so he got down to help, fixing it for you he sat back on his knees when you planted yourself down closer to the wall than normal, you pat the spot next to you while holding chip close to your chest.

"You want me to cuddle little wisp?" He questioned already taking his jacket off before you hummed in response.

Cuddling was very common amongst ghouls so there was no questions asked as to why

It was naturally so second nature for most.

Curling into him he holds you close, your head resting on his chest, you could just fall asleep right now but you fought that instinct so you could savor a moment of feeling completely safe, where youre not being overstimulated.

"When i was first summoned i read those exact same books on ghouls with neurodivergencies, i remember reading that someone with a mind like the one both of us have can easily struggle in public environments or around new people"

He retold, causing you to question how he knew you read them.

"Oh wisp, i can hear just how stirring you mind can be, i saw you walking back to the library to return them, i want you to know that you are safe here with me and all of the others, im honored to cuddle, i didn't join a ghoul-pile until several months of being here."

Nodding to yourself, taking a moment to process his words when your own join the party.

"Jus cant do touch with others almost ever, makes brain hurt and than hurts me aswell"

Your eyes started to sleepily flutterand he picks up the fairy-tales book he brought you, opening it up to one of the purple tabs, some of his favorites.

He read you to sleep, when his pants were starting to put deep seam imprints into his legs causing him discomfort, he goes to leave the room but is stopped by you plea for him to stay, "ill be right back little mouse."

And like promised he did return in much more comfortable clothes, a blanket and a comfort item of his own, cuddling back up with you halfway ontop of him, covering the both of you with his blanket, setting your temporarily forgotten of stuffie in the corner above your head along with his.

《~♡~》

From than forward you and mountain spent Friday nights in your room reading and cuddling, going to lessons and practice together, he was helping you open up, when it would be your night to make dinner, which you had requested to have more than once a week instead of sink duty because soggy wet hands felt offensive to your skin, he would sit at the island watching unless one of his chores intercepted that period of time or if another ghoul requested his company.

It took five months to ease you out of you shell, at four you had brought up the regression and neurodivergency topics to the others and than out of fear you hid in your room for the weekend until dew stopped by inviting you to watch a movie with the others which you happily obliged to do so, remembering that its okay to be around others and be yourself, that night you sat on the couch behind the ghoul-pile falling asleep with chip in your arms, your tail intertwined with mountains.

Not wearing your mask unless you needed a break or everyone else was, copia had taken you aside at one point to find fabrics that looked like the others but were sensory safe so when it was time for uniforms you would feel comfortable.

At night you would go out to the garden in secret and jump around, spin, stomp, trill, chirp, coo and so much more. It helped tremendously.

《~♡~》

Tonight unlike the others was much louder in your head and harder to feel okay, already regressed you tried stomping around and flailing your hands but without meaning to you were once more pulling on your tail and scratching it painful and raw, the garden was closed for the night with new fertilizer being put down, taking chip you trail your way down to one of the last rooms, the shiny name plate reading 'mountain' you gave a slightly too heavy knock on the door, rocking back and forth on your feet, he answers and is suprised to see you standing there with deep grey tear tracks down your face, chip under your arm and your tail in hand scratching as you fumble with your words.

Letting you in he pats the bed for you to sit down while he turns on the light and pulls a shirt on over your head, sniffles and hiccups break your silence, he take your hands and holds them for a moment, watching the spade of your tail drop small dots of blood onto the marble floor, "come with me little wisp, its okay" he leads you to the bathroom, picking you up and setting you on the counter, lifting his tail for you to hold on, he knew full well you wouldn't scratch his, tracing the scars on his tail had you questioning if he did the same.

As he took hydrogen peroxide cleaning the small cuts and scrapes pulling a hiss from you in reaction, "i know hun, im sorry ive got to be mean and clean it but weve got to take care of it so it doesn't get icky ya-know?" He soothes, "you see the ones on my tail, theyre from the same thing, sometimes i almost start scratching at them again but i normally just hold my tail and put lotion on the scars to feel like im cleaning it up once more"

Once hes done patching you up he once again takes your hands leading you to his bed and looking through his closet. His room was well decorated and filled, a queen sized pillow top mattress and black wooden four poster bed frame against the wall, he had a collection of old trinkets including a camera that takes film, your father used to have one, several gas masks, a homophone record player. On the wall above his desk was a cork board coverd in the drawing youd given him, small trinkets littler his desk, before you could look further he brings over a box of similar small trinkets setting them infront of you.

"You can dump the box out if you want, find whatever works best, i have plenty more" dumping them out you turn the box upside down organizing them, finding three, liking them the most you put the duplicates of them and all the others away back in the box holding onto the three youd picked out, he puts the box under his bed, seating himself next to you, leaning into his side as he turns on one of the movies you'd taken interest in, "hey wisp can i hold chip?", nodding against his chest, paying deep attention to his heartbeat how slow and rhythmic, tapping your tail against the bed in the same beats, occasionally humming and trilling, his left hand running up and down your back, occasionally running though your hair gently.

"Youre gonna be okay little mouse, ive got you".

《~♡~》

Your first ghoul pile was something very special, stuffies piled everywhere, they all had banded together to make the room perfect for your comfort, your favorite music playing in the background, dew and sunshine had found you in the library quietly crying flicking around one of the fidgets mountain gave you

Humming and rocking back and forth, chip sitting ontop of your tail, you couldn't find mountain and you didn't want to taint the energy of your nest. Sunshine sat with you as dew went to find mountain, she lifted chip for a moment, carefully intertwining her tail with yours setting chip on your tails.

Dew returned around 10 minutes late with a smile upon his face, taking your open hand with sunshine carrying chip, they took you through the abbey to the lounge where the blanket, stuffy and pillow pile was spread across the floor, mountain and all the other were waiting, some of them already cuddled up, and others walking around, drawing the curtains and dimming lights, filling up a cooler to keep near the pile, mountain lead you to the group, curling himself around you with chip between the two of you, sunshine still connected to you laying back to back with you.

