#Chapter Nine

[tumbleweed-writes]

Death and the Lady: Chapter Nine. Chibs Telford X Reader

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Chapter warnings: NSFW. So, obviously 18+ Trigger warning for past mentions and descriptions of SA and very brief mention of death of a child.

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Chapter Nine: Former Indiscretions

Ruby’s Diner was considered an establishment in Charming. It was located on Main Street and blue and white collar workers alike wandered in for a lunch break or the occasional cup of coffee and slice of pie; pies which were proudly declared as being made fresh daily.

Y/N had been to the diner many times before, usually growing up with her father. He would often take Daniel and her for a slice of cherry pie; her favorite though Daniel had never quite cared for it and had always requested banana cream instead. 

The diner held those fond memories for her. However during her wild streak she could admit she had also once or twice entered the diner alone after a late night where she needed coffee and a greasy breakfast to recover from whatever trouble she’d found herself in the night before.

Today, she was forgoing the choice of greasy eggs and bacon slathered with hot sauce that she may have chosen as a remedy for a hangover back in her partying days. She was also sadly avoiding the cherry pie being a little more mindful of her waistline given the sweet danish she’d already eaten half of this morning. 

A small side salad and a cup of the soup of the day, which was usually either chili or chicken noodle, was the lunch choice Y/N had chosen. She was thankful that today’s soup was chicken noodle. She wasn’t quite sure her stomach could handle chili at the moment given her nerves felt a little frazzled. To be honest, she found the diner’s chili to be pretty stomach turning even when her stomach felt its best.

She’d had another nightmare filled rest the night before. She had the slightest feeling that the tense lecture she’d received from Hale the week before had played a role in fueling the dreams. They’d become less frequent and she’d foolishly hoped that perhaps she was learning to cope a little better with her guilt over her new business relationship with SAMCRO.

The nightmare the night before had proven that she was not so lucky after all.  A new nightmare scenario had joined the mix; Chibs holding her hand leading her off into the darkness of the night outside of her home, only for her to be yanked away by an ice cold hand. In the dreams Chibs willingly let her go, not even bothering to fight to protect her as she was dragged off screaming into the darkness. In fact, in these dreams Chibs actually smiled as she was drug away scared out of her mind. 

Needless to say, after she’d woken from that nightmare she’d found herself downstairs in the basement doing inventory in the embalming room. It was a task she usually dreaded but she’d decided that the monotony of counting eye caps, gloves, face masks, and suture needles was better than attempting to fall back into a restful sleep that would most likely not come.

She guessed the sleepless night had been apparent on her face at work today because Old Charlie had insisted they were going out for lunch; his treat. She’d not had the heart to tell the old man no.

She cringed as Old Charlie spoke nodding his head towards her, studying her through the thick bifocals he wore. “You look rough, kiddo.”

“Awe, thanks. You really know how to make a girl feel special.” She snarked, taking a sip from her glass of Diet Coke, finding it easier to slip into sarcasm than admit her problems.

She had the slightest feeling Old Charlie would disapprove of her newfound business partnership with SAMCRO.

She had a feeling that the old man had not a clue about Skeeter’s past nor her current dubious dealings with the local MC. If he did, she had a distinct feeling she would have heard a mouthful from him about how awful it was. He was old school and very by the books when it came to the business. He was all about ethics. Skeeter and Y/N had maybe chosen a path of being ethically questionable to say the least. 

She didn’t miss the look of disapproval he sent her in response to the snark and she had enough of a sense of shame to sink down in her seat under the aura of disapproval from a man who had always felt more like a surrogate grandfather than her father’s oldest business associate.

She was quite certain that Old Charlie had likely changed her diapers at least once when she’d been a baby, after all he’d been around long before she was even born. There were plenty of pictures, in the many photo albums her father collected, of Old Charlie holding her as a grouchy infant. 

Y/N had not been closer with either set of her biological grandparents. Y/N’s paternal grandfather had died when her mother was pregnant with Y/N’s older brother so she had never known the man. Her paternal grandmother had died a few years before that. She knew Old Charlie had been a great comfort to her father after the loss of his parents. He’d been happy to step into the role of grandfather. 

Y/N’s grandparents on her mother’s side had not been particularly close to her either, making Old Charlie all the more of a grandparent figure.

Her maternal grandmother had died when Y/N was ten but they’d never been close. Delilah Laurier had not exactly been thrilled that Y/N had been less ladylike than she would prefer. As much as Y/N enjoyed dresses now, she had little interest in them as a child. Her maternal grandmother had been less than enthused with Y/N’s tendency to wear her older brother’s old overalls and her interest in digging in the garden not minding the dirt or bugs. 

Y/N’s maternal grandfather had died when she was seven. Y/N’s feelings towards the man were less familial. She’d had the feeling he’d not approved of her anymore than his wife had. 

Her maternal grandfather had been a Baptist preacher and he’d been more fire and brimstone than love of the lord from what she remembered. Abraham Laurier had not been the type of grandfather who took Daniel and Y/N Y/L/N fishing or gave his grandchildren candy behind their parents back. His gifts had mostly consisted of bibles and harsh lectures about the end of times. He had strict expectations about proper behavior that Daniel and Y/N had been all too happy to push past. 

Abraham Laurier had not been the most cuddly individual especially after his only child had died; grief did strange things to people. 

He’d disapproved of Y/N’s father and his lack of what Abraham viewed as religious devotion.

Abraham had been none too happy that Lloyd Y/L/N had little interest in raising his children in the Baptist church. Lloyd’s wife Caroline, had always been the one who found comfort in faith after all.

Y/N had always wondered if her father had believed at any point. She didn’t see her mother, or at least what she’d heard about her, as being the type that would accept a lack of faith in a life partner. At times Y/N had wondered if her father had just run out of faith…perhaps his wife dying so suddenly had been enough of a sign, that if there was a God, he hadn’t cared too deeply about Caroline’s devotion to him.

Y/N found that she tended to lean more towards her father’s view on faith. She’d observed and learned enough about theology at least through the observance of funerals.

She could admit she found herself feeling somewhat envious of those who found comfort in the promise of a caring lord and the peace of an afterlife. It sounded nice to her, to have that kind of hope. 

Her feelings about the entire God and the afterlife thing tended to be a little more pessimistic.

She’d once heard the afterlife, described in a funeral, as a chance to sit with the Lord in praise of him for all eternity. As awful as she knew the thought was, she couldn’t help but to think a life spent praising some almighty being sounded like a dreadfully dull way to spend an eternity. She saw so much loss and death in her day to day work life that she couldn’t help but to shake the thought that if there was some almighty all knowing God that he might feel indifferent towards his creation. After all, how else did someone explain all the pain in the world? 

After Daniel’s accident she’d felt even more certain of God’s indifference. 

She’d always summed up her views as being agnostic at best. From her observations the Baptists hated Catholics, the Catholics hated the Protestants and the feeling was mutual, and no one really cared about the Methodists. Overall, organized religion felt like one big means to control people and an excuse to argue over who was right and who was wrong. 

She knew enough of course to keep her opinions about faith to herself. She knew well enough to know that no one would be amused nor comforted by the local funeral director’s warped and jaded opinions on God, organized religion, and the afterlife.

It was easier to just smile and nod at mentions of God being good and a better place up in the sky, than to admit that thinking of God just made her feel tired and angry.

Y/N let out a heavy sigh realizing that Old Charlie wasn’t going to allow her to escape any avoidance of what had her looking this worn. 

The man spoke a sigh leaving him. “You look exhausted. I found you counting dental simulators and trocar buttons at six am this morning. I know you, Sunshine. You never have been an early bird, at least willingly. You hate doing inventory and always shove the job on Skeeter. You didn’t sleep last night from the looks of it.”

She sighed studying the man hating that he knew her so well. She shook her head ever so slightly at the moniker Sunshine. He’d given it to her on a count of her being quite the grouchy baby and toddler. She’d always been too serious, he claimed. So the Sunshine nickname had started and stuck even into adulthood. 

 Charles Olsen had been in the funeral business for decades. Even though he should probably be down in Florida somewhere fishing and enjoying the final years of his life, he remained here in Charming by her side. He was close to seventy now and his hair was stark white as snow and thinning. His nose was sharp and narrow making the rest of his frame seem all the thinner. 

Even with the narrow frame he managed to pack a slight pudge to his belly due to his poor diet. His eyes had always been bad, meaning he’d worn glasses for years but they’d gotten thicker as he aged. His eyes were a pleasant hazel that she’d always felt were lovely even behind the thick lenses of his glasses. He boasted that he’d been an attractive man when he was younger but he’d not always taken care of himself leading to painful arthritis and one heart attack under his belt. He was always impeccably dressed even when he wasn’t wearing the black suits he reserved for funeral services. He preferred to look like a gentleman he claimed which meant ironed dark slacks, stiff starched button down shirts, and shiny shoes. 

He had no family left as far as she knew; no children and two ex-wives who he spoke of either fondly or with disdain depending on his mood. 

Y/N had realized long ago that she was the only sense of family he had left in this world. 

 She spoke knowing her response wasn’t entirely a lie  “Haven’t been sleeping well lately…probably just too many Diet Cokes too late in the day…and that last funeral…it was just a lot. Kids are always rough.”

Old Charlie was quick to speak after a sip from his own soda. “Damn SIDS…You did good with it though, Sunshine. You gave those parents the last best memory you could. Focus on the fact that you gave them some comfort while they had to say goodbye.”

She cringed, not wanting to allow her mind to focus on just how little the casket had been and how young and devastated the bereaved parents had seemed. The old saying that the smallest caskets were always the heaviest really was true.

She cringed all the more as Old Charlie spoke again. “Your dad would be so proud of the woman you’ve become. He’d be proud that you seem to have accepted that you’ve always had a knack for this line of work. He would be so proud of how you’ve taken over the business and kept it together even with the debt he left behind.”

Y/N bit down on the inside of her cheek struggling not to argue that if Old Charlie knew what she knew about the woman she’d become and how she’d run the funeral home, then his opinion would not be as kind.

A voice taunted her in the back of her mind snarking that her father would hate her for what she’d done to soil their sacred profession. He’d hate her for selling her conscience, access to the dead, and access to the cremator in exchange for money. He would hate that she’d gotten herself so involved with SAMCRO. He would hate that she was once again falling back into that world slowly but surely. He would more than likely despise Chibs for leading her back into that world. She had a distinct feeling her father would not be thrilled that the Scottish Son was so interested in her. 

She took a deep breath trying her best to change the subject not wanting to discuss her father’s pride in her. She found the perfect way to change the subject as she nodded down to the cheeseburger on Old Charlie’s plate. “Pretty sure that burger wasn’t on the new diet your doctor gave you. Burgers and fries aren’t going to help that high cholesterol.”

“You sound like my ex wife.” Old Charlie snarked, not hesitating to take another bite from the greasy burger. 

“Which one? If I sound like Vera I’d be yelling at you about alimony and if I sound like Anya I’d just be yelling at you in Russian about…whatever the hell she used to scream about. I never did pick up much Russian from her that was polite enough to repeat.” Y/N remarked thinking of the two previous wives of her surrogate grandfather.

Vera was the less pleasant of the two; a stern and vain woman who was always a little too focused on where her next payout was going to come from. Y/N could remember thinking that Vera was disappointed to find out that the funeral director she’d married had not been as wealthy as she’d hoped.

Anya was the preferable ex wife in Y/N’s opinion though she was just as stern as Vera. Anya at least seemed like she was less worried about being as prim as Vera. She had a mouth on her from what Y/N remembered. Y/N was quite sure she’d learned how to say dumbass in Russian from Anya, tupitsa, from how much she’d grumbled the word in Old Charlie’s general direction. Anya had been significantly younger than Old Charlie and Y/N had at times wondered if the marriage had been more of a green card thing than a love connection. Anya was temperamental and foul-mouthed but she’d at least looked upon Y/N with some fondness judging by the borscht she’d constantly made for Y/N each time she’d visited.

“Fair point…hope you remember some of that Russian. You’re going to need it when it comes to that Scottish boy that’s been hanging around you.” Old Charlie remarked the comment putting a slight smirk on Y/N’s features.

The concept of him referring to Chibs as a boy was humorous. She guessed though, at Old Charlie’s age that most men seemed like boys to him. 

“I think he’s fine with me yelling at him in English. He seems to get the message without me needing the Russian.” Y/N pointed out taking a sip from her soda.

Old Charlie peered up at her through his glasses, a hint of worry hanging in his voice. “Is he fine with that smart mouth you’ve always had? Boy looks like the type that doesn’t take too kindly to a lady getting mouthy with him? He seems like the rough type and you hear the rumors around town about him and the whispers about the crowd he runs around with. I’m old enough to remember when SAMCRO first rolled into Charming.”

She cringed, guessing that Old Charlie had a point concerning Chibs’ appearance. She knew rough was the most polite way to describe it. She was well aware of Chibs' ability to be intimidating. She’d noticed the nervous glances he attracted the few times they’d gone on dates. She thought back to what Hale had to say about the rumors surrounding Chibs. If anyone knew those rumors had some truth to them she had a feeling Chibs would be chased out of town. 

She cringed even more knowing Old Charlie was smart enough to suspect what most people suspected about SAMCRO. She’d always just thought of the MC as being an accepted part of her hometown. They kept up the guise of doing favors for local businesses keeping any corporate representatives out of town by whatever means were necessary. The idea was that they kept Charming charming. Despite the trouble they may have earned a reputation for, people saw them as a necessary evil when it came to keeping local businesses small. 

She gave Old Charlie a calm reassuring smile. “He doesn’t seem to mind my mouth. He seems more amused by my snark than anything. I think he can take it. As for the roughness, he’s a little softer than he looks. You have nothing to worry about, the rumors are just rumors.”

“So, he’s good to you? Treating you right?” Old Charlie dared to ask, taking another bite of his burger, chewing it slowly, his gaze not leaving her clearly searching for any sign of deception.

She sighed, not shocked by the question. She had a feeling Old Charlie had remembered her past interactions with members of SAMCRO and the obvious hints that she had not always been treated right. He most likely had a reason to fear history would repeat itself. “He treats me like a princess.”

She spoke again not helping but to keep the bitterness out of her voice. “No matter how well he treats me, I can’t say my father would be entirely too pleased if he was still around to see my choice in a romantic partner. Pretty sure he’d be none too thrilled to see me interacting with anyone in the MC again. The age difference would make him nervous all on its own, but add a kutte to the mix and I’m sure my dad would be asking fewer questions and just jumping straight into going after my Scottish admirer with a baseball bat right about now.”

Old Charlie shrugged his shoulders quick to respond. “Probably wouldn’t be thrilled. Think he’d realize you’re a grown woman though. He knew you enough to know you’ve always had a stubborn streak a mile wide.”

“A stubborn streak that made me his biggest embarrassment for a few years there.” She remarked remembering her past antics and the look of fear mixed with annoyance on her father’s face when he had to bail her out of whatever mess she’d made.

Old Charlie was fast to reply to this comment, his voice holding a tone of firm disapproval at her comment. “Hey, he was never disappointed in you.”

He paused, taking a deep breath before he chewed another bite of his burger. “You just scared him. Your dad’s work meant he had to face a lot of reminders of the fragility of life. It troubled him to know you were determined to flirt with death…especially after Danny.”

She cringed at the mention of her brother and how his rebellious phase had led him to being institutionalized out in Lodi. 

She didn’t have much of a chance to focus on the thought as Old Charlie spoke again. “Your father loved you, no matter what you did, no matter how big of a mess you made…that love didn’t go away. He didn’t care how many times he had to bail you out of jail or how many times you wandered home after doing something less than proper for a girl your age. There was no shame when he thought of you. You gave him some sleepless nights and he wasn’t fond of the men you were running around with…but he didn’t view you as a burden. I won’t lie…I did have to talk him out of going down to that clubhouse and dragging you out more times than I can count…had to remind him you were over eighteen and weren’t going to stop the path you were determined to go down unless it was your own idea. When you were ready to get off that path, he was there wasn’t he?”

“Yeah…yeah he was there.” She remarked, soaking in the words unsure if she believed that her father hadn’t at least once thought of her as being a worrisome burden that embarrassed the hell out of him.

Back then, she’d gotten accustomed to people she knew outside of the MC becoming nervous when they thought about her.

She spoke again, a hint of dread hanging in her words as she voiced her innermost thoughts out loud. “What path am I down now though?”

Old Charlie shrugged his shoulders, not hesitating to reply. “The path of your choosing. As far as I see it, you aren’t in handcuffs at least once a month, so that’s an improvement. You grew up and stopped excelling at not giving a shit. I don’t see you falling back into any old habits with the Sons of Anarchy.”

“Even with the Scottish boy.” She remarked referring to Chibs the same way Old Charlie had previously done.

“Can’t say I’m too thrilled with the reaper on the boy’s back, but you’re a grown woman. As long as you’re not bullshitting me about him treating you right, then I don’t think you’re going to repeat history. If he pulls anything with you though, just know the reaper on his back isn’t going to protect him from me, arthritic knees won’t stop me from getting out that baseball bat you mentioned” Old Charlie remarked she smirking ever so slightly having no doubt he meant business with the threat.

She didn’t have a chance to focus on the comment as the very Scottish boy they’d just been discussing entered the diner quickly spotting her.

Chibs spoke, making his way over to the table. “Hen, stopped by the home to take ya ta lunch, but Skeeter told me ya already had a lunch date. Tol’ me where ta find ya. Came to steal ya away fer a wee bit.”

Old Charlie raised an eyebrow at the comment, turning his gaze from Chibs to Y/N as he spoke, commenting on the younger man’s thick brogue. “Do you understand a word he says?”

She smirked not minding the goading comment; she only hoped Chibs wouldn’t take it as an attempt to be genuinely insulting. “No, not really. I’ve learned to just watch his facial cues and play it as I go.”

Chibs proved to take the comment in good humor, leaning down pressing a fond kiss to Y/N’s temple. “Funny, lass.”

She let out a soft sigh glancing up at the Scottish Son as she spoke. “Why am I being stolen away?”

