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obito76 · 1 year

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Chapter 50 : A Wonderful Wedding

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The summer sun beat down on the sands of Jump City in just the right way. Children and adults alike were running around and having fun while enjoying the perfect Southern California beach weather. Superheroes were not an uncommon sight in this city, yet today was obviously out of the ordinary. Superheroes not of the area could be seen approaching on the skyline or through the streets.

At the edge of the Jump City beach, right where the sand met a dense wall of trees and wilderness stood a large white tent that was sectioned off by a long line of velvets stanchions. The tent opened up to a long velvet red aisle, an simple altar, and many rows of chairs that currently held a large number of Titans and Justice League members, along with a few civilians. As the guests arrived, they were greeted by Speedy and Cyborg and directed to their seats. The atmosphere outside was happy, thrilled, and bubbly. The same could not be said about the emotions whirling inside the nearby beach house that was currently serving as wedding prep ground zero. Specifically from one overly nervous alien.

Today was the day. Today was the day. She was finally going to marry the Titan she had known and loved for her whole life. Her palms were sweaty and she couldn't stop her leg from bouncing up and down as her dark skinned friend finished up with her hair.

“There, all done.” The woman announced. Upon looking at her friends face in the mirror, she laughed. The bride-to-be looked absolutely terrified. “Oh, would you stop, Starfire? You look glorious!”

That shook the nerves right off and got a good laugh from the alien. She turned to look at her friend and gave her a look that just seemed to just scream, 'Really'?

Her friend just smirked and shrugged. “What? You do look glorious! Would your good friend lie to you? Your fiance is going to looove it.”

Starfire shook her head slightly and batted her friend away. “Oh friend Bumblebee would you stop with the teasing already?”

Right then, there was a knock on the changing room door and a voice following it. “It's almost time, girl. Can I come in?”

Starfire smiled broadly. If anyone could calm her down, it was her another good friend.

“You look beautiful Star.” Jinx said.

“Thank you friend Jinx,”

“You did a great job, Bee,” Jinx said, smirking towards Bumblebee who just winked at her.

With a long deep sigh Starfire smiled, looking around she asked. “Friends, Do you know where friend Raven is?.” Realising her maid of honor wasn't there.

“Oh, don't worry Star... she said she is talking care of your soon-to-be husband,” Bumblebee said, smirking.

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“Hurry the fuck up and fuck me!” Raven screamed and pleaded to her lover.

To be completely honest, Raven had no idea how she got into this position at all. All she could remember was her helping Starfire on her so called big day before she left. Now, she was quiet a mess. Sitting on the edge of a beautiful marble table, her pale toned legs wrapped around the waist of a man who was her best friend's future husband, begging for him to fuck her hard. Although they had done these secrets acts together before, they certainly didn't match the pleasure she was feeling doing it on the day of Starfire's wedding day with her soon-to-be husband, Dick Grayson.

Dick had been Starfire's boyfriend since they were young and stupid in Tokyo. Raven never thought she was an affair type, But when Dick and her talked when they were alone for the first time, it was like she had hit a brick wall. There was an instant chemistry when they started to hang out, but they never did admit it until that one faithful day where they were alone in medical room. It took only one hour before Raven realised her hidden desires for Dick and ended up having wild sex with him behind Starfire's back. After that, it was like the floodgates were burst open. Sometimes they would tease each other subtly behind Starfire's back, and when that wasn't enough, they turned from being friends to friends with benefits. And then when that wasn't enough, they've gone from friends with benefits to being literal fuck buddies. Doing it behind Starfire's back every chance they get. And today was no exception.

As a matter of fact, Raven could clearly recall the details of her losing her anal virginity to Dick. It brought her a wave of pleasure she wasn't able to have with anyone. She clearly remember the first time when Dick couldn't pull out early and came inside her for the first time. That was the dirtiest she had felt after Dick filled her up with his hot cum. She still remember having sex right in the bathroom with Dick while Starfire was sleeping in the other room, and letting Dick cum inside her multiple times that night. She remembered the ecstasy that Dick brought her when he fucked her on her hands and knees and on his shared bed with Starfire, smacking her ass and pulling her messy purple hair back. It was an unbelievable feeling. The fact is, Raven was fucking Dick, the man she lusted after for a really long time. And he is her best friend's boyfriend and her soon to be husband. It made her feel completely naughty and she loved the feeling.

“You are so wet for me, Raven.” Dick said quickly, teasing her opening with the tip of his cock.

In such a compromising position, Raven thought about how this would look if they were to get caught, but at the moment all that only seemed to excite her even more, especially on his special wedding day.

“Just fuck me, Baby.” Raven moaned in pleasure and annoyance, “I can't wait anymore.”

Dick smirked, pushing the tip inside that wet and tight pussy, “Whatever you say, Princess.”

In one stroke, Raven was stuffed with Dick's gorgeous cock in a mere seconds before a wordless cry escaped her wanton moaning. In other circumstances, Raven might have screamed at the sheer size of Dick's cock running up her pussy, but knowing that her friends and the guest are all around the wedding place, she knew she had to keep her moans and screams to a minimum. It was painstaking at work, but she managed to make it work by sucking and biting down on her middle finger.

“I love it when you give me that puppy look.” Dick said, slowly gaining a rhythm that was enough to make Raven lose her mind.

Raven was certainly in heaven when Dick started to pump in and out of her. Although Dick's cock had been in her for more times than she could remember, maybe even more than he ever did it with his girlfriend, she never got used to the feeling of his huge cock in her tight pussy. His tendency to thrust his whole cock inside her when he was about to cum just added to the exotic feeling.

“Harder…” Raven whimpered with her eyes half closed, “Let me have it.”

It was another thing about having sex with Dick that never was with anyone, Dick actually listen to what she wants and having the skills to back it up. As soon as those words left her mouth, Dick laughed slightly before gripping her waist with both hands and processed to thrust like an animal. Raven couldn't help but let out a light scream, chewing harder on her fingers as Dick went to town on her tight pussy with wild abandonment.

“Oh, fuck! Azar!” Raven squealed as Dick picked up the pace.

Their hips smacked into one another each time Dick thrusted forward, making Raven take his whole length while stretching her nicely. Raven was really ready to scream and let lose herself. It didn't even seem to matter to her anymore that his wedding, his family, and their friends were waiting for him and that idiot Starfire was also probably worried about him too.

“You like that?” Dick asked the purple haired goddess that he had under his grasp.

Raven was beyond the use of words anymore. All she could do is pray to herself that she won't make too much noise fucking Dick so that others might come looking for her.

“Yes!” She screamed a whisper, “Keep fucking me… I am close.”

Dick laughed, going even faster and smacking their hips together, making loud slapping sound that could be heard throughout the room. For as much slapping of their hips and their moans that they made, it didn't matter to Dick as much as it did for Raven. She was definitely scared that they were going to get caught cheating, but that only seemed to thrill her to her core even more. As far as Dick was concerned, he wanted to make as much noise smacking his hips and grinding against her as possible. Dick always knew how Raven was when they had sex. He knew every little darkest secret she had, and especially when they are doing it behind Starfire's back. He knew how horny she would get when they do it while Starfire is somewhere close to them, and it brought him waves of ecstasy knowing that his girlfriend didn't know that he was doing her best friend behind her back. Just that thought alone was making this affair feel so alive and exciting.

“Oh Yes!” Raven moaned, feeling Dick's cock throb inside her, “Fuck me harder!”

To some degree, Raven couldn't say that she didn't enjoy this happening to her on his wedding night. After all, she had been deprived of Dick's cock for about a week since she was too busy working for his and Starfire's wedding. It was somehow refreshing to have him take her on the day that he was supposed to marry Starfire.

“God! You are so sexy!” Dick moaned with Raven.

With her sexy legs wrapped around Dick's waist, Raven was close to cumming. She could also tell that Dick was at his peak too, the way he smacked into her harder and faster could only meant that. She closed her eyes, waiting for that inevitable to come.

“I am going to cum!” Dick heard Raven scream, suddenly feeling her walls clenching tight around his shaft.

As Dick fucked her while she was just minutes from cumming, he couldn't believe the sight that he was looking at himself. When he first walked into the room, he thought he was only going to get congratulate for him getting married. Then he saw her in her dress and one thing led to another and, well… Now he's fucking her in her beautiful dress, about to cum and fill her pussy up with his hot and sticky cum. Seeing her filthy smile and that smutty look she was giving him, he couldn't help but make a remark about her.

“I bet you love it too, don't you?” Dick suddenly asked, smirking and looking at Raven with her legs spread open for him as he fucked her harder, “Letting me fuck you while your best friend is downstairs waiting for me for our wedding.”

Raven moaned hard. Even though Raven had always considered herself a “good girl”, she couldn't resist how much a turn on it was to hear Dick talk dirty her. Not to mention that what Dick said was true. She was loving the feeling of him running his cock in and out of her while Starfire is just downstairs waiting for her and his wedding to start. Just thinking about that was already enough to make her orgasm hard.

“You are unbelievable, best friend? that bitch?, you gotta be kidding me...” Raven moaned, throwing her head back and rolled her eyes in eutrophic ecstasy.

Her right hand was holding around Dick's shoulder and neck, digging her hands into his bare skin. Meanwhile, her left hand went behind her back to support herself from the incoming assault of Dick's hard fucking. Dick found her pose to be incredibly sexy, especially with her legs in stockings wrapped around his waist, encouraging him to really let her have it.

“Oh! Ooohh! Oh!” Raven moaned again, “Oh fuck! I am… Mmm, I am going to cum.. fuck my pussy harder!”

Dick felt Raven pussy gripping around his big shaft tightly, milking him for all he's got. Letting her have his entire length, he thrusted as hard as he could into her cunt. Once, twice, and a third hard stroke later he was ready to bust his nut. He quickly buried himself balls deep in her cunt and came inside her with a low guttural moan.

“Mmm… Mmm….” Raven couldn't control herself when felt him cumming. She screamed and moaned, which was bouncing off the wall of the room they were in. It didn't matter to her anymore, at least, not at the moment when Dick was cumming deep into her cunt.

Meanwhile, Dick was grunting and moaning too. He was just as short of breathe as Raven was after dumping his load inside her. Savoring the feeling of her warmly filled pussy, Dick slowly pulled his cock out of her pussy and dripple of cum began to leak out of Raven.

It took a minute, but when they were finally settled back on earth Raven looked like as if she was just suddenly feeling the extreme excitement of fucking Starfire's fiance behind her face, no less on her wedding day.

“Oh God! What did we do?” Raven mocked smirked, as if she was only pretending to feel ashamed, pretending to feel guilty.

Although Dick could see the slutty-ness in her eyes, he was in no mood for her to feeling anything but the pleasure of them having sex together. Quickly, he pulled her off the table. He could see how her legs were trembling as she stood up, which only added to his pleasure knowing that he made her like this.

“We had sex, Raven.” Dick smirked, helping her kneel on her knees, “I just fucked you, my bride's maid of honor, And I am going to make your cunt mine before I let myself marry that dumb fuck today.”

Raven quickly realised what Dick meant, seeing how his semi-hard dick was pulsing for her attention in front of her face. Thinking on pure logical, she knew that this relationship that they had, should have come to an end long before it got out of control. But now, she didn't want this to end. She was intoxicated on the thrill of having sex with Starfire's boyfriend behind her back.

A moment passed between them, as Raven stared at Dick's cock begging for her attention. Dick mumbled in pleasure suddenly when he felt Raven took his dick in her soft hand. Raven couldn't help herself any more than Dick could help it either. They were both too far down the road and what they were secretly doing was too much to pass it up. It just couldn't be stopped, the sweet pleasure was too good to give up.

Raven didn't plan on stopping now. She brought his cock upward and ran her tongue along the bottom of his shaft. Earning herself a victory from the loud moans from Dick, Raven smiled to herself and bath her tongue along his newly harden shaft and down to his ball sack. Her previous thoughts were already forgotten and merely a distraction from the real prize she had in front of her. Sucking on his balls while his cock rested flat on her face, she was worshipping his cock like no other cock, not even her previous fuck buddies.

“Damn, Look at my beautiful whore.” Dick moaned, seeing his cock flat on her smiling face.

Raven looked up at him while sucking his balls and smiled, taking in his expression as she switch from licking his testicles to running her tongue along the bottom of his cock really slowly. Giving him a show, she flicked her tongue at the tip of his cock, causing it to bounce and throb wildly.

“You like that?” Raven slurred, eyes crossed and darting up and down at the cock bouncing on her face.

Dick was lost for words. He couldn't pay attention to anything else other than Raven beautiful face on his cock and his balls. Just the sight of her running her tongue across his shaft was making him shudder and tremble. To steady himself, Dick weaved his hands into her messy purple hairs. He held her head in place and pushed his cock against her face. Raven got the idea immediately. As much as she enjoyed teasing Dick's cock, she wanted it in her mouth.

“Fuck,” Dick moaned again, as Raven suddenly took his whole cock in her mouth.

As Raven continued suck his cock and bobbing up and down on his massive shaft, Dick couldn't help with the feeling in his balls anymore. He held Raven's head in place and without warning started to thrust roughly into her throat without even letting her adjust.

“Fuck yeah…” Dick mumbled a wordless moan.

Relentless to make pleasure his only priority, Dick fucked Raven's face fully knowing that she was skill enough to take his cock down her throat. After all, she told him once how much she prefer to deep throat his cock rather than anyone's. It made Dick proud that he was the one Raven preferred for mindless sex. It boosted his ego knowing that the man she was going to date will never able complete with him. But in Raven's eyes, she had always loved giving blowjobs. She loved the feeling that it brought her to see the man above her moan at the wicked things she was doing to him. She loved the feeling of submissiveness as she ran her tongue all over a guy's cock. Raven knew she loved to suck on Dick's cock even more than blowing off others because Dick's was perfect in length, perfect in thickness it was absolutely amazing and she totally loved it, which made sucking him a lot more fun because there was more to work with.

Raven was only gagging slightly as Dick's huge cock fucked her throat. After a while, Dick sensed that Raven was running out of air. Quickly, he pulled out of her mouth and let Raven catch her breath back. But not wanting to waste time, Raven quickly got back on the job and kissed all over his cock. Dick was moaning heavily after fucking her throat so roughly, and Raven sensed that she was about to get his cum on.

“I'm going to cum!” Dick moaned, seconds away from blowing up his second load.

Raven saw Dick's eyes shut tightly, his hands held her head close to his cock. Raven smirked. After all these months of practice, she knew exactly how to get Dick to cum within minutes of her blowing him. Seeing him already there, she smiled at him before flicking her tongue on the tip of his cock again and again. A trick she learned from a while back that could get him to cum immediately. That was the end for Dick. He came with a loud groan.

“Oh Fucking God!” Dick threw his head back as his seed sprayed all over Raven's face.

Raven couldn't help but let out a light giggle as his sticky cum was pumping out on her face. Rope after rope, like an inevitable tsunami, Dick's warm seed splashed onto her face. Raven made sure to let her tongue out to catch a few spurt of his tasty cum in her mouth.

“Mmm, I really love this…” Raven moaned, tasting some of his cum in her mouth.

As Dick came, he felt Raven moved her pouting lip on the bottom of his cock while he cumming on her face. As sensitive as he was, the fact that Raven kept moving her lips on his cock made his orgasm last so much longer. It took a while, but Dick was finally able to relax after Raven moved away from his cock. Dick sighed, removed his hands from her messy hair and her head.

“Taste as good as ever.” Raven said, wiping some of Dick's cum off her face with her index finger and sucking it afterward.

Dick looked down at Raven kneeling underneath him. His semi-hard cock was still pulsing for her attention even after dumping a second load on her. He saw her face covered with his sperm, getting him excited again.

“Look as good as ever too.” Dick smirked, taking in Raven's face especially her forehead with splashes of his hot cum.

Raven laughed slightly. A mirror sat behind Dick, and Raven saw herself in the reflection. She saw her dress in a crumbling mess. She saw her face covered with Dick cum. She saw her messy hair in more mess than originally. Somehow, she couldn't believe that she risked the chance of everyone noticing something wrong with her hair or the look on her face. As much clean up as she could do, she knew there was bounded to be some spot where she'll missed. Though at this point, she didn't care about it anymore. All those feelings about cheating was replaced with extreme lust. A strong desire to finish with her so called best friend's boyfriend on their wedding night.

“It's almost time now.” Dick said, glancing at the clock.

Raven nodded. She knew what Dick was implying and got up off her knees. Standing in front of him, Raven went for and unzipped the back of her dress. Dick's mouth hung wide open as he stared at Raven undoing her dress. Once the zipper was lower all the way to the bottom, Raven let the beautiful and exotic dress fall from her shoulders till it's below her ankles. She stood out of her dress in front of him. As dazed as Dick was, his mouth was a combination of watery and dry.

“What are you doing?” Dick questioned.

Raven could see the thirsty look in Dick's eyes. It matched her own thirsty look as she stared at his naked figure and his semi-hard member. Dick looked at the hot goddess with her slim and fit figure as she went towards the door. Dick heard a locking click sound and assumed that Raven had just locked the door of the room. She turned to him, looking as sexy as possible.

“I am sure that good-for-nothing Starfire can wait until we are done.” Raven said, walking back to Dick with a sexy stride.

He was sure that the clock kept ticking, an hour and half was left befor the wedding reception start. Yet there he was, standing in his changing room totally naked with a boner that had already been played with, sucked with, and squeezed by the bride's maid of honor herself. Not to mention she had locked the door to the room and walking sexily toward him. He wasn't sure if Raven was thinking clearly herself. But then again, he wasn't sure if he himself was thinking clearly.

“And what constitute as finished?” Dick asked Raven, walking towards her with his dick swaying side to side.

Raven laughed. She went up to him and grab his junk. Giving Dick only a few jerks, he was already back to being hard. Again, that's why Raven always loved having sex with Dick. Something about him won't let him stop until he's literally drain from dehydration. Dick moaned, feeling himself harden under Raven's touch again.

“… when we are too tired to fuck anymore.” Raven whispered into his ears.

Dick moaned at the words coming from Raven's mouth. He was fully excited again. Seeing how Raven looked so inviting and welcoming for him, Dick sprung her around and moved her toward the same marble table they used for their first fuck session on his wedding day. Raven instinctively leaned forward against the table, sticking her ass out for Dick to claim it for the second time tonight. With her lacy panties still on and slide over on one side of her ass, Dick expertly remove her underwear down her pale sexy legs before Raven step out of them. Somehow, her soaked panties got stuck on her left ankle but she didn't bother to remove it. Dick lined up his revived cock at her wet and used pussy. Raven moaned when he teased the tip at her opening until he stuffed her full again.

“Fuck!” Raven and Dick moaned loudly.

Raven felt as if Dick's cock was even bigger than before. His first batch of cum that he dumped in her was all sticky inside her now, making Raven believe his cock actually got bigger. Dick didn't let her adjust at all. Once he was fully in, he immediately took it out until only the tip was inside before slamming back inside her hard.

“Fuck…” Dick breathed out a moan.

It was really tight inside Raven's pussy. Even though he had open her up the first time, it didn't seem to matter because her pussy would always find its tightness back again. Dick was loving it, drilling into her tight sex hole while making Raven moaned and chanted his name again and again.

“Oh God! Fuck me right there… Oh Dick!” Raven moaned.

Dick had always loved doing Raven doggy. Her ass sticking out for him to fuck her to heaven was as erotic as fucking itself. Periodically, Raven would look back at Dick and smile. That slutty smile made everything oblivious and the only thing Dick cared was burying his cock deep within her. Thrusting and smacking into her ass repeatedly, Raven was getting fucked into the marble table and she loved it. Dick gripped her waist with his left hand, helping him fuck Raven harder. Meanwhile, his right hand went to her chest and groped her perfect breasts that was begging to be released from her matching lacy bra.

“Mmm… feels so good!” Raven moaned as Dick roughly knead into her boobs.

He wanted to feel her tits without her bra covering it. Having no other choice, Dick removed his hands from her D cups, before reaching behind her back for the clasp holding that piece of clothing on her body. Like an expert, he unclasped her bra with ease. After all, he had much practice before. Raven's bra hung loosely on her shoulder, and she quickly shrugged it off until it fell on the table and around her hands. She was totally naked now. Just like Dick, she was wearing nothing except for her stockings around her legs. Dick decided to leave them, as seeing her with stocking only served to excite him more.

Dick didn't slow down once as he removed her bra, and Raven could feel the effects of being fucked so roughly as she threw her bra down. It brought her closer to her many orgasms of that wedding day. Now that her lacy bar was gone, Dick saw her tits bouncing in sync with his each thrusts. He smiled, running his right hand down on Raven's back, tracing down her spine which made the feeling of orgasm on the horizon for Raven.

“I am going to fucking cum!” Raven moaned loudly, giving him the same warning as the first time.

Dick smirked. He knew he was the only one who could make Raven like this. After all these times of practice, he knew exactly what to do to get her to cum hard on his dick. Without warning, Raven's head was pulled back when Dick grabbed ahold of her purple curls and roughly yank them back. She couldn't help but let out a loud scream. It didn't matter to her that her scream might have gone out the room. The only thing that mattered was her orgasm and how Dick's cock was making that happen.

“You like that?” Dick asked her as he fucked her while pulling on her hair.

Raven couldn't respond because of her own pleasure coursing through her body. Instead, she nodded her head eagerly waiting to cum hard on Dick's cock.

“Cum for me, Raven. Cum all over my cock!” Dick said roughly.

He was really getting into it, his hard thrust forward made slapping sound with her hips that resonate throughout the entire room. Raven yelped suddenly when Dick smacked her ass with his hand. That slap was loud enough that Raven knew for certain that it had gone out of the room. She prayed to god that nobody was around the hallway when that happened. But the idea brought her really closer to her orgasm. As a matter of fact, she was really, really close now. All she needed now was something to push her over the edge and she knew just the thing.

“Fuck Dick, do you still love that bitch Starfire?, your fucking useless bride?” She asked, still moaning.

“Fuck no, Raven I couldn't care less about her, I don't care about our wedding anymore, all I need is you and your tight little cunt!” Dick said and Raven's eyes rolled back.

“I fucking love you Dick!” Raven screamed as she came all over Dick's cock.

Dick groaned the moment Raven came around his cock. Her pussy put a vice grip on his shaft and squeezed him for that sweet cum to come bursting out. Dick wasn't about to cum though. After dumping two loads in Raven, he wasn't about to waste his last opportunity to make it hard for Raven to walk during his wedding. Meanwhile, Dick continued to tease her clit that he had reached his right hand under. He was massaging her most sensitive nub and making her orgasm last so much longer than the first time they fucked.

“Fuck! Fuck…” Raven moaned, feeling her orgasm lasting much longer than expected, her legs started to quiver.

Dick's cock was throbbing inside, her walls squeezing down on him. He knew that he would most certain cum if he didn't pull out of her orgasmic pussy. Quickly, he drew out his cock in the most teasing manner as possible, leaving Raven in a moaning wreck. With only the tip of his cock inside, his hard cock bounced out of her pussy with an audible pop. Raven was looking even messier than the first time they did it. Just looking at her trembling figure bending over the table was enough for Dick to forget about everything and just cum inside her the instant. He never thought he would be able to control himself looking at her like this, yet he was now teasing her even more by smacking the bottom of his cock on her pussy. Once the moans he got from Raven satisfied him, he switched to rubbing her pussy instead of smacking it. The wet slushing sound when her pussy was lubricating his cock with its juices, was certainly music to his ears.

Without resting from her orgasmic bliss, Raven was breathing hard while Dick continued to tease her to her core. It made her feel agony and pleasure at the same time, which was something that Dick loved to do to her.

“Stop teasing me…” Raven moaned.

Dick chuckled. He was going to fully enjoying teasing her until she beggs for him to fuck her again.

“Do you want this cock, Raven?” Dick smirked.

Raven was moaning uncontrollably. After such a mind-blowing orgasm, she was dying to have another one with his cock fucking her to oblivion. She knew exactly what Dick was doing to her, and she was too weak to withstand the teasing that his cock was doing to her.

“I want it! I want you to fuck me with that cock and cum inside me again.. fill my womb again and again till I'm pregnant, i don't care, just give it to me!” Raven pleaded, unable to control herself.

Dick's smirk grew wider. He looked at Raven so desperate for his cock to fill her up again, enjoying the sight of her submissiveness.

“Get up. I want you to sit on the table.” Dick said, letting her adjust herself to the way he wanted.

Raven looked back at Dick with a naughty smile in her doggy position. She wondered what he's got planned, but since she wanted nothing more than his cock pummeling her cunt, she obeyed his orders. Meanwhile, Dick had stop teasing her to let her rearranged herself to his liking. As Raven stood up and turn around, she was shaking to her core and her legs trembling after such a powerful orgasm. Dick saw this, and it got him really impatient. When Raven was seated and got back into their original fucking position, she gave Dick a dirty smile and spread her legs. Dick could already tell that he was going to have a hard time holding him back this time around. Mostly due to the fact that Raven is looking like a beautiful demigoddess.

“Well?” Raven grinned, spreading her pussy with her fingers.

Dick couldn't hold back a moan as he stared at Raven. Her naked body was so beautiful. Her erotic face with her indigo eyes was looking at none other than his dick. Her breasts were heaving up and down from her breathing. Her purple hair was a mess, curling all in the wrong place. Her toned belly and her legs all sharply shaped, making her his most desirable figure. Her wide spread open legs was showing her bare pussy, leaving her wetness behind. He was loving this Raven.

“I am so going to fuck you.” Dick said, pressing his body against her.

Raven knew exactly what she was doing to Dick. She instinctively wrapped her spread open legs around his waist, pulling him closer to her core and made his cock touch her pussy once again. This time, Raven wrapped herself around Dick's neck, holding onto him.

“Less talking, more fucking. I am ready for you.” Raven whispered next to his ears.

Dick was not a procrastinator by any means, certainly not in the category when it comes to fucking Raven's pussy. Hurriedly, he pushed himself inside her the third time around, feeling less resistance as he jabbed his cock through.

“Oh! I love this feeling!” Raven moaned as Dick's cock entered her.

Dick didn't waste any time. He was moaning too, but he was more focus on his goal. He wanted to make Raven cum again before he release his second load deep inside her. He didn't start off slow at all, knowing that Raven could take his cock better than anyone else, plus the fact that he'd already fucked her twice. He quickly pulled out his cock before thrusting crazily like an animal begging for release and fuck her with wild abandonment.

“Ooohh… That's my baby, just like that!” Raven screamed, feeling his movement sped up.

Both lovers were just getting back into the groove of their sexual endeavours when suddenly they heard someone calling her name. Raven definitely heard the person, as well as Dick. A moment later, Someone called his name just a few staircase below them. A signal that someone had noticed that they were missing.

“Looks like they are looking for us.” Dick said half grunting.

Raven nodded half-heartedly, without losing any focus on her pleasure. So while someone was looking for them, Raven and Dick were fucking like rabbits without a care in the world. It excited the both of them because they were literally doing it while he was supposed to be at wedding.

