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panzershrike-pretz · 5 months

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Lanterns

Part 2

Disclaimer: If the timeline becomes confusing, remember my universe has time loops -> places where the time has been stopped. Tortuga is one of those places, it's stuck on the past behind a thin veil, while the present goes on as normal.

Summary: A Goddess who lost her faith, trying to get back to her senses so her family doesn't fall apart.

Warnings: ???nothing?? I think??

Taglist: @malarkgirlypop, @bucky32557038ww2 (if you want in or out, just tell me!)

-> Image below found here.

The day after the storm was calm. If it wasn't for Blithe, peacefully floating along the current, no one would even know about the gale of last night. Pacing around the main deck, all the damage was now visible.

"The mizzen really is broken", the Captain sighed, his hand on his hip as he lookesd up, wondering what exactly happened to it. "Cheer up, boys, we'll be makin' way to port earlier."

Peggy marched along the bow, sniffing whatever was left of the things caught up in thes raging battle against the weather. She was more than happy to find a dead fish, looking around before gulping the thing down - it didn't try to escape, which means it was food.

"Whatcha got there, big girl?", one of the crewmates asked, but it was too late. Being caught, Peggy simply ran off with her prise, leaving him to wonder what the fuck was up with that dog.

"Hey, Rodion, c'mere." The Captains voice was rough and the man quickly went to his service, following his glance. "What'dya think? We make it to Tortuga or stop earlier?"

"Earlier. Our sails are all ragged and we'd need a couple days far from trouble to get it all fixed."

The Captain felt defeated. He wanted to make the trip as quickly as possible and make port back in Tortuga before the end of the year, to properly celebrate, but he knew his impatience was what got them all in truble in the first place.

The ship creacked along, tilted a bit to the side. They still had enough water and food for weeks, but old Blithe wouldn't be able to make it to Tortuga - specially if they ended up in the middle of another gale or, may the Gods forbide, ended up face to face with a Man O' War.

"CHEER UP, JEREMY!", the First Mate yelled, far above them, sitting in the main mast's crow nest. She didn't exactly show up yesterday, which fuelled even more the Captains rage. He needed a break (and would've gotten one in Tortuga, dammit!).

Her smile was wide as she pushed herself from the edge of the nest, free falling for most part before opening her wings wide to glide the rest of the way down. The woman had a flask of some good ol' whisky in hand as she opened her arms, maybe to try and hug Jeremy's angryness out.

"Don't", he simply said, putting his hand up to stop her. "Where exactly was you last night, Athena?"

"Hmmm... wanderin'..."

The way she didn't even flinch while flat out saying she abandoned her crew had Jeremy really missing his old days in the Royal Navy - keel hauling would be very welcomed sometimes. But he couldn't simply keelhaul Athena. She'd break free - and damn him once again.

"Lis'en, Cap'n, I ain't lyin' to ya. I flew off. BUT!" And she put two of her fingers up, one of each hand, to stop him from speaking. "Good news is we're not far from some whatever-the-fuck town. We all can rest, get the Mizzen and whate'er else fixed, spend some money....... Jeremy, why ye lookin' a' me like tha'?"

"You flew off 'n left us in the middle of a gale. A big one. Why wouldn't I look at ye like this?" he almost growled. Athena wasn't impresesed.

"Look, Jerry, mate... sometimes things are just... ehh" she was saying, as she wrapped her arm around his shoulders and gave him a squeeze. "I wasn't feelin' it, ya know?"

"Someone could've died, Athena."

"What would I do? Is Enoch's job to bury people! Gods, Cap'n, ye're as hard as a rock, aren't ya? E'ery last man is still standin'. No one died. We win!"

Jeremy was gathering all his strenght not to punch her right in the face with his iron hand; he knew that was just how Athena was. She was the Death Goddess, for Her sake, would she really care if a few peoples died?

He knew the answer: she loved her crew more than she loved booze, herself or flying. She'd give up both her wings for them. After all, she found a safe place for them to stay... but it didn't excuse the fact that she ran away without telling anyone. Again.

"Fiona, keep that mizzenmast in place, will ye?", he finally said, turning his attention away from Athena to look at the girl.

She was entertained in making little flower buds grow out of Peggy's fur, almost missing the order. She quickly got back on her feet, silent as always, while making her way to the mizzen. The plan was simple: make vines strong enough to keep it in place 'till they docked.

"Athy, wasn't 'cause of you flying away that your ol' crew did a mutiny? Wasn't it your daughter's orders?", Rodion asked, a playfull smirk on his face as the First Mate turned on her heels to look at him.

"Shut yer trap, bastard" she oushed him away, making the man laugh. "Get yer ass back in line, boy."

"As you wish, Mama Bird", he winked, then laughed his way towards one of the Captain's mates, Sirius, who didn't seem all that awake while steering the wheel.

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The rain and storm may not have killed or seriosly injured anyone, but it still made some victims to a cold. Pangey, for one, couldn't stop running around the lower deck, trying to get at least somethings in place so she could find the medicine.

"Do a potion", a woman said, making her almost jump. "We got some herbs and stuff, it'll work better".

"Miss Serpens, ya almost scared me to death", the other, with one hand above her heart, took a deep breath trying to calm herself. "Besides, I don't know how to make 'em and the crew aren't really all that inclined to wait. I'm just a medic, not some witch."

"Lucky for you, I am." Hydra had a sweet smile on her face. Pangey stood still, watching while she gathered a cauldron and enough stuff to use.

Pan didn't know any of the ingredients, but she still stayed there, against the ships counter, paying attention while the Goddess hung up her stuff and, with a little snap of her fingers, made a small spark light the coal and wood below on fire.

It was ingrained in Hydra's memory. She grew up loving potions and always tried something new - well, at least when her mom would let her, anyway. She used to do some harmless pranks on her brother - Sirius' face when one day he drank some tea and immediately started coughing up moths never failled to make her laugh. Granted, he never again accepted anything she gave him to drink or eat.

The lower deck was badly lighted by some lanterns, attached to the ship by chains so they wouldn't fall and break - yet, yesterday some still did. Everything was a mess that needed cleaning, but with half the crew ill, it would need to wait.

Pangey couldn't for the life of her seem to figure out where was the medicine box, amidst all the chaos. She didn't even noticed the way Hydra looked at her, while making somewhat funny faces trying to catch any memory of how the box was. They were all the same.

"Don't beat yourself up, dear", Hydra said as she grabbed a knife to cut up some of the herbs. "We don't really need them now. I'll make them feel better, you can catch a break."

"Still, i was never like this, so careless with the essentials. I always had something on me... that little bag, you remember? I forgot where it was."

"Down below", a boy said, looking almost greenish as he sat close to them.

"Where?"

"Laying with Davy Jones", he pushed his glasses in place. His hair was neatly put, not a single strand out of place - even when feeling bad, Horace could not bear the thought of presenting himself badly or even close to messy. "Hydra, is it finished yet...? I am dying here."

"The water is just now boiling, boy, you'll have to wait."

"But my nose is all... stuffed. I can't breathe well! And my throat hurts. Badly."

"Then maybe you need to shut the fuck up, it'll hurt less", another boy said as he passed, going up the stairs before Horace could even think of an answer.

"Oh, dammit. Why don't we just toss him overboard?"

"Because..." Hydra stopped, knife in the air, playful. "Enoch's important. And you know how things are: kill one of his and you are dammned for the rest of your life."

"I hate curses... almost as much as i hate having my nose all closed up! Pangeyyyy, help a guy out! I'm dying over here!"

"I wish, darling. We have no meds for now, you'll have to drink her stuff."

"Fuck."

Horace hated to admit that it worked in about half an hour. The potion acted quickly and he was feeling better in no time - which meant that everyone else was up too and the ship could finally be put in order again.

"Dammit, I found the meds", Pangey huffed, as soon as she began moving boxes. "Be real, Miss Serpens, you just put some spell on me so you could make a potion, right?"

"Not really", Hydra smiled. Pangey wasn't really sure if she could believe this one. "But now you know how to make a quick potion for colds, don't you? I see this as a win-win kind of situation".

"Gods do really love messin' around, don't they?"

"We do. But I wouldn't mess around with people's health. Believe me, if I knew where these meds were hiding, I'd use them."

She helped Pan push the box back to the infirmary, wich had it's door broken yesterday and sent all it's contents flying all over the room.

The two of them didn't really speak while working on puting stuff back in place - 'till Pangey turned to her and asked: "Miss Serpens, aren't you sad we'll not make it to Tortuga for yer Holiday?"

"Hum. Night of Libero Sanctis?", she shook her shoulders. "I wish we could celebrate it there, but Blithe needs to have a check up, right girl?" she pat the ship's wall, smiling as if it could understand the Goddess. Everyone had a slight feeling that Blithe did, almost like their own little surpestition. "At least we'll be together anyway, Panpan. That's what that night is about, not some silly trip to the beach."

"And definetely not about having to hear Miss Ezebel, 'ight?", Pangey raised her eyebrows, catching Hydra make a face.

"Yeah, definetely. Woudn't like sharing my special day with that harlot. Constance can have her island all to herself, I don't mind."

"Especially after this fucking storm."

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Peggy poked her head around the corner, making sure no one was looking as she skipped around with a sword between her teeth, tail violently wagging again.

It would be a problem to however found the dog and her new toy.

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#hmmmmmmmm friendships #athena being an ass as usual #(can't blame her she's fucking stupid)#P E G G Y #oc #original story #original characters #🥨🪶

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suchalonelysunflower · 3 years

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The Siren’s Song (c.h)

Where The Storm Gathers - Chapter 3

Pairing: Stable Lad! Calum Hood x Princess! Reader

Summary: A glance of hope stands in the distance as Y/N and Calum set sails to see some old friends, but the waters are not as calm as they seem.

Warnings: Mentions of murder; Torture; Violence; Blood; Abuse; Sickness; Manipulation; Language; Some grammatical errors (English is not my first language, I’m sorry)

Word Count: 7.5 K

Author’s Note: Had to divide the chapter into two, you’ll understand why next week ;) This is the last boring chapter, I promise. Remember that Reblogs, Feedback, Comments and Likes help a lot (please help out of this ban!) 💕 Hope you like it and Happy Reading 🦋🌻✨

My Materialist // tag list on bio!

Book 2 Materialist || Prologue || Chapter one || Chapter two

Ashton could hear the distant sound of thunder rumbling all over the kingdom. He thought that if he could hear that, then maybe the storm was closer than anyone could anticipate. He hasn’t seen the rain in months, let alone the sun.

He got himself into this mess, he thought. He should’ve fought harder and stopped being so naive in regards to his father.

Ever since Y/N left, he made sure to let everyone know exactly the type of person the King of RoseWood was. Letters were sent and crows were removed from their positions in different courts. Ashton would look for allies to his cause; allies that could potentially help him to take the power from his father once and for all.

It was not Ashton’s plan to take the crown at such a young age, he never asked for this even though it was bestowed upon him since birth. But he would do whatever it takes to keep his family, loved ones, and people safe; and it was more than clear that his father could not provide that same kind of security and comfort.

After the failed attempt to get his daughter married to the King of the Vail and take control of their army, King Richard went into what villagers called “a madman serenade” If the rumors said that he had lost his mind and his thirst for blood was as strong as ever, he would make sure to comply.

Richard brought the kingdom ruin, taking men out of their homes and putting them into training fields. He recruited the most fearless, sadistic men of the crow’s army and put them in charge of his new order. He lost his mind to the delusion that he will run all the kingdoms and turn them into an empire. And Ashton was almost about to uncover his plan when he was suddenly taken in the middle of the night and thrown in the dungeons like a dog.

Accused of treason and deprived of any contact with the outside and its people, Ashton swore he would not let his father win. He endured the tortures with a straight face, not saying a word to anyone that tried to pull something out of him. He spent countless nights without sleep, weeks without food, and days without water, all so that the cause and his sister could be safe.

He knew they would come for her eventually, he just hoped they had more time. Maybe he could’ve escaped by now and warned her, to make sure she and Calum are safe from the deathly grip of their father...

But instead, he was sitting in his cell once again, eyes fixed on the same spot on the wall as his lips were dry and sealed, even when the pain of the iron chains that rounded his ankles made him want to chop his limbs off. Feeling like a failure as he awaited his death. He has failed as a brother and as future King, and right now there was nothing he could do about it except listening to the thunder and the moaning of the other prisoners.

It was the dangling of the keys that caught his attention as it mixed with the sound of the heavy rain. He wondered if he was dreaming every time someone would come into the cell, hoping to wake up from the nightmare he was in, but they all made sure he lived through it. Never too much to kill him, but cruel enough to make him endure it.

“Diner,” The guard said in a monotonous tone and Ashton thought it was weird.

This guard never talked to him in a tone that held anything but pity and desperation, trying hard to win at least some kind of good reactions out of him even when the young Prince would lash out at him. Did he give up too?

Rian Dawson put the tray of food on the floor in front of the Prince. He was fidgeting with his hands, looking nervously at the door, almost as if he was afraid someone might come in at any minute, and Ashton noticed it but didn’t say a word.

“Eat!” Dawson demanded a bit too loud, but he wasn’t looking at Ashton, instead, his gaze moved nervously through the door and the tray.

Still, firm and stubborn as always, Ashton did not move or say anything, not wanting to give the guards the satisfaction of seeing him weak. But at the same time, he knew that the moment he put that piece of bread in his mouth, he might not be able to hold it after so many days without eating properly.

“Your Grace…” The guard then whispered, looking at Ash with a pleading gaze “Please…”

Ashton furrowed his brows. It was not normal for a guard or a crow to be this nervous around him anymore, and he did not trust it. After all, this was the same guard that would come every now and then to change his chains; heal the wounds just enough so that they don’t get an infection; and take him to his next torture. Why did he seem so desperate now?

“Please, I beg of you, Your Highness. Just-” He continued to whisper, but got cut short when a new set of dangling keys could be heard along the hallway “Shit”

“Dawson! What the hell are you doing?!” The Commander asked, standing right outside the Prince’s cell, and, once again, Ashton did not move a muscle to acknowledge him.

“They ordered me to get the traitor dinner, My Lord!” Rian said loudly, standing tall and ignoring Ashton altogether “But it seems like he would rather starve than be useful for once!”

His tone did not convince Ashton in the slightest since he could see through the lie. But it must’ve not been the same for the Commander who started to laugh.

“Let him starve, then!” He said “Before he dies we would have to feed him forcefully until the King says enough. Then he could rot all he wants. Come, Dawson! You are needed on the training field”

And with that, the Commander walked away, but Rian only allowed himself to breathe once the sound of the keys could not be heard over the thunder.

“Your Highness,” He said calmly as before, still keeping his eyes on the door as he started to walk out “Please, please eat. For RoseWood”

Ashton heard the cell door close again and the heavy footsteps disappear in the hallway. Then, his hazel eyes shifted to the tray that contained a piece of old bread and a cup of water. His narrowing gaze suddenly became wide open as his head snapped towards the direction of the door, waiting for any sounds besides the thunder that could indicate someone’s coming.

His heart was beating loudly inside his chest as he leaned forward, placing one hand on the dusty, musky floor, trying to see if he could support himself with his arms without making too much noise with the shackles that imprisoned him.

Slowly, Ashton started to crawl, biting on his tongue to not let out any noise as the pain of his wounded wrist shook through his whole body with every little step he made with his hands until finally, he reached the tray.

With shaky hands, the Prince of Roses opened the bread in half; eyes immediately watering as he had to prevent himself from letting out a cheerful and hopeful sob when he saw the piece of parchment hidden in the crumbs.

“Help is on the way. Let the true ruler of RoseWood be seen again - The Knights of Roses”

Y/N fell to her knees, hiding her face on a bucket as Calum held her hair place soothing movements onto her back with the palm of his hand. It was the third time today, the movement of the waves and the worry set on the pit of her stomach made everything fuzzy and revolving, making her throw up on an empty stomach.

“Love?” Calum asked, wincing as she started to cough through the tears “Y/N, it’s okay”

“It’s not okay, it’s disgusting” She cried, wiping her face with a cloth.

They were kneeling on the floor of their cabin on the Kaleidoscope, the same one they got when they were just arriving at the Crimson Islands. But what once was an exciting, frightening, and adventurous trip, has now turned mournful and dreadful as they made their way to The Vail’s coast.

Two days ago King Alex received a letter addressed to the Princess of Roses, sent by none other than King Luke Hemmings from The Vail, claiming that her brother had been captured and imprisoned by their father, who was now starting to prepare for a war to reclaim all Kingdoms to himself.

Y/N and Calum stood there in shock and tears as they read the letter over and over again, desperately wanting to make all of this just another bad dream. But the nightmare was not over, in fact, it seemed like it was just barely getting started.

King Alex gathered a small crew and together with the couple from RoseWood, wasted no time in preparing a trip to meet with the King of the Vail and his advisor, Sir Michael.

“We cannot let that madman win,” The King said “Say the word, Princess Y/N, and we’ll fight by your side. Anything you two may need, I will gladly provide. I am at your service, Your Highness”

And with that, the Princess and the Stable Lad ended up on the Kaleidoscope again with Captain Merrick; his crew; a few other soldiers; and a few volunteers. Ready to sail and get to The Vail where other rulers are gathering to decipher a plan of attack if Richard won’t back down.

But all this stress; worry; fear and sorrow was too much of a shock for Y/N and Calum even though they tried to hide it from each other. This was not a simple game of sneaking around in the woods, this was a life or death situation with Ashton’s life hanging on a thread if they don’t hurry, that is, if he’s still alive.

“Do you want me to get you anything?” Calum asked once her breathing had calmed down, softly rubbing her back.

“A glass of scotch could be nice” She grumbled, getting up with Calum’s help as she sat back on the bed.

“Are you sure you’re allowed to drink?” Her husband asked carefully, sitting beside her as he held her hand.

Y/N furrowed her brows at him, trying to decipher the meaning behind the gleam in his eyes until it finally hit her.

“I’m not with child, Calum”

“How do you know?” He shrugged, placing a hand on Y/N’s stomach “You were not sick on our first trip to the Isles. And the Maester said-”

“The Maester doesn’t have a uterus,” She shook her head with a glimpse of a smile drawing in her lips “And even so, I know my body. It is not time yet, love. And, dare I say, if my father manages to win… it might never be”

Calum pressed his lips in a thin line, nodding at her words as he moved his hand from her stomach to cradle her hand once more.

“The time will come,” He smiled softly at her “Whenever you’re ready, and probably in years to come, it will be perfect. But, as of right now, my rose, I don’t think a glass of scotch is going to do you any favors”

She rolled her eyes lovingly at him, smiling as she said “How do you know? You’re not a healer”

“Nope, but I’m a guy whose friends would drink themselves to death and ended up exactly where you are right now” He chuckled, getting up from the bed and placing a soft kiss on her forehead “And I’m a husband who wants to take care of his wife, not make her sicker”

“Sometimes I hate that you’re a good husband” She pouted

“I can live with that,” He smiled, caressing her face with the back of his hand. “I’ll get you a beverage, though. I know Zach keeps some for the crew that get seasick”

“I love you,” She said through a sigh “Wish I could kiss you”

“Well…”

“Don’t even think about it, Hood. Get me the beverage and some mint leaves with lemon first”

Calum chuckled, “As you wish”

The stable lad exited the room with a faint smile that quickly disappeared when he closed the door. He hated seeing Y/N sick and he knew that the waves were just an added factor to all the turmoil she must be going through. He knows his wife; he knows she’s hiding all the pain she’s not allowing herself to feel. And he also knows that the stubbornness of his princess is strong and she would never admit it.

It’s all his fault, he thought as he walked towards the main cabin. He couldn't help but feel that he took part in sealing Ashton’s fate even though there was nothing they could’ve done at the moment. They needed to keep Y/N safe, no matter the cost. But why should Ashton pay for the crimes Calum committed by loving her? It should’ve been him the one sitting in the cell, not the only family Y/N has left; not the only family that loved her.

She’s already lost so much; her homeland, her mother, and now Ashton… She didn’t deserve any of it and Calum was more than determined to help her bring him back, no matter what it takes. They will not let Richard win.

He walked up to the deck, already making plans inside his head to let the guilt die down for a second as he concentrated on getting Y/N’s health back to normal when his pace was cut short by someone who purposely stood in front of him.

“Good morning, my Lord. Won’t you say we’re having such a splendid morning, today?”

There was something on Jack’s smile that made Calum want to punch it, something mocking yet sinister that hid something that he just couldn’t figure out.

At first, they couldn’t believe he volunteered for the trip, having just got to the Isles and finding a role in the court. He seemed too eager to go back to the Vail and help them defeat the King of RoseWood, saying it would be an honor to serve the Princess on whatever she would need. And even Y/N had to admit that was a bit off, but they needed all the help they could get.

Still, Calum did not trust him. And after he told Y/N about what happened back on the training grounds of the palace, she also started to distrust the man going by Jefferson. So his presence here brought more questions than reassurances.

“How’s the Princess doing?” Jack, also known as Sir Jefferson, asked; leaning over one of the masts with a glint in his eyes as he looked up and down Calum’s body.

Calum didn’t even try to hide his feelings towards him anymore as his hard, brown eyes stared at him with annoyance.

“My wife’s health is none of your business, Sir. Now, if you’ll excuse me”

But at the same time he took a step forward, so did Jack.

“Ouch,” He said ironically, “Thought you would be more thankful, my Lord. After all, isn’t your brother-in-law we are talking about here?”

Calum bluntly ignored him as he walked past the crow, bumping his shoulders as he did. Jack smirk, for his plan of railing up the stable lad, was working and he was also having fun with it, making it a personal challenge so for when the time comes to let all the truth come to shove, at least the fighting will be interesting. So he followed him.

“Who would’ve thought it would come to this?” He said, walking alongside Calum “A mad King, a Prince held hostage… Only, that’s all we know. Maybe things at RoseWood are more interesting”

Calum ignored him, pushing through the crowded deck to get to the Captain’s cabin. Jack’s voice became white noise as he tried to get the medicine he needed and then go back to his wife waiting for him at the other side of the ship. But then…

“Think of how this would’ve never happened if you never left. Or maybe things are finally working out for you”

Jack smirked at the way the stable lad stopped in the middle of his tracks, but quickly hid it the moment he turned around as the crow greeted him with a faux-innocent look of concern.

“Is everything alri-”

“What did you just say?”

Calum was fuming. The hair on the back of his neck rose in anger as a chill ran down his back when he heard those words. His fists were clenched to the sides, knuckles turning white from the grip as he dug his nails into his palms, reminding him to not lose his temper as they stood right at the entrance of the cabin’s hallway.