The first time being so close to the others all together and for once your brain lets it happen, youre not sure whose hand is running through your hair but it causes you to chirp, nuzzling you head into the hand.

Swiss tapping his forehead against yours, "youre welcome to stay as long as you need, this is your pile."

Theyre all so much more calm and centered on one another when theyre cuddled, with the warmth from all of the bodies it made it very easy to slip into a smaller headspace.

Cirrus reaching over mountain to wipe away the tear tracks with a wet cloth, they already had a feeling youd be disoriented with the news of the tour starting at the end of this month and the arrival of the outfits.

Cooing and trilling, others trilling back made you excitedly laugh.

《~♡~》

Youve been attached to at least one ghoul at all times, they knew you liked holding tails until you had to use your charm to pass as human, copia gave you a hug before he headed out first.

This was the first time youve seen mountain wear shoes, it looked as abnormal as it felt to not have a tail.

Standing in your place when papa introduces the band, not paying attention to him but instead the piece in your ear counting down til the lights cut off and mountain and dew are counted in, mountain looks to you taking an exasperated deep breath telling you to take one aswell, feeling the lights go out and the beat of mounts drums through the floor, counting the cymbal crashes and its time for you to join in, as soon as your hands start moving, you feel it, absolute euphoria, youre radioactive with energy, the fans going wild, youre practically thrashing as you play, prancing around and jumping when youve got time to spare you run up front adding flair and showmanship to the ceremony, interacting with the others.

By the end youre absolutely drained, enough energy to hop about and screech getting rid of the last bit of energy, if all of the tour is like this youre gonna have an absolute blast, mountain hands you a couple drumsticks for you to throw after taking a bow, and than perching yourself in 'frog crouch' on mountains riser next to his drums watching everyone go about their ending routines, people throwing stuff on stage, bracelets and flags to hand made gothic style stuffed animals, the ghouls picking some stuff up to look at em, handing them to the designated ghouls if there was a name and handing the rest to anyone else like yourself, the ghoulettes and even papa, swiss picked up a couple hand made stuffed animals bringing them to sit next to you.

When it was time to leave the stage mountain came over opening his arms, you lean forward wrapping your arms around his shoulders and he sets you down on you feet, grabbing the teddy's leaning into his side, hes completely drenched in sweat but so are you, it was practically a work out so it was worth it.

In the van having let down the human charm you wash up and slip into pajamas, the stuffies and bracelets set in your bunk you stare out the window waiting flicking your fidget around, Cumulus walks by stopping to give you a hug, "you did great wisp, your energy was so contagious. ", nodding and tapping your forehead against hers in a silent communication, you were absolutely exhausted.

As soon as mountain is out of the shower you push yourself into his chest, finally time to rest, and with your favorite ghoul no doubt, he hands you chip, folding into one another he holds you gently, as he pulls out the fairy tale he reads your favorites in the book, looking down when youre not humming out your regular vocal stims he realizes youve fallen asleep with your head on his chest, his hands running up and down your spine, tail occasionally thumping against the bed followed by nuzzling against him, "sleep well little wisp, you were so radiant tonight.

《~♡~》

Your room at the church of sin was finally decorated, still sleeping in your nest, the ghouls helped you assemble a proper loft bed with the mattress from your previous bed as part of the nest below, stuffies from the tour everywhere and bracelets hung on a set of racks to display them, posters scatterd on your walls, some plushies piled on the top matteress but keeping that open for the most part if someone wants to hang out. A bookshelf full of normal books and fairy-tales, a starry curtain over your window with a matching opposite one around your nest. Chip in his spot as always hes constantly waiting for your cuddles.

Drawings of both your own and others, many interpretation of what fans saw you as, they call you gargoyle, but to the ghouls youre just a little wisp or little mouse, you were your most accurate self, you were finally at home.

(Accidentally posted the unfixed version, sorry bout that)

#nameless ghouls x little reader #nameless ghouls x reader #nameless ghouls x gn reader #nameless ghouls x gender neutral reader #nameless ghouls x fem reader #nameless ghouls x f! reader #nameless ghouls x male reader #nameless ghouls x m! reader #nameless ghouls x ghoul reader #nameless ghouls x agere reader #nameless ghouls x neurodivergent reader #nameless ghouls x autistic reader #autistic reader #mountain x reader #mountain earth ghoul x reader #agere reader #alternative universe

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elizabethemerald · 1 year

Text

DP/DC Week 2022: Mistaken Identity

AO3

Danny was tired. That wasn’t really anything new, but it still felt like just one burden too many. Danny was homeless. Danny was on the run from his parents and the GIW. Danny was desperately trying to heal from when his parents vivisected him. And on top of all that he was tired.

He hadn’t been able to really get consistent sleep since the accident. Late night ghost attacks were far too common in Amity Park for him to really get the sleep he needed. He thought for sure now that he was away from his home he would sleep better. Except Gotham was in many ways worse. There were explosions, gunshots and Rogue attacks at all hours of the night. There were the constant nightmares of feeling his parent’s hands inside his…

At least there weren’t any ghosts.

Except…

There were.

Quite a few ghosts followed him from Amity to Gotham. Cujo, of course, had tailed along, because Danny could only barely get the ghost dog to obey his orders at the best of times and they were still working on “Stay.” Ember had dropped by to check on him. “Just to make sure her ‘Babypop’ was Ok.” Even Clockwork, Fright Knight and a few of the Observants had dropped by to ensure the Ghost King was recovering a pace. For some reason, Boxy had followed him to Gotham, because “Where Phantom goes, boxes follow.” Danny couldn’t even begin to parse out that statement.

As if the Amity ghosts following Danny when he explicitly said he wanted to remain hidden wasn’t bad enough, apparently having the Ghost King in Gotham gave the local ghosts enough juice to cause even more problems if they wanted to. And Gotham had a lot of ghosts. A lot of people died with their emotions high, with things in their life left undone, or with a grudge to bear in this city.