“I know.” Raven replied, wrapping her legs even tighter around Dick, forcing him to thrust even harder.

“You know you are Starfire's maid of honor, right?” Dick said, pushing his cock all the way in.

Raven moaned loudly. She was getting way too horny from so many wrong things she was getting, she just let out her screams.

“I know, unfortunately!” Raven moaned, but muffled when Dick kissed her.

Going at it harder than a jackhammer and seriously fucking one another with rough passion and delight, Raven senses seemed to have tripled and she could almost visually see their friends, guests and most importantly Starfire were all questioning his and her presence. It brought her nothing but euphoric ecstasy, her mind went blank. She could already see Starfire downstairs, waiting for him to show up but didn't. Having that thought alone made her cum so hard, even Dick was groaning as his thrusts turned from fast to supersonic.

“Do you think she's looking for me?” Dick asked Raven.

Raven was losing her mind over this. His thrusts, his hips smacking into her, his mouth on her lips. Her own hands started play with her tits, nipples and her clit. Her mini orgasm was pooling up and she sensed that a large, mind-shattering orgasm was quickly approaching.

“Just fucking fuck me! I don't give a damn about Starfire right now, she should just fuck off!” Raven screamed intensely.

A little while later, Dick suddenly heard calling had stopped and he could hear footsteps coming up the spiral staircase.

“Friend Raven?”

Dick heard his fiance and soon-to-be wife called out the woman whom he was currently fucking and making her lose her mind. Raven heard Starfire called out to her too, but she was beyond reasoning right now and all she could do was let Dick continue to do his underlying duty.

“Boyfriend Dick?” The voice got increasingly closer.

Dick didn't let up with going to town on Raven's pussy, but he tried to keep the smacking and their moans to a minimum. Raven looked at Dick with incredibly lustful eyes before locking her forehead against his. Looking deeply into his crystal blue eyes while he fucked her relentlessly. It was getting intense for both partners.

“Friend Raven? You in here?” Starfire asked, knocking on the door.

It was the same door where behind Dick and Raven fucking tirelessly to make each other cum. Raven heard the knock, and Dick did too. Raven wanted Starfire to go away, so she could have just stayed silent and let her search other rooms. But she didn't do that. Locking eyes with Dick, Raven pecked on his lips before silently telling him to keep fucking her as quietly as possible while trying to reply to the unwanted guest with an attempt at a moan-less and coherent sentence.

“Starfire? What's wrong?” Raven replied, trying to keep herself from falling over.

“Friend Raven are you okay? You are missing the wedding.” Starfire asked with worried tone.

“Nooo… I am okayyy….” Raven said, failing to talk like a normal person.

With Dick's constant thrusts, Raven was losing herself too fast to be able to keep a normal conversation with Starfire anymore. Dick seemed to catch on, because he was fucking her harder than jackhammering speed now.

“You sure? What is going on in there? Is there something the wrong?” Starfire asked.

“No! no…. nothing… nothing is wrong…. I… I justtt….. needed some time... um… with thissss…. dress….” Raven moaned out.

“Do you need some help, friend Raven?” Starfire asked, reaching for the doorknob.

Raven was really losing it. Her mind didn't even seem to register what she had said just then and she was ready to cum all over Dick's cock fucking her. Dick was also on the same boat. The fact that Starfire didn't know he was fucking her supposed to be best friend and sister, sent an extra boost of testosterone to Dick as he couldn't help but fuck Raven as fast as the speed of light.

“No… no… I am okay… I am okayyyy…. I… its… bad for… the bride to wand-…. Wander around before…. beforeeewwhhh…. the wedding… I…will I… meet you downstairs… in… in a minute, okay… ?” Raven said through broken words, couldn't even get her thoughts out as Dick's constant fucking made her thoughts turned into mush.

Dick was surprised that Starfire didn't break down the door to the room to see what's going on. But the animosity of being in a affair with Raven was serving him an unbelievable wave of pleasure that he just couldn't stop. Not that he would stop because he sensed that Raven was literally seconds away from coming just like he was.

“Okay…” Starfire said happily, “I will wait for you downstairs, I'm so excited for my wedding friend Raven.”

Footsteps were walking away from the hallway. Once they didn't hear anymore creaking of the floorboard, Raven let loose herself and moaned at the top of her lungs. Dick was also moaning and groaning loudly as his hips were moving on their own. Their hot show was finally at an end when they stop holding on to their orgasm and cum all over each other.

“Fuck… Fuck… Fucking—I am cumming!” Raven screamed.

Dick moaned as he felt her wall clinching around him for the third time since tonight. Her pussy was milking him for everything he's got again and he let loose his cum deep inside her pussy.

“God!” Dick moaned with his eyes shut tightly.

Raven felt like almost dying as she came all over Dick's cock while he poured his cum inside her pussy. It was so pleasurable that she almost felt as if her mind wasn't there anymore. Dick was feeling the same way too, her pussy filled with his cum was the best feeling that he could have ever asked for. Even his knees started to wobble because of the intensity of how much cum he dumped inside her pussy.

It took a long while before they were even close to catching their breath back. Raven sighed heavenly before unlatching herself from Dick's body. She slowly let herself fall backward until her body was laying on the table, her legs unwrapped around his hips before she lay there taking it all in. Dick stood there, admiring Raven and all her naked glory.

“That was amazing.” Dick said.

“It's even better when your dumb bride came looking for you and me..” Raven laughed.

Getting up off the table, Raven started to put everything back on with some help from Dick. Looking at herself in the mirror once everything was back in place, she was looking pristine and innocent at the same time. But she knew deep down, she was a dirty and slutty woman who loves fucking her best friend's boyfriend more than anything in the world. Her panties were smeared with Dick's cum only proved to her that she was a horny and filthy whore.

“We've got to do this again sometime in the near future.” Dick said.

Raven laughed, knowing that she might very well want his cock on the day of his and Starfire's honeymoon.

“Anytime you want me, I'll be available for you.” Raven smiled.

Dick smiled too, knowing that tonight wasn't going to be the last time they would ever be having an affair.

“I'll stay here and clean up. You should get going now.” Dick said.

Raven smiled back gratefully and kissed his deeply before she slipped out the door and walk down the spiral stair to the lobby. Once in the lobby, she was met with Bumblebee, her other best friend.

“There you are!” Bumblebee screamed.

“Sorry, I got caught up with this fucking dress.” Raven apologized and lied to her friend.

“Well, at least the maid of honor is here, now just wait for the wedding.” Bumblebee said.

Raven smirked the moment she heard that, wedding? It was a fucking joke.

---

Her green eyes locked onto him. The love of her life. Her heart skipped a beat and she could feel herself flush. As she got closer, she could see him smiling, Her smile got even bigger as she finally reached the altar and the two lovers took each others hands. The judge started speaking and the wedding got underway.

Raven smirked as the Judge started those final lines. She leaned over and almost scoffed when she heard the next thing he said,

“Do you, Dick Grayson, take Kory Anders to be your lawful wedded Wife?”

“I do.”

“And do you, Kory Anders, take Dick Grayson to be your lawful wedded Husband?

“I do.”

“Then by the power invested in me by the state of California, I dub thee wed. You may now kiss.”

The reception was a boisterous affair. Kory Andres showed her upbeat social personality. After the newlyweds had embraced their friends and talked with them for a bit, they had began to make their rounds at the reception greeting all the guests and participating in more small talk. The two newlyweds never looked happier. At a nearby Table, Raven sat with other female Titans, knew what was beneath Dick's smiling face. She smirked when he they both went to change their clothes.

Chugging down her drink, Raven was relieved and excited. She strolled back to his changing room without anyone noticing, opened the door and found Dick putting his new clothing on.

“So, what do you think? I'm married man now…” Dick said, just finishing up with buttoning up his shirt. He was definitely smirking.

Raven didn't say anything just smiled lovingly as Dick finished with his tie. It was a shame though because she was going to rip his clothes off again.

#robrae #dickrae #teen titans #raven roth #raven teen titans #smut #dick grayson #robin #smut prompts #shameless smut #raven smut #teen titans smut #smut writing #send requests #send me prompts #send me anything #send me asks

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kitkatpancakestack · 2 years

Text

On this episode of Things I Still Can't Believe Actually Happened:

Remember during an episode titled "Parenthood" when Chimney asks "can't you both be good cops" and Buck and Eddie reply "No" simultaneously, with an exasperated air that speaks from experience?

And THEN Buck goes all "but not too much!" And Eddie is like "curious what your definition of too much discipline is" and the scene actually reads like two fond husbands bickering at work??? Like have I just been in this warzone too long or is this suspicious as hell. Truly what I am supposed to think.

#buddie #s4 #parenthood #husbands #coparenting firefighters #what goes on. what is this show doing sometimes you know #the subtly hits me like a brick in the face sometimes

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brendaaaa · 3 years

Text

Bad Dreams (Miles Fairchild x gn!Reader)

You jolted awake, immediately sitting up in your bed.

You blinked as your eyes adjusted to the darkness, chest heaving as you desperately tried not to replay the horrid night terror.

You pulled your blankets tight around you, even though your body was hot, very sweaty and overheated.

You were situated in a guest room in the Fairchild manor. You had been staying there since last Monday, choosing to take your spring break vacation with some of your favorite people. Miles was your best friend, and had been since you were both little.

As you looked around in the darkness, the cold and empty room unfriendly, you wished more than anything he was right here with you. As a friend, of course. You and Miles...weren’t like that.

But while he was bitter and sometimes even cruel to most other people, he was always such a gentleman to you. You were certain that if he were here right now, he’d be hugging you, pulling you into his arms, stroking your back gently, talking to you in a low, soothing tone.

You shivered, suddenly feeling quite alone and scared. You were no stranger to nightmares, and this one had been plaguing you off and on for almost six months now. Miles was the only one you had confided about it in. You felt that he was the only one who would understand. He’d been perfect. Empathetic, concerned, all the right things.

Yet another reason why you were craving for Miles to comfort you right now.

His room wasn’t that far away, only a few doors down. The only thing holding you back was the weird note the two of you had left on before going to bed.

You had kissed Miles on the cheek goodnight. You went up on your tiptoes, and pressed a kiss on his smooth cheekbone.

He hadn’t responded, with either action or words, just looked at you with a funny look in his eyes.

You were embarrassed by your actions, even though it was only meant to be friendly, not suggestive at all.

So you had rushed away, back to your cold, lonely guest room, and fallen into a restless sleep.

You shivered again, and looked over to the clock to see that it was around three in the morning. The witching hour, you thought to yourself with a shudder.

Your nightmare replayed in your mind, and you couldn’t help but let out a slight cry and squeeze your eyes shut. It wasn’t pleasant.

You laid in bed, trying to fall back asleep asleep but having no luck.

Eventually you gave into yourself. So what did it matter if you and Miles had left on a “weird note”. So what? He was your best friend, and you needed him.

Right now.

You, pulling on a sweatshirt to be slightly more clothed, stumbled your way down the hall, careful not to disturb Flora in her bedroom.

The manor usually brought good memories for you, mostly of your younger days, having fun with Miles and then Flora when she was born. But for some reason over this visit, things felt off about it. You always felt like someone was watching you…

You hurried, not wanting to be out in the open hallway for very long, and crept into Miles’ room.

It was dark, so dark that you couldn’t even see him. Cautiously so that you didn’t trip over anything, you navigated your way to the window, where you pulled back the heavy drape just a mere inch or two. But that was plenty, the moonlight flooded into the room instantaneously.

Miles, sprawled over his bed, groaned slightly as he woke up and held up a hand to cover his face.

“S’ all that light for?” He muttered into his pillow.

You walked over and sat carefully on his bed, and took a nervous breath.

“Y/n?” He mumbled, seemingly just registering your presence. It was funny how alert he was during the day, but then at night, how he was so out of it.

“Yeah it’s me,” you whispered softly.

“What are you…?” He scrunched up his face, trying to focus his sleepy eyes on you.

“I, uh…” you faltered, suddenly at a loss for words. You weren’t sure why you were feeling so nervous, all things considered, that this was just Miles. Only your best friend in the entire world.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, leaning up now, so that one of elbows was supporting him. His hair was a wild mess, but you couldn’t help but feel a bit better seeing it. The sight of his concerned face made your stomach lurch, and that’s when you realized it.

It hit you like a ton of bricks. Of course. It was so obvious! You, Y/n, had the feels for Miles. You liked him.

No wonder you were feeling so nervous about coming to his room, seeking his comfort in the dead of night. Speaking of which…he was still watching you with a worried look.

“I-,” ...now you really didn’t know what to say, but luckily he sighed in a realization of his own, and reached out to gently touch his hand to yours, causing butterflies at the graze of his fingertips.

“Nightmares?” He asked softly, a shimmering look in his dark brown eyes.

You inhaled before responding with a sharp nod.

He frowned, sitting up and moving his other hand to your shoulder. Whether he realized it or not, he was subconsciously moving his fingers in small, slow circles. For you, it was as if you could feel his touch ten times more intensely than it actually was, and you stumbled over your words.

“I-it was the same dream,” you told him.

He sighed, assessing you for a moment with sad eyes, before pulling you to him, muttering a “c’mere.”’

You let yourself be hugged by him, and then in that moment you realized that you thought of him as way more than just your best friend because he treated you like more than a friend.

You thought back on all the times that you had subconscious feelings, all the little things he did. The way he would help you off of the horse when riding together, his hands lingering on your hips. The dorky smile he gave you when you would talk in other voices while reading to Flora. The way he -tried- to carry you home after you broke your ankle out playing in the fields. Hey, it’s the thought that counts. The things that ever so subtly made you like him, be inclined to want to be around him, things that made you feel like soup whenever he was doing them.

Like now, like hugging you. Yes, Miles treated you like he liked you.

And so you had to know. You lifted your head up, so that your faces were close together, your noses almost touching.

“Miles…?” You whispered.

He squeezed your arm, his way of non-verbally telling you to continue whatever you were saying.

“Do you...could you ever, I don’t know, like me?” You asked. Might as well find out.

He smiled a little, no, it was almost smirking. You tensed up, swearing to god that if he said, ‘of course, we’re friends,’ you wouldn’t cry, wouldn’t cry.

“No,” he said, still smiling. “I wouldn’t say so.”

You let out a short breath, not sure how to react.

“I would use the term love instead.”

Your eyes widened, “wha—really?”

He didn’t say anything, just smiled, his hand moving from your shoulder to caress your face.

He leaned in and kissed your neck, somewhat softly, but at the same time...not.

Your eyes fluttered shut, lost in the feeling of wanting, needing.

When he pulled away, you could only think that you wanted him to continue kissing you, even if it left a bruise, you didn’t care.

You just wanted him to-

“Yes,” he whispered.

“What?” You were puzzled, having been lost in your own thoughts.

“Yes,” he repeated. “You asked really? My answer is yes.”

word count: 1342

#miles fairchild #miles fairchild x reader #miles fairchild x gender neutral reader #miles fairchild x female reader #miles fairchild x male reader #the turning #horror movies x reader #the turning 2020 #finn wolfhard #finn wolfhard x reader #one shot #nightmare one shot #bad dreams

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bluemoonstonesy · 3 years

Note

Angst: trying to comfort John after a loss and you’re just friends and he’s upset so he’s pushing you away, telling you bitterly “you’re not my girlfriend” so you leave…and I’ll let you decide how to end it x

Figuring it out

John Stones

warnings: just some angst ;)

He’s not spoken more than a few words since you’d arrived at his door that evening, takeaway and a few boxsets in hand as you prepared your supplies to make the night as normal as it could be under the current circumstances.

You’ve never seen John this upset over a loss - not even the Croatia game. The entire country is still in a state of football mourning, and your best friend is no different to a group of England fans down the pub who just had their Euro dreams ripped away from them just as it was in touching reach.

But this time is different. You’ve never seen him this distant around you, barely making eye contact as his concentration is focused onto his favourite sitcom that you’d brought over to try and cheer him up. His usual cheery self hasn’t once made itself known throughout the room. Contagious laughter that you never got tired of hearing replaced by deafening silence, only being broken by the occasional cheesy laugh track from the TV screen.

“John?” It’s no secret that you’re becoming concerned about his well-being. He’s barely touched the pizza that you’d picked up on the journey over to his house, face pale and under eyes growing an ugly shade of purple.

He simply hums in response, mind halting the the dream like state that he’s clearly struggling to pull himself from. It’s obvious that he’s replaying the tournament over and over again in his mind. He’s torturing himself every minute of the day, and you aren’t sure what else to do.

You run a hand through his curls. Every day it becomes that much more difficult to know that he isn’t yours as you admire his longer hair, “I’m really worried about you.”

It’s difficult to pretend to not be infatuated with your best friend. But after watching him grow into the beautiful man that he is today, it’s no surprise that you sometimes have to try your hardest not to pull him into your arms and never let go. You’re falling for him more and more every day, but there’s a huge, blonde haired wall in the way. The familiar woman who smells of expensive perfume and has the features and assets that you desperately wished you could live up to.

“It’s not like you have to worry about me, is it? After all, you’re not my girlfriend!”

You swore you heard your heart shatter at his statement, the realisation that John hasn’t been picking up your hints that you’ve been dropping practically under his nose for the years that you’ve known each other hits you like a ton of bricks.

You really thought that his little flirty comments that he’ll drop with no hesitation when only you’re around, or the subtly romantic gestures signalled towards a brighter future for you both. A future where you got to call him yours after so long of yearning for his touch in the way that was different from just friends holding each other close.

There’s no denying that his new relationship has put a strain on your lifelong friendship with the centre back. Before her, you were inseparable, spending every other day with each other. But now you count your lucky stars to even speak to him more than once a week.

You try so hard as to hold no hatred towards the new girl, but you still find it hard to figure out exactly why John was so smitten with her. Sure, there’s good and bad in everyone. But you’ve only ever seen the bad parts of her. You don’t like the control that she has over him, selfishly keeping John all to herself when so many other people love him just as much, if not, more.

When you really think about it, no more than one hand is needed to count the amount of times that you’ve seen her in the crowd at one of his games. It’s always you in the crowd, his name on your back as you go wild with the rest of the City or England supporters. You were always the one who was there throughout all the difficult times. Times when he feared being sold to another club overseas, shipped off to a foreign country where he’d have no choice but to try and piece together a new life for himself. You always told him that you’d come with him, not wanting him to be left stranded, scared and all alone as his footballing career came tumbling down around him.

But he’s right, and you hate when he’s right. You’re not his girlfriend - you never were and you never will be.

It still feels like it was yesterday when he introduced you to her. At first you were ecstatic. It was hard to push your own feelings towards him to the side, but he was so happy in the early days that you couldn’t help but smile at her when she was brought along to the England gathering.

You stand up from his couch, deciding that it’s time to leave him alone until he figures out what he wants. You’re becoming afraid of your own best friend. He’s no longer the young lad you once new, becoming trapped by this new relationship that you never once dreamed would change him.

“Where are you going?” He snaps, head whipping around as he notices your bag in your hand and the creased jacket flung over your arm.

“I’m leaving,” You state, biting your tongue to halt the hot tears that you can feel building up behind your eyes. His face is one of confusion, breaking your heart even more when you realise just how clueless he can be with his words, “Please speak to me when you figure out what you want, okay John?”

“What do you mean ‘what do I want?’” His tone is harsh, bitter and laced with anger that you rarely see off the pitch. And it’s at that exact moment that you realise that the ‘real’ him is now almost a distant memory.

You just can’t hold it in any longer. As much as you want to see him happy, you can’t allow him to keep entertaining the fantasy that everything is okay, because it definitely is not. He’s pushing everyone around him away just to accommodate this new woman who everyone can see right through, everyone apart from the man she’d just so happened to snatch up with those nails that hurt your fingers just by looking at them.

“God John! Cant you see that she’s changing you?”

And the thing is, he knows. He’s known for so long. She’s the one who’ll make him cancel your dinner plans so that she can keep him cooped up inside, maximum control presented to her as you’re left dining along. Even though it hurt at first, you chose to put it down to true love. You really thought that they were just spending more time together than usual because of John’s hectic work schedule. But it’s only when his teammates and mutual friends began to question you about it that you actually realised the almost toxic hold that she has over him.

“But you’re right, I’m NOT your girlfriend, so I better leave before your ACTUAL girlfriend comes back, shouldn’t I?”

The words are almost spat at him. You’re tired of it all - you just want the old John back. It seems selfish to want to pull him away from her, but you know it’s only going to get worse if nobody intervenes.

You gather the rest of your things to leave, pulling your trainers back onto your feet as you notice that the rain outside is now heavier than you could ever imagine. But torrential rain in the middle of July is the last thing on your mind right now.

“I love you, John.” Is all you manage through the tears that begin to make their way down your cheeks. It wasn’t a lie - you will always love him, even if it means just as the best friends that you are destined to be, even if you find yourself constantly searching for more.

You left a part of you in his house that day. Maybe it was your friendship, your chances with John or maybe just the entirety of your heart. But whatever it may be, you also left a struggling man on the couch, rubbing his eyes as he tries to figure it all out.

“I love you too,” He exhales in a whisper just as the door slams behind him, head in his hands as he replays all of the events up to now, “More than you’ll ever know.”

#john stones #england nt #john stones imagine #england nt imagine #football imagine #football angst #man city #man city imagine #john stones one shot

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darkficsyouneveraskedfor · 4 years

Text

scopaesthesia 👁️ chapter 1

Warnings: nonconsensual sex, mentions of death, murder, violence, stalking, paranoia and other warnings to be added

This is dark!Bucky Barnes with a likelihood off dark!Steve Rogers as well and explicit. Your media consumption is your own responsibility. Warnings have been given. DO NOT PROCEED if these matters upset you.

Summary: Someone’s watching you.

Note: This one’s gonna be a bit creepy as it features a serial killer and stalking and all sorts of creepery. It’ll be about two or three parts!

Thank you. Love you guys!

As always, if you can, please leave some feedback, like and reblog <3

The bleak headline glared across your screen as bleaker weather fogged the glass of your window.

'Grisly murder suspected to be connected to previous incident'.

You shivered as the steam rose from your mug and the smell of roasted bean filled your nose. The city was on edge. Death was not unfamiliar but killings so methodical were. There was a pattern that no one could deny, even if the media left out certain bloody details.

You tapped the porcelain and turned to look at the misty cityscape beyond your building. The city had a pulse; the car horns, the puffing manholes, the endless parade of footsteps on the pavement. The immortal metropolitan was unaffected by its mortal occupants.

You closed the window on your phone as you turned back. You couldn’t finish the article. To think that any human could do that to another; that any should suffer at the hands of another… One could never truly be immune to the helpless despair. It was a chance that set one in the hands of a monster, as much chance kept one from the same fate.

You finished your coffee and ate a bagel before you readied for another day lost in the sea of people below. Another day at your desk answering phones and staring at a screen between greeting many who acknowledge your existence with impatient disdain.

The same daily ritual in the mirror; another department store blouse, another grey skirt, another pair of low pumps. You grabbed your pea coat and your leather tote and hurried out to catch your train. Twenty minutes with your favourite podcast before you pulled the cord and ran off into the concrete jungle.

Another coffee at your desk; the watery fare from the staff room machine. You sat and began your work. Fake smiles and a sickly sweet voice for every caller and visitor to the small office. Log this, change this, email that. The mindless toil bearable only for the promise of your box-like apartment and its tiny comforts.

You never stayed in the office for lunch. Not anymore. It made the days suffocating, even on rainy or snowy days. You went to the park to eat, although sometimes you weren’t hungry. You watched the ducks or the shedding trees or the teens playing hooky and puffing none so subtly near the bushes.

When you returned, you felt at least that your break hadn’t been wasted even if it had only been more sitting. Ring, ring, click, click, tap, tap, cough, cough. The hours wore on in monotony. Nothing unexpected, nothing more than tedium. The most exciting part was when the clock bid you to leave.

You were almost so lost in the endless banality that you didn’t notice the man behind you until you boarded the train. Until you sat and took out your phone. You pretended to be enraptured by the screen as you scrolled through unread emails and peeked up at him. He stood by the door. His eyes avoided yours.

When you stood at your stop, he did not move. Not until the door began to close and you were near the turnstiles. His shadow was a fleck at the edge of your vision. He was definitely following you. You thought of the article, and its precursor the week before; the suggestion that the murderer had already amassed half a dozen victims. You shrugged away the paranoia and climbed the old filthy steps to ground level.

As you turned the corner onto your street you stopped and waited. The man nearly passed you as he came around the bend and you cleared your throat. You gripped your keys in your fist, ready to stab the man with the largest one.

“You following me?” You asked as pedestrians bumped into him and passed by.

He moved out of their path and stood beside you against the wall. He smiled to himself and scoffed. His blue eyes ran you up and down and you felt as if you’d seen him before. As if you knew him from somewhere. You just couldn’t place it.

“I am.” He confessed. “You’re very… observant.”

“You’re not very subtle,” you countered.

He lifted his head and reached inside his jacket. He pulled out his wallet and flipped it open. Capitals ran across the top; S.H.I.E.L.D. and below a name and picture; James Buchanan Barnes. You sighed and crossed your arms. Your spine went rigid. What on earth could he want from you?

“So…” You pushed yourself away from the brick wall, “How exactly can I help a government operative?”

He glanced around and tucked away his wallet. “Is there anywhere private we can talk? You live around here?”

“Private? At least tell me what’s going on?” You huffed.

“For both our safety, you need to wait for that answer,” he hook his thumb in his jean pocket. “But if you don’t give a shit, I can leave you be and see what happens.”

You frowned. You were confused and slightly afraid. You couldn’t guess at what could have brought him to you. A man you’d only ever seen on a screen.

“Fine,” you adjusted your bag on your shoulder, “Across the street.”

He followed you to the curb as the blood swelled in your ears. Your cheeks were hot and a chill gripped your neck. You crossed between the flooded New York traffic, aware of his shadow at your shoulder. His boots barely made a noise on the pavement as your short heels clicked noisily.

You led him into your lobby and fumbled with your keys. You shoved them into the slot and the door clicked open. He grabbed it before you could and waved you inside. You remembered him now. You rarely saw him without another. In your mind, the man didn’t exist exclusive to his old pal, Steve Rogers.

You stopped just inside the door and kept yourself from hitting the elevator button.

“Mr., er, Agent Barnes--” You began.

“Bucky is fine.” He corrected

“How do you even know who I am?” You asked suddenly. “I’m… nobody.”

“As I said, I’d prefer somewhere private,” he urged, “It’s protocol for this type of circumstance.”

“And which type is that?” You challenged as he stepped around you and hit the button.

“The type where you should stop worrying so much about me and more about yourself,” he said as the doors slid open, “Come on.” He stepped inside and turned, “What floor.”

“Third.” You answered as you entered the small box, “I’m in danger?”

He was quiet and his left hand balled into a fist then released as he stared at the numbers. You could hear the strain in the leather glove.

