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#I’m thinking both my nostrils so I can do a cool chain across the top of my nose
Lockdown
Authors Note: I am a British writer and luckily enough I have never actually had to experience something like this happening. I cannot imagine what it must be like. There is reference to the ‘shooting’ during the fanfiction, therefore, I do not blame anyone if they differ from reading this. Nothing is graphic and if anything it only gets mentioned for a small portion and there is no one hurt either. I would really like to do a part two. Let me know if anyone is interested.
Summary: It was just a normal day in Beacon Hills. Y/N and her friends were going about her business when a gun threat disrupted the balance of things. Strangers and potential foes grew closer as their lives hung in the balance.
Warning: Gun Threat, Swearing, Adult Language and Themes
Pairing: Reader x Stiles Stilinski
Word Count: 3,787
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“You can not tell me that you didn’t just see that look he gave you?” Jackson brushed up against my side as I tried to jot down the new notes that Coach was terribly transcribing on the chalk board. I mean was that even spelt correctly, how did this man become a legal teacher?
“It is probably just in your head Jackson.” I counter.
“No he is seriously giving you the stink eye. What is McCall’s problem?”
I shrug him off as he is up to his typical shit stirring mode. Jackson and I are neighbours and long-time friends. Since I was nine, we were barely ever apart, we shared our biggest secrets with one another. Mine was that I am the daughter of two illusive demon hunters. I am the only person who knows that he has been pretending to be someone who he is not. Jackson has been in a secret relationship with Ethan. Deep down Jackson was a sweetheart. A sweetheart who cannot control his mouth or fists but Ethan and I are working on that.
“Come on Y/N!” He bumped my arm which made my hand jerk and my notes start to resemble that of Coach’s horrible penmanship. If there is one thing that I hate, its when my notes are not written one hundred percent perfectly. I slam down my pen and turn abruptly in my chair to face Jackson, which sparks some attention from the brunette boy on the table in front. He did not fully turn his head around which was lucky for me as my cheeks immediately go red from embarrassment.
“What is your problem Jackson?” I enquire, nostrils practically flaring which only invoked a chuckle from my best friend.
“Take that chip off of your shoulder and listen to me would you.” He countered as he pushed a note into my hand. “Read this and tell me you wish I left you to copy down that gibberish from the board.”
I huffed and started to carefully unfold the piece of paper. Coach didn’t really care if we showed up to the lesson, let alone if we were actually listening. I read it three times before I actually registered what the words were telling me.
Hey Y/N If you could would you be able to meet me in the west stairwell after 3rd period? You look really pretty today, btw    
“Jackson, who is this from?” The boy shrugged and dropped his head to focus on the words coming out of Coach’s mouth. “Don’t pretend like you care about what he is saying” I gesture to the shaggy haired man “now tell me at least who you got this from.”
Jackson pointed to Lydia who was not at all aware of the two pairs of eyes on her as she casually scribbled in her journal. “But I have no clue who had the note before her. It was probably that McCall.” He sneered. I exhale disappointedly, as much as Scott was a nice guy and all, I don’t want this to be from him. I do not have anything against the guy, he is just not someone who I would want to be interested in me. He seems to always be around trouble, and that is something I cannot be involved in.
“Why don’t you just go and see who it is. I will go with you and if it turns out to be McCall, I will rescue you.” He gave my hand a slight squeeze for reassurance and gazed down at my notebook. “By the way what did you get for number four?”
I laugh a little too loud which causes the brunette to turn around and give me a quick glance that I couldn’t translate in time before he was facing the front again. Again, my cheeks flared, the same way that they do every time his eyes meet mine. I shake the thought away and turn back to my friend. “Jackson, did you think this was a test the whole time? Number four is literally asking you to write down your height.”
 _____________________________________________________________
I was packing my stuff into my bag as the bell rang. “So, are you going to meet this mystery person?” Lydia enquired as I put my water bottle into the slot at the side of my bag, looping the strap over my one arm.
Lydia and I do not really talk, but considering she was my only lead on who this note could have been from, I bit the bullet and spoke to my lab partner. As we were filling the beakers with corrosive liquid, I came straight out with it. “So, about this note you handed to Jackson for me? Do you know who it was from?”
Lydia shook her head, a little startled that I asked her a question that wasn’t ‘can you pass me the pipette?’ “No, to be honest I can not even say who had passed me the note. When I looked down from the board it was just there lying on top of my journal. I am sorry Y/N, I wish I were able to help more but I honestly wouldn’t be able to say who gave it to me.”
I was a little discouraged by only knowing what I did during first period and it was now third. I was meant to meet this person in only a matter of minutes. Lydia and I continued to talk throughout the class. She was really nice to talk to, but I could sense that there was something about her that wasn’t normal. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but there was something.
“I have no clue if I am going to go or not.” I admit, letting the anxiety slip in. It would be hard enough for me to go through with it even if I knew who it was I was going to meet up with. This person said I was ‘pretty,’ for all I knew this could be a joke. That’s all I needed, I was already the girl with all the ancient supernatural protection runes all over my person and possessions. My mum and dad are hunters, and I have been brought up in a world where I cannot go anywhere without some protection. The salt and holy water in my bag is proof of that.
“Well, I hope whoever it is, knows how amazing you are. If he doesn’t, he will have me to deal with.” She bumped my hip with hers and waved as she left the lab.
I picked up the last item on the table and turned to leave the classroom when I was knocked onto the floor, landing hard on my butt. At first, it felt as though I had walked straight into an invisible force field. Little had I registered that it was a person.
“Oh shit!” It was the brunette from this morning. ‘Dammit’ I thought. I could already feel my cheeks start to turn red. Why did this always have to happen. “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to; I wasn’t looking where I was going.” The brunette boy bent down to help me up from the floor.
I brush off my jeans once I am back on my feet, avoiding making eye contact with the boy in front of me. He too looked really nervous as if this incident was his worst nightmare. “I- it’s o- okay.” I stutter. Really voice, of all the times you want to fail me, it’s now. “I w- was just going.” I try to walk past him when a blaring siren started ringing throughout the school.
Panic flashed across my face and his too. Everyone’s worst nightmare, a gun drill. The siren was one hundred percent recognisable. “Get down!” The brunette boy threw himself at me as I yet again landed flat on my backside but with him on top of me this time. We were both frozen for a couple of seconds, my eyes locked on his and it might sound girly, but I could literally lose myself in them.