Ghost attacks in Gotham suddenly went from zero to an all time high. If Danny didn’t get a handle on the situation soon Gotham’s daily ghost attack numbers would beat even peak Amity numbers. Danny couldn’t even do anything against the hordes of ghosts while he was healing. He had to simply watch over the city as his people caused problems for the living. Danny had even seen the Joker getting chased down the street by numerous Jokerized ghosts looking to tear him apart. He couldn’t have intervened even if he wanted to, not that he really wanted to get between the Clown, his numerous victims and their well deserved revenge.

With Danny still out of commission, while the scars on his chest healed and his organs finished regenerating, the ghosts of Gotham were left to the vigilantes of Gotham. The Bats were woefully unprepared for a sudden incursion of ghosts. Fortunately, Gotham itself, whatever ancient spirit of the city gave Gotham its perpetual gloomy and melancholy vibe, seemed to like the Flying-Fury-Brigade and the bats were safe from overshadowing and could disperse ghosts for a short time with their attacks. However, dispersing the ghosts for a few hours did nothing to stop the overwhelming number of ghosts currently in the city, and Danny knew the Spirit of Gotham wouldn’t be able to maintain that protection indefinitely without rest or assistance.

At least Danny had managed to find an abandoned Warehouse, far enough from the main centers of crime, where he felt he could actually rest for a few hours. He needed to rest. He was so tired and his body couldn’t repair itself, even with the ambient ectoplasm that now filled Gotham’s streets without rest. Except, apparently even this far off corner of the city couldn’t go undisturbed.

Just as Danny had managed to curl up under a stolen blanket in a corner office his rest was disturbed again by the sounds of crashes and thumps. Only, this time they were coming from far closer. Danny groaned as he dragged himself to his feet, his blanket, which was more hole than fabric at this point, wrapped around his shoulders like a cape.

Ancients, he hoped it wasn’t Box Ghost, even as he walked past stack after stack of long abandoned boxes and crates that filled this warehouse.

If his heart hadn’t already stopped long ago when he first stepped into the portal it would have stopped now. There standing in the warehouse he had chosen to hide in, was a large, broad shouldered man, with dark hair and a bright, orange, jumpsuit. Jack Fenton had found him.

* * *

Bruce was tired. That wasn’t really anything new, but this was almost to a whole new level. On top of running a multinational corporation, assisting with JLA missions, and protecting Gotham from his regular Rogues gallery, his city had some become infested with ghosts. Which were apparently real. And a real problem.

He had tried to reach out to Justice League Dark, but Constantine had taken one look around the streets of Gotham, declared them all “properly fucked,” then opened a portal to somewhere that stank of sulfur and promptly disappeared. Batman had taken a single moment to allow himself a long, world-weary sigh, before he got back to work.

If he wasn’t going to be able to get magical help with their problem, maybe technology would do. Barbara and Tim had spent hours trawling the internet, cracking bizarre morphing firewalls and verifying ludicrous claims before eventually finding the Fentonworks website. Barbara had sounded like she wanted to pull her hair out when she described the archaic design for the site, but the Doctor’s Fenton seemed to have weapons and tools that could be used to counter the ghostly threat.

For some reason, that none of Bats could determine, they were kept safe from the Ghosts that now inhabited Gotham. They had all felt the ghosts try to enter their bodies, yet they had all felt the ghosts get repelled by some unknown force. They had personally seen that no one else in Gotham seemed to share that same immunity, cops, goons, civilians and rogues alike had all been possessed and controlled by the ghosts, yet Batman and his family were safe.

That sort of unexplainable defense would never sit well with Batman. He needed something tangible, something he could see, touch and modify himself before he was happy. So when Oracle and Red Robin had managed to find Fentonworks he was all but ready to jump on the opportunity even if they turned out to be a hoax. Just as Wayne Tech had subsidized gas masks to counter Joker Gas and Fear Toxin, he would buy up the Fenton’s entire supply to keep his citizens safe.

Oracle digging deeper into the Fenton files stayed his hand. The Fentons apparently had a considerable amount of data and research on the Ghosts. Except even a cursory glance at their papers showed them to be wildly biased against what they termed “ecto-entities.” Even in their brief experience with ghosts each of the Bats could clearly see that they were thinking and feeling beings. They had some small success with talking ghosts down from attacks on civilians that showed them to be capable of rational thought and empathy.

Batman decided that the only safe option was to acquire some of the Fentonworks products secretly and see if they could be reconstructed by Wayne Tech. So Oracle had purchased a small number of items, a jumpsuit, the Fenton Peeler and a thermos? Robin had much to say about the inanity of their naming conventions and product designs. The order was shipped through a number of shell companies and across the country to ensure no one knew that Bruce Wayne was interested in Ghost hunting equipment.

The shipment had finally arrived, after a few delays and a few extra reroutes to throw off any trackers, in a warehouse far away from the crime centers of the city. Bruce would be able to sort through the supplies in safety, before handing them off to Tim to try and take apart or modify.

He found the protective jumpsuit to be too tight to be able to wear over his armor as Batman, so he shed the outer layers in order to wear the orange hazmat suit. The color really was horrifically bright. He couldn’t imagine any of his rogues, or any of his children for that matter seeing him something so bright. He was just about to reach for the Peeler when he heard a sharp breath from behind him.

Batman whirled, reaching automatically for a utility belt that wasn’t there, to find a child behind him. The boy couldn’t be older than Tim, maybe 16 at most, with dark hair and blue eyes. Eyes that were wide with panic and fear. If he had been wearing his cowl he could understand why the child seemed to be so afraid of him, but he was merely wearing the orange jumpsuit.

The boy immediately started sobbing, terrified tears rushing down his face, as he stumbled backwards, tripping over a ratty blanket as he went. He fell hard and Batman swore he heard something pop over the sound of the boy’s tears. He took a step forward in concern and the boy immediately threw himself further back, cowering with his arms crossed over his head to ward off any blows.

“Please dad! It’s me. It’s Danny! Please, I’m alive, Dad, I’m alive.” Bruce was thrown by the boy, no, Danny’s words. “Dad, please don’t hurt me, I’m alive, I’m Danny, please dad, please.”