When the doors opened again, he let you off first and kept a step behind you as you led him down the hall to your door. You paused and looked back at him as you picked out the right key. He was impossible to figure out; stone-faced and staunch. You opened your door and welcomed him in with a flutter of fingers.

He shut the door and locked it behind him. You dropped your bag on the shoe rack and kicked your shoes beneath it. Your arches were sore as you backed up and watched him. He looked at his boots and back at you. You shrugged off your jacket and he sighed before he did the same. He reluctantly knelt to unknot the laces of his boots.

“Should I… get you something? Coffee?”

“This isn’t exactly social,” he uttered, “Can we sit? There’s a lot to… explain.”

“Sure,” you led him to the couch and sat. He lowered himself on the other cushion, on the edge as he kept an eye on you.

“Okay, so you’re first question, how do I know who you are?”

He leaned against the arm and dug out his phone. He unlocked it and flicked through its content. He turned it towards you and you frowned at the picture of yourself. You behind your desk, the phone to your ear, as you scribbled on your notepad. He dragged it over and another appeared; you at the grocery store. A third, you at the front door of your building.

“What--”

“These were found at a crime scene.” He interjected. He flipped his phone and searched through the images, “Do you know this woman?”

He showed you the screen again and you shook your head. Whoever she was, she was a stranger to you, although you couldn’t say she didn’t look familiar.

“Her?” He brought up another photo and got the same answer. Three more times as the hair stood on your arms. You didn’t know any of them but they all looked alike. They all looked like you.

“What’s going on?” You asked in a brittle voice.

“You read the news?”

“Sometimes.”

“You’ve heard about the murders? Of the women?”

You nodded and gulped. Your eyes rounded as you trembled in disbelief and fear. “Why are you here though? Why not the cops?”

“They are doing their part and we’re doing ours. You see, we found more than just the photos. Due to security protocols and to protect both of all, I can’t divulge all the evidence I can only say that it brings it under S.H.I.E.L.D. jurisdiction.”

His thumb slid across the screen and revealed another picture. One of the women with a welt across her neck and sloppily down make-up on her face. You blanched and he looked down. He cleared his throat and blackened the screen.

“Sorry,” he put his phone back in his pocket. “You shouldn’t… Look, I know it’s a lot to digest but it’s better you know.”

“But why are you here? I don’t understand… why did he have my picture?”

“From what we can tell, who it is has been following you. These killings seem to be steps on his path to you. He didn’t have anything about the other women. No photos, no writings--”

“Writings?” You gasped.

“Take a breath. Be calm.” He said. “I’m here now. To protect you.”

“How are you going to do that?”

“Well, I guess that’s the real bad news.” He said. “I’m gonna be your shadow. Now, since we nearly got this guy and have all his stuff, we know he’s scrambling right now. He’s hiding, waiting to come back to you but we know he’s not dumb enough to do it yet. Which is why I am here at this very moment. When he does return, when he’s watching you, I’ll be watching him.”

“You can’t-- You can’t move me?”

“Scaring him away won’t do anything. You’re safer if we can catch this guy. We can’t let him know that anything’s changed.” Bucky said.

“So… I’m bait?”

“You’re safe.” He insisted. “You’ll have my number, you can call me anytime. And I won’t be far. Not really. And I don’t work alone. You’ll be protected.”

“Why are you telling me then if you’re just going to let him keep following me?”

“Well, we waited until it was crucial to let you know,” he said, “And given his desperate circumstance, we think you should now.”

“Do you know how long--”

“Months, years, we’re still combing through the evidence. We only know he won’t stop.” He shifted on the couch. “And I’m telling you because there’s a few things I need from you.”

“Like what?” You scoffed.

“A key to this place. Just in case. And we’ll need to keep a close eye on you. That means, you’ll have to wear a bug and we’ll be tracking your location.”

“What?” You shook your head. “That’s… a lot.”

“We need to know if anything happens immediately and we need to be able to get to you. If you do this, it will help us get him sooner and hopefully, that means that you won’t have to do it for long.”

“I’ll have to have the key made,” you said quietly.

“I can take care of that,” he stood and you watched him cross the room.

He went to the coat rack and reached into your jacket pocket. He took your keys and set his phone on the small round table just beside the shoes. He placed one key on his screen and it made a chirping noise, he turned it over before doing the second key. He dropped them back into your pocket and grabbed his phone.

“This,” he stirred around in his own jacket, “Has a mic and tracker.” He held up the golden chain with the small pink rose ornament. “Wear this and that’s it. That’s all we need. If you take it off, hang it somewhere it won’t be obstructed.”

“Okay,” you got up slowly and took the necklace from him, “Um, thank you, I guess.”

“Look, I know it’s all a bit fucked up but it’s to keep you safe.” He said. “And you are safe, okay? I’ve dealt with much worse than this creep.”

👁️

There was rarely a morning when you were eager to be awake but that morning came crashing down on you with a sense of doom. You rolled over and opened your eyes. The golden necklace hung from your bedside lamp, dangling, calling to you, reminding you of the man who had stalked you back to your apartment. And the other man who loomed in the shadows. A stranger who apparently knew you well.

You sat up and clipped the necklace around your neck so you wouldn’t forget. Was it Bucky listening to you? Was he even listening so early? You stood and ambled across the room with a yawn. Today, the rain left a sheet of frost on the window. Was it winter so soon?

You drank your coffee without tasting it and chewed on a piece of buttered toast. Your phone buzzed. Private number was all it said but you knew who it was.

‘What time do you leave?’ Bucky asked. You typed in the number and nothing more. He already knew which train you took.

You dressed as you did every day. You pulled the necklace over the collar of your shirt and sighed. You felt awkward as if you were living in a simulation; a facsimile of your meek existence.

Ready to face the day and the unknown, you set out as you flicked away another message; ‘You have a break? What time?’ You’d answer him after you got to work. You couldn’t be staring at your phone knowing that someone was undoubtedly watching you.

You stood on the train, too antsy to sit. You waited by the door, ready to bolt off at the slightest sign of trouble. You played with the rose charm without thinking. Your phone buzzed and you quickly drew your fingers away.

Another message from your private caller. 'There's disturbance on the mic. Stop touching.' You almost laughed. It was comical. You'd be an awful spy but you weren't anything close. You were prey.

What would have happened if those pictures had not been discovered? You hated to even think of it. So you pushed away the thought and got off the train.

The streets felt darker even as the grey sky paled. Pedestrians were villains, each one sinister and plotting. When you got to work, you were out of breath as you had nearly broken into a sprint.

You sat and clocked in. You took out your phone and responded to the texts but got nothing back. You hung your jacket on the rack in the corner and went about your usual routine but nothing felt usual. The incessant ringing of the phone and the chatter of the office added to the chaos of your mind. You tried to distract yourself with your work but found yourself fidgety and anxious. Every unfamiliar face that walked through the doors was a potential suspect.

When you took your lunch, you stayed in the office. The break room was empty as you sat and your phone vibed in your blazer pocket. You answered the private number and unwrapped your granola bar.

“You on lunch?” Bucky asked, you confirmed with a mumble. “Are you okay?”

“Am I? What’s going on? Anything?” You stilled the crinkling of the wrapper, suddenly sick to your stomach.

“It’s not going to be that easy or fast. Right now, he’s waiting for us to look away but he could also be in a panic which means he could do something impulsive.” Bucky explained.

“Impulsive? What does that mean?”

“Look, you don’t need to be afraid. I got this. This is nothing compared to what I usually--”

“Nothing?! Well maybe you’re used to this but I’m just a secretary, okay? I don’t know what I’m doing or what to do!” Your voice was shrill as you crushed the granola bar in your hand.

“Take a breath,” he said firmly. “Calm down and proceed as usual. I’m here. I’m watching.”

You sniffed and struggled not to hyperventilate. When you finally got your breathing under control you nodded into the phone and murmured a pathetic ‘okay’.

“Hey, you don’t need to be afraid, okay? Not with me around. So far you’ve been lucky. We figured it out before he got to you and now we’re way ahead of him and he doesn’t even know it.” Bucky coaxed.

“Yeah, I guess,” you deflated and stood from the table; restless.

You went to the kettle and flicked it on. Shaena was always offering you peppermint tea; you’d take her up on that. Maybe it would help calm you down.

“How about tonight I’ll come buy with a pizza and we can go over protocol?” He offered. “And it’ll be good for you not to be alone.”

“Pizza?” You frowned.

“Well, you know, I’m sitting on surveillance all day, I don’t exactly get to relax,” he explained. “...you can say no but it’d be my treat.”

“I’m sorry I’m panicking. I’m just… scared. I didn’t sleep-- I--” You choked on your voice. “You don’t mind?”

“Do you?” He returned.

You sighed and opened the cupboard to grab a mug. You tapped your fingers on the countertop.

“This must be really boring for you,” you said. “You don’t have to--”

“If I’m being honest with you, it’s supposed to be freezing tonight and I don’t exactly get to hang around in a five star suite. You’d be doing me a favour and have the extra security of some goon with a metal arm.” He chuckled.

“Alright,” you threw your hand up. “But I don’t like pepperoni.”

“Damn…” he uttered, “Well, I guess we all have to make sacrifices.”

👁️

You were slightly less frantic when you left work. Bucky texted you to assure you he was there… somewhere. You took your usual route. He explained it was best not to change your routine. You didn’t want to tip off the creep.

The train ride was slow and jittery. The frigid air of the looming New York winter crept in between the door and you shivered as you got off at your stop. Your heels clicked around you as you gripped your bag and the phone in your pocket. You struggled not to look around and try to search out your stalker.

You unlocked your door and dropped your bag beside the shoe rack. You kicked off your heels and rubbed your legs together to warm up. You hung your jacket and took your phone out as you began to pace your apartment.

How close was Bucky? How close was the killer?

You kept checking your messages and then slammed your phone on the coffee table. Stop! You were driving yourself crazy. You made yourself sit and flipped on the television. You put on an old sitcom and tried to settle in. You squirmed on the couch and found it difficult to follow the episode.

Your phone lit up suddenly and made you flinch. The sky was already dark through the window as your ringer blared over the television. You reached for your cell; Private Number. You answered clumsily and pressed it to your ear.

“Hello?” You rasped.

Silence. You blinked and repeated your greeting. Still, the line was quiet. You shook your head and hung up. Before you could toss your phone, it shook again and cried out a melody. You answered again.

This time heavy breathing greeted you. It got louder as you listened and a trickle of ice rolled over your spine. You ended the call and stared at your phone. A third call. You slowly hit the green icon and then turned the phone to speaker.

“Don’t you ever hang up on me.” A man snarled in a crackly voice, “Ever.”

“Who… who is this?”

“Shhh, baby girl, I won’t hurt you. I just want to make sure you’re safe.” He said, “That’s all I want.”

“Who are you? What do you want?” You gulped.

Another silence. This one long and exaggerated, pierced only by a metallic whisper. “...You,” he purred darkly, “I want you, baby girl. I want your blood, I want your screams.” You shook as you dropped the phone, his voice muffled but his words clear, “I want that precious little cunt.”

You sobbed and bent to grab the phone again. Your thumb hovered over the red button.

“Baby girl, I told you about hanging up on me. I hope that’s not what you’re thinking of now.”

You said nothing as your eyes burned with frightened tears and you looked down at your necklace. Could Bucky hear? Where was he?

“Soon, I promise, we can be together,” the stranger cooed, “You and me. All alone.” He took a deep breath, “All mine.”

“Please, leave me--”

The line clicked and went dead. You stared at your phone and jumped at the sudden knock on the door. Your fingers curled around your cell and you stood. You crossed to the door. You peeked through the peephole. Bucky stood with a pizza box. You opened the door sharply.

“Where were you?” You snapped.

“What?”

“He just called!” You nearly shouted.

“Keep it down,” he warned as he stepped inside and you retreated. He closed the door and locked it. “He called?”

He went to the kitchen and set the pizza down. “Just now?”

“I thought you were listening? I had him on speaker.”

“I… I’ll have to play it back. I was on my way, I didn’t--”

“You-- you-- The things he said,” you croaked, “You can’t imagine and, and… how did he get my number? You said he would be hiding!”

“Well, these things aren’t exactly cookie cutter--”

“What if he’s watching me right now? Looking in through my window and--” Your voice was shrill as you rung your hands and brushed by Bucky. He followed you to the window as you twisted the blinds shut. “He’s going to kill me like he did all those girls. He’s going to--”

“Come on,” Bucky grabbed your arm and pulled you away from the window, “Just breathe.” He turned you to him and placed his hands on your arms. He rubbed them through your blouse. “In, out…” He began to guide you, “On my count; one, in, two, out…”

Your eyes rounded and you struggled to calm yourself. You were shaking but managed to measure your breaths in time with his voice.

“That’s it,” his hands framed your face as he leaned in to look you in the face, “I’m here now and if you need me to, I’ll stay all night.”

You nodded dumbly and grabbed his forearms. His metal thumb stroked your cheek and you slowly pulled his hands away.

“Bucky…” You whispered as he slowly dropped his hands. “Thank you.”

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tuffduff · 4 years

Text

More Than Okay (Izzy Stradlin x Reader)

Pairing: Izzy Stradlin x Reader

Words: 1,537

Request: @that-80s-chick :Hi I was wondering if you could please write something with Izzy Stradlin where maybe he’s self conscious about himself (maybe his nose idk) and he doesn’t think he’s good enough for you but you assure him that he’s perfect and you love him just the way he is 😊 also I love your writing so much!!

A/N: Thank you for requesting love!! As Elton John once said, the bitch is back. Hello friends, if you write you know inspiration strikes at random. I’m so happy I could get this out to you guys because I really loved the prompt and Izzy is just such a cutie. Sorry for the long wait for this one, I really do appreciate every request y’all send and I’m working on others now. 🖤🖤🖤

Taglist: @ubernoxa @the--blackdahlia @reigns420 @stradlin-cold-heartbreaker 🤍

“Izzy, c’mon, what’s the deal, man? We’re gonna be late.” Axl called from where you stood next to him by the front door of the band’s shared apartment. You were there because, well, when were you not by their side? But also, your extra car came in handy.

“I’m coming, alright? Chill.” Izzy replied, coming from around the corner with his head down. “Since when do you care about being late, anyways?”

“We’ve got a lot of shit to do today.” Axl retorted back. You figured the general crabbiness had something to do with the fact that it was 9 am.

“How many photoshoots have we done anyways; don’t they have enough shit of us...” you heard Izzy mutter. You waited for him to follow behind Axl but he gestured for you to go first, still keeping his head down low and not even looking at you. That wasn’t normal, but you decided not to make too much of an observation about it.

“Alright, who’s riding with me and who’s riding with Duff?” You asked, now standing with all of them outside.

“I call shotgun with Duff!” Slash declared. Steven hit his arm and latched onto Slash as he jetted towards Duff’s vehicle, getting dragged all the way.

“No, hey—you got shotgun last time!” Steven whined, the both of them now shoving at each other outside the passenger door.

“Get in the back, Steven,” Axl ordered, already opening the back door to Duff’s car. Steven was still whining while Slash triumphantly grinned and took his spot. “Sorry, Izzy, we’re all full over here.” Axl said, glancing at Izzy who was trailing behind him.

“Uh, guys? I’ve got a whole car.” You pointed out.

“I’d rather ride with you.” Duff said, his eyes locked on Slash swatting at Steven in the backseat. “Hey, Izzy, I thought you said you were riding with Y/N?” You sent Duff a look. He was the only one in the group that had picked up on your fondness for the rhythm guitarist and would often subtly try and get the two of you together.

For some reason, Izzy froze and appeared almost panicked. “No, I didn’t.” He argued. Ouch. It felt like a piece of your heart shattered, along with your self-esteem.

“C’mon, you’re gonna hurt her feelings.” Duff insisted. Now, he abandoned Duff’s car and almost reluctantly walked over to yours. You frowned quizzically at him when he reached for the back door.

“You know I don’t bite, right?” You joked lightly. He hesitated and ducked his head low again.

“I just, uh, like the extra room.” He replied, but climbed in next to you in the front.

Izzy continued to remain silent once you got on the road behind Duff. It was completely and entirely out of the norm; Izzy always preferred being around you, even out of all of his bandmates. At restaurants, he’d sit next to you. Watching movies together, he’d be next to you on the couch, or even on the floor. He’d share lyrics he had written with you, or a drink of his coke. Sometimes, you’d find him at your door when he wanted to get away from the band.

Yet now, you were getting a cold shoulder out of left field. The longer the silence grew, the more you felt crushed by Izzy’s apparent disdain at being stuck with you. With every mile, you glanced over at him, hoping for some kind of spark of conversation, but he remained glued to the window.

“You can pick what we listen to,” you tried offering cheerfully. Izzy didn’t move. You wondered if he even heard you before realizing you could have heard a pen drop in the stony silence between you. No, he was practically ignoring you.

“No, it’s cool.” He muttered. You adjusted your grip on the steering wheel uncomfortably.

“Izzy, is everything alright?” You finally asked at the next stoplight, turning to stare at him. He repositioned himself in the seat, as though he were uncomfortable with your gaze. “Can you maybe act like I exist?” You caught the sight of a frown on his face.

“Everything’s fine, Y/N.” He replied, his voice strained. “Really.”

“You’re lying.”

“The light’s green.” The car honking behind you confirmed just as much. You turned back forward, the obvious tension in the air unsettling you to no end.

When you pulled up the photoshoot location, a brick building downtown, you turned to Izzy determinedly.

“I’m sorry if...maybe did something to upset you. I just hope you know I’m here if you need someone to talk to.” You told him, trying not to allow your own hurt to leak into your voice.

“What? No, no, Y/N...” Izzy said quickly, his voice softening immediately. The shift in his demeanor made you feel a little better and now you waited patiently as he sighed and leaned his head back against the seat. “It’s just...these photoshoots, you know? I hate ‘em.”

“Well, I can understand that.” You soothed, your heart pounding as you considered your next words. “But I mean, I’m sure you make it easy on these photographers.” He glanced over at you in confusion.

“What do you mean?” You felt your face growing hot and you were already regretting the path you steered the conversation.

“Just that...well, I mean, look at you.” He snorted a little at your words and pulled down the mirror on the visor.

“Yeah, fucking tell me about it.” He muttered quietly, before proceeding to pull more of his hair over his eyes and face. “I just feel uncomfortable the whole time. It’s easy for Axl or the other guys, but...”

“Why do you feel uncomfortable?” Izzy’s eyes flashed at your question and had him once again turning to stare out the window.

“It’s dumb. I just remember the last time we did one of these and looking at the pictures afterwards and noticing, just, how much I hate my nose, and just, the expressions I make…”

“What?” You demanded.

“…and having your here today makes things worse...”

“Worse?” You asked, now almost growing offended.

“Well, yeah, because now you’re gonna be there and watching and I already feel uncomfortable as it is, but having you there in front of me...”

“But I think you’re perfect.” You blurted out before you could catch yourself. Izzy whipped his head towards you and it was now your turn to avoid his gaze and study the fabric of your jeans instead. After a long moment, you heard him scoff. Instantly your stomach dropped and you waited for the rejection.

“Are you...was that a joke?” He asked.

“No.” You said, feeling your eyebrows pull together as you looked up. For the first time the whole car ride, the both of you shared the same gaze, unguarded and vulnerable. “I mean, I do think that. I don’t think there’s a single thing wrong with you.” Izzy continued to stare at you for a long moment, unmoving and just blinking, lost in thought.

“I thought Duff was joking.” You felt your mouth drop.

“He told?” Izzy chuckled a little.

“All this time I thought there was no way you could be interested in me.” Summoning up just about every last bit of your courage, you reached out to brush the back of your fingers against his cheek, swiping the hair from his eyes. He even let you tuck some of the strands behind his ears.

“I’ve always been very interested in you.” You murmured, smiling. “I really care about you Izzy, and I mean it. I love everything about you.”

“I love you.” Izzy blurted out, taking you by surprise. A gentle blush colored his cheeks and his eyes grew wide. “Shit—I mean, I meant to say I-I love everything about you too...”

“Well, now that you said it first, I’m pretty sure I love you too.” you teased him, making him chuckle. Izzy reached his hand up to grab the hand you still had resting against his cheek and hold in his own. He pressed his lips against your fingers, but the moment was interrupted at the sound of knocking on your window. The rest of the band was peering in.

“Aww! Yes!” Steven cooed, making a heart with his hands together.

“Did you tell him?” Duff asked, sounding like a nosy mom more than ever.

“Are you guys about to fuck?” Slash asked even more obnoxiously, peering into the car. You threw open the door, causing them all to stumble backwards and Izzy to laugh.

“Yes, and no.” You said, sending a look to Slash in particular.

“Yeah, of course not; they’re just gonna do it ten minutes from now in the bathroom.” Axl teased. You rolled your eyes and shook your head as they began laughing and felt an arm go around your shoulder as Izzy came up beside you.

“You guys never know when to shut up.” He told his bandmates, before looking down at you as if to check. His eyes, now clearly visible, were asking you silently, is this okay? You grinned up at him and kissed his cheek before you snuck your arm behind his back to confirm, yes. It was more than okay.

#Izzy Stradlin #guns n roses #izzy stradlin imagine #izzy stradlin x reader #guns n roses imagine #guns n roses x reader #gnr

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asiriuscrushonmoonyx · 3 years

Note

Wolfstar remus realizing he has a crush on sirius in their third or fourth year. please and thank you!!!!

I’m so sorry this has taken me FOREVER. I actually forgot I had prompts in my inbox so when I saw this I decided hey, let’s write!! I didn’t specify what year they’re in but I’d assume fourth year or above. I hope you like it!

————————————

Had Remus really been this blind all along? Was he really this unaware of his own feelings? He’d always thought he’d been quite a self-aware guy - in fact, sometimes too self-aware to the point where all he could see were his numerous flaws. But this- this had just hit him like a tonne of bricks.

He was in love with Sirius Black.

It had all started when he’d been with Sirius in one of the corridors and they had been joking around about something and then Severus Snape had rounded the corner. Sirius, being Sirius, made some rude comment about Snape’s greasy hair or something, and Snape retorted with, “you wouldn’t be so cocky if you didn’t have your boyfriend Lupin by your side protecting you”.

Ever since hearing those words, from Snape’s mouth nonetheless, it was like Remus was seeing things clearly for a change.

He found himself observing Sirius more and more and noticing just the small things that he absolutely loved about him. Like the way he always smacked any nearby surface whenever he laughed, the way he subtly checked his surroundings before doing anything dramatic because contrary to popular belief, he actually did care what some people thought of him. Remus loved the way Sirius’s eyebrows furrowed when he was deep in thought, and how he was able to fall asleep literally anywhere. He loved Sirius’s smile, Sirius’s laugh, Sirius’s eyes. He loved Sirius Black more than anything in this world.

Remus felt like his heart could literally explode from loving Sirius so damn much and he couldn’t fathom how he hadn’t noticed it till now. It was obvious. Even Snape could sense it from a mile off. But if Snape assumed they were boyfriends, then.... did Sirius like him back? Was he still being blind in seeing his feelings reciprocated?

He knew he needed to find out. Sirius was the type of guy to accept Remus’s feelings without it making their friendship weird. Remus wasn’t scared of admitting his feelings to Sirius, he was just scared that the feelings were unrequited.

It was a Friday afternoon, during lunch. Remus and Sirius had just finished a lesson together and James and Peter where elsewhere so the perfect opportunity had arisen. Remus knew this was the time. The adrenaline coursed through his veins urging him to grab Sirius and pull him aside to blurt out his feelings in hopes they would fall into each other’s arms and live happily ever after.

But the moment was almost past, they were walking towards the Great Hall; any moment they could run into their other friends and Remus wouldn’t get a chance. Remus felt sick in his stomach thinking about how he’d missed his perfect moment to tell Sirius. Without so much as a second thought, Remus blurted out, “can I ask you something?”

Sirius stopped and turned to him. “Yeah?”

Remus pulled him aside, away from the crowd of chattering students. He could hear his heart beating loudly. “Do you- uh, have you ever.... thought about... ugh sorry. I don’t know how to say it.”

Sirius was trying to read him but seemed to be failing in doing so, which wasn’t surprising given his loss for words.

“You know what Snape said the other day?” Remus finally said, looking Sirius in the eye nervously. “About us being... about me being your, uh, boyfriend?”

“Yeah...”

“What do you think about it? I mean, I’ve been thinking about it a lot since he said it... and I... guess I like you. As more than a friend. So I was just wondering how you felt? About me?”

Sirius’s eyes had widened and he almost looked like he was going to laugh. Remus held his breath, awaiting the inevitable, “I’m straight” that he was sure was coming.

“What date is it today?” Sirius asked, much to Remus’s surprise.

“Huh?”

“What date? It’s not 1st April is it? This isn’t a prank is it?”

“What? No! Of course not!” Remus said quickly. “I’d never do this sort of thing as a prank.”

“So you... really like me?” Sirius asked. “Romantically?”

Remus nodded wordlessly, feeling his cheeks grow hotter.

“I- wow. I can’t believe it. I’ve been in love with you for like a year now, but never in a million years would I have thought you’d ever like me back!”

Remus felt as though he was hearing things wrong. This was too good to be true. His feelings were actually reciprocated?

He couldn’t stop his face from cracking into a grin. “Really?”

Sirius grinned back. “Really.”

“So.... um.... should we do anything about it?” Remus asked.

“Hm, like what?”

“What do you want to do?”

Sirius leaned back against the wall and smirked. “Kiss me.”

Remus couldn’t deny Sirius looked insanely hot right now, he definitely wanted to kiss him, and there wasn’t a student in sight to see them. All he had to do was to step forward and their lips would be touching.

“I’m not just kissing some random guy,” Remus said slowly. “If he was my boyfriend, then maybe....”

Sirius reached his hand out and took Remus’s, his eyes glimmering teasingly. “Remus Lupin, are you asking me to be your boyfriend?”

“No, I’m waiting for you to ask me.”

“Oh, well then,” Sirius said, clearing his throat and getting down on one knee.

“Oh Merlin,” Remus laughed, glancing around to make sure nobody was around - they were in the all clear.

“Will you be my boyfriend?” Sirius asked, staring up at Remus with hopeful eyes.

Remus smiled and nodded, whispering, “of course,” before pulling Sirius back up and pushing him back against the wall and pressing his lips against Sirius’s, softly, sweetly until they both had to pull apart to catch their breath.

“Get a room,” came Snape’s voice from behind them, and for once Sirius didn’t say anything back, he only burst into laughter along with Remus and then pulled Remus in for another kiss.

“Well.... at least we have..... something to thank.... Snape for,” Remus murmured between kisses.

“Yeah but.... let’s not talk about him.... while... mmm..... kissing.... ‘kay?” Sirius mumbled back.

Remus smiled against Sirius’s lips. “Okay.”

#Wolfstar #Remus Lupin #Sirius Black #Remus x Sirius #Sirius x Remus #wolfstar fic

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girlpornparadise · 4 years

Text

Chances (pt1)

Pairing: Esteban/f!Reader (There is a New World Somewhere - Maurice Compte)

Word Count: ~1500

Smut warning: No smut yet, but it’ll get there.