A shadow hid most of Jack’s face and Calum could swear he saw him smile for even just a second before his voice became soft as he said:

“I’m just saying that if you had stayed in RoseWood then maybe the Prince would not be in the dungeons, am I wrong for assuming that?” He said, furrowing his brows almost as if he didn’t understand why Calum could be mad about it “Royals can be tough, but you knew that before getting involved with the Princess, I assume. And then running away with her… Seemed like a poorly executed plan that started in chaos and, like most things, would probably end in chaos. Unless that’s the plan all along”

“What the fuck do you mean by that?”

Jack gasped, placing a hand over his heart as he blinked at Calum “That language, my Lord, very aggressive”

Calum grabbed the crow by the lapels of his clothing, pushing him against the wall.

“Cmon,” Calum said with his face only inches away from Jack’s “Say what you must, if you dare”

The crow let out a small, sarcastic laugh “Oh, my lord. Was I wrong to assume how this could benefit you? Don’t you think is a little suspicious? Father gets mad, you marry the daughter and then suddenly the prince disappears… Who gets the throne once it’s all said and done? Now that’s a story worth telling, don’t you think?”

Calum’s eyes filled with rage as he banged Jack’s head against the wooden walls, knowing that people might be watching. But he could not let go of that offense as if it was nothing. How could he think that he could do that to Ash? To Y/N?!

“You don’t know shit of what happened,” He said through gritted teeth “You don’t know what we went through, what she went through. You don’t know our story so don’t pretend like you do and start assuming on other people’s lives”

“Calm down, my friend,” Jack said, trying to defuse the tension. “Maybe I’m mistaken but I’m just saying what everyone else is thinking already”

“What?”

“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it, too? What does Y/N say about it?”

“What are you talking about?!” Calum demanded in hushed tones, gripping tightly onto Jack’s lapels and making him hit his head on the wooden wall behind him again, but the crow didn’t even flinch as a glimmer set in his eyes, sending chills down Calum’s spine.

“Oh, may the gods bless your foolish heart, Calum” The crow sympathized. “I knew Y/N would be too kind to let you borrow some of her burdens, but for you to be so clueless… Must be a blessing to walk around like that”

“Like what?” Calum was getting impatient.

“Like you didn’t cause all of this”

“My Lords? Is everything alright?” Captain Merrick’s voice came from the end of the hallway as he walked up to them.

Calum let go of Jack in an instant, too shocked by his words to say anything else as he looked at him with wide eyes and an expression that hid too many fears inside of it.

Jack, on the other hand, just smiled at the Captain “Everything’s fine, Captain. We were just having a friendly conversation, isn’t that right, Cal?” He patted Calum on the shoulder and walked away without saying anything else.

“My Lord?”

“I-I’m fine, Captain,” Calum said, blinking a couple of times to clear his thoughts “My- uh, My wife is feeling a little bit seasick, I was wondering if you could help me get her something to ease her stomach”

Zach smiled “Of course, my Lord! Come, I have exactly what she needs in my cabin”

Calum nodded, “Oh, and Zach?”

“Yes?”

“If you can,” He said, looking toward where the crow just disappeared “Don’t let that man go near our cabin nor near Y/N if I’m not there to stop him”

An echo passed through her ears as she stood in the empty hallway. How she got there, she didn’t know; but it all seemed so familiar, almost like a dream. Only she didn’t know if it was a nightmare.

The clanking of the chains could be faintly heard from miles away as the hallway seemed to have no end, blending into the darkness.

Y/N took in her surroundings, looking from left to right and finding not a soul that could tell her what was going on. The humidity of the walls started to cling to her skin, making it seem like her gown was becoming heavier and heavier the more time she spent standing on the cobblestoned floor.

Then, a small, faint light came from one of the rooms hidden in the hallway. A candlelight gleam illuminated her path of darkness as she felt compelled to it, feeling the need to follow it. So she did.

The closer she got to the light the more real things started to become. Y/N was starting to feel as if this was not a dream anymore, a memory perhaps? She could feel the warmth of the light gracing her cheeks with every step she could, and, if she paid enough attention, even the sound of laughter would brush her ears.

The laughs were heavy, grave and she guessed it must come from a group of men. They were laughing at something, yet she couldn’t see what just yet nor she could hear anything besides the laugh and a faint sound of a whip, thinking that maybe they were just messing with the horse’s equipment as the drunk guards used to do back at RoseWood; Calum always hated that but they were always nice enough to pay back whatever they might’ve broken.

Could she be back at the stables? Was her mind playing with a forgotten memory?

Still, the crackling of the whip grew louder and louder as well as the laughs that couldn’t hide it anymore. But that's all it was. A whip and laughter, nothing else. So why did her heart beat faster as she approached the slightly ajar door?

From the small crack, she witnessed a group of men dressed in black, a red rose embroidered in their chests as they carried the RoseWood symbol with pride. They were drunkenly laughing at something -or rather someone - that Y/N couldn’t see just yet. She examined the men’s faces and couldn’t recognize them as his father’s guards, they weren’t the guards from the woods nor any that you’ve met before.

Yet, they seemed to be having the time of their lives as one of them grabbed the leathered whip from the other’s hand, laughing as he swung it over his head until it crashed with a surface while the others started to count.

Trying to get a better view - or at least an idea of what was happening - Y/N pushed the door open just a crack, hoping none of the men realized as the wooden door squeaked against the cobblestone, luckily they were still entertained with what was happening at the other corner.

The first thing the Princess noticed once she got a clearer view was the blood. So much blood scattered around the room in little splashes, pooling down in the middle. She felt her whole body tremble, feeling sick just looking at it, remembering the last time she saw so much red when Calum was captured.

Still, she couldn’t look away. It was almost as if her eyes were glued to the gruesome scene, following a trail until it landed on a target.

Her eyes widened and filled with tears; a scream threatened to escape her throat as she covered her mouth with both her hands to silence it. Her knees started to buckle and she felt as if she could throw up all over again, completely horrified at what was in front of her.

With a manacle on each wrist, each hanging from opposite wooden pillars and keeping his arms open wide, unable to sit or to let his body fall from the physical trauma, stood Ashton with his back completely open and bloody.

In front of him stood a small, dirty mirror where Y/N could see how he could barely keep his eyes open anymore; biting on his lip with each crack of the whip, making him lean forward and letting the manacles cut his wrist when he did so. Still, he didn’t say a word as the guards kept counting and Y/N didn’t want to know how many rounds they got before she got there.

Ashton’s hair fell in front of his face, stuck in sweat and blood to his forehead as his face changed with every hit of pain, only adding to his anger.

“C’mon, lads!” One of the guards laughed “Gotta be a lot proper with the royals now, don’t we? Start the count again, and this time do it more… gently”

The guard stood up and handed his friend another leathered whip, the only difference was that this one held spikes at the end, making sure to cut through the skin at just a simple touch.

Y/N watched in horror at how her brother’s back arched as he bit down his tongue, barely even opening his eyes to glance at the small mirror hanging in front of him, and she could swear that just for a moment, his eyes met hers before receiving another blow.

Unable to stand it any longer, Y/N barged into the room, making all of the men stop what they were doing as they stared down at her with eyes filled with fear as the man threw the whip on the floor.

Without wasting a breath, she ran to Ashton’s side and stood in front of him, trying to wipe some of the blood out of his face. But before she could say anything, she noticed how her brother’s eyes changed and were now filled with rage directed at her.

“You did this,” He said through gritted teeth, spitting blood at Y/N’s cheek.

Shocked and scared, Y/N looked around the room and found it empty.

“What?” She asked out loud, looking over at Ashton who also disappeared in thin air.

Her breathing became elaborated as she searched the room, trying to find any evidence that someone was there. Yet, when she turned around all she could find was the mirror and a different set of eyes looking straight at her.

For in that moment, her reflection wasn’t hers; it was her father, looking back with a proud smirk at the monster she thought she was.

The sudden shake of the ship made her jolt awake, taking in her surroundings with wide-open eyes as she tried to remember the dream she just had.

Her mother used to say that dreams are made of people’s greatest desires and fears; they could come from a memory or a premonition of the future and should never be taken lightly, for a dream was just as important as a thought. Dreams are the thoughts we don’t dare to say out loud.

A chill ran down her spine as her father‘s eyes were engraved in her memory; so cruel, so proud… Was she like him in a way when she ran away, leaving the ones she loved behind? Taking the easy way out, would he have done the same?

The simple thought of that made her blood run cold. She was not cruel; she was not a monster. She did what she needed to do to survive and make sure that Calum was safe. She made the only choice she could make but, would everyone understand that? Or would they just see her as her father’s daughter?

The sheets shifted slightly as Y/N’s eyes finally landed on Calum, the only comfort she had. She ran a hand delicately through his shaved curls, thanking the gods that they allowed him to sleep peacefully at least for one night and that she didn’t wake him up with her nightmare. He’s been so restless lately, she just wished to share some of his grief with him. She already put him through a lot, he deserved some peace of mind and she wants nothing more than to be able to provide that for him; let them be just themselves like they were in the woods, away from all fears and terrors and villains… just two kids playing around with fairytales and horse rides, so in love and with nothing to fear.

After a while, it became obvious that Y/N couldn’t go back to sleep so easily. With a sigh, she got off the bed, kissed Calum’s temple as he started to lightly snore, and wrapped herself with her robe as she exited the cabin; looking for a distraction in the middle of the star-filled sea.

Y/N closed her eyes when the cold night breeze graced her face, making her hair fly as she walked barefoot through the deck. All members of the crew and the volunteers were sound asleep.

She got closer to the board, looking straight ahead at the vast sea as her fingers grip the wood of the rails. They were still a few days away from getting to The Vail and once they get there, they have to start their strategies, plan the trips, know how many people to take, embark on the journey… who know how long it’ll be till they reach RoseWood again, but they were determined to do so. She knows Luke and Michael won’t let her down and they’ll do everything they can to get Ashton back and her father out of the throne; she knows she could trust them.

“Can’t sleep, Your Highness?”

Y/N jumped at the sound of a voice coming from the shadows of the quarterdeck, placing a hand over her heart as she watched Sir Jefferson emerge from the dark corner, smiling kindly at her.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you, Princess” He apologized, raising his hands in defense.

“Maybe you should’ve thought about it before talking from the shadows” Y/N sighed, looking back at the sea “We never know if the person hiding there is a friend or a foe, Sir Jefferson”

“And where would you place me, Your Highness?” He asked, taking a step closer to her “Friend or foe?”

“Am I talking to the same man that hurt my husband in training? Then, I’m not sure”

“It was a friendly match,” Jack said, leaning over the board and placing his elbows on the wooden planks as he looked at the sea as well.

“A match is still a match. You were lucky it wasn’t a duel” Y/N rolled her eyes “Either way, I don’t particularly understand the need men have for violence. For practice and self-defense, I get it. But to draw blood from innocent people… Seems barbaric”

“It’s in our system,” He shrugged. “Men search for violence even when they claim peace. We all know our nature and how far we can go, trying to push it beyond those limits until we reach the glory at the end. Even the most compassionate of men could tell you about the temptations of power and blood, maybe by doing things they know it’s wrong just to have a little taste of what it feels like”

Y/N’s mind couldn’t help to wander over to Ashton again, on how he played a part in scattering crows around the kingdoms in order to favor their father. He said he didn’t know why, but he still went ahead and did it; and even though she believed him, she also wonders if he ever at least had a slight idea of what he was doing.

“And once a man gets a taste….” Jack continued, biting the inside of his cheek as he watched Y/N’s clouded eyes “It becomes part of him”

“That’s awful”

“But it’s true. We cannot escape who we are, no matter how much we try to run away from it. If it’s in our blood, then it’s fate’s design to follow it”

The crow noticed how, suddenly, Y/N’s eyes started to water as she hugged herself even tighter. And for a moment, just a slight moment as the moonlight graced her face, he felt pity for her.

“The sea is quiet tonight,” He said, changing the topic to spare the little Princess, at least for tonight.

“I don’t suppose it makes much noise anyway” She answered, quickly brushing away a stray tear that escaped her eye “It’s just water”

“Careful with your words, Princess” Jack smirked “Or they might hear”

“Who?”

“The mermaids”

Y/N furrowed her eyebrows “That’s a fairytale, Sir Jefferson”

“Only to those who refused to believe in them,” He said “My mother used to tell me these stories, about pirates and adventures, but her favorites were always about the women who hide in the deep ends of the ocean. The mermaids are the protectors of the seas. Some legends say that mermaids are women who’ve been thrown out of their ships as a sacrifice to the gods; others, that the creatures were created by the gods themselves as a punishment for those who wander without the purest of hearts. They seek vengeance and justice, luring people of all around the world with their voices and deceiving them as they make them fall in love with fake promises and lust, sinking them into the sea with them. And, once they’ve realized they can’t breathe anymore, that’s when they show their true form. It’s a lesson, I suppose”

“Of what?”

“Never trust the beauty unless you can see the soul behind the eyes,” Jack said seriously, looking at Y/N “There are horrible people out there, Princess, hiding in their pretty clothes and all their riches, thinking they know it all just because they have it all. But no one is sinless, they know what they did”

The wind blew strangely, whistling through the sails as Y/N took in his words. No one is pure of sins, but could they ever repent them? She wrapped herself tighter in her robe, watching the crow’s back attentively as his eyes wandered over to the water, humming to himself an old siren’s song.

“My heart is pierced by Cupid

I disdain all glittering gold

There is nothing can console me

But my jolly sailor bold”

His voice was deep and rough as he sunk into a memory, thinking about his mother and all that was taken from him for people like the King; they always have it all yet they don’t care about their people, going on about their lives celebrating meaningless accomplishments as their people die on the streets. If he could get some of that power; if he could make them pay… And he will, by the gods he will.

Jack became no one of many names throughout his life, fighting to be the best in everything he does so when the moment comes, everyone will scream out his name in glory and gore.

“It’s getting late, Princess,” He said after a while, turning his head toward her “You should go back to bed”

Y/N’s lips parted as she stared at him; his eyes held something deeper than just a memory, they were cold and somewhat cruel as he looked at her, but only for a second as his signature smile was back on his face in the blink of an eye, making her wonder if she’d just imagined the familiarity of that glare.

“We still have a long way to The Vail, and around this time of year their days tend to be longer, so there won’t be much resting once we get there” He smiled.

Y/N nodded “You seem to know a lot about The Vail, Sir Jefferson. Have you ever been there before?”

Jack nodded with a sigh as he pointed to the scar on his left eye “Fearless warriors, they say. I have to admit they were right”

“They are a peaceful Kingdom and have been for decades” The Princess questioned him “Their King is one of the kindest souls I know, and to my knowledge, they only use violence for training and nothing more since the wars are over. I still don’t understand how you managed to get that scar on a Kingdom with people like that”

“Well, appearances can be deceiving, Your Highness. You just never know who to trust” Jack said gravely, gracing his eyes to the floor before looking up at her again “But that might be a story for another day, you should get some sleep”

“I don’t think I can, really,” Said the Princess “But that shouldn’t keep you up, my Lord. I’ll be fine”

Truth was, Y/N was still pretty shaken from her nightmare and the words from Sir Jefferson, feeling a sense of warning running through her mind. For some reason, she didn’t feel safe and was relieved when Jack seemed to understand and nod.

“Perhaps I have something that could help you, Princess,” He said, reaching into one of the pockets of his jacket and pulling out a folded handkerchief “I always carry some with me, just in case”

Jack opened the small piece of fabric revealing a couple of dry leaves on it.

“It helps you sleep,” He said with a smile “You just have to put them in water, cold or hot, and drink it after ten minutes. Works like a charm, or at least that’s what my mother used to say and I never found any fails to that logic”

Y/N smiled kindly, taking a couple of leaves in her hands as she looked at them, furrowing her brows just slightly.

“Are you certain this would help?”

“Extremely”

She nodded, “Thank you, Bernard”

He smiled at her one last time before she turned around and hurried to her cabin once again, speeding up the pace once she was out of sight from the decks, opening up the heavy wooden door and locking it instantly as her breathing became heavy and beams of sweat started to cover her face.

With heavy hands, she went to the small desk in the room, sitting in the chair and lighting up the candle; wasting no time in grabbing a leaf and burning it.

From the moment she saw them she knew what they were, she remembers seeing them in one of the Maester’s lessons.

“This is called La Torture De Méduse, an ancient poisonous leaf that causes a complete body paralysis, starting from the legs, then the torso and the arms, and lastly, the brain and the rest of the organs. All without the victim knowing since it makes the poor soul who ingested it fall into a deep slumber as their bodies die slowly. One can literally become stone, hence the name of this vile creation of the gods. Luckily, it is easy to identify if you notice the little green dots on the petiole and midrib. Do not ever go near them and if you do…”

Destroy them.

And that’s exactly what Y/N was doing as she watched the second leaf burn into ashes. Her mind was running a thousand kilometers per hour, trying to find an excuse for Sir Jefferson who so kindly and so naively, gave the leaves to her. He said that it helped him sleep, but these could not be the same leaves he talked about. If he ever drank the beverage created with them, then he should be dead already.

Unless he knew exactly what he did by giving her the leaves, expecting to receive the news of her untimely death the next morning when Calum finds her cold next to him. But why would he do that to her? They barely know one another and she has done nothing to wrong him. Nothing made any sense...

“Rose?” Calum’s voice alerted Y/N as she pulled the leaf away from the fire, letting it fall with the remaining others onto the desk “What are you doing, my love?”

She hesitated to answer. She couldn’t lie to him, but at the same time, she didn’t want to accuse an innocent until she got further proof of his wrongdoings, afraid she’ll become like her father.

If she tells Calum about the leaves and what they do, he will kill Jack with no hesitation and he’ll be sent to trial again, only this time he might serve time for real or worse: he’d be sentenced for murder. The law does not care if it was in self-defense, as far as the court will know, Jack never intended to hurt the Princess and it might’ve been just an honest mistake. And Y/N was not ready to lose Calum again.

“I couldn’t sleep,” She tells him a half-truth, leaving what happened with Jack aside “Thought I could use some air and then I came back here”

Calum rolled to his side, watching her with sad, understanding eyes “I know how difficult this must be for you, my rose. And I wish I could take some of that pain away from your eyes and hide it somewhere where you’ll never see or feel it again in your life. But all I can offer you is the promise that I’ll be here through it all with you, my love, we’ll be home soon”

“You’re my home, Cal,” She said “You’ve always been my home”

“Then come back to bed and let me hold you,” He said softly “Let us fight these nights together and share our mornings hand in hand. You’re not alone in this, my rose”

“And neither are you”

He beckoned her with his head and she smiled softly at him, turning around to blow out the candle and hide the remaining leaves on the pocket of her stash without him noticing it, promising herself to get to the bottom of it soon.

Calum wrapped his arms around her waist as he pulled her close, kissing her forehead as she laid on his chest with her head tucked under his chin.

“You’re the strongest person I know, Y/N” He whispered against her hair as his fingers drew figures on her back.

“Only because I have you with me,” She answered, kissing the side of his neck “I love you, Cal. Please, never leave me”

“Not in this life or the next, my love” He replied, drifting to sleep again with her chest pressed against his “Not in this life or the next”

Still, with Calum fast asleep next to her, Y/N could not phantom getting back to her dreams as she watched the moon disappear into the sea through their small porthole, hoping that the sirens would hear her pray and lure her to sleep in the midst of a dreamless sea.

tags: @iknowyouthinkimbulletproof @mystic-232 @talksoprettyjjx @theshyspy @hoodhoran @flaneurcth @conversecake @bubblegum18 @irwin-fletcher-ash @just-here-to-escape-from-reality @1980holland @wiiildflowerrr @hoplessromantic727 @fivesecondsofonedirection @another-lonely-heart @aabc5sauce @dudethisiswhyyoudonthavefriends @fakebetch9694 @5sos-imagine @SunflowerAngel2123 @perfectnouis @in-superbloom @lukeisstillapenguin @sadcupofcoffee @superstarmarvel @personalmuyverypersonal @cnco.angels @vtte @as-hs-blog @himbohood @sofiaaraee @irwindoll @lolzkye @weasleytwinscumslut @ashtonsunflower @nicebasscalum @calumspupils @secretsicanthideanymore @the-ghost-of-ash @alltimepogue @wontlastimokwiththat t @ttinahood @lukespitinmymouth @perfectnouis @cncoangelss @darrensos @whywontyoulovemecami @itwouldburnupintheatmosphere @yeah-and69 @fckingpernico @multistann @averageantichrist @a-darneddarling @tpwkcth @f-mu @kindahumanbutalsoinsane @floweronyourskin @ihavenoideawhattodowithyou @bittersweetb4by @aria-grace-scott @thestarsandtheircoffee @bvbygxrl @luisa180206 @xxxlaura @iamdayanaz

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girlandthedarkness · 4 years

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the avatar I azula x reader

what if azula will have a crush on a girl that turns out to be the avatar, what would she do?

a/n: take a shot every time you see me doing a grammatical mistake, it's a little bit dramatic and in this fic azula is slightly ooc, because she's in love

Y/N were just playing in the royal garden, she came to the palace with her uncle, who had to attend a meeting. Y/N heard some noises behind her, and when she turned around, she saw a girl, who was walking towards her. The mysterious girl has a dark hair and a sly smile on her face, when she approached her, Y/N could see the royal crown in the girl's head. "Your Royal Highness." Y/N says gently bowing her head. "I saw you here, all alone, so I decided to play with you since I'm so bored." The princess voice was calm, but it still sends shivers down Y/N's spine. "Also, you can address me as Azula, what's your name?" To Y/N's opinion Azula's voice sounds genuinely interested. "Y/N". In that afternoon, Azula and Y/N spent time together, playing and chatting about stuff, the firebender even showed Y/N her moves, Azula couldn't help but try to impress the other girl. She even scolded herself for being so open with a person that she met a few hours ago, but the other girl makes it so easy to be wide open with her. Their game was interrupted by a maiden, that with a polite voice announced that the meeting was over and Y/N's uncle was waiting for her. "Will you come again?" Azula's voice was still calm, but to that was added a bit of sadness as well. "It was my uncle who was invited, so I don't know-" But her words were interrupted by Azula's "I'm the princess and I order you to be tomorrow here." She sounds like she will not take no as an answer, so Y/N just bend her upper body in a sign of respect and left with the maid who was ready to escort her. The next day Azula introduced Y/N to her other friends, Mai and Ty Lee, the last one was so happy to meet Y/N, that she runs to hug her. "So you are that mysterious Y/N that Azula talks about all morning, nice to meet you." You smile at the girl who griped you in her arms, noticing Azula's slightly red cheeks, which disappeared once she saw other's eyes on her. After that, the four became the best friends, spending a lot of time in academy and at royal palace. This is where Y/N found out that she can firebend, before that she was thinking that she's a non-bender.