Bruce reached for him, but Danny cringed away from his hand. In that moment he could see Danny squinting at him past tear-filled and tired eyes. His terrified eyes were only focusing on the orange of the suit. Bruce leaned back and zipped the suit down and pulled it off his shoulders as fast as he could.

“Danny, I’m not going to hurt you.” Bruce called softly, trying to keep his voice calm and comforting like he had used with his own sons. “You’re safe, Danny. I’m not going to hurt you.”

Danny looked up at him, past his own tears.

“You promise? Dad, you promise?”

“Of course, Danny. I promise. You’re safe.”

Suddenly, Bruce’s arms were full of sobbing teenager as the boy flung himself at him. Bruce immediately held him tightly, one hand going to his hair as he held Danny tight to his chest. He could only barely contain his own grief at the fear Danny had been experiencing.

After several minutes of crying Danny started to pull back away from him.

“Dad, I was so scared, I-” He wiped his eyes as he looked at Bruce. Then wiped them again. Then his eyes widened in renewed fear that Bruce hurried to try and alleviate.

“I’m sorry, I’m not your father.” Bruce kept his voice gentle. “But I meant my promise. You’re safe, Danny. I’ll protect you.”

Danny started to shy away, but winced and a hand went to his chest. Bruce’s eyes widened as blood spots appeared on his shirt. Bruce grabbed him immediately and held him close as he stood.

“We need to get you to a hos-”

“No hospitals.” Danny whispered. “They’ll kill me if they find me.”

Bruce ground his teeth. This child who was injured, clearly exhausted and scared out of his mind was afraid to go to a hospital. He nodded then pulled his cowl over his head one handed as he carried Danny to the Batmobile. The Batcave was the best place for Danny to get medical care and the Batmobile was the fastest way to get there.

“Oracle, I have an injured child.” Batman growled into his coms as he buckled Danny into the passenger seat. “Clear a route to the Cave and inform Agent A and Dr. T that they have a patient incoming.”

“Understood Batman.” Oracle’s voice came through his ear piece.

Batman studiously ignored his other children asking if he was bringing them another sibling. Just because he was already filling out the mental adoption papers for the traumatized teen, didn’t mean he had to dignify them with a response. In the passenger seat, Danny eventually gave into the exhaustion from the day and fell asleep as the Batmobile roared toward the Batcave, and his future home.

TAGS: @starkcravingmad, @blacksea21090, @rainybyday

#Danny Phantom #batman #dp x dc #dp/dc week 2022 #mistaken identity #let me know what you think #and please reblog!

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dailyadventureprompts · 7 months

Note

Do you have any ideas/tips/tricks on running a campaign with (former?) bandit-likes as the protagonists? Inspired by your deep dive on the archetype, kinda had ideas of 'main prophecied adventurers are slain by the party, have to take over for the prophecy so as the world wont explode', but if you have alternate ideas or ways to spruce it up, super open.

Adventure: Where the Low Road Leads

Through unworthy means the sword has come to you, and with it you grip a destiny that some part of you knows is too glorious for your dirty hands. You can't help but think perhaps this is your chance to be remembered for anything other than an ignoble end.

The Sword can come into possession of the party in any number of ways:

As the original asker suggested, it would be a great opening for an evil or dark-grey aligned party to pull it from the bodies of a group of adventures or bountyhunters who were hired to stamp them out. If I were running this as the start of a campaign I'd have the story pick up shortly after the fight and subsequent looting has taken place, to ensure your anti-heroes are set on the right course.

Alternatively the sword could very easily be found in a treasure horde, picked off a corpse lost in a the wilderness, or bestowed upon them by some wellmeaning patron.

All that matters is that the sword finds them, and then shortly after that the dreams start: Pitched battle in darkened corridors, a few valiant warriors standing against an onslaught of robed figures and formless horrors, warriors bearing the same amber and knot design that decorates the hilt of the sword's crossguard. The last echoes of a desperate struggle.

After one or two of these visions a strange messenger arrives: Jott, a boisterous homunculus delivering a greeting and a communication stone from his master Telbhar the Wizard. Mostly bound to his far off tower these days, Telbhar is relieved beyond measure that he managed to tack down whoever was in possession of the sword, as it is the keystone in a great undertaking he has been involved in since his youth.

As Telbhar explains, back when he was but an apprentice he and his teacher served a now extinct group known as the Order Fulgoric, who battled many evils in their day but perished preventing an incursion from an unknown otherworldly entity. The blade, Sequester, was crafted to shut out that entity forever, but it was lost in the final rout against the entity's cultists and though the ritual of its summoning was disrupted, the entity ended up half in, half out of our reality, bleeding out its corruption into the world.

Challenges & Complications:

As you may have guessed, Telbhar is not being completely forward with the truth. He was in fact one of the cultists trying to summon the otherworldly entity on the day the Fulgoric order made their final march, and though he fled while his fellow acolytes were being slaughtered he retained enough of their knowledge to reconstruct the ritual many years later. It didn't matter, the Order had succeeded in trapping the entity between worlds and the only way to un-trap it was lost with the sword. Telbhar spent decades searching for it... only for it to resurface in the party's possession. Now he either needs to convince them to bring it to him, or find a means of picking it off their corpses.

The entity the cultists were attempting to summon was a powerful quori dreamspirit known as Uaxt, which was spoken of by ancient sources as a thing capable of granting wishes. Called "Yearning beyond reach" by those that studied it in the past, the entity's true power was in mass delusion, creating waking dreams that would seep across entire kingdoms like a plague. While its body remains entwined through the depths of the dungeon, flash fossilized by the energies of botched planear travel, its mind is imprisoned in the blade, slowly taking root in the party's minds as it uses their dreams to reconstitute itself.

Consider introducing Telbhar when the party is in a deep bind, most in need of wizardly council. It should not be directly related to the sword, alternatively, if your party ends up wanting to seek out a lorekeeper of some kind you may consider introducing Telbhar first and have him ask them to seek the sword in return for helping them with their current woes.