Chibs quickly interpreted the look of trepidation on her face interpreting it as worry she was being whisked away to do some sudden favor for the club. “Jus’ wanted to see ya on my lunch break, Love.”

“Okay, I think I’ve finished my food anyhow.” She stated reaching for her purse ready to pay her portion of the bill.

Chibs took her by shock, reaching into his jeans pocket and pulling out his wallet by the wallet chain. He tossed down a bill that was probably a little too large for the diner bill they were expecting as he spoke. “Lunch is on me, Hen.”

He paused nodding down to Old Charlie. “Let the waitress have whatever remains as a tip, aye?”

She sighed giving a quick glance at Old Charlie not able to read his expression. She only hoped he didn’t interpret Chibs’ action and comment as an attempt to emasculate him.

She knew enough about men to realize their strange desire to keep up a sense of pride was often viewed as being far more important than it should be. In her experience, men Old Charlie’s age could particularly hold some pretty annoying views about male pride. 

She just hoped that perhaps Old Charlie had seen the act as an attempt to be a gentleman by Chibs by paying for the meal and leaving a large tip as a way to make up for stealing Y/N away.

She didn’t have much time to focus on the thought as Chibs took her hand in his eagerly pulling her from the booth, barely giving her the time to send Old Charlie a wave.

She just had to hope that her surrogate grandfather had not changed his opinion on Chibs based off of the interrupted lunch date.

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Y/N raised an eyebrow as Chibs and she sat out on a bench not far from the diner, the warm sun feeling nice especially given she felt quite exhausted and a little sore after her late night.

She spoke staring down at the cherry snow cone she was holding her voice soft. “So, you stole me away for snow cones?”

“I stole ya ‘way to spend an afternoon with ya, the snow cones are jus’ a bonus. Figured we’d hit up the ice cream truck since ya already had lunch.” Chibs stated matter of factly taking a bite of his own grape snow cone.

She sighed, having to think that the sight must look odd. The outlaw biker and a woman wearing an inky black professional looking dress sitting side by side on a bench in front of a pharmacy and a tailor eating snow cones.

If anyone had told her a few years ago that one day she’d find herself eating snow cones with a member of SAMCRO, she’d probably be more than a little confused. She’d actually probably be more worried than confused if they’d added on the fact that she would be dating that member of SAMCRO.

She continued to stare down at her snow cone, the conversation she’d had with Old Charlie about Chibs still running through her mind. 

She’d simply referred to Chibs as her admirer and the boy…but in all actuality she guessed he might be considered her boyfriend. The word seemed a little juvenile for the intimidating looking biker sitting at her side though, even if he was currently holding a bright purple snow cone in his hand.

She thought back to the two conversations she’d had with Gemma and the insinuation that she might be considered being on her way to being Chibs’ ol lady. The thought both troubled her and filled her with a sense of something she couldn’t quite place…pride…adoration?

She let out a soft sigh knowing that placing a label on a relationship was hard enough as it was…add on the unconventional world Chibs lived in and the strange way their relationship had started, then it only made things feel more complex.

Chibs glanced over at her hearing the sigh no matter how soft it was. “Ya look tired, Hen.”

She let out a tired laugh shaking her head, finding it once again easier to sink into sarcasm. “You Scots really know how to flatter a lady.”

He shook his head quick to respond. “Aye, I do…honestly though, love. Ya look knackered…Hale ain’ been givin’ ya shite again has he?”

She felt a slight smile cross her lips at the hint of defensiveness in his voice at the mention of the Deputy. She couldn’t help but to enjoy the protective tone his voice had taken. “Nope, not a peep out of him. I’ve just…not been sleeping well lately…work and…life.”

Chibs frowned, interpreting that part of her mention of work and life contained the favors she’d done for SAMCRO and the stress of dealing with Hale’s questions over just how involved she may have been in those empty graves.

“Maybe ya jus need a distraction, Hen…get outta the house and get out some of that stress.” He offered hoping this was the best way to ease into a question that had been dancing around in the back of his head all week.

She sighed, shaking her head trying to hide that she feared she wasn’t sure any distraction could help the guilt always creeping in the back of her mind. “Maybe. Why are you offering to provide a distraction?”

He gave her a crooked grin and quickly replied. “I am…I actually got a favor of sorts to ask of ya.”

She sighed a hint of bitterness seeping into her words. “Because past requests for favors have been so relaxing.”

She paused, spotting the heavy sigh he gave her in response. “Sorry…not trying to be a bitch…I mean…I offered to do the second favor for you guys. I don’t have much room to complain. I opened the door for future favors.”

He placed a hand on her knee giving her skin a soft stroke with the pad of his thumb as he spoke. “Don’ call yerself that, lass. And this ain’ no club favor. Jus’ somethin’ that’ll be more of a personal favor for me.”

She gave him a small smile, tempted to point out that she had been called far worse than a bitch, but she held it in having the feeling he would not be amused.

“Okay, what’s this personal favor?”

He gave her a small smile in return fast to speak his voice, holding the energy of boylike enthusiasm. “The prospect is competin’ Saturday nigh’ in a bare-knuckle boxin’ fight. I’ve been coaching him all week out at the boxin’ ring at the clubhouse. I used to box both in the more traditional sense and with street fightin’. Even before SAMBEL I was good in the ring. I was damn good. My sister Cait…she use ta scold me fer all the scraps I’d get in as a lad. Bout gave our poor Ma a heart attack with as many black eyes and busted lips I wandered into the flat with at night. Course if my ma was still alive to see jus’ how many scraps I get in nowadays she’d be jus’ beside herself. She worried bout me ya know…I was the wee baby boy of the family…the only boy in the family after my da ran off. I was always too skinny but too hot headed to avoid gettin into fights with bigger lads, in my youth. Gave my poor ma alot to worry bout with all the trouble I got in.”

She felt a small smile cross her lips despite her confusion over what this had to do with any favors he was asking of her. She had found that she liked hearing about his family though she always got the feeling that there was a sense of sadness under the surface when he mentioned them no matter how happy the stories were.

Chibs spoke again, clearing his throat as he realized he’d gone on a small tangent about his past boxing history as well as his scrappier youth. “SAMCRO is throwin a big fight out at the fairgrounds. There’s a few fighters but Half-Sack is enterin. The fight’s gonna be a big deal. Gettin it sponsored by both TM Auto and Lumpy Fledstein’s Gym.”

She raised an eyebrow struggling to understand what any of this had to do with her. She felt her stomach drop as the explanation left Chibs’ lips. “I want ya to come watch.”

“You want me to come watch a bare-knuckle boxing match…a boxing match that is  essentially being hosted by SAMCRO?” She questioned not entirely caring if the displeasure was evident in her voice.

Chibs cringed knowing he shouldn’t’ be shocked by the distaste on her tongue. He sighed knowing her past with SAMCRO was not entirely something she found comfort in. Her past interactions with the club had been strictly doing favors at the funeral home and the city crematorium. It had always been on her turf. This interaction would be more of a social setting. “Aye…I know it ain’ the most romantic offer…I can’t promise some of SAMCRO won’t be there…and a few other charters too.”

She sighed not looking forward to being around that many Sons all at once. 

Chibs spoke again, apparently sensing her hesitation. He gave her knee another caress as he spoke. “It ain’ a Friday nigh’ party, Hen. Nothin’ too crazy is goin’ to be happenin’. Jus’ a boxing match where I’m coaching the prospect.”

She furrowed her brow, tempted to ask him why it was so important that she attend then. After all, wouldn't he be busy coaching his prospect? Was she expected to just sit by and watch him coach? It didn’t seem like they’d be spending much time with one another if he were to be coaching and she was to be in the audience.

Chibs kept his hand placed over her knee caressing the soft skin. He let out a soft sigh, deciding to just be honest. “I’m havin’ a lot of fun with ya, lass. I’m enjoyin’ seein’ where this goes with us…I jus’ I don’ want what we got buildin’ together to have to be separate from what I’m doin’ with the club…keepin’ those worlds separate doesn’t work, Love. Like I said, this ain’ no Friday night party, so nothin’ intense bout it…It’s jus’ a chance fer me to have my ol…the lass I’m crazy bout be a part of my world with SAMCRO...it’s a safe environment fer ya to be brough’ in as someone who means a hell of a lot to me. I wan’ my brothers to see what ya mean to me. I don’ want them to just see ya as our asset fer favors…I want em to see ya as my lass.”

She widened her eyes, spotting the words that had almost slipped from his lips before he’d caught himself: my ol lady.

She shoved those complicated feelings that the title gave her, focusing on the rest of his statement.

She hated to admit he had a point. A world built with her and the world he had within SAMCRO couldn’t exist independently. The two worlds would have to coexist at some point.

Keeping those two parts of his life separate from one another would only end in frustration and heartbreak. She knew that at some point when it came to him she would have to be all in or all out. Accepting SAMCRO was part of having him. 

She knew he had a point about the event he was inviting her to being on far more neutral grounds than a Friday night party at the clubhouse.

The fairgrounds wouldn’t be SAMCRO’s clubhouse…even if a few members of SAMCRO and any possible other charters might be milling around those fairgrounds.

She felt her stomach turn at the concept of being a part of his world with SAMCRO. Didn’t she escape that world? Didn’t that world scare the hell out of her?

A little voice in the back of her head was quick to speak up though, maybe it would be different with Chibs? Maybe experiencing that world by his side would be different than what she’d experienced with anyone else. 

She was no longer using that world to avoid pain after all…she would be entering the world because Chibs wanted her to be a part of it. 

That voice pointed out that he simply wanted all of the people he cared about to spend time with one another. 

She took a deep breath hoping she wouldn’t regret any of this. “Okay, I’ll come.”

The smile he gave her made the anxieties she felt bubbling up in her fade. The press of his lips to hers made them seem all the more far away.

She returned the kiss not helping but to think he tasted like the sweet grape snow cone he’d been eating and a cozy sense of comfort even with as drained as she felt from her sleepless night.

She thought of the nightmare version of him; the one who smiled as she was being drug away screaming.

She had a distinct feeling that that version of him that her guilt-ridden brain had concocted was not a thing like the man sitting here with his lips pressed to hers. 

She was overcome with the feeling that she’d be just fine at the fairgrounds. Real life Chibs Telford was most likely not going to stand by smiling if anyone laid a finger on her.

—------------------------------------

Y/N had been surprised that Juice had quickly linked an arm with hers as soon as Chibs and she dismounted his bike at the fairgrounds.

She had a distinct feeling that Chibs’ comment that Juice was going to find her a good seat had to do less with her boyfriend worrying about her view of the boxing ring and more to do with him maybe wanting the younger Son to play bodyguard.

A part of her wanted to be annoyed by the entire concept. It felt a little too much like Chibs was sticking Juice on her hoping the younger man would keep any men far from Chibs’ property.

She had wanted to view the SAMCRO escort as a sign of distrust from Chibs. Once the thought had passed though she’d realized that this was less him not trusting her around other men and more him wanting to make sure she felt comfortable in an environment she’d not been entirely enthused to be in.

She realized after the irritation had passed, that Chibs had recognized her hesitance about tonight. He understood she was stepping out of her comfort zone to attempt to be a part of his world. So, he’d most likely figured keeping a trusted brother close by would ease her anxiety. It helped that he had chosen a brother, who along with the prospect, was a little freaked out about her career. She had a feeling given the fact that her job intimidated Juice, Chibs had viewed him as someone who would be respectful of her. 

She cringed sitting by Juice on the hard metal benches, the scene playing out in front of them far too bloody and violent. The crowd around her seemed far more entertained, than Y/N, by the men beating one another to a bloody pulp in the ring.

She shook her head, spotting Chibs standing ringside beside Bobby and Tig. He seemed just as delighted by the bloodshed. He cheered the prospect on occasionally stopping to shout out orders and encouragements. He wore a towel around his shoulders that he occasionally used to wipe at Half Sack’s face wiping blood and sweat from the younger man’s features. 

She sighed not quite getting the appeal of any of this. She would be tempted to claim that enjoyment of this must just be some male thing that she didn’t quite get, but there were a few women in the stands that seemed just as thrilled with the scene playing out in the boxing ring.

The girl sitting beside her seemed to be having a great time and eagerly called out her support for Half Sack in a voice that could only be described as containing a bit of a dazed raspy sounding vocal fry.

Juice leaned over to Y/N nodding at the girl sitting beside them. “Cherry, she’s Half-Sack’s…uh, prospective ol’ lady.”

Y/N glanced over at the girl taking note of her. She was a petite girl with dark hair and an energy that read she was comfortable in the world of Motorcycle clubs. Y/N spotted a tattoo on the girl’s arm though it was too dark to make out what it was. She seemed at ease and not at all cold in the cool night air wearing a tight tank top and tiny shorts. Y/N had to wonder if Cherry was her real name…she had a feeling it was not. Cherry had only addressed her briefly as Juice and Y/N had sat down. 

Y/N tried not to focus on the young woman beside her though judging by Juice’s hesitance in describing what Cherry was to Half Sack, Y/N had a feeling that there was a story there. 

Y/N tried to focus on the boxing match but she could admit she was not having the time of her life. She’d never cared much for boxing and this was far from the more uniform version of the sport. This was full on brawling.

Juice glanced over at her, the younger man daring to speak as he spotted Y/N’s grimace at the sight of Half-Sack’s opponent’s bloody nose. “You don’t like blood?”

“I don’t mind blood…I probably see more blood than any of you boys see on a daily basis…I’m just not entirely fond of watching people beat the crap out of one another…Don’t get the appeal.” She commented, the statement about seeing blood making Juice pale just the slightest.

Juice spoke daring to ask his mouth moving before his mind had a chance to tell him to shut up. “Something I’ve been wondering about your job…where does the blood go? I mean when you…you know, prep a body…you get rid of the blood right? Where do you put the blood? Do you drain it all and then pump em full of chemicals or what? What if their veins are all fucked up?”

She sighed, debating if she should be honest. “You won’t like the answer.”

Juice furrowed his brow daring to respond though he had a feeling he might regret it. “Try me.”

She shook her head rattling the small bag of popcorn Juice had insisted on buying her. “Embalming fluid enters through the carotid artery while blood drains from a drainage vein, usually the jugular vein. You pump and drain at the same time. The blood runs down the table and It goes down the drain into our city’s lovely sewage system. If the veins aren’t great you have to get creative with the drainage and entry points, or try to explain to the family that a traditional embalming might not be the best choice for their loved one.”

Juice frowned a look of disgust crossing his features as he stared down into his cup of beer. “Seriously? Gross.”

She smiled, shaking her head once again pointing out something he didn’t consider and not helping but to make him squirm. “It's the sewer. Think about what other gross stuff winds up down there. That’s why we have water treatment plants. If you want to hear gross I can tell you about cavity embalming and the places I’ve had to stuff cotton pads to stop leaking.”

Juice groaned glaring down at his beer, absolutely losing his desire to drink it. “Please don’t.”

She let out a soft sigh shaking her head not helping but to tease. “Hey, you asked. If you don’t like the answers to your questions then maybe you should stop asking them.”

Juice shuddered at the comment and the glee Y/N seemed to exhibit at his reaction. She was definitely spooky. 

If he didn’t love Chibs he would have found a way to escape this conversation. When Chibs had asked him to keep Y/N company, Juice had agreed. It was clear that Y/N was becoming a fixture in the Scot’s life and Juice had noticed a positive improvement to Chibs’ mood.

The Scotman seemed a little lighter and a little more prone to smiling. Juice had the distinct feeling that Y/N was the source of the lighter mood in his brother.

Y/N didn’t have long to feel like she’d gained the upper hand in her interactions with Juice as a familiar face from the past approached the stands nodding down at her. “Y/N. Chibs mentioned he’d invited you.”

She gazed up at SAMCRO’s club President, a prominent sense of discomfort washing over her. 

Though Clay Morrow was capable of smiling and putting on the guise of charm, she had a feeling that he could be ruthless and dangerous if he wanted to be. He was much like Gemma in those regards. She guessed it made sense how they’d wound up together. They truly were two ruthless peas in a pod.

He spoke again, not giving her much of an opportunity to reply to his prior statement. “I do appreciate the working relationship you’ve been so open to developing with SAMCRO. You’ve been a great help.”

She shifted in place glancing around her almost certain someone would pop out from some corner and declare that they knew all about her deeds for SAMCRO. Of course, this didn’t happen.

No one seemed to care about this current conversation. She swallowed the lump in her throat fast to speak. “I am…happy you’re satisfied with the job I’ve been doing.”

“I am satisfied, Guess Chibby is a little more than satisfied by you though.” Clay remarked her stomach turning at the innuendo behind the words.

She bit her tongue, stopping herself from spitting back some smart remark. Clay seemed to have taken notice of the hint of spite dancing behind her gaze as he spoke again. “I’m not displeased by it. You’re good for him and you’ve been just as good for SAMCRO. You keep being good to both and we’re going to be just fine.”

She shifted in place taking a deep breath hating how small she felt under his gaze. She was reminded of how she felt around him back when she’d still been a club hangaround.

Clay had thankfully shown her no interest but she’d always had the feeling that she was only tolerated at the clubhouse because Jax had wanted her there and Clay didn’t want to press the issue. 

She had a feeling that Clay was simply tolerating her once again. A voice in the back of her mind told her that if she ever proved to be no longer useful to the club, that Clay wouldn’t hesitate to be less tolerant.

She spoke, forcing the words from her lips. “Filip means a lot to me. I’m capable of mixing business with personal without it being a problem for either.”

“Good to hear.” Clay remarked she not missing the raised eyebrow at the use of Chibs’ real name.

She took a deep breath, the sense of dread dying down a little bit as Clay took a seat between Cherry and her, the older man seeming to be satisfied with whatever he’d been searching for with this interaction.  

She turned her attention back to the fight, doing all she could not to eavesdrop on the conversation that had struck up between Clay and Cherry.

She didn’t miss the joyful squeal that left Cherry. Y/N turned to see the younger woman hugging Clay.