Y/N was training already a few years in hand combat, but the last few months she had taken some acrobatic lessons from Ty Lee, who was very happy to teach her friend everything she knows. That's how Y/N found herself sparring with Azula on the backyard, wanting to test her abilities on a firebender who'll shot fire at her. At start Azula casts some fire at Y/N to see how good she can move, when she saw the girl moving fast and precise, she stopped holding herself back. After Y/N successfully dodged all the fire she sends at her, Azula shot more fireballs at the girl, thinking she'll dodged it like the first ones. But Y/N didn't, she avoids the first three shots, but missed to escape the third one, the blue fire almost licked the young girl's skin, but in a pure instinct, Y/N, stopped the fire right in front of her chest, shocking everyone including herself.

"So you didn't know that you're a firebender?" Mai's voice is curious; despite being hardly covered in carelessness. "Honestly I though I'm a non-bender as my parents, my uncle is the only firebender that I know in my family." Y/N talk fast, still astonished by the news. "Then you a very lucky person." The girl quickly turns around to see Azula who have a small smile on her face, but when she lifts her eyes to meet Azula's eyes she notice sadness in them. "Y/N can I talk to you privately?" But the princess didn't wait for girl to answer, she takes Y/N's forearm and drags her to garden, that she so dearly hates. "Something's wrong?" Azula study Y/N for a long time, her eyes exams her body, stopping at her chest when she noticed the slightly burned garment. "Are you dragged me here just to stare at my chest?" Y/N founds this situation funny, but the blush still crept on her cheeks, for her the princess is more than just a friend, you can call it a crush. Azula on other side just rolls her eyes, still deep in her thoughts. "I'm sorry, I should had been more careful, I almost hurt you." She said avoiding the other girl eyes. Y/N smile, in this few years, she gets used to see Azula's emotions or regrets occasionally and only in private, that's why she greedy memorize every second. "That's okay Azula, I'm not hurt and if you want to make up for almost kill me, you can become my firebender teacher." Azula just rolls her eyes again, feeling much lighter, now that she's sure that Y/N it's not mad at her.

Later, in the night, Azula is thinking about her feelings toward the Y/N, the things that she feels when the girl is near it’s nothing that she ever felt. Her heart starts beating faster, her palms sweats, she feels a tight in her chest and a foreign sensation of pure happiness every time Y/N hugs her.

Another few months were spending for Y/N in endless training with Azula, who makes sure to cast her own feelings for Y/N aside and teach her firebending. She makes sure to introduce her to everything she knows and even started slowly to teach Y/N the lightning bending.

But Azula was still a royal member who needs to attend gatherings and parties, so when she has to meet some very important general, she takes Y/N with her, half to continue their training and half to just have Y/N beside herself. "Why are you so pale, are you sick?" The Azula's face stay the same, not even one face muscle twitches, she keeps her appearance calm, but Y/N could see the worry in her eyes. "I guess it's just sea sickness." Azula frown her eyebrows and drags the sick girl to her own chamber, on the way ordering to one of the guards to bring something for sea sickness. "That's nothing Azula, I'll get over this." "You look very pale, maybe a tea will make you feel better?" The next few days Y/N spends on bed, feeling very ill and weak, but at the same times she enjoys the sudden attention that came from Azula. Lost in worries, Azula, didn't notice how their borders disappeared, she could spend hours just talking with Y/N, but deep down in her heart she knew that this is too good to last forever. And she was right.

Y/N felt like the sea decide to revenge on them, the storm make their ship to shake violently, while the waves were hitting them. Azula was busy talking with the captain, deciding how to survive the calamity. Y/N felt useless so she decides to go and help the crew to bring in everything from outside. The hard rain on girl skin didn't bring discontent, opposite, she feels very content, it was until she was thrown out from the ship by a violent shake.

Azula was annoyed by the downpour, thinking how late she'll be, her thinking was interrupted by an open door without anyone knocking on it. She was ready to scream, when she saw the terrified look on one of the guard. "What's now?" "It's Y/N, she was outside when we saw how she fell into the sea!" He sounds scared, and Azula wonders, is he anxious about Y/N or afraid of her anger. She didn't cast a second glance at him, she tells him to show her where this happened.

During this time, Y/N, was fighting for her life, feeling how the heavy clothes drags her deeper to the bottom. She already lost all hopes when she heard a voice, then another, thousands voices in her head, telling her to rise, Y/N's hands move on their own, bending all the water from her lungs and then around her, moving her closer to the surface. The last thing that Y/N feels is a pair of hands that brings her out of water.

Azula could feel her heart pounding in her chest, she hurried up her pace, almost running, she outs all her thoughts that she's late, Y/N's alright, right? Outside the rain stopped, making easy to search something on water, she moves around the ship, ordering everyone to do the same. Azula was ready to take a boat and search somewhere further, when she saw a light coming deep from the water and then she saw a body. Quickly lifting the body out of the water she breathes with relieved when she saw Y/N's face, but then she notices the light in her eyes that slowly faded away. Azula let the body on the deck and feels like her whole world breaks again, she commands to her guards to take care of Y/N, while she left to recollect her mind.

Azula spend the last hour thinking, Y/N is the avatar, there's no doubt, the shining eyes and the water that brought her from the sea. The person that she cares about dearly is the avatar, the number one enemy of the firenation. So the rumours about the "avatar" that was seen in Southern Water Tribe is a lie, she was right beside them. She could go and throw her in jail, where she wouldn't be able to bend anything, bring the avatar back the fire nation, her father will be proud of her, her nation will worship her. Azula moves fast, open the door that secure the avatar from her and stopped when she saw the girl on bed. The realization hit her, it's real, Y/N is the avatar, she can't sacrifice her, Azula stays here, just like that, staring at the girl and try to analyze everything. "Azula?" The hoarse voice of the Y/N, makes shivers run down Azula's spine. "Did you know that?" She needs to know, did Y/N lied to her all this time. "I don't understand." Y/N sounds genuinely, that make Azula even more angry. "Did you know that you are the Avatar?" She almost spits this words, feeling how her defense starts to crack. "The Avatar? What do you mean-...so this's what it was...Azula I swear I didn't know" The tears start pouring right from the Y/N's eyes. Azula study the girl a few more moments and came closer, already knowing what she'll do. "You can't stay here, Y/N, it's dangerous. I'll leave a boat here, on the ship, take it and run away. Hide somewhere, maybe in Earth Kingdom? It's a very big place, they wouldn't find you here." The stillness returned in Azula's voice. "I can't leave, my family and, and you Azula, I can't leave you." "I'll meet you at sunset, come here to the ship, understand?" Y/N nods and Azula, take of the hand from girl's face, when she even managed to touch her? The rest of the day Azula tried to focus on the general and his plans. "I know, everyone think that Avatar returned back to world, but tha's just rumors, your highness"

To Azula annoyance, outside was pouring once again, she lets a deep breath when she saw Y/N's form approaching her. "Had you taken everything?" Azula says nodding to a small bag in the girl's hands. "I didn't take a lot of things with me." Y/N study Azula's face trying to find anything, but was meeting by a stone cold face. "Take it, you'll need money." The princess quickly throws the bag with money in Y/N's own bag. "Why do you do this Azula?" "Because..." Azula looks at Y/N as if she tried to remember everything, taking her arms she cups Y/N's face, inhaling deeply when she saw her leaning in, caressing softly her face to Azula's hands. "I care about you." Y/N nods and take Azula's face in her hands, giving her a kiss, tears were all over their face, and Y/N let a painful laugh. "I imagined our first kiss differently." Azula tilt her head and give the last kiss, feeling way to numb to even cry. "We meet again, I know this, when I'll win the war, I'll found you, I promise." Y/N just close her eyes trying to remember Azula's scent. She quickly gets on the boat, which will take her to the port where Y/N will start her life on the run. The next time they’ll meet, both of them will be on different sides of the war.

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perseusjackson-jasongrace · 3 years

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AUs that live in my head rent free

*multiple ships*

Jercy sports AU where Percy is a basketball player, Jason is a soccer (football) player. They meet at a sports awards show and both get Player of the Year awards in their fields. It's inevitable that they challenge each other to their pertaining sports and laugh hysterically at the attempts. Because their sports seasons are at different times in the year (don't come at me if they aren't in real life I don't give a shit about sports) they go to each others games and every goal/basket scored they point at each other and it's like the whole world narrows to that single moment. They are legendary in the sporting world. When they retire they open up a sports school and recruit fellow friends from other sporting professions. Annabeth is an Olympic gold medalist swimmer, Frank is unbelievable at tennis.

Valjackson childhood best friends AU where Percy's mom and Leo's mom were best friends their whole lives and therefore their children spent a lot of time together. Leo and Percy used to terrorize Sally's sweetshop and Esperanza's workshop. They learnt how to be the cutest troublemakers and could not be separated by the strongest forces in the world. They had girls falling all over them but neither was interested. Despite Percy being bi and Leo being pan. It seemed every relationship they tried to enter into didn't work out. There was always something missing. They realize what it is 2 months before they go to college. Percy gets accepted into one across the country and they both panic at the thought of being separated. They have a fallout and it is miserable for both of them. It takes some needling from their mothers, and giggles over coffee later, before they realize why they're so upset. They both storm our of their houses at the same time, just down the street from each other as it had been their whole lives, and slam together. "I don't want you to leave. I love you. I am in love with you Jackson." Percy chokes, tears blurring his pretty green eyes. "I know. I love you too. But we will see each other again. And I will come back. And we will be together." It seems the fates were on their side because although they didn't promise commitment to each other through the college years it felt unnatural to be with anyone else. So they stayed single, and met during the vacations and loved each other from a far. And when college was finally over they fell into each other so naturally it's as if they had never been separated. Now they live a few streets down from their mothers, who ended up moving in together as best friends who had wanted to do it all those years ago. Family dinners and full of cringy memories and soft looks. They were born already together. They die that way too.

Pipabeth coffee shop AU, where they both work at the cute Cafe on main Street. Piper is new and Annabeth, who is busy and impatient, has to show her the ropes. For the first two weeks they open up shop together. Annabeth is not a morning person. Piper most definitely is. They eventually fall in love in the break room and it is horrible how cute they are. The cafe patrons either give them filthy looks or coo. They're both university students when they meet. It takes them 3 years to get together. It takes them 2 to marry. Piper goes on to become a school teacher. Annabeth opens her own coffee shop. They still do the morning shift together.

Percabeth theater kids AU where percy is the shy accidental lead in the play because he was messing around in the auditorium of the school and the drama teacher heard him sing and demanded he sign ip for auditions. Annabeth is part of the tech crew and cannot help but be mesmerized everytime Percy is on stage. They learn of each other when Percy has a costume emergency during the first dress rehearsal and she's in the wings to help him about 30 seconds before he goes on stage. He gives her roses to thank her and it is the end. They're together from that moment on. Who knows if they last, they live on forevermore in the wings of the stage.

Valgrace teacher AU where Jason is the new history teacher at a high school and Leo, the maths teacher, takes great delight in having his student prank Jason's classroom on the daily. It is especially fun when the blonde comes storming in all red in his golden face and then immediately schools his expression into one of pointed calm when he sees Leo has students. It's always a clipped "Can I please talk to you Mr Valdez." Leo has never been able to hide his grin. One prank goes a little awhol though and Jason's classroom is a mess. Leo helps clean up after school and the tension of three months of back and forth turns electric in an instant. They become the couple the students giggle over. Jason refuses to partake in any affectionate activities during school hours. Leo takes it as a challenge to sneak as many forehead and cheek kisses in as possible. They spend their evenings grading papers and sipping tea. Leo eases his husband's glasses off his face and grabs a blanket before squishing himself onto the couch with Jason. They fall asleep like that many times a month. It never stops.

McJackson theme park workers AU where they challenge each other to the scariest Rollercoasters right after lunch and whoever throws up first has to do park rounds. They're at a tie but Percy is determined to win. So he challenges Piper to ride their two scariest rollers one after the other for half an hour. Piper who can never say no to a dare does it. She throws up so violently Percy has to take over her shift for three days. He brings her soup, and bland toast, and peppermint tea. She laughs at his doting and he mumbles apologies for the guilt of making her bedridden. He says he'll do any dare she asks, so she has some justice. She gives him a glittering smirk and says "any dare?" He should have known then he'd be in trouble but he nods anyway. "I dare you to kiss me." They've been happily terrorizing park guests ever since. And now they both go on terrible rides and get sick and egg each other on. And they are best friends with the added bonus of kissing each other thrown in. When Percy proposes it is so on brand for then their friends groan when they hear the recount. "I dare you to marry me." Piper has never been so happy to complete a dare in her life.

Leobeth as stressed out engineering students AU. They meet in the library when they both go to the printer at the same time and find out its broken. It's 2am and Annabeth just wanted to print her notes so she could start on the grueling process of actually studying them. Leo laughs when she kicks the machine and then fixes it with ridiculous speed. She's grateful enough to throw her arms around him and buy him coffee. They end up studying together often and help each other with theories and concepts they aren't quite grasping. They kind of fall into love, tinkering their friendship just as Leo tinkered with the printer. One day they were groaning over notes and the next Annabeth was kissing Leo because she got an A on her test and she was so happy she was beside herself. He pulls her in for another one and the kiss promised forever. They did everything together after that. Studied, graduated, succeeded. And when they got married Leo printed his vows over her study notes, and gifted her a little printer pendant that she wore on her necklace of beads. Annabeth laughed herself silly and never took it off.

#Jercy #Percabeth #Pipabeth #Valgrace #McJackson #AUs #PJO AUs #PJO #HOO #Ciara just has thoughts and writes them #There is not thinking involved #Valjackson #Crackships keep Fandom alive #Crackships

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mirainablackhart · 4 years

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RK1K Pirate AU (beautiful art by the lovely @sayatsugu; commisioned by yours truly)

Disclaimer: Credits for this backstory go to the masterminds @that-android-from-cyberlife & @0-0136 who brought this pirate AU to life during a Tumblr chat discussion months ago. :D I merely helped to compile the ideas here since the original discussion already got deleted. ^^

Markus captains the pirate ship Jericho—a feared and renowned ship and their crew mainly targets huge merchant vessels.

Connor, on the other hand, is a respected naval officer who’s in charge of dealing with pirates and smugglers.

It’s Connor’s mission to track down and capture Markus and his crew.

And it’s made all the more personal because of an incident that occurred years ago, before he was even an officer. When he was younger, he was put in charge of his family’s cargo ship, which Markus and his crew ended up plundering so he’s all too happy to deal with them now, his way of dealing out some sweet justice.

Connor’s ship hits a vicious storm in the dead of night. He’s aboard a very good vessel, but this storm is bad. The ship is thrown into a cluster of rocks just below the water and the ship goes down. Come morning, the storm is gone and the waters calm. Markus just so happens to be sailing the same area that Connor’s ship went down. He can see debris in the water and there are things that have washed up on the shore of a little island nearby so he and a few crew members take a dingy out to see if anything of value is out there. While they’re on the beach searching the wreckage, Markus finds an unconscious Connor, near death and ice cold.

Now, Markus might plunder goods from ships, but he tries not to hurt people and he sends the stolen goods back to the town he’s from to help the people there so when he finds Connor on the beach and realizes that the man looks quite familiar, he can’t just leave him there to die. He takes Connor back to his ship to try and save him, though he’s not sure he’ll be able to.

Connor wakes up in Markus’ cabin and expects to be interrogated, or worse—tortured, for information. Additionally, his current predicament doesn’t bring back good memories. Connor was in a tight spot after his family’s ship got plundered. They never let him live it down and it caused him a lot of problems for years until he managed to get in the navy.

Once Connor sees Markus enter the cabin though, a dark memory from his past unwillingly flashes in his mind.

He remembers the day when Markus and his crew invaded his family’s cargo ship and while Markus was giving a little speech about how he wasn’t there to harm them and that he just wanted their goods, Connor had leapt up in anger and tried to attack Markus. One of Markus’ crew jumped forward and pushed Connor away from their captain. He ended up stumbling back and hitting his head on something. He got a nasty cut and had fallen unconscious.

Connor only has vague impressions of what happened after that. But he remembers screaming. And blood. So much blood.

When he finally woke up, Amanda—the owner of a larger trading company who had sailed with them at that time—was there and she told him that Markus and his men had slaughtered Connor’s whole crew but had spared Connor, Amanda herself and one other person. Which was why Connor had hated Markus ever since, angry that the pirate would do something that cruel when the cargo ship’s crew was absolutely innocent.

Which is also why he immediately attempts to attack Markus in reflex as the man walks towards him. But Connor realizes too late how bad of an idea it was when a sudden pain lances through his body and Markus rushes to settle him back on the bed.

Markus doesn’t understand where Connor’s hostility is coming from, especially as he has just saved the other man’s life. He gets even more confused and shocked when Connor accuses him of being a murderer, that he mercilessly killed everyone on Connor’s cargo ship all those years ago.

Markus now realizes why Connor had looked very familiar. He remembers invading his ship and recalls how Connor tried to attack him but was knocked out. After Connor was hurt, Markus actually called Simon over to stitch his head wound to make sure he would be alright. Then they took the goods and left the ship, and its crew, unharmed.

It takes a lot to convince Connor, but he eventually believes Markus.

Connor is bedridden for quite a while and during his time there, his initial hatred towards Markus starts to shift into something else as he begins to see the man behind all the tales and bounties, that Markus really isn’t the horrible person Connor’s been told he is, that Markus is actually telling the truth.

But if Markus didn’t kill his crew all those years ago, then who did? And why did Amanda lie to him?

Once Connor is well enough to be up and moving on his own, he decides it’s time that he return home. He’s reluctant to admit it, but his time with Markus has been good. But… a pirate ship simply isn’t his place. And it’s time he goes back to his life.

Markus doesn’t want him to go, but he won’t hold Connor against his will.

Connor finds his way home. Markus can’t take him directly back to the port town he’s from as it’s too dangerous, but Connor jumps a couple other ships in some ports and makes it back to Amanda. When he gets there, he asks her about what really happened on the ship all those years ago.

She comes clean and tells Connor the truth—that after Markus sailed away and while Connor was still more or less unconscious, Amanda had her right-hand man kill the whole crew, then put the blame on Markus.

This shocks Connor and when he asks her why she would do such a thing, she simply tells him that Markus and his crew had always been a thorn in her side. That wasn’t the first ship under her trading company that he has looted. What better way to get people after him than to make him a terrible killer with an enormous bounty?

It was obvious that Amanda feels no remorse for what she did. Deep down, Connor suspected. But he didn’t want to believe it. But now that it’s right in his face and he can’t deny it any longer, it makes him sick.

After a few days, Connor just can’t stay anymore. He packs a trunk and slips away in the night. He starts taking passage with cargo ships transporting goods in the hopes that Markus will rob the ship he’s on and he can go back to the place he realized he was actually happy.

It’s weeks and weeks before Connor finally spots a familiar ship on the horizon…

Connor quietly waits below the deck until Markus comes down to inspect the cargo. Needless to say, he’s shocked to see Connor as he never really expected to see him again.

Connor softly tells him that when he returned home, he realized he wasn’t happy. He’d never been happy there. And he only realized it because he was happy with Markus.

It leaves Markus overwhelmed, happy and shocked that he all he could do was to lean in and give Connor the kiss they never got to have before they parted ways.

#rk1k #dbh rk1k #conkus #pirate au

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chaseatinydream · 3 years

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pirate king (74) || atz

The two of you have been drifting for an awfully long time now.

You don’t know exactly how long you’d been passed out for, or what exactly you’d been dreaming off when you were asleep, but when you’d come to, you’d realised that you were on a raft… floating all alone in the middle of a sea of great blue.

Well, all alone except for your captain lying next to you, at least.

You hadn’t remembered falling asleep, and you had most certainly not with your captain’s arms wrapped around you protectively, your head tucked into his shoulder. When you had awakened, the smell of sea salt and warm sun nudging insistently against your senses, you had startled and very nearly upended the entire raft that your lives depended on.

Now, however, you’re content with watching the gentle sunlight filtering between the clouds reflecting of the waves. You sit at the edge of the raft carefully, resisting the urge to dip your toes in the bottomless ocean, shoals of rainbow fish inspect your raft curiously and their scales glinting iridescent under liquid diamonds while you wait for your captain to awake.

The sea is calm, the sky is a soft forget-me-not blue, and if you didn’t know any better, you can almost believe that you’re back on the deck of the Treasure.

How’s Wooyoung doing? Does he know that you and your captain are missing? Is your master with him, comforting him right now as Yeosang and Mingi furiously wrack their minds for where the two of you could have gone?

For some reason, though, you’re not the least bit worried. The sea is calm, and so are you.

All of a sudden, there’s a groan behind you, and you turn around to see your captain attempting to sit up, one hand on his head - where a painful knot had bloomed from a hit he’d received from earlier - and he had lost his eyepatch sometime during the massive storm. Now one green eye blinks blearily, clouded with sleep, and then fixes on you. There’s a hint of confusion, before it clears and his lips part to form a word.

“Chin Hae?”

“You’re finally awake.” You say brightly, turning around to look at him. For you, he manages a smile, and sits up completely, the last, tattered rags of his red jacket that you’d put around his shoulders falling into his lap.

Hongjoong picks it up, inspects it briefly, and laughs, dropping it onto the raft. “So that’s it for you, old friend.”

You wince sheepishly, turning to look at him more clearly. He’s dressed simply now, in a white shirt and his patchwork pants, green eye clear as an emerald sea. “I might have done the last blow to it... it was pretty beaten up so I tore up some parts of it and used it to clean the blood off your face.”

Your captain lets out a little laugh and shakes his head. “Well, we’re both alive, so I have no complaints. It’s a pity I lost that rope, though.” His smile turns a hint fainter, nostalgia painted on his face. “It was the last memory I had of her.”

You glance over at him. “Your benefactor? That was her only gift to you when you were abandoned on that island, am I right?”

He nods quietly, fondly gazing out at the ocean. “Maybe it returned to the sea, like where she came from. But,” a playful twinkle comes into his eyes, “that isn’t the only gift she gave me. Look at this.”

Curiously, you lean over as your captain kneels at the water’s edge, sliding his fingers into the warm water. The fish at your raft scatter for a moment, startled by the sudden intrusion, but then come up to him boldly, without fear, seemingly exploring his hand.

But that isn’t the only thing that happens. In your belly, you feel a gentle tug, then all of a sudden the water shifts and the raft starts moving.

“The blessing of a sea god, huh...” Hongjoong says quietly, as the raft picks up speed, although there isn’t a sail to catch the wind in the least. “The sea will always be on your side, she told me. I guess it has, for most of my life since then. That’s why,” he turns to smile at you, and warmth settles in your chest. “The two of us will be fine. The sea connects everything, the crew will definitely find us, and take us home. You don’t need to worry about a thing.”

You study him for a second, and then nod. “I wasn’t really worried, but thanks for the reassurance, captain.” Hongjoong looks a little startled before he laughs awkwardly, scratching his head with a boyish grin that makes your heart skip a beat.