#press start #wizard #low level #cursed item #quori #treasure #lorekeeper #evil party

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teecupangel · 4 months

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I saw this amazing idea from another fandom that could be used to keep Desmond alive: his ghost possessing his own body. Not only that but whenever ghost! Desmond gets out of his body it becomes zombie! Desmond so there's two Desmond's sharing a body while trying to live(heh) in the modern time.

Oohhh, this sounds interesting.

Does this mean that Desmond’s body starts to decompose when he’s not in his body?

Or would that be too much and we’ll just let zombie!Desmond act as a usual zombie, looking for ‘food’.

Now, there should be a reason why Desmond would willingly (or unwillingly) stay out of his body. It could be that there is a limitation placed on the possession itself and Desmond could only stay for around half a day and the other half has to be him floating around as a ghost. He learns of this because the first time he returned to his body, he tried to stay there as long as he could and he’s just yanked out of the body after exactly 12 hours.

Of course, the first time this happens, he was still imprisoned in an Abstergo facility and… well… zombie!Desmond definitely had a lot of preys to eat then.

… does this mean that Desmond could accidentally start a zombie apocalypse.

Thankfully, the moment zombie!Desmond started attacking people, the entire facility went on lockdown and dropped heavy roll up covers for all entrances and exits, including windows.

This did mean that everyone is stuck inside with a growing zombie horde courtesy of zombie!Desmond.

And ghost!Desmond is just floating nearby, freaking out because he knows how this is played.

He does not want to be patient zero!

He tries to get back to zombie!Desmond but he’s pulled away each time, only able to take control for maybe 3 to 5 minutes.

Until…

12 hours passed and Desmond finally takes control.

As every single zombie turned to face him.

Because he no longer registers as one of them.

No.

He registered as ‘prey’.

And Desmond slips out of his body voluntarily this time, letting zombie!Desmond take control before the other zombies attack him.

And now…

He has to think of a way…

To kill every zombies here in approximately 12 hours… without the zombies attacking him and before Abstergo remotely opens the roll up covers to find out what has happened.

Berg and Sigma team enters the building from above later on.

They had lost contact with the facility 25 hours ago, the last transmission they received was an automatic message from the facility’s security system summarizing that the lockdown was due to an unknown highly volatile virus of unknown origins.

The security system cut off all connection to the outside world per protocol (a protocol that become the norm after an unknown hacker that has no connection to Erudito hacked a different facility and used the connection to send out different viruses to other facilities, many classified information were destroyed during the attack, including data about known Isus and Sages). Protocol states they wait 24 hours for any communications from the people in the facility or the security system before trying to breach the facility.

There was nothing.

And when they got there…

The security system had been destroyed together with all the recordings in the facility and its own black box.

And the entire place…

… was nothing more than a place of death.

No one survived.

There were signs that they had killed one another.

No.

They tried to eat each other.

Was this…

The ‘virus’ that the security system had pinged?

They could not be sure.

All they knew was…

The underground parking lot’s cover was not locked.

A person could lift it up and slip out before it fell back down.

So they had to make sure…

… to account for every single person.

Because if this was a real virus that can do such a thing…

They were looking for a potential carrier.

“Sir. Sofia Rikkin is in line 1.”

Berg nodded at the man to his right before he clicked a button on the portable radio connected to his earpiece, “This is Berg.”

“Is this right, Berg? You counted 80 bodies?”

That did not sound good. Sofia Rikkin was usually calm and a bit cold but she sounded like she was ready to tear Berg’s throat out if he said the wrong thing.

“We’re recounting the bodies but, yes. Our initial and second counting both-”

“There should be 81 bodies, Berg.”

Berg looked at the tablet in his other hand, “The list of personnel in this facility when it went on lockdown says eigh-”

“Because it’s not a personnel.”

He really wished she’d stop cutting him off.

But it was more important to hear what she was saying right now.

“Berg. The 81st body is the 2nd attempt to create an Isu body. A lot of data were destroyed during the attack years back so we used Sample 17 to plug the missing links.”

“Are you saying the possibly missing 81st body is Desmond Miles?”

“… possibly. Find that body, Berg. There haven’t been any tests done to that body yet so we don’t know what it can do. For all we know…”

“… it could be the original carrier of this unknown virus.”

#dun dun dun!#desmond is definitely a walking zombie apocalypse waiting to happen XD #his first priority is to find a place sturdy enough to keep his zombie self contained for 12 hours every day #it’s only hinted but the hacker they’re talking about is elijah #he has no hand in desmond’s ‘resurrection’#he was just trying to delete everything about him in abstergo’s database #assassin's creed #ask and answer #desmond miles #teecup writes/has a plot #fic idea: assassin's creed

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glittering-moonlillie · 1 year

Text

Tightrope (Damian Wayne x LOA! Reader)

Warnings: Heavy mentions of abuse, a few curse words. I made this more hurt comfort rather than angst, I'm sorry :<

Summary: Ever since the both of you were younger, you taught Damian the importance of hope and - even if it took years - he was more than happy to help you believe in it again.

Word Count: 4085

Hope; it was the essence that life was built upon, the attribute that humans cling to in times of despair and grief. It was the shining light at the end of the dark tunnel, the soldier who - with gritted teeth - flipped off the dictator of life and continued to fight, bloodied, bruised and all.

All you ever did was hope: hoped for a brighter future, hoped for control, hoped to explore and create rather than neglect and diminish. Whether it was in the middle of training, while you were sleeping, or studying, hope was the hidden deity you worshiped with every fiber of your little body.

As you grew older, it was apparent that you were not born in the correct body. Your mother was a top assassin in an organization called The League of Assassins. She was taught to be a ruthless killer in order to serve the League’s higher purpose - to achieve balance in the world and create environmental harmony through slaughtering most of humanity. Instead of crafting, she helped to steal the lives of thousands, ripping them away from the world with precision.