She apparently wasn’t the only one who took notice of it though. Half Sack apparently spotted it, the sight spurring something in him that pushed him to fight all the harder.

Half Sack managed to use whatever inner turmoil the sight of Cherry hugging Clay set in him, using it to punch all the harder delivering a knockout punch to his opponent.

Although the crowd went wild with the action she spotted the looks on the faces of her companions.

She had a feeling that judging by their reaction Half Sack was not meant to be tonight’s victor.

She shared a small glance with Juice, both looking at a displeased looking Chibs, it feeling all the more apparent that Half Sack had just done something quite dumb by winning the fight.

==================================

Y/N managed to pull herself from her bodyguard. She was relieved that Juice seemed to be eager to be pulled away to confront Half Sack with Clay.

She had quickly found that she could use the excuse that she was going to the bathroom to be all the reason Juice had needed to part from her.

She did feel somewhat guilty to be so brutally honest with Juice over the details of her job, but to be fair he had asked her. She wasn’t going to lie to him and sugarcoat any of it.

She would be lying if she tried to pretend she hadn’t felt some satisfaction in making him squirm. She knew that making people uncomfortable with her job was a defense mechanism that she was always too eager to rely on. She had a tendency to want to scare people before they got too damn close. 

She found the fairgrounds to be a little too crowded for comfort. She didn’t enjoy how the air smelled like stale beer and cigarettes. It was a little too reminiscent of the scents she used to take in at the Sons Clubhouse almost ten years ago.

The smell made her stomach turn and gave her the slightest headache.

She managed to use one of the porta potties out of desperation; she was thankful she carried hand sanitizer in her purse given the lack of sinks around to take care of avoiding germs.

She made her way through the crowd determined to get back to Chibs. She had to hope that perhaps she could coax him into ending the night in a far quieter environment. 

She just had to hope that whatever Half Sack had done by winning tonight’s fight hadn’t meant that Chibs would have to go back to the clubhouse ending this odd date abruptly.

Y/N felt her stomach drop as she heard a voice straight from the past. “Hey, Y/N? Shit, that really you, girl?”

She turned to stare up at the man who had approached her. It had been almost ten years and it seemed he’d aged with her, but she recognized the man in the kutte still.

Gunner was a Son out of Tacoma’s charter or at least that’s where he tended to roam nowadays. He’d been a nomad back when Y/N had found herself being a frequent visitor to his bed over the final year she’d spent as a club hangaround. 

He’d been seven years her senior back then and had held a certain charm to him when he’d first shown her interest. He seemed to be well-versed in charming younger girls. It wasn’t something that she’d realized until she was older. Guys like him went for younger girls because women their own age knew better. 

Gunner was a handsome man; muscular and much taller than her with deceptively angelic looking curly shoulder length dark hair and a dreamy pair of green eyes. His nose was somewhat crooked from having broken it in his teens. His lips were plush enough to give a few girls envy considering women paid to have fuller lips like his. His complexion always held an olive tone that he claimed was a result of his Greek heritage. He always wore a slight smirk that hinted he was full of mischief and most likely always planning something. He was more covered with tattoos than he’d been back then. She could distinctly remember a large intricate dragon that had been inked into his right forearm and shoulder. It seemed that more ink had joined the dragon in his time away. She could spot a few demons and a couple of skulls inked into his skin. 

Once upon a time the sight of him might have made her knees feel wobbly. However she was aware of the brutality that could be hidden under such an attractive package.

Having him standing here staring down at her made her feel all too much like the scared exhausted twenty year old woman she’d been the last time she’d seen him.

She spoke her voice tight, she honestly longing to find Chibs more than ever now. “Gunner.”

“Shit, girl. I thought you’d run off to New York. It’s been, what, seven years now?” Gunner remarked, she daring to roll her eyes at the comment.

She was never sure if his memory was that shitty or if he just used a feigned sense of poor memory as a manipulation tactic. She had a feeling it was the latter. 

“It’s been closer to ten…I’m back in town. My father died.” She remarked cringing at the final part of her statement.

She didn’t want to exactly share personal details about her life with the man in front of her.

Gunner spoke moving a little closer to her. “Sorry about that. Not sorry to have you back though.”

He moved in all the closer, his voice picking up a flirty tone that would have at one point made her feel more than ready to find a bed or some other surface and let him have his way with her. “You back at the clubhouse?”

She spoke scoffing as she stepped back from him. “No, I’m not back. I’m not interested in that anymore. I’m here with someone.”

He apparently took little notice of her absence of interest, reaching out gripping down on to her arm he fast to respond. “The lack of interest never stopped me from talking you into some fun before. Trust me, Babe, I have failed to find many pussies as fun as yours. You know whoever you’re here with won’t be near as much fun as me.”

She cringed at the salacious comment about the lower region of her body and how it compared to other women as well as the implication of fun.

Her mind quickly flashed back to the last time they’d had fun.

It was 1999 and talk of Y2K and what it meant for the turn of the millennium was all the talk around Charming. 

Y/N Y/L/N found herself caring very little for what the year 2000 would bring for the future of mankind though.

As far as she cared, the world's computers could in fact fail to work and doom them all. She didn’t see much of a future even without the paranoia concerning the upcoming millennium. Everyone kept saying the world was ending but Y/N was quite certain it already did. 

She woke her head pounding and her entire body aching, it taking a moment to recognize the ceiling above her. She groaned as it dawned on her just where she was and just who was practically on top of her.

She struggled to sit up from the weight of the body beside her and the brutal hangover that made her feel exhausted and far too heavy. She felt almost as slow and uncoordinated as she had been the night before.

She glanced over at the sleeping man beside her, a sense of dread and shame washing over her as she realized she’d once again found herself in bed beside the nomad.

Gunner was easily described as not being the most attentive partner when it came to her needs and her boundaries. Calling him unattentive was putting it far too kindly though. 

With Gunner she always wound up bruised and not entirely feeling as though her needs had been fully attended to. She was left feeling more often than not as though she’d been violated and hating herself more than when she’d agreed to fall into his bed. 

She had experienced a few things with him that had been way too far out of her comfort zone and had left her feeling wretched. Just a few months ago she had wound up having her first and only threesome with Gunner and some croweater; an experience that had made her realize she much preferred dicks to pussy and she didn’t like feeling like the third wheel in bed. Needless to say the experience had felt awkward and her attempts to put a stop to it had been ignored.

Being ignored in bed was something she was accustomed to when it came to the nomad.

The threeway was quite tame compared to the usual things Gunner talked her into at least. Sleeping with him and the croweater a few months before had at least not been painful. Usually her experiences with him pushed past a sense of discomfort and straight into an unmistakable feeling of pain.

Last night, that had been unbearably painful.

She swallowed her throat feeling dry and she finding it difficult to swallow. The action felt like it took too much effort. It burned, making tears leak from the corners of her eyes. She was able to remember just why the simple action of trying to swallow hurt so badly.

Being choked by a partner had always been a hard no for Y/N. It brought back too many horrible memories of her poor unwell brother attempting to choke her in anger back when she’d been eighteen.

Gunner had proven though, as he always did, that he didn’t care about what her hard nos were.

She cringed, hating that she was right back in his bed again, hating that she’d not been strong enough to shove him off the night before when it had become once again clear that he didn't care if she wanted to stop.

A voice in the back of her brain scolded her, reminding her the pills he’d given her the night before had made it all too difficult to really put a stop to much of anything they’d started the night before.

Gunner was a practical walking talking pharmacy always able to provide pills to Y/N. Xanax had become a regular choice for her. Booze and pot had begun to lose the effect she desired, so pills had become a lovely alternative at least when Gunner was around to provide them.

Oxycodone had been provided the night before; a new friend she’d been happy to try out washing it down with shots of whiskey and vodka.

She didn’t claim to be a junkie, but she also never claimed to be straight edge. It was under control she’d always claimed when confronted about her indulgences. It wasn’t a problem, she always explained. It wasn’t as though she was shooting up heroin in blown out veins. 

A voice was always fast to taunt her though reminding her she did all kinds of terrible things with Gunner and he was always happy to coax her into them in exchange for a few pills or the occasional drop of acid.

Jax didn’t approve of her new friendship with Gunner. She’d written off his disapproval with snark. Jax and she weren’t a couple after all, so why did he give a shit if she fucked anyone else? Gunner wasn’t the only guy she’d fallen into bed with. Jax had never had a problem with her past bed partners.

She knew she had overindulged last night as she often did with Gunner. Jax had been irritating her though and she was bored. Gunner had shown up with the promise to show her something interesting in the dorm room he was crashing in and she’d followed happily.

Of course once a nice high had settled in, he’d coaxed her into sex. It was a typical dance they did. They got high, she more so than him, and he talked her into bed.

Last night felt like all too much though. He’d been rougher than usual which wasn’t saying much as he was always just a little rough. He didn’t mind biting or slapping, at least when he did it to her.

She was no masochist but she was usually too dazed to fight back too often. He was so kind between those moments of brutality in the bedroom that she’d not found it in her to make too much of a fuss over it. 

Last night the high had worn off just enough for her dazed brain to panic. Gunner had paid no mind to her panic and her murmured pleas to stop. His response had been to wrap a hand around her neck and squeeze so hard that her vision had tunneled. 

A voice in the back of her mind had screamed to stop him, but she was so out of it and so weakened that she’d been unable to do much more than lie there and take it.

She felt bile rise in the back of her throat remembering the act of taking it. She somehow found the strength to shove his heavy body back, barely able to peel out of bed in time to make it to the bathroom attached to the dorm.

She spilled the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl below her, the vomit burning her sore throat all the more.

Once she was certain she’d rid her body of anything that could possibly be contained within her stomach, she found herself standing up wobbling over to the mirror above the bathroom sink.

She turned on the water, managing to clean the puke from her lips before staring into the mirror.

She sighed, not shocked her bedroom partner had either not woken or bothered to care enough to check in on her while she puked.

It was better he didn’t a helpful voice in the back of her head reassured her.

She stared at her reflection, a cold chill running through her at the mess of bruises littered across her skin, the most prominent appearing around her throat.

Her eyes felt cold and empty as she stared at her reflection, the eyeliner she’d worn the night before smeared. Her lipstick was long gone and her lips felt chapped and raw. Her hair was a tangled mess and needed a good thorough wash. 

Her nude body was riddled with more bruises and in her opinion she suddenly realized she was far too thin. When was the last time she ate a decent meal?

She was suddenly so tired. She felt so much older than her twenty years of age. 

A small voice perked up in the back of her mind it quick to point out the obvious; this was no way to live, this was how she was going to die. For the first time in a very long time she realized that she didn’t want to die. She didn’t want to die here.

With that realization she made her way back out to the dorm room relieved Gunner had not woken. She redressed, not caring if she even found her purse.

She did the walk of shame relieved that no one other than a few croweaters who had managed to avoid being the company of Sons last night were up. They were all cleaning up last night’s party and did not pay her any mind.

Y/N walked out of the clubhouse for the last time not saying a word to anyone. 

She walked and walked for what seemed like hours until she reached a phone booth. She wasn’t sure if she believed in God but by some grace she found a couple of dropped quarters in the booth; just enough to make a phone call.

The voice answered on the other end the reassuring gentle lilt of her father’s voice putting tears in her eyes. “Y/L/N and Sons Funeral Home. How can I assist you today.”

“Daddy.” The words left her, her voice more of a croak she feeling all the more exhausted.

“Y/N, Baby? Where are you? What’s wrong?” Her father’s voice sounded out the professional tone dropping from his tone the panicked concern of a parent fearing for their child taking over.

The words left her changing her life forever. “I’m so tired, Daddy. I am so exhausted. I can’t keep doing this. I can’t do this anymore, please. I need help.”

Y/N was pulled from the memory, it enough to put some motivation into her she pulling against his grip her voice harsh. “Let go of me. I’m not that girl anymore.”

“You being here says something entirely different. Look around you Babe, you aren’t the only croweater hanging around tonight.” was the reply Gunner gave her still making it clear that he had zero interest in listening to any boundaries she sat.

His grip on her wrist grew tighter making her cringe as pain shot through her wrist.

Her savior came from out of nowhere the voice firm and monotone. “What the hell are you doing? You better back off Chibs’ ol lady.”

She gazed up at Happy almost certain she could have never believed she could be so thrilled to see the Tacoma Killer.

Happy had been around back in her club hang around days. Though she had never gone to bed with him.

In her opinion Happy had not seemed to mind her lack of interest in going to bed with him. He had seemed more interested in her family’s line of work. In particular he’d seemed more interested in picking her brain for knowledge about embalming than getting into her pants.

She’d always had the feeling that he’d gotten a sense of some slightly demented pleasure hearing all about embalming. A part of her that was all too aware of Happy Lowman’s reputation had to wonder if he actually found the descriptions of the tools used during embalming to be enjoyable and possibly even inspirational.

A small worried part of her brain had to wonder if the knowledge she’d imparted on him about her family’s line of work had been inspiration for him to try some of those practices on the living. It was a rabbit hole she never wanted to venture down.

Gunner at least had the sense to let her go though she had to be irritated that it had taken the mention of Chibs to get him to do it. It was somewhat insulting to think that her no hadn’t been enough until it was clear that another man had dibs on her. 

She found herself unable to present the argument that it was far too soon for her to put the ol lady title on herself.

If calling herself Chibs’ ol lady got her out of this mess then so be it.

Happy gazed down at her, the toothpick he held between his teeth sliding from one side of his mouth to the other. She got the sense that he was checking her over for any sign of damage.

She didn’t miss the gaze he sent to her wrist which she was clutching in her hand attempting to cope with the dull ache settling over the joints.

Gunner spoke an amused chuckle leaving him as though he hadn’t just been essentially assaulting her. “Shit, she’s hooked up with Chibs? Didn’t know he took up an ol lady. Last I heard he was still a sad Scottish fuck.”

If she wasn’t still feeling overwhelmed and slightly panicked she may have taken offense to the comment about Chibs.

It seemed that Happy took up the challenge for her his voice harsh. “Shut the fuck up. Chibs ain’t ever done shit to you. You’re always running your damn mouth. Last thing we need right now is you stirring up shit with Mother.”

Y/N furrowed her brow, it taking a minute for her brain to detect the word Mother meant SAMCRO. They were the Redwood originals after all.

Happy finally spoke, nodding to her his voice still that monotone droll. “Ignore this asshole. You okay?”

She parted her lips to respond but didn’t have a chance as the Scotsman they’d been discussing approached them, his voice cheerful he not yet taking notice of Y/N’s expression. “Hen, there ya are. Juicy said ya went to the bathroom. Thought it was takin a wee bit. Figured I’d come find ya in case ya got lost in the crowd.”

She gazed up at Chibs unable to stop herself from scooting close to him as he approached.

The cheerful energy dropped from Chibs’ features as he took notice of her clutching her wrist. “What’s goin on, lass? What’s goin on with yer wrist? Are ya hurt?”

She parted her lips, the words dying on her tongue. She felt less like the woman who always had a smart remark and more like the scared twenty year old she’d been calling her dad in a phone booth begging for help.

Her dad was long gone now though. A voice in the back of her mind told her she had no one to protect her now. 

Gunner was dumb enough to speak up, not hiding his actions. “I got a little handsy. Didn’t realize she was yours. To be fair, I didn't see a crow unless you put it on her ass or tit and I’m not seeing it.”

Chibs tensed at the words stepping forward his shoulders tensing his hands forming fists. “Ya fuckin touched her?”

Gunner paused a small smirk crossing his features not backing down. “She used to be a Friday night girl. I thought she might be back. Just figured she forgot her place, you know these bitches sometimes can get mouthy and need reminders.”

“Aye, she ain’ fuckin back. I don’ find the need to hand out reminders to women.” Chibs snapped moving further forward Y/N not missing that he stepped in front of her as though he was attempting to shield her from Gunner’s gaze.

Gunner shook his head clearly showing zero interest in any sense of self preservation or need to shut up now. “Trust me, from my experience with her she needs plenty of reminders. She always had a fucking mouth on her…it was nice at least when she put it to the right use. Don’t even get me started about her pussy though. Her mouth has nothing on that pussy. I dream about that tight pussy still.”

The words were enough to make Chibs raise his fist taking a swing. It was enough to push the younger man back just slightly. Though Gunner recovered quickly, raising his own fist ready to deliver a blow back.

The hit he threw back knocked Chibs back just the slightest but the Scot was quick to deliver another blow in retaliation managing to land one square across Gunner’s jaw. 

Happy stepped into action moving between the two men. He placed himself between them holding them apart, his voice raising but still remaining flat. “Stop, enough of this shit.”

Both men struggled against Happy’s attempts. The chaos snapped Y/N out of the agonizing sense of fear and dread a voice piping up in the back of her mind.

She was not left without anyone to protect her now. Chibs was proving to be the protector she needed.

She cringed everything in her wanting to allow Chibs to beat Gunner to a bloody pulp despite her claim she didn’t enjoy watching men beat the crap out of one another.

She was not willing for Chibs to be just as beaten in return though.

She stepped forward placing a gentle hand on Chibs’ back, her voice soft. “Let it go. It’s over.”

“He needs to keep his hands off ya and his mouth shut bout ya.” Chibs snapped in response.

Gunner smirked delighted to push more buttons. “Just cluing you in Chibs. Figured you might want to know about her past. She’s been in a few guys' beds. Thought you might want to know just where she learned those bedroom skills she’s used on you. I taught her to do that humming thing she does when she’s deepthroating you.”

The comment was enough to push Chibs further forward, Happy thankfully strong enough to shove the older Scot back, his voice picking up a hint of annoyance. “Enough.”

Y/N stepped forward moving beside Chibs, her voice soft as she placed a hand on his shoulder able to feel the tension rolling off him as he struggled to break past Happy’s hold. “Filip, please. He’s not worth the effort.”

She gently rubbed his shoulder, her voice pleaing. “Take me home, please, Baby. Let’s just go somewhere else. I don’t want to be here anymore. Just take me somewhere else far away from him.”

The use of his real name and the sudden addition of a pet name was enough to break Chibs’ focus on Gunner and the desire to beat the man within an inch of his life.