Finally, he lifted himself up off me and slid underneath one of the tables. I copied and mirrored him under the table in front of his. “I’m sorry, I thought I saw someone walk past the window inconspicuously behind you. I just panicked.” His eyes searched my body, the way that I was now hugging my legs, resting my chin on top of my knees. “Oh God, did I hurt you?” Fear flooded his face at the thought that he may have caused me any pain.
I shake my head. “No.” I whisper. “I’m okay, thank you.” My hand instantly goes to play with the locket that hung around my neck.
“What’s that?” His eyes caught my fingers tracing the metal details.
I freeze. “What’s what?”
The brunette flicked his head towards the chain that was between my fingers.
“Oh, it’s a necklace my dad gave me, to protect me.”
The boy smiled. “That’s cool. My dad gave me a baseball bat to protect me.” I felt the corners of my lips rise into a slight smile.
“I bet you wish you had it now?” I enquire.
The boy sniggered. “If only a bat was an equal match.” I knew what he was on about. A bat could not compare to a gun. “Wanna know something funny?”
“Something funny would be great right about now.” I could feel my foot start to twitch the way that it did when my mum and dad were out on a hunt. Total and utter uselessness. I was a sitting duck.
“My dad once told me that I am always at the centre of some drama.” He let out a sigh. “That wasn’t really that funny was it?”
I shake my head but smile. “Your dad seems like a smart man.”
He smiled and raised a hand to ruffle his hair. God why did he look so good when he did that. “He has to be, I mean he is the sheriff.”
“You’re the sheriff’s son?” I question my eyes went wide in shock. I had heard a lot about this boy. He was best friends with Scott McCall and his dad is right, he always seemed to be in trouble.
He smiled beautifully if that were possible during a terrifying circumstance. “Yeah, you didn’t think it was a coincidence that I am called Stiles Stilinski and there would be no relation to Sheriff Stilinski?” His smile and baffled tone made me smile back at him. “It’s not as common as most surnames. I mean what’s yours?”
“Winchester.” I reply.
“Now that is not a common surname.” He leaned out from under the desk with his arm stretched out. I took his in return. “Nice to meet you Y/N Winchester.”
“You too Stiles Stilinski.” My eyes locked onto his and our hands clung to each other. It felt like we had been holding hands for hours, completely frozen in each other’s gazes.
Suddenly there was a loud pop that rang throughout the building. This tore our hands apart finally. I retreated under the table and moved my legs back up to my chest, creating a shield. Stiles did the same but did not take his eyes off me. I started gripping onto my locket as my breathing became more rapid. I was normally better at threats, my parents dealt with the supernatural world. They battled ghosts, demons, vampires and even werewolves and yet a civilian with a gun going around the school, finger on the trigger, changed me into a nervous wreck.
There was this scuffling noise and suddenly there were arms around me holding me tight. “Shh, its okay Y/N.” Stiles was holding onto me, trying his best to soothe my breathing down. “Breathe with me okay. Copy me. Y/N, you need to look at me.” His hands were either side of my face as he whispered to keep our location a secret. “You can do this. Ready?”
My eyes locked onto his, tear stains running down my cheeks. I watched him attentively as he took each breath. I copied never losing eye contact with those light brown eyes. “That’s it. One more time okay?” His thumb caressed my cheek as I nodded. My breathing finally falling back into place. I take my last breath and let it fall. “That’s it.”
I thought now that my breathing was back to normal that Stiles would release me, but he didn’t. He held his grasp onto my body and did not look away. “Are you okay?” He whispered, his voice getting caught in this throat. Part of me wanted to say yes, to pretend that I was this tough girl. But the boy had just seen me during a panic attack. Me saying that I was not okay wasn’t going to come to be that much of a surprise. I shake my head.
“It’s okay not to be okay sometimes.” I went to wipe a tear that was falling from my cheek but Stiles was there before I got a chance. “Do you want to know a secret?”
I nod, dropping my legs from my chest. “I’m afraid of a lot of things. My friends and I, we face a lot of scary things and for most of it, I feel like I will die. But the thing is, we could die. But that could happen any day and at any time. I believe that we live through the scariest moments in our lives so that we can tell people about them.”
“What was the scariest moment in your life?” I ask, my voice all croaky from holding back the tears.
“Well apart from this one?” He pauses as he gathers his thoughts. “The scariest moment in my life was the day that something possessed my best friend and it led him to almost commit suicide.” I gasp, shocked by what he had just confessed.
“What happened?” I have dealt with possessions before, that wasn’t the part that shocked me.
“Well we went on a school trip and there was something supernatural that had possessed my friends, they were driven to madness. Scott picked up a flare, he was covered in gasoline, it was all around him.” He broke off as his voice cracked. “I walked over to him and held his hand and the flare. I told him that if he needed to do it, then we were both going to go. I was and always will be by his side.”
I took his hand this time and I felt him jump. “I had no idea. I am so sorry that that happened.” Stiles was staring at our entwined hands.
“But the other scariest moment in my life was when I wrote you that note.” I felt a sharp thump to the chest. I was so stupid, how did I not know it was the cute boy who sat in front of me in practically every class that we had together. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.” I respond. Stiles had not lifted his head since our hands connected.
“Were you going to come and meet me? I mean obviously before all of this happened.”
I stop and think. Was I? I hadn’t given that moment another thought since the siren went off. It felt like days ago I had been handed the note. “I don’t know.”
“Oh.” Stiles’ tone was defeated and sombre. His grip on my hand also weakened the minute my response registered. “I know it was a stupid thing to do. I just thought that if I was going to take a jump and finally try to ‘make my move’ as they say.”
“Stiles, it’s not that I don’t appreciate the gesture-“
“It’s just you don’t like me. I get it. I actually get it a lot.” His head dropped and he tried to pull away. I feared that he was going to leave me alone under the table and return to his own.
“No stiles it wasn’t that-“
“Is it cause I’m weird looking? Dad and Scott say I look a little odd.” The boy was rambling.
“No you’re not weird looking-“
“Then it is because of the way I talk isn’t it?”