Personal ramble: I know he’s a broken mess, but I love him so much. Thanks to everyone who watched my disaster angel with me over the weekend. This one’s for you hoes!

The GIF: For a computer expert and freelance writer, dude certainly types like an old lady. Seriously Esteban, how long does it take you to write an article? Get it together man!

He walked into your life because of your own stupidity. You've never been so grateful for your own incompetence.

He came highly recommended by your friend Laura. You texted her in a panic that day.

It's gone. IT'S ALL GONE!

Calm down, what's all gone?

The proposal, it's gone!

You'd been working on the project proposal for months now. Every waking minute you weren't at work teaching was consumed by this, your passion project. You'd been knocking this idea around your head for years, but the opportunity to realize it had only presented itself this year. You wanted to help low income families access school supplies, and having been the one to throw away a million promotional pens and obsolete notepads at the offices of large corporations as a temp, you finally could get a grant to set up a system to funnel those resources to your school.

But the proposal was due the following week, and it was now residing in a very expensive brick.

You look above your desk, past the broken laptop, at the sticky note that says "find a secure server to back up your work!" In your frenzied passion to finish the proposal, you hadn't done it. There were confidential documents involved so you couldn't store it just anywhere and they couldn't easily be replaced. So panic. All you could do was panic and wait for Laura to text back. Your phone vibrates.

Okay, I know a guy, let me make a call.

You dimly register that it sounds like you've put out a hit on someone and your amusement at the thought blunts your panic a little.

He can come over tonight, after 5, does that work?

You sigh relieved.

You're a lifesaver.

Sometime around 6 your doorbell rings.

"I'm Esteban, the computer guy." He clarifies in case you'd forgotten.

He's casually dressed and you're thankful he's not one of those "nerd herd" type guys they advertise on TV with the affected customer service mannerisms. Instead he has a genuine smile that helps you feel less stressed about your predicament.

You take a moment to regard him. His features are sharp but not overly so, still soft enough to fill his expression with a friendly demeanor. His brown hair is neatly cut and slightly wavy and looks soft enough to happily run your hands through. He's built, but not to the point of uncomfortably intimidating. And his deep brown eyes that have a keenness to them are softened by long lashes. Everything about him says he could be stern and tough, but chooses to be inviting. Especially to the ladies you figure.

You welcome him in and walk him over to your desk where everything is strewn about from your panic.

He regards it as though he's seen it many times before. You can't be the first panicked luddite he's helped.

"Have you tried turning it off and on again?" He asks with a smirk.

You shoot him a look that says I will remove one of your internal organs if you imply I'm that dumb again. You catch yourself doing it and with some effort force your expression to relax.

His eyebrows raise in surprise and defense, but return to normal as you relax.

You force a chuckling snort.

"Okay, let me get down to it." He says sitting down at your desk.

You offer him a drink and excuse yourself to the kitchen to get him a coffee, black no sugar.

When you return he has plugged in a thumb drive and is tapping away on a screen of grey text. You have no idea what he's doing, but he is doing it confidently and you feel hopeful.

Though he's somewhat concentrating, when he pauses to let the computer process and reboot he engages you in some light small talk. He seems like an interesting guy, who has moved easily and perhaps a bit carelessly from place to place and life to life. He likes music and travel and cars and all the standard stuff you'd expect from a handsome nomad, but his interests seem genuine and not some put on to impress you.

After the laptop reboots for the final time, he turns it to face you and there is the document you had open before this nightmare began.

"Is this it?" He asks, already knowing the answer.

"Oh my god you found it!" You leap up and yell excitedly. In the moment you hug him, and quickly realize you've done something inappropriate and retreat.

You can feel the heat rise in your face as you apologize.

He laughs, "It's fine."

You try to compose yourself again.

"So, and you don't have to answer this, but what was so important that it merits a hug?"

"Well, uh," You stumble.

"And remember, you have computer technician/client confidentiality." He winks.

Oh god. He winked at me. Your heart beats a little faster and your flusteration increases.

"Um it's…" Your mind is suddenly blank in the presence of his curious gaze.

"Don't worry about it, it's clearly important to you. You don't have to say. Most days I'm recovering family photos for grandmothers is all."

No wonder he winked at you, he's surrounded by geriatrics all day. Your heart sinks a little. But you press on.

"No, no, it's okay."

You launch into your explanation of your proposal and as you gain confidence you become progressively more animated. His relaxed posture betrays how intently he is listening. You're too excited to be concerned though. When you finish you realise you've been talking profusely and gesticulating like a mad woman.

You try to still yourself, but you still have a wide excited smile on your face. He's smiling back at you, taken in by your infectious energy.

"Wow, I'm glad I could contribute in some small way to such a noble cause." He's smiling but it isn't sarcastic, it's playful with an underpinning of genuine interest.

"Well, it's getting late, I should be going." He says excusing himself.

"Thank you, again. My hero." You smile.

He smiles back and it's bright and dazzling and charming and you feel something deep in your core, but try to ignore it as you close the door behind him.

***

The next day you wake up smiling because his smile still lingers in your memory as does the feeling of his warmth and the light scent of aftershave you caught when you hugged him by accident.

You realize it had been a long few months getting your project off the ground, and you admit to yourself that it had been overfocused and a bit lonely.

Your mind toys with the idea of having a handsome stranger come by on demand. You muse that maybe you could throw your modem off the balcony and give him a call.

After a quick shower and an equally quick breakfast you check your phone.

There's a text from Laura.

Are you around?

Yeah, why?

Esteban said he forgot his flash drive, he'll drop by in 20 if that's fine.

Wait, what?

Okay, sure. You type having no excuse not to.

You go over to your laptop, and see the drive still plugged into the side. You freak out a little trying to make yourself presentable as quickly as possible in case he's early.

As promised, he's knocking on your door 20 minutes later.

"Hi, sorry to drop by like this. I guess I was a little distracted last night."

"Oh, it's no problem." You say a little too quickly.

"Uh, so, can I come in and get it?" He asks, a little unsure of what's happening.

You realize you're blocking the entire doorway and haven't invited him in.

"Oh, sorry, of course, come on in." You fumble and get out of the way.

He strides over to your desk and you catch yourself noticing how he moves in his well fitting jeans. You think he might have caught you staring, so you try to distract him by offering him a coffee. "Black, no sugar, right?"

"You have a good memory."

You don't actually, but he made quite an impression.

You return a few minutes later with his coffee, and one of your own. He's made himself comfortable at your dining room table.

You talk about nothing in particular for a few minutes but he keeps inquiring about your project. He likes seeing you so passionate about something. You'd like to see him passionate about you.

Through the easy conversation, you find out he's a freelance writer as well as a computer wizard. It fits with his nomadic lifestyle you observe, and you admire his independent spirit. Eventually the conversation reaches a natural lull.

"You know, you didn't have to accidentally leave something here to see me again." You tease. You realize you've been too bold and immediately regret it.

He smiles. "I'm glad I did."

You melt.

"Maybe you should come over for dinner, say next Friday night? Unless of course there's an equally grateful granny who has already offered."

"That sounds good." He licks his lips ever so subtly and it sets your nerves to high alert. Then he pats down his pockets.

"Just making sure I didn't leave anything behind this time."

"Well, hopefully next time it'll be your underwear." Oh fuck. That was out loud. You slap your hand over your mouth as your eyes go wide and you turn crimson.

He just laughs and with a wink says "You assume I'm wearing any. See you next Friday."

#maurice compte #there is a new world somewhere #horacio carrillo x reader #ok but not #but this man deserves love too

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mistymark · 4 years

Text

VIGILANTE/S II

part two // 2.0k words // superpowered!au // (sort of) gang!au // series masterlist

summary; in which you consider yourself somewhat of a vigilante.

warnings; mentions of blood, gangs, swearing

notes; i had to redo the whole of part 2 fkjhbjhg so I hope u like it

You could feel yourself becoming conscious again, yet you felt like you were drowning. Voices and other sounds sounded distant – like you were hearing them from inside a glass cage. “Wake her up,” an unfamiliar voice cut through the thick cloud in your mind, the glass cage shattering.

Your vision cleared, and you became vaguely aware that you were seated on a leather seat in some type of office. The room felt cold – mostly because of its appearance – with stone walls and amount of space that surrounded you. In a room that was easily larger than your whole apartment, there were only four pieces of furniture. You try to move your hands, but you find them bound behind your back with rope. Kinky.

Standing before you was a man with jet black hair, dressed in a pair of black jeans and flannel top. There was something about his appearance that made you feel more comfortable, though his face was serious. He didn’t say anything else. You could feel the power in him, but you weren’t surprised he was a Super. You could feel six others nearby – one much stronger than the rest and five that were slightly dulled, perhaps due to the stone walls. Still, the sheer amount of power in such a close proximity made your body feel like it was on fire.

The reason you’d never liked going to The Den was not due to the criminals but the overwhelming feeling of so much power in one room. Normally, seven wouldn’t bother you. But these people were strong.

There was silence for a moment as the man in front of you waited. Something about his patience made you uncomfortable – and your gut told you he was dangerous. You got the feeling he wouldn’t be someone to mess with even if he weren’t a Super.

“Are you-?” You began to ask, but your question quickly turned into a shriek of pain as you clutched your head. An absurd amount of pressure felt like it was building up inside your skull, pressing against the inside of your head.

The pain vanished to a dull throb and you looked at him through your lashes, recovering.

He looked you over for a moment, before his eyes narrowed again and the pressure returned. It felt like the pain had doubled since the last time, and you scrunched your face up in pain, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of hearing you scream.

It seemed like the wrong thing to do, as the pain only worsened. When it was gone again, you looked up, feeling a trickle of blood run from your nose.

He scrutinised you again for a moment, and it was all the time you needed to reach out for his power, feeling it run through you. You imagined protecting yourself, mentally envisioning not being in pain anymore, and the dull throb vanished.

You sagged against the back of the chair in relief, looking up to try and stop the blood flow from your nose. Sniffing in a rather undignified fashion, you spat at the floor, feeling somewhat satisfied that there was going to be a blood stain in the middle of the room.

His gaze wandered from you to the floor, but he didn’t react. Instead, his eyes met yours once again, and you felt him trying to push into your head again. You tried to focus on blocking him – but you’d always found using abilities that weren’t related to matter more difficult.

You felt him give in, stepping back slightly from the effort of using his abilities. He wiped at his nose, and you swore you could see a small dot of blood. Good.

“Who are you?” You ask, sceptically.

It was becoming evident that he was not going to hurt you, but you knew that this wasn’t his decision. He had to be working for someone. A Denner, perhaps. He doesn’t answer, which you’d mostly expected. What you weren’t expecting was for him to pull out his phone and start texting. What kind of bad guy is he?

“Um, excuse me? Hello?”

It was as if he couldn’t hear you. No part of him reacted to you; he kept a straight face.

“You could at least put your phone away when I’m talking to you,” you mumbled.

No response.

You tried a different tactic, pulling at his power slightly, you tried to penetrate his mind subtly, only digging for surface level information. “Doyoung.”

He doesn’t say anything, but you notice the way he stiffened slightly.

Smiling, you continue, “What? Are you bothered that I know your name but you don’t know mine?” When he doesn’t respond once again, you add a teasing lilt to your voice, “It’s okay. I’m Y/n.”

He almost looks annoyed by you, even though his facial expression doesn’t change. He clicks his phone off and slides into his pocket, crossing his arms and leaning against the desk. A moment later, a door behind you opens, and the feeling of power you receive is stronger. The other Supers are behind you.

Only one steps into the room, though. No one talks.

“You know, it’s rude not to introduce yourself to someone you’ve never met before,” you say, not attempting to turn around. “Johnny, is it? Or do you prefer John?”

He ignores you, crossing the room and standing in front of Doyoung, “What do you know?”

“She doesn’t work for a Denner,” Doyoung responds. This surprises you. For two reasons: one; you’d thought they worked for a Denner, and two; his voice does not match the voice that had cut through his mental block.

“Then who does she work for?”

“No one.”

Johnny turns to you, a frown on his face. You realise he’s trying to get information, too, as if he had the same ability as Doyoung. You know he doesn’t. You shrug casually.

Doyoung doesn’t say anything else, and you immediately know he doesn’t speak unless spoken to. Johnny is the one in charge here.

“If she doesn’t work for anyone, why-?”

“You don’t work for the Denners.”

He turns to you, one eyebrow raised. “No.”

“Neither do I.”

No longer interested in what you have to say, he turns back around to Doyoung.

“I’ve been watching them, you know.” You can tell this piques his interest, even though he doesn’t face you. “I know they want Supers to be sold, used as weapons. They’re trying to sway the Senate.”

You swear it’s like talking to a bloody brick wall.

Doyoung’s abilities allow you to hear their thoughts. “You want to kill me? That’s your big plan?”

Johnny smiles. It’s the first time you’ve seen either of them express any kind of emotion, and it’s honestly more creepy than the blank and serious looks you’d been getting early. “You’re a mind reader, then?”

“Sometimes,” you smirk. The faintest bit of confusion crosses his face but it’s gone as quickly as it appeared.

They talk in hushed voices, and you try and reach out with your mind to find the other Supers. You can sense their power from behind you, but neither of them are close enough. That is, until one walks too close to the wall, and you try and reach out for the power. You can feel the way your mind grasps it, feeling the familiar heat run through you. Pyrokinesis. Perfect.

“Not just a mind reader,” you say. They pause mid-conversation to look at you. You feel the heat rise around your wrists, singing the ropes. The ropes land softly on the ground, and you pull your arms forward from where they were previously bound behind the chair, your fists now glowing bright red, small flames dancing along your skin. You’d always been one for dramatics.

Doyoung and Johnny look genuinely shocked. Neither of them speak.

“A mimic.”

The voice is coming from the far corner, and you’re surprised you didn’t notice anyone standing there. It’s the original voice, the one that ordered you to be woken from your psychokinetic haze.

The man pushes off the wall with his shoulder and steps into the light, and you realise you were wrong about Johnny; he is not in charge. The man who stands before you most definitely is.

The man stands tall and is dressed in what has to be the most expensive suit you’ve ever seen. It’s a dark grey – almost black – colour with gold thread detailing throughout it, swirling in intricate patterns. He isn’t any taller than Doyoung or Johnny, but he certainly seems more powerful.

He lazily steps down towards you, and you know he’s dangerous. He’s a Super, but his power – clairvoyance, you can feel – don’t make him all that threatening.

“Yes,” you breathe, and you immediately feel like you should be bowing. He can sense your fear, judging by the amused smirk on his face.

“Now,” he steps closer, and his finger tilts your chin up to his face, “that could prove useful.”

Defiantly, you pull your head away from him, but you don’t say anything.

“Oh,” he laughs humourlessly, “you’re spunky.”

Normally, you would laugh at anyone who used the word ‘spunky’, kick them in the shins and roast them to hell and back. To this man – Jaehyun – you don’t do any of those things.

“What do you know about the senator?” He asks. You’re surprised by the way he speaks now, almost like he’s already bored by the conversation.

“That’s a big question,” you say, trying to force some confidence into your voice.

“You have ten seconds.”

“Ten-? Okay, um- ” You suddenly can’t remember anything you’ve observed in the last few months. “A gang of Denners have been trying to convince the Senate to make the trading of Supers legal, but they’ve hit a roadblock per say with Senator Kim. He has holdings with Broadback-“

Jaehyun looks up at you, “You stopped.”

“It’s been ten seconds,” you remind him, slyly.

You expect him to ask to hear more, to show that he’s interested in what you know. If anything, he does the opposite. He grabs something off the desk, a baseball of sorts, and tosses it up in the air before catching it quickly. “You don’t know anything.”

The words make you feel like you’ve just been stabbed. You try not to let your jaw drop.

“The senator has been working with the Silver Panthers for quite some time now, and yet he double crossed them.” He shoots you a look, “Why?”

This information surprises you and you wonder if he’s quizzing you. “Bribery?” You offer.

The sound he lets out is more like a snort than a laugh, but it doesn’t last. “Like I said; you don’t know anything.”

You feel your cheeks flush in embarrassment. You’d almost forgotten Doyoung and Johnny were in the room. Doyoung.

Jaehyun walks past you towards the exit, not even sparing you a second glance. “Kill her.”

You try and reach out to Jaehyun’s mind, sifting through his memories and knowledge.

Johnny steps forward, but you put a haze over his mind like Doyoung had done to you, effectively rendering him useless.

“The Silver Panthers proposed the idea of Supers being used in war. They used that to sway the senator, and he persuaded the Senate for them – Once he realised, he went to the Red Crown-” You blabber, reciting everything you can from Jaehyun’s mind.

“Very good.” He doesn’t mean it.

“I can help.”

“We don’t need your help.”

You sigh, rolling up your sleeve to reveal your wrist, holding up your arm to show him your tattoo, “I think you could use it, though.”

“You’re a Crown?” He looks to Doyoung in exasperation.

“I used to be a Crown.”

He casts you another long look, before walking for the door again. “Training starts tomorrow. Doyoung, show her to one of the empty rooms.” Before the door closes, you can hear him mutter to Doyoung, “And fucking fix Johnny.”

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frostmarris · 4 years

Text

notes: hope you enjoy! this ended up being almost twice as long as the first chapter lol but i finally got to the scene thats been in my mind for over a year

Chapter Two

If Deidara was upset when he saw her without the gloves the next morning, he didn't let it show on his face.

Sakura steps out to find him etching shapes into the snow with the toe of his boot, his hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket and his breath visible in the chill of the winter morning. He looks back as he hears her shut her door, glances to her hands, and turns around to face her with a grin that never falters. She's relieved that he doesn't comment on his gift (or lack thereof) but inwardly feels guilty as she knows he's probably disappointed. But she doesn't want to ruin the gloves by wearing them before they're ready, so she'll take his silent disappointment just for this morning and make sure he sees her wearing them tomorrow.

She has the weekend off, which means today is the perfect opportunity to get the gloves taken care of and run some errands. Of course, she doesn't mention to Deidara that she's not headed to work this morning, wary that he might ask to tag along.

Not that she wouldn't mind him accompanying her for a grocery trip. It's just that her first stop is somewhere… special.

Deidara walks her to the bus stop just like always, subtly hinting for her to drop some sort of baked good off at his place sometime - "Sucks that the apples don't grow in the winter. There aren't a lot of good pie fruits in season this time of year, yeah?" - and she makes a mental note to see what she can find at the farmers market. If she has no luck there, she can always go for canned cherries or just cave and make cookies again.

Sakura waves goodbye as the bus pulls in to the stop and she ends up in a seat on the other side, her window facing the street and not letting her see when Deidara’s smile turns a little sad as he heads home.

She idly checks her emails on her phone as the bus drives its route, getting off at the third stop rather than the fifth. It's a short walk down the downtown avenue, the shops and restaurants not as busy yet as they will be later in the day, until she reaches a small antique store nestled between a smoothie shop and a dog groomer. It's only just opened and Sakura heads in, waving in greeting to the old man behind the counter next to the door.

He looks up from the watch he's tinkering with, easily recognizing Sakura and waving her off.

"Ah, the pink one again," He grumbles, that ever-present grouchy look settled on his face. "Go on, go on. Head on in - and mind the lamp! Some little shit nearly knocked it over last week."

"Yes, sir, of course!" Sakura calls with a small smile as she heads to the back of the shop. "Have a good morning, Mr. Masumi."

He answers with a dismissive, "Bah!" and she carefully makes her way through the crowded, winding path of the antique shop until she reaches a door at the back left corner. Heeding the shop owner's warning, she edges past the lamp settled on the edge of an old dresser as delicately as she can, being sure not to bump the stained glass lampshade with her elbow. Once through the door, Sakura passes a second one on her right marked 'Cleaning Supplies' and walks down the short hallway to the doorway at the end.

This one says 'Employees Only' but she pushes it open anyways, revealing a small, empty room barely bigger than a closet. Sakura steps inside and shuts the door, not removing her gloved hand from the doorknob as she silently counts to 25 in her head.

Once she hits the last number, she turns the knob, pulls it open, and steps out into a park.

The trick had taken some getting used to, as she didn't have any real magic herself besides her accursed touch and her ability to see the dead. So, she'd had many failed attempts of counting too quickly or too slowly before she finally got the hang of it. Now she was able to come and go with ease, well-practiced after a couple years.

Sakura pulls the door closed behind her and, though she can't see it through the swirling mist contained in the space of the stone archway, she can hear it click shut. She quickly steps forward and out of the way in case there are any other arrivals, looking out over the snow-covered park fondly.

Behind her is the collection of four stacked-stone arches, each facing one of the cardinal directions and connected by short stone walls, making a perfect square. The Landing, as it's called, sits in the direct center of the small, secret park, each arch standing tall and strong and older than Sakura knows. Though the tops of the arches and the corner walls are covered with snow, she can still easily see the sigil carved into the front of each keystone, placed there by whoever had crafted the gateways.

The park, formally named Bowerfield after the flowering vines that climb a majority of the trees and those waist-height stone walls (but never the arches themselves, as they're meticulously kept away from the gates so as not to damage them or meddle with the enchantment), was a lucky find on Sakura's part.

She'd been living in the city for a few months and had no idea how to find its secret magical community - or if it even had one - until she'd happened upon a friendly soul (quite literally) who'd told her about Bowerfield. He'd been a witch while living and could tell there was something supernatural about Sakura and, after a seemingly one-sided chat in the city's library, he'd directed her to the antique shop.

And now Sakura can enter the park freely and visit the… special shops situated around the outside.

The buildings formed another perfect square, encasing the park and closing it off to the rest of the city. The few alleys between some of the buildings all ended with brick walls and the shimmering field stretched overhead kept it hidden from outside eyes. It was a more useful feature in recent years due to things like drones, but had been put in place around the same time as the Landing, from what Sakura had heard.

Bowerfield itself was located somewhere in the southern half of the city, but she wasn't quite sure where. And she wasn't about to try to figure it out. So long as she had access to the secret park, she didn't care where it was hidden.

Sakura follows one of the pebble-covered dirt paths out from the Landing and through the trees to get to one of the walls of shops, double-checking the time on her phone to make sure she wasn't too early. Several of the businesses are still closed and there are few people out and about, but she can see the lights of the storefronts and the twinkling Christmas decorations through the last section of trees, welcoming and warm.

There are a variety of shops surrounding the park. Some are specialty stores - a couple witch shops, magical tool repairs, boutiques for less-standardly shaped beings, etc. - that are able to sell their goods and conduct their services openly without the need to hide, like some places outside Bowerfield. The rest are relatively normal businesses - such as restaurants, a laundromat, the salon, a clinic, and a supermarket - but provide a safe space for people who can't easily disguise their more obviously magical features.

It was the perfect place for someone with, say, an extra set of limbs or wings to go shopping for clothes and grab lunch, all without worrying about normal humans spotting them.

Sakura's destination is a small shop on the northeast corner, strings of red and white lights decorating the face of the building and a small flock of black birds perched wherever they could. A couple of the birds - ravens, judging by the size of them - let out harsh calls as she approaches and Sakura sends the familiar birds a quick smile and a wave before she heads inside.

The ring from the bell over the door is accompanied by another bird's caw, this time from a crow that flies overhead inside the shop. It heads to the back to land on the wooden counter, hopping closer to the dark-haired woman currently securing a paper-wrapped package with sturdy string. Another raven stands just next to her, perched on one of the prongs of a driftwood branch attached to the countertop.

The woman glances up and smiles brightly as she spots Sakura, raising her hand in greeting.

"Ah, Miss Sakura! What brings you in so early?" A magpie flies down from the railing of the loft on the second floor of the shop to land on her raised hand, earning itself an amused huff from the shopkeep.

"Good morning, Mrs. Uchiha," Sakura greets, heading for the back of the store and chuckling when a blue jay drifts down from the second level and lands on her shoulder, playing with her pink hair.

The woman sighs but smiles at her, shooing both new birds away.

"I keep telling you to call me Mikoto, dear," She chastises gently, running her fingers down the crow's back. "You've been coming here long enough."

At Sakura's chuckle and nod, Mikoto's smile returns and she finishes tying off the package before securing a leather strap around it. Holding her wrist out to the perched raven, it steps over onto her arm and is then transferred to the package, its talons curling around the handle attached to the strap and soon taking to the air. Carrying the package, the raven circles the empty air of the upper level before flying out an open window high on the front of the shop, disappearing with a short call.

"Now," Mikoto says, turning to fully face Sakura. "What can I help you with?"

"Just the usual," She replies as she digs through her bag to pull out a fresh box of latex gloves and Deidara’s gift. Mikoto eyes the black gloves curiously and carefully takes them as Sakura hands everything over, a red bubble of magic appearing around the items and floating above her open hand.

"Only the normal enchantment, dear?" The witch asks, writing Sakura's name on the outside of the bubble with a finger. "I can add an anti-snagging spell to the black ones to protect the embroidery!"

Sakura smiles and nods, reaching out to let the crow curiously nip at her fingers. "That'd be nice, actually. They're a gift from a friend."

She waves off Mikoto's sly smile and rocks back on her heels as the woman laughs and heads through a door behind her. When she returns, the red bubble is gone and a second crow is perched on her shoulder, eyeing Sakura curiously.

"They'll be ready in a few hours," She transfers the crow to the driftwood perch and starts to ring her up, shooing curious beaks away from the register. "I can have Itachi deliver them if you won't be in the park around then."

"Itachi…" Sakura mutters questioningly to herself, inspecting the little stand of luck charms on the counter before she glances up at Mikoto in confirmation. "That's your eldest, right?"

The witch nods, smiling happily.

"Yes! He's visiting for a few days, so I tricked him into working." Mikoto winks before gesturing over her shoulder. "He's probably back in the aviary finding a spot to hide away in and nap. I swear, that boy's become such a night owl!"

Sakura chuckles, vaguely able to put a face to the name, before perking up and sending her an apologetic look.

"Oh, I nearly forgot. I need a rack of phials or something similar - they work really well for propagating plant cuttings." She smiles sheepishly, hoping the witch wasn't too far in the checkout process to add anything else to her bill. "Is it too late to grab it?"

"Of course not!" Mikoto answers, laughing and waving her off. "I should have something like that up with the potion making tools in the loft, left side. Go ahead and take a look, Sakura dear."

She nods in thanks and heads for the set of stairs against the right wall of the building, quickly climbing up to the second floor. The loft itself only covered about half of the space available on the upper level, most of it reaching out from the back to stand over the check-out and a few shelves below. To the left, an arm of the loft stretches out to the front of the store, connected to the opposite wall of the stairs and just wide enough for a few displays. The main section of the loft only had a few shelves and stands, however, as most of it was clear space to give the birds access to the aviary. Against the back is a single door and several, large, open window-slots, with a few perches jutting out from the wall.

There are a couple other corvids sitting on the perches and watching Sakura as she comes up the stairs, calling in greeting and ruffling their dark feathers. She smiles and quickly steps aside as she hears a caw from behind her, letting a magpie glide past as it flies from one of the three large windows at the front of the shop right through a slot and into the aviary.