She spoke again, the plea still so apparent in her voice. “Please, Filip.”

He let out a shaky sigh fighting between the desire to push past Happy and give Gunner exactly what he deserved and the need to listen to the woman he was so ready to fight over.

He took a deep breath pushing down his rage making his choice.

He stepped back holding his hands up a sign to Happy that he was done.

Happy at least had the sense to keep a grip on Gunner stopping the man from stepping forward and continuing the fight.

Chibs took Y/N’s hand in his, giving it a firm but reassuring squeeze, the rage he felt still bubbling within him.

She squeezed his hand back Gunner speaking up past Happy, spotting that he was not getting the fist fight he apparently craved. “That pussy must be better than I remember if you’re backing down from a fight Chibby.”

Chibs gritted his jaw he fast to reply. “If it wasn’ fer her, I’d knock yer teeth outta yer head. Yer lucky I care more bout givin’ her what she wants than doin’ what I want righ’ now. Next time we meet and she ain’ here, I’m makin good on knockin ya flat on yer arse.”

With that he turned, allowing Y/N to drag him away before he lost his resolve and did exactly what he wanted with or without having to find a way to shove past Happy.

Chibs took a few more deep breaths leading her through the fairgrounds, his voice tense. “Let’s get ya home, Hen.”

She nodded her head, her voice soft. “When you get me there…come inside, please. I think I have some things to tell you.”

He nodded his head, his voice just as soft, his hand releasing hers, his arm wrapping around her waist squeezing her tight against him. “Aye, I guess ya do…ain’ goin to change how I feel bout ya. Jus’ so ya know.”

She felt a tight smile cross her lips, she hoping and praying to anyone who might be listening, even if it was a God she wasn’t sure she believed in, that he meant it.

She didn’t know what she’d do if he changed his mind about her after hearing all she had to say about what he’d heard tonight. 

She didn’t want to lose him.

#chibs telford #sons of anarchy #chibs sons of anarchy #chibs telford fanfiction #sons of anarchy fanfiction #chibs telford x reader #chibs #soa #Death and the Lady #Chapter nine

[night-market-if]

Chapter Nine is Live

Good morning! Chapter Nine is up for the public now. With it comes a few patches to the interface, along with a dark mode in settings if you don't already have your computer/phone set to that.

And, I will tell you guys the same thing I told my Patreons... It will be okay.

🪷✨🪷✨ If you want to support me 🪷 ✨🪷✨

        Demo 🌿 Patreon 🌿 Ko-fi

#the night market #if wip #interactive fiction #chapter nine #the ro's #writing #the mc #milo next #hazel albright #gabriel caine #belladonna malady #caliban

[kyriat-stories]

The King's death was unexpected, even with a war going on. The body was to be taken back to the palace, but the men were allowed to give their respects first.

- The King instructed me to convey his gratitude to you, Captain Trypitis told Nashuja. He wanted me to give you some of his valuable stones, his horse Kappa and his sword.

- To me? His horse? The same horse that killed him? What am I going to do with that beast? It's a curse, not a gift, I don't know anything about horses!

- Well it is yours now. It was the King's wish. For your travels, he said And he really loved that horse, even if it killed him I believe he wanted someone to take care of it.

- My travels? Oh. Yes, that makes sense. Okay, I will try my best to honor his wishes. I will take care of the horse. As best I can.

In the beginning Nashuja was intimidated by the size and appearance of Kappa. He was cautious and patient, and made sure to have carrots or apples whenever he approached her.

After some weeks, there was certainly more trust between them.

The war continued, and Nashuja was again fit for fight. The men in general were not as motivated as they had been. The war-weariness probably had to do with the lack of progress. Victory seemed impossible.

Then, about three months after King Ifiklis death, they received the message from the regent; Prince Heraklis. He had made a deal with the enemy. The conditions were harsh, but peace was finally reached. The agreement was formally approved by the new king; the very young King Mijararos I. He was now formally the head of Manthos, but since he was just a child it was of course his uncle who had the real power and authority in the kingdom.

It was a very special day wen the soldiers marched home to Manthos. They weren't overly excited about the agreement Prince Heraklis had made, they felt that he had sold them short. There were rumors that he had betrayed them, his own people. They said he probably was on the enemy's side from the beginning, a renegade. Some even said that the former King had found out about it and confronted him, and that Prince Heraklis then killed his own brother because of it.

The citizens of Manthos were however ecstatic that war was over and that their boys were coming home.

.

Previous | Index | Character overview | Next

#KyriaT #KyriaT-stories #Chapter Nine #ts4 story #sims 4 story #history challenge #ts4 history challenge #Generation 2 #Early civilization sims #Early civ sims #Once Upon A Time #The First Ones #Nashuja #Kleomenis Trypitis #Pamesijos #Kappa #Prince Heraklis #King Mijararos #Nafpaktios Elis #Leotychidas Trypitis #Olimáchos Kitanétos #Eurysthénis Trypitis #simblr #tw war #tw death

[whinlatter]

Hi!! Love your writing! Please could you give us an sneak peak of chapter 9 Beast?

thank you anon!

ok this is the least spoilery sneak peek from Beasts chapter nine i can share with you. half of the time writing this chapter i'm having a ball and half of the time i'm crawling the walls trying to work out how to do it. it's become a bit of a sprawling monster (beast) of a chapter that is proving extremely fun and extremely energy-sapping to write (lots of things happen in chapter nine you see....) but for now, here's a baby sneak peek, containing mild spoilers for chapter nine!

‘Well, no amount of Santa hats will fix it this year. Even the bloody tree looks sad, because the Death Eaters burned all our decorations, even the good tinsel. They couldn’t have just left us a bit of tinsel, could they?’ ‘Bastards. No end to their crimes.’ ‘And there’s no tree ornament. Teddy’s first Christmas and there’s no tree ornament. What kind of childhood are we giving him, if there isn’t a tree ornament? Bet the Death Eaters got rid of that, too. You know, that little chunky gold angel we had, in the tutu? He was sort of ugly, but in a kind of cute way - ’ She feels him start to grin against her temple. ‘Gin,’ he whispers, ‘you do know that was a gnome, right?’

#beasts #chapter nine #sneak peek #this chapter man #is kicking my whole ass #hinny

[criminalmindsgonewrong]

coffee at midnight

a hotchniss fanfiction

chapter nine: Fears and Ghosts

It's easier to share secrets in the middle of the night.

Read on ao3

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taglist: @hopefulfangirl24 @thebejeweledwatercat @platypus-whit-boots @luhwithah @cvtsbutcut3 @acethet1c-blog @ccmattis-22 @duchessas @lucreziabeha @scorpiofangirl1109 @natasha-barton @lil-koala @themetaphorgirl @sequinsmile-x @emobabeyy @my-mummy-dust @section-chief-prentiss @psychicmuffinpandasludge @loriprentiss @unauthorizedaaronhotchner @smollro @dontemilyyyyme @daffodil-heart @hctchniss

#coffee at midnight #chapter nine #fears and ghosts #criminal minds gone wrong #criminal minds #criminal minds fanfiction #aaron hotchner #aaron hotchner fanfiction #emily prentiss #emily prentiss fanfiction #hotchniss #hotchniss fanfiction

[ericshoney]

The Mafia Boss ~ Chapter nine

Y/n's POV

It was the next morning. I just got dressed and am working on some breakfast. After I had everything done, I headed to the living room to sit and watch some tv, when there was a knock on the door. I look at the clock to see its nearly nine am. I sigh and get up, looking through the peep hole. That's when I see its Heeseung. I don't bother answering it, hoping he'll go away. I head back to the living room to eat my breakfast when my front door bursts open.

"The hell?!" I shout, jumping from the sofa.

"Don't ignore me." Heeseung said, walking in.

"I told you not to come again." I tell him. He chuckles.

"Like you believed I would do that." He responds. I sigh, eating my breakfast.

"Look, I'm here to tell you that Hoon wants to talk to just you. One on one. He still loves you." He said.

"I don't believe that." I mumble.

"Its true. Look, Hoon's picked up a drinking problem. He pretends to be some cold mafia boss, but deep down, all he wants and needs is you back. At least talk to him." He continues.

"I said no, Heeseung." I tell him.

"I didn't want to do this, but your giving me no choice." He mumbles, I look over and see him walking closer, before I know it, Heeseung pushes a cloth over my mouth and nose.

"Sorry." Is the last thing I hear before falling asleep.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I woke up with a fuzzy head. I rub my eyes sitting up to see I'm in a bedroom, one that's not mine. I look around and see a figure in the corner.

"Heeseung..." I call, they step forward and I see its Sunghoon.

"Wrong guess."

"Why am I here?" I ask.

"I want to talk. Just us two." He answers.

"What's there to talk about? You kept a huge secret from me! A dangerous one!" I shout.

"I know, but that didn't mean I stopped loving you." He replies.

"Don't play that card." I mumble, feeling my eyes tearing up.

"I'm not. Its the truth." He replies.

"Or is the alcohol talking?" I spit.

"Heeseung told you." He said, making me nod.

"You have a drinking problem, Sunghoon, you should stop, you wouldn't want Beatrix to pick up on it." I reply.

"Don't bring Bea into this!" He shouts.

"I've vowed since you left I would do anything to get you back! Because I still love you!" He adds.

"What if I don't love you anymore?" I ask.

"I'll show you. I swear I love you, my love." He answers, I notice tears in his eyes, something I've not seen since his mother passed away.

"One more chance, but I'm setting some ground rules." I tell him.

"Of course, anything." He said, he walks over sitting on the edge of the bed.

"First, I'm sleeping in here, its a spare room right?" I ask.

"Yes its a spare room, if that makes you more comfortable." He answers. I nod.

"It will, I know you'd rather I stay here than my place." He smiles a bit.

"Anything else?" He questions.

"Don't rush me, I'll decide when I'm ready to forgive you, the more pressure you give me, the more I'll want to leave. If I decide I'm not happy, I will leave and you will not contact me again. I don't want anything to do with the mafia stuff you do. I'll spend time with you and the others, but I don't want to know about the mafia life." I continue.

"Alright, I'll talk to the others." He said, standing up and heading for the door.

"Oh, and Sunghoon?" I call.

"Yes, my love?" He calls back.

"Cut back on the drinking." I tell him.

"I'll see." He responds before leaving me alone in this big bedroom. I sigh, laying down, wondering if its a good idea.

#kpop #kpop fanfic #kpop au #enhypen #enhypen fanfic #enhypen au #mafia #sunghoon #sunghoon mafia #park sunghoon #ocs #au #chapter nine #sunghoon x reader #park sunghoon xreader #female reader

[yellowwithalisp]

 𝙷𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝙸𝚖𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚎- 𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚂𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍

You are a simple S.T.A.R.S member just trying to live your life. But your past keeps finding ways to make you scream in the dark….

(Remember that Wekser x reader requests are still open!!) ( The chapter has a shout-out and is dedicated to one of my favorite Wesker fanfics of all time. His Obsession by Aleneahx. I highly recommend everyone to give this fanfic a read! It is beautifully written and has a wonderful plot. Please go read it, comment on it, and give it a Kudos! Thank you Aleneahx for inspiring me and giving me the courage to write this story! - Yellow 💛🌻) (Final count- 7,226 words.)

(I'm sorry this one is small. Please forgive me!)

𝙷𝚒𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚗 𝙸𝚖𝚖𝚞𝚗𝚒𝚝𝚢 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚎- 𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚋𝚎 𝚂𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎𝚍. (𝙳𝚘𝚗'𝚝 𝚖𝚘𝚟𝚎....)

🖤🔪▪ 𝙸𝚗𝚍𝚎𝚡 🥀 🖤▪ 𝚂𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚛𝚜~ 🖤▪ 𝙰𝚖𝚋𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛: 🖤🏠▪ 𝙰𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚖𝚎𝚗𝚝: 🖤▪ 𝘈03𝘝𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯. 🖤▪ 𝚃𝚊𝚐 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝. @bisexualforestfire (𝚂𝚎𝚗𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚊 𝚊𝚜𝚔 𝚊𝚜𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚊𝚍𝚍𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚝𝚑�� 𝚝𝚊𝚐 𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚝!)

As I entered the dining facilities, I spotted a muscular man with a beret and a rifle slung over his shoulder. He stares at me with a smirk on his face as if he knew my every movement. I smiled as I carried my tray over to him. "Hey." I said as I sat down next to my friend. The man simply remained silent, occasionally sipping his whisky while he looked over at me eye occasionally, not saying a word. "Oh, I know that look. what did you get in trouble for doing this time?" I asked my fellow soldier as I started to eat my food. The man continued to sip his whisky and occasionally glanced at me with a faint smile on his face, but still did not respond to my question, simply continuing to eat his meal in silence. It appeared to be that he was either unwilling or unable to answer my question, as he continued to avoid eye contact and continued to stare into his whisky. I rolled my eyes. "Did you try to pick a fight with Canary? Got your ass handed to you I see." The man stopped for a moment when I mentioned Canary. He let out an annoyed sigh and finally looked up at me, setting down his glass of whisky and speaking in a slightly annoyed voice.

"I did not 'try' to pick a fight with Canary. I did pick a fight with her. But that's besides the point. Why do you always insist on harassing me about my fights with Canary, anyway?"

"Because every time. You get your ass handed to you by her."

I said as I took a sip of my water. "And, this is the part where I get to say... I told you so. Again."

"Oh come on, I don't get my 'ass handed' to me every time we fight. I hold my own just fine."

He took a sip of his whisky and sighed.

"Really? Is that where you're sitting over here moping about?"

"Moping? What gives you the impression that I'm moping Mouse? Maybe I'm just trying to enjoy my drink in peace."

He took another sip of his whisky. "You didn't come and join me and Six for chow time. Meaning that your moping about something. You forget how long we've been friends. I can read you like a book."

I said with a slight smirk.

"Oh come on, just because I don't want to eat with Six and you, doesn't mean that something bothering me."

He took another sip from his whisky and returned the smirk.

"Also, maybe I just wanted to spend some time alone with my whisky Mouse."

"Oh, then you love your whisky more than your wife then?"

I teased as I ate more of my food.

"Hey, now that's not true."

He said quickly before he scoffed.

"Fine. You're right. I am moping," He acknowledged, taking another sip of his whisky.

"It's not that I don't want to eat with Six and you. It's not that I want to spend time alone with my whisky either, Or that I lost a fight with Canary."

He let out another sigh, shaking his head.

"I was meant to be able to go home in a month so I could be there for the birth of my daughter." The smirk on my face quickly went away as a word expression took over it.

"Your still able to go home... right?"

He closed his eyes tight as his grip on his whisky grew.

He let out a heavy sigh as if he had been wanting to hold in that information for a while.

"I don't know Mouse. That's the problem. I was supposed to be on a flight tomorrow to go home and see my wife, my daughter, my family. Now they're sending our team on an undisclosed mission."

His eyes narrowed and his grip on his whisky tightened even more.

"The worst part isn't that I might die. The worst part is that I might not be able to see the birth of my daughter."

My eyes shifted to whisky then back up to him worriedly. "I haven't heard anything about this mission. And they're sending us off on it tomorrow?"

"Yeah, the order just came by earlier today from higher up. We got the orders and now we're all being shipped out tomorrow."

He took a sip of his whisky.

"I tried to talk them out of it. I told them that I have a wife whose about to have our daughter. I told them that I couldn't miss her birth. I told them that we might not all be coming back from this mission."

He let go of his scotch and took another sip.

"But apparently the mission was much more important than me being there for my family."

I looked down at my food.

"Whats the mission about."

"Apparently there was an attack on a nearby town, they released some gas into the town. They need our team to go in and find any remaining survivors."

"Why not Canary's team?"

He shook. "They're sendin' them out somewhere else tomorrow as well."

“Damn. So they’re putting us into potential danger. And you don’t get to be with your families? That’s not much of a fair trade off now is it?”

I continued to look down at my food and thought about what he had told me.

“So the town is going to be on lockdown when we get there I assume?”

"Yeah. Six worried that someone messed with the gas masks and made them defective." He said.

“Let me guess… the gas is some type of neurotoxin?”

I asked as I took a sip of my water. "What can't another team do it? Why do they need us specifically to go investigate?" He shrugged.

“I’m getting a bad feeling about this…” I muttered as I took another sip of my water.

“Canary’s team is going out somewhere else? They don’t even have them going with us?"

He shook his head as he finished his whisky.

“So what do you think the odds are we come back from this mission?” I asked nervously. He took a long moment before responding.

"The way I see it, we've got about fifty-fifty odds of making it back in one piece."

“I… don’t like those odds.” I replied back after he gave his answer.

He slowly stood up as I followed holding my now empty tray. "Well, let's get this mission done and get home safely." He said as he looked at me. I nodded my head as we walked. "Yeah."

Six, Nic, I, and others where drove over to the front of the town. Were all putting on our gas masks as the car stopped. I looked over at the other men in the truck. Six looked worried and Nic had a concerned look on his face. ".... You two ready?" I asked as I looked at him and Six.

Nic let out a sigh and nodded.

“Yeah, as ready as I guess I can be.” Six rolled his eyes as he put his gas mask on. “Like we even have a choice… I don't know about you guys but I want to get this job done and over with already.”

"Agreed," I mumbled.

Nic put his gas mask on before he sighed in frustration.

"Let's just get this over with..." I just rolled my eyes as I put on my gas mask and sighed. "I guess I'm ready too. I just wish I knew what was waiting for us out there... The waiting is the worst part..." Nic gently pats my shoulder before taking a deep breath as he got out of the car.

“Well, whatever it is... let’s just get it over with. I’m tired of just sitting here… I’m ready to take on whatever comes our way.”

He started to make his way into the town, but he stopped once he remembered something.

“Oh yea, one more thing… let’s make sure we have our radios on at all times… we don’t want to risk getting separated from each other.”

I nod my head as both Six and I check out radios as the other men from the truck rush past us. "Let's stay safe ok? We don't know what's in there and-" I looked at Nic and Six. "-You both have families to go home too." I said.