“No it-“
“It’s my clothes then isn’t it? I dress in a lot of tartan. You know some people say-“ I grab the boy, placing a hand behind his head I pull his lips towards my own. Stiles’ eyes widened the second my lips connected to his. But soon enough his hands drifted from his side and tied themselves in my hair pulling me deeper into the kiss. It was as if Stiles had come alive once we kissed. Our lips moved in time with each other almost as if they were made to do this and only this. The shy boy became more confident and definitely more dominant as his tongue lightly brushed my bottom lip. I let his tongue meet my own, and his moan vibrated against my mouth.
Our bodies moved in sync with each other. My one hand entwined in his hair while the other draped down his back. His were on my hip and the back of my neck as we both pushed ourselves closer together if that were possible.
When I broke the kiss, his pupils were wide in surprise and desire. “Why did you stop?” Stiles questioned, brushing a strand of my hair behind my ear.
“I would have met up with you Stiles.” I whisper into his ear. When I pull my head away from his neck his eyes were wider than they were when the kiss broke apart. “But maybe next time, you should author your notes, perhaps?”
A cheeky grin spread out across his face as my words registered. “Wait, does that mean I forgot to say it was from me, that you’d be meeting me.” I nod as the boy put the puzzle pieces together. “I am an idiot.” The boy slapped his own forehead at his carelessness. “Can I ask you another question?” I smile and nod. “Can we do that kiss again? I really liked it.”
The smirk on his face was enough for me to give into his charms. Before I could lean in, Stiles had grabbed me by my hips and pulled me onto his lap. I hooked my arms around his neck and allowed his lips to connect with mine, his hands firmly on the space between my hips and my ass. It was a bit of a squeeze under the table, the top of my head was rested on base of the table. I was aware that I may have gum in my hair because of this, but I didn’t care. Hearing his moans as my hands trailed from the back of his neck and down his spine was enough for me to crumble within his arms.
Stiles’ lips drifted away from my own but instantly connected into the crook of my neck. This time it was my turn to let out a moan. “Stiles.” I sighed when he hit the right spot and began to suck on it with his hot breath spreading across my skin.
Both of us jumped apart when we heard a cough from the front of the lab. There stood Scott McCall. I was just thankful that it wasn’t Coach or any other member of the School Faculty. I looked back at Stiles who for once didn’t seem happy to see his best friend. “Not exactly what we were taught to do during a school shooting, Stiles.” He nodded towards me “Y/N, Jackson is worried about you, he said you were not answering your phone.”
Stiles detangled me from his lap and helped me to my feet in front of the table rather than being under it as we had previously been.
I pulled out my phone and funny enough there was sixteen missed calls from Jackson and twenty-two messages from him as well as a couple from my own father. Not cool Jackson do not get my dad involved in this.
“What are you even doing out in the open, Scott?” Stiles grilled. “There is a school shooting going on you know.”
“Dude that ended about twenty minutes ago, your dad came arrested the guy. The teachers announced that we could all go home. I was on my way home when Jackson came up to me and asked me if I had seen Y/N. When I told him no, he went into panic mode and started running up and down the corridors.”
I felt my phone vibrate in my hands, Jackson again. “Hello?”
“Oh my God. Thank God you’re okay. Are you still in the school? Where are you? I will come and get you and take you home.”
I look up at Stiles who held onto my hand and gave me the sweetest smile. “Jackson I am okay. I think I am going to get a ride with someone else. Thank you for always looking after me. I love you.”
“It’s my job. Who are you with so I know you are safe, put them on the phone?”
I hand the phone over to Stiles who takes it apprehensively. “He wants to make sure I haven’t concocted some excuse to avoid listening to Taylor Swift in his car, again.”
“Hello?”
“Oh my God, Stilinski? What are you doing with Y/N?”
Stiles pulls the phone away from his ear and places a hand over the microphone. “I don’t think he is too happy that you’re with me.” I laugh and he put the phone back up against his ear. “Jackson I will look after her, I promise. Enjoy Taylor Swift though. I really like the one she sings with Ed Sheeran.” He pulls the phone back and hits the end call button on the screen.
Scott looks questioningly between the two of us. “So, what is going on between you two. Is this going to be a normal thing now? Am I going to have to write up a schedule for who gets Stiles during the week?”
Stiles slaps his friend’s back. “You still got me. But now she has me too, only she gets more kisses than you. I mean we could add more kissing sessions when we are together if you would really like?”
“I think I will pass.” Scott announced.
“Good because there would be no competition.” Stiles twirled me so that I was now pressed against his chest and laid another kiss on my lips. When he pulled away, his head was bent down to mine, eyes locked on my own. “You ready to go home?”
Part 2?
26 notes · View notes
sp00kworm · 4 years
Text
A Den of Iniquity (Part 4)
Pairing: Dracula/Count Dracula/Vlad Tepes x Female Reader
Warnings: Death, Murder, Blood, Gore, Injuries, Violence, Vomiting and Adult content.
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Part 1    Part 2      Part 3    Part 5 
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The vampire felt a tiredness seep into his very core. His rest in the icy cold storage had made him lethargic and slow. He eased himself upwards, standing on two legs out in the grass of the hospital gardens, wobbling on his legs a little. The night air was cool, but not as cold as the locker had been on his dead flesh. There wasn’t a soul in sight as he peered around, red eyes burning against the dark. Dracula felt his cold flesh regain a bit of movement. He was lethargic as he took a few steps forward, heading towards the fences where the hole he had entered through remained. Thankfully, there was no one to witness the naked form of a man rushing through the gardens, and the vampire turned his gaze to the moon before shifting into a wolf and rushing through the metal wire fencing and into the streets. He raised his black nose and sniffed at the air, remembering where his closest apartment was in a flood of pictures, turns and jumps towards the property. The beast howled before it took off, pink tongue hanging between sharp teeth as it bolted through the streets of inner London. The night air was cool against his black coat as he ran.
 The apartment block was quiet, and he awkwardly stumbled in through the window before regaining a semblance of grace, snarling as he shed fur and sniffed at the air. There wasn’t anyone here, and the cleaning lady had been recently. Lemony scents clung to the floor as he moved through the apartment, bare feet dragging along the carpets and slapping against the stone floor of the kitchen. He turned on a light, and squinted at the brightness, before turning it off again and heading towards the small bedroom. There was a wardrobe with some clothes he had stashed in case of an emergency. The vampire drew out a shirt and a pair of trousers, forgoing underwear in favour of collecting a pair of boots and heading to bathroom. The water was cold, but he showered quickly, scrubbing the clotted blood from his mouth, chin, neck and chest. He turned his hands under the spray and gouged at the blood beneath his nails before daring to run his hair under the spray. Pink water circled down the drain as he scrubbed his hair with whatever shampoo had been left. The smell of roses clung to his nostrils as he washed and washed, removing as much of the evidence of his murder as he could manage.