“Oh... just pretend that I didn’t say anything, then.” He sits next to you, and the sea breeze caresses your face gently. Suddenly your captain laughs aloud, lying back on the raft, and you turn around to see him looking the most carefree you’ve ever seen him, his one green eye twinkling.

“We were pretty stupid, weren’t we?”

“I think that would be an understatement,” you say, and then Hongjoong breaks out into peals of laughter. It’s a beautiful sound, clear and bright, and one that you feel that you don’t hear often enough on the Treasure. You suppose that as Captain, Hongjoong still needs to maintain some sort of authority, but now it seems like he fully intends to make the most use of the time he has as a simple man on a raft.

Glad that you’ve been able to make him smile, you turn away for a second to hide the flush you feel on your cheeks, but then suddenly you feel a tug on your sleeve.

When you look at your captain, he grins at you, eyes sparkling with mischief.

“Have you ever heard of drinking a fish?”

You stare.

What?

>>>

Hongjoong squats precariously at the edge of the raft, a crudely fashioned fishing spear in hand, made from a loose piece of timber pried from the raft and the long nail that had once held it in place.

“Captain, drinking a fish sounds... weird.” You tell him, but Hongjoong simply continues to focus on the fish darting about beneath the surface of the water, spear poised and eyes shining with determination.

Another few minutes of silence pass by and your captain hasn’t moved an inch, so you decide to reach out and tug lightly at his shoulder to pull him back. “It’s okay, captain, I mean, we aren’t starving yet or anything-”

He lunges.

“Captain!” You shriek, barely managing to grab onto the back of his shirt before he goes toppling into the water. As a result, the two of you nearly go splashing about in the ocean with the fish he was trying so hard to catch, until your captain whirls around nimbly, one arm coming up to pull you hard against his chest before you fall into the ocean.

“I’m fine!” He laughs jovially, and before you can tell your heart to stop trying to jump out of your mouth, he holds up his fishing spear. To your surprise, a large, silver fish wriggles on the end, attempting to leap back into the ocean. Hongjoong pins it to the raft, grinning at you excitably with a child’s delight in his eyes. “Got it!”

For some reason, your heart stumbles. It’s rare you see your captain so happy, so unrestrained. Laughing over something so small like catching a single fish? It’s like you’re discovering new facets to him that you would have never had the opportunity to on board on the Treasure, and for some reason, getting tossed into the middle of nowhere doesn’t seem as bad as it sounds if your captain can smile like this.

He wrestles the fish off the hook, and immediately the waves pick up again, pushing you to god knows where. The fish is large, about as long as his hands put together, and he presents it to you proudly. “Success, Chin Hae! Maybe we don’t need the Treasure after all!”

You stare at him for a second, but his smile is infectious and you fight to keep yours at bay. “Captain, we caught one fish. Seonghwa-oppa calls me a big eater, you know.”

“I’ll catch ten fish for you, then.” He says earnestly, holding up his fishing spear and eye impossibly soft. “We could live out here on a tiny raft and go where the current takes us. Settle on shore in a small fishing town and be a fisherman, not too well known but friendly with everyone.” His voice suddenly dips into nostalgia, pulling at your heartstrings. “Watching the sun rise over the sea every dawn and living a peaceful life with all of the crew, without fighting or running.”

You look at him quietly, legs tugged up to your chest as he begins to cut into the fish with a small knife and a steady, skilled hand. “Is that... is that what you want?”

“I’ve always wanted to be a fisherman when I was a kid.” Is all he says as he slices the fish in half easily, looking out to sea before he lets out a humorless chuckle. “My father always told me I was destined for something bigger, to be the key and map to whatever to his treasure, but I became a pirate. Nothing like the quiet life I dreamed about.” He turns to look at you, and his eye holds such gentleness you feel like you want to cry. “ It was worth it, though. To meet the rest of the crew, and to meet you.”

You look at your feet, rocking back and forth quietly. “Well, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. Maybe your father was right when he said you were destined for something greater. All of the crew, we didn’t have homes until we found you and the Treasure. So thank you for giving us a family, captain.”

A small, secret smile tugs at Hongjoong’s lips, but he doesn’t look at you. A hint of red dusts along his high cheekbones. “You know, no one in a family calls each other captain. So you should call me-”

“I guess we’re not family then.” You answer instantly and Hongjoong pouts, pulling apart the fish with his fingers. “That’s so mean of you, Chin Hae. When we get back, I’m going to use my authority to make you call me Hongjoong.”

You laugh, fingers folding around the key in the pocket of your pants. “When we get back... I’ll have a gift for you.”

He eyes you suspiciously. “It’s not a doll, is it? Seonghwa’s traumatised me enough with those, and I don’t need a repeat of the Pom Pom incident, thanks.”

You shudder. No one needs a repeat of the Pom Pom incident, you think. Hongjoong then holds up the sliced fish to you with a wide grin on his face. “Now, bottoms up!”

You stare at him.

“Huh?”

“You can’t drink the sea water, but if you ever need to survive on a raft, you can get drinkable fluid from big fishes.” Hongjoong announces, waving the fish in front of you. Its bulbous eyes meet yours and you make a face. “What do you mean?”

“Watch carefully.” Hongjoong tells you, and lowers his mouth to the fish. You gape in silent horror as his lips wrap around the fish - the fish’s eyeball! - and sucks hard.

Before you can shriek, there’s a soft pop sound and Hongjoong swallows cheerfully, looking up at you. An eyeball stares back at you from between his teeth, and you instantly cover your eyes from the sight. “Dehydration seems like a good option now, thanks.”

“Aww, come on. These are survival skills I picked up living on the island. Dying is one hell of a motivator, you know.” He offers you the fish again, but his smile is cheeky, teasing like you’ve never seen it before. It makes your heart stumble, fall and fly all at once. “Give it a go!”

“No!”

You laugh, pulling away. You wobble a little on the raft, but Hongjoong is by your side in an instant, fingers wrapped around your wrist to keep you upright. It feels like you’re the only two people in the world.

It feels nice.

It’s almost... almost like you could forget...

Suddenly inexplicably content, you sit down on the raft and lie back, eyes closed. Hongjoong peers at you from above, fish still cradled in his hands. “Chin Hae?”

You look at him, his ruffled, windblown hair, the slight catlike curve of his lips, the green of his eye, the pattern of the scar over his eye, and look even more. More memories, more things to remember.

So that when you leave, you’ll be taking more with you than you’d come with.

In response, you smile and simply say, “nothing.” You should tell captain, you hear your master say in your head. But in response to his words, you simply grin and hold out a hand to him.

“Come on, captain.”

You hear him let out a humored huff, before the raft rocks a little when he lies down next to you. His hand wraps around your human one, and he looks up at the sky, blue and clear and unending. You watch him for a while, before your gaze follows his and you reason with yourself.

Just a little while longer.

In the distance, you see a dark shape approaching on the horizon. Home, your heart tells you, but another voice, quieter, more still whispers in your ear gently. It’s your final destination now, ****.

Please.

Your fingers wrap around his, and he interlaces his with yours, eternally warm, impossibly tender.

Just a bit longer with him.

Unconsciously, your wooden hand drifts to your ankles, and a bittersweet smile pulls at your lips.

Just a bit longer with them.

And when your eyes close, you think you see a little boy standing in front of you, rope in hand as he looks up at you with a single familiar green eye, filled with raw emotion.

What’s your name?

And in your dream, you finally tell him.

It’s Chin Hae.

#ateez #ateez fanfic #ateez fanfiction #hongjoong #seonghwa #san #mingi #wooyoung #jongho #yunho #yeosang #ateez pirate king #w; ot8 #w; pirate king #w; fanfiction

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babybatscreationsv2 · 3 years

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A King on a Leash ch14

Marvel | Starker

Tony Stark is a powerful man with a beautiful husband and a loyal crime family, but it looks like he didn’t keep his husband on a short enough leash. After turning Peter lose on a Cuban gang leader, Peter’s life is in danger. The real trouble is that Tony now realizes that Peter is the only thing in this world that he cares about and he never meant for that to happen.

Sequel to A Doll on a String

Rating: Explicit

Full Fic

A Doll on a String

Warnings under the cut*

Warnings: violence, murder, blood, torture, mafia stuff

The warehouse was buzzing when Tony walked in. Everyone was chatting away. All eyes turned to him as he walked. A buffet of emotions crossed each face in the room. Tony ignored the stares and walked himself down the hall to his office where he found Natasha perched on his desk, long, pant-suited, legs crossed one over the other.

"What's up, Nat?" He left his entourage outside and closed the door.

"Your enemies should learn not to ambush you so publicly. They were sloppy," she said.

"That's good news. What did you find?" Tony shrugged off his jacket and walked around the desk to take his seat.

"Between license plates and a couple of names I beat out of our remaining traitors, everything. I know where your guy is, where his friends are, what he's going to do next. And I have someone inside feeding me updates."

"Well, why the hell are we sitting here?"

Natasha stood and turned to face him. "This guy killed a good handful of our people. Don't you want to return the favor?"

A wicked grin spread across his face. Blood lust burned in his belly.

"That's what I thought," she nodded. "Tonight is poker night for him and his closest boys. I thought we might arrive early. Redecorate the place."

"Sounds perfect."

There was a buzzing under his skin as he drove. Adrenaline fueled him. It was near impossible to keep himself from speeding through the streets, but he couldn't afford to be stopped by police. He had no patience to spare. He wanted to ask Peter to join him, but he knew it was best to wait until he knew it was safe. There was always a chance that Nat had missed something, that it was a trap. Happy and the rest of Peter's ever growing security team would keep him safe if something went wrong. He sent Happy a text, letting him know to be on high alert. He received a simple 'yes, Boss' in return. No time for arguments or conversation. No time for distraction.

They pulled into the back lot of the most obvious front Tony had seen in his life. Eight of his men stormed in first. He didn't hear a single gunshot from outside. Clean, perfect. Another five followed a moment later. Then he and Natasha finally went to join them. They left friends to guard the building from the outside.

Bucky was in the hotel across the street. He and three others were positioned with snipers. Steve and his crew were patroling the streets and alleyways nearby. Anyone who looked like they were maybe a part of a gang would be cut down before they could alert others. No mercy. No hesitation. Not this time. It wouldn't end here, not by a long shot. After today, Tony would deploy several of his Capos to track down every last one of the Tiburones and their families. There would be no survivors.

Inside the building were pool tables, ping-pong tables, and card tables. All of them were now bloodstained. Bodies littered the floor and decorated the tables. He could hear someone sobbing, someone else was delirious, frantically praying in rapid spanish. He heard thumping down below. His men had moved into the basement and were dropping bodies down there, too. There were three gun shots this time. Not his boys. They were using silencers.

"Finish up these ones. I'll check on the boys."

"You sure?" Natasha asked, but she was already moving to do what he asked. She grabbed the head of the sobbing man and twisted.

"Stay up here unless something goes wrong. Make sure they're all dead."

"Yes, Boss."

Tony stepped through the door to the basement. He walked easily down the stairs, not bothering to go quietly. He had faith in his men. It paid off when he turned the corner and saw them doing just what they were told. There had been six in the basement playing cards. Three remained. They cowered against the wall while Tony's men held them at gunpoint.

"Nice work, fellas," he called. The men against the wall trembled. "I head your man Richardo is coming to visit tonight, is that right?"

"Fuck you, Stark," one of them spat. He had a tattoo of a long skinny shark on his face.

"You're the ones getting fucked, tonight. We made a real mess in here, didn't we?" His men chuckled. "I'll pay the cleaning bill."

Tony sat down at the card table. He unbuttoned his jacket and made himself at home. "Well, Chili was expecting a poker night." He gestured to the table. "I would hate for our dear friend to miss out on his favorite night of the week. Why don't you boys join me?"

They shared nervous glances, but they didn't move.

"That wasn't a suggestion." Tony scowled at them. As one, they shuffled away from the wall and came to the table. They sat down, each with a gun pointed at the back of their head.

"That's more like it. Who wants to deal?" He pulled out his phone and texted Happy. He hated to interrupt Peter's lunch with his friends, but he knew he wouldn't want to miss out. He decided to called Nat first and make sure it wouldn't be a waste of his time.

"I'm literally upstairs," she answered.

"That's great, babe. And where's our guy?"

"On his way. One of your basement boys sent out an SOS."

"Did they?" He eyed the table. He couldn't tell yet, who it was. They all looked afraid. Then one of them looked down and Tony saw a glow under his chin. "How long?"

"Twelve."

"Perfect." He hung up the call and addressed the man with the cell phone. "So what I'm wondering is does your junk glow or are you a tattle tale?"

The man narrowed his eyes. He was hunched toward the table like a high school kid watching porn in math class. "Give it up." Tony held out his hand. The man looked around the table. What he brought out from underneath was not a cell phone and Tony was damn glad he wasn't as old as he felt sometimes. He had a fraction of a second to react, just enough to pull his hand out of the way before the knife went through it. The man behind him fired and at close range his head all but exploded. The table was a mess. Tony scowled at the body that slumped over the table. He wiped blood from his cheek. The other two at the table were a mess.

"Now that the weakest link as been removed, we can get to our game."

"Fuck you!" the guy across the table growled. The other looked like he might be sick.

"Just wait until your boss gets here. He's going to put you in the corner for that potty mouth."

"He's not our boss," said shark face. "He's our brother. We're family."

"Every family needs a boss, kiddo. Gotta keep the wild cards in line."

"You think you're better than us, but you're not," said potty mouth. "Think you're all moral 'cause you don't run guns anymore. What about kids shooting up the shit you give them?"

Tony held up a finger. "The shit I give them? What about you? I'm definitely better than you, but do you know why I'm better than you? Not only am I smart enough to make a real business out of this shit, I don't lie to myself so I can sleep at night. I don't give a fuck who buys what or what they do with it and I don't pretend to."

"That why you don't run guns anymore?" he said, like he really thought he was onto something.

Tony shrugged. "When you stop selling illegal weapons, criminals have a harder time getting them and I might like to be the only asshole in town with a gun. But I don't have to explain myself to any of you fuckers." He pulled his gun from his jacket, cocked it back and pulled and there was one less asshole at poker night.

Tony looked at the man silently shuffling the cards. He smeared blood over them with every movement. "You gonna deal or what?"

He pulled himself away from the table. He was itching to call Peter. He needed him here. He needed his sickly sweet praise whispering dangerous things in his ear. He would be brutal. He would take these men apart and they would be enchanted by the little dancer all the while. It was important that he wait, though. He couldn't have Peter in the parking lot and exposed while Ricardo comes in. Just a little longer.

He sat down at the table. He tapped his cards against the table top, feeling anxious. When he heard the commotion upstairs, he finally calmed. They had him.

Steve and Bucky came down the stairs dragging Ricardo between them. If he had entered with anyone else, they were just bodies on the floor.

"Ricardo! You're late for poker night!" Tony scowled. "No worries, we'll deal you in."

They dropped him on the floor beside the table. Tony looked down at him. His cheek was swollen and his hands were zip tied behind his back. Just like that, threat neutralized.

"Fuck you, Stark!" he spat.

"Yeah, I've been hearing that a lot lately. You guys been practicing that one?"

"You're bitch is gonna pay for what he did."

"I mean technically the sleepless nights we've had tracking you clowns down was a sort of payment-"

"I'm going to fill him with holes," Chili clarified.

"No, you're going to die. Right here in this shitty little basement." Tony gestured to dingy room. What a place to die. Why was it always basements? Great for soundproofing, he supposed.

"Kill me, but somebody else will just come after you and your bitch."

Tony turned in his seat and socked him in the face. Bucky stopped him from falling over. Keeping him in range in case Tony wanted to hit him some more.

"That's enough disrespect out of you. Don't make me tell your mother." He pointed his finger and got a vicious scowl. "Don't you worry about your friends coming after us either. They're as good as dead. See this guy right here?" He pointed at Bucky who gave Chili a grin. "He's gonna hunt down the rest of your family. And any of your little friends. We've got names, addresses. We know everyone you've ever spoken to, where they live, where their children sleep. And they're all about to go missing. And you did that, Ricardo."

He spat, disgusting and wet, landing on Tony's jacket. Tony grit his teeth. "Get him on the table."

Bucky hauled him up and dumped him on his back. Ricardo's remaining boy jumped up, but Tony's man was still on him. Tony pulled a knife from his pocket.

"I don't like you. The only reason I haven't put this in your lung is because my husband likes to watch. So you've got a few precious minutes to memorize what air feels like before you stop breathing."

Richardo looked like he had plenty to say, but Tony wasn't interested in hearing it. He took his blade and shoved it through his shoulder, leaving him screaming, pinned under Bucky's arms.

Tony stepped away to finally call Peter. "It's time, angel. I sent Happy the location."

"Nat found him?" He sounded excited. Tony couldn't help but smile.

"Don't be late, angel, or I'll start without you." He couldn't wait much longer. Ricardo made him want to pull his teeth out with pliers, but he promised Peter he could be there. It wouldn't take him long to arrive. He passed the time, staring Ricardo down, refusing to engage with his threats. Soon enough, it wouldn't matter. He wouldn't matter.

Then his boy got brave. He dove at Tony. No one took a shot, afraid to hit their boss. Tony struggled on his back, the card dealer wrapped his hands around his neck. Tony decked him, hard enough to hear his teeth clack together, but not hard enough for him to let go. Then someone pulled him off and Tony laid gasping for air. Steve pulled him to his feet.

"You okay, Tony?" He looked at his face, eyes all wide and worried. Tony rubbed his throat and nodded. He looked at the asshole in Bucky's arms. He was hunched over where Bucky had got him good in the stomach. Teeth grinding, he grabbed the knife out of Ricardo's shoulder. He slashed the blade through the card dealer's neck. Ricardo swore and snarled. The dealer gurgled, rattling in his throat and blood bubbling out of the gash. Bucky let him fall onto the floor turning to nothing but a sticky mess at their feet. Steve huffed behind him like he was catching his breath.

Then Peter was there, running down the stairs. He stopped, relief flooding his face as he saw him. Then it was gone. His beautiful face twisted in horror. Peter screamed and ran to him. And Tony didn't know why. He reached out to him. He tried to tell him that it was okay, but he choked instead. The knife in his hand fell.

Then the pain came.

He'd been stabbed through the back.

Peter's arms wrapped around him. Steve and Bucky turned away, faces melted into the masks their work required. There was more screaming. He saw Happy over Peter's shoulder. Peter yelled something, but it was like he was screaming under water. Then he was alone on the floor. He twisted, more pain, but he could see Peter now.

His husband straddled Ricardo's stomach. His fists were bloody as he pounded them against his face. Tony choked again, laughing. That rock on Peter's left hand was enough to kill a man. He could imagine the disgusting pulp his face had become.

The panic in his head began to fade. He blinked twice and Peter was there, holding his face. His fingers were sticky. Happy knelt behind him, hands on his back to check the wound.

"Tony?" he asked, his voice was weak.

"Why are you crying, angel?" He tried to smile, tried to tell him it was okay.

Peter sobbed. "I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry- this is all my fault." His eyes were ringed with red, his cheeks shined with tears.

Tony shook his head. "You're perfect."

"No," he sobbed again. "I fucked up. I'm so stupid."

"Don't say that. You're so perfect, Peter. You are. I love you."

He felt Happy prodding around at his back. He was too tired to move. His hands felt cold. Everything felt heavy.

"How's he look?" Steve asked.

"He'll be okay," Happy said. "You're really damn lucky, you know that?"

Tony smiled. He touched Peter's face. "See, it's okay." There was pain and fatigue and he didn't feel like he was going to be okay, but Happy wouldn't lie. Happy pulled out the knife and Tony hissed when he wanted to scream.

"We're taking a vacation. You hear me?" Peter said. He helped Tony out of his jacket and then his shirt so Happy could get at the wound.

"Anything you want," he promised. He felt he was dying and he was okay with it because he did it for Peter.

"Right after the wedding. That's it, we're gone. And maybe we won't come back, either."

"You'll miss your dancing."

"I'd give it up for you." His voice threatened to break. He would be angry that Peter was so scared if he could feel anything at all.

"I've seen worse. You're both being babies," Natasha teased. "It was just a pocket knife."

Peter shot her a glare. She only laughed. "Fisk was right, though," Tony said.

"What?"

"I can't let you replace, Pepper." He winced. That felt like a needle in his back. Happy was stitching him up. When had they gotten a first aid kit? His head was so foggy.

"I will if you need me to." He would because he would do anything Tony asked him. Tony felt the same way. That didn't mean either of them would like it. After dealing the Tiburones, Tony didn't want Peter to ever be unhappy again. No more sleepless nights. No more guilt. Besides, he was never letting Peter out of his sight.

"No. You don't want it and I don't want it for you. Nat?"

"Boss?"

"You're up for a promotion." Peter perked up at the proclamation. He knew he was right. He didn't want it.

"I though you'd never ask," she said.

"I want to be very clear that I'm not asking." Not even a little bit. He needed not just someone he trusted, but someone who could actually handle the work. She would do things differently than Pepper, but it would get done.

She laughed again. "Good thing I want it anyway."

His head was starting to clear up a little bit. The pain where Happy stitched up had sent enough adrenaline into his system that he finally understood what was happening. "Hey, if you're down here, who's watching upstairs?"

"I called Sam and Rhodey. Plus, Steve and Bucky's boys are still in position. You think I'm that careless?"

"I'd prefer if there were no more injuries."

"Then you should know now that Jamaal got his arm broken and Kyla's nose is fractured, but we suffered no casualties."

"You know, you're gonna make a really good Under Boss, you know how I know?"

"Because I'm already scolding you?"

Tony shot her a grin. "Yep. I won't even have to miss Pepper." It sounded stupid in his head, but Pepper had been like a mother to his family. Nat was similar in her own way. Caring and empathetic, but only so long as you didn't cross her. He needed that balance himself.

Happy snorted behind him. "We're not dying, Tony. Just retiring."

"So you've decided to leave me too, huh?" Peter's hands touched his chest and Tony reassured him with a smile. He knew all of his weaknesses. Like how afraid he was of being alone. But he would never be alone again. Tony's hand covered Peter's resting above his heart.

"I'm not going anywhere. I would like to stay on as your head of security, but in a more legitimate fashion," Happy explained. Tony hissed as he cleaned the stitches in his back. "Pepper and I were thinking of starting a security company. Something safer. I could legitimize your whole security detail. Just as long as you promise not to torture anyone in front of them."

"You got yourself deal."

Peter settled more comfortably in front of him. He held one of Tony's hands in both of his. His thumb nervously ran over his skin, back and forth.

"It's okay, baby." Tony winked when Peter caught his eye.

"I got you stabbed."

"No, I got me stabbed. I know better than to turn my back like that."

"It's still my fault that all of this happened."

"No, it's not."

"It kinda is," Natasha cut in.

"You zip it." Tony pointed a finger at her and she shrugged. "Fine, it can be your fault, but I'm not mad at you."