SIx nodded his head back at me as Nic paused to look back at me.

“Trust me, I don’t plan on staying here longer than we have to. We all wanna get home to our families.”

"And your our family too Mouse. We're gonna keep you safe too." Nic said.

I just took a deep breath.

“Y-Yeah… I-I just wanna get this over with.”

We started making our way into the town, I constantly glanced down at my radio to make sure it was on. Six followed behind me as Nic was ahead of us.

“That’s one thing we all have in common Mouse. Nobody wants to get trapped here any longer than we need to.”Six and I looked around nervously as we made our way through the empty and desolate town. our footsteps were the only sounds heard throughout this place. Nic took a deep breath as his fingers tightened around his assault rifle.

“We need to keep moving… and fast. The longer we stay here, the more chances we have of getting lost…”

I nodded as I looked around the empty streets. ".... What if there's no one..." I start.

He let out a nervous sigh as he stopped in front of Six and Nic.

“I’ve been thinking, maybe we should split up for a little bit. I mean this town is huge… It could take forever to search every single building here.”

He nervously looked around.

“It might be safer if we split up just for a bit to make our search a little easier. You guys could take the south side of the town while I take the north side… Once you’re done over there then we can meet up again.”

"And leave you alone? You of all people need to make it out of here alive." I said as I took a breath through the gas mask. Nic tried to give me a comforting smile. “Hey don’t forget, I know these streets better than anyone else here. I’ll keep my radio on at all times so we don’t get lost or separated too far from each other. I’ll be fine, I swear.. We just need to be quick. I doubt that whatever… it is that’s in there could be that bad.”

He started making his way down the street.

“Just try not to take all day over there, I’ll see you both back at our meeting spot in a few hours.”

I looked over at Six with a worried look on my face. Even though his face mask. I could still tell that he was giving me the exact same look.

He sighed softly as he adjusted his rifle.

“Yeah, I don’t really like the idea of splitting up either. But if we don’t then it’ll take us forever to search the whole town… We don’t know how much time we have before the gas spreads and we can’t leave. So as much as I don’t like it, it might be the best idea. Like Nic said, we can just meet up again at the meeting spot and we’ll be fine.”

Six, Nic, I, and others where drove over to the front of the town. Were all putting on our gas masks as the car stopped. I looked over at the other men in the truck. Six looked worried and Nic had a concerned look on his face. ".... You two ready?" I asked as I looked at him and Six.

Nic let out a sigh and nodded.

“Yeah, as ready as I guess I can be.” Six rolled his eyes as he put his gas mask on. “Like we even have a choice… I don't know about you guys but I want to get this job done and over with already.”

"Agreed," I mumbled.

Nic put his gas mask on before he sighed in frustration.

"Let's just get this over with..." I just rolled my eyes as I put on my gas mask and sighed. "I guess I'm ready too. I just wish I knew what was waiting for us out there... The waiting is the worst part..." Nic gently pats my shoulder before taking a deep breath as he got out of the car.

“Well, whatever it is... let’s just get it over with. I’m tired of just sitting here… I’m ready to take on whatever comes our way.”

He started to make his way into the town, but he stopped once he remembered something.

“Oh yea, one more thing… let’s make sure we have our radios on at all times… we don’t want to risk getting separated from each other.”

I nod my head as both Six and I check out radios as the other men from the truck rush past us. "Let's stay safe ok? We don't know what's in there and-" I looked at Nic and Six. "-You both have families to go home too." I said.

SIx nodded his head back at me as Nic paused to look back at me.

“Trust me, I don’t plan on staying here longer than we have to. We all wanna get home to our families.”

"And your our family too Mouse. We're gonna keep you safe too." Nic said.

I just took a deep breath.

“Y-Yeah… I-I just wanna get this over with.”

We started making our way into the town, I constantly glanced down at my radio to make sure it was on. Six followed behind me as Nic was ahead of us.

“That’s one thing we all have in common Mouse. Nobody wants to get trapped here any longer than we need to.”Six and I looked around nervously as we made our way through the empty and desolate town. our footsteps were the only sounds heard throughout this place. Nic took a deep breath as his fingers tightened around his assault rifle.

“We need to keep moving… and fast. The longer we stay here, the more chances we have of getting lost…”

I nodded as I looked around the empty streets. ".... What if there's no one..." I start.

He let out a nervous sigh as he stopped in front of Six and Nic.

“I’ve been thinking, maybe we should split up for a little bit. I mean this town is huge… It could take forever to search every single building here.”

He nervously looked around.

“It might be safer if we split up just for a bit to make our search a little easier. You guys could take the south side of the town while I take the north side… Once you’re done over there then we can meet up again.”

"And leave you alone? You of all people need to make it out of here alive." I said as I took a breath through the gas mask. Nic tried to give me a comforting smile. “Hey don’t forget, I know these streets better than anyone else here. I’ll keep my radio on at all times so we don’t get lost or separated too far from each other. I’ll be fine, I swear.. We just need to be quick. I doubt that whatever… it is that’s in there could be that bad.”

He started making his way down the street.

“Just try not to take all day over there, I’ll see you both back at our meeting spot in a few hours.”

I looked over at Six with a worried look on my face. Even though his face mask. I could still tell that he was giving me the exact same look.

He sighed softly as he adjusted his rifle.

“Yeah, I don’t really like the idea of splitting up either. But if we don’t then it’ll take us forever to search the whole town… We don’t know how much time we have before the gas spreads and we can’t leave. So as much as I don’t like it, it might be the best idea. Like Nic said, we can just meet up again at the meeting spot and we’ll be fine.”

I nod as he turns away from where Nic is heading. I made sure again my radio was on as I looked around. "Did the grass kill everyone?" I asked. He looked around the empty streets. 

“Maybe… I mean it’s not like there’s anything else that could kill you here right? It’s just gas. Besides… There’s no bodies anywhere… Maybe they’re all inside the buildings and just unconscious…” 

Suddenly a shot rings out close by, causing him to tense slightly and turn his attention in the direction of the sound. There’s another shot, and then silence. 

“What the hell was that…” He looks around at all of his surroundings cautiously. "Gunshots..." I mumbled as I quickly radioed Nic. "Nic!!.... Nic come in!!..... Nothing..." I said as I slowly looked up at Six. He took a short breath through his gas mask.

“...No response. I don’t like this. Nic?! Niiic?!”

He continued to radio Nic but he just got static in the radio. 

“... I don’t like this…” he said before looking around the surroundings cautiously. “Well... Lets get looking.” He took a deep breath through his gas mask before making his way to the first building. I followed after him as I tried to contact Nic again, nothing. "Clear!"

Six said as I stepped in. I looked around the building. "See anyone?" I asked as I took a deep breath through the gas mask.

“...No. Just like the other buildings this place looks completely deserted... Wait!” He stops and listens. “I hear something... it sounds like... A radio?”

He quickly pulls it out and turns it on.

“M-Mouse?! Six?! Is that you? Where are you?!”

It is Nic’s voice on the other end of the radio!

“Nic! You’re alive!” I say back into the radio. “Where are you?!”

Nic continues to frantically speak into the radio.

"Get out of the town! The masks have been tempered with!" Nic said through the radio. I looked up at Six in horror.

“What?! What are you saying Nic?! Speak clearly!! What do you mean by masks have been tempered with?!” Six said quickly. 

I heard another distant gunshot ring out across the town. And it definitely did not come from Six. 

“... I don’t like that. Something isn’t right here Six. I don’t know what yet, but this whole place just feels off…” He said.

Six quickly looked up at me. His eyes widened before we both heard a sound. I sounded like someone was gaggin on something almost. Like a monster.  “Did anyone else hear that?” I asked as I quickly tried to get six and I out of there to find Nic. Suddenly I hear screaming coming from the building to my right. I look into the building and I see a strange figure approaching Six and me. It looked humanoid but it looked more like a corps walking than a human. Six pointed his rifle at it before firing at it.

“What the hell! Why isn’t it dying!” Six said. The bullets hit it, but it didn't die. The thing continued to charge at us as I grabbed Six and we both started to run. 

"What is that thing!?" I yelled. “I have no idea!” Six yelled back as we ran through a broken-down building. 

We ran out the other end and started heading towards a huge hole in the fence I had seen earlier. “Come on, we need to find Nic and get out of here!” Six yelled, hoping that I had heard him.

As if we were in a horror movie, a loud thud could be heard. We turned around to see the strange humanoid thing trying to open the door behind us. “We need to keep moving!” I yelled. 

We ran to the hole in the wall, which seemed to be the only way out. The humanoid creature broke through the door. Six pointed his rifle at it and pulled the trigger. 

Click. Click. Click. The gun didn’t fire and we could hear footsteps behind us coming towards us. “Six?!” I yelled before he grabbed my hand and we were running again. "Nic!! Where are you!?" I said through my radio. 

"By the fence!!"

Nic said back through the radio. We kept running through the broken buildings when Six stumbled down onto the ground. "Six!!" I shouted before turning back for him, seeing these humanoid things coming after him. I named my rifle to shoot at their knees to hopefully slow them down for a bit. I went over to Six who was frantic trying to get his gasmask off of him. He was coughing up blood. "The grass is affecting you- we need to get you out of here fast!!" I said as I helped him up. The humanoid creatures got closer and I could see that their throats were burning and bubbling with acid. I grabbed Six's hand. “You need to go, now. I’m gonna be fine, you don’t want what’s happening to me to happen to you!” Six yelled as he coughed up more blood. "I feel fine- I'm not just gonna leave you here!" I said as I helped him up, having him lean on me for support.  “You don’t understand Six, if you get out of here, whatever is in your system will kill you! You need to get out of here!” Six was struggling to breathe. 

“I’m not going leave without you” I said as he coughed up more blood. 

The humanoid creatures were getting close and were starting to burn the grass the acid was on. “We need to get out now Six!” I yelled as I started to help Six getaway. I quickly radioed Nic to tell him where we were heading. "Nic!! Were heading towards the middle of the town- there are these humanoid creatures chasing us- and Six is infected!"

Six started to get woozy and his legs started to give out. “I can’t move… we need to get out of here and quickly, before you become like me. You have to leave, okay? You have to promise you’ll get out of here before they get us.” Six was struggling to breathe and couldn’t speak anymore, but he managed to give a quick look to me as his eyes started to glaze over. 

“I’ll be fine!” he said in between raspy breaths, but he clearly wasn’t going to survive this. Tears started to form in my eyes as I shook my head. "N-no- Six- I'm not leaving you-" Six suddenly collapsed. His breathing became laboured and there was blood coming out of his mouth. “Six!?” I yelled. I knew I couldn’t leave him here so I tried to pick him up but it was too late. His body was already going stiff. “Six please, get up! Please.” I was desperately trying to get him to wake up. “This isn’t happening!” I yelled. “Please six, please!” I continued to shake him but he didn’t respond. Six was gone. I held his body close to me, still desperately trying to wake him up.

“No no no no- This can't be happening!!” I yelled as I held Six. Tears were streaming down my face and I kept shaking him, trying to wake him up. My hand reached up to rip off my own gas mask. I didn’t want it to be true but Six wasn’t getting up, he was gone. “Six please wake up! Please!!” I yelled at the top of my lungs. “This can’t be real!!” I kept saying it over and over again. I was in absolute shock. Six and I had been through so much together but we never thought it would end like this. He had family back home, and people to go back to... It couldn't end like this. My hand slowly reached over to the radio. "N-Nic... Six is gone." Silence. I could feel the tears streaming down my face as I held Six’s body in my arms. I couldn’t believe it. Six was gone. My best friend, a brother to me, was gone. I looked around desperately, hoping that there was something that could be done. But there was nothing. Six was dead. I still couldn’t process it, I just kept staring at Six’s lifeless body in my arms. This couldn’t be my reality. I slowly moved my hand to gently close his eyes. pulling his mask back up to hide his face like he always had it. Placing him down gently. I took some of his ammo and his dog tags as I reloaded my gun. I needed to find Nic and get out of here or the same thing will happen to us.

I stood up to put Six's dog stages into my pocket to keep it safe. Then I heard something moving in the grass. I pointed my rifle towards the direction I heard the noise coming from. “Who’s there?” I yelled out as I moved closer to the movement. A humanoid creature that had followed us throughout the building was there in my sights. I pulled the trigger and sent 5 rounds through its face, tearing it to shreds. I stood up again to look around for Nic. I had to get to him before the monsters could kill me as well. I looked around for anything that could lead me tod or bodies. A trail of blood goes off into the distance. I followed it, my gun ready for anything else that may follow the same trail. I moved behind cover as I followed it, hoping that Nic, or anyone else for that matter was still alive. I cautiously approached the blood trail, my gun pointed at the entryway in case of anything being there. When I looked inside, I saw Nic lying unconscious on the ground. His legs and arms were covered in bite marks from the humanoid creatures. I grabbed Nic and pulled him outside of the destroyed building entrance. “Nic! Wake up! Can you hear me?” I yelled. He woke up slowly and turned to me. “Where…. Where’s Six?” he asked, looking around. “I’m sorry Nic, he’s… he’s gone, but we’re gonna get out of here.” I looked into Nic’s eyes, knowing that he didn’t have much time before he became like Six. “Come on, we need you to stay lucid.” I carried him over my shoulder as I radioed for evacuation. I was determined to leave here with my friend still in one piece. "Those... this got him?" I shook my head. "The gass... He started coughing then he..."  I knew it wouldn’t be long until Nic would be gone too. I had maybe a couple minutes at best. We had to make a break for it, NOW. “Nic you aren’t gonna be in one piece for much longer, we need to leave. now!!!” I was desperate for Nic to understand and follow. Nic reached up to take his gas mask off. "Mouse, I'm not gonna make it..." 

I didn’t want to hear that! But I had to be realistic - I’d seen what these gas did to Six. “Damnit Nic don’t talk like that, we’re gonna get you out of here, I promised Six I wouldn’t leave you here alone so we’re gonna get you back home and get your arm fixed, do you understand?”  With all the adrenaline I felt I could barely hide my frustration. “The gas mask don't work- so we need to keep moving, we’re almost at the exfil zone.” We had little choice but to take the risk, knowing that every second wasted increased Nic’s chances of becoming Six. I rushed down the path towards the exfill, carrying Nic over my shoulder and praying that he wouldn’t turn. There was a faint hope that a medical team at Base camp would be able to save him, but I didn’t dare to think he’d make it long enough. "Were almost there- hold on Nic!" "Graahh..." I sound came out of Nic as his head hung low. I glanced over at him worriedly. "Nic--" I said before I saw that his eyes were completely glaze over. “Nic!!” I screamed. “Nic you’ve got to fight this!! Don’t do it!! Fight it Nic!!! Don’t you die on me Nic!!!” I couldn’t contain myself as tears fell down my face. I couldn’t understand how everything could go so wrong. But no matter how much I tried to shake Nic back to consciousness it was futile. I continued on, fighting back my tears, towards the exfill zone, knowing my time was running out. “Nic!!” I yelled again. “Nic this can’t be real!” I kept repeating it as tears ran down my face. I still hoped that he was in there deep down and somewhere he could hear me. “Just hold on Nic!!” I said as I continued forward. I had to get to the exfill zone as soon as possible. But it felt like we were never going to make it. Nic’s condition only seemed to get worse. "I'm.. Not gonna make it Mouse..." "N-no you are-" "Kid- listen to me!" 

"We'er almost to the exfill, I could see the building up in the distance- We can make it I promise!!” I continued shouting as tears fell into Nic’s face. He just looked at me with dull eyes. "Mouse, my wife had no one but me... I-I need you to promise me that you be willing to help her if she needs it-" "She won't need my help! She'll have you!" "N-no..." He gasped for air. "S-she won't.." I looked behind me, I could see the humanoid creature approaching. “Nic, we need to go! Come on!!” Nic collapsed onto the ground, not fighting anymore, not responding to anything. I dragged his body up and rushed forward to the building in the distance. I was so close to the exfill. The exfill zone was in sight, I could make the call to come pick the two of us up. But Nic was lifeless and I didn’t want to leave him there like that. I tried adjusting my rifle on my back so I could pick him up again when he started to move. "Nic?!" "Rrraw!!" Nic body moved as it tried to bite me, he had become like one of the humanoid creatures that were after me and Six. I yelled again “Nic!!” And backed away slowly from him. My eyes were filled with tears. “Nic, please” Nic’s face lunged at me. I fired my gun 5 times into his torso. “I’m sorry Nic” I kept yelling as tears ran down my face. “I’m so sorry...“ I lowered my gin as I took a feI thought we could make it together, I thought I would be able to take you home, and get your arm fixed, and that you would be able to see your wife again." I was so close to getting us both out of here. I thought I could do this, I thought for sure I could make it. I thought for sure Nic would see his wife again. Nic's face started to glaze over as tears rolled down my cheeks. I stepped back, shaking, unable to deal with this anymore. I dropped my rifle, knowing what I had to do.

I'm sorry Nic.