Dracula dressed slowly, twisting, as if unused to the human skin covering him as the shirt clung to him tightly, the material feeling claustrophobic against his skin. He towel-dried his hair and hissed at the mirror, watching the glass erupt into shards with his cursed gaze, the reflections of shadows and bones shattering before he could really catch a glimpse of it.
“The vanity of man.” He grumbled as he rubbed a hand over his styled facial hair. His form was still the same, not a hair had grown nor a freckle on his face. The same. Cold and dead but changeable, malleable to his own and other’s desires. With a deep breath, he stood and tied his hair back, before heading to the door, snatching a coat off the hook as he headed back into the dark London streets, intending on getting home with another meal in his dead stomach. As he took a deep lungful of air, he scented a cut on the wind, and headed towards the scent with a deceitful smile on his face.
 His home was dark as he arrived back, feeling energized yet ready for the rest of the night in his bed of foul earth. He’d had a little bit too much of an adventure over the past couple of days. He was becoming an old vampire with the taste for the sedentary luxuries of wealth. Striding up the drive, he came to a halt as he spotted a black cat splayed across his doorstep, its thick tail flicking with irritation as he approached. The cat hissed, claws flashing as his shadowed form loomed ever closer, flickering and spitting back at the beast.
“I will have her.” He promised in heavy Romanian, amidst the fog of his own form, “Whether you want me to or not.” The words echoed around him as he watched the beast snarl at him again, claws scratching his leg through his trousers, opening three tiny wounds which sealed as soon as they opened. The black cat bounded from his doorstep, fluffy with anger as it leaped into the bushes and disappeared into the street, yowling as it went. Dracula watched with a smile before a leaned over into his front lawn and clicked on the cat repellent machine, grinning as the awful noise warded off another beast that was hiding in his bushes.
 It had been three days since you sent the restocking email to Vladimir, and you’d yet to have a reply. A text message was still sat unread but received and you were beginning to wonder if you had stepped over an invisible line.
“Maybe he’s not interested, Drac?” You cooed as your black cat wandered around the shop, purring against your legs before he jumped onto your serving counter and chirped for your attention. You ran your hand over his thick, black fur and smiled at your cat as you messed with the fur on his neck. A sharp tone rang through the shop. Your phone blinked awake as you received a text message. His name was across your screen.
‘I apologise for my absence. I had to attend a business meeting in Romania. I only just got back. Forgive me, for I did not mean to make it seem like I was ignoring you. I look forwards to seeing you again soon.’
 Another notification chirped before appearing on your screen. The invoices for the next order and the scheduled payment date. You smiled at the text message and replied as Drac attempted to bat the top of your phone.
‘Don’t worry about it. See you soon.’
He read the message as soon as you sent it, the bubble indicating he was typing a reply.
‘Shall I see you at my home again this weekend? I found an interesting selection of English movies I have never seen in Romania.’
With a smile you sent him a small bat emoji and a time for the date before he replied with how he was going to bed, claiming to be tired from the flights and work he’d been dragged into. Drac successfully hit the phone onto the counter with a yowl, his tail swishing back and forth over the wood until you relented, laughing as your cat pushed himself into your arms and purred, a sandpaper tongue licking underneath your chin as he enjoyed your sole love and affection.
 Your movie night was cut short with your own business. Vladimir hadn’t been too upset with the disruption to your plans together but did pop in to see you in the shop. He’d even gone as far as to offer his help dressing the place for the wine tasting you had booked, grinning and joking about his own brands that were laid on the table for the guests to give a try. You’d enjoyed his presence, the man helping to calm your nerves with soft gestures and consoling words.
“You have nothing to be nervous about, my dear. The shop is dressed to perfection and the wines are delectable. You will do fine.” You could remember the ghost of a kiss on your cheek before he left you in peace to host the evening, his coat fluttering as he disappeared past the glass front windows of the shop and down into the dark street. It had been a success, and many people had complimented the low lights and fine decorations. When you thanked him, he was nothing but kind, turning the success around, pinning it on your own abilities.
 The supermarket was dead this time of night. You scowled at the tins of tomatoes and beans on the shelf, looking for the usual deal with a huff of hot air between your lips. The deal was on another brand this week, and you shrugged as you threw four tins of tomatoes into your trolley and ticked your list on the scrap of notebook paper clutched in your hand. You still had quite a few things to collect. You peered at the list as you walked up the aisle. You trolley collided with another with a metallic bang.
“I’m so sorry!” You rushed to apologise to the other person before gazing upon the tall stature of a familiar man, “Vladimir? I didn’t expect to run into you!” You laughed as he tipped his head at you, clutching his own list of shopping in his hand.
“I too did not expect to see you here.” He chuckled before holding his list up, “I decided to come and collect the ingredients for my next dinner event.” The man tucked his trolley to the side of the aisle, pressed against your own, to give other shoppers room to pass, “Are you here doing your…how do you say it here? Weekly shop?” He offered, his accent thick and heavy as he rushed to think of the words.
 With a nod you laughed, holding up your own list, “I’m here doing my weekly shop, yeah. I was running out of cat food, so I figured I should come before Drac kills me in my sleep and eats me instead.” You joked.
Vladimir gave a thin smile, “Cats are such mean beasts.” He offered, “I did not know you had one. What was its name again? Drac? Is it short for Dracula, perhaps?” He joked.
Embarrassment coloured your cheeks, “Ah yeah, it is. He’s so big and scary so I just named him that when I picked him up from the rescue woman. He used to bring me all sorts of bleeding things, so the name just stuck with him.” You explained before tapping your trolley handles, “Do you want to walk together? I can help you find the things you have left, if you want?” You offered.
Vladimir smiled, “But of course. I am a little lost, I must confess.” He admitted before offering you his list, “I do not know where the meat counter is.”
“Oh, all this is on my route around anyway! I’ll show you.” You smiled up at Vladimir before waving for him to follow you, “The meat counter is just up here, but I think this cut of beef will be expensive.” You offered him his list back.
“Money is no problem. I must impress these men. They are part of the chain I would like for my warehousing here.” He confessed as you both approached the small butchers counter.