It was a responsibility of your mothers to be “the fang that protected the head,” which now meant it was your responsibility as well. From an early age, you were shaped to be a weapon. Your mother’s hands carefully molded your clay body, her expert hands knowing what ridges to smooth and what areas to sharpen.

But the clay was too stubborn, too hard for her to mold perfectly, and resulted in a dull clump that was useless. One could imagine the disappointment of your mother, who served to be Talia’s right hand woman. When you were born, everyone expected you to have the same instinctual skill as your mother - the ability to contort into the shadows like a lethal chameleon with the ease of a slithering cobra, not to be some mindless dreamer.

You were useless in combat compared to your mother; the grip on your weapon would always waver and your feet would sway at the thought of killing someone. You always ended up being one of the first spotted in the League’s version of Hide and Seek and subsequently faced harsh punishment. Logically, you weren’t the most competent war strategist either. Sure, you weren’t an idiot, but planning a tactical win against a horde of ninja’s was not your forte.

And you would never be able to calculate the trajectory you would need to throw a shuriken in order for it to slice someone’s neck.

A people pleaser at heart, you certainly tried your best to be who your mother wished you to be. Despite your heart wanting to hurdle itself away into the night sky so it could be at peace with the stars, it was trapped in this monstrous clay construction, doomed to kill - doomed to serve.

Wake up.

Train.

Eat.

Train.

Meditate.

Study.

Train.

Eat.

Shower.

Sleep.

Repeat.

Life was a broken record, repeating its meaningless tune to an empty audience. So you hoped. You eagerly wished for some sort of reprieve, searched for a meaning more than destruction with frantic hands and wild eyes until you struck gold. Soon, your hope bloomed into a boy.

Damian was the son of Talia Al Ghul, with a soft face and forest green eyes, the raven black hair atop his head swooping to the right. He shouldered the weight of his family, his legacy and it showed. His confidence was as lustrous as an emerald. By the age of nine, he could easily take down every single member of the league (with the exception of his family) and had the tactical brilliance of Sun Tzu.

Damian was not known for his kindness, no one in the League was. You were all raised to be merciless killers, mercy would only display weakness and get yourself killed. Damian seemed to detest everyone in the League, so it puzzled you as to why someone like him decided to show you kindness.

Due to your inept nature, most leaguers often mocked you for your incompetence in battle. Their insults were displayed on your body like intricate cave paintings. Damian was the only exception, the radiant diamond that made you feel like the luckiest person. You weren’t sure if it was out of pity or sympathy, but he quickly became your one and only friend.

His touch was delicate, as if he were grasping at the stem of a dandelion in order to preserve a wish. Words fell out of his mouth like an uplifting melody. Damian made it his personal mission to train you himself, if not to serve the League, than to at least protect yourself properly. You made it your mission to instill the same hope that burned through your bloodstream.

Training sessions that were filled with monochrome decay suddenly overflowed with special secrets and inside jokes between you and Damian - stories shared, wishes whispered, and dreams dreamt in the massive room that instantaneously felt too cramped. It felt like stealing bits and pieces of your childhoods back, simultaneously feeling enough yet not enough at all.

The first genuine smile Damian gave you felt like you were just given the keys to a whole kingdom. There was something so uniquely special about it, as if you just discovered the end of a rainbow. He had a couple of missing teeth that you assumed would grow back in a few months, eyes crinkling for what seemed to be the first time ever.

You expressed to him your desire to leave behind the legacy of your mother, to become a leaf swept up by the wind instead of being the bark that stubbornly grew its roots in one spot since at least the leaf would experience more of life than the tree ever will, even if it becomes brittle rust within a few days.

More than anything, you wished to be swept away by the wind, the tide, anything would do really.

He confided that he, deep down, wished to spend his days painting and growing a menagerie of rescued animals instead of living in the shadow of his mother and grandfather. But unlike you, he was also committed to proving himself and making a difference. He was the very best of the best, and his talent would be wasted if he were just a measly painter.

Just as he trained you to fight properly, you encouraged him to pursue what he wanted, even if it went against everything else he was taught.

After a few years of growing with each other, blossoms of a strong admiration and affection began to develop. Despite knowing loving him would face scorn, it was hope that made you believe you had a chance.

“I promise you, when I am in charge, you will be able to leave this place anytime you please.” He said to you, giving you that wicked smirk he always did when he was awfully proud of himself.

Damian covertly fashioned a simple promise band that day. It was made of softened branches, braided with the delicacy of hair. Tangled between the braids were small baby’s-breath, winking at you as the sun illuminated their features. He slipped it on your ring finger, as if it was a proposal, as if the two of you had a choice all along.

The ring used to be a sign of innocent childhood romance, the physical embodiment of your hope. You used to clutch it tightly, wearing it with pride wherever you went, not knowing that life was sneaking up behind you to violently snatch it away with its bony hands and cold grasp.

Now it just hung loosely around your neck, tucked underneath your clothes and hidden from the sunlight. You had walked the fine line between hope and delusion and it was only when Damian left that you realized you had been worshiping gods who would never hear your pleas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gotham city twinkled under the guidance of the waxing moon, and for a moment, it almost looked beautiful. But it was a city where crime never slept, where screams echoed and smog filled the air. It was a constant reminder of why Damian will keep fighting, even if his body aches, even if he is beaten down time and time again.

His purpose was to protect and save people, and he would do so even if it killed him. He was so eager to succeed, to strive and be better that it sometimes blinded him. But it was better than facing failure; it tasted of rotten fruit and bitter mugmort and he was not jumping at the chance to taste it again. Letting someone die was worse than making the choice to kill someone.

Perched on one of the gargoyles, the stone withering from the constant downpours, Damian allowed himself to be consumed by the thought of you. You never belonged somewhere like the League of Assassins, and Damian used to find it amusing. A group of highly skilled killers and one girl who only longed to be a professional dreamer, to soar the skies instead of being trapped in a steel cage - a girl that reminded him that there was more to life than just fulfilling a legacy. The last time he talked to you was almost a decade ago. He recalls the exact way your smile disappeared, the way the sunlight in your eyes was swept away by dark, foggy clouds.