-- 🖤🔪-- I couldn’t believe I was gonna lose my last teammate. There was nothing I could do to save him.  Nothing. As I watched Nic pass on I felt nothing but regret. We didn’t get out, I failed. I closed my eyes and took a second to breathe. It was all over, we failed. How could I ever face them after this?? I didn’t know, I didn’t have a choice. I’m lucky I even made it out of there alive. I've been in a quarantine room since I got back. Apparently, I was the only Survivor. They had people go back and retrieve my gas mask to see if my gas mask was functional, but apparently, it was tampered with as well. So no one knows why I wasn't infected. Apparently when they went back to get my gas mask. They were going to get the bodies as well so they could bury them. But then the bodies were all gone. It was like someone else came in and took them away before we could retrieve them. I held on to Six and Nic's dog tags as tight as I could. I didn't let anyone take them from me. The beeping of the heart monitor attached to me kept going off. And the fan above me keeps making noise. It was almost nerve-wracking being in that room alone but I assume became adjusted to it. Finally, someone knocked on the door and entered. I looked up to see that it was one of the doctors. An older man with a clipboard in hand. Before they were wearing a hazmat suit with everyone being unsure if I was contaminated or not. But seeing as they were just wearing normal clothing now I assumed I probably wasn't? "Oh good, your awake." the doctor said as he sat down and opened his clipboard. "I see that the quarantine protocol lasted a lot longer then expected... so the question is; Do you feel normal? No weird urges to eat people?" He asked jokingly. "But seriously, you feel fine?" He continued looking at the clipboard. "I... Feel fine sir, I haven't felt off at all... Was I affected by the gas? If you're not wearing a hazmat suit then... I'm ok?" I asked. The doctor looked surprised. "You actually haven't noticed anything?" He got up to look towards the window. "It's been almost a three since you were put in quarantine." He said. The doctor continued to walk around, reading through his clipboard. Suddenly he stopped in his tracks and stared at me. "Wait..." He said, holding his clipboard in shock. "Are you serious? You haven't had any urges to eat people? No weird behavior patterns?" He asked. "No, I don't feel any different?" I responded. "You haven't even felt hungry?" He asked. "I've felt hungry for a pizza..." I said as my eyes watched him. He laughed and responded "You know, you're not the first person to have cravings for pizza. In fact, most of us doctors here have the same desire right now. The quarantine team has their hands full so we are eating MREs instead of a nice hot pizza." I glanced down at the floor then back up to him. "Sir.... What happened to me? This gas in the town didn't affect me? But it affected my teammates?" The doctor looked stunned. "That... is not possible." He said. "From what the reports claimed before the town went radio silent and before we found you. This gas infected people and turned them into a monster. How in the world did you manage to escape the gas AND not be affected?!" He asked. I was just as confused as him. "I thought if you weren't wearing a gas mask that you'd be infected, right?" I asked. The doctor nodded. "And you weren't wearing your gas mask. You were in the gas." "The gas mask where tempered with sir." I said I watched him move back and forth. The doctor stood up, staring at me. "If you don't have any symptoms then..." "Then... What sir?" "Then perhaps the gas only works on those who have a specific gene Or blood type... we have another possible explanation but we didn't know if it was true. But I think you've just proved it true. We think that the gas only works if you have a specific gene or blood type. And since you don't have that, you just walk away fine." I was stunned, was that possible? Does that mean I was safe then? 

"So, if you don't have that gene, you're immune?" I asked. The doctor nodded. "But- Six was type O. same as me. and the gas killed him quickly?" "There may be other factors that are involved in this gene as well, but we don't know anything for certain yet." He said. "So.... I'm immune?" I asked. "From what it looks like. Do you feel different at all?" The doctor asked me. "No, I feel completely normal. No weird side effects or anything." I responded. "That doesn't make sense. How can you be completely normal and immune?" He asked me. "I'm as confused as you sir." I responded. 'Could I actually enjoy life again?' I thought to myself. "What... do I do now sir?" "You'll have someone come by to take you and do a few tests just to be safe but, as far as I'm concerned; you're free to go." The doctor responded. "Wait- What?!" I shouted excitedly. "You mean you're gonna' let me out of here?!" "Yep." he responded. "If there's nothing wrong with you then... why should you be stuck in a room where there's nothing to do?" I smiled and said "Thank you Sir. Thank you thank you thank you." "It's no problem." He responded as he walked out of the room.

-- 🖤🔪--

I stared down at the dog tags as I heard the rain hitting in the window harder.I was brought back to reality when a giant flashlight and the sound of thunder could be heard echoing throughout the room. I quickly put the dog tags down and grabbed the fresh change of clothes for the captain.

"Sorry to keep you waiting sir!"

I said as I quickly brought him a fresh change of clothing.

"Thank you, Mouse."

Wesker said as he took the clothing from my hands.

"Y-you can change in the bathroom sir."

I mumbled as I stepped aside so Wesker could walk past me. He nodded as I took one last glance at the wet shirt sticking to him. 

I blushed nervously as he stopped just in front of the bathroom door. Wesker chuckles softly. "I promise I’ll close the door as I change so you don’t have to worry about being embarrassed." He said as he opened the bathroom door. 

"I'll only be a moment or a couple of minutes so I can change out of my soaking wet clothes. As well as drying myself off." I blushed as I nodded my head as he entered the bathroom.

Wesker entered the bathroom and started to change into the clothes. He dried himself using the bathroom towel to get rid of all the excess water on him and he then finally stepped out of the bathroom wearing his fresh black clothes. He put his black sunglasses back on, but his hair was still wet and dripping a little bit as he turned the handle of the bathroom door he looked over at me.

Wesker looked at Mouse "You don't happen to have a hair dryer in your apartment do you Mouse?" I nervously smiled as I nodded my head. "Yeah, but it broke a few days ago... Sorry sir."

Wesker waved his hand. "It's fine Mouse. I'll let it air dry." He said as he moved the few stubborn bangs back in place. "Sorry sir..."

He shook his head "It's fine Mouse. I understand." After he was done moving his bangs back into place he looked around for the second time. He turned to face me as he took his sunglasses off. 

"You know. I have been wondering. Why was the nickname Mouse given to you? Is there a story about how you got the nickname?" He glanced down at me as he sat down on the couch. "It's what my old teammates would call me. I was the shortest in the group and could sneak into places easily, hence the nickname Mouse." 

Wesker nodded his head "Ah that makes sense. Very creative and your old teammates huh" Wesker took his time to think about his next question. He decided to change the topic to her old teammates. He wanted to know more about them. Even though from the Umbrella report, he knew what happened to them.

"So who were these teammates who came up with the nickname Mouse for you? If you don't mind my asking."

I took my jacket off as I went to hang it out for another chair like Wesker had done. "I was assigned to a team tasked with dealing with the situation that happened overseas. There were 7 of us." I said before I let out a yawn. I grabbed some pillows and blankets for Wesker to use. "Would you like to use my b-bed  or the couch?" 

"The couch is fine, I don't think you're ready for a man in your own bed yet Mouse."

Wesker said with a slight smirk. I could feel my face turn bright red as he took the items from my hands as he stands up.

"Was... Was that a joke sir?'

He hummed as he placed the pillow and blankets down on the couch. Glancing around before walking over to the kitchen/dining room to turn off the living room lights.

"I... Don't believe I ever heard you try to tell a joke before sir..."

"You still haven't Mouse."

He said before turning the lights off. Wesker smirked at me before he sat down on the couch with the blanket and pillows "I guess that makes sense mouse. You have to work with Redfield after all. He's more than capable of doing those things." He then paused for a moment as he put the blanket on himself to keep warm "The couch should be fine for now. But thanks for asking Mouse" As he laid back on the couch the storm outside became even louder "I must say I wasn't expecting it to be raining this hard tonight. It's gonna be a long and cold night tonight Mouse." I let out a nervous chuckle. "I'll go turn up the heat for you sir-" I started as I turned away to start walking over to turn up the heat. "I am fine Mouse. I don't need the heat turned up." Wesker said. "The noise of the storm and rain should be a nice way to help you relax while you fall asleep." He added on with a chuckle. He put his sunglasses back on as he turned his head away from me. "It's getting late. Both of us should be going to bed now." Wesker said. I nod before I turned away. "Right, good night sir." I said before I made my way back to my room and closed the door. "Goodnight Mouse" and with that Wesker laid down on the couch and closed his eyes he thought about what Mouse said about her old teammates. He thought about trying to ask her questions about the team and what happened to them but he decided against it. After a few seconds of deep thought, he fell asleep a few minutes later.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 𝘖𝘴 𝘪𝘶𝘴𝘵𝘪 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘳 𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘮, 𝘌𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘶𝘢 𝘦𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘭𝘰𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘵𝘶𝘳 𝘪𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘪𝘶𝘮.

𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘷𝘪𝘳 𝘲𝘶𝘪 𝘴𝘶𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘮, 𝘘𝘶𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘢𝘮 𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘴 𝘧𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘵 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘪𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘮 𝘷𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘦.

𝘒𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘦, 𝘧𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘣𝘰𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘴 𝘒𝘺𝘳𝘪𝘦, 𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘦, 𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯

#albert wesker #yellow wrote #albert wesker x reader #wesker x reader #resident evil x you #wesker x you #reader insert #resident evil #wesker #residentevil1 #S.T.A.R.S #S.T.A.R.S Wesker #S.T.A.R.S Wesker x reader #S.T.A.R.S Wesker x you #-Hidden Immunity #chapter nine

[falloutcast]

Under the London Eye - Chapter Nine (Once Bitten, and Twice Shy)

“He knew my dad. Fuck, fuck-” he starts pacing, pulling at his sweater, “That’s- he thought I was someone else that one morning too.” “He didn’t talk to you about the tape?” Zoeya asks, eyes widening when Lalna’s head turns, locked on to her. “What tape?”

#chapter nine #character: lalna #character: nano #character: zoeya

[pendingfeels]

The Mandalorian—

2.01 CHAPTER 9: THE MARSHAL

#edit #edits #the mandalorian #pedro pascal #din grogu #grogu #grogu djarin #baby grogu #chapter nine

[aurora-by-jacqui-natla]

9. THE EGYPTIAN COVEN

THE NEXT DAY WAS A BIT BRIGHTER THAN IT WAS WHEN WE ARRIVED. I got to know the Denali Coven while we waited for more vampires to come.

The leader, Tanya, was born in ancient Slovakia. She was the first of Sasha's adoptive daughters. She was also Sasha's biological great-niece, and when Sasha yearned for companionship, she chose Tanya to join her. Within her first century as a vampire, Sasha added two more vampires to their family, Kate and Irina. They have been close as a family since then.

Kate, or Katrina, was an attendant—basically a bodyguard—to a highborn female of a warlike Slavic tribe. She was well-trained in her tribe's martial arts and was very protective of her mistress. Kate was guarding her on a caravan when Sasha attacked, along with her daughter Tanya. Sasha was so impressed by Kate's courage and determination to defend the caravan and the physical resemblance she had to Tanya that she changed her into a vampire. Kate quickly became loyal to Sasha and Tanya. Her defensive power began to develop within a decade.

Irina was the third vampire added to the coven. As a human, she was a pretty peasant girl living in a small farm community. She physically resembled Kate and Tanya, and Sasha decided to change her with the idea of adding a new sister to her 'daughters'. Irina, Tanya, and Kate loved their mother as much as she loved them.

Then, it all changed when Sasha's crime of creating an immortal child was revealed. She did not understand the reason behind Sasha's actions, but once the Volturi tested Tanya and her sisters' innocence and they were spared execution, she did understand why her mother had kept it secret from them. Their mother's death left the sisters traumatized, and as a result, they were purists of vampire laws.

Eleazar and Carmen were the last to join the Denali Coven.

Eleazar was originally from Spain, and as such is fluent in Spanish. He was born sometime during the 1700s, but I didn't know his exact date and birth year. The identity of his creator and the date he was changed remained a mystery to me.

Like Dad, he was given a place within the Volturi guard for his ability — like Joseph— to sense the special talents of others. His job was to detect if any threatening coven had any members with extra gifts and then pass that knowledge on to Aro. He would also be sent around the world to look for any human or vampire with useful talents to add to the coven. A gentle person by nature, he wasn't entirely happy with their methods, but he felt he was serving the greater good by working with those who would uphold the law.

He eventually met Carmen and instantly became her mate. They tried to balance his love life and his duties by living with Carmen while continuing to work for the Volturi, but because Carmen was troubled by the violence of his everyday life, Eleazar eventually asked for Aro's permission to leave the coven. Aro didn't like the idea but gave Eleazar his blessing, believing that he would willingly return to the guard if Aro ever needed him to (and he felt no need to hold on to his gift).

Eleazar and Carmen travelled nomadically for a while, looking for a more compassionate lifestyle. They stumbled across the Denali coven and were awed by their 'vegetarianism'. Tanya invited Eleazar and Carmen to stay with them and try out the lifestyle. They enjoyed each other's company so much that they made the situation permanent.

I couldn't imagine what they were going through with Irina. Having their coven member tell the Volturi of a crime that was never committed must have been conflicting for them. I don't know if their relationship will ever be the same.

I was out hunting in the woods with Jacob and Renesmee. Edward and Bella told me that she likes to hunt with Jacob. I don't know if Renesmee knew of Jacob imprinting on her. But she didn't seem to care. Jacob was in his wolf form and Renesmee was on top of him. I spotted an elk, caught it and killed it. She drank the blood from it.

"Jake, can we get chocolate?" She asked in her sweet voice.

Wolf Jacob replied with a nod.

"I wish I could have chocolate," I said, my tongue swirling around my teeth.

I couldn't eat food ever since I became a vampire. That did explain why the Cullens didn't eat much in school.

"What do you think it tastes like?" I asked her.

"Um... Chocolatey!" She squealed and I laughed; I was sure the wolf Jacob smiled a bit.

Then, I saw Bella running through the woods, her long brown hair waving. Renesmee jumped off Jacob and ran to her.

"Momma!" Renesmee's arms opened and Bella picked her up.

She hugged her mother tightly as Bella held her. Maybe that is how my mother would have hugged me. Bella looked over at Jacob and me.

"Another coven arrived," Bella declared.

Wolf Jacob stared at her with a stern look.

"They haven't hunted the area, Jake. Don't worry."

"The area?" I asked.

"The Quiletes and the Cullen have a peace treaty," she explained.

"How did that happen?"

"It's a long story. I'll show the Egyptian coven, my daughter."

The Egyptian coven? They sounded interesting.

I followed Bella and Renesmee to the Cullen residence. There I saw Edward, the Denali Coven, my family (except for Mum and Dad — probably hunting no doubt) and another group of vampires waiting outside of the house. Jacob returned to his human form and was not naked for once. I stood beside Bella who stood beside her husband.

I saw four beings looking at us: two men and two women. One man was a young boyish-looking vampire with midnight hair, olive pallor to his pale skin, and an oddly cheerful look. He stood at five foot seven inches tall and had crimson red eyes. He looked about the same age as Ayla. The girl beside him had olive-tone skin and her hair was heavy, straight and midnight-coloured; her eyes were also crimson red. She was a little bit shorter than the boyish vampire but seemed to be a tiny bit older than him.

Then, I saw a man standing behind them, towering over them slightly like a protective father. He had black hair and a slight olive pallor to his pale skin. He looked at us with his red eyes. Beside him, there was a beautiful woman. She had long, curly black hair and an olive tone to her pale skin, and was shorter than the three vampires.

"Is this the child?" The boyish vampire asked.

"Yes," Bella replied and he and the girl walked towards them.

Bella put Renesmee down and the child sauntered to them. They looked down at her and the boy knelt on the ground to her level.

"Hi, what's your name?" He asked her.

"Renesmee," she replied and they shook hands.

"I'm Benjamin," the boyish vampire introduced himself and his head turned to the girl. "And this is Tia."

Then, Renesmee placed her hand on his cheek and showed him her memory. Her birth. Her origin. She freed her hand from his cheek and Benjamin grabbed her hand and clamped her hand in his own hands. Then, his hands opened and dark brown earthly dust emerged from her hand and Benjamin swirled it around with his right hand. My mouth gapped open and my gold eyes widened. The earthly dust, spirling, flew from her small hand.

"Benjamin can influence the elements," I heard Edward explaining.

"I hope Violet's not getting jealous," Joseph said, chuckling.

"I'm not," I replied, my voice pitched a little bit higher. "I mean, I can turn invisible and I can do this—."

I shot my hand at a little tree stump and a purple blast flew out and hit it. Then, a purple flame emerged on the tree stump. I stared at the flame, puzzled by it. That never happened. Then, Benjamin's hands aimed at the nearest lake and the water rose and zoomed to the flame. The water landed on the flame and the mist replaced the flame. I turned around to see the vampires — and Jacob — looking at me with amazement and Renesmee laughing.

"Since when can you do that?" Bella asked.

"It's a long and complicated story," I said. "It was after the wedding and I found out that Dina and Ayla are werewolves—."

"Children of the Moon," Edward jumped in.

"They're still here?" The tall olive vampire asked, a hint of surprise in his tone.

"What do you mean, still here?" I asked him.

"The last time I've heard, the Volturi exterminated all of them."

"Well," I shrugged my shoulders. "Not them."

"And she nearly brought a building down from that blast," I heard Eleazar adding to the conversation. "It's a rare thing to have."

"That is?"

"A single vampire with multiple gifts."

"Who created you?" Tia enquired, slowly approaching Benjamin.

"A vampire named Victoria," I answered bitterly. "As a part of a revenging army. And then I joined this coven."

I pointed to my family. The Egyptian coven turned their heads and saw them. Then, the olive male's face dropped; I saw Mum and Dad coming back.

"How was the hunt?" Simon was the first to ask.

"Very well," Mum replied. "We've got two deers each."

Then, Dad turned his gaze to the olive male. His gold orbs met the red ones and his lips pursed shut. The male looked back at Dad and his red eyes sternly glared at him.

"Amun," Dad greeted him and looked at the beautiful woman. "Kebi."

The woman, Kebi, bowed her head.

"Gabriel," the male, Amun, spoke.

So they knew each other? Are they good friends or didn't they like each other? Either way, they acknowledged each other.

"I see Aro didn't need you anymore," Amun said with a little smile on his face.

"I left," Dad let out a small growl.

"Everyone knows you can't leave the Volturi easily. They would throw them away or dispose of them."

There was silence between them. What were they saying? What did Amun mean that we can't leave them easily? Did Dad leave because of the disgusting idea of taking a human life just to live? What happened with Dad and the Volturi?

Before I could ask, a loud sound of screeching invaded the woods.

Continue to 10. THE AMAZON COVEN

#twilight #twilight saga #fanfiction #fanfic #vampires vs werewolves #werewolf #nightfall #shapeshifter #vampire #vampires #egyptian coven #benjamin twilight #reading fanfiction #chapter nine #book two #breaking dawn #bella cullen #jacob black #sequel #saga #edward cullen #aro volturi #aurora #children of the moon #vamily #denali #original character #renesmee cullen #past life #elements

[night-market-if]

Chapter Nine Early Release

Welcome to Chapter Nine, early release! Public release with be December 9th. Please have faith that everything will be okay this chapter. I mean, how could it not? There is a Belladonna NSFW scene. Things have got to be fine!