“Well then we best get you the finest we can find!” You joked as Vladimir turned to take his meat from the butcher on duty.
“Only the finest, indeed.”
 Your trip around the shop was brief, or it seemed very brief as you both laughed and talked about what had happened since his impromptu trip abroad.
“I heard Miss Westenra is engaged?” You asked, “Harker told me the last time he was in the shop buying that wine he likes to impress with.” You rolled your eyes at your friend before smiling at Vladimir.
He nodded, “She and a man named Doctor Harvey Seward are to be married. Apparently, his family are all Doctors, and have been since the Victorian era of this country. I hope the marriage is favourable.” Vladimir stopped at the end of the aisle and smiled, “I think I am finished shopping, my dear, but this has been wonderful.” He took one of your hands in his own and placed a kiss on the back of it, “Will I see you this weekend?” He asked as you looked into his dark eyes, admiring the way his long, dark hair framed his face.
“How about we have coffee in the square by the shop?” You whispered as he drew close.
“Nothing would make me happier.” He whisked himself away with a grin and a flip of his coat, and you were left holding the pack of toilet rolls, flustered and hot to the touch.
 When you got home you found a bunch of black roses tucked on the doorstep of your shop. You picked them up and admired the deep, scarlet ribbon that was wrapped around them, styled into a beautiful bow. There was a tag attached with a small note.
‘I hope we can spend more time together- Vlad’
You took them inside with a smile, unaware of the red eyes and fanged grin watching you from the mist curling in the shadows across the street.
 The vampire watched as you entered the book shop across the square. The café inside the book shop was where he was supposed to meet you. He looked into the window as you passed them by, smiling to the clerk before you headed into the back through the aisles. Curiously, the vampire followed, ducking through the crowd as he entered the shop and smiled as the cashier with a wave of his hand. She smiled back pleasantly at him and continued to price the books stacked on the counter. He followed the route you had taken into the back of the shop and paused in the entrance to an aisle as you passed around the end aisle with a heavy looking book in hand. Dracula smiled as he watched you, ducking into the next aisle to watch again before he looked at the metal watch on his wrist and peered at the time. It was still early. He too, had some time to look around and pick up something to read. With a graceful spin, he headed towards the world books and peered at the titles, wondering if there was something in his own language that he would be able to read properly.
 “Vladimir?” You asked as you turned the corner in the bookstore, gazing up at the man curiously, “I didn’t expect to see you in here just yet. With a smile, you tucked the book under your arm and looked up at the ‘around the world’ section.
Vladimir jumped at your interruption, smiling as quickly as he could as he held up a selection of a couple of books. They were all rather heavy looking reading. He offered you a smile, “I was looking for something to read in my home language.” He looked embarrassed, awkwardly rubbing at the back of his neck, tucking a few stray hands of his dark hair back into his bun after the motion.
“I thought you could read in English?” You asked, confused.
Vladimir smiled before tapping the cover of a novel that was in Hungarian, then another that was in Romanian, “I can read English, but the meanings of many words and phrases escape me in it. My home languages are much easier to comprehend.” He confessed.
You looked at the adaptations of old horrors before tapping the front of your own book, “Maybe I can help? I know you find it easier to read in your mother tongues but maybe if we read together you can get better at understanding certain words?”
Vladimir considered your offer for a moment, dancing from hip to hip before he hummed, “This was not the ideal coffee date I had in mind.” He joked as he plucked another Romanian book from the shelf.
 “You don’t have to be embarrassed about it.” You soothed with a hand on his shoulder, “I’ll happily sit and read with you…It…” You tucked your book higher, “It actually sounds like a nice time.”
The vampire felt his chest ache as you smiled, face red from the cold outside.
Vladimir smiled back at you and tipped his chin, “You have convinced me. I will read and you will instruct.” He offered you his arm as you both headed to pay for the books in your hands. As you reached the register he plucked the short stories from your hands and smiled deviously, “I insist.”
You reached to take it back, “You don’t have to do that! I can afford it, you know.”
Vladimir shook his head, his gloved hand raised to silence your protests, “Think of it as payment for your instruction.”
“Thank you.” You relented and smiled warmly. Vladimir returned the gesture by reaching for your hand, giving it a firm squeeze. The lady at the register took the total from his card and packaged the books before ushering you both on your way. With your book in hand you headed upstairs to the café, Vladimir following close at your heels.
 The smell of black coffee was somewhat calming as you sat by the window and watched the British rain fall in violent sheets. It didn’t seem to want to calm so you and Vladimir had ordered a second coffee each to pass the time a little more, hoping to not have to run out in it. You listened to him read, your head rested in your palm as you listened to him read softly across from you.
“The subway train lost its life current between two stations and for a quarter of an hour they could hear nothing but the dutiful beating of their hearts and the rustling of newspapers. The bus they had to take next was late and kept them waiting a long time on a street corner, and when it did come, it was crammed with garr…” Vladimir scowled at the word in the book before spinning it to you, pointing at the word in the middle of the page.
You leaned forwards, hot coffee clasped between your hands, “Garrulous.” You smiled at his confusion, “It means, chatty or talking excessively about something trivial.”
Vladimir nodded, rolling the word around his mouth as he repeated it back to you and then himself. He turned the book back to himself before starting the sentence again, “The bus they had to take next was late and kept them waiting a long time on a street corner, and when it did come, it was crammed with garrulous high-school children. It began to rain as they walked up the brown path leading to the sanatorium.” He continued reading, his English seeming to get better and more pronounced as he practiced aloud, and you listened in a trance, watching him for a while before looking out at the bouncing rain.
 Vladimir’s soothing voice lilted in the air as you took another sip of coffee and looked back at Vladimir’s handsome face, admiring the angles of his strong jaw and the stylized facial hair. Dark eyes locked with your own as he finished the last line of the story.
“He had got to crab apple when the telephone rang again.” He closed the book around his finger as he reached for the receipt and marked the page for now. He’d gulped his expresso down in the true way, three quick swigs before he’d continued reading to you. Vladimir smiled as he moved his chair out, “Excuse me a moment. I must use the bathroom.”
“Oh, its fine. I’ll be here when you get back!” You joked as you sipped your coffee and turned your gaze back to the window.