"How are you feeling?"

"A little tired but I'll be okay. How are your hands?" Tony lifted Peter's hand to where he could see it more clearly. His knuckles were busted and bleeding. "Why is no one bandaging Peter's hands?" he snapped.

"I'm okay, Tony," Peter said, but Steve still knelt beside him and took some bandages from Happy.

Tony touched his cheek. He warmed when Peter pressed a kiss to his palm. "You beat a man to death for me."

Tears shined in his eyes. "I thought you were dead."

"Sorry, I keep scaring you. No more tears now. We're okay."

"The rest of us are fine, too," Nat said.

"Help me up." Happy, Steve, and Peter all stepped up to help which led to none of them helping very much at all. Tony groaned as he got to his feet, but he had enough hands on him to stay steady. "Good. Now that the theatrics are done, back to business."

Tony looked to Steve. "You and Bucky work together on this one. I want everyone, absolutely everyone connected to these clowns dead asap."

"You got it," Steve agreed.

Tony took a deep breath. He looked at his family gathered around him. Peter, Natasha, Happy, Bucky, Steve, and the three of his security team: Matt, Frank, and Jessica. They all waited for his command. "Nat, you're promoted. Effective immediately. You oversee the operation. Get Yinsen to help with intel. He hates computers, but he's good with them. Let Rhodey know he's in charge of daily operations for now on as my new Consigliere. Sam can help with managing things while everyone adjusts. We'll celebrate when we get back. For now, I promised my husband a vacation."

#starker #marvel #au fic #mafia au #violence #blood #a king on a leash

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everyhowlmarksthedead · 4 years

Text

“YES, I CAN HEAR YOU”

Johnny “Coco” Cruz x Reader

Anon asked: could you write something angsty with angel or coco?

Warning: a little angst.

Word Count: 2.1k

Author comments: I hope you all enjoy. English isn’t my first language, I’m sorry if I have some mistakes with grammar. Gif isn't mine. Also, I didn't study anything about Medicine, but I like drama.

Tag list: @starrynite7114 @chibsytelford @dazzledamazon @mara-mpou 💥 (if you wanna be tagged, send me a message!)

You didn't see the car, but you felt how you flew off the motorbike, falling into the wet ground. Last thing you saw were two girls screaming and running to you, covered by pain. The agonic kind you feel before die.

━━━━━━ ﹅ ━━━━━━

“What happened?!” Coco shouts crying when he finds the doctor. He's being followed by the crew, and Letti being supported by Chucky. She can't even walk without falling down.

“Johnny Cruz?”

“Yes, what happened?!”

“A car crashed her motorbike. She has several bruses, three broken ribs, a dislocated shoulder and... we had to induce her into comma. The helmet saved her life”.

The world falls down to his feet. His legs trembled. Tranq forces him to have a seat, while the crying of Letti floods thr hallway. The faces of the guys talk for them. Coco is sobbing with his head between his arms, shaking it. No air in his lungs for a few seconds.

“Is gonna get better...?” Creeper asks with trembling voice, something they want and they don't want to know.

“We don't know”.

“What do ya' mean, uh?!” Coco jumps off his sit about to take him by the coat. Taza and Riz hold him apart, trying to calm the youngest.

“Next... hours... are crucial”. The doctor replies scared, walking back two steps.

“Can we... see her?” Letti talks, leaving away Chucky, with her eyes and cheeks covered in tears. The man nods pointing the room. She runs, her father too.

Their lives fall apart when they find you. You're laying in the bed with a tube in your mouth and a lot of cables around your body: connected to some fingers, another in your wrist, two in your nose. The girl has to cover her mouth before start crying loudly. Coco wrapped in his arms tightly, giving her a kiss on top of his head. Angel can't go to the room, he's not ready to see you and it hurts his chest too much.

You've been there for them the last five years, always helping the MC with whatever they asked you for. And Coco's daughter is your bestfriend since you met each other. It's painful can't do anything to help you when you most need them.

“Sometimes, they can listen”. The doctor says, holding your medical record between both hands. “I recommend you talk to her as normal as possible. I mean, talk about how were your day, what movie you saw on tv...”

“Stay with her, brother. I'm gonna do all the paperwork”. Bishop puts a hand on his shoulder, stretching it for a second. “The club will pay everything”.

“You don't ha...”

“She's one of us, Coco. Club decision”.

━━━━━━ ﹅ ━━━━━━

Yes, you could hear them.

Members of Stockton, Yuma and Samcro went to visit you. They talked you about how was going everything and telling you that, when you came home, a big party would be waiting you. The longest one with the four charters together. And you would like to smile, to say that will be amazing, but you can't.

Bishop, Tranq and Taza visited you every night. They laugh about something funny happened that day. Maybe Chucky left the crane on and destroyed a car. Maybe Angel got slapped by one of Vicky's girl. Or the recurrent story in wich they tell you that a cat went inside the clubhouse and broke a whole box full of beers, before lick it from the floor.

Riz, Creeper and Gilly went often. Every three or four hour you heard them saying “hi, pequeña, we're here again to bother you”. Sometimes they argued about what tv show is better, or talk about they wanted a new tattoo and you should choose it when you're awake.

The Reyes family always went together. Felipe was the optimist one. He used to tell you about his childhood and adolescence. Funny stories of an old man. EZ and Angel are like your brothers, so seeing you in that kind of conditions was painful. But they were there too, telling you everything was gonna be ok and how much they were missing you.

Letti and Coco made the hospital their home. Bishop ‘gave a present’ to have a bigger room with comfy sofas where they could sleep better. The younger was forced to continue with the high-school, being picked up by Chuky to go back to the hospital. Coco never left you, holding your hand, kissing you all the time. He also cleaned your face every morning and every night. Brushed your hair and put some of his cologne in your pillow to make you felt like you were at home. When he wasn't reading you ‘Hamlet’, 'cause EZ told him was your favourite book, making a lot of additionals comments like ‘shit, baby, everybody dies here’ or ‘what the hell is happening’; he mostly was in silence, blaming himself for what happened that night.

It was raining. A rare storm installed on Santo Padre and the surroundings. You were mad because you came home and he wasn't there, even when he promised you to make dinner and have some free time of the chaos. You had the accident on your way to the clubhouse. Two young girls were driving a car without license. They skipped a red light, tripling the allowed speed. You were there. And, like the doctor said, the helmet Coco gave you for your last birthday saved your life. One of those with full structure wich covered your head, face and neck. But your cross motorbike broke into pieces. But this was the less important.

Because of the shock and the pain, you had a kind of respiratory failure. Your lungs couldn't work. You also broke the left wrist and dislocated the right shoulder. Three splintered ribs, bruises around your body and a lash on the neck. The good news were that you only would need three months of rehabilitation and one for rest, after it. The comma was something preventive.

━━━━━━ ﹅ ━━━━━━

“Dammit, mami! You look good in this white pajama!” Coco gives you a kiss on the forehead, laying on the hospital bed, when the nurses have showered you. He puts an arm under your neck, carefully, holding you next to his body.

As the days goes by, you have less cables connected. You also don't need a mask to breathe better anymore and the analyzes show positive results. The crew, your family, are happy and feels better.

“You know, we talked about marriage and this... bullshit, and no following traditions, but white is definitely your color, baby”. He has a smile on his tired face, stroking your hair. “We've to marry, you hear me?”.

Tears running again down by his cheeks, pressing his lips against your temple with all the love he feels for you.

“You...” Your throat is dry and it hurts a little, but you're feeling like life is giving you a second chance. So you take it.

“(Y/N)?” Letti jumps off of the couch, Creeper and Gilly walks to the bed. Coco is looking at you with his eyes opened like never before. Everyone is having a heartattack.

“Fuc... Fucking crybaby”. With a lot of effort you smile being sleepy yet.

“Baby! Mami! Can 'hear me?”

You nod one time, drawing a painful gesture on your face. Everyone goes crazy. Creeper shouts calling the doctor, Letti hugs you and Gilly starts to call the crew by phone. You can feel Coco's hand narrowing yours, kissing your lips once and again desperately.

“Shit, mami, you scared me”. He laughs in tears, while you try to put an arm on Letti's back. “How 'feel? Need something?”

“Wa-Water, please...” You mutter clicking the tongue.

Letti, literally, runs to the table three meters away to take a small bottle. Carefully she offers you directly to your lips with soft sips. Oh, god, it feels like heaven when the liquid falls down by your throat till your stomach. The headache is gone, as the pain that involved your body the last two weeks. The plaster in your wrist is a little uncomfortable, taking a look of it raising the heavy hand in air. You look around confused and kinda anxious. It wasn't a dream. You're really there.

“What happened? Where's my bike?” You inquire, turning your face to Coco with your mouth almost open. By his gesture you know he hasn't any good to say. Licking your inner lip, you nod.

“Two crazy chicks ran you ove’, (Y/N)” He stucks both ankles on the mattress, taking your hand between his to gives you some kisses. He closes his eyes stroking one of his cheek with it. You can see the black shadows under his eyelids and the beard in the jaw.

Moving yourself all you can, you take his other cheek with the tiny fingers, inside the cast around your arm, and a wince, bowing to him. You press your lips against his, softly, in a warm way. You need to say ‘thank you for being my anchor’ without words, and Coco can feel it. You love him. You love him the most and nothing else matters. Hugging him, you start to cry. He couldn't felt the pain in every inch of your body, but you felt every day his. And it was horrible couldn't say you were ok, and you were hearing everything he said to you, hold his hand or move your head.

“This wasn't your fault”. You say, brushing his lips with yours. “Don't say that again. It was those girls, not you Coco. Even the storm has more fault on it”.

“Must have been home, baby... Making dinner, waitin' you”. He shakes his chin, closed eyes, noses lifting perfectly as a puzzle.

“Coco, stop”. You demand kissing him again, before be interrupted by the doctor.

“(Y/N), is good to see you awake. How you feel?”

“Like I learned to fly in the worst way”. Trying to laugh, coughs some times. Letti smiles laying next to you. She missed you too a lot and, by difference, she was who talked you the most. Even Gaby went to see you.

“Sense of humor is a good omen. Do you wan...”

“Oh, god, please don't. I heard it a thousand times”. You beg for a moment. “Wrist, ribs, shoulder, neck, blablabla... How many time do I have to stay here?”

“If everything goes as good as now, maybe in one or two weeks you'll be at home”.

“You hear' that, mami? You should have your meds and do whatever doc' says, to come home next week”. Coco sounds excited, smiling for the first time since one month ago. He kisses you again all over your face, holding you in his arms.

“Enjoying your holidays?” Angel's voice sounds agitated, stopping at the door till your eyes meet.

In two big steps he reaches the bed, while Coco gives you some space to be hugged for the man with a biggest smile in his face. The crew start to arrive too. Jokes, laughs and kisses flood the room. You can see some colorful flowers around, even two huge balloons are floating in a corner. That probably was Riz's idea. You're pretty sure.

━━━━━━ ﹅ ━━━━━━

“You good, mami?”

Lights off and one of your legs on his waist. Coco has you between his arms, tightly and warmly. You're finally home, in your bed, smelling again like your favourite human being. Happiness isn't enough to explain how you feel, hidding your face under his chin.

“I always am when I'm with you, papi”. You say in a whisper, tangling your fingers in his shirt to put him closer. “Will you read me tomorrow a little more of ‘Hamlet’? It was my favourite part of the day”.

“'Course I'll do, baby. I'll do anythin' ya' ask me for”.

#mayans mc #mayans mc imagine #mayans mc x reader #mayans x reader #johnny coco cruz x reader #coco cruz x reader #coco cruz

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justkending · 4 years

Text

Just Roommates. Chapter 32

Series Summary: These two college friends have had years to grow together. Each being the others support system, adventure buddy, movie night partner, and dorky roommates. That is until things start coming to a new light in their relationship. At least for him… Is there something else there? Is it possible? Were these feelings always there?

Pairing: (Modern) Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warning: Fluff, Adulting, sexy-times mentions, language.

Word Count: 3600+

A/N: And ladies and gentlemen... This is the last chapter for this series. It’s been an absolute joy of mine to write, and will for sure being going down as one of my top ones. I hope you enjoy, I hope I did the end justice, and I hope it was everything and more for you all like I wanted. I also may or may not write an epilogue. I’m still debating. If I do, just keep an eye open for tags. Thank you all again for supporting and loving on this brain child of mine. Each and every comment, like, and piece of love sent my way was greatly cherished:) Now on to the next story that I have brewing!!!

Chapter 32:

“Hold still, Y/N!” Nat said as she tried to bring the last pieces of the wiggly woman’s hair together. “Jesus woman!”

“Sorry, I just need-” Y/N started as she reached over once again for another grape that she was currently stress eating.

“You know, most girls would be starving themselves before they walk down the aisle to get that extra skinny look. Glad to know even your wedding day won’t change you,” Wanda laughed in the corner as she straightened the ivory dress hanging up.

“It’s grapes. Grapes are healthy,” Y/N turned her head sending a playful glare her way.

“Stop moving!” Nat shouted again with a huff.

“Right, sorry.”

There was a knock at the door as Y/N shoved another handful of grapes in her mouth.

“Hey, it’s Steve. I need Y/N to sign something for the marriage license before the ceremony.”

“Wait-” Nat started, but before she could finish, Y/N had already cut her off.

“Come on in Stevie!”

Slowly, and ever so carefully, the door opened with Steve sneaking in before anyone that might have been in the hallway could see in.

“I’ll be quick I promise,” Steve started as he turned into the master bedroom where they were getting ready. But when he was fully looking at her turned in the chair where she was facing the vanity set up, he stopped in his tracks. “Wow.”

“Hey, Stevie. How’s it looking out there?” Y/N said casually with a smile on her lips and her arm resting on the back of the chair.

“You-You look beautiful, Y/N/N,” Steve smiled not hearing her question.

“Awe, thanks. I don’t even have my dress on,” she laughed standing and walking over to him.

“Don’t need it to be beautiful when you’re you, doll,” he winked, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

“Now, I know you’re going to be at the end of the aisle Steve, but I don’t remember saying yes to marrying you. You keep this up and I might have to,” she winked back.

“Bucky would kill me.”

“True,” she laughed. “So, what do I need to sign? I kinda have plans this evening I have to still get ready for.”

“Right! Here,” he pulled out a pen with the papers already on hand. “Just sign here to state that I can wed you both. I thought I had got all of it done, but when I was doing my checklist this morning-”

“Classic Stevie.”

He rolled his eyes with a smile before continuing. “I realized there was one more document.”

“Easy fix,” she did her signature quickly before handing it all back to him. “Wow, that’s going to be the last time I sign my name with Y/L/N. Hmmm…” she paused as if in shock. “That’s really crazy, isn’t it?”

“It’s pretty crazy,” Steve laughed. “But if I’m being honest I called this since day one.”

“Oh, shut up Rogers!” Nat shouted. “I was the one who called it, and you were the one that said, ‘Eh, he doesn’t deserve her.’”

“Really now?” Y/N laughed turning to Steve with a raised eyebrow.

“Ok, fine. But if I’m being honest he didn’t deserve you at the time. He had a lot of growing and soul searching to do,” Steve defended. “I’m happy to say that has been the case, and you was the one to help him along with that.”

“All true things. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we have a bride to get ready Steve,” Wanda intervene.

“Right, sorry. Sorry,” Steve nodded looking back at Y/N and taking her hand, placing a kiss to it. “We can rag on Bucky after the ceremony. I’ll see you out there Sassy.”

“Thanks Stevie. I’ll see you out there,” Y/N grinned.

With one last goodbye, Steve walked back out and the girls continued their makeover.

____________

“Hey man. You nervous?” Sam asked, clasping his hand onto Bucky’s shoulder.

“I thought I was supposed to be,” Bucky said, adjusting his tie in the mirror.

“Not necessarily. You’re allowed to feel however you want.” Sam countered.

“Yeah, yeah… It’s just surreal to me still,” Bucky said with a nervous chuckle.

“Because you’re marrying a beautiful woman who loves you for you, and would do anything to make you happy for the rest of your life? Yeah, I can see how that’s unbelievable.” Sam nodded.

“Hey!” Bucky said slapping his back.

“I’m kidding ok!” Sam laughed. “I mean usually I’m not, but-” another slap. “Ok, ok!” He paused looking at the strained groom as he threw on his boutonniere with shaky hands. “Here, let me.”

Sam took over the flower problem and noticed how Bucky was still tensed. Steve would have been his best man, and still kinda was, if he wasn’t officiating. Sam was basically his second one since they were still rather close. Even though they were constantly harassing the other, they were best friends at the end of the day. Bucky was very happy to have him by his side on this day.

“You know, I mean it though, right?” Sam asked.

“Mean, what?” Bucky was clearly lost in his thoughts but still listening.

“She loves you for you Buck. And that woman would absolutely do anything and everything to make sure you live a happy life. You picked a good one.”

“I did. Didn’t I?” Bucky smiled, relaxing his shoulders some.

“And I know you would do that same for her.”

“Without a second thought…”

“Then don’t overthink it Buck. You two were made for this. Instead of being nervous, be ecstatic that someone wants to share the same love you have for them to you.”

Bucky paused taking in his words. He was right. He had nothing to be nervous about. Y/N was his person, and he believed he was her person too. This was a match made in the stars.

“Thanks Sam. I needed that.”

“No problem. That’s what friends are for.” Sam smiled adjusting the last of his suit.

Steve came in right in time. “Hey, you about ready to get hitched Barnes?”

Bucky looked at the men in the room and the nervous soft smile turned to a full excited grin.

“Yeah, let’s do this.”

____________

“Ok, ladies and gentleman. Wanda and Sam first. Then Clint and I. After that, Vis and Maria. Then of course our beautiful bride,” Nat instructed as she lined everyone up on the back porch of the house just out of sight from the tree so there wasn’t any peeking. Y/N was in the back adjusting her dress and veil.

“You look stunning Y/N,” Sam said as he looked back at the nervous bride to be.

“Thank you Sam. You look rather dashing as well,” she said with a deep breath.

“I would like to second Sam’s compliment,” Vis smiled in a calming way.

“I’ll third it!” Clint shouted.

“Moron, get back in line,” Nat swatted at him.

“Ow!” Clint said, grabbing his arm. “What? I’m not allowed to compliment the bride?” All he got in return for that comment was a glare. “Ok, yes ma’am.”

“Ready?” Nat asked. Everyone nodded. She peaked around the crew and looked back at Y/N who was staring straight ahead. “Y/N, you ready?”

She paused and then a small smile grew on her face. “Of course.”

Nat gave a nod, and Wanda sent a reassuring smile her way.

“Let’s do this then,” Nat smiled.

Music began to play and the crew started making their way slowly to the tree where the altar was.

Taking a deep breath, it was almost time for Y/N to make her way. She didn’t have anyone escorting her and that was playing in the back of her head as she closed her eyes. But as fate would have it...

“Y/N.”

She turned at the sound of her name, and saw a much older version of her brother who she hadn’t actually seen in person in almost 5 years.

“Carson?”

“Hey sis,” he smiled coming up to her in his nice suit, and someone behind him that she hadn’t noticed yet. “You look absolutely radiant.”

“Thanks,” she said stifling back tears that were quickly forming. “What-what are you-”

“Hey Y/N/N,” another voice said.

Peaking around her brother, she saw her older sister smiling in a lavender dress coming up to her.

“Maebry. You guys made it,” she said with a small laugh to hold back the happy tears she was feeling.

“Couldn’t miss the little sis’s wedding,” Maebry said.

“Couldn’t miss my second big sis’s wedding,” Carson added.

They pulled into a group hug with giant smiles on their faces. When they pulled back, Y/N fanned at her face to preserve the makeup.

“I didn’t think you guys could make it,” she said with furrowed brows.

“Nothing too important to miss this kind of day.”

“Thank you guys. Truly, thank you.”

“Of course. We’re family after all,” Maebry smiled rubbing her hand up and down Y/N’s arm.

“Uh, speaking of which… Did mo-” Y/N said sniffling back the few tears that escaped.

“Actually,” Carson pulled out his phone that he had on the whole time without his sister knowing.

On the screen were the faces of Y/N’s mom and dad with soft smiles awkwardly waving at her.

“Oh my-” Y/N said, putting a hand over her mouth.

“Hey Y/N,” her dad said.

“Hey Dad,” she said after pulling herself together some.

“I-I’m sorry we couldn’t be there,” he said, clearly awkward tension radiating through the phone.

“We had a convention out in California that we had already left for when we got notice the wedding was today. We would’ve flown out, but flights are cancelled thanks to a storm going on here,” Her mom added.

“Oh,” Y/N sighed at a loss for words.

“Listen, we don’t want to make this day more stressful than we’re sure it already is, but we want to say we’re sorry,” her dad sighed. “When we saw your engagement post we felt terrible… We saw how amazing you are doing there with work, life, and clearly your relationship. You’re our daughter and we shouldn’t have done what we did all these years.”

“Yes, and we know you’re about to walk down the aisle and you probably hate us, but we would like to watch the ceremony if you’re ok with it. Since we can’t be there in person we’d like to be there in spirit,” her mom added.

Y/N took a minute to process this. Sure they had done something horrible to her when she was going off on her own, but she also never reached out or tried to make things right. They both had their pride that they were preserving. End of the day she did want them there. She still loved them even if they didn’t communicate much over the years.

“Of course,” Y/N nodded. “I, um, I actually have to go now cause I’m already running late to my wedding,” she chuckled, fixing her hair with the veil, “But can we talk soon?”

“We would love nothing more,” her mom smiled. “Now, you go get married darling.”

Y/N nodded with a new smile on her face. Her whole family was actually going to be there for her wedding day. She started the day thinking none of them would.

“Y/N, can I ask you something?” Carson asked as he handed the phone to Maebry.

“If you ask it quickly, yes,” she laughed walking toward the spot she was already supposed to be halfway to.

“Can I walk you down the aisle?”

She stopped in her tracks and turned to her brother.

“Really?”

“Only if you’re ok with it,” he rushed to say worried he overstepped a boundary.

“Carson, I would love that,” she grinned.

“I’m going to go find a seat, and keep mom and dad on the phone,” Maebry said, rushing past them. “And Y/N. Carson was right. You look absolutely stunning.”

“It runs in the family,” Y/N winked before watching her sister race to get a seat.

Taking her brother's arm, they began their walk. Taking deep breaths and focusing on the walk ahead she was finally in sight of Bucky.

He was looking down and taking deep breaths of his own. Once she was at the end of the aisle the music changed and Bucky raised his head.

As soon as they made eye contact, it was like the rest of the world faded away. You know that cliche saying where it feels like it’s just the two of them on the planet? Yeah, that was a real feeling and it was currently leaving them both breathless.

Sending Bucky a grin she saw him break some. He choked up and quickly brought his hand up to cover his mouth not wanting the guest to see him fall apart at the sight of her walking toward him.