Remembers how he swore to come back for you, only to be told you were killed right before he came back. Heartbreak consumed him then and it only worsened with time. Despite lashing out on everyone, Damian knew deep down it was his fault.

That is why he fights.

But tonight, Gotham was mostly quiet. Damian’s shoulders fell as he let the rain wash over him, letting the tension melt away. The night was growing old and since there was nothing amiss, he decided it best to retire for the night.

Making sure not to misstep, Damian got up and lifted himself onto the rooftop of the industrial building, gripping the grappling hook and preparing to swing himself to safety.

The hook latched into the darkened building, allowing Damian to swing across. Tainted air filled his lungs, settling into his body with a delicate sting, wind whipping angrily through his hair. It was the closest Damian ever felt to flying, to touching the same blue canvas you wished to be a part of.

A loud snap ripped through the air, and before Damian could react, he was rolling on the floor and bumping into a putrid dumpster. Damian grimaced. The pavement sweated with grime, making it more of an inconvenience for him to jump back up and assess the damage done.

The cord of the grappling hook had split in two but the cut seemed too precise with the frayed ends sticking up equally, meaning that the rope did not just snap; it must have been cut with something sharp enough to slice through enhanced nylon.

Damian dropped the rope and slinked back into the corner, his eyes squinting through the dark. He watched the shadows cautiously and slowed his breath to a faint whisper; the grip on his sword tightened until his knuckles turned a pale white.

There was a faint scurrying to his right, almost like a rat or another small rodent but the weight of each step did not match. The light steps progressively got louder, allowing Damian to step into the correct fighting stance.

He caught the small shuriken between his fingers as it whirled towards his face “Tt, whoever you are, you are absolutely terrible at sneaking up on people.” He tossed the weapon to the grimy floor. “Reveal yourself.”

A person languidly stepped out from the darkness - a walking shadow - with the only light reflected being from the glint of a palm sized weapon, most likely a dagger. Judging from the person’s curves and movement, he assumed they were a woman. If this was his mother’s doing, this would have been the first time she sent a woman after him.

“Who are you?” He inquired, voice coarse and echoing across the walls of the alleyway. Instead of an answer, he was met with the sudden charge from the inexperienced assassin who’s blade barely grazed his cheek. Damian grabbed the woman’s forearm and twisted it, using his other arm to keep them at a safer distance as she tried to swing the dagger (incorrectly) at him like a magical wand.

The woman grunted in pain, letting the dagger drop to the floor with a deafening clank. Letting her forearm go, Damian lightly kicked the person to the floor, pushing a fraction of his weight onto the solar plexus. He glared down, his eyes scanning the slick, black material and immediately recognized it as the one he was forced to wear when he was younger.

So his mother did send this person after him.

“P-please…” It was a hushed mumble mixed together with the person’s frantic breaths. His eyes scanned again and he noticed the way the woman’s eyes were thin and constricted, examining him as he was her. The terrified look on her face seemed familiar, like something from a hazy dream or an old scrapbook. For a split second, Damian thought the person looked awfully similar to you, only for the thought to be immediately swept away as soon as it appeared. It couldn’t be you, you died.

“Who are you?” He asked again, lightening the pressure of his foot. “Why did my mother send you after me?”

She continued to thrash around and murmur incoherent words, causing Damian to grumble. “If you aren’t going to answer me, I may as well dispose of-”

Before he could finish the empty threat, the hair of the woman, which shifted out of the shawl covering most of the face, leaked out like a tube of acrylic oil. The shade…it was similar to yours as well…

His heart began to leap in the air, long-forgotten hope pumping from his heart to his brain. He completely shifted his weight off of the woman and slowly leaned down.

Of course, this could have been chalked up to wishful thinking and mindless absurdity. But he, deep down, wanted to believe, to hope.

“I won’t hurt you…” He said softly, reaching out to the shawl. He tugged at it to reveal a mess of hair the color of his wishes, prayers, and dreams combined.

A few tears ran down the cheeks of the stranger, the fabric of the mask covering their mouth absorbing the liquid almost immediately. “D-don’t…shouldn’t…shouldn’t know who I am…”

“Why not?”

“I-I…you…” She paused, averting her eyes up to his once more. “Your mother wants you back in the League.” She finished, her gentler voice turning rigid and empty like a robot.

“I’ve told her once that I do not wish to be part of her League. I’m not sure how many times I need to make this explicitly clear to her.”

“No!” She suddenly pounced on Damian, voice quivering as she pressed another shuriken to his neck. “You can’t do that! Please, Damian. You don’t understand, t-the League needs you, I-I….I need to take you home o-or…or else…”

Damian felt his soul tear itself from his body, felt as if every single wound he tried desperately to cover was unearthed and drenched in lemon juice and salt. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to break out into laughter or crumble into tears.

Dangling between the two was an old and battered ring, decayed with age. Everything began to click together. The hair was the same beautiful shade, the voice was almost the exact melody, even the combat reflected the same clumsy style.

It was you.

Your eyes wandered down, widening once they saw that the ring escaped the confines of your shirt. You hastily ripped it out of Damian’s view, quickly dropping the artillery and scrambling off of him, your chest heaving.

“Y/n…” He hesitantly reached for the warmth of your hand, not wanting to let you slip through his fingers again. It was a miracle, a shooting star in the palm of his hand, twinkling with the fiery hope of a phoenix feather. He already lost you once, broke his promise, and he will never let that happen again.

“You left me…you left me there to die…” You nudged his hand away, refusing to turn towards him.

“I would never leave you there to die! I came back for you a few months later once I convinced my father and I was told you died on a mission! They said your mother did not want to revive you because you were useless!” He argued.

Damian reached for you again, desperately, the need to see you smile for him, because of him overrunning every sense of logic he normally abided by. Your shoulders were tensed as the rest of your body trembled, managing to break Damian’s frigged heart even more.