 Vladimir’s shoes tapped as he walked across the café to the small, single male toilet. The door was heavy and wooden. A thick fire door. He locked the stall with a snap of his wrist and inhaled the smell of bleach and toilet cleaner before he crouched down over the toilet and pushed the seat out of the way. The vampire drew a vial from his trouser pocket and grimaced at the sight of the heavy Ipecac syrup in the plastic tube. Dracula drew the stopper out before squeezing the tube harshly, feeling it coat his tongue and throat before he tossed it into the waste and swallowed with a violent gag, waiting for the influx of coffee stained stomach lining to pour from his body. He stared into the water, a reflection of bone and ash, and gaged as the first mouthful of vomit dripped past his lips.
 “You took a while.” You observed with a light tone as Vladimir returned, sitting at the table with his usual smile. He’d changed his hair, “But now that I look at you, I realise that you spent time messing with your hair. Preening in the mirror were you.”
“My hair was a mess, what can I say.” Vladimir teased as he turned his cup upside down on its saucer, pushing it to the side of the table for the waiting staff to pick up.
Gently, you reached to tuck a long piece of his hair behind his ear, watching the man remain still to let you do so, “I think it looked just fine. You always look handsome, Vlad.”
Vladimir took a deep breath as he caught your hand, pressing it to his cool cheek before he laid a kiss on your palm and leaned forwards, “Just as you are always beautiful.” He complimented before releasing your hand and nodding to the window, “We should make a dash for your home while the rain has paused.” He stood up before you to wrap your coat back around you before storing your book in two layers on plastic bag, “Hopefully we can keep the books dry.”
“Here.” You took your card out and paid for the drinks before he could protest, “You can get the next one, Mister Gentleman.” You teased as you paid and turned.
Vladimir offered you his arm with a chuckle. As your arm wrapped around his own, he purred, “Are you implying you would like to go out again, my dear?”
You jabbed his side with a finger, “Yes I am, you big tease.”
 The two of you laughed as the sun set, making the streets of London an even drearier grey, plunging them into darkness. The rain splattered across the pavements and tarmac, drenching everything, making the concrete city smell of ash and rain. You laughed, hand in hand, as you dragged Vladimir across the road, dodging a speeding cabby, who promptly stuck his finger out of his window along with some screamed verbal abuse, and jumped up the curb, heading towards the front door of the side stairs to your apartment above the shop. Vladimir dragged you back under his black umbrella as you rifled through your bag for the keys to your apartment. You laughed as the rain poured off the sides and snatched your leys, unlocking the door. Before you could swing it open, Vladimir pushed himself closer, taking your hand and pushing it against the wood before he dived to claim your lips. A cool kiss pressed to your skin and you responded tentatively to the pressure before opening your mouth and feeling the caress of his tongue. It was cold, chilled from the rain, but full of emotion, a desire that was locked deep inside both of you. The man pressed against you, his free arm dropping to wrap around your waist as you clutched at his neck. He drew back with a heavy exhale and pressed his nose to your throat.
 Dracula merely pressed a kiss to the hot skin, fangs sliding free at the feel of hot flesh and the blood pumping under his lips. He relented. He controlled himself and then, he pulled away, looking into your half-lidded eyes, wanting nothing more than to steal another intoxicating kiss.
 “What are you?” Vladimir whispered against your cheek, “It is like there is a force. A pull I cannot resist…” He kissed the column of your throat again, “It drives the beast wild.”
“What…” You heaved a breath, “What do you mean?” You asked before he kissed you again. Gently, you pushed him away by the chin, “Not…” You steadied yourself, “Not yet. I don’t…”
Vladimir’s eyes appeared black in the darkness, the whites gone, “I understand. I did not mean to make you feel uncomfortable.” He pressed another hurried kiss to your cheek, “Goodbye my darling. I will see you again soon, I hope?”
You nodded before opening the door, “I’ll message you.”
Vladimir turned his collar up against the wind, “I await your call.” A ghostly kiss pressed to your face once again before he disappeared. In the time it took you to open your eyes he was gone. There was an ache in your chest that you couldn’t describe as you entered your apartment and flopped onto your sofa.
 Your dates and meetings with Vladimir were few and far between as Halloween finally rolled around. Sales of his products went crazy and you found yourself contacting his supply team more and more often in the weeks leading up to the holiday. You closed early on Halloween, watching the kids rush around the streets in their costumes, giggling and screaming with joy as they held buckets of sweets and chocolates in their grasps. There was very little to do but finish tidying up. You jumped at a knock on the door and rolled your eyes as Harker made faces in your window.
You unlocked the door and peeked through the gap, “If you’d learn to read, you’d realise I’m closed.”
“Aw come on, love. I just want a bottle of that brandy you keep selling!” He remarked and you sighed before letting him in, rushing to grab him the bottle so you could get rid of him faster and close for the evening. You had a movie night planned with Drac, your ever faithful grumpy cat. Vladimir had insisted, with much regret, that he was busy tonight.
“Nice vampire costume. Very gimmicky.” You joked as you plonked the pricey bottle of brandy on the counter, “You sure you want to pay for this for a Halloween party?”
“Sure, I’m sure. I have some guests to impress.” Harker joked as he offered his card and slid the chip into the machine.
 A black wolf watched from outside the shop, snarling with teeth as it watched you hug Harker and usher him from the shop. The wolf became a man and snarled again before melting into the shadows, wishing a fall upon the accountant as he staggered back to the early starting party from which he had come. The vampire watched, his hand reaching towards the streetlamp as he moulded back into the shape of the great wolf-dog you had shown such love and affection for last time. He craved your touch. The caress of your fingers. It calmed the lust and hatred for a moment in his everlasting existence.
 The taste of your skin was sweet.
 A whine made you look up from the counter as you finished packing away the cash for the night. A great paw clawed at the glass and you smiled as you caught sight of the dark eyed, great black dog once more. It had been a long time since you’d seen it. You’d assumed it had been taken in or disappeared altogether. You walked towards the door and unlocked it, letting the hound inside the shop. He was dry this time and the dog rushed to jump up at you, snuffling and licking at your face as it whined and wagged its tail.
“Hey there. Its been a long time since I’ve seen you.” You cooed as you pushed the wolf-dog down and ran your hands through its thick fur, enjoying the warmth trapped in its fur as the animal curled around your legs close.
The dog sniffed his way to your door to upstairs and you smiled before sighing, locking the doors and lowering the shutters before you headed to the door and pointed at the big dog, “You can come up but only if you promise to behave, okay?” The dog stared at you and you opened the door, watching him bound on before you, up the stairs, turning on the landing to watch you follow it up.