Hurrying past in case there are any other arrivals or departures, she moves towards the arm of the loft to find those phials. Typically, only Mikoto or one of her employees were allowed up onto the second level, but Sakura had been visiting for long enough that she'd become fairly good at dodging birds. She usually only visited to get her gloves, both latex and the white cotton ones she used daily, fixed up with an enchantment that protected them from her touch, but it was fun to occasionally browse the shop.

Sakura searches the shelves of bottles and tools used for standard potion making before she finds a metal rack with five glass phials, smiling in approval. As she turns to head back towards the stairs, the door to the aviary opens and a young, dark-haired man steps out. She gets a brief glance into the aviary itself, more corvids flying around the large, dome-roofed room from nest boxes to perches to feeders, but quickly refocuses on the man.

His black hair is pulled back in a low ponytail with bangs framing his face and his eyes, just as dark as his hair, look tired - especially with the dark circles. He's pale, but he doesn't have much skin showing for Sakura to be able to tell if it's just his face's complexion or not, and taller than her by at least a full head. The long sleeves of his black shirt likely keep his arms protected from talons and the collar rises halfway up his neck, neat and trim and only a few stray feathers clinging to the fabric.

He blinks at her before nodding his head in greeting, a crow following him out of the aviary before he can close the entrance. It lands on his shoulder and he reaches up to rub the base of its beak, turning to pull the door shut.

"You must be Itachi," Sakura says, holding the rack of phials carefully so that it doesn't slip against the fabric of her gloves. "It's nice to me-"

"Itachi?!" Comes Mikoto's voice from below, her sudden call making a few of the birds squawk and caw. "Finally out of the back, you lazybones?!"

Itachi sighs and moves his hand to have the crow step off onto his fingers, eyeing Sakura before heading towards the stairs with her.

"Yes, mother," He calls back, just loud enough for her to hear. "I'm here."

"About time!" Mikoto plants her fists on her hips as they come into view, regarding her son with a fond yet motherly-disapproving look. "We've been open for nearly an hour."

He simply bows his head in apology and moves to the counter to collect the other pair of crows, one on each hand and the third perched on his forearm.

Mikoto sighs but shrugs, gesturing to Sakura, who sets the rack on the counter and digs her wallet out of her bag.

"This is Miss Sakura," The witch introduces, disappointed when Itachi only nods again. "She's a long-time customer of ours."

Itachi turns to regard her again, clicking his tongue softly when two of the crows start to squabble.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Sakura," He says politely, finishing her sentiment from earlier. "Can I help you find anything?"

Sakura offers a small smile in return and shakes her head, patting the glass phials gently. "No, I'm all set. Thank you though, Itachi."

He nods again and, transferring the third crow to join the pair on his other arm, heads through the door into the backroom. Mikoto sighs once more when he's gone and sends Sakura an apologetic look.

"He's always been such a quiet boy." She shrugs and turns to grab a pen from a cup next to the register, pushing it and a sticky note pad towards her. "Before I forget, go ahead and give me your address, dear. I left my book at home, apparently. I'll pass it on to Itachi and he'll send a crow from his flock to deliver your gloves when they're ready."

Sakura nods and quickly scribbles down her address, soon helping Mikoto wrap up the glass phials once everything's paid for and tucking the package into her bag.

"Take care now, Sakura dear! It's going to snow again tonight, so watch for ice tomorrow."

She smiles and waves before heading for the front door, knowing the witch's forecast was always more accurate than the weather channel's. More black birds (and the occasional blue jay) caw and take flight as she exits the shop, but she pays them little mind and heads back towards the center of the park. Bowerfield is getting busier now that the day is fully underway and, with no other errands to run in the secret park, she's ready to head back out into the city, take a short walk over to the farmers market, grab some groceries, and head home.

Going back through one of the Landing's portals is a little tricky, but Sakura’s much more confident than she was a year ago. She simply reaches a hand into the wall of swirling mist, feels around until she finds a doorknob, thinks of the antique shop, and opens the door. The familiar muffled creak lets her know she's on track and she steps through the mist, entering the small Employees Only room at the back of the shop.

With the door pushed shut once more, she waits 25 seconds exactly and pulls it open, smiling as she finds the short hallway in front of her once again.

There's a few people idly browsing the shop when she leaves the backroom behind and a couple near the display of porcelain dolls send her odd looks when they see her step out, but Sakura simply heads to the front, offers Mr. Masumi a wave in farewell (to which he replies with a short grunt but a wave in reply as well), and steps out onto the street. The air feels different outside of Bowerfield, but Sakura's sure it has to do with the thrum of magic that fills the park, making everything feel duller by comparison for the first half hour or so that she’s back in the normal city.

She walks back the way she’d come but turns when she reaches the corner of the block, heading into the more shopping-focused area of the city's downtown. It takes her about ten minutes to reach the covered pavilion next to an old brewery, already full of the stands and stalls of the farmers market and bustling with early-morning shoppers.

As she's only only here for a few specific things, Sakura tries to stay focused and not get distracted by the different goods, heading right for a particular product stand that she usually gets veggies from. She pulls a mesh shopping tote out of her shoulder bag and leaves the stand some minutes later with carrots, squash, and potatoes, starting her search for reasonable pie-fruit.

"So, what, I just fuckin' chomp the straw and eat it whole?"

Sakura pauses as she passes by a honey stand, glancing over curiously to see a very exasperated beekeeper and a silver-haired man who seemed to be about five seconds away from taking a literal bite from a honey stick.

"No, sir," The beekeeper says tiredly, obviously trying to resist the urge to run his hands down his face. "You just bite the end to pop it open and then suck out the honey. Please don't eat the tube."

She doesn't mean to eavesdrop, but the conversation did remind her that she was low on honey at home. Might as well grab a jar.

Sakura eyes the man as she steps to the other side of the stall, inspecting a stack of wildflower honey jars but unable to stop from listening in again as he rears back slightly and curls his upper lip.

"Do I look like a hummingbird or some shit?"

She barely suppresses her snicker and the stand owner quickly turns his attention to her, relieved to have someone else to assist. The beekeeper ignores the silver-haired man's indignant huff and stops in front of Sakura, putting on a smile as he greets her.

"Can I help you find anything, Miss? Would you like a free sample?" He gestures to the stacks of jars and bottles, pretending not to hear the other man complain that he hadn't been offered any free damn samples. "The bees we keep produce really great honey - the orange blossom is my favorite."

Sakura chuckles and picks up one of the wildflower jars, passing it over as she retrieves her wallet.

"Just this one, please."

"Excellent choice!" The beekeeper quickly starts to ring her up and the man, who still hasn't left, gives an overly-dramatic sigh.

"Fine, keep your damn sticks. Just tell me where I can find a stand that sells rocks and shit."

The owner groans tiredly but Sakura steps in, fairly familiar with the market.

"There should be one on the other side of the pavilion," She offers, finally taking a good look at the man as he turns to her. His silver hair is slicked back and shiny, just long enough to reach the bottoms of his ears, and his eyes are an odd magenta color, scrutinizing Sakura curiously.

He looks rather out of place with his studded leather jacket and ripped jeans - especially considering how cold it is today - and she's fairly confident that he's never been to the farmer's market.

The man nods and rubs his chin, his jaw sharp and strong, as she continues, gesturing towards the north part of the market.

"They're usually near the people that sell all the house plants and succulents. So look for a lot of green and you should find it."

He looks her over one last time before grinning and raising his hand in thanks as he turns to head the way she’d directed.

"Thanks, lady." The man says, rolling his shoulders to adjust his jacket. "At least someone up here is fuckin' helpful."

Sakura sends his back a curious look as he walks away, but shrugs it off and passes cash over to the relieved beekeeper. With the jar of honey slipped into her tote, she heads off to find her fruit, trying her best to not get distracted again. She keeps an eye out for that odd man but soon gets distracted by another produce stand, grinning at the sight of fresh pomegranates.

Vaguely remembering a recipe in one of her books for a pomegranate pie, she hurries over and starts to pick some out as she tries to recall how many she'd need.

If Deidara wants a pie, he's gonna get a pie.

: :

Sakura's just in the middle of peeling potatoes when something starts tapping at her kitchen window. She glances up, stood at the sink, to see a crow on the windowsill and softly pecking the glass with its beak. It gives a muffled caw and flaps its wings when it sees her looking back at it before hopping down to her small bistro table in the backyard, a wrapped package sitting next to it.

She smiles and slips her rubber gloves off to reveal cotton ones before hurrying to the back door and out into her yard, careful to be quiet so that Deidara doesn't happen to hear her and look outside. Even carrier pigeons aren't exactly a common sight among humans nowadays, so she isn't sure how she'd explain the crow and its delivery.

Closing the door as gently as she can, Sakura steps out onto the snow-covered yard and approaches the table, smiling in greeting at the bird and reaching out to give it a soft pat before she reaches for the package. Unclasping the leather carrying strap, she unwraps the paper partially to make sure it's her gloves before nodding to the crow, humming gently. She gives it a quick scratch under its chin before starting to step away, tucking her package under her arm.

"Wait just a moment, please," Sakura says softly, the crow tilting its head to watch her curiously. "I'll grab you a treat before you head back home."

It gives an enthusiastic caw and she chuckles, hoping her neighbors hadn't heard as she quickly returns to her kitchen. She sets her wrapped gloves on the table before retrieving a shallow bowl to fill with some lukewarm water, grabbing a handful of blueberries, and heading back out. Pleased to see the crow waiting patiently on the bistro table, Sakura moves to clear some snow off before setting the water and fruit down, smiling when it hops closer and eagerly accepts the treats.

"I thought birds are supposed to fly south for the winter, yeah?"

She fully jumps in surprise, startled by the sudden sound of Deidara's voice. Looking up, she sees him leaning out of a window on his second floor and lets out a huff as his grin grows wider.

"Sorry, Sakura," He says, stifling a laugh and crossing his arms as he rests them on the windowsill. "Did I scare you, hm?"

"You just surprised me," She looks back down to the crow, picking up one of the blueberries and offering it to the bird as she ignores Deidara’s chuckle. Relieved that she'd taken the package inside already, Sakura pets its feathers and glances up again when he continues.

"Make a friend? I heard it squawking and couldn't help taking a peek, yeah." He scrutinizes the crow with a curious frown, snorting when it gives a harsh caw and flaps its wings in his direction.

Sakura calms it with another blueberry and steps back when the bird takes off, finished with its delivery and snack. Shrugging, she picks up the bowl and dumps the water out, making a mental note that she really should put a bird feeder or a birdbath out here for future deliveries from Mikoto.

"It was probably just passing through," She answers finally, crossing her arms and leaning against the table as she looks up at Deidara. "I saw it through my kitchen window and wanted to see if it'd take any treats. Maybe I can make friends with a flock of ravens like those stories on the internet."

She deliberately misidentifies the crow but he seems eager to change the subject, propping a first under his chin.

"You got home early, hm. Short work day today?"

Sakura looks away and brushes a bit of snow off her sleeve, barely feeling the chill through her gloves. "I was just out running errands."

"Awww," Comes Deidara's voice, a slight whine to his tone. "I would have come with you if I'd known!"

She doesn't bother to hide her smirk but quickly crosses her arms again when a breeze passes through the yard, trying to suppress a shiver.

"How do you feel about pomegranates?" Sakura asks, changing the subject herself. She plans on making that pie tomorrow, but it'd probably be best to make sure he actually likes the fruit. When she looks up at Deidara, his expression looks rather conflicted and he sends her a slightly disappointed smile.

"Good shit, yeah. But it's cold out; you should head back inside, Sakura," He sighs, obviously wanting to continue the conversation but very aware of how another breeze makes her shiver. "I don't want ya getting sick just 'cause I'm a big chatterbox."

Her smile turns fond and she pushes off from the edge of the bistro table, brushing any lingering snow off of her house robe before raising a hand in farewell.

"See you later, Deidara. Stay warm."

He returns the sentiment, not budging from his spot until she's back inside, and she misses how he looks in the direction the crow had flown. Deidara frowns to himself before finally pulling back and closing his window, locking it with a soft click.

: :

Monday morning, Sakura heads out dressed in her usual white button-up, silk scarf, and long skirt combo. But, this time, she's sure to tug the black, embroidered gloves onto her hands, smiling as Mikoto's enchantment holds and they don't turn to gold. House keys in hand, she steps out to see a fresh layer of snow on the ground and Deidara shoveling his stoop clean.

He looks up to greet her but, at the sight of her hands, he cuts himself off and the brightest grin she's ever seen from him bursts onto his face. Dropping the shovel, he practically vaults over the hedge separating them and stops just short of taking one of her hands in his own, still beaming but looking a little more sheepish as he steps back.

"You're wearing the gloves!" Deidara says, foregoing greeting her as he's obviously too excited. "How do they fit, yeah? Not too tight?"

Sakura smiles gently and he backtracks as she steps down and moves for the street, slipping her keys into the bag on her shoulder.

"Morning, Deidara." They immediately fall into their morning routine as she heads for the bus stop, his smile never leaving his face. "They fit just right. Thank you again."

His grin widens and he rubs the back of his head, avoiding a pile of snow that was most likely hiding a trash can.

"Great! Awesome, yeah!" He nearly slips on a patch of ice in his excitement and Sakura quickly reaches out to catch his arm, chuckling under her breath when his face turns a little pink.

"I-I'm glad!" Deidara says, trying to brush the moment off and recover. "They look good on you."

"You've got good tastes," Sakura replies, holding a hand up to appreciate the embroidery. "The stitching is excellent."

He's got an admirable pep to his step and, stuffing his hands into his coat pockets, Deidara tilts his head slightly as he looks at her, his blue eyes sparkling.

"I can give you a referral if you wanna update your collection. Or get some of the older ones embroidered, hm."

Sakura hums thoughtfully, taking a sip from her thermos. "I might take you up on that, actually. The all-white look is a little plain…"

Deidara’s smile grows all the wider and he's quick to pull his phone out, typing silently for a few moments before he sends her a text with all the information. Sakura feels her phone buzz in her bag but decides to check the address later, instead turning her focus to discussing the benefits of touchscreen-compatible gloves versus the ruined aesthetics of the pad on the fingertips. They chat amicably as they walk, careful of ice and snow on the ground before, eventually, they're at the bus stop.

Sakura inconspicuously brings up pomegranates again while she waits for her ride, planning on bringing the finished pie by his place after she gets off work. She'd overestimated just how many she'd need for the recipe and had ended up with enough seeds for a second pie but, by the time the bus pulled up, she was confident that she'd only be eating one by herself.

Deidara wishes her a good day as she boards and Sakura waves at him through the window once she's seated, pulling out her cellphone. As the bus pulls away from the curb, she checks his text and looks up the shop, saving the location for future reference. Maybe she would get some of her plain gloves touched up with some nice embroidery or something.

The bus ride passes uneventfully and, by the time she arrives at the coroner’s office and gets her assignments for the day, she's pretty sure her shift will pass uneventfully.

That is, until her assistant unzips the black body bag and Sakura finds a vaguely familiar face on her examination table.

Her hands, holding the clipboard and pen, low slightly as she frowns in confusion, trying to recall why this corpse seems so familiar. Jun sends her a curious look and she shrugs it off, beginning her external examination as she pushes her confusion to the back of her mind. She writes down a few notes as she speaks aloud, her Dictophone sitting nearby on one of the counters against the wall and recording her verbal report.

"Identity: Unknown. The victim appears to have suffered a gunshot wound to the forehead," She says, circling the table while her assistant drags the rolling tray of tools closer, waiting for her to give him the go-ahead to start removing the clothes. "Judging by the powder tattooing and seared skin around the entry wound, but the lack of a muzzle imprint, the shot was likely taken at close range, but not in contact with the victim's head."

She moves her head around for a better angle at the hole in the man's forehead, but doesn't reach out to move his hair away from the wound yet. The hole is circular and about half an inch wide, the edges of the skin blackened and burned with a wide zone of powder soot around the entry point. The reddish-brown stippling on the skin (pinpoint abrasions from unburnt powder grains leaving the gun) indicates that the man had been alive when he was shot.

"Complexion: pale. Hair: short and silver. Eyes…" Sakura reaches out and carefully lifts one of the corpse's partially-open eyelids with a gloved finger and pauses at the sight of magenta irises around the dilated pupils. She blinks, lips parted, and suddenly realizes why the man seems so familiar.

"Dr. Haruno..?"

Sakura glances up as Jun calls to her and straightens, clearing her thoughts.

"I'm alright - let's continue."

She takes a much better look at the corpse's face and inwardly confirms that this is definitely the man she'd bumped into at the farmers market two days ago. Vaguely recalling that the report had stated the body had been found outside the hospital this morning, she makes a mental note to read it more thoroughly after the examination.

Sakura always suspected that, one day, she'd end up performing an autopsy on the body of someone she kinda-sorta knew, but this is the first time that's happened. Rather unprepared, she's feeling a little… off her game. But also more intrigued than usual.

She can't help but wonder about the motive, about what had led to the silver-haired man being shot nearly point-blank. The body was in the very early stages of rigor mortis, which meant he hadn't been killed very long ago - most likely just before he'd been deposited on the hospital street. He was dressed in different clothes than she remembered, so he had at least made it home that evening.

"The victim is familiar to me," She says aloud for the recording, ignoring Jun's sudden, shocked expression. "A report will be made to the case investigator after the autopsy is completed."

Her assistant looks like he wants to say something but glances to the Dictophone, so Sakura steps over, pauses the recording, and turns to him.

"You have something to say, Jun?"

"Excuse me, Dr. Haruno," He answers, looking a little embarrassed at having stopped the examination. "Do you… know this man?"

He asks the question cautiously, unsure if she had some sort of emotional attachment to the victim and if he should go get Dr. Sato. But Sakura waves off his question and readies to start the audio recording again.

"I saw him in passing when I was grocery shopping the other day," She answers, shaking her head slightly when Jun relaxes. "I just recognized his face."

The external examination continues and Sakura keeps an eye out for any lingering shapes in the corners of the room. But she finds none, even after the initial review is completed, Jun finishes undressing and bagging the clothes, and they bring the body back from radiology and pin the X-rays up.

Sakura turns the lifeless head to take a second look at the exit wound, having already reported that there don't appear to be any other signs of injury on the man's body. She continues to speak aloud as she measures the larger hole at the back of his head, Jun pulling an empty cart closer as she begins to remove broken, misplaced skull fragments and tries to clear the wound as much as she can. She takes pictures both before and after and then has her assistant clean the wound while she grabs a few more photos of the body, providing evidence that there likely hadn't been a struggle.

Once the exit wound is clean, Sakura moves to take another picture, but pauses as she notices something at the nape of his neck. She rolls the body onto its side and angles the overhead light before grabbing a rectangular magnifying glass off the cart of tools.

"Did you find something, Dr. Haruno?"

She feels carefully at a spot at the back of his neck, just below his hairline and to the left of his spine, with her fingers, frowning as the round, red spot on his skin seems to belong to something hard puncturing his flesh. She glances to the X-rays but doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary.

"The victim appears to have something embedded in the back of his neck," She says aloud, detailing its location before grabbing one of the rulers on the rolling tray. With Jun holding the ruler in place just next to the red spot, Sakura takes a couple pictures and verbally logs the size.

"The foreign object measures a quarter-inch in diameter, is a perfect circle, though slightly jagged around the edges, and is red in color." She exchanges the ruler for tweezers and has her assistant hold the magnifying glass as she attempts to spread the skin around the spot with her fingers, giving her better access to get the tweezers around it. It takes a bit of finessing, but she soon gets a grip on the object and carefully pulls it out.

It's only about an inch and a half long, with one end (the outer end) flat and the other sharp and pointed. Sakura holds it up to the light and notes that the red color is due to the blood coating it and, after placing it in a shallow tray on the cart, moves back to the man's neck. With a little searching she finds a second spot on the opposite side of his spine, perfectly mirroring the location of the first. She repeats the process of describing the foreign object, measuring, and taking photographic evidence, before removing a nearly identical shard.

With both items placed in the tray and the ruler held next to them for reference, she takes another few photos before sending Jun to clean them.

"Is it glass, doctor?" He asks as he takes the tray. To which Sakura answers with a curious, "I don’t think so."

While he cleans off the shards, she examines the wounds left behind, takes another photo, then rolls the body onto its back once more.

Once everything is clean and Sakura can better identify the foreign objects, she realizes they're small crystals of some sort. The edges aren't perfectly smooth like quartz - instead, they jagged and ridged, but run evenly down the length of the crystals, as if someone had taken hundreds of incredibly thin sticks and fused them together. They are white but not completely opaque, allowing the blood to reflect through and make the flat ends look red from the outside.

She recalls how he'd been looking for a 'stand that sells rocks and shit' and can't help but wonder if it was connected.

Sakura takes several pictures from different angles before bagging the shards for evidence and making a note to try to identify them later when she was on her computer. Returning to the autopsy, she takes tissue samples for histology and blood for toxicology and typing before turning the examination inward.

The organs are measured and weighed, checked over for any abnormalities, and returned to the body. With no evidence of soft tissue trauma or even a single broken bone -

(It's rather odd, she can't find any signs of old injuries, not even scars from childhood. For such a rough-looking guy like she remembered, it was strange that he seemed to have not retained evidence of a single even mildly serious injury in his life.)

- anywhere besides the hole in his skull and the bullet path through his (otherwise normal) brain, the case is shaping up to be a fairly standard gunshot-wound-to-the-head homicide.

Besides the odd crystals she'd found stabbed into the nape of his neck, of course.

Sakura stitches the body back up, returns it to its bag with help from Jun, then approves it to be taken down to the morgue while she compiles her findings. All the while, she searches out of the corner of her eye for a lingering spirit, disappointed when she finds none.

It wasn't uncommon. Sometimes souls passed on by themselves without her aide or simply wandered off elsewhere. But, she can't help admitting that she is curious about this case and wishes she could speak one last time with the silver-haired man and find out what might have happened.

For now, however, she has other cases to attend to.

: :

It takes some searching, but Sakura eventually identifies the crystals as selenite.

She lingers on a web page describing its 'abilities' in aiding in sleep and deep peace for a moment before closing the tab and adding her find to the report. She'd already called the investigator in charge of the case to set up a time to talk about how she'd seen the man before and was now mostly through with her reports for her other cases and recordings for the day. He still hadn't been identified and no one had come forward with a missing person's report, but he'd technically only been dead for about twelve hours, so it might be a while before someone realizes he's missing.

It was hours later now, already past the end of her day, and Sakura debates opening back up that tab she'd just closed, wondering if the crystals were toxic. But, she's tired and it's been a long shift, so she'll save that idea for tomorrow and finish downloading her audio file and photos for the silver-haired man's case before locking up and heading home.

She leans back in her chair and balances a pencil on her upper lip as the files upload, alone in her office as Sato had already left for the evening. Her gaze crawls over to the corner of the room every so often, still hoping his spirit would appear, but she truly is completely alone. When her computer alerts her that the transfer is complete, she takes a moment to scroll through the photos and pauses as she realizes she'd missed something.

Though she had pictures of the silver-haired man with the trail of blood running down his face and his hair in a disarray, she'd apparently neglected to take a photo of him all cleaned up and his features much more identifiable.

Sakura curses under her breath, drops her pencil in a mug of pens, and slips the memory card back into her camera. Quickly emailing the audio recording to the transcriptionist, she closes down her computer, grabs jer coat and bag, and decides to get a picture before she goes home. Leaving her office, she heads down to the changing room next to the lab but forgoes changing into her scrubs. Instead, she simply swaps Deidara’s gloves for a latex pair, tucking the former in her skirt's pocket, and steps into a pair of sterile booties to cover her shoes.

She keeps her coat folded over her arm and her camera in hand as she heads to the pair of swinging doors that lead down to the mortuary. Once through the entrance, she follows the sloped incline path on her right down to the sub-level. It turns once, doubling back in the direction she'd come but still in a descent, and the stone walls, painted white, are far enough apart for her not to feel claustrophobic. There's enough grip on the shoe coverings for her to not slip on the linoleum and she passes a janitor swabbing down the flooring, raising a hand in greeting.

It's always quiet in the Northwest building, as the doctor offices and patient rooms are in the East wing, but it's late enough in the day that most employees have already gone home. Sakura isn't too bothered, as she's used to staying late, and she enters the morgue fairly quickly after swiping her ID card when she reaches the locked pair of doors at the end of the sloped hall, heading for the wall of steel fridges. There's only the single entrance into the chilly room, with the ramped corridor leading upstairs rather than an elevator to better transport bodies up to and down from the pathology department, and it's completely empty - besides whatever's in the coolers.

There's a tall rolling table near the entrance, the metal top covered by a long sterile sheet that someone had left out. The edges of the fabric reach down to the floor on three sides and Sakura clicks her tongue at the sight, wondering who'd neglected to put it up, but deposits her coat on top of the table anyways. She searches the wall of body drawers for the right label and eventually opens one of the doors, pulling the sturdy metal tray holding her mystery man out of the just-under 40 degrees Fahrenheit cooler. Making sure her latex gloves are secure, she pulls the sterile sheet covering the silver-haired corpse down to mid-chest and looks over his admittedly handsome face one last time before brushing his hair away from the hole in his forehead and raising her camera.

Sakura takes a couple photos before reaching out to lift an eyelid, needing to get a shot of his eyes.

She jerks back with a startled gasp, however, bumping the tray with her leg, as she finds those magenta irises surrounding constricted pupils.

Hand on her chest and her eyes wide, she stares at the body for a long moment, wondering if she'd just imagined that. Pupils are supposed to be dilated after death until rigor mortis makes the body's muscles begin to tighten once more. And the frigid temperature of the drawers was supposed to postpone those effects; he shouldn't have entered that stage yet.

Sakura keeps staring for a moment, noting that she'd disturbed his arm when she bumped the tray and it was now hanging limply over the edge. Taking a breath and inwardly telling herself that she'd been mistaken, she steps forward and moves to lift his arm back up onto the metal top, but pauses as she notices something on his palm. Holding his wrist, her eyebrows furrow in confusion as she inspects the odd symbol drawn on the palm of his hand, absolutely certain that it hadn't been there before.

She traces a gloved finger over the curves of the line but freezes when the dark brown mark begins to turn red. When it starts to glow, Sakura quickly shoves his arm back under the sheet, covers his face again, and moves to push the tray back into the fridge. Something was going on and she wanted no part in it.

She stops mid-push, however, at the sound of a loud thud out in the hallway and glances over her shoulder. It must just be the janitor but Sakura steps away from the corpse anyways, leaving the tray pulled completely out, and approaches the double doors of the morgue.

The two doors, sturdy and coated in a sheet of sterile metal, have twin windows at the top third and she curiously peeks out into the hallway, her eyes going wide as she sees the janitor collapsed on the ground. The upper half of his body is just within view and the rest is out of sight around the corner of the turn in the hall and Sakura hurriedly moves to grab her ID card. She pauses as she pulls away from the door as her eye catches movement and she watches as the janitor's body is dragged out of sight, leaving a trail of blood on the linoleum.