Her dress was a sleek ivory gown. Classic and simple. Thin straps holding up the whole thing, and the neckline swooping down making her collarbone pop. Her hair was voluminous with hollywood style waves and her veil was sat in the back pinned by the crown that was on her head. The crown was subtle with stars and moons on it, and sat on her head creating a halo for the angel that she was to him.

“That man clearly loves you sis,” Carson whispered to her.

“And I’m very much in love with him too.”

Finally, just steps from the makeshift altar, Y/N and Bucky never broke eye contact. The tree was canopying all around them creating shade for the little bit of sunlight left in the evening. The greenery mixed with the sun setting behind it made the altar all the more alluring. The tree that was going to be a part of their story.

The small crowd sat down, and Carson patted Y/N’s hand before placing a kiss to her cheek, nodding to Bucky who returned it, and moving to his seat next to his sister.

“You look-” Buck started grabbing her hands and squeezing them while trying to hold back more of his own tears. “I’m sorry, there just aren’t words…”

“Same to you B,” she grinned.

“You two ready?” Steve asked, smiling at the two.

“More than ready,” Y/N answered.

“Yeah punk. Get on with it so I can marry the girl of my dreams,” Bucky said, still looking at Y/N.

Steve rolled his eyes playfully as the crowd chuckled at the banter.

A little less than half an hour later of vows and proclamations of their love for each other, it was time for the next chapter of life.

“Do you Y/N Y/M/N Y/L/N take James Buchanan Barnes to be your lawfully wedded husband?” Steve asked.

“Wouldn’t want it any other way,” Y/N smiled, getting the lopsided grin from Bucky.

“And do you James Buchanan Barnes take Y/N Y/M/N Y/L/N to be your lawfully wedded wife?” Steve chuckled.

“Hell yeah!” Bucky answered, getting the signature eye roll from Y/N.

“In that case,” Steve grinned ear to ear closing the book in his hand. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”

Before Steve could even say, ‘You may kiss the bride’,” Bucky had both hands on her face pulling her into him for their first kiss as a married couple.

“You may now kiss the bride, I guess…” Steve sighed, shaking his head as the crowd erupted in cheers.

___________

The reception went off without a hitch. Thanks to Natasha’s anal way about making things perfect, the string lights that were bought outside, perfectly illuminated the back yard and porch for a quaint party. They had a buffet of finger foods thanks to Wanda’s friend. There was a small photobooth on the porch. Music was playing at all times, and they even rented a small dance floor to make it easier to dance on the grass.

It was late now. The sun had gone down and a few guest had left, leaving it with mainly just the crew, and a few family friends there.

Bucky and Y/N had just finished talking to his family who were headed home now. His sister was taking his mom home while wishing the couple best wishes.

“Bye Bec. Let me know when you get home!”

“Don’t worry about me. You go dance with your wife,” she winked adding emphasis on the last word making Bucky smile grow.

“Don’t have to tell me twice.”

Y/N was talking to her sister and brother who were also packing up.

“Thank you again for coming. It truly meant the world to me that you guys were here, and that mom and dad, well… You know,” she grinned at her siblings.

“Don’t thank us. You’re friend Wanda was the one who called Mom and Dad telling her about everything,” Maebry said.

“Wait, what?” Y/N said shocked.

“Well, we told mom and dad about it, but didn’t know if there was space to convince them. Little did we know they were actually already considering it, but Wanda was the one who gave them the idea to facetime and such. She supposedly updated them on everything with Bucky and what’s been happening in your life recently. Some stuff we didn’t even know.”

“She didn’t tell me-”

“She wanted it to be a surprise and clearly it worked,” Carson said. “Don’t think too much about it, and just be happy about the outcome.”

“I am. Thank you guys. Really,” Y/N nodded very thankful for how everything unfolded.

“Congrats, sis. We love you.”

They got in a big huddle of hugs before grabbing their things.

“You guys headed out too?” Bucky asked, coming up and wrapping an arm around Y/N’s waist.

“We are,” Maebry nodded. “It was a pleasure to finally meet you in person Bucky. Thanks for taking care of my sister after all these years.”

“No need to thank me for something I love doing,” Bucky waved off. “But thank you for coming. I know it’s a trip for you guys, and I know Y/N really wanted it. As did I.”

“Of course. Now you two be safe, and enjoy your honeymoon. We have a flight to catch,” Maebry smiled. “Welcome to the crazy family, James.”

“Glad to be a part of it,” Bucky winked, giving her a hug.

“You’re a brother, so you know what I’m about to say.” Carson reached his hand out to Buck. “You take care of her or you’ll have me to deal with.”

“If it ever came down to it, I would hope you would kick my ass,” Bucky laughed.

“Good to know,” Carson said with a wink.

“You guys get home safe, ok?” Y/N said smiling at the conversation.

“Will do. Love you Y/n/n!” And with that they were on their way.

“I’m glad they could come,” Bucky said as they watched them get into a car.

“Me too,” Y/N agreed doing the same.

“You didn’t get to tell me much about your parents calling…”

“A tale for another time. Nothing to worry about at all though. I’m actually really happy with what they said, and we’re going to talk once you and I come back from our honeymoon,” Y/N nodded turning back to Bucky.

“Sounds good, doll. Now, I have been instructed by my sister to dance with my wife,” he said with a cheesy grin and eyebrow wiggle.

“I always have another dance saved for my husband,” she said with a wiggle of her own as she grabbed his hand and moved to the dance floor.

______

Y/N and Bucky were saying their goodbyes to everyone as they left. Steve and Peggy being the last to go. Usually there would be a send off for their honeymoon, but considering they had the wedding at their own home, and their flight for their vacation wasn’t until tomorrow morning, no point in doing a send off.

“You guys are sure you’re ok with staying here and watching Alpine while we’re gone?” Y/N asked.

“Positive,” Steve answered.

“It’s actually 5 minutes closer to my work, so I don’t mind at all,” Peggy added. “Plus, Alpine is the absolute sweetest. You don’t have to ask me twice to look after him.”

“Perfect,” Y/N said leaning into Bucky’s side as he wrapped his arm around her.

“Well, we’ll leave you guys be,” Steve said holding Peggy’s hand. “We will be here tomorrow after you leave.”

“Great, and you guys have a key?” Bucky asked.

“Still have the one you gave me when you first moved in. Now stop asking me questions and go enjoy your wedding night punk,” Steve laughed going to the car.

“Drive safe!” Y/N shouted.

“You guys be safe on your trip!” Steve waved after opening the door for Peggy who gave a final wave too, getting in the car.

Once they were out of sight, Bucky turned to Y/N.

“What do you say we enjoy our wedding night, Mrs. Barnes? Alone…”

“Don’t have to ask me twice, Mr. Barnes…” she smiled walking up the steps of the porch with a sway of her hips still in her wedding gown.

“Oh, come on now… You know what that does to me,” Bucky growled chasing after her.

“I know. That’s why I do it.”

Before she could reach the door, Bucky picked her up bridal style getting a giggle fit out of her.

“This is the tradition right?” Bucky said, rubbing his nose on hers. “A start to our new beginning?”

“To our new beginning.”

Just Roommates:

@starfirerules @buckys-blunders @alexxcorona113 @tcc-gizmachine @vrgelivvvv @nighttwingg @firefly-in-darkness @mizzzpink @poppunkdork @nerdygirlwithacrush @irespostthingsiwanttoseelater @ellaenchanted91 @sebbbystaaan @prplprincez

Marvel Tags:

@thejourneyneverendsx @death-unbecomes-you @heyiamthatbitch @zeilenkrieg @lizzymacy555 @iheartsebastianstan @srrymydood @xa-dia @redhairedfeistynerd

My Lovelies forever:

@natura1phenomenon @lauravic @traceyaudette @kakakatey @notyourtypicalrose @laneygthememequeen @awesome-badass-cafeteria-sauce @sandlee44 @thorne93 @snffbeebee @thefaithfulwriter @marvelfansworld @essie1876 @greyeyedsmile14 @capsiclehan @naomi02hook @xostephanie @averyrogers83 @awesomenursingstudent @gh0stgurl @cs-please @carls1022 @jjlevin @rainbowkisses31 @carls1022 @anise-d-castle6 @deannotmoose @their-bibliophile @kitkatd7

#bucky barnes au #bucky barnes #bucky barnes roommate au #bucky barnes au series #justkending #marvel au #marvel #marvel au series #winter soldier au #bucky barnes series #bucky barnes x reader #bucky fanfic #BUCKY AU #marvel series #marvel fanfiction #Marvel Family

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deans-baby-momma · 3 years

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Past Haunts- A Revisit

A/N: Let’s take a look inside the Winchester/Quentin household and see how everyone is getting along. Also look for the 2nd author’s note after this story.

It's been six months today. Six months since my daughter and I were getting ready for work and school when a simple knock on the front door changed everything. Changed it all, for the better.

To be able to watch from the sidelines as Whitney got to finally know the man who was her father; to finally experience having a male figure in her life was indescribable.

Those two were like two peas in a pod, though. Similar likes, the same dislikes, an identical warped sense of humor. Once Dean had gotten over- no, that isn't the right wording-since Dean had come to terms with Sam being locked in a cage in Hell, he had jumped right into being a parent, a daddy. And he was killing it!

I hadn't expected to find him in the kitchen every morning, cooking breakfast for us before sending us both off with a kiss and I definitely never dreamed of coming home to a clean house, mowed lawn and that pesky back porch light repaired but during the first whole week of loving with us, Dean had picked up the slack. I was amazed and very grateful.

Dean and I have slept in the same bed every night since his return but have yet to put a label on what we are. Although, Whitney happily tells anyone and everyone that her parents are together, I'm just unsure. And yes, we've had sex but then again what woman in her right mind could look at him, cuddle up to him and NOT want to have sex with him?

He had gotten a job at a local garage after the first month of being 'home' and had quickly impressed the boss with his knowledge of older vehicles. It seemed as though the mechanics nowadays depended on the little computers installed in the newer models to alert them to whatever was wrong, so when older vehicles came across their rack, these young boys were stumped.

During the week after Thanksgiving, the city of Fairfax Indiana got its first snowfall. Everything looked so clean and fresh with the white blanket covering all the blemishes and eyesores around town. And that's the day we found out Dean Winchester doesn't like the cold.

"It's just-" Dean grumbled as he drank his coffee at the head of the table. "-so ridiculous. You have to wear extra layers, watch out for other idiots on the road. Watch where you step. And it's just so cold." He finishes his groaning with a full body shiver.

"Dad you sound like a whiny brat," Whitney banters as she eats her eggs and bacon. "It's wonderful! Everything looks so bright and shiny."

"I need sun and warmth, missy," Dean shoots back with a wink. He suddenly sits up straight and looks at me. "Babe, how many days of school until our little girl is on holiday?"

Whitney hmphs at being called a little girl, even though she knows Dean only does it to get a rise out of her. The smirk on his face tells me that is exactly the response he expected.

"Uh, nine. I think."

"Eight and a half," Whitney corrects me, standing up to take her plate to the sink. "And the half day is going to be mostly watching movies and not much else."

I look at Dean to see his mind whirling. I could tell he was trying to work something out in his head. I raise an eyebrow in question but only get a smile in response. I shake my head at his antics and stand up to go finish getting ready for work.

Christmas in Florida is distinctly opposite of Christmas in the North. For one, there is no snow for the lights to mirror. The lights are pretty but seem so dull without the reflection. And instead of coats and gloves and hats, people are in swimsuits and shorts, tank tops and flip-flops. A total 180 from what I'm used to in mid-December. I ponder the difference between the two as I lounge on the long beach chair beside Dean's as we watch Whitney frolic in the cool water.

Dean hasn't fully embraced the warmer temperatures as he is still in jeans and his usually two-shirt ensemble. The only thing missing is the heavy work boots he usually dons; his feet are bare. The sunglasses on his face does little to hide the freckles that have made an appearance the darker his skin tans. I've laid in bed recently, counting the cute little misshapen dots. He is all smiles and happy. I love him so much!

When Dean had first suggested taking a trip down south for Christmas break I was astonished, Whitney was ecstatic. In her 13 year existence, this is the first full-fledged vacation we have ever taken so she was excited and enthusiastic about the chance to take a trip. And when she found out the destination, I didn't think she would survive the 17-hour trip without spending the whole time exploding with glee. Whitney and I spent my whole payday on a new wardrobe for the both of us, getting weird and bizarre looks from other shoppers as we tried to find t-shirts and shorts, bathing suits and sunscreen; during December in Indiana those items were few and far between. I also took a secret trip to the courthouse, getting the paperwork to officially make Whitney a Winchester. All it needs is information and signatures from both parents. I plan to surprise Dean with them Christmas morning.

So far, this vacation has been fantastic. We have spent time as a family doing little things, like walking along the beach at sunset searching for seashells, playing mini-golf, spending the day in our hotel room watching old movies and cartoons when the weather took a turn for the worse. It has been a dream come true, something I had never in a million years thought would ever happen.

Spending time with him and our daughter in what I dubbed as the most magical place on Earth. So what if we're not at Disney World, to me this is the most fascinating time and place; a week spent with my daughter and her father, the love of my life. Life couldn't get any better than this.

I am shaken from my daydreams as I hear Dean growl and begin throwing fictitious daggers with his eyes in the direction of the pool. I turn my head to see a group of teenage boys all surrounding Whitney, who is all smiles at the attention.

"Calm down honey," I cajole. "We knew this would eventually happen. We can't expect her to be a nun."

"Those boys are too old for her," he defends. "They see an innocent, young girl like her and there's only one thing on their mind." He goes to get up and I reach over to place my hand on his arm, stopping him.

"Give it a minute," I tell him. "I've taught Whitney to take care of herself."

As Dean and I sit there I keep our daughter in my peripheral, just in case one of us needs to step in. Suddenly, Whitney yells out "Jerk!" and slaps the boy who looks to be the protagonist of the crew. I smile as I watch her climb out of the pool and walk toward us. She sits at my feet and wraps her towel around her shoulders.

"You okay darlin'?" her dad asks, his eyes still trained on the gang of boys. They just don't know how many different ways Dean Winchester could murder them and make them all disappear.

"Y-yea," she answers but I can tell she's lying. "They just said some things that weren't nice."

Dean finally turned his eyes toward his daughter, the dangerous glint replaced by concern. "Baby girl, I can go have a talk with them, if you-"

"No Dean!" she says, standing up. "I don't need my father taking up for me. I'm not a baby!" As Whitney storms out of the pool area, Dean looks at me, at a loss.

"What did I do?"

I stand up and wrap the sarong around my bikini-clad body. "Just let me go talk to her, okay?" I have an idea what is going on and I know having her dad there I'd never get Whitney to open up. I lean down and kiss him and head in the direction our daughter had stomped off.

In the room, Whitney has thrown herself across her bed and is crying into the pillow.

"Honey, what's wrong?" I ask gently because if my suspicions were true, anything could cause her to fly off the handle.

"I don't know," she whines. "I was feeling okay and then all of a sudden, it's like my energy zapped. So I was just floating in the pool, hoping the ache would go away and then those boys came up and started talking to me. And I liked it," she explains as she sits up on the bed. "But then Kyle said something about me being pure and innocent when I told them how old I was and I just lost it. And then I jumped down Dad's throat and he probably hates me now!" She begins crying again and I join her on the bed, wrapping my arm around her shoulders and she places her head on my shoulder.

"Oh baby," I console. "I think it's becoming that time. You're getting ready to start your first period."

She jerks her head up and looks at me. "Really?"

"Yea, we need to go get you some pads and Midol. You're going to start bleeding anytime."

"God, did I just ruin our first vacation?"

"No!" I claim. "You didn't ruin vacation at all, baby. Now, let's get cleaned up and run down the street to the store."

"Moooom! I can't leave the room! What if it starts before we get back?" I chuckle at her wide-eyed expression.

"Okay, okay." I reach over and grab my phone texting Dean to come up to the room. I roll my eyes as I remember the discussion he and I had almost 2 years ago. Never in a million years did I think I would actually be asking this of him but I can't leave my baby.

The look on his face was comical as I whispered my request. He looked terrified and afflicted at the thought of having to buy feminine products. I take screenshots of exactly what he needs to buy and send him on his way, but not before he insists that I remember promising him he would never have to do this particular task.

The rest of the vacation goes off without a hitch. Whitney does begin her first period and requests to spend the rest of our time in Florida in the hotel room, only going out to eat. Dean and I trust her enough to leave her in the room while we go out, exploring not only the beach but the little town we are in.

Christmas morning comes and Whitney wakes us up with squeals of delight at the massive amount of presents placed under the decorated fake palm tree in our room.

Dean and I sit on the sofa, drinking coffee and enjoying the look of awe on our daughter's face as she opens her presents. Once finished, she winks at her dad and goes to her bag where she pulls a box from inside. Handing it to him, Whitney steps back as Dean slides off to the floor, getting on one knee.

My hand slaps over my mouth as he clears his throat. I have no idea what he says because my inner voice is chanting 'Oh my god! This can't be happening!' Finally my ears take over and I hear him ask, "Becks, will you marry me?" I nod through the tears and watch as he slips the ring onto my finger. He climbs back onto the couch and wraps his arms around me, only moving one around Whitney when she dog-piles on top of us in excitement.

None of us know though, that when we return to Indiana the past is going to come back to haunt us, in the form of Sam Winchester back from Hell.

A/N2: Another announcement! Another story! Remember how I promised a sequel to this story? A look into the years these two spent apart? Well I began it and then life happened (along with a stroke) so I just now am finishing it up. Look for Wounded Hearts to begin in March!!! I’m excited to share it with you. I will keep those of you that were on the PH taglist unless you tell me different. Love to you all.

@vickiq9761 @81mysteriouslyme @travelingriversideblues-x @akshi8278 @keymology @hoboal87 @squirrelnotsam @spnbaby-67 @sandlee44 @natura1phenomenon @drakelover78 @lostinaseaoffictionalbliss @larajadeschmidt13 @tftumblin @blacktithe7 @lilulo-12 @adoptdontshoppets @cpag7 @markofdean79 @supraveng @deanwanddamons @mogaruke @death-unbecomes-you @vicariouslythruspn @atc74 @delightfullykrispypeach @sea040561

#past haunts #dean winchester #rebecca quentin #whitney quentin winchester #dean x rebecca #a look inside #a sequel is coming #wounded hearts #stay tuned #After School Special #season4 #episode 13 #spn 4x13

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nitannichionne · 4 years

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If He Was YOUR Fan Chapter 10: Thunder and Wind (A Henry Cavill Fan Fic)

You are watching the weather channel everyday now, and there is no denying it: there is a storm coming in three to five days, give or take. The wind velocity over the seas change, but landfall is inevitable. You feel a bit panicked; it’s one thing to face storms in your home town with family around you, but it’s another when you are in a place you don’t know facing a storm you’ve never experienced with no family around you.

The town is even getting ready, repairing shutters, and stockpiling foods. You’re no slouch when it comes to preparation and you have been slowly adding supplies to your backpack, even to your cabinets. You just aren’t sure where to go. The garage you are in is relatively new, so you are not sure of how much it has stood against, or if it was rebuilt after a storm. The house is a better bet, and you are afraid the garage apartment may be destroyed.

Luckily, the storm makes landfall at the end of the week, giving the movie crew a chance to film but also to secure what they can. Urgency fills everyone’s steps; it is important to do whatever can be done. Even Henry is being more precise with his performances, trying to do things in one or two takes. He is terribly busy and you understand when he can’t see you as much. Between trainings, new shooting schedules and just trying to get that eight to ten hours of sleep, he feels the need to lead and work harder than others, be an example and yet help everyone else.

You just try to be quietly supportive. You make sure he eats and drinks, which seems to be the first thing he throws out the window when he is in this mode. You introduce him to the twenty minute power nap and meditation in his trailer, things that saved your ass in the past when it was crunch time for you. He is a true Taurus-a true bull, trying to charge through everything, but you are more concerned for his well-being and what keeps him able to continue being that way. At first, he rejects the idea, but as he sees your concern, he relents and tries to take better care of himself.

“When we get off work tonight, I’d like you to wait for me,” Henry says in his Geralt voice as you both stride toward the set.

“Sure, but—” you hesitate, still instinctively feeling a bit intimidated by the tone but not as much as before. “you are really busy, so it’s okay if you don’t have a lot of time—”

“I have time for this,” Henry grounds out, but then touches your shoulder. “Just…wait for me?”

“Alright,” you nod, responding to the purr in his voice and seeing a look in his eyes that is new to you. He looks tired of course, but he also looks a little distracted and unsure. He leaves you behind the wall of cameras and in a few breaths and a clench of his jaw, Geralt has emerged and Henry simply cannot be reached. In the blink of an eye, Gracie blinks at you, and then blinks into character herself. You turn to finish your duties, heading back toward the trailers as you open the notes app on your tablet holding all your to-do’s as you stride over to have lunch with Stella.

“People are talking,” Stella whispers.

“About what?”

She looks around and then answers, “About you.”

“Me?!”

“Well you’ve been in Henry’s trailer a lot—”

You roll your eyes. “I stay and wait for him to finish eating, Stella.”

“What?”

“You know they are trying to get more done before the storm,” you remind. “He’s not eating or drinking, I can see it in his color. So, I stay and wait for him to eat.”

“And he does it?”

“Yes, it’s quiet persistence,” you shrug. “I told him what I’m doing and why I’m doing it once. I just stand there.”

“Is that why you’ve been taking a shorter lunch?” Stella began putting two and two together.

“Yes, my waiting is part of my lunch hour and then when he starts I start, or when he finishes I start,” you shrug. “It’s a guilt trip, my waiting for him to eat, but it pushes him to do what he should be doing in the first place, the bullheaded boy.”

“Stop it!” Stella laughs, rocking backward and losing balance of her lunch on her lap, almost spilling it on the ground but catching it just in time. “Did you like the minestrone?”

“That was really good—“

“I made it!” Stella beamed. “They let me do it! Have you heard anything else?”

“I don’t think there is any left, Stella.”

She gasps and gets up to check. She squeals in delight and you laugh at her giddiness.

“Happy day!” Stella sighs. “Oh, times like this I know I was meant to work with food—”

“Hey, guys!” Stuart greets. Archer is with him.

“Hey!” Stella smiles widely. “Did you have some of my minestrone?”

“That was you?” Stuart’s eyes widened. “You have to make that at the house!”

You smile and rise to your feet. “Well guys, I’ll catch you later, okay?”

“Leaving again, are you?” Archer asks, raising an eyebrow at you.

“Yes, I have to get back to work—”

“You haven’t been around much, helping Mr. Cavill and all,” Archer says accusingly, almost spitting Henry’s surname.

“I am doing what I can for all the cast members and their assistants, Archer,” you say evenly, hoping you come off as dismissive instead of defensive. “See you guys later.”