He barked sharply and you laughed, “Okay, okay, I’m coming!” You petted his nose as you took the scruff of his neck and opened the door.
 Drac, your cat, scowled from the counter in the open kitchen as you eased the dog inside. He hissed, jumping up his fur on end as you looked between them. The dog was silent, watching your cat with a mild amount of interest.
“Come on Drac, be nice. He’s just here for the night. I’ll call the rescue service in the morning.” You cooed at your cat let go of the dog and watched the two glare at each other before Drac jumped up on top of your cabinets and bedded down for the night away from the new house guest. You fixed yourself dinner as the dog padded around. He saw fit to laying underneath your window, dark eyes looking up at the moon, ears pointed back to listen to the noise you were making in the kitchen. It slept as you ate, black fur like silk against your wooden floor. Only when you plonked yourself on the sofa did it open its eyes and perk up, standing from the floor in favour of pushing its way onto your couch.
“Come on, you can’t get up here.” You scolded before the wolf-dog was in your lap, its giant head rested in the crook of your arm, its tongue licking at you as a sign of peace and contentment. With a soft sigh, you began to work your fingers through its fur and turned on the television, content to watch the movies you had planned with your hot drink and the dog in your lap.
 “Sleep my love. Sleep without fear. Tonight, I will keep the darkness at bay.”
You felt your eyelids drop at the movie, your hand combing the fur before fisting at the hound in your lap, holding onto the beast as you listened to the movie and the soft lines whispered by a deep voice. A tongue lapped at your cheeks as you felt the great hound exhale. You lulled off into a pleasant, warm sleep, wrapped around the mysterious dog.
“For tonight, your dreams will be mine.”
 An old castle stood before you when you opened your eyes, as though you had been awake, and just blinked on a walk. Black silk rippled over you as you walked towards the castle in a dark trail of liquid dress. It almost flowed from you as you opened the great doors and peered inside. There was silence in the main hall, a great shadow of a cross blinding you as you peered down at the stone. You walked through the last of the sun’s orange light and cast no shadow as you moved towards the old, grand staircase. The stone was laid with plush carpet, Turkish and heavy, thick against the soles of your bare feet as you climbed, gazing at old paintings of great battles. Red curtains hung from the ceiling and you ran your hand along one as you reached the top of the stairs, feeling the fine material before you continued, walking in the direction of the ache in your chest. More old stone connected with your fingers as you continued into a labyrinth of corridors before eventually arriving at another old door, the wood engraved with a dragon spewing fire towards its own tail, curled around a sword. With a gentle push, you eased one door open enough to slide into the room.
 Warm candlelight greeted you, four giant floor-standing candelabras lit with twenty of so candles each glowing in every corner. A man made no move to greet you, laid across a luscious canopy bed, surrounded by sheer white fabric, hidden from sight. You walked over animal skins and pulled aside the sheer fabric to see a man asleep in a thin, billowed cotton shirt, his trousers loose as though he had simply collapsed into bed. Gently, you eased his face to the side and smiled down at the picture of your mysterious suitor. Vladimir’s sleeping face was restful and calm. A smile curled across his face, telling you he had never been asleep. The man reached to grab you with a great laugh, easing you into his lap on the bed, your hips pressed together as he reached to move a veil you did not know you were wearing.
“My love.” His words burned your throat with adoration, “I have missed you. My heart has longed for you.” You watched his lips move to reveal fangs and reached for his face gently, thumbs pressing to the points. He drew your hands away before continuing, “The beast in me cannot be sated without you, my little tamer.” He rushed to kiss you soundly, thoroughly, moulding his front to your own as his hands sought to pull at the silk covering you to reveal skin and flesh.
 You remained silent, soaking in the adoration in his touches and kisses as sharp teeth grazed at your skin.
“I remember your scent.” He purred as his features blended into something more beastly, his red eyes burning as his mouth filled with wolf-like teeth, “I kept your clothes close, everything to remember you.” The beast snarled, a wolfman’s claws tugging at your clothing. You watched the beast, mouth open, wondering where this dream was going as he laid back and pulled you on top of him, “Please, my dearest, let me feel you. I have missed you.” He blathered as you leaned over to kiss him again, tongue catching against the fangs in his mouth, blood mixing with spit. He was cold underneath your hands as you raised yourself, palms against his pectorals. You reached for his groin as he tore his shirt free and pulled his bottoms away enough to reveal his cock. As you grasped him you felt his nose press against your throat, human and cold. Raising your gaze, you looked back at a human shape with a mouth full of teeth, spit dripping between his jaws as they unhinged wide and grasped at your shoulder. With a cry of agony and bliss, you gouged your nails into his back and opened your eyes to see bats fly from the window, screaming into the sunset as your lover’s tongue licked blood from your neck. He dragged you down for another kiss then, blood and spit mixing as you slid him inside of you.
 Dracula felt himself stir in the dream, watching as a woman clad in black slid into his bedchambers. He remembered the woman and played at being asleep on the bed as the faceless creature parted the silks and crawled along his body, fingers teasing over his face, admiring his bone structure before he turned to catch her, dragging her hands up before he grinned with fangs and drew her into his lap.
“I’ve waited for you to return.” He purred, feeling the beasts of the darkness howl and coil outside in the beginnings of the night, “I have missed you.” The vampire drew her wrists closer and licked at the skin exposed out of the silk sleeve, “I have missed the taste of you, my love.”
She said nothing as she mounted his hips, watching through the black veil as he grunted, pushed back against the bed by some invisible force, his wrists pinned to the cushions and furs. Her hands dance over his chest and he feels the pull of his own change, howling as wings spread from his back and claws grab for her. He is naked, he realises with a start, before she draws her fingers between her legs and reveals a wetness to his gaze. The bat-like form howls at the scent, and Dracula pumped his hips upwards as her legs spread and she welcomes him inside of her. The hooked claws of his wings slam into the wooden frame of the canopy bed, anchoring him as his clawed hands reach to pull the veil free.
 Your face peers down at him, a mouthful of blood dripping from your lips as you look at the hole his other wing had made in your chest. He watched the hole between your breasts close and opened his mouth for a bloodied kiss. As he gazed up, claws shredding the silk covering your skin, he slowed his own hips, snarling when you refused to let him slow. A pair of greying wings thrust over his vision, appearing over your head, a thousand eyes glaring at him from within the feathers. The vampire’s claws snapped the faceless woman close, clutching her close before Death’s bony hands covered his eyes, the two eyes within each of the bony palms rolling, looking into his own in the darkness as he felt the form over him melt away into ash in his arms. Darkness crippled him, dragging his form in on itself.