Slapping a hand over her mouth as she gasps, Sakura quickly pulls away from the door and presses up against next to it, no longer within sight through the window. She takes a breath and just barely peeks over the edge, her stomach dropping as she spots two figures dressed in black rounding the corner.

Heart pounding, she ducks down, backs away, and searches for another exit, though she knows there aren't any.

But the soft groan from behind her makes her freeze and, reluctantly, Sakura slowly turns around.

The body of the silver-haired man is sitting upright on his tray, a perfect 90 degree angle and the sheet still covering his head. As his hand raises to slowly pull the cloth down, the symbol on his palm glowing bright red and an unwounded forehead coming into view, Sakura can hear the beep of the scanner outside the mortuary as an ID badge is swiped. She shoots a quick glance over her shoulder, filled with panic, and grabs her coat before diving under the tall table nearby.

She takes just a moment to right the edges of the sheet laid out over the table, the uncovered fourth side luckily being the one that's pressed against the wall, and lays as still and as quietly as she can.

Listening to the sound of the doors opening, she can hear a quiet conversation abruptly stop as the intruders undoubtedly notice the moving - living? Reanimated? - corpse. All is quiet for a moment and Sakura is able to peek out from under the sterile curtain hiding her just enough to see shoes near the doors.

She can't stop how she jumps when there's a sudden gunshot but does manage to hold back her startled shout.

Ears ringing and the floor cold under her, pink eyebrows furrow at the indignant, "What the fuck," that comes from the direction of the silver-haired man.

"You fucking shot me, asshole!" Comes his familiar voice again and she watches one pair of boots rush towards him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Growls a new voice, followed by a grunt.

"Same question to you, jackass!" Another grunt and Sakura can hear bare feet hit the ground and the sound of two bodies struggling to grapple each other before another gunshot. This time it's muffled and, from her left, she can see knees hit the ground hard and a puddle of blood quickly drip onto the floor.

"Quit it!" His voice again, but he sounds more annoyed than a man who'd just been shot - again - should be.

(Well, maybe the annoyance was justified. But there wasn't any panic or fear in his tone.)

"That fucking hurts, you shit-for-brains! And not even the good kind!"

"Shut your damn mouth before I blow your brains out." The second man's hiss is furious and he obviously doesn't appreciate when the silver-haired should-be corpse laughs.

"Too late!"

"What's he doing here, Sakon?" Comes a new voice, Sakura's head turning to look in the direction of the third man. "Why's he- Is he naked?"

The conversation and scuffle abruptly ends as they all, Sakura included, hear the sound of someone running down the incline hall above. They're headed down for the mortuary and a low, quick whistle from 'Sakon' has the other man moving away from the open door to crouch down next to the table she's hiding under.

She freezes and muffles her breathing in the fabric of her coat, glancing from the shadow to her left to what she can see of the exit just a few feet away from her. The footsteps slow as the new arrival approaches the doors and she can hear the click of a gun being readied next to her.

"Hidan?" Comes a cautious voice, and Sakura's heart nearly drops at the familiarity of it. "What the fuck did you d‐"

"DUCK!"

The shout was preceded by a grunt and a yelp and then immediately followed by the newcomer dropping to the ground and the sound of a gun being fired just seconds later. There's a chorus of curses, grunts, and shouts and the sound of fists hitting flesh until everything falls quiet again.

"Alright," Says intruder #2, panting and still standing just next to Sakura's hiding spot. She can see another pair of boots just in front of his own and guesses that he'd grappled the newcomer into a hold and was likely threatening him with his gun.

"Let my brother g-" He cuts himself off and Sakura looks out to her left, bare feet planted behind another pair of boots and facing the men next to her. "Wait, you don't even have a weapon!"

She moves her gaze to the unblocked, still open door, trying to determine how long it would take for her to scramble out from under the table and run for the exit. As silently as she can, she removes the plastic coverings over her shoes.

"I don't fuckin' need one when I've got this!" Silver-haired man says, probably showing off… something that warranted a growl from the intruder and his apparent brother.

"What the hell are you snakes even doing here, hm?" Comes that painfully familiar voice. Sakura bites her lip and stays silent, waiting for some sort of opening as she moves her knees under herself.

"None of your business. Now shut up before I put a bullet in your chest. I know you won't heal like loudmouth over there."

She hates that she can't see much of anything, just the white fabric walls around her, but listens intently to every sound and movement. It's all she's got to give her some idea of what's going on above her, trying to figure out where all of the men stood based on what she can see of their shoes and her knowledge of the mortuary's layout.

There's another grunt and the sound of a gun muzzle being jammed harder against a body before she sees newcomer's boots slowly turn and plant more firmly on the ground.

Though Sakura isn't able to see the silent conversation that passes between two of the men's gazes, she's acutely aware of the low humming that suddenly starts to build near the wall of fridges.

"What the fuck is that noise-?!" 'Sakon's' question is abruptly cut off by a sudden crack and boom and Sakura glances over just as a body hits the ground and the slack face of man she doesn't recognize comes just barely into view. She sees pale blue - nearly grey - hair and green-painted lips and hears a furious shout from above her, followed by a gunshot and a second body collapsing next to the first. There's the sound of grunts and muffled punches and the splatter of blood and Sakura knows this is her chance, while everyone is either distracted or incapacitated.

As the newcomer drops down and rolls to avoid a shot from the remaining brother, she tears her latex glove off with her teeth and reaches one hand out to touch the boots still stood next to her hiding spot.

They instantly turn to solid gold and, as he takes a step to go after the man with the horribly familiar voice, the new heavy weight of his shoes takes him by surprise and he falls forward. Sakura scrambles out from under the table, clutching her coat and camera, and races out of the room, just barely catching a glimpse of a blond-haired man's back as he crouches down behind a counter across the morgue.

Her gaze meets a shocked black eye and a face identical to the one she'd seen just moments earlier but she's already out the door and around the corner before she can really think on it. Nearly tripping on the janitor's body as she races up the hallway, Sakura stuffs her camera in her bag, still on her shoulder and crossed over her body, and curls her ungloved hand into a fist. She keeps it held close to her chest but doesn't let it touch her clothing and, once she's shoving through the swinging doors and back on the upper floor, she runs for exit to the loading bay near the storage room.

The heavy doors are propped open, a disturbing sight, but she races through them anyways and enters the delivery dock just as she hears distant gunshots from behind her.

It's only once she's a full two blocks away that she stops running, panting heavily as she leans against a brick wall and tries to catch her breath. She hadn't been followed, fortunately, and she debates calling the police, groaning as she slides down to collapse on the concrete.

She knows she should but she can't bring herself to do it, recalling that voice she knows so well and that familiar blond hair.

What was Deidara doing there? He'd called the other man, the silver-haired corpse, 'Hidan', which meant he knew him. It couldn't have been a coincidence that he'd just randomly showed up either. Something was going on and Sakura neither knew nor wanted to find out.

She shivers as a cold breeze passes through the street, bringing a fresh snowfall with it, and takes a deep breath to calm herself down. Her coat is still folded over her arm, but she needs to get her ungloved hand covered before she can even attempt to put it on, not wanting to ruin it and have to lug it back to her home.

A few snowflakes drift down and land on her curled fist and she curses under her breath as they turn to gold before they can even begin to melt against her skin. The light from the street lamps catch on the golden snowflakes as she shakes them off her hand and she digs around in the pocket of her skirt for Deidara’s gloves, glancing down the dark street.

Sakura's stomach sinks when she only finds one of the black gloves.

She hesitates, digging around in her pocket again and then searching through her bag just in case, before finally standing. Luckily, the remaining glove is just the one she needs and she worriedly tugs it on, one hand covered with black and the other with latex. A look back the way she'd come confirms that she hadn't dropped it just now and she pales slightly, realizing it likely fell out of her pocket when she had left her hiding spot in the mortuary.

Running a hand nervously through her hair, she stands there on the street for a long, long moment, staring back in the direction of the hospital, before finally turning around. She pulls on her coat and crouches down to collect the golden snowflakes, her expression grim, until she's satisfied that she's found them all.

Straightening up, she sends one last glance over her shoulder before hurrying down the street to find a bus stop. She needs to get home.

#akasaku #multisaku #deisaku #sakura haruno #sakura fic #thirrinwrites #thirrinfic #midas touch #honestly its too late at night to be posting an update but i couldnt help it

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lets-play-gwent · 4 years

Text

Some Canary

Well, here it is! Thanks so much @chaotic-bard for the lovely prompt. I changed it just a smidge, but I think you’ll enjoy the final product. I plan on continuing this fic for at least a couple more chapters, that is, if people are interested :) Complete story under the cut, soon to be on ao3. If you enjoyed it, please reblog!

Chicago, 1932-- High profile mob families run almost every joint in the city, speakeasies launder money and sell bathtub gin through prohibition. Geralt Rivi is a lowly footsoldier for one of the most powerful bosses around: Tommy Morano himself. What is Geralt to do when he swoons for the son of rival gang leader Frank Pankratz?

The routine was so remarkably monotonous that the two men could almost rely on muscle memory alone. Approach the target, sit leaning slightly forward with hands clasped on top of the table. Do not remove hats or coats—this isn’t a permanent conversation. Keep eye contact with the target. Allow them to break the silence, subtly reminding them who has the power. The less chinning, the better. Let the reputation, and fists if necessary, do the talking. Once the target gets the picture, settle up or square up—no negotiating under any circumstances. Leave that to the big guys up top.

It was simple. A well-trained hound could do it. Why should tonight be any different? Geralt, none the wiser, was about to find out just how much his world could change in a night. His only warning? A few words from the night’s host and bandmaster.

“Ladies, gentlemen, and friends, now comes the time in the evening you’ve been waiting for. Without further ado, put your hands together for the lovely, the gorgeous, the sensational, Buttercup!”

It’s raining too hard for a cigarette, Geralt thinks to himself, reaching for the plain case in his pocket and carefully rolling a strip of tobacco and paper into a slender white cylinder. The paper dampened and drooped. Dammit. Turning up his collar against the wind, he walked towards the nearest dry patch of pavement he could find, a drugstore two blocks down. Ducking under the overhang, he lit his cigarette and took several long drags.

“Hey! Bum! Get outta ‘ere!” A short and rather lanky man was leaning out of the doorframe of the drugstore, shaking a broom and shouting. “We don’t want any trouble with the likes of yous!”

Geralt straightened his shoulders and grimaced hard at him. Despite the darkness of an autumn Chicago night, he could see the blood rush out of the man’s face, who quickly stammered an apology and slammed the door shut.

A rickety Ford pulled up to the curb. Geralt threw a quick glance up and down the street, stamped his cigarette butt into the gutter and climbed in.

“Where to tonight, boss?” His voice was gruff, hardened by years of smoking and a churly demeanor.

“The Passiflora. There’s a little fuckin prick there trying to weasel out of another payment. Collect 160 or take him out back and break his thumbs. Got it?”

Geralt gave a grunt and a curt nod in affirmation. He focused his gaze on the raindrops pattering against the window, toning out the superficial chatter of the three other men in the car. He hated the way they preened and boasted relentlessly at each other, always about some new broad or bar fight, sometimes both. He couldn’t stand the men he usually took shifts with, could barely keep their names straight, except for Lambert. Currently he was engrossed in recounting his latest run-in with cops—complete with obscene gestures and impressions—but when separated from the rest, Geralt found him tolerable, even funny at times. Yet, no matter how irritated he was, or how clever his jokes could be, Geralt knew never to rag on one of the Captains. Bottom-of-the-rung soldiers like him only needed to make that mistake once, and he had the scar on his jaw to prove it.

The brakes screeched in protest as the car slowed to a halt in front of an imposing brick warehouse. Lambert and Geralt climbed out, easily slipping into the ‘intimidating’ demeanor they carried for jobs like this. Lambert rapped on the door and waited. A small panel at eye level opened with a sharp crack, and a surly woman with a cigar and frizzy hair glared at the two men from behind the door.

“Who sent ya?” she said, puffing rank smoke directly into Geralt’s face. He cringed and turned away.

“Fat Sammy Morano and his cat,” Lambert replied, equally surly. The panel slammed shut, and almost simultaneously the door to their left creaked open a few inches.

Inside, Geralt’s eyes watered as his senses were assaulted with the bitter stench of bathtub gin. “I hate these fuckin places,” He rolled another cigarette. “Whose our guy?”

“The chrome dome with the green vest up by the stage. Let’s just get this over with and then we’ll get some grub, yeah?”

“Hmm,”

They wove through the tables together, trench coats occasionally brushing against a patron or chair. An irascible-looking waiter stopped them with a snide remark about wearing hats inside, and tried to seat them, but apparently one look from Lambert was enough to convey ‘don’t fuck with us’ because he quickly turned on his heel and attended to a nearby booth.

The curtain rose to reveal a lean man in a dazzling pigeon gray pinstripe suit. Humbly waving down the audience’s raucous applause, Buttercup began to pluck at the delicate strings of his guitar. His voice—silvery and saccharine, yet somehow still mellow—rang clearly through the now silent room.

Stars shining bright above you

Night breezes seem to whisper ‘I love you’

Birds singing in the sycamore tree

Dream a little dream of me

Geralt was suddenly thankful for the chair next to him and quickly sat, trying to catch his breath. Years later, every time he told this story, he insisted that his Buttercup stole the air right out of his chest.

Say ‘nighty-night’ and kiss me

Just hold me tight and tell me you’ll miss me

While I’m alone and blue as can be

Dream a little dream of me

Gone was his sour expression, gone was the rank smell of moonshine. The scratched wooden floor and sticky tables of the speakeasy seemed to fall away, leaving only two men, one guitar, one spotlight, and a long-forgotten smoldering cigarette.

Stars fading, but I linger on dear

Was it Geralt’s imagination, or was the singer… looking at him…?

Still craving your kiss

His hair, slicked back and shining underneath the stage lights, reminded Geralt of a Clark Gable movie poster he once saw. Had he ever noticed someone’s hair before?

I’m longing to linger ‘till dawn dear

His eyes, his face, his hands, were the most beautiful Geralt had seen in his life. Those lips, soft and pink, shaped so delicately around the words of the song, he found himself staring at them, wondering how they’d feel…

Just saying thi-is…

A sharp smack upside the back of his head brought him sailing down from the stars back to the speakeasy. Back to the job, where Lambert and the target were staring at him, the former’s face covered in bewildered rage, the latter’s face still shaken, albeit slightly confused.

“As we were saying—” Lambert emphasized the last two syllable’s in Geralt’s face, who cleared his throat and straightened his shoulders once more.

“You can se—ttle up now, or we’ll take it out back,” All three men at the table tried desperately to ignore the voice crack that took every drop of intimidation out of his words.

Nevertheless, the target fell into the familiar routine, terrified of Lambert if nothing else. “Aw jeez come on boys, you know I always come through, I just need a little more time is all, just until next week I pro—” he was suddenly on top of the table, Lambert’s fist pulling his shirt collar far too forward for comfort.

“Out back it is,”

The two men stood and strode quickly towards the side door, the target scrambling to keep up with the fist still clutching his shirt. Geralt took one last glance back at Buttercup, who to his utter surprise, was glaring at the group as they left the hall.

…

A dull crack echoed down the alley as Lambert’s fist left the target’s face. He groaned and stumbled to the side, bracing himself against damp bricks. “Pl—please, my wife—”

“I don’t want to hear it. 160 today, or we come back and fuck you up for real,” He dealt another blow, this time aiming for the target’s stomach. Two more hits and he was coughing and sputtering.

Geralt stood to the side, keeping watch on the street for any unlucky passersby. Keep your cool, focus on the job, he thought to himself, rolling another cigarette, thankful that the rain finally let up. The rattle of a doorknob and sudden burst of light, however, startled the paper and tobacco right out of his hands.

“Why good evening fells, waiting at the stage door for me? My my, a bit forward isn’t it?” Buttercup draped himself carefully against the doorframe, but his smirk faltered as he took in the blood dripping down the bald man’s face and the imposing nature of the trench coat cornering him against the wall. “Is there some sort of problem here?”

“Scram, kid, this doesn’t concern you,”

“Why, sir, don’t be so shy! I’m sure we can come to an… understanding…” he winked at the two bewildered racketeers and sauntered gracefully down the stairs. “I’m Julian. Aren’t you two a coupla tall glasses of trouble? Might have my hands full tonight,” Geralt carefully controlled his expression, trying to ignore Julian’s intoxicating smile and the fluttering in his chest. “What’s your name, hon?” He was addressing the target now.

“Eu—Eugene” A quite preoccupied Eugene held his bleeding nose in one hand and wrapped an arm around his midsection. “P-please—mister, I don’t-t have it all now, j-just just give me until next week, hey? N-n-next week, I promise, sound reasonable fellas?”

“Shut up!” Lambert barked.

“Now now! That’s no way to treat a faithful patron of the Passiflora, now is it? Eugene here is a friend of mine—” Julian strode over to the wall where Lambert was towering over the target and nudged his way between the two men. “Tips well and brings friends in whenever he can. Lord knows I owe him some money, why don’t I settle up?”

Lambert’s face darkened. Straightening his shoulders and looking down, he towered over the performer. “Don’t make me say it again, kid. This doesn’t concern you. Go back to your dressing room.”

Julian only laughed, seemingly impervious to the serious threat levied against him. The sound—so musical, even gentle—made Geralt’s breath catch in his chest.

Shock, confusion, and then comprehension quickly flashed across Lamberts face as he found himself with a fistful of cash. Counting it quickly, he grabbed Geralt’s arm and pulled him towards the street. “Let’s get out of here, before I do something stupid,”

“Toodeloo, sweethearts!” Julian called after them, helping Eugene stagger back into the building.

…

The car was quiet except for the rumble of the engine.

“Some canary, huh?”

“SOME CANARY? SOME?? CANARY??” Lambert’s voice was shrill with fury. “YOU FALL HEAD OVER GODDAMN HEELS FOR THE SON OF MORANO’S WORST FUCKING ENEMY, AND ALL YOU CAN SAY IS SOME? FUCKING? CANARY? JESUS CHRIST GERALT WHERE THE FUCK IS YOUR HEAD?”

“You mean that’s—”

“You guessed, it bub. That’s Julian Pankratz, of the Pankratz crime family. You know, those German pricks who’ve been trying to take down Morano for the past FIFTEEN YEARS??”

Geralt coughed out a nervous chuckle. “Yeah, some canary…”

************

I hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it!! Here’s a link to the song jaskier sings :))

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prettyboongi · 4 years

Text

Makes Me Weak

Reader x Min Yoongi

Word Count: 1,572

Genre: A weird mixture of angst and fluff

Warnings: feelings of anxiety

[A/N: This little story is somewhat inspired by the song Weak by SWV. Sorry if this absolutely terrible lol let me know what you guys think of this! (￣ー￣；]

“Hey! Earth to Y/N!”

The shrill voice and loud finger snaps from your best friend forced you to come out of your deep daydream. You are brought back to your familiar surroundings: sitting at the table in your university’s cafeteria, accompanied by your best friends Angelica and Tabby.

“Oh sorry Ange,” you responded absentmindedly, “What were you saying?”

You watched Angelica roll her eyes and shoot you an annoyed look. “Are you still traumatized about almost getting nae nae’d by a prius?”

Upon hearing this, Tabby almost choked on her strawberry yogurt. “Excuse me, what happened?”.

Angelica sips her iced vanilla latte before finishing, “Doofus here wasn’t paying attention on our way here and almost got herself killed.”

“Hey,” you retorted defensively, “those priuses are pretty silent you know? It just snuck up on me.”

“Right.” Angelica wasn’t buying it and couldn’t blame her. You were indeed distracted, It wasn’t by the rigorousness of your classes or even your persistent existential crisis. It was by…

“Hey ladies!”

Your thoughts were once again interrupted by the ever chipper friend Hoseok. You hear Angelica and Tabby greet Hoseok back while your gaze discreetly turns to the young man next to him. Min Yoongi. But the moment he meets your gaze, you instantly got up.

“I just remembered, I have to stop by professor Shapiro’s office about my paper. I’ll catch you guys later.” Before you can hear them protest, you quickly grab your belongings and hear out of the cafeteria. You were almost to the exit when you felt a tab on your arm. You turn around and see Yoongi once again.

“Y/N,” he begins to say, “I was hoping we could talk.”

You shook your head. “Sorry, I really have to go. But I’ll text you later, okay?”

“Okay,” he says rather dejectedly, “text you later.” He knew you were lying but he didn’t want to pry even further.

When you were a good distance away from the cafeteria building, you leaned against a brick wall and felt your beat rapidly. Although you were away from him physically, Yoongi effortlessly occupied your mind and your heart. You weren’t expecting to see him this morning since he only had evening classes this semester. But since you did, you were worried that the butterflies in your stomach were going to keep pestering you for the rest of the day.

You had first met Yoongi about two semesters ago when the two of you shared English 101 together. You didn’t speak to him immediately for those first few weeks; it wasn’t until you two were assigned partners for a class presentation that you’ve gotten the chance to get acquainted with him. Despite promising that he would definitely pull his weight, he whined to you how much he hated English and he was only taking this class for his general education. You didn’t believe him since he was one of the class’ top students and he never received anything lower than an A on a paper so far. You remember telling him that his writing was actually amazing. He blushed and tried to brush off the compliment. “Um, if you really think so,” he said bashfully. It was then that you wanted to know more about this Yoongi person. As the semester went by, you gradually learned more about him. You learned that he was a music major and that he moonlighted as a DJ outside of school. You also caught on the tiny things about him. Like his infectious dry laugh and the perpetual sleepy look on his face. And you were happy that he liked you enough to be friends, even after that semester ended. It didn’t take that long for you to go from a harmless crush on Yoongi to full blown falling in love with him.

To your surprise, Yoongi felt the same way about you. Or at least that’s what you’ve come to find out last week during the school’s annual beach bonfire. After so much joking around with your friends, you decided you needed to get some space away from the crowd. You walked away from the merriment, towards the solidarity of the crashing ocean. The glowing light from the full moon illuminating the ocean water, causing you to feel ambient and comforted at the same time. As you were walking along the shore, you find Yoongi sitting on a huge rock staring out to the sea. Approaching him, you call out his name and, in response, he jumps a bit.

“Oh Y/N, it’s just you,” he says with a slight smile on his face.

You pout at him. “Oh sorry, were you expecting someone else?”

“Don’t sass me. Here, come sit next to me.”

Yoongi scooted over to make room for you on the rock. Sitting next to him, you were too shy to look him in the eye and kept your gaze at the sparkling oceanic view.

“It’s so beautiful,” you muttered softly, “gazing at sea has to be my favorite part when going to the beach.”

You felt him shrug his shoulders next to you. “Eh, I’m not the biggest fan of the beach.”

Nudging him softly, you laugh at his remark. “Then why did you come to the “beach bonfire”, weirdo.”

“Well, besides it being a good reason to get out of the house on a Saturday night,” He pauses for a moment before finishing. “And you told me you were going and I wanted to see you.”

The weight of his words hit you like an arrow to the chest. You felt your skin starting to get warm and your stomach tense up from that pesky butterfly sensation. Like before, you were too shy to look at him, but gradually you soon turned your head to find him looking back at you. You’re absolutely awestruck of how beautifully his pale skin glows under the bright moonlight. His was taking you in with such intensity that made you feel overcome with deep infatuation.

With the small amount of confidence you possessed, you placed your hand on the back of his, interlocking each other’s fingers.

“I wanted to see you too,” you said.

He smiles and lets out a nervous laugh, as if he was relieved by the pressure he’s been holding in. You then watch him lean slowly towards you, tilt his head slightly and press his soft lips to your own. The action catches you off guard at first, but you soon found yourself melting to his sweet kiss.

Breaking away from the delicately short kiss, he reveals his rare gummy smile. Your heart jumped at such a sight and you wanted more from him. You cupped the sides of his lean face and kissed him with fervor. Subtly parting your lips, you invited Yoongi to enter his tongue if he pleased, and boy did he take the invitation. Yoongi gingerly places his hands onto your hips while you wrapped your arms over his neck, deepening the already passionate kiss. You honestly didn’t expect the night would end with a make out session with the guy you were hopelessly in love with -under the romantic moonlight no less- but you still thanked whichever god or goddess that made it happen.

When you got home later that night, the memories of Yoongi holding and kissing you replayed in your head over and over again. Needless to say, you were floating on cloud 9. However, as happy as you were, there was still a part of you that was wracked with anxiety. You would think knowing how Yoongi felt for you would give you some sense of peace, but it genuinely scared you that one person could make you feel this way. You thought avoiding him would be the best way to tame these emotions but Yoongi still managed to plague your mind, and your heart.

Later that night, you called Angelica and confide in her about your feelings for Yoongi.

“Right? Like, what should I do?”

“Oh man,” Angelica says sympathetically.

“Well, clearly you have to suck his dick now.”

You scoff as you hear Angelica's loud cackle from the other side of the line. You knew you should’ve called Tabby instead. “Ange, come on! I’m serious!”

“Sorry, sorry, I just couldn’t resist,” she mischievously replied. “But seriously, isn’t the answer obvious?” You don’t say anything, waiting for her to continue. “You gotta be honest be honest with him. I know you’re scared but sometimes you gotta take a leap of faith. And knowing that Yoongi likes you back, it won’t be too hard.”

You knew she was right. Even though these strong feelings were entirely new to you, knowing that these feelings for Yoongi and Yoongi alone, It did make you want to take that chance with him.

After hanging up, you took a moment to pump yourself up before calling Yoongi. You drank a glass of water to calm your nerves and even scrolled through your Instagram to stall for a bit. And like another sign from the gods, you received a text message from the man himself.

😍Boongi😍: Hey are you busy tonight? I was wondering if we could meet at the Lee’s Cafe.

You smiled at the screen. Sure this man made you feel all kinds of crazy emotions but you’re so glad that he’s the cause of it. You sent him a text back.

You: Sure. Meet you there in 10 mins.

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disneygirl626 · 4 years

Text

Patrol Gone Wrong :An Irondad Oneshot:

A/N: Alright y’all, I know the title is terrible and the ending is rushed, but I was in a very big hurry to write this and finish it so this is as good as it’s going to be. Enjoy!

In Peter’s defense, no one was harmed. Well, except for him. But in the short morning he was robbed of his eyesight, everyone else stayed relatively safe.

It had started out like a semi-normal weekend. Until May told him he was going to Mr. Stark’s for the weekend.

“But May, I’m sixteen! I don’t need a baby-sitter!”

“He’s not baby-sitting you, Peter, he’s just going to hang out with you for the weekend,” May had said as she grabbed her purse and keys.

“That’s just a fancy way of saying he’s baby-sitting me, May,” Peter had grumbled.

May rolled her eyes and sighed, mumbling something in Italian that was too quick for Peter to catch.