The day goes on in flurry of changed orders and last minute things to do. There’s only a day or two left before the storm hits and your mind swims with what needs to be done. You overhear Stuart ask Stella to stay at his place during the storm and she agrees happily. You hope that Archer doesn’t ask; that would be awful and awkward. You realize during the course of the day that some people partner up on occasions like these-be it as friends or more.

At the end of the day, you sit by the catering trailer with Stella as she wraps for the day. You keep checking your texts to see if anything last minute pops up for you to do before you leave. You feel like Cinderella this particular day, dealing with Gracie’s demands of tea for her throat, cleaning her trailer, and walking actors’ pets, the latter of which you don’t mind. You just want to be sure you are done and ready to go when Henry is.

“Ready to go?”

You look up to see Archer and Stuart approaching. Stuart is particularly happy and relaxed now that he knows Stella is staying over for the storm. Archer, however, looks like the prelude to the event of the storm itself.

“Yeah!” Stella nods quickly, gathering her things.

You don’t move. You look around to see so many people gone, but Henry’s truck is still there, not far from you. You didn’t want to look like a puppy on a doorstep but you certainly feel like one now.

Stella looks at you questioningly. “Hey, you’re not coming?”

“I have plans,” you say quickly.

“Do you?” Stuart asks, nudging his older brother.

“Speaking of plans,” Archer asks. “I was wondering where you would be staying during the storm.”

You swallow hard. “I haven’t given it much thought.” That was true. You have been so busy with preparation for the thing, you missed this detail.

“Well, if you have nowhere to go—”

“She does.”

Your eyes fly up to see Henry approaching. His look is calm, but his body is rigid as he strides toward the group. “Hi.”

“Hi,” Henry nods. “ready to go?”

Your eyes lower as three pairs of eyes fly toward you. “Yeah, pretty much.”

He offers his hand and you take it. He effortlessly pulls you to your feet, and sees your tablet open. “Colin’s gone already. I don’t think he’ll have anything else for you—” he smiles. “Well, not today.”

“Oh, okay, thanks.” You fold the tablet case shut and slip it into your cargo pocket.

“See you tomorrow,” Henry nods with a polite smile to everyone, his eyes lingering on Archer for more than a second. He shifts his hand so that he is holding yours and leads you off.

“Later, guys,” you call back softly as you follow him. He walks you to the passenger’s side of his truck.

“Well, I guess you know what I wanted to talk to you about,” Henry says softly, your bodies inches apart as you lean against the vehicle.

“Not sure,” you say slowly. You refuse to assume, after all, what does Mom say? To assume makes an ass out of you and me….?

“I was hoping,” he paused, his eyes dropping as if getting up the nerve, but rise with intensity as he says his next words. “I was hoping you’d ride out the storm with me. They say it will be fronts rolling in and out all weekend, but the first hit will be the worst.”

“Yeah,” you smile breathlessly. “sounds like fun.”

“We should shop for some things we might need, you know?” he said softly. “I mean, safety, snacks, stuff like that.”

“Agreed.” You nod. “I’ll be honest, I’ve been getting ready all week, you know, little by little.”

“Great.” He nods. “So, let’s see what we’ve got, alright?”

“Yeah,” you nod.

He opens the door for you, and you slide into the passenger’s seat. He closes the door and as he walks around the car to get into the drivers’ side, you realize it may be time. The makeout sessions and massages, the kisses and caresses…it was all building into the point where something was going to give. He slides in next to you and stretches over to give you a quick kiss. “I’ve been wanting to do that all day.”

“I’ve been wanting you to,” you say softly.

Thanks for reading! Let me know if you want to be tagged.

@mistress-of-ward @nuggsmum @messyinsomniacbookgirl @jencanbeyouryengeralt @sweetdreamsofgelato @maryann84 @omgkatinka @the-soot-sprite @viking-raider @keanureevesisbae @henryobsessed @summersong69 @kinbhot4henners @sunshine96love @michelehansel @radofrivia @thelastsock @michelehansel @tumblnewby @henryobsessed @defffcc @tenaciousneckpartypainter @rn7rocksn @mrskikkirazz @daydreamin83 @ruthoakenshield @musicartmayheminmyheart

#henry cavill #henry cavill fanfiction #henrycavillfanfic #henrycavillfluff #henry cavill x you #geralt #superman

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classysmashy · 3 years

Text

Into Each Life...

#3/??? of Nuclear Winter

ZoNa Holiday 2020 Entry Prompt 3 (Ornaments / Tradition)

@zonamievents

One Piece in Fallout Universe (kinda~) [I do not own One Piece or Fallout]

AN: There was something in particular I wanted to convey about Nami with this one, but after this there will definitely be more Zoro. So, I have ideas of how to explain the devil fruits, fishmen/mermaids, and sky natives into the Fallout universe for this and it’s pretty exciting. I don’t know when I might try to get into moments to explaining them out, but I might do future chapters (after the holiday event is over) to do flashbacks that put key moments into this universe since this is supposed to take place six years after Luffy originally started his journey. If I do these, I might build up a wayyy longer chapter for those moments to try and keep them from taking away from the main story being focused later in the timeline compared to the past. Again, sorry for this being late, I had my ideas for these, but it was a matter of putting everything into the words I wanted. The original Fallout 1 and 2 games had much darker themes than the newer ones and I want to try and incorporate that, but not too heavy outright.<3

Rated: T for Blood, Heavy Violence, Suggestive Themes

Word Count: 4,379

*****

Ever since she was younger, Nami understood that bad things must happen for the good times to come rolling in. That was the second lesson she had learned from the death of Bellemere. The first lesson had been that she had to keep living, for being alive meant something, even when you don’t necessarily know just what that something is.

A part of her wanted to rip the world to shreds for the death of Bellemere and believed Arlong deserved the most cruelest, torturing death for the crimes he had committed to her hometown. And for so long Nami lived with that spite building inside of her, brimming over the top at times and causing her to lash out upon herself.

The first time she went wild with her anger, it happened while she had been visiting Nojiko and storing away some of the money she had stolen. Nami had lost it in a fit of rage, putting her fist through a flower vase, the broken ceramic cutting at the skin of her hand, and smashed up the kitchen table with one of the dinning chairs.

It was during those times that Nojiko started making sure Nami was voicing herself to the older sister, since bottling those feelings away inside was destroying Nami each time she felt helpless.

Nami never cried though. She would get angry, break things, lie about being happy, but she would never let the full extent of the misery hiding inside to be released out for anyone to see.

This had went on through the years, her deceiving charms becoming her main weapon to steal from unsuspecting raiders —after she had gotten used to their behavior and could trick them to not shoot at her. Eventually, the most normal occurrence seemed to be stumbling on the newer recruits of the raiders to swindle, stealing their money and valuables to sell.

Those years of experiences is what had paid off when she met Luffy that very first time in Orange Town, the idiot so unaware of what people could do to those who were too naïve. Nami used him like a puppet to gather up Buggy’s recent escapade of cash and stash, but had felt horrible when it seemed the guy was going to be killed, and that was another first time for her. Quickly, her fingers had already reached out to stop the refashioned canon from shooting at Luffy locked up in a cage.

He seemed to make his mind up about Nami in that moment as well as the rest of Buggy’s men who were racing onto her form, ready to slash and make her one with the wasteland.

Yet, that death never came back then.

And that was how Nami met Zoro the first time, her back to him, clutching onto a lit string, and him with all of his swords out to stop the fighters in their tracks.

That one moment in time seemed to set off a chain reaction. Zoro was constantly the one saving Nami from danger during their travels together, always seeming to run his lost feet right to where she was in need of help.

Robin passed on a comment to her about the action when he still seemed to find himself saving her randomly after all of them reunited. “If Zoro has no sense of direction, possibly it means his internal compass is set wrong. And I believe that internal compass is set to find you when you’re in danger, hm? It’s only a small theory, but one that holds merit with the actions he has presented.” The small chuckle Robin had hid after walking away from Nami and leaving the girl with just that, still echoed her mind.

All along through the years of being with the Strawhats, there did seem to be something odd about how often Nami and Zoro seemed to be thrown together when the two had clearly been offsets to one another, ideologies varying drastically and causing constant arguments between the two. The fighting between them had begun to die down some when they all came back together after two years.

Whether it was because of herself or Zoro, she had never picked up on. The swordsman didn’t even seem to end up around her much at first, but when they were together he had seemed so... calm. Zoro had a different air around him, everyone did, and the way Zoro seemed to change had put him at ease about what his true mission was now with being a part of the crew.

Protector. Zoro decided during the time apart that he was and had to be the one who was the full protector of the crew, of Luffy’s dream, and carry the burden of keeping everyone alive. The idiot became ready to throw his life down just to keep the others safe.

Nami had been pissed off by it.

A protector in her mind would never let themselves die so easily, never give up on their own dream like that, wouldn’t throw everything away in a blink of an eye.

But, that was exactly what Bellemere had done for her and Nojiko.

When she realized how much Zoro was becoming like Bellemere in that sense, she avoided him and kept distance between the two. Frightened. She had been frightened imagining the crew going through a death like that, Zoro’s death. And it was the pain she imaged Luffy had felt after their initial break apart when Ace died.

Losing Zoro would be hard, as a close friend and even worse on the dynamics of all the Strawhats. It was her realization of this that had brought on their first fight since everyone got back together.

During one of his nightly workouts while on watch, Nami had stormed Zoro and began questioning him about if he planned to roll over and die.

To say the least, he was stunned at Nami for it, and he lashed back with his own yelling. Damn if it woke anyone up on the ship, the woman was talking mad.

Zoro would yell about how it was impossible for him to die so soon and he wasn’t giving up on his life that easily and Nami would yell back with how he had changed his philosophy, that she wondered if he truly wanted to be the greatest swordsman throughout the wasteland still. The moment she had brought his dream into question, he cuffed her wrists above her head and pushed her body up the wall, leaving her feet dangling off the floor.

Before, she had been frightened about his death, but this was the first time she was actually scared of Zoro’s actions. Her breathe had been caught in her throat and leaving her speechless as Zoro closed in around her, caging Nami upon the wall with a deadly look in his eye. The look that most experienced just moments away from him bringing great pain into the life of his enemies.

“I don’t question you about your dream, why question me about mine? You don’t know a damn thing about me right now through that clouded gaze of yours. Die? I’m not planning to go anywhere, so get used to it, witch.”

If anyone were to ask her about it, Nami would deny the fact that there had been a small heat that swallowed her insides when Zoro hung her out to dry then.

He seemed to gather some wits about the predicament he had placed both of them into, releasing Nami to stand back on her feet and turning away again to his weights.

Zoro had promptly ignored her for the rest of the night, even as she burnt holes into his back until the wee hours of the morning.

*****

Winter was always harsh back home, even before Bellemere had been murdered. The income for the family would dry up as the mikan trees couldn’t bear fruit during the cold season and had to be watched over carefully. That also meant the family dinners would be kept small and that Christmas presents for little Nami and Nojiko would be drastically different compared to the kids of the rest of the villagers living in the town.

Nami was always rougher during winter, making a comment every single day about how Bellemere had to be upset about raising them and them eating up all of her money and time. Bellemere simply ignored it though, until spring would finally break the clouds above and Nami would drop the subject of money from her mind.

She couldn’t be upset about the traditions that Nami held for winter, just as Nojiko became more clingy and stuck to Bellemere’s side when winter rolled around.

There were many traditions that the little family held together with their heartstrings on the line. Like how Nami and Nojiko would bake a tiny cake that would cut into four adequate pieces, how Bellemere would bake up the pretty ham Genzo brought over, how the four of them gathered together in a pray that Genzo asked of them to do around the food before eating.

Four people just enjoying being together for another year, smiling and laughing for the whole day without any issues. Christmas was the one day that fighting wasn’t allowed, the day was to be sweet and jovial with nothing weighing down on the bright mood.

But, the good times had came to an end after Arlong showed up.

Many people throughout Cocoyashi had stopped celebrating any holiday all together, in favor of saving up that bit of extra money to pay for their keep the next time Arlong’s goonies came to collect. Genzo would rest a slice of ham and pour a bottle of booze over Bellemere’s grave. Nojiko would spend time out with the mikan trees and would take the very last one of the year to Bellemere’s grave, returning on Christmas day and talking with her through the night about Nami.

And Nami would stay away from home until only a few days were left of the year. There was a guilt that Nami carried for giving herself up to Arlong that she couldn’t shake off and she never wanted to disrupt a nice day for Bellemere, so she waited for the holiday to pass before making her own visit with a bouquet of flowers.

Each time she wanted to cry out, bawl until the ground became so wet it would sink beneath her and swallow her whole with the grass and mud and dirt, bringing Nami to be one with Bellemere’s body beneath.

But she wouldn’t let those tears fall down, she would recap the bottle on her heart even tighter and chug down bottles of whiskey and vodka until her throat burned too much and passed out. Maybe, it was because of Christmas that Nami had developed her tolerance over time, each year drinking more and more and pushing out how long it would take to reach the tipping point.

Things became different around Christmas after joining up with Luffy and Zoro in Orange Town.

As the crew built up more and more, the holiday came around just before they had reached Sabaody Archipelago the first time, and they had stopped for a few days to celebrate together.

It was a weird time for all of them. The only ones who was close to having a proper Christmas in the past years was Chopper and Franky, Chopper because of him living in the cold climate that was constantly set in Christmassy time and Franky because of how his “family” would booze it up and gamble money off together on the holiday.

Nami knew that Robin hadn’t celebrated the holiday in her life nor had Zoro either, Sanji didn’t count into having celebrated since the Baratie only had special Christmas dinners for customers and not actually anything for themselves. Usopp didn’t get to celebrate as a kid with his mom sick and nobody wanted him around during their Christmas dinner because of his lies, which would leave him all alone. Luffy had actually never told them if he had celebrated before and Brook was so old that he forgotten about the last time he had a Christmas, so it was a restart for him.

The whole thing went well though, super in fact, as Franky liked to put it.

Sanji cooked a feast after him, Zoro, and Luffy had a hunting contest. Franky couldn’t find any lights, but cut a tree down for them to settle around. Nami, Robin, and Chopper would work on cutting up fabric to hang around the place they were hunkered in to make the scene just a bit more festive. Usopp had been the one to tell all the jokes and stories that gave everyone hearty laughs and looks of disbelief as they ate and drank. Brook would be playing Christmas tunes on his violin through the nights, whisking them to sleep with the beautiful melodies.

That was their first time celebrating Christmas all together and after being apart two years, when Christmas rolled back around, they did it again. This time more people were celebrating with them, Jinbe, Law, people that Luffy had dragged into his life deciding that from this time onward, they were his friends whether they liked it or not.

Those traditions built of being together as a family of friends were beautiful and she would look forward to when the time would come and she would be able to get actual gifts together for all of them.

*****

A cool, wetness dragged across the skin of her cheek, the dishrag scratching at the blood splatters covering her face. Another one was wiping away at the blood all over her hands, gently tugging between fingers and nails to remove the evidence of the crimes that just happened.

Zoro’s bracelet was still on her wrist, the gold tainted by brahmin blood that had collected inside of the gold plates that hung from it.

Nami’s eyes were out of focus, a blur of frames moving at turtle speed, unable to look at the two men cleaning her. But she didn’t need to see properly to know the horrifying sight laying out before her on the highway.

Like cattle to the slaughter, they had been leaving Sabaody when hell broke loose, a rainfall of bullets scattered down, two dozen gunners giving their hiding places up. There was screams that came from a few of them about how Nami and the settlers had killed their friends so now it was time for revenge.

Nami had ducked away behind a car, a bullet hitting straight into her left shoulder and as she hit the deck, she realized there was a sliced up body impaled on metal poles along this stretch of highway.

The settler she had sent back first had his body torn apart, limb for limb, with each one stabbed through with the metal poles. His torso had a metal chain shoved through it and tied to the poles with his arms, lifting it up for crows and bloodbugs to get their pickings in. The most disgusting part was the short metal pipe shoved into a right angle down what was left of his throat and his head had been decapitated to screw the settler’s head onto the pipe and making the pipe poke out of his right eye, mouth left open in a scream, and Nami wondered how much of the torture he was alive for.

Just from the sight of him, it was clear that there was no hope left for them.

One by one, the three settlers left succumbed to the bullets, unable to get away in time, and the screams of pain would probably haunt Nami’s nightmares for years to come. The poor brahmin came to run and hide with Nami, but it was brought to the ground when her back right leg was shot off and the brahmin fell with moos and groans of agony.

It was a pitiful sight and made her heart ache as hot tears slid down her jaw. She kicked herself up, bringing out a boot knife to stab into both of the skulls of the brahmin, giving the girl the peace she deserved, the noises silencing and chest growing still. The oozing blood from the brahmin sliding around on her hands when she shut the eyes of the animal.

A swarm of four gunners were suddenly on Nami’s body, guns beating into her flesh, and preventing her from doing anything to get out of their grip. She felt one of the male gunners swipe his hand over the front of Zoro’s jacket that was zipped to the top, his hand close to grabbing a full feel of her breast.

When a slash of a sword cut him in half, body sliding off of itself and spurting blood all over her body, and it was going to be over quickly now, she had decided.

Luffy was running headfirst at the rest of the gunners on the highway, she could hear the screams from them, the impact of the blows suffered by Luffy’s strength, and the flops to the ground in their death.

Before her was Zoro, a wicked glint to his eye, slashing away over and over and over again at the gunners that had surrounded her. Nami watched as his focus shifted to be on the one who had planned to assault her, puke rising and burning her throat as she watched him chop the gunner into pieces.

And into more pieces. Blood pouring out over the concrete, running over her shoes, splashing on her face and body.

Nami remembered that stare, from that night on his watch when she had set him ablaze with anger. Blood was everywhere. Everywhere.

The more the two went at it with their brutal strength, Nami retreated into herself, shaking uncontrollably and losing sense of what was going on around her. She didn’t want to see them like this, it wasn’t the matter of being scared, but seeing what Luffy and Zoro were capable of reminded her of rougher days in her early life.

Every time Zoro went for such a grotesque kill, she had the image in her mind of seeing the smoking gun in Arlong’s hand. The way Bellemere’s body caved in on itself, shoes flying in the air, the black ring of hole left in her forehead and more smoke pouring out. Bellemere’s blood had ended up on her face in that moment, as well as on Nojiko.

Just like now. The blood from each cut and stab Zoro produced was in close proximity to her, painting her. It was too much for her senses to handle and her eyes slid shut, hiding away from the massacre.

Luffy and Zoro would always be a deadly pair together. More so than Sanji could ever hope to achieve by teaming up with the two because Sanji had his limits to how far he would go while Luffy and Zoro didn’t. This was especially true in the case of something involving all of their friends, but the two had also made it clear that they wouldn’t take anything happening to Nami and would act like this.

Right now, Usopp was properly working with Franky with what could be spared to decorated until the new materials got back to the settlement. Robin and Chopper would be preparing gift ideas for the boys who would have no clue about what to get. Sanji would be placing in orders for different ingredients and checking stock for the dinner. Brook would be cleaning and tuning instruments, deciding the order of the classic songs and writing his own. Jinbe would be picking up the slack that anyone needed and making sure people were getting done what needed to be. Law was probably trying to figure out a way to run and how long he might be able to hide out before Luffy found him.

Some time passed ever so slowly. Nami pushed out the noise of gushing blood and gurgles of pleading by placing her mind somewhere else.

A week and half would be Christmas, by this much time having passed, the tradition during this time was to be preparing for the Strawhats Christmas celebration.

“People should stick to their traditions.” Luffy was the one to be dead-set in making Christmas happen every year. It wasn’t like this world really called for the holiday, the world was too destroyed for the majority to have the time to think on the holidays.

Luffy was the one wiping the blood from her hands. A weird sight to see him so calm, but it was soothing to know the captain cared to be careful of the discomfort that radiated from Nami’s body.

Zoro cupped her chin with one hand and the other was cleaning the blood away from her face. She wondered if he realized the effect his skills had on her and not the good effect. Well, it was good to know he could keep her safe, yet there was a fear of what the man held inside.

He probably contained his own anger at times, like Nami did as a kid, and that anger led to who he became today. When Nami went the cunning route to counter what happened in her life, Zoro had built up a steady resistance in him and strength to demolish whatever stepped in his path again.

The two of them, Luffy and Zoro, they were made for this world, created for this wasteland. The two could survive without issue, it wasn’t the same as to how Nami’s main way to protect herself was by tricking the enemies or standing beside people for safety, rarely she could survive by her own hands, though during their past travels she had been better at it than now.

This was the wasteland.

A brutal and bloody mess, normal humans sent into a world of monsters and having to become monsters themselves to survive. The raiders were drove to drugs and insanity. Gunners fighting for the hell of it and for the money. Super mutants had been normal humans, subjected to experiments to make them into the monsters they were. The brahmin and radstag were normal animals in a lost world, now they were their own monsters by being mashed with one of their own breed, two cows and two deers forced into twins. The ghouls were normal people as well, the radiation seeping into their bodies so much that their skin was now papier-mache and slowly rotting their brains. Domesticated robots having codes changed to murder on sight, new robots created as pure killing machines. Synths would be used to kidnap the normal humans and replace them, driving fear into every single person that no one could truly be trusted.

Just as Luffy had created traditions that they would all follow at their home, the wasteland had its own traditions.

If you can’t kill, you get killed.

Lately, Nami had been spending time out and about, but it had been nearly a year since the last time she went out before getting the feral ghoul blood with Zoro. She had grown so used to the setting of being inside walls and being away from reality.

The life being built was worth the payoff, but it was destructive for her wellbeing.

“Nami,” Zoro’s lips were pressing at the skin behind her ear, Luffy had clasped their fingers together and circled her legs. “Where are you?” She turned into Zoro’s warmth and felt her eyes shaking.

The promise to Bellemere was that she wouldn’t cry. Nami broke that when she asked the first time for help against Arlong. A high rule for herself was broken because of the trust she had gained in all of her friends.

“Why are you here?” She bit the tears down, she did trust them, but now wasn’t the time to reveal all of the trouble inside.

“Mm, materials for Franky, lots of money, stories to look into...” She needed to hurry up and move on, get the bag of materials for Franky down from what was left of the settlers torso and go forward, not backwards. She needed to be away from her own head.

“It doesn’t matter,” Luffy said, catching onto Nami’s eyes and holding her gaze, “Did the trade go well?” Distraction, don’t think about this if it’s taking a toll on you, gather yourself.

Zoro tore away her hand from Luffy, lifting it to see the cleaned bracelet jingle against her wrist. “It looks better than I thought it would.” A smile stretched on his lips, pressing them into the skin just beneath her palm with a hum. “Your heartbeat is starting to even out, that’s good. You don’t have to be scared.”

He knew, of course he knew. The swordsman could always read her at nearly any given moment, only missing at certain times, that was part of the dynamic that Usopp would never understand.