Head on over to my Patreon for the access codes. I am very excited to hear what you all think.

🪷✨🪷✨ If you want to support me 🪷 ✨🪷✨

        Demo 🌿 Patreon 🌿 Ko-fi

#the night market #interactive fiction #chapter nine #if wip #early release #writing

[redux-iterum]

Burning Hearts: Chapter Nine

(AO3 counterpart here.)

“So you’re certain she’s your sister?”

Fireheart glanced up at the sky with a chatter of his teeth. No rain yet, but the air sank heavily with moisture and clouds were visible over ThunderClan’s forest, stampeding closer and closer, footsteps of thunder a faint threat. Maybe a couple kittypets would be out right now for the last chance to appreciate the dry but soft ground. Maybe one of them was Rosy.

“Fairly certain.” Fireheart lowered his eyes a bit to Greystripe now, tail twitching nervously. “She and I do look a little similar, and she remembers so much of me. I don't think she’s a liar.”

“But she could be mistaken,” Greystripe countered. Fireheart’s face must have fallen, because he added quickly, “I mean, that’s just a slim chance. If I can see her for myself, I’ll tell you what I think.”

Fireheart hummed, jaw clenched out of nerves. “Ravenwing’s going to be upset that I haven’t even told him yet.”

“Oh, no, it’ll be fine,” Greystripe said, just as hasty. “He hasn’t wanted to hear about all of the Houses stuff from me, anyway. You can tell him tonight, after we’re home. I’ll act surprised and offended that you didn’t say anything.”

Fireheart’s whiskers twitched wryly. “He’ll see right through that.”

Greystripe sighed. “Yeah, probably. I’ll try anyway.”

Conversation paused as they crossed the threshold of grass and entered the gravel streets of the Houses. Greystripe's fur flattened a little and his eyes turned wary, but Fireheart strode with unconscious confidence, now taking the lead. He turned his head this way and that, hope and anxiety knotting together in his chest as they turned a corner.

“She should be here,” he murmured, more to himself than to Greystripe. “I told her it was every other day—”

“Rusty!”

Both warriors stopped and looked to their right as the ruddy tortoiseshell scrambled over her fence and dove down to the ground, stumbling on her landing. She hardly let it slow her down, just barely restrained herself from running up to Fireheart, purring with wide eyes.

“Hi again!” she half-shouted, stopping to rub her cheek on Fireheart’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I missed you the other day, I was kept inside. I tried to tell my owner to let me out, but…”

Her eyes darted up to Greystripe—a farther height between them than even Fireheart—and her rear left foot stepped backwards, her tail lowering to the ground.

“Oh, this is my friend I told you about—Greystripe, remember?” Fireheart tried to sound reassuring as he nodded to his Clanmate. “Greystripe, this is Rosy. My sister.”

Greystripe's wariness turned to amusement as his eyes scanned the kittypet. “Yep, I can see the resemblance. Nice to meet you.” He gave Fireheart a jokingly unimpressed look. “Didn’t think you were still going by your kittypet name, bud.”

Fireheart winced a bit. “Just with her.”

Rosy relaxed a little and huffed. “I keep forgetting it, I’m sorry. You’re Fireheart now. Hello, Greystripe. It’s nice to meet you.”

“Definitely a resemblance,” Greystripe said. “You don’t happen to hunt with us, do you?”

Rosy balked. “Oh, no, definitely not! I could never, it’s too hard and scary! R–Fireheart is really good at it, though. Have you seen him? Oh, well, of course you have, you live with him…“

Again, she trailed off, frowning as she sniffed the air, then turning sharply and backing up with a cry of surprise. Too late, Fireheart caught the scent she did, and with great fear turned as Greystripe did.

“Well,” Lionface said, coming around the corner with deliberate gravity, “this explains a few things.”

Fireheart’s entire body was frozen, but he managed to mutter to Rosy, “It’s– it’s okay, this is another Clanmate. He won’t hurt you.”

“Are you sure about that?” Lionface asked slowly. He stood a body-length away, but he still managed to loom over the pair of toms.

Fireheart stared into his eyes with more of a glare than he expected of himself. “Very sure.”

Lionface kept eye contact for a moment before his gaze flicked over to his old apprentice. “You’re right. How about you, Greystripe?”

Greystripe was much less dignified, almost huddling on the spot. “Look, Lionface, we– it– I was– there’s a good—”

“I’ve been wondering where you two have been going during the night.” Lionface stretched out his words just a little, voice level and unfavorably conversational. “Don’t think Bluestar and I didn’t notice your little on-and-off pattern of disappearing.” He narrowed his eyes. “Now, where is all this prey you’re hunting going?”

Greystripe's mouth flapped uselessly. Fireheart took in a breath and steadied himself. “To RiverClan. We’ve been bringing them food to help them survive the river’s poisoning.”

Lionface’s green eyes flashed with anger, but he did nothing.

Fireheart was undeterred. “We never gave anything from the forest, I can promise you. That’s ThunderClan’s prey. But this prey doesn’t belong to anyone, does it? And ThunderClan isn’t even close to starving. So we can afford to share these catches.” He stood as tall as he could, softening his voice to something kinder. “I know you’re not fond of them, but they’ve got kittens and queens and elders to feed, and no experience hunting on land. If we’re breaking a rule of some kind, then fine.”

During his speech, Lionface’s eyes gradually cooled down and his claws retracted. He scanned Fireheart, then Greystripe, and then Rosy, who flinched when he looked at her.

“This is your sister, I heard?” he said calmly. “Has she been getting any of this prey?”

“No!” Greystripe burst out, frantic. “She just walks with Fireheart sometimes! The– the prey goes straight to RiverClan! And then we hunt for ThunderClan too, if we have time!”

“‘If we have time’.” Lionface’s ears slid back and his tail tapped the ground—a warning. “Then you’ve prioritized another Clan’s bellies before your own.”

“We prioritized kittens and elders,” Fireheart said, trying to catch Lionface’s eyes again. “Who cares what Clan they’re from?”

To his surprise, Lionface’s whiskers twitched after a moment. He gave Fireheart an almost humorous look. “You’d think, after all this time, I’d be used to your soft heart by now. I expect you’ll take any punishment and then keep doing this?”

Fireheart nodded. Lionface huffed a short, wry chuff.

“Don’t get him in trouble,” Greystripe blurted. “This was my idea. He just went along with it. I should be punished, not him.”

Lionface’s eyes went back to his apprentice, a shade softer than they were before. “Was this kittypet visiting also your idea?”

A small, almost-missable clearing of the throat, and the toms all turned to Rosy. Her tail was puffed up and low to the ground, but she tried valiantly to stand as tall as her brother.

“It was my idea, Mr. Lionface, sir,” she said in a small, trembling voice. “I saw him here and I wanted to talk with my brother, because I hadn’t seen him in so long. I know you’re not supposed to talk to us, but– but it’s my brother, you know? And– and I can promise too, I’ve only ever helped carry Rus– Fireheart’s catches over to the grass. I haven’t eaten any of it. I have my own food.” She struggled to hold her upright posture, legs as shaky as her voice. “Please don’t get them in trouble, sir. They didn’t do anything wrong.”

Fireheart was astonished at the protective blazing heat in his chest as he watched Lionface silently size up his sister. If he unsheathes even one claw at her…

To his relief, Lionface nodded to her and lowered his voice as he responded. “Please excuse us. We’ll be going home now. You ought to get back to your house before the rain comes.”

Rosy looked at Fireheart fearfully.

“I’ll be alright,” he said gently. “Just go home.”

She hesitated, then backed up a few steps, eyes still on Fireheart, before turning around and running for her yard, scrambling over the fence much quicker than she usually managed. Lionface swiped his tail and started back around the corner. Greystripe and Fireheart followed him silently.

No one spoke until they were back in the woods, and it was Lionface who broke the silence. “Tell me, how is RiverClan reacting to all of these donations?”

“They’re immensely grateful,” Fireheart said. “They called us their saviors, and they’re very friendly with us.”

Lionface hummed and kept walking, and silence fell once more.

It was a long, tense walk back to home, but Lionface didn’t bring them back inside camp. He instead led them to Bluestar’s den, situated just outside. When they entered, Bluestar was seated at the back of it, not looking remotely surprised as the guilty young warriors slunk into her den.

She looked to Lionface. “Was it what we were expecting?”

“Nearly,” he replied. “They’ve been going to the Houses, but it’s RiverClan they’re feeding.”

Bluestar was just as calm as Lionface, in the exact same dangerous way. “Explain yourselves.”

Fireheart and Greystripe clumsily took turns telling their story, starting from Silverstream saving Greystripe’s life up to tonight, where Lionface caught them. No amount of feathering could make it all sound genius, but Fireheart wasn’t a liar and Greystripe was afraid to fib in front of his mentor.

When they finished, Bluestar shut her eyes and took in a contemplative breath. Slowly, she opened her eyes again and spoke—still calm, but without that dark undercurrent.

“So you’ve put RiverClan in our debt,” she said.

Greystripe and Fireheart stared at her. They had no response prepared.

Lionface nodded. “I was thinking along the same path. This could be a very big advantage for us.”

“So it could.” Bluestar stood up. “You two can relax. You’re not in trouble. You’ve technically stayed within the code, and you’ve done RiverClan a great favor they won’t be able to ignore by the next Gathering.” She looked between them. “Would you be willing to continue this?”

A lifeline; they both nodded with wary enthusiasm.

“Then come with me. We’re having a Clan meeting.”

Without another word, Bluestar walked past them, Lionface close after her. The younger warriors gave each other a concerned look before trotting out as well.

Not all of the Clan was present in camp, but at a quick glance, only a few were missing. Presumably, a border patrol was out. No one even looked their way until Bluestar jumped up onto the meeting stump and gestured for Fireheart and Greystripe to stand together to the side. Curious murmurs and mildly interested questions fluttered about as those of the Clan who were present converged around the stump, eyeing Fireheart and Greystripe. Ravenwing sat down about as close to them as he could without leaving the main crowd.

“As you all know, RiverClan is currently struggling with a poisoned river,” Bluestar began. “They’re unable to hunt in the water, and I’ve had it reported to me that they’re visibly starving. Two of our warriors have acquaintances in RiverClan—” she gestured with her tail to the young toms beside and below her “—and understand the situation better than I have until tonight. Kittens, queens and elders alike are going hungry, and those that try to even drink their river-water become very ill. As we can expect, they’re terrible hunters on land, leaving them less and less prey every night.”

No one said anything. Heads tilted and eyes squinted in confusion as to where this was going.

“The code will not allow one Clan to die out when they could have been saved,” Bluestar went on. “And we have a very good chance of gaining an advantage in this situation.” 

Lionface spoke now. “I proposed the idea earlier that these two who have a better idea of what’s going on will provide RiverClan with prey as an offer of solidarity and friendship.”

The silence broke with outraged shouts and growls.

“Feed them? Are you kidding?”

“They’re not our problem!”

“We need our prey just as much as they do!”

“We’re not giving them our prey,” Bluestar said coolly. “The Houses have a few squirrels and birds here and there. These two would hunt there and stay far away from our own resources.”

Grumbles and complaints continued. Bluestar’s eyes went to Lionface. The Clan quieted just enough for him to be heard again.

“As some would like to remind me,” he said, glancing at Fireheart, “the code states we ought to help each other where we can, if the need arises. RiverClan knows that, and they certainly won’t forget that we’ve saved their lives out of the goodness of our hearts. The advantages we’ll have in the future can’t be overlooked. A favor saved for a rainy night, if you will.”

With the deputy’s input, the temper settled a bit. Cats muttered with each other, weighing the pros and cons. Fireheart looked between each cat hopefully. While some were still put out, others seemed to be considering. Darkstripe whispered something to Tigerclaw beside him, who was watching the leader and deputy with a stony face, before calling up to them, “And how do we know they’ll actually return the favor?”

“We’ll know when we bring it up at the Gathering, if the need arises,” Bluestar said.

“And I’m sure they’ll be eager to handle this quickly and in private,” Lionface added, “so that WindClan and ShadowClan don’t know they’re in our debt.”

Gradually, the words between Clanmates turned positive—though, to Fireheart’s irritation, all of them were more eager for the chance of a bounty than for helping out a Clan in trouble.

“Then are we in agreement?” Bluestar asked.

Voices tossed out affirmatives.

Bluestar nodded, and turned to Fireheart and Greystripe. “Then you two better get to work. Head to the Houses and only take what you find there. Don’t give them too much every night—three or four pieces will do it. And if you find something particularly fat, bring it home.”

Can’t even be completely selfless, Fireheart grumbled to himself, but he dipped his head, Greystripe following.

The Clan spread out again, all discussing the idea. Ravenwing alone came up to his friends, head turning to make sure they were separated from everyone else before whispering, “How’d you get her to agree to that?!”

“I have no idea,” Greystripe whispered back, eyes bright and tail dancing over his back. “But now we’re approved by the whole Clan! Hey, maybe you could come with us now!”

Ravenwing didn’t flinch in anxiety as Fireheart thought he might. Instead, he cocked his head thoughtfully. “Maybe I can, if Bluestar approves. I mean, not all the time, but once in a while can’t hurt.”

“That’d be awesome,” Fireheart said brightly. “I’d love for you to join us. I’ve actually got someone for you to meet…”

#warrior cats #redux iterum #iterum #chapter #chapter nine #burning hearts #book two #arc one

[kyriat-stories]

The fight was hard, and Alkides, Nashuja's opponent, was no push-over.

Nashuja's supporters held their breath...

... but once again Nashuja turned the game to his advantage - and was announced as winner!

- Hooray for Nashuja Sharruma!!

- A great match, King Ifiklis stated. Many congratulations! Did I see you before? You seem kind of familiar?

- No Sire, this was my first match.

- Sharruma, you say. So you are the son of...?

- Itaja Sharruma Sire. Itaja and Simadhne Sharruma.

- I see. Well it was a pleasure to meeting you, Nashuja Sharruma. I hope to see you again soon. A great match, like I said.

- Thank you Sire!

- Sharruma… it really is something familiar with that name, but I can't recall... Prince Heraklis mumbled.

- I don't think I've heard it? Princess Konchylia said.

- No, it was probably before your time. Maybe a really long time ago. Oh holy Dias! I think I know who he is, he then whispered, flabbergasted with his own discovery.

- Well? Who is that boy, Herakli?

- I'm not sure, but if my theories are correct... I must discuss it with mother first, then you will be next to know, I promise you.

- I'm happy you are so excited dear.

- Excited may not be the right word, shocked might be closer to the truth. I don't see how we could have missed this.

.

Previous | Index | Character overview | Next

#KyriaT #KyriaT-stories #Chapter Nine #ts4 story #sims 4 story #history challenge #ts4 history challenge #Generation 2 #Early civilization sims #Early civ sims #Once Upon A Time #The First Ones #Nashuja #Alkides Karchidonios #Simadhne #Pamesijos #Noor #Eteokardiás #Prince Heraklis #Konchylia Zina #King Ifiklis #simblr

[madwomansapologist]

the way bilbo cared not to make the guards turn against one of them is just~~ i love that little guy soooo much

#reading the hobbit #chapter nine #bilbo #the hobbit #bilbo baggins #j r r tolkien #tolkien

[acatalystrising]

At long last, here is the ninth chapter of Consequences! I took my time with this one, because I haven’t wanted it to end! But this story has been so lovely to write, and to be honest, I may not be done with it…I love these two and their dynamic is so much fun!

But for now, I hope you enjoy the final chapter! (But is it? The world may never know…)

Pairing: Boba Fett x (F)Reader

Rating: Explicit 18+

Trigger warnings: angst, smut (foreplay, piv sex, unprotected *this is fiction*, fingering), and allll the usual fluff

Series synopsis: Backstabbed and betrayed, you knew there was a bounty over your head - but when you’re captured by the infamous Boba Fett, it becomes abundantly clear that your fate is as mysterious as your captor.

Chapter nine: The Found Family of Mos Espa

Perhaps fate, you discovered, wasn’t all so bad.

You would have stayed with Boba in Slave 1’s cabin for the rest of the day if you could call the shots. You were certain he would too, but both of your chirping coms clearly indicated that you had backup sorely in need for an update on the turn of events.

You were still curled in his arms when your comlink went off for the third time, and you groaned, finally picking it up.

“The front gate? Maker, you tryin’ to get me killed?” Ta’na’s voice was thick with worry. “You got sand in your brain or what?”

You smiled apologetically at Boba before answering. “You’ll be fine, I promise. Get over here.”

“You’re paying for my funeral.” Ta’na switched the comlink off with a grumble, and you released a shuddering sigh.

Boba ran his fingers through your hair, the gesture soothing, and you leaned against his armored chest, relishing the familiar feeling of the cool beskar against your skin.

“Friend of yours?” His voice rumbled through you, curious.

“Yeah, Ta’na took me in back when…well…” you looked away, unsure of how to continue. How to communicate how lonely you’d been. “I thought I’d lost you forever. If she hadn’t found me, I don’t know if I’d still…”

Soft leather gloves brushed against your chin, lifting your face to meet his gaze. You melted at the touch, drowning in those amber eyes that carried such depth and love.

“I will ensure she knows my gratitude for keeping you safe.” A brief flash of pain flooded his gaze, one he tried to shake away. “I thought of you, mesh’la. When I was in the pit. I didn’t want to abandon you, so I fought back. But I was delayed…”

“It’s okay. We both did what we had to in order to survive. What matters is that we’re here now.” You swallowed, wishing you could look away, but his fingers were firm enough to hold your focus on him. “Boba…I don’t want to assume. If you’ve moved on, I…”

He let go of your chin, opting to cup your cheek with his hand, fingers gently caressing your face. There was nearly a sternness in his eyes, brows slightly furrowed - but when he spoke, his voice remained soft.

“Stars, I could never do that. I know I promised I’d never hunt you again, all those years ago, but…” he quirked a small smile, scarred brow flicking upward. “I’d have torn the galaxy apart searching for you.”