“I looked for you everywhere. I almost killed every single person in that fucking building when they said you were murdered, as if it did not matter.” He said in a broken mutter. Damian let his arms wrap around your neck loosely, resting his chin delicately on your head. “I’m sorry, Y/n…I…I failed you.”

You placed your jittery hands on top of his and clutched them just as you did when you were both younger. The sleeves of the assassin attire fell down to your elbows, exposing branches of lighter skin, twisting and curling like cruel birthmarks. “What happened to you?”

Damian couldn’t help but trace the scars with his index finger, counting how many he noticed. Blood trickled down his lip as he tried not to let rage cloud his judgment.

“When you left…m-my mother…she…” As tears slipped down your cheeks, Damian couldn’t contain the urge to gently kiss them away the same way he did the day he left. “Training became more intense…I was sent on more missions and…and every time I failed…”

Your voice trailed off, replaced with painful cries. “I-If I don’t bring you back…if you don’t rejoin the League again she might actually kill me…”

Damian watched as you erratically took off the first layer of clothing, revealing a plethora of scars along your arms and neck, down to your clavicle.Whatever restraint Damian clung onto vanished as easily as a swift slice; a bomb ticking down to its demise would have been more nimble.

“They won’t be getting away with this.” Damian got up, dusting off the filth on his pants, a plan formulating in his mind. He could call up Jason who would definitely not mind killing off some Leaguers who stepped out of line. He will call his father as well and they’ll discuss negotiations for your release. You could be safe with him, with his family. He would be able to grant you your every wish and desire, exactly how he promised.

You tugged on his sleeve. “Damian…I can’t…I have to take you home. Please, I already know I can’t fight you.”

“I am not going anywhere, Y/n, and neither are you. I told you I would free you from the League when I was nine, and I plan to keep that promise.” He managed a soft smile, hoping that it would ease away the creases on your countenance, to paint over your frown and replace it with moonbeams and sunlight. He wanted to restore the hopeful blaze in your eyes.

Your frown only deepened. “Damian, you don’t understand, I can’t. I can’t run, I can’t escape.”

You shook your head, attempting to wipe away the tears in vain. “The happy ending that I wished for, it was stolen from me, Damian, and I will never get it back. I was wrong to hope.”

“If you believed that, then you wouldn’t be wearing the ring I gave you. Y/n, you were the one who told me that I wasn’t tied to my heritage! That I could be whoever I wanted to be and do whatever I wanted to do even if it went against my family's wishes.” He fought back. “I won’t allow someone to throw your life away, Y/n. You have a choice. I can protect you.”

Palming your cheek, Damian pulled you into an embrace. The thought of you going back to someone who would only torture you, kill you, hurt him more than he would ever be able to admit.

“They’d come after me, Dami. They will hunt me down and off me the moment I let my guard down. I would never be truly free, there would be no point.” You lightly pushed him away from you again, hands resting on his chest. For a moment, he wondered if you could feel the drumming of his heartbeat, the way it raced faster than his mind could keep up with.

“And you don’t think I can protect you?” He replied, voice softening as he urged his legs to step an inch closer, and then another inch. “I would never let anyone hurt you, not ever again.”

Your eyes met with his own, and Damian hoped that the small glimmer he saw meant he was getting through the years of brainwashing, tugging at the strand of hope he knew you had left in you. Your lips parted slightly only to close a few seconds later. With your shoulders slumped, nose bright red, and cheeks gleaming with tears, you slumped into his arms and began to fully weep.

It caught Damian off guard to see the intense emotion but it did not make him uncomfortable like it usually did; no, instead he felt a pang of sympathy coiling in his stomach, growing into vines and clawing up his throat and daring him to speak.

“I’m so scared.” You whimpered, clutching onto his cape as if he were as fair weathered as a butterfly. “I-I…I…”

“I know. It’s alright.” He said. “I’m here.”

Damian made a mental note to thank Dick for teaching him how to comfort others. He pulled you out of the disgusting alleyway and out into the quiet street. Getting you somewhere safe was his first priority and there was no safer space than Wayne Manor.

“Where are we going?”

“My family home. My father will be there and so will some of my siblings. It is absolutely the safest place in Gotham for you.”

The cold air seemed more bearable when the comfort of your hand rested in his. The stirrings of a former childhood crush resurfaced the more he looked at you. Despite that though, he knew it would not be fair to push his feelings onto you. If he did, Damian would be no better than the people who controlled you your entire life.

“I thought you would have forgotten me by now.” You turned towards him, the edges of your mouth twisting into the first smile he had seen from you in years.

“Forgetting you would be like forgetting how to paint.” He remarked.

A feeling of calmness wrapped itself around the two of you like a snug quilt. Damian could sense that you were still nervous if the constant swerving of your head at any sudden noise was anything to go by, but every time he made sure to pull you closer to show he was not going anywhere.

By the time that the both of you reached the Manor, your breath managed to settle into a slower rhythm. Damian watched as your lips formed into an O as you stared up at the daunting Victorian-esque building.

“I’ve always wanted to visit a castle…” You mumbled under your breath, tipping your head curiously the same way you did when you sneakily read the banned fairytales your mother was avidly against.

Damian chuckled at the response. “And I always said I would take you to one.”

As he guided you through the Manor, the smile on your face began to appear more vividly. His family was surprised, but once he explained the situation, they eagerly welcomed you with open arms. Damian made sure to have Alfred fetch you some nicer clothes for resting while he held you in his arms.

Ever since the both of you were younger, you taught Damian the importance of hope and - even if it took years - he was more than happy to help you believe in it again.

Did I reread this again before publishing? NOPE

But did I figure out the read more thingy? HELL YES

I consider this a win lol

#Damian Wayne #Damian Wayne x Reader #Damian Al Ghul #League of Assassins #Damian Wayne x Y/n #DC #Comics #Angst #Hurt/Comfort #Romance #I support healthy relationships #Damian Wayne is a little yandere in this I think oops #Batman #Talia Al Ghul #Requested #Anon requests

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