If she had half a mind of her normal senses right now, Nami would say that the two had been following along around her or ahead of her for a reason. The fact that Shakky said they went to the bar and the fact that they had been here to save her now.

Everything was everywhere in her mind, lost in a state of confusion she still couldn’t break.

Why had she been thinking so much about the past? Why did she have such bad luck to get the people she was supposed to protector murdered instead? Why, why, why?

Nami was spinning, she wasn’t sure if her body was even actually moving, she could barely make out Zoro saying something about her heartbeat, her pumping blood.

White. The sky was white, all the blue drained away and the sun hidden deep in the clouds. Snow was trickling down in shimmers, slow and unsure of the places that they wanted to stick to.

Nami’s breathing had increased, she had to be hyperventilating, her mind numbly noting the change.

Both Zoro and Luffy’s faces flooded her sight, their mouths were moving, but she didn’t hear a word. Then her eyelids slid closed and she felt the darkness flood her.

#zonaholiday2020 #fanfic #one piece #zona #zonami #zoronami #zoro x nami #ronoroa zoro #op nami #op zoro #op luffy #monkey d. luffy

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herrscherbled · 3 years

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Sirin walks up to Mei and gives her a hug while no one else is around. While doing so, she meekly asks her, " Don't tell anyone, please.. " In the quietest tone she could manage. She just wanted to get this out of the way..

@hcstofthevoid

Th silence on Hyperion was pleasant to her as it meant there was no need to rush anywhere and there was no need to have Jackal's presence remind her of experiments and tries. The training was no longer needed as well as she knew her powers were above what she had before. The surroundings were making her wonder when this fairytale will end, the Captain's presence was making her believe that maybe there was a world where everyone could be happy. With her choices, she didn't have any regrets, especially when she had experience to support her taken path. As of now, it was a heaven, almost a dream where she could do more than she could before. Being surrounded by those who were important to her, her heart was gentler around them. There was another member of the Hyperion crew who had gotten her tenderness, turning thunderstorms into a warm rain.

Sirin's approach made Raiden look at her with an inquiry reflecting in her eyes. Before anything could be asked, the purple haired girl was so much closer to her, the warmth of her body was felt immediately. A hug. Sirin came herself to hug her, it was a surprise that made the woman feel shocked. Mei took only a second to place her hands around the little girl, holding her just a bit closer. The whisper made her lips curl into a softer smile. Raiden place one of her hands atop of Sirin's head, stroking her hair in a soothing matter to let the other know that she was safe in the Herrscher's embrace. The thunder will become softer, the raging storms will stop for today and she will return back her softer side that showed itself during her days at St. Freya. If Theresa were here to see this, she'd know that this was how Mei was with people who she cared about.

"I won't," reassurance follows to calm down the girl, a reminder that she was safe and there was no one who would wish to harm her. Not until the snake from the shadows will appear on Hyperion, but as of now, Sirin had no one who would wish for her demise or who will use her for malicious reasons. The girl in front of Mei was just a girl, a girl just like she was before, a girl just like the kids that Raven cared about. She will not push her away, she will not make Sirin feel exposed, she will not put Sirin in a situation where she'll feel unsafe. "I am here, Sirin. Take as much time as you need."

There is no need to rush this experience. There was no need to think that she will disappear. There was no need to fear that Mei will push Sirin away for it will not happen, their purple scheme will remain in familial harmony.

#queue.#hcstofthevoid #∴∵ ϟ ∴∵ 「 COLD VISAGE YET KIND TONE REMAINS. 」 in character.

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banditthewriter · 4 years

Text

Eye of the Hurricane - Charles Vane - 2

I’ve forgotten to post this for the past few days. I’m sorry! Here’s part two.

Warning: Violence against the reader, nothing too bad though. She’s fiesty.

*gif not mine*

Enjoy!

------

The ship was called The Ranger. You had heard the name, at least you thought you had heard it before. At the very least you heard it as Anne locked you into the hold.

“Welcome to The Ranger,” she had said before she left you alone.

For some reason you expected the holding cell to be disgusting. Perhaps it was because you had been taught to think of pirates as slovenly and unclean, but the ship was in fairly good condition. There were no bones in the corners, no blood on the walls. Pirates weren’t sitting around and sharpening their knives as they threatened to kill anyone who looked at them.

The hardest part of it all was that these men—and women, apparently—were almost completely normal to you. Some of them were scarred and some, like the man who had come to you in the hold on the other ship, were scary looking. But mostly they were like any other sailors.

Except they didn’t follow the law. They made their own.

At some point you heard the blast of cannons. The sound made you shudder and duck as if to protect your head, but you weren’t under attack. Why would they fire on a ship full of dead sailors?

And then you felt the familiar rock that told you the ship was sailing away. Away from safety. You were alone and unprotected.

Which meant you needed to protect yourself. Somehow.

You had been sheltered, true enough, but you refused to let that be your downfall. While you might have lived a life of leisure and comfort, you had also spent a lot of time near the ports. You had never fought but you’d seen plenty of sailors fight over the last few years.

You wouldn’t be completely at risk. Somehow you would protect yourself. You weren’t a damsel in distress like you’d read about in so many stories. You would survive this by your own wits and your own strength.

Somehow.

------

“You must be hungry,” you heard from above you, startling you from the half asleep state you’d found yourself in.

You lifted your head from your knees and looked to the door. The man named Jack held a wooden bowl in his hand as well as a wooden cup. He pushed them through the bars and waved them each a little bit.

The idea of starving yourself had come up, but you doubted that would make the pirates show you any mercy. If anything they would just consider themselves free of a burden and throw you overboard.

You took the bowl and cup from him before you went over to the low bench that stretched across the wall. It would be nearly impossible to sleep on the wall so you supposed you would have to sleep on the floor. You didn’t worry about that yet though. Instead you looked at the bowl and tried to smother the noise your stomach made in appreciation.

“We have a while before we get back home. We’ll make sure you have necessities but it won’t be as comfortable as what you’re used to.”

He patted his hand on the side of the ship as if he was apologizing for insulting it. You nodded your head and looked back down at the food.

“Someone will be on guard at the door at all times. If you need anything, just ask them to get me. I’m the quartermaster for The Ranger, Jack Rackham.”

You thought about the quartermaster of the ship you had been on, the ship whose name you had never learned. Had Mr. Clemmons suffered before his end? Had he worried about you alone in the hold?

“Thank you,” you finally said as the man was halfway to the door.

Might as well show some manners. If you weren’t a burden to the crew, they would be fine with going through with the ransom. If you caused problems, they’d probably kill you just for the principle of the matter.

Once you were alone, you ate the food quickly. After you had swallowed down the last of the bread and the water, you leaned back against the wall. Soon you would be forced to curl up on the floor and try to at least get a few hours of sleep. It wouldn’t be comfortable but it was all you could do.

------

The next few days were measured in meals. It was usually the quartermaster who brought them to you, but sometimes it was the silent Anne. When Jack came in, he’d at least treat you to a few comments. He told you about the weather, gave you a few updates on how long it would take to get to wherever they were headed. Anne was tight lipped and didn’t even respond when you thanked her for the food.

She didn’t look happy to have to bring you the food but after the third time she did it, you had to wonder if her problem wasn’t so much that she was bringing you food but that you were there at all. Every time she came she glared at the cell door, didn’t even look at you.

You noticed this the time she woke you up. You had pillowed your head on your arm, your dirty dress wrapped around you as much as possible to provide a little warmth. It wasn’t cold in the holding cell but it was damp. Surely by time you reached land you would be sick to your bones.

Anne glared at the cell and the tiny bench that you rarely sat on anymore. Then, as quickly as she had come, she disappeared.

The food was less appetizing when you weren’t starving, but you still ate it all. You knew that you needed all the strength that you could get. Finished, put the bowl and cup next to the bars and went back to your usual seat on the ground.

Jack had informed you that it would take a few weeks to go from where your ship had been attacked to where they were headed. The Ranger had traveled far from its intended course during a bad storm and they had stumbled upon your ship on accident.

Weeks. You’d already sailed on a ship for weeks, but this was different. This ship didn’t offer you any entertainment, any exercise. You were stuck in a tiny cell for weeks.

You had talked about being in a cage with your family but that had been wrong. You’d had a wealth of freedom before this.

The door banged open and you jerked upright to see who it was. Anne came through the room with an armful of what looked like blankets.

“It’s not much,” she said as she carefully pushed the bundle through the bars, “but it’s better than sleeping on the floor.”

A thin pillow that had seen better days and two blankets that were just a bit thicker than your dress.

“Thank you,” you said as you clutched the items to your chest. “You didn’t have to do that.”

She looked down at you, her eyes barely visible under the hat that she apparently wore everywhere.

Without another word she spun on her heel and marched away from you, out of the room once more.

When it came time for you to go to sleep, you carefully laid out one blanket as a makeshift bed. With the pillow down, you sat down and draped the second blanket over you.

It wasn’t much, like Anne had said, but it was better than what you’d had before. It was better than nothing.

And it was the tiniest glimpse of humanity.

------

The waters must have been choppy because the ship seemed to teeter from side to side. You hadn’t been seasick the entire time you sailed before but you could feel the broth from your dinner starting to come up. Your eyes were clenched shut as you tried to breathe through the waves of nausea that washed over you.

The sound of the door smacking against the wall had your eyes shooting back open. At first you thought maybe it had just flown open by the wind that was obviously rocking the ship, but then you saw that it was just dark and the man wore dark clothing.

As he took a few steps into the room, you recognized him. It was the man who had first found you in the cells. He stomped towards you with purpose, barely swaying with the ship as it rocked.

“We’re taking on a lot of extra danger with you,” he said in a tone that said he didn’t care about that one bit. “I think we should find out if you’re worth it.”

Terror raced through you to the point where you no longer felt sick. You stood up and tucked yourself in the furthest corner of your cell as if that would protect you. He looked at the lock with disdain before he raised a dagger and slammed against the object. It did this twice more before the lock popped open.

The moment he had the cell door open, you took a deep breath and rushed at him. With all the force you had, you slammed into his body and pushed him against the far wall. He stumbled, surprised by your attack and strength. Then you quickly spun to head towards the door, desperate to get away.

Just like the last time he had taken you out of a cell, he grabbed a fistful of your hair and slammed you against a nearby wall. The force made your vision go blurry with tears as your face was bashed into the wall a few more times for good measure.

The man had his body pressed against yours, his breath hot and rank against your cheek as he whispered what he wanted to do to you. That plus his hand fighting with your skirts made your survival instinct kick in even more.

This time you swung back with your elbow, satisfied when you heard a loud crunch of bone. Then you kicked out with your feet, catching the man on his knees and between his legs and stomach.

Even as a kid you were never allowed to fight with anyone, but you’d watched the sailors fight more than once. This was nothing like that, but even if it wasn’t skilled, it served its purpose. The man had to step away out of range or else he’d get even more injuries from you.

You must have screamed at some point because the door opened during your uncoordinated attack. A body came flying into the room but it wasn’t headed towards you. You recognized the man who had killed Captain Richards as he grabbed your attacker and slammed him against the wall.

Then you were grabbed from behind. You spun around, ready to keep swinging if necessary, but you were met with the calm face of Anne. She didn’t have her hat on for the first time so her face wasn’t partially blocked. Instead you were met with her steely reserve as she pulled you away from the wall and then out of the hold completely.

“This way,” she said as she directed you up the stairs that would lead to the first deck.

You started to ask why she was leading you out of the hold when you heard screams come from behind you. You fought the urge to look behind you and instead hurried up the stairs.

Fresh air hit your lungs and you nearly doubled over with how happy it made you. You couldn’t see the water from the lower deck you were on, but you could smell it. Of course the wind told you that a storm was coming, hence the rocking you’d felt below.

“She might need a new place to sleep,” Jack said as he came up the stairs as well.

You hadn’t even seen him down there. Instead you looked between the two of them in an effort for them to let you in on what was going on.

“The captain is less than happy with Trask. He was already pissed that he went after ya on the prize, but this? This’ll get him a lashing in private and on the deck.”

Jack nodded along with Anne.

“He’ll be on his knees with a prayerbook before the end of day.” Jack looked up at the sky and frowned a bit as he added, “At least there’ll be some rain to wash the blood off the deck.”

You felt a shiver go through you at that. It wasn’t just the promise of violence, although that definitely put a chill in the air for you. It was the casual way he referenced one of the men on the crew with him being tortured as if it didn’t bother him at all.

That sliver of humanity you had seen when Anne had given you the blankets had just been yanked away from you. All that was left was the reminder that these were pirates.

You desperately needed to stop trying to think about them in terms that made sense to you. You would never understand these people.

The captain came stomping up the steps until he was level with the three of you. He had blood on his knuckles and shirt, some even on his face. His eyes darted over you quickly before he looked at his quartermaster.

“Get her to my quarters. She’ll have to stay there while Trask is… in recovery.”

Jack nodded. He reached out for you and you stepped closer to him without thinking. He didn’t even have to grab your arm to lead you across the ship to where the captain’s quarters were.

“Don’t touch anything,” he cautioned as he showed you inside. “Just sit tight for a bit. We’ll get you back to the hold in no time.”

He said that as if it was a comfort to you, but he disappeared before you could respond.

What response did you have really? You could’ve told him that the location didn’t matter as long as you were still being held prisoner. You could’ve told him that you wanted to see what would be done to the man who had attacked you twice now.

Instead you simply sat down in a chair near the desk and gingerly checked your face to see if you were injured from having your face slammed into the wall.

Your nose was sore and there seemed to be a bit of dried blood there. Other than that there didn’t seem to be any proof of what happened.

Just the shaking in your hands and the screams that came from the upper deck a little while later.

------

There was a large window along the back of the captain’s cabin. You stared out at the churning waters that The Ranger left in its wake, you mind blissfully quiet for the first time since you had been brought onto the ship.

The door to the cabin opened. The noise drew your attention so you turned to face that direction once more. You expected Jack or Anne, back to bring you to the hold. Instead you saw the man you knew to be the captain.

You still didn’t know his name.

He barely acknowledged your presence before he walked over to the shelves along the wall. You had looked around the cabin but hadn’t explored, worried that you would get in trouble for being curious. On that wall you had noticed a few large bowls and a bucket that was on the ground nearby. That’s what he went after.

With a cloth in one hand, he squatted down next to the bucket. You watched as he cleaned first his face and then his hands of blood that had been spattered on him. It was probably on his shirt and trousers as well, but he didn’t bother with those.

When he stood up, you quickly turned your head to look back out of the window. Even though your attention was on the water, you could still hear him move around. As his footsteps stopped, you glanced from the corner of your eye to see where he was.

You jumped as you realized he was right beside you.

He didn’t say anything as he reached out towards you. The movement made you flinch, but he barely hesitated before he continued.

All he did was grab your chin and move your head this way and that. You didn’t like being scrutinized, not by him, so you pulled your chin out of his grasp.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

You shifted minutely away from him.

“As if it matters to you,” you said petulantly.

He stared at you for a long moment before he stood up.

“If you’re injured doing something you know not to, that is your fault. If one of my crew hurts you without reason, it might make my ransoming you back to your family difficult. That matters to me,” he said pointedly.

Reminding you that you were just plunder. It wasn’t your safety or wellness he was worried about; it was the worry for the money you would bring him.

You flexed your hand a bit at the thought. It still hurt from where you had hit Jack the day of the attack. The knuckles still bent so they were just bruised, not broken. That would be an injury that was your own fault.

“Have you thought about the fact that my parents would find any injury to my person as unreasonable?”

He hadn’t looked away from you but you felt as if you were now getting the full brunt of his focus. After being scrutinized from inches away just moments ago, this made you feel even more vulnerable and unable to hide.

“They’ll just be happy that you’re alive.”

He turned away from you, ending the conversation, but he didn’t leave the cabin. Instead he walked over to the desk and sat with his back to the window.

It put him vulnerable to an attack by you, but you were sure that he had measured you up as not a threat. You had your fists and your feet, but he could probably stop any attack you made on him without even paying attention.

You had been sorely unprepared for this type of freedom. Not that you assumed most gently reared ladies were taught how to fight and defend themselves, but it wasn’t the first time that you had felt weak and helpless.

If you made it out of this, you would make sure that you were never weak and helpless again.

You weren’t sure how long you sat there quietly while he looked over the log on the desk. Long enough that the sky started to darken even more. There were so many clouds out that you couldn’t see any stars in the sky. There was barely enough light from the moon to see the tumultuous waves.

“What’s your name?” You looked over at the captain as you said it, curious as to how he would respond. When all he did was turn his head enough to let you know you had his attention, you repeated yourself. “Your name. Surely I’m allowed to know the name of my kidnapper.”

There was a barely there smirk before he turned his head away from you again.

“Charles Vane.”

It almost sounded familiar. You wondered if you had heard the name before, if it had been spoken with the same quiet awe and fear as such like Blackbeard and Flint. You wondered if he knew those more infamous pirates.

With that you tucked your feet under you on the window seat and turned more fully towards the glass. He would have you escorted back to the hold soon but you wanted to enjoy your almost freedom while you could.

------

A loud noise woke you, your body bolting upright in fear as you remembered your circumstances. As you looked around, you noticed that you were still in the captain’s quarters instead of the hold. You didn’t remember falling asleep, but you must have laid down at some point.

A loud crack of thunder made you look to the window. It must have been the noise that woke you. Lightning flashed every so often, illuminating a severe storm. It was then that you noticed that the ship seemed to be rocking more than it had before, the waves making the journey even more dangerous.

Barely half awake, you stumbled from the cushioned bench you were on and towards the door. It didn’t occur to you until you had already opened it that it could be locked.

Instead you found yourself stepping onto the lower deck where rain and sea water came down in buckets. Your feet became soaked through your shoes, the front of your dress becoming drenched quickly. You held a hand up to shield your eyes as you tried to make out the shapes that moved on the deck.

Orders were shouted from all directions, trying to keep the ship moving and upright. You’d heard that it was best to try to ride through the storms rather than to wait them out, so that must be what they were doing. While you spent a lot of time on deck during the day before you were kidnapped, you’d never seen them during a storm like this.

A gust of wind seemed to push you sideways, away from the door you had just come through. Your body smacked into a wall and you grabbed hold of the wood as best you could. More water poured down onto the lower deck where you were.

If this continued, they’d need to bail out the lower half of the ship just to stay afloat.

You heard a scream and turned your head in time to watch someone be swept over the side with a massive wave. You gasped and rushed that direction, your feet slipping through water until you got to the rail. With one hand on the rail and the other on a rope that was tied to it, you looked down into the sea below.

Not even the lightning was enough to help you see more than blackness. The white of the water as it crashed against the side of the ship was turned gray in the darkness.

And the man, whoever it was, was beyond sight or help.

A second wave crashed against the side of the ship causing it to almost teeter to the side. You grasped the railing and closed your eyes as water rushed over you, seeping through your clothes and stealing your breath. You tried to spit as much back out but it still took a moment to catch your breath.

A moment was all it took for another wave to come. This time you were trying to swallow a lungful of air and instead got a lungful of seawater. You fell to your knees to cough up the water, fingers scrambling uselessly against the wet wood of the deck.

Hands grasped your arms and hauled you upwards. With rainwater, seawater, and the wind stinging your eyes, you could barely make out the fuzzy outline of the captain.

And then his voice was in your ear.

“Are you an idiot?”

You didn’t even feel offended at the question as he dragged you across the deck. The only thing that had come to your mind was the man who had gone over.

“Someone went over and–”

You were tugged down a few steps and then almost thrown into the cabin you had just recently vacated.

“And you wanted to follow them? No good would come from your death.”

There was no time left for you to respond before he spun back around to leave. This time when the door slammed behind him you heard the silent threat. At least for the time being, this was your new cage.

This was for your safety though. Charles had dragged you to the cabin to protect you from the storm, especially since you were so vulnerable next to the rail. You could’ve gone over the side like the man you had seen.

But like Charles had said, no good would come from your death. He wouldn’t be able to collect ransom for you if you were in the sea. That was the real reason he had saved you.

You probably should still be grateful. Later, once the storm was over.

------

The captain burst into the cabin a while after the storm had lessened on the other side of the glass window of your new cage. The suddenness of his entrance caused you to jerk upright once more from your spot curled up on the window seat.

You expected more lectures about putting yourself in harm's way. Perhaps even a few more threats, thinly veiled or not.

Instead he was silent as he went over to a chest in the corner. He pulled out dry clothes and threw them onto his desk.

Surely he wouldn't… but he did.

He untucked his shirt from his trousers and threw it into a heap on the floor. Next he sat down on the edge of the desk to tug off one boot and then the other. As his hand went to his belt and the top of the trousers, you quickly turned your head back towards the window.

You shouldn't have watched as long as you had. It wasn't proper. Kidnapped by pirates or not, you couldn't forget yourself. You were still your father's daughter.

But you couldn't stop thinking about that glimpse of his chest. It wasn't the first bare chest you'd seen, but this was different.

You just weren't sure why it was different.

There was a scar on his chest, a peculiar shape that said it wasn't an injury from his pirating. It almost looked like some sort of brand.

Did pirates brand themselves? Was it how you knew which crew they were on?

You weren't about to ask.

Once he stopped making so much noise, you cast a quick glance to the side. He was dressed, mostly. His shirt had a vee so low that it was closer to a vest.

Something soft hit your arm. You looked down to see a blanket of some sort on your lap.

When you looked up, he merely raised an eyebrow at you. You unfolded the blanket and draped it over your shoulders.

You hadn't even noticed that you were shivering until that moment.

"You put yourself at risk tonight. You put my crew at risk."

"Your crew?" You sputtered the words out, anger in your voice. "I was only on the deck because I saw one of your crew get swept overboard."

Charles stepped closer.

"Think you could save him, did you?"

You tugged the blanket a little further around your shoulders. In truth you hadn't given it any thought when you rushed to the railing when the man went over. It wasn't that you had a plan, it was just instinct.

When you didn't answer, Charles scoffed and turned away from you.

"Some of my men would get themselves killed trying to protect you."

That surprised you. You turned your body a bit and put your feet down on the floor, your shoes squishing under you.

"I know. If I die, you can't ransom me."

He turned to lean against the desk and stare at you.

"Not just that. You're a beautiful woman. A man has been known to do the unthinkable for a pretty face."

You weren't sure how to respond to that. It wasn't just the compliment that he paid you, although that definitely took you by surprise. It was also the almost careless way he said it.

"I shall try to keep myself safe then. To keep your men from doing the unthinkable and protecting your ransom."

Charles smirked openly at you then.

"You have fire in you. More than expected from the daughter of a Norfolk businessman."

You had a feeling you would need to feed that fire if you were to survive this misadventure of yours. How else does one survive pirates?

Thanks for reading!

#charles vane #charles vane imagine #charles vane x reader #charles vane fanfic #black sails imagine #my writing #eye of the hurricane

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