“Honey, I’m not going to be home at all this weekend. I can’t go to work knowing you’re going to be here by yourself. What if you hurt yourself while out on patrols? Before you even try to lie to me about getting help next time you patrol, remember last week?”

Peter did remember last week, but he wasn’t going to tell May that.

Patrol had gone wrong. Very wrong. He’d crawled into the apartment hoping to stitch himself on his own, but he couldn’t reach his back where the stab wound had been. May found him in the bathroom that morning and… let’s just say she wasn’t happy. Peter got an earful of Italian after she was sure he wasn’t going to bleed out.

Anyway, after Happy dropped him off at the Tower Peter walked in and FRIDAY took him to the lounge floor to find Mr. Stark talking to Miss Potts.

Mr. Stark did a double take and grinned. “Hey, Pete! So I was thinking we could spend some time in the lab, then eat way too much junk food and binge-watch some cheesy-sitcom.”

“Sounds good, Mr. Stark,” Peter said with a small smile.

“Great! Go put your stuff in your room then meet me in the lab, ok?”

Peter nodded and set off for his room.

After the internship became an actual thing every Friday after school, Mr. Stark gave Peter a room in the Tower for when they went extra late, which happened quite a lot.

So that’s how the day went. They spent a little too long in the lab, Pepper practically forced them out to eat, and they spent the rest of the binge-watching ‘Friends’. After Peter realized he wasn’t being a burden to Mr. Stark, he was able to relax and have a lot more fun.

Everything was going great! Until Peter went on patrol.

“Peter, there is a robbery on 5th Avenue,” Karen said.

“On it! Thanks, Karen!” Peter said.

Peter reached the robbery in a matter of minutes. “Hey fellas, it’s not nice to rob people.”

The robbers looked up from the cash register they were stealing from. There were two of them, but they didn’t look that threatening. They didn’t even wear a mask! What kind of robber doesn’t wear a mask? Peter figured they were probably pretty new to the ‘robbery’ gig. So he decided to have some fun.

“What- who are you?” the left one shouted.

“You don’t know who I am?” Peter placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. “That hurts guys. That really hurts.”

The robbers looked at each other and raised their guns.

“Whoa! You guys are in need of all kinds of lessons in manners, aren’t you?” Peter said, webbing the muzzle of the gun. “It’s rude to point guns at people.”

“What the-?”

“Language!”

Peter webbed their mouths shut, grinning under his mask.

The guy on the right dropped his gun and pulled out something else. It looked vaguely like a gun, but there was no chamber for the bullets. Instead there was a small container of some sort at the bottom of the gun.

“Whoa, what’s that?” Peter asked, joking aside and beginning to grow alarmed.

The man grinned and held down the trigger. Peter heard a high-pitched whining sound and he widened his eyes.

Peter coughed as the gas burned his lungs. He tried to take a breath but his throat and lungs felt like they were being lit on fire.

“Peter, should I call Mr. Stark? It seems an unknown toxin has-”

“No, I’m-I’m fine, Karen don’t bother Mr. Stark.”

When Peter finally stopped coughing, he rubbed his burning eyes and looked up. A string of curses in Italian flowed from his mouth when he realized the men were gone and had taken the cash register’s content.

He ran out of the store only to realize the men were long gone.

The rest of the evening wasn’t nearly as eventful as that one. It mainly consisted of an old Italian lady that was lost, a couple Puerto Rican kids wanting a picture with him, and stopping a man from mugging a young mom and her kid.

When he returned to the Tower, exhaustion hit him like a brick wall and he stepped out of his Spider-man suit before practically collapsing in his bed.

The next morning he woke up to his growling stomach. “Stupid metabolism,” he grumbled, rollling over and rubbing his hands over his face. He sighed and sat up. Then froze.

“Where am I?”

“You’re in the Tower, Peter,” FRIDAY replied.

He waved his hands in front of his face then rubbed his eyes violently. All he could see was darkness. “Why-why can’t I see?”

This didn’t make any sense! He was fine the night bef- wait. Those guys! Whatever they sprayed him with must’ve blinded him!

“Would you like me to get Boss, Peter?”

“No, no, I’m fine. Um, where is Mr. Stark?” Peter asked.

“He left for a meeting this morning. He wanted me to tell you he’d be back after lunch and to call him if you need anything,” FRIDAY said.

“Who’s in the Tower?” Peter asked. He swung his legs over the bed and stood, placing his arms in front of him and waving them around wildly as he took a couple steps to what he hoped was the door.

“Miss Potts is in the conference room on a phone call and Captain Rogers is in the training room.”

Peter frowned. What was Captain America doing here? Mr. Stark hadn’t mentioned anything about that.

New plan. Avoid Captain America, avoid Miss Potts, get to the kitchen. His stomach grumbled loudly in agreement to the new plan.

“FRI, am I heading to the door?” Peter asked.

“No, you’re heading to the closet. Turn left and walk approximately ten steps,” FRIDAY said.

Peter did as told and slowly made it out of the room without hitting any walls.

“Peter, are you sure I should not alert Mr. Stark?”

“Yes, I’m sure, FRIDAY.”

If an AI could sigh, FRIDAY would have.

Peter ran his hand along the wall as he walked. “Turn left,” FRIDAY said.

FRIDAY guided him to the kitchen and from there helped him get a protein bar without hurting himself.

A cold, sharp, tingling sensation ran up and down Peter’s spine as he ate, making him pause his chewing. “FRIDAY-”

“Oh, hello. Sorry, I didn’t realize anyone else was here.”

Peter jumped. “H-Hi. Um-I’m Tony-uh, I mean, I’m Mr. Stark’s intern.”

“Intern? I didn’t know Stark had interns.” The female voice travelled across the room as the woman walked.

Peter didn’t recognize the voice… He couldn’t exactly ask FRIDAY. He swallowed anxiously and continued in his charade.

“It’s a… uh… thing with my school,” Peter said, trying to subtly feel around for his cup as his mouth grew dryer and dryer. He had gotten a cup right?

“What do you do with the internship?” the woman asked.

“Get him coffee, run errands. Sometimes I’ll work on small little projects in the lab,” Peter lied.

Where was his cup?!

“I thought Tony was at some meeting today?” she said.

“I.. uh.. got here a few hours ago,” Peter replied.

He tried to quickly hide the smile that tugged at his lips when he finally found his cup. He picked it up. And promptly spilled it all over himself.

“Are you ok?” she asked as Peter jumped up.

“Y-Yeah, I’m great. Um, I knocked my cup over,” Peter said. He realized the cup was still in his hand and quickly set it down on what he thought was the table, only to hear it drop to the floor.

“Do you need help?” she asked.

“Uh… no, I’m good. I’m just gonna… head to the… the… bathroom. Yeah. I’ll be right back, nice talking to you,” Peter said, walking off briskly.

He ran smack dab into a wall. An Italian curse escaped his lips and he rubbed his nose.

“Do you have a cane or a service dog that I can get for you?” the woman asked.

“Uh… no, I’m fine. Thank you. Would-would you be able to help me to my room?” Peter asked, his face burning with embarrassment.

“Sure.”

A hand gently touched his arm, making him jump. “Sorry,” the woman said.

With FRIDAY and Peter’s help, the woman led Peter to his room.

“So you’re Stark’s kid?” the woman asked.

“What? No, I’m his intern,” Peter replied, trying to find his backpack that had his clothes in it.

“What regular intern has a room here?” the woman asked.

Peter didn’t have an answer to that. He had no idea who this woman was, he couldn’t just come out and tell her he was Spider-man!

“Where do you keep your pants? I’ll help you find some,” the woman asked.

“My-my backpack should be around here somewhere,” Peter said.

He picked something up. “What’s this?” he frowned, feeling it and turning it around in his hands.

“That’s a... Spider-man suit. Wait. Are you Spider-man?”

Well so much for that. Peter stood dumbfounded. Could this day get any worse?

“Yes, but-but please don’t tell anyone!” Peter said.

“Don’t worry, your secret’s safe with me, kid. I just didn’t know Spider-man was blind,” the woman said.

“I’m not! Well, I mean I am, but it’s-it’s new. I haven’t always been blind,” Peter said.

“When did you become blind?” the woman asked.

Peter sighed. “This morning.”

“This morning?! Does your dad know?”

“He’s not my dad! And no, he doesn’t know. Don’t tell him! I-I can figure this out,” Peter said.

“Kid, this is something Tony would want to know,” the woman said.

Peter sighed again. He won’t be able to figure this out on his own. He can’t see. He needs Mr. Stark’s help.

“Fine. FRIDAY, where’s Mr. Stark?” Peter said.

“Walking into the elevator. Would you like me to tell him about your sight?” FRIDAY asked.

“Yes,” Peter grumbled. He sat down on his bed. Well, he thought his bed was behind him. He fell to the floor.

“Kid?” the woman asked.

Anxious footsteps grew closer and closer to him. “I’m fine, I just missed the bed,” Peter said, sitting up.

“Peter, Boss has informed me that… in his words ‘tell him he needs to stay put’.”

“Got it,” Peter said, holding up a thumbs up.

The woman stayed with him until Mr. Stark got there.

“You’re blind? What- when did this happen?” Mr. Stark shouted. Peter could hear the door hitting the wall and his footsteps quickly approaching.

“This morning. I fought these guys last night on patrol that sprayed me with some sort of gas and today I woke up blind.”

“You didn’t think this was something I need to know? What’re you doing here?”

Peter struggled to come up with an answer, but when the woman answered he realized that second question was for her.

“The kid needed help. Rogers was busy and I hadn’t eaten yet so Pepper told me to come get some food,” the woman said.

“FRI, is Bruce here yet?”

“He just walked in, Boss.”

“Tell him to meet me in the medbay,” Mr. Stark said.

Peter stood and Mr. Stark gently took his arm and led him to the medbay.

“Tony, what’s going on?”

Peter couldn’t help the pure joy and excitement that filled him. “Oh my gosh, you’re Bruce Banner. I-I love your work, I’ve read your papers so many times-”

Mr. Stark spun him around and Peter quickly realized he’d probably been talking to the wall.

“Uh, thanks,” Bruce said.

“He said he got sprayed with some sort of gas and today he woke up blind. Can you help him?” Tony said.

“I can try, but I’m not exactly that kind of doctor, Tony,” Bruce said slowly.

Mr. Stark helped Peter sit on a bed (or what he thought was a bed) and after some silence, Bruce said, “I’m going to give you some anit-biotics to try to fight this toxin, ok?”

Before Peter could question that meant, he felt Bruce giving him a shot. “It should kick in in about ten minutes,” Bruce said.

Peter’s eyes started to feel like a weight was being lifted off. After a few minutes of blinking and rubbing his eyes, the darkness cleared away. Everything was a little fuzzy, but other than that he could see!

Mr. Stark, Bruce, and Natasha Romanoff stood in front of him with expectant faces. “It worked!” Peter said with a grin.

“Glad you’re ok, kid,” Natasha said.

Peter froze. That voice. The Black Widow had been the one helping him all morning. “I think he just went into starstruck mode. Don’t worry, Pete. You’ll have all the time in the world to talk to them after the meeting. Have you eaten today?”

Peter thought back to the catastrophe that was breakfast and shook his head. “Ok, go get some food, I’ll meet you there in a little bit,” Tony said.

Peter nodded and got up to leave.

“Oh and Pete?”

Peter turned.

“Next time you get blinded by a bad guy, maybe tell me?”

Peter chuckled and said, “I will, Mr. Stark.”

#iron dad #peter parker #tony stark #natasha romanoff #fanfiction #oneshot

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renaerys · 4 years

Text

PPG One-Shot: Shook (Brick/Blossom)

Summary: When Butch and Buttercup’s fighting goes a bit too far, Blossom takes it upon herself to intervene. Reds.

xxx

Brick woke up with pinprick pain in his temples this morning, a sure indicator that today was going to be a bad day.

His headache only progressed throughout the day, and by the end of sixth period AP European History, he was fantasizing about how good Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI had it with that guillotine. Quick, painless, and blissful freedom from the squabbling peasants who would never have let them off easy anyway.

“Dude, you’re doing it again.”

Brick could feel his brother’s big, blue eyes on the back of his head as he unloaded his books at his locker. “What.”

“The resting serial killer face.”

Brick glanced at his reflection in the small mirror he had affixed to his locker door. Tired, red eyes stared back at him, mouth in a harsh, thin line, and his trademark red cap backwards over his red hair. His bangs were getting a little long.

He slammed the locker door. “Maybe take the hint.”

Boomer, unlike most of the plebeians at Townsville High School, didn’t cower in fear at his brother’s bloody glare. He smiled and threw a letter-jacket-clad arm over Brick’s shoulders. “Lighten up, man. It’s Friday! Julie’s party is tonight, remember?”

Shit, Brick had forgotten. He vaguely remembered agreeing to go to that.

“Someone say party?” Wes Goingon, a guy so pale he looked like he’d been bleached at birth, approached them hand in hand with his girlfriend, Kim Chan.

Kim smiled brightly at Brick. “Oh yeah, Julie’s! You guys are going, right?”

Boomer dragged Brick into step with their friends, and he was too tired to resist. “For sure.”

Brick sighed. “I don’t know, I’ve got a migraine. I might sit this one out.”

“No way, you gotta come!” Wes said. “It’s not a party without you.”

Kim nudged Brick affectionately. “He’s right, but if you’re not feeling well, you should stay home. I noticed you were kind of quiet today.”

“Shh, Kim, don’t give him a way out. Everybody’s gonna be there,” Boomer said. “It’s the last party before Fall Break!”

Fall Break, yes, that was an appealing prospect. A whole week off from school to do what he wanted without having to deal with all the bullshit of high school daily life. Brick didn’t hate it as much as he’d thought he would. Even with his reputation as a Rowdyruff Boy following him, there had been some brave souls who’d given him and his brothers a chance to be normal seventeen-year-old boys, something he hadn’t had back in Citiesville before transferring. Even if many were wary of him, there were a few like Wes and Kim who were so used to sharing the halls with Supers that they barely noticed the difference.

The four of them were approaching the west exit when Brick came across the last person he wanted to see. His migraine flared at the mere sight of her and the suspicion in her gaze that was as ubiquitous as her red hair ribbon whenever they unfortunately crossed paths.

“Hey Blossom!” Kim said, bounding over.

“Hi Kim,” Blossom said, bypassing her to approach Brick, but it turned out it wasn’t him she was looking for. “Boomer, I’m glad I ran into you. Have you seen my sister anywhere?”

Brick watched her talking to his brother like he wasn’t standing right there and felt his blood pressure begin to rise. No matter how much time he spent breathing the same air as this girl, he couldn’t get past his dislike of her. They were no longer arch enemies looking to grind each other into the ground, their childhood enmity mostly behind them now that they were older and more interested in living their lives in peace. But even so, Brick had never had any desire to befriend Blossom or her Super sisters, Bubbles and Buttercup.

Still, she didn’t have to ignore him so obviously. She was always doing petty crap like that. So juvenile.

Boomer, of course, had no such qualms about mingling with Townsville’s resident heroes. Brick wasn’t sure how it had happened, but somehow Boomer had befriended Bubbles, played sports with Buttercup, and was even on amicable terms with Blossom.

“Which one?” Boomer asked, running a hand through his short, blond hair like he was thinking about how it looked in front of her.

The fuck, Brick thought.

“Bubbles. She was supposed to meet me after class, but she’s not answering her phone.”

“No, sorry. I haven’t seen her since lunch.”

Blossom tugged on her long, red ponytail, something she did whenever she was troubled by something. Brick hated that he knew this about her.

“Oh, all right. Well, if you hear from her, can you let me know?”

“Sure thing.”

Her rosy gaze finally flickered to Brick, and she matched his frown. He told himself to ignore her and her unwarranted suspicion of him—it wasn’t like they were twelve anymore and he was going to rob a convenience store, for fuck’s sake—but he also was not about to look away first.

“Brick,” she said curtly, but she might as well have told him to go jump in a lake.

“Blossom,” he said just as clipped. And, just because he knew how annoyingly hyper-alert she got when they were around each other, he let his eyes flicker briefly over her figure, today clad in casual capris and a sleeveless top.

Just his luck that one of the hottest girls in school had such a frustrating personality.

Of course, she noticed him briefly checking her out and crossed her arms. Her pretty eyes narrowed, and the air around them charged. Boomer noticed her subtly spiking energy levels and shrank back instinctively. Brick held his ground, wondering if she’d tell him off. He kind of hoped she would if only to distract him from his pounding headache.

Wes and Kim, oblivious to the electrifying tension, were still talking about Blossom’s missing sister.

Or rather, sisters plural.

“Yeah, I think I saw them leave together. They were in kind of a hurry,” Wes said.

“Really? Since when are Butch and Buttercup so chummy?” Kim asked.

At the mention of his trigger-happy brother, Brick tore his gaze from Blossom. “What about Butch?”

Blossom also forgot her rising annoyance and focused on Wes. “What are you talking about? They left together?”

Wes looked between Brick and Blossom, and it was his turn to shrink. Friends or not, being on the receiving end of both Reds’ glares at the same time was enough to make a guy quail. “Uh, yeah, like I saw them both dash out after sixth period…”

“Together?” Blossom demanded.

“Kind of?” Wes put his hands up like he was trying to placate a pair of wild animals. “More like he dragged her out? I mean, not violently or something!”

Blossom paled, and Brick rolled his eyes. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what had happened. Butch couldn’t seem to go a full week without fighting the only person on the planet dumb enough to rise to his challenge every time. Mostly, Brick didn’t care what his brother did as long as it didn’t blow back on Boomer and him, and for the most part Butch behaved. But lately, he’d been hitting the gym twice a day and even pestering Brick for spars more often than usual. As if fighting Buttercup wasn’t enough of a challenge for him already.

“Oh, so they probably went to fight. Hey, maybe Bubbles is with them?” Boomer said.

Blossom was still white as a sheet. “They can’t fight right now. She’s in no condition.”

Brick was about to tell her to calm down, she was overreacting about every goddamned little thing as usual, but Blossom dashed off in a flash of pink before he could get a word in. Kim was knocked over with the force of it, and Boomer was forced to catch her when she bumped into Wes and they both almost went down.

“Jeez, what was that about?!” Kim griped.

“You okay?” Boomer asked.

Brick scowled deeply. What was she thinking using her powers in school? Of all people, Blossom would never. What had crawled up her ass today? He had half a mind to find out.

“Come on, Boomer,” he said.

“Wait, where are we going?”

But Brick dashed off in a blinding blaze of red in much the same fashion as Blossom before him, knocking all three of them down in his haste to catch up to her.

xxx

Buttercup heaved and spat blood. The Chemical X in her system was sluggish as it depleted so much faster than usual, and she felt Butch’s punches like a ton of bricks. He came in fast and hard again, and this time Buttercup dodged the brunt of his punch and sent him spinning away.

“C’mon, BC! Enough of this cat and mouse crap,” Butch taunted. “Fight me! Unless you’re too much of a pussy.”

“Fuck you,” Buttercup spat.

Trash talk had always been a part of their clashes, and normally it added to the fire she felt beneath her skin at the prospect of handing him his ass. But their last fight had been particularly brutal just a few days ago, and while Buttercup would never admit weakness, she was not fully recovered from it.

Should’ve listened to Blossom and taken that X supplement…

Buttercup silenced that traitorous thought. She didn’t need help. She was the toughest fighter for a reason. A little roughhousing didn’t merit all that coddling. Then again, she hadn’t expected Butch to be raring to go again so soon.

“Guys, really! I think you should just call it quits for today!” Bubbles said, hovering close but not close enough to get in between them. She was not suicidal.

Butch glanced at her askance. “Hey, no one asked you, Blondie. I don’t mind an audience, but this is between me ’n your sister, so be a good girl and mind your own fucking business.”

Buttercup seethed. “Don’t talk to her like that!”

“Oh, yeah? What’re you gonna do about it?”

The taunt was transparent, but Buttercup fell for it all the same. She always fell for it, her body screaming to meet his blow for blow even if her mind knew better. It had always been that way with Butch, supernatural. He’d been created to destroy her, and even now that they were older and grown out of that artificial good versus evil bullshit, sometimes she felt like he really was out to obliterate her. She lived for that challenge, that push to the limits of fear and fatality, knowing in her bones that no one could get her as close to the edge as Butch could.

And so, reckless in pursuit of that special high only he could give her, Buttercup rocketed toward him, her fists crackling green with power. Butch caught her fists in his, and their power exploded between them.

Buttercup was invincible for all of a half second, and then came the pain. She was blown back with such force that she went flying and landed hard in the parking lot of the Shankaplex movie theater, totaling two cars and ripping a crater open in the asphalt. Her body ached, and when she opened her eyes, she saw double.

“Buttercup!” Bubbles screamed.

But it wasn’t Bubbles who pulled her out of that crater. Butch’s rough hands had her by the collar of her shirt, and he lifted her like a rag doll. His arms smoked where Buttercup’s power had burned him, but his X was healing him fast, and pain had never bothered him anyway.

“Tsk tsk, taking a nap? Am I boring you that much?”

Buttercup could feel that he was about to throw her, and she made a grab for his wrists, only to find that her hands were bruised and cut, and her palms were slick with her own blood. Chemical X was barely healing her at all anymore. A brief flicker of panic petrified her, and Butch smelled it like a shark scenting blood in the water.

“Guess it’s time to finish you off,” he said, grinning.

But he never got the chance, because Bubbles swooped in and tackled him into a movie poster display at full power. Buttercup fell to her knees, coughing and shaking in pain, but her thoughts were only of Bubbles. That inkling of panic she’d felt before blossomed into full-on fear for her baby sister. Bubbles was no match for Butch, not when he was raring to go like this.

As if to prove her fears true, Bubbles went crashing into the asphalt next to Buttercup seconds later, having taken one of Butch’s punishing punches to the stomach dead on. Buttercup stared at her fallen sister and shook with rage.

“What the fuck, Butch! You leave her out of this!” Buttercup screamed at him.

Butch cracked his neck. A horrible gash on his face where Bubbles had injured him sealed before Buttercup’s eyes as the X in his system came to his aid.

“I’m okay,” Bubbles said, sitting up and clutching her stomach. “Just a little winded…”

“Hey, she threw the first punch. Don’t be jealous, BC. You know you’re my main squeeze.” He grinned salaciously at her.

Excruciatingly, Buttercup forced herself to get up. Her limbs were on fire. Logically, she knew she could not take Butch in her state. She had no idea how he had recovered faster than her—fucking teenage boy hormones—but he was in top form and she couldn’t hope to face him fairly like this. Fear faded to fury at her own shortcomings. They were supposed to be equals, but nothing she threw at him could bring him down today.

Still, Buttercup had never forfeited a fight, and she wasn’t about to start now.

“Buttercup, no! You can’t fight him like this! Let me—”

“Shut up, Bubbles,” Buttercup hissed. No way was she going to let Bubbles clean up her mess. Butch was and always would be her problem. She wasn’t going to let him near her sister.

Butch laughed. “That’s more like it. Now, where were we? Oh yeah, here!”

He shot off again, and Buttercup braced herself for a world of pain. If she could just tire him out enough to call it quits, that would be enough without having to forfeit, surely.

A blinding blast of pink energy intercepted Butch before he could ram Buttercup, and she was blown back into Bubble’s arms before she could eat concrete again. When she came to, she saw Blossom’s long ponytail fluttering past her waist, her bare arms sparking with raw, pink power and a deep crag in the concrete leading from her to where Butch now kneeled, smoking and breathing heavily.

Manic jade looked up at Blossom, and despite herself, Buttercup shuddered at the sight. He was good and pissed off now. “And then there were three, huh? I’m in high demand today.”

Blossom ignored him. “Buttercup, are you okay?”

Buttercup’s ire flared again. “I’m fine. What’re you doing here?”

Blossom shot her a glare over her shoulder. “Cleaning up your mess, as usual. What were you thinking fighting him in your state? You know you’re not recovered.”

Pride told Buttercup to defy her imperious sister, but shame and guilt knowing Blossom was right held her back. But it wasn’t like she’d had a choice! When Butch got it in his head that he wanted a fight, there was no stopping him. Before Buttercup got a chance to snap back at Blossom, they were interrupted again.

“What the fuck is this?” Brick landed next to Butch.

Butch rolled his eyes and got to his feet. “Nothing. This is between me and Buttercup.”

Brick’s creepy eyes scanned the ruined parking lot and the few civilians who had poked their heads out of the movie theater to gape at the Supers like fish out of water. “You, Buttercup, and the Mayor’s office when I have to make a case to the city not to fine us for all this property damage.”

An admiring whistle drew everyone’s attention to Boomer hovering a short ways away surveying the damage. “Damn, Butch. You got something against Frozen 2?”

Sure enough, the new kids’ movie advertisement poster was totally destroyed thanks to the explosive fight.

“Huh?” Butch said.

“Enough,” Blossom said. “Brick, take your brother home. He’s done enough damage for one day.”

Brick glared at her, and Buttercup braced herself for the spat she knew was coming.

“We’re not finished here,” Butch said before Brick could get into it with Blossom. “So why don’t you march that fine ass back to chess club or whatever the hell you do after school?”

Brick turned his glare on Butch, and Buttercup felt its departure like the cruel summer sun dipping behind the clouds.

Bubbles gasped. “No! Buttercup, you can’t fight him anymore! I told you this was a bad idea!”

Blossom somehow looked even more incensed. “You came here willingly? I rushed over here thinking Butch had forced you into a fight. Buttercup, what were you thinking?”

“I was thinking this has nothing to do with you,” Buttercup said petulantly.

“You’re bleeding.”

“I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine.” Blossom growled in frustration. “Why is it always a fight with you? You know what, I don’t care. We’ll talk about this later. Bubbles, take her home.”

Bubbles moved to do that, but one look from Buttercup stayed her hand. No way, no fucking way was Buttercup going to let her big sister swoop in and embarrass her like this. Butch would never let her live it down.

“Hey! Are you deaf? I said this is between me and Buttercup. I’m not gonna tell you again, Blossom.”

Butch bared his teeth, and Buttercup felt her skin crawl. He was seriously not done yet, and a very small part of her began to feel the fear creeping back in. She was not in any condition to fight him, she knew that, but he was in no condition to stop.

“Butch,” Brick warned.

But Butch smacked his hand away. His whole body sparked with green energy, ready to snap. Despite herself, Buttercup swallowed hard.

“Fine,” Blossom said. “You want a fight? I’ll give you the fight of your life.”

Buttercup gaped open-mouthed at her sister, not sure if she’d heard right. Blossom never fought unless all other avenues were exhausted, and she certainly never fought Butch. Even Brick looked momentarily stunned at her challenge.

Butch was quicker to recover and burst out laughing. “Good one! Now seriously, get the hell outta my way.”

Blossom didn’t budge. “No.”

All traces of humor left Butch as he regarded her, and then he glanced at Brick. “Hey, I’m not gonna tell you again. I’m not here for you, so move.”

Blossom was busy removing her pearl studs and bracelet. When she held them out, Buttercup was still too stunned to do anything but accept them without protest.