You couldn’t help but smile, a warmth you’d missed for so long settling in your chest.

“For the record, I was gonna do that too,” you pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I’d never choose anyone else.”

Boba pulled you into another embrace, and his comlink chirped again, which he finally answered.

“You’ve been in there a while, boss. Everything alright?”

You recognized the female voice from earlier, and he rubbed reassuring circles along your back as he spoke.

“There’s been some new developments, Fennec.” He slowly stood, holding out a hand to help you to your feet. “We have a very special guest.”

There was a pause before the response came. “This had better be good.”

Once the line went silent, you couldn’t help but regard him with a raised brow, echoing his earlier statement.

“Friend of yours?”

“I saved her life - she pledged her service to me.” He placed his hands on your shoulders and met your gaze. “Yes, she’s a friend. But you’re the only one for me, mesh’la.”

You nodded, a blush creeping on your cheeks, and he gestured toward the walkway with a flourish of a gloved hand. “Let’s not keep them waiting.”

-

The woman’s gaze was sharp, cutting like knives, and yet you calmly regarded her with a nod as you descended from the ship, Boba at your side.

“Hiding girls in your ship?” A dark brow flicked upward, her gaze locked on you - clearly still determining if you were a threat. “You continue to surprise me, boss.”

Boba chuckled but didn’t take the bait, instead meeting your gaze as you both stopped once your boots hit the sandy floor.

“This is master assassin Fennec Shand. She helped me take this palace.” He looked at Fennec, who regarded him with a raised brow, eyes gleaming curiously. “Fennec - she’s the one I’ve told you about - the bounty who stole my heart. We all have a lot to catch up on.”

He’d talked about you?

You couldn’t stop a smile from slipping to your lips when he placed a hand on your shoulder in a shockingly public display of affection. There was no preamble, no grand declaration of adoration, only a simple truth from a simple man who loved you more than the galaxy itself. You looked to Fennec, who nodded, lips twisting in a wry smile.

“You don’t say? The one that got away, huh?” She crossed her arms and met your gaze, features softening ever so slightly. “I must say, I’m glad you’re here. I was going to lose it if he moped for much longer.”

“You moped?” You glanced at Boba with a smirk, raising a teasing brow, daring to joke with him in a way you alone could. “My big bad bounty hunter moped?”

Fennec snorted, clearly not expecting you to dare tease him in such a manner. She quickly masked her grin with a slight frown, mirth still shining in her eyes as she shook her head. You had a feeling the two of you would get along just fine.

“I didn’t mope,” he crossed his arms almost defensively, but his lips twisted into a grin. “A man can miss the love of his life.”

You looked back to Fennec with a smirk, and she rolled her eyes. “He definitely moped.”

Your comlink beeped, and the two regarded you with varying degrees of curiosity.

“Do we have room for one more?” You shrugged, nearly rolling your eyes when it chirped again. “Probably best if we don’t keep my friend waiting, she’s deadly with a wrench.”

“By all means,” Boba gestured toward the gate with a flick of his gloved hand, slipping his helmet back on. “Any friend of yours is welcome here.”

-

You almost felt bad for Ta’na.

The moment the massive gate lifted and you emerged into the moonlit desert with none other than Boba Fett by your side, her eyes widened, reflexively taking a step back. You recognized the fear that flashed in her fierce eyes, but she didn’t lower her blaster, the weapon trained on Boba.

“It’s okay, ‘Na, you’re all good,” you met her gaze and shook your head, hoping she saw that you clearly weren’t in any danger. “This day’s been full of surprises…I’d like you to meet Boba Fett. Boba, this is Ta’na.”

Her eyes only widened further, and you were glad that Fennec had been willing to wait inside. One bounty hunter at a time was the best course of action. It was ironic really, that you tended to forget most people didn’t have the experience you did.

“Kriff, you weren’t bluffing,” Ta’na crossed her arms and regarded Boba with no small degree of suspicion. “I’d say it’s a pleasure, but I’m sure you get why I have my reservations. If you love her so much, why the hell did you abandon her?”

Damn, Ta’na always came out swinging.

You flinched, shooting Boba an apologetic glance, hoping for the love of whatever gods existed, he wouldn’t take offense. But he merely chuckled, the sound nearly making you melt where you stood, and he removed his helmet, tucking it against his side.

“Then I have you to thank for keeping her safe,” he inclined his head in a gesture of respect. “Why don’t we go inside? It would be a safer place to share this tale.”

Ta’na regarded you both with slightly narrowed eyes before nodding, a sigh slipping through her lips. She begrudgingly tucked her blaster back into its holster.

“All right, but only because I trust her,” she shot you a small smirk despite her apparent unease. “This outta be good.”

-

“So wait, you’re telling me you escaped the sarlacc? Lived with Tuskens? And now you’re our Daimyo?” Ta’na leaned back in her chair, near-empty glass of spotchka in her hand. “That’s kriffing insane. I’ve never known a Daimyo before, or wanted to. And definitely haven’t run around with bounty hunters like a certain someone here.”

The dining hall was massive, but the four of you only occupied the far side of the long table, already several drinks in after the food had been cleared away.

“First time for everything,” Fennec handed her another glass of liquor, shooting you a smirk. “Some of us like to flirt with death.”

“He has pretty eyes,” you turned to Boba who was sitting next to you and met his gaze, and he shook his head with a slight chuckle, taking your hand in his bigger one underneath the table.

“You both are cute, I’ll give you that, but also terrifying,” Ta’na shifted in her seat, locking gazes with you as she took a hearty sip of the drink. “How you managed to seduce the most notorious bounty hunter in the galaxy is beyond me. I didn’t think that was possible given the whole ‘you can’t escape Boba Fett’ mantra we all heard.”

“I don’t know if I’d put it like that…” You felt your cheeks flush, gripping his hand tighter. “Because that’s all true.”

Even then you thought back to those years ago, when you’d been younger and afraid. Destined for a horrible fate…yet rescued by the unlikeliest of people and whisked into a life, a love, you’d never expected.

And somehow, you’d found it again.

“She was relentless. I never had a chance,” Boba’s matter-of-fact tone broke you from your thoughts, and you dared to shoot him a playful glare.

“Oh sure, that’s definitely how that went,” you felt his arm curl around your shoulders, drawing you closer to him, and you learned your head against his beskar-clad shoulder. “I don’t know how I got so lucky.”

Boba’s fingers slipped from your hand and caressed your inner thigh unbeknownst to the others, and you tried your best to keep a straight face. Boba, blast him, hadn’t changed his expression in the slightest, other than a subtle knowing smirk curving at the corner of his lip.

“Well, it’s getting late.” Fennec gave you a knowing look and stood to her feet, jerking her chin at you with a smirk. “I’m assuming you’re staying?”

“If that isn’t too much trouble?” You met Boba’s gaze, wanting to shoot him a mock glare as his hand slowly crept higher, sending chills down your spine.

Your body longed to react to his touch, and it was as if years hadn’t separated you, the way the heat so quickly pooled between your legs. You suddenly wished the two of you were back in Slave 1, blissfully alone, so you didn’t have to endure this torture.

“None at all,” he spoke so smoothly, entirely at ease, even as his thumb brushed over your clothed clit. “Ta’na, you’re welcome anytime.”

Your friend stood as well, gathering her things, and Fennec motioned for her to follow.

“I’ll make sure she gets home,” Fennec locked eyes with you and gave you a wink. “Have fun catching up.”

“You ever need a mechanic, lemme know,” Ta’na shot you a smirk that bode of many future conversations. “Better get home to my girl before she thinks I’m dead. Fett, it was nice meeting you…take good care of her.”

“I intend to,” his tone was slightly darker, but only just so that you might have been the only one to notice.

Well, Fennec probably did, considering that you felt your face burn hotter than the twin suns, earning another smirk from the assassin. Gods, you’d nearly forgotten how impossibly intoxicating he was.

“See ya when I see ya,” Ta’na had the audacity to shoot you a wink as well before following Fennec out of the room. “Guess I know the Daimyo’s girl now, huh. Talk about friends in high places.”

No sooner than the two had stepped out of the room, Boba’s lips were on yours, gentle at first, scooting his chair back so he could pull you into his lap to deepen the kiss.

“This okay?” He caressed your cheek, pulling back so he could meet your gaze. He almost looked worried as he scanned your face for any signs of discomfort. “Don’t wanna push you.”

“Stars, of course it’s okay,” you pressed your forehead against his, straddling him so you were comfortably nestled in his lap. “I’ve missed you, so, so much.”

He nodded, falling silent for a moment, a darkness hovering in his eyes. You held his face in your hands, fingers lightly tracing over the scars on his tan skin.

“You alright?” You pulled back so you could better gauge his expression. “Have I done something wrong?”

“No, of course not…” he sighed, gesturing at the scars on his face with a frustrated huff. “I don’t…look the way you remember. I’ve changed, I think. The sarlacc did quite some damage…I’m still healing.”

“You think I’m going to fuss over some scars? Boba…I love you for you. Not because you look a certain way.” You pressed a kiss to his cheek with a smile. “Besides, I still think you’re devilishly handsome.”

He chuckled, the sound rumbling through you and curling more heat in your core. You shifted your hips in an experimental roll and he grunted, lips parting slightly as you repeated the motion, feeling him hard as durasteel beneath you.

“Some things clearly haven’t changed,” you smirked, grinding your core against him, and he released a deep groan, running a hand through your hair.

The darkness in his eyes faded, replaced with unfiltered, raw love.

“Why don’t we retire to my rooms?” He pressed a kiss to your jawline, then dragging his lips to your pulse point on your neck. “Though, they can be ours if you want.”

“Gods, yes,” you felt him shift to stand, clinging to him as he gathered you in his arms, much like that fateful first time you’d been together. “I’d like that, Boba. A lot.”

He chuckled again, walking down the hall with you held securely against him.

“As you wish.”

-

Five years may have passed, and with it, so many tribulations - but you quickly learned that time hadn’t changed a few things, the foremost being your passion for one another.

You’d barely made it to his rooms before he had your back pressed against the cool wall, his lips swallowing your moans as he buried his fingers within you. You clung to his armor for dear life, peppering his neck and jawline with kisses, tears nearly pricking your eyes at the feeling of his impressive digits easing you open.

“Maker, you’re so good at that,” you gasped, feeling yourself already spiraling toward the precipice of your release, tightening your legs around his back with a moan. “You’re so good.”

“Did you miss this?” His voice was impossibly husky, the brush of his free hand cool against your heated skin. He circled your clit, and you clamped down on him with a shudder. “You’re so kriffing tight. Have you not been with anyone…since?”

“Gods no, I’d never.” You felt your orgasm approaching, breaths coming in ragged pants. “But it wasn’t the same, wasn’t…”

“Easy there, I’m here. Not going anywhere this time,” he pressed another kiss to your lips, so encompassing, it was all you could do to hold on as you felt yourself fluttering around him, so very close… “Gonna make you ready for my cock, okay? Let go mesh’la.”

Your release ripped through you so hard you screamed, and he kissed you hungrily as he worked you through your high. You finally slumped against him, panting for breath, and he chuckled, turning and carrying you further into his room.

“You got another one for me?” He lowered you on a large bed, and you nodded, pulling at his flight suit, and he smirked. “That’s my girl.”

It wasn’t long before you both were stripped naked, a tangle of limbs on his massive bed, skin against skin as you explored his scars, trailing kisses over his body.

“You were beautiful then, you’re beautiful now,” you kissed a particularly furrowed scar on his shoulder and he released a shuddering exhale, shifting so he was leaning over you, holding you safely between his arms.

Stars, he certainly hadn’t lost his strength. If anything, you thought he was broader.

“You’re the one who’s beautiful, ad’ika,” he smirked down at you as he lined himself with your center. “Eyes on me, princess.”

You did your best to keep your eyes locked on his even as he sank into you, the burning quickly shifting to pleasure as he held you close, capturing one of your nipples gently between his teeth as you adjusted to his size. You writhed beneath him, moans nearly chanted like a prayer, as he picked up a steady rhythm.

“You were beautiful the moment I saw you, those years ago. Strong, fierce, brave…I couldn’t let them kill you.” He kissed you again, picking up the pace, spearing you deeper. “Couldn’t let you pay your brother’s price.”

He lowered a hand to your clit, once again bringing you closer to the edge, and you ran your hands along his broad shoulders, kissing his neck, pulling him closer.

“Y-you protected me,” your voice faltered as a shudder ran through you, pleasure arcing up your spine. “Saved me. Loved me.”

“I do love you,” Boba grunted, nearing his own release, striking something devastating within you. “And if you’ll have me, I’ll make you my queen.”

That was right - he was more than a bounty hunter now. He was finding a higher purpose, something that made hope blossom in your chest even as he worked you into oblivion.

Boba Fett had been reborn, in many ways, and you were beyond moved to see him step into the identity of the man you’d always believed he was - the one he could be.

“As long as I’m with you, that’s all that matters,” you arched your back, pressing into him, as he quickened his pace, clearly near his release as well. “Boba, I’m…”

“I’m close too,” he chuckled, voice strained. He pressed another kiss to your neck, dragging his lips to the shell of your ear. “Come for me, little one.”

You didn’t need any further bidding - you clenched around him and shuddered as you came, his name on your lips, pleasure overriding any semblance of thought. The world faded away until it was just you and him, the man you loved, together.

Finally reunited.

And even as you both lay there, basking in the afterglow, it was you who pulled him close, and he let you, expression achingly soft as you wrapped your arms around his chest.

“I’m sorry you had to face so much alone,” you pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “Not just about the sarlacc. Everything. And despite it all…I think your father would be proud. You’ve risen above, were reborn.”

Boba was silent for a moment, but you could feel him thinking, even as his hands slowly caressed you.

“We both were alone. But now, we don’t have to be.” His voice was soft, gentle, even as he shifted and curled his arms around you, holding you close to his chest. “I’ve never known what it truly felt like to have a home. But this…I think this is it.”

You smiled and nodded, kissing his neck and holding him close, a warmth spreading through your heart, bleeding into your soul.

Yes, you thought.

This is home.

-

It was a quiet afternoon in the throne room, save for the occasional visitor, a luxury you rarely got to afford.

Boba sat resolute as always, helmet on, silent and commanding. Gods, you always melted when he did this - a nearly kingly air about him that was intoxicating. Whether he was in the role of bounty hunter or daimyo, he exuded power and calculating quickness, and you were constantly by his side - deadly and respected in your own right.

A trio of the young mods passed by, their laughter infectious - but even then, they still were on the lookout for trouble. You reminded yourself to make sure you gave Drash the black leather top you’d found at the market the other day. They were loyal, youthful and spirited, and you’d welcomed their company. It seemed you and Boba both had a tendency to take in the outcasts…but you wouldn’t have wanted it any other way.

It was ironic, really, that you’d both ended up back on Tatooine. You remembered the first time you’d visited, when you’d been his bounty, and he’d saved you from the Klatooinian. So much had been uncertain…but you’d learned he had hidden depths. And stars, were you glad you took the leap.

His helmet shifted to meet your gaze, elegantly deadly in his beskar, and you blushed, adjusting your position on the throne’s armrest with a smirk.

“Something funny, ad’ika?” His tone was quiet, yet teasing, his helmet tilting slightly to the side as he watched you.

“Oh, just thinking about how dashing you look like this,” you smoothed your dark green shirt, something both tactical and dramatic, dyed to match his armor. “It has been quiet, not that I’m complaining.”

“I’m complaining. I think it’s time for a break, just you and I.” He looked back out over the room, tone shifting to a near growl. “In Slave 1. Even if it’s just a rotation. We need some more…alone time.”

You chuckled, shifting your weight so you were leaning against his armored shoulder. He looked back at you, and even though his face was hidden, you could sense his wry, teasing grin.

“Just like the good ole days, right?” You winked at your reflection in his visor. “I’d like that.”

Before Boba had a chance to respond, Fennec entered the room, moving quickly enough to capture both of your attentions.

“Someone called in to see you,” Fennec slid to her place on the throne’s side, eyebrow arced at you. “Want me to go kill him?”

“Him?” You frowned, glancing at Boba before looking back at Fennec. “Who was it?”

“Some guy named Naris. Looked shifty, I don’t trust him.” Fennec twirled a knife in her fingers, blaster gripped in her other hand. “What do you think?”

Naris? As in…your brother? You blinked, Boba turning to meet your gaze, his gloved hands suddenly clenched to fists. Fennec noted your reactions and raised a brow, waiting for the order.

“That’s…my brother. But…” you glanced back at Boba, then to Fennec with a scowl. “Can’t say we’re on good terms. You know the story. Where is he?”

“Said he’d he waiting in Mos Eisley,” she shrugged dismissively, yet clearly intrigued all the same. “Left a holomessage. I don’t trust it - so don’t do something stupid.”

After all the time, now he decided to show his face? You wondered what he possibly could want.

“It’s your call,” Boba’s voice rumbled through you, a protective edge forming you knew all too well.

But you were curious. You could tell he was, too. And with the two of you, there was always an adventure to be had.

“You did say you wanted a break, my love.” You shifted to stand, eyeing him playfully. “Could we take your ship?“

Boba nodded, relaying his orders to Fennec, who eagerly listened with a dark grin.

“You sure you’re ready?” He stood, green beskar glinting in the firelight, helmet trained on you.

Life never was guaranteed, but surprises were. You didn’t know what lay ahead, but you did know you wouldn’t face them alone. Neither of you would. For the first time in your lives, you had a family, and that was all you needed.

“Yes.” You nodded, checking your blaster at your hip and the vibroblade strapped to your thigh. “Besides, it’s time for a family reunion, he should meet my husband, right? He did introduce us in a way, after all.”

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[dngrs-untld-hrshps-unnmbrd]

Max I love you sweetie you’re a good person and you deserve all the good things in life!

But this is a Travis/Laura fanfic you’re in and I’m afraid I have some bad news about your girlfriend…

#max brinly #sorry sorry sorry #travis hackett #laura kearney #travis x laura #werewolf bites and hot summer nights #chapter nine #fanfiction