“This won’t take long,” Blossom said, tightening her ponytail.

“Brick,” Boomer said warily, landing next to his brother.

Brick bristled. “Forget this. I’ll fight you, you fucking masochist.”

“No way bro,” Butch said, stepping forward. “Ladies first. She wants me, can’t you tell?”

Blossom actually laughed, stunning Buttercup for the second time in as many minutes. “Honestly, Buttercup, how do you take this boy seriously?”

Buttercup wanted to be mad, but Butch’s reaction was so sudden and so visceral that it gave her whiplash. He began to shake as his power leaked out of him and clogged the air like noxious fumes. That little, emasculating laugh got him more worked up than any number of Buttercup’s punches had today.

“Hey.” Buttercup reached for Blossom and they locked gazes. She shivered at the cold look in her sister’s eyes. It was one she had not often seen, but one she knew better than to question. The instinct to shrink back was so overwhelming that Buttercup felt her stomach turn, and it was not even directed at her.

She remembered a fight many, many years ago when Princess Morbucks had pushed Blossom too far in her pursuit of power. It was the first time Buttercup had ever seen that remorseless look in her sister’s eyes, and she would never forget it.

Butch was no longer grinning. “I’m gonna enjoy putting you in your place.”

Blossom cocked her head. She was still smiling that eerie, cold smile. “I’m waiting.”

That did it. Before anyone could blink, Butch was coming straight for her, fists blazing.

xxx

“Oh shit!” Boomer flew up to join Bubbles, Buttercup, and Brick in the air as they watched Blossom and Butch collide in a conflagration of pink and green. Butch’s punches, delivered hard and swift enough to break the sound barrier, carried like thunder. “Should we, like, do something?!”

Brick was eerily silent next to him as he followed the fight with a calculating eye. “If he hits her, she’s done for.”

“Like hell,” Buttercup spat. “She’s strong. You should know.”

“Wait, I thought you were the one who was against this?” Boomer asked.

Buttercup grimaced, but she stubbornly refused to let on how much pain she was in. Now that Boomer got a good look at her, she really looked trashed. Jesus, had Butch really done that to her?

“Doesn’t mean I don’t know my sister. She can take him.”

“Except she can’t,” Brick said, watching as Butch fired a green energy beam at Blossom that sent her careening high into the clouds. “I know her too. She’s a glass cannon.”

Blossom’s pink streak came flying in faster than Boomer had ever seen her fly, and Butch was waiting for her with a welcome punch that connected with her ribs. But Blossom swerved with his force and rammed her elbow mercilessly against the back of his neck. Her blunt force was so great that he went cashing into the woods beyond the Shankaplex, where he landed with a monstrous crack. Blossom waited for him to reemerge, a hand pressed to her side but otherwise masking her pain.

Bubbles gasped, and Buttercup shot Brick a scathing grin. “You were saying?”

Brick’s eyes were glued to Blossom. “Butch hits like a freight train. She won’t be able to absorb his punches indefinitely.”

Buttercup laughed, but in her injured state, it came out more like a wheeze. “Dude, you don’t know this Blossom.”

Brick glanced at her askance, and Boomer wondered. What did that mean?

“That tickled!” Butch shouted as he came flying back ready to go again. “Do it again!”

Blossom was silent as she waited for him to come to her. He came in hot, but this time she didn’t let his punch connect. More elegantly than Boomer thought her capable of, Blossom avoided him entirely, grabbed his hair, and kneed him in the stomach.

Boomer gasped—gasped, because holy hell—as Butch hacked up a lung and clutched his stomach. “I think she broke some ribs!” Chemical X or no, that one really had to hurt.

Blossom put some distance between Butch and herself and took a deep breath.

“Incoming!” Bubbles dashed away with Buttercup, and Boomer shoved Brick out of the path of danger just in time to avoid getting caught up in Blossom’s powerful ice breath.

Butch didn’t even try to avoid it, and soon he was covered in a layer of thick ice. Not one to be restrained, however, his eyes glowed red and his eye beams burst through the ice. Blossom avoided the laser that wasn’t really aiming at her anyway and came in from behind to catch him unawares.

Unfortunately, Butch was not bothered by the ice and burst out of it just as Blossom came in close. He managed to grab her ponytail and reel her in like a fish. The punch he landed on her jaw sent her spinning, and she hit a billboard advertising pet food right through Talking Dog’s face.

“Ha!!! Take that!” Butch dashed after her, and Boomer watched as Blossom peeled herself off the destroyed billboard and narrowly avoided a second pummeling. Butch hit the billboard and knocked the whole structure over like a falling domino. It was only Bubbles’ timely intervention that kept it from crashing on top of a Cooper’s Market.

Pink and green sped around each other as Butch chased Blossom. He fired his eye beams and his green energy beams in the hopes of hitting her at a distance, but she was quick and extremely precise in her movements in a way Boomer knew he himself was not, and Butch was even less coordinated than him. It was like watching Brick, he realized. Brick was so in control of his body, of every single minute movement he made, that it didn’t matter that he wasn’t physically as strong as Butch or as fast as Boomer. There was no surprising him or tripping him up, and Blossom was no different.

But did Butch know that?

“Stop running! I thought you were gonna give me the fight of my life, what happened? You scared?” Butch taunted as he tried to catch Blossom.

She was stony-faced as she avoided his grabs and his eye beams alike, but made no effort to return fire or respond.

“That’s risky,” Brick muttered.

“What’s risky?” Boomer asked.

“She’s trying to tire him out, hoping he’ll burn up all his X. But Butch has more reserves than you or me. His stamina’s even better than Buttercup’s.”

“That’s not what she’s doing,” Bubbles said.

Brick shot her a withering look like he couldn’t believe she dared to contradict him. “Oh, really?” he said sarcastically.

Bubbles didn’t even flinch. “Really.”

Brick scoffed and returned his attention to the fight.

“What’s the matter, Blossom! Get over here and fight me!”

Butch threw another punch that she artfully avoided. Pissed off, he shot at her with his eye beams, but Blossom swerved and struck him with the heel of her hand under the jaw. His eye beams went awry.

“Shit!” Buttercup said.

Brick was paying closer attention than Boomer, however, and intercepted the stray eye beams before they could strike anyone. His jacket sleeve smoked and sizzled where a new hole had opened up.

“Tch,” he said.

Butch shook himself out like a wet dog. He was bleeding from his mouth and his eyes were dilated, but he was still fighting fit. If he was wearing out, he was hiding it well. Boomer glanced at Bubbles.

“So what is Blossom doing?”

Bubbles looked more concerned than grim as she watched. “She’s feeling him out.”

“She’s making him mad,” Buttercup said.

Boomer winced. That didn’t sound like a good idea facing Butch. The guy was an unstoppable force when he was mad.

“But why—”

Crack!

Boomer whipped around just in time to see that Butch had finally landed another hit on Blossom and sent her flying out of control. She clutched her side as he sped after her, no longer laughing or taunting; he just wanted to finish her off now, it seemed. Beside Boomer, Brick sucked in an audible breath as he watched.

Butch wound up a punch. Blossom wasn’t moving to avoid. Boomer lost his mind.

“Watch out!” he screamed at her, unable to help himself.

Buttercup and Brick looked at Boomer like he’d grown another head. Butch caught up to Blossom, but just as his punch connected, she grabbed his wrist, spun gracefully behind him, and unleashed her eye beams at point blank range on the back of his neck.

Even Brick winced at that one.

“Fuck yeah!!” Buttercup shouted. “How’s that taste, Butch!”

Butch staggered in the air, his hands clutching his smoking neck. They came away bloody. Boomer didn’t miss the filthy look he shot Blossom.

“Forfeit,” Blossom called to him. “You can’t win.”

“Fuck you,” Butch spat. “I was going easy on you. No more.”

With a crackle of energy, Butch’s signature shield materialized around him. And then, he was after her again.

xxx

That’s it. She’s done, Brick thought to himself.

As soon as Butch brought out his shield, there was little and less to be done about it aside from waiting him out. Even Brick had trouble against him when he donned what was essentially impenetrable armor.

It was kind of a shame, really. She’d surprised him in this fight. Brick couldn’t recall her taking hits so well when they’d clashed in the past. Granted, that was years ago, but still.

He glanced at her sisters. They were still watching the fight, but they didn’t seem particularly deterred. Brick narrowed his eyes, and he considered.

Could she really…?

“Hiding behind your shield? How predictable,” Blossom taunted him, something Brick had rarely known her to do.

“I predict you’re about to eat shit!” Butch hurtled after her, but she danced ever out of reach.

His shield was truly something. It molded roughly to the shape of him, extending with his punches and folding with his blocks. It was a drain on his X reserves, but it was his best and only real defense.

Blossom couldn’t know this, though. Blossom had never fought Butch. But then, she was fast learning him with every punch, every dodge, every overreaction to her baiting.

Despite himself, Brick’s attention was fully arrested as he watched them. Even his migraine had subsided to a dull ache as he ignored it in favor of following the fight.

Blossom got in a good punch, but Butch’s shield was truly impenetrable, and all she got for her efforts was a crackle of jade sparks and a hurt fist. She immediately pulled back.

“That shield is so strong!” Bubbles said.

Buttercup grunted. Blossom didn’t try to hit Butch again, but he did his level best to strike her.

“Hey, is this what they call playing hard to get?” Butch sneered as he lobbed another punch at Blossom.

“I’m right here, Butch. Come and get me,” she taunted again.

What the hell is she playing at?

The Blossom Brick knew was not one to joke and jab, but the more she did it, the more riled up Butch got. She couldn’t possibly be trying to make him mad. That was suicidal for anyone who wasn’t Brick himself. And that shield…

“C’mon and give us a hug!” Butch sped after her, his only goal to grab her and crush her under the force of his shield. Sloppy and uncoordinated, but if he managed to grab her, that would be the end of it.

“What the—?!” Boomer sputtered.

Brick barely had time to be shocked as Blossom stopped her flight and spread her arms as if to hug Butch like he wanted. Brick was moving before he could process it, a command on the tip of his tongue, because no matter how much he despised Blossom, he couldn’t very well let his brother literally kill her.

Butch grabbed her before Brick could reach them, and Blossom flexed as she braced herself, her pink power manifesting like a second skin as Butch wrapped his meaty arms around her smaller frame with every intention of snapping her in half. Buttercup shouted something, but Brick couldn’t hear her over the racing wind in his ears as he tore after them, and then—

“F-F-Fuck!” Butch groaned.

His shield, his whole body was engulfed in preternatural ice as Blossom hugged him tight enough to break. Her arms were covered in ice that would not shatter no mater how much Butch struggled. He tried to fire off his eye beams, but she had ducked her head under his chin, safe from his fire. Impossibly, his green shield began to collapse as the ice and Blossom herself crushed him like a soda can.

They crash landed well away from the Shankaplex and any civilians just by the edge of the forest. Brick swooped down after them, the others not far behind. When he landed, he found Butch face down eating dirt and covered in chunks of ice, his shield completely dissipated, as Blossom towered over him. She had his wrists in her hands and her boot on the back of his head, grinding him further into the ground. Ice coated her arms like armor, and there was no mercy in her eyes.

“B-Blossom, babe, c’mon,” Butch said in what was meant to be a playful tone, but came out sounding like a whimper.

Blossom leaned down over him. “Call me babe again.” She drove her heel harder into the side of his head, sinking him deeper into the earth.

Butch struggled against her. He fired green energy beams from his palms, but Blossom pulled harder on his arms and sent them harmlessly awry.

“Let me be perfectly clear, Butch. You’re going to leave my sister alone for the rest of the month while you both recover.” She peered at him over her knee until his green eye swiveled to see her. “Tell me you understand.”

He grinned, and his teeth were a red ruin. “I don’t take orders from you—ah fuck!”

Blossom yanked his left arm back and dislocated it with a severe pop. She twisted the other one behind his back and hauled him up by his hair. “You do now.”

Her eyes glowed red, her hair was a windswept mess, and she had Butch—Butch, the fiercest fighter—on his fucking knees under her absolute control, and it was single-handedly the most beautiful sight Brick had ever seen in his life. It was perfect, and she was…

For a mad moment, he imagined her pinning him on his knees, her hand fisting his hair, exerting that control he had always pursued but never from her, until this moment.

“Brick, shouldn’t you…?” Boomer said.

Realizing she and Butch had an audience, Blossom looked up and locked eyes with Brick, and he shivered.

Oh hell.

“Hey, I like you on your knees,” Buttercup said, approaching Butch and Blossom. “Definitely your best angle.”

Butch spit blood and a piece of broken tooth. Nonetheless, he managed a smirk for her. “Next time, just ask.”

Blossom shoved him back into the dirt, and he promptly shut up.

Boomer sighed and floated over. “C’mon, dude. Let’s get you home.”

“I got it,” Butch complained, but he struggled to get to his feet.

“You seriously don’t. Can you even stand? Jesus.”

“Blossom!” Bubbles hugged her sister, who winced at the pressure.

“Bubbles, not so tight! I’m a little sore.” She smiled and brushed her bangs out of her eyes.

“You were amazing!”

Blossom grinned. “I know.”

“Serves you right, moron,” Buttercup said to Butch. “You’ll be pissing sitting down for a week.”

Boomer snorted as he looped Butch’s arm over his shoulder. “You got that right.”

“Ha ha, hilarious. Fuck you both,” Butch groused. His eyes flickered to Blossom, guarded.

“Brick? You coming?” Boomer asked.

Brick rubbed his mouth. He felt woozy. Bubbles shot him a curious look that he chose not to dwell on. “Take that idiot home. Make sure he doesn’t bleed all over the place.”

“Uh, right… What’re you gonna do?”

“I’m right behind you.”

His brothers flew off—or rather, Boomer flew and Butch dangled precariously from his shoulder. Finally, Brick turned his attention to Blossom.

“Blossom,” he said, his voice tight.

She looked up at him. “Brick.”

He swallowed, the image of her dominating Butch while she looked at him burned into his mind’s eye. So that was never going away… “Butch is my problem. Next time, you leave him to me.”

She regarded him, and so slowly he may have imagined it had he not been hyper-focused on her every movement, her lips curled in little smirk. “There’s not going to be a next time.”

In that moment, Brick had never felt so bewildered and so attracted to another person in his entire life. It was over all too soon as she showed him her back and spoke to her sisters. They were heading home. Like a fucking idiot, he just stood there, mind blown.

Did that really just happen?

Oh god, she was talking to him again. He blinked and tried to focus.

“What?” he said, fucking idiot that he was.

“The repairs. Look, I know you would rather chew glass than be around me, but you know the Mayor appreciates an in-person explanation and apology for this kind of damage. Are you coming, or do I have to tell him once again that you couldn’t be bothered?”

“No, I’m coming. I’ll talk to the Mayor with you.”

She peered at him like she didn’t quite recognize him. “All right… Thanks.”

xxx

That evening, after all was said and done and Boomer was showered and ready to go to Julie’s party, he gave Brick one more chance to come along instead of languor at home with a passed out Butch. The guy was out cold and would likely remain so for the next day after the beating Blossom had dealt him.

“You sure you don’t wanna come?” he asked.

Brick was lounging on the living room sofa where he had his nose in a Kurt Vonnegut novel. “No.”

“Everyone’s gonna be there, you know.”

“Great.” Ignore.

Boomer shrugged. “Wes and Kim, Mike, Robin, Bubbles, Harry, the Floyjoydson Twins.”

Brick grunted noncommittally.

Boomer adjusted his jacket and pretended not to watch Brick like a hawk. “Blossom too.”

Pause.

Brick’s gaze flickered over the top of his book to catch Boomer’s eye. “This isn’t some themed shit like that last one, is it?”

“Nope. Just friends, drinking games, the usual. But if your migraine’s still bugging you, I’d get you wanting to go to bed early—”

“I’ll go for an hour.” Brick closed his book and got up off the sofa.

“Cool. Cool cool cool…” It took every ounce of self control Boomer had in him not to smile at his brother’s expense.

Brick when to change his shirt, and Boomer pulled out his phone and texted Bubbles.

[Boomer: I think you’re right. He’s finally seen the light.]

[Bubbles: I told you! Did you see the way he was staring at her??? Shook.]

Boomer laughed.

“What’s so funny?” Brick asked as he reemerged in a button down shirt. Had he brushed his hair? Christ, he’d actually brushed his hair.

Shooketh.

Boomer grinned. “Nothing, man. Just looking forward to a fun night.”

“Whatever.”

They headed out, and Boomer trailed his brother’s red streak.

Something told him it would be a very fun night.

#Blossick #Reds #Brick #Blossom #Butch #Buttercup #Bubbles #Boomer #Greens if you squint #Powerpuff Girls #Powerpuff Girls fanfiction #PPG #PPG fic #repost #February Fic Prompts #ppg shook

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lycanthrop-ee · 3 years

Text

Okay so @dolphin-squirrel and I had a gift swap and they wrote a WHOLE ASS FIC to which they are slowly writing a PART TWO because they're amazing and they said I could post it for them! So here!!

Word count: 2116

We had a prompt list too, here are the ones they used!

Plot 1. They find out that something they were told as a child was actually a lie

Plot 5. Forced wedding but one (or more) doesn't want to get married

Dialogue 1. "Is this like, illegal?" "Probably."

Dialogue 2. "Why are you dressed like that?"

Dialogue 3. "You don't have to stay."

Roman paced around his room, trying to figure out how to leave without anyone noticing. There were two guards posted outside his door - his parents knew what he was like - and a small window leading to a sudden drop down to the ground below. Remus had gone for a walk, though Roman was sure he'd seen his brother go down a path to the forbidden area behind the castle, but that didn't matter at that moment. He sighed heavily and sat on the bed, trying not to panic as he ran his hands over the comforting silk sheets. Getting an idea, he stood, looking back at the distance from the ground to the window, then at the length of the sheet, smiling to himself.

"Ow." Roman landed heavily in the grass, flexing his hands from the slight burn off the sheets. His material chain seemed to be shorter than he'd calculated but at least he was out. He looked up at the castle, rearranging the cloak around his civilian clothing and concealed sword, dagger and money pouches as he stood and looked around for an escape route where he wouldn't be tracked. However, first, he tugged the silk sheet material sharply and it fell to the ground, where he stashed it behind a small clump of bushes to buy himself some time. Something small ran past and he followed it down the almost hidden path, taking a breath as he tried to remember which way to go to reach the village from where he was.

After a long time, he emerged into the village, pulling his hood up to hide his face. He looked around subtly and spotted someone in similar clothing to him - though all he could see was their dark cloak and big hood - rushing through the crowds of the market. Roman stepped forwards but froze as he felt something tug at the - fairly full - coin purse on his belt. Spinning, he locked his hazel eyes with the thief's discoloured ones and opened his mouth to speak, searching the crowd with a clenched jaw as the hunched figure seemed to vanish after a blink. He let out a breath and adjusted his hood again. No point in dwelling on what was lost...

He still had a relatively good amount of money on him so moved through the stalls and crowds, barely saying a word - the last thing he needed was for someone to recognise him. The town centre was so large and crowded that it usually took the average market-goer at least two hours to traverse, time that he didn't have. In an hour, the guards would enter his room to tell him it was time for dinner. He hurried past people, only stopping to buy some food and water from various stalls which he secured in his satchel, and continued on until he was almost through the market. More cloaked figures slunk unnoticed by everyone, merging with the groups of people who would soon realise were suddenly missing their change and jewellery. The kingdom had hit hard times a few years back and, even though it was now recovering, thievery was still rampant throughout.

He exited the market, turning slightly just to check that he hadn't dropped anything, and spotted something out of the corner of his eye.

It was that kid again, reaching towards some poor woman's coin purse. In a flash, Roman rushed over and gripped the thief's arm, catching the attention of the intended victim and the stall holder. "You're coming with me." He practically growled at the burglar, dragging them around a corner and slamming them against the wall. "Give me back my money and we can both walk away without a problem."

The thief held eye contact but swallowed anxiously. "I don't have it." They stated, voice low and gravelly, almost attractive...if this didn't happen to be a dirty street rat who stole a good amount of his coins. Roman laughed humorlessly at the response. "Really? Then you wouldn't mind if I checked your pockets..?" The thief smacked his hand away as he reached towards one of their pockets. Roman sighed and leaned his palms against the wall either side of their torso, trapping them. "Listen. I'm willing to completely forget about the money incident and let you go, no issue...But I've heard thieves know everyone and everything in this village. I need information."

"What kind of information?" They pulled their hood further down to try and avert Roman's gaze. "I'm looking for some people...and you're gonna help me find them." The thief tried to move away but Roman pulled the dagger from his belt and held it up, making them flinch back. "And what do I get out of helping you? You won't kill me? What are you, some kinda assassin or something?" They seemed unnerved by the blade but kept their breathing as even as they could.

Roman tucked the dagger away again. "You help me or I'll drag you to the castle and let the guards deal with you." The thief paled, trying to keep their expression undisturbed. "Fine. But I want payment." Roman nodded, holding up one of his other coin pouches. "This is yours if you take me to whoever can help me. Deal?"

The thief thought for a moment, eyeing the small velvet bag as Roman opened it and showed them the coins that were inside. "Fine. But it's a long trip, gonna cost you double that." Roman sighed but nodded. "Oh, and you can call me Raven for now. It's not my name but it sounds nicer than thief..."

They immediately slipped out from Roman's loose entrapment and began walking down a side street, rolling their eyes as Roman stumbled, trying to keep up. "Hurry up." They complained, twisting through different streets faster than someone as scrawny as them should be able to walk. "Wait, I don't even know what you look like..." They continued to walk in silence, making Roman groan in frustration at their stubbornness and speed. "You're a really rude guy, you know?"

Raven stopped and turned, making him stumble again. "I'm not a guy. And if you're gonna ask questions every five minutes, I'm not doing this." Roman looked away from them, clenching his jaw. "Sorry..." He muttered, finally able to get a good look at Raven's face. As he'd noticed before, their eyes were mismatched - purple and green - and black makeup was smudged under their eyes and dragged down their cheeks in two ragged lines, cutting through their pale, freckled skin. They rolled their eyes again and pulled their hood down as they turned away.

"We're not gonna get there before sundown at this rate..." They muttered, sighing and starting to walk down another twisty set of alleys, slower this time so that Roman could catch up. He looked around, looking at the graffiti covering the walls as they ventured deeper, while also trying to avoid making eye contact with anyone they walked past. It took a long time - Roman wasn't sure how long since he'd forgotten his pocket watch in his room - but the scenery started to become lighter and greener with flowers and trees beginning to spring up. "How much farther?" He asked, smiling as birds flew overhead. "Shut up and walk. The faster we get there, the faster I get back home." Raven sighed, the thud of brick beneath their feet changing to the soft sound of a dirt path as they broke through to a forest entrance. "We follow this path and it should take us straight there..."

Roman scanned over the surroundings and pointed to a collection of cut tree stumps. "We should take a quick break first." Before they could answer, he'd gone, sitting on a stump and pulling his hood off, fixing his hair quickly. Raven muttered something along the lines of 'pompous idiot' and reluctantly joined him, stretching to their full height (not missing the eyebrow raise Roman gave them) before sitting down.

"So...You're taller than you look...Why do you hunch down all the time? Doesn't it hurt your back?" They glared at him in silent judgement as they looked around, half to survey their surroundings and half simply to ignore their passenger. "Come on..." At the lack of response, he shrugged and set about picking the little flowers that were growing around the tree stumps. At least ten minutes passed until Raven sighed loudly. "I hunch 'cause to be a good thief, I have to hide behind things. It's like...thieving rule number one...It hurts sometimes but the rewards are good enough that I don't care. I'm still the smallest of my clan..." Their foot tapped anxiously in the grass and their eyes flicked over to him, noticing the way he fiddled with the flower stems nervously. He seemed young, about their age, and without his stupid hood on, they could see his gingery-brown curly hair and his tanned skin that was littered with scars. There were so many questions they could ask him but they settled on the main one that was bouncing around their head.

"Who are you looking for..?" They watched as he looked up at them, weighing his options.

"I, uh...I found out that I have siblings...*More* siblings...and I'm trying to find them. I grew up with my twin brother..." He looked up at Raven and shook his head. "My parents never told me because I think they're scared of something. All I know is there's four, not including me or my brother..."

Raven laughed. "How do you suddenly find out you have four siblings? That's a lot to misplace..." They sat on the brick next to Roman, obviously awaiting an actual answer that was more than the shrug he gave them. "I...In the castle, there were these secret scrolls. It was written in them..." He tried to sound dismissive but could see the cogs turning in Raven's head. "Wait, you broke into the Castle? How? That place is so heavily guarded, people who try are never seen again...How did you of all people get in?"

Roman stared at them for a moment and swallowed thickly, suddenly remembering he was talking to a stranger. "I...I didn't..." Raven stared at him, confused. "I...live there..." He looked away, expecting a harsh laugh or to be jumped and stolen from again. Neither came.

Raven looked him up and down slowly. "You...*live* there..?" They tried to comprehend it, finally getting a proper look at Roman's face. "Oh shit...Oh SHIT, you're-" They stood suddenly, stepping back and tripping over a root that was sticking out from the ground, sending them onto their butt. Their hood fell back too, causing their black hair to flop over their face obnoxiously. "You're one of the Princes..." Roman nodded with an almost embarrassed smile. "Yup...Prince Roman Astoria-Vallance, at your service." He gave a mock bow where he sat.

Raven blinked, frozen, before slowly getting up again and sitting back down in silence, which Roman broke a few moments later. "My family aren't the best of people, I know...I just...I wanna try and find some that might be..." He ran a hand down his face and stood, pulling his hood back up to keep the sun out of his face. "You don't have to stay. I mean, I understand if you want to go back to the village. Don't worry, I won't tell anyone..."

Raven stood too, pulling their own hood up too and holding their hands out in a lazy shrug. "Yeah, your family are pretty awful people, but you seem more like a hopeless dork than a monster. I might stick around for a little while...to make sure you don't get yourself killed. Don't wanna be prosecuted for treason, do I?" Roman laughed and nodded. "Sure, Raven. You're my navigator."

The thief hesitated. "It...It's Virgil..."

Roman hummed in question. "My name. It's...My name is Virgil." They stuck their hand out awkwardly and Roman took it, shaking it in his strong grip. "Nice to meet you, Virgil." They laughed lightly and took a breath. "But if you're a Prince...Why are you dressed like that?"

He looked down at himself and hummed. "I'm kinda doing this instead of...getting married tomorrow...I have to blend into the crowds or they'll give me away and the guards will find me and I'll be forced back to the castle and I really really don't wanna get married..." He chuckled nervously.

"So...Is this like, illegal?" Virgil asked, and Roman nodded. "Probably... They raised an eyebrow. "Okay, yeah, definitely..."

V shrugged. "Sounds like fun…"

#sanders sides fanfic #prince!roman #thief!virgil #prophecy au #sanders sides prophecy au #sanders sides #sanders sides fantasy au #roman sanders #virgil sanders

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