 “She is not yours yet, Dracul.” Death whispered in his ear, “Not unless you can give me what I want?” The cloaked figure appeared before him in the darkness, wings burning with fire that was once radiant.
Dracula snapped his own leathery wings, “What do you want from me so badly?! Is it so worthy of you making my dreams so miserable and tormenting me with the agony I have suffered a thousand times over!?”
Death watched him for a moment before opening its palms, “One death.” He whispered.
“Give me the name.” The vampire hissed.
“Her.” Death offered him a burning flame, “I want her death.” He laid the small burning fire of your life in his hands before stroking the vampire’s leathery wings, “I need her life, but her soul is yours.”
The vampire whipped around with claws and fangs in the darkness, but there was no one there to listen to his dark screams of anguish.
 You awoke to an empty sofa and old horror movies still rerunning. Drac had taken the hounds place in your arms, curled tightly against you. You frowned and looked up as a chilly breeze graced your legs. The open window let in another frigid gust of air and you rushed to close it as a great black smog rushed around the corner of the building, just in the corner of your eyes. You ran a hand through your hair and swallowed as you remembered the dream that had haunted you last night. You clicked off the TV and clicked the hot water on before starting to make yourself some breakfast to distract yourself from the realness of what you had seen.
“Halloween is crazy.” You muttered as you boiled some water for a hot drink.
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vgckwb · 3 years
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P5R: Rebel Girl (A FeMC Story/P5R Rework) Chapter 48: Self-Worth
While Sumire was meeting with Coach Hiraguchi, Ren and Ann were approached by Mishima. “Yo. Excellent work.”
“Uhhhh, thanks…” Ann said, unsure of how to respond.
“I gotcha,” Mishima said. “So, what next?”
Ann was still a bit weirded out. “Um...the social studies field trip?”
“Oh right,” Mishima said. “I forgot about that. Where are you going?”
“We’re not quite sure” Ren answered, sparing Ann.
“OK, OK,” Mishima said. “Well, I have some ideas, and I’d like to run them by you.”
“We’ll talk tonight, OK?” Ren said.
“Sure. Sounds good to me” Mishima said. He walked off.
“Ugh” Ann sighed. “I mean, I admire Mishima’s enthusiasm, but we’re still in school you know?”
“Yeah. I’ll talk to him tonight about that too” Ren said.
“Talk to who about what?” Ryuji asked.
The two girls were surprised. “When did you get here?” Ann asked.
“Uh, just now?” Ryuji answered. Ann sighed.
“Mishima came up to us to congratulate us,” Ren explained.
“For what?” Ryuji asked. Ren gave him a look. “Ohhhh That. Yeah. So, what do you want to do next?”
“You’ve got to be kidding me” Ann let out, deflated.
“What?” Ryuji asked.
“They already went over that, moron” Morgana chimed in.
“Who you callin’ a moron?!” Ryuji demanded.
“Uh, you” Ren said. Ryuji was surprised. Ren whispered “Don’t draw attention to Morgana!” Ryuji seethed, knowing he couldn’t do anything.
“Do you what you wanna do for the social studies field trip?” Ann asked, hoping to break the tension.
“Huh? Not really” Ryuji replied. “Besides, don’t we have bigger things to focus on?”
“Please stop,” Ann said.
“These things have to come naturally” Morgan reminded. “In the meantime, you need to focus on blending in, and this field trip isn’t a bad idea for keeping up appearances.”
“Fine” Ryuji relented. “Hey, isn’t one of the options the TV studio?”
“Um, yeah” Ann answered.
“Perfect!” Ryuji exclaimed.
“Why is that perfect?” Ren inquired.
“We could find a target there,” Ryuji explained. “I mean, celebrities hide some shady shit all the time. One of them might be palace related.”
“Ryuji!” Ann chastised. “Not so loud.”
“Right, sorry” Ryuji said.
“And I thought I was too focused,” Morgana remarked. Just as Ryuji was about to make an outburst, Ren glared at him, cooling him down. “But I have to admit, it’s a smart plan.” Ryuji smiled. “For a simpleton like Ryuji.” Ryuji glared at him.
“Morgana, please lay off. At least when Ryuji’s chained by crowds” Ren said, shifting her ire from one person trying to prove their masculinity to another.
“...Sorry” Morgana apologized.
“So, the TV studio then?” Ann said, again trying to cool things down. “Sounds like a plan.”
“Huh?” Ryuji said, confused. He then picked up on what Ann was doing. “Oh, yeah. Can’t wait!” He then turned to Ren. “Buuuuuut, while we are waiting, I found a place to work out. Care to join in?”
Ren smiled, knowing the awkwardness of this moment was over. “Sure. Let me get my gear and we can meet up, OK?”
“Sure thing!” Ryuji said. “Later!” He sprinted out.
Ann sighed. “Sometimes, I’m jealous of that boy and his boundless energy.”
“And other times, you want him to use that energy on you?” Ren insinuated.
Ann’s face turned pink instantly. “No! Shut up!” she smacked Ren with her pencil bag.
Ren chuckled. “Sorry. Sorry.” Ann pouted. “Hey, it’s OK. I promise I won’t say anything.”
Ann looked up at her. “You better not…”
“I promise,” Ren insisted. “Speaking of promises, I gotta go meet Ryuji. So, seeya.” Ren started to leave.
“Seeya!” Ann called out. Ren waved and headed out. She stopped at Leblanc to grab her new workout clothes, a grey tank top, black sweatpants, white shoes, and a black sports bra, and then met Ryuji on central street.
“Alright” he said, greeting her. “Follow me.” They walked to an ally where they found Protein Lovers. “This is the place.” He looked over at Ren. “You got everything?”
“Hm? I think so” Ren said. “Why?”
“Ah, n-nothing” Ryuji said, blushing. “Just wondering.” He took a deep breath. “OK, let’s head in.” They did as such. Before they could start, Ryuji turned and asked, “So, I assume you know what workouts to do to help keep your basketball form.”
Ren was confused. “Um, yeah, but why?”
“Well, when you go back to your old school once your probation is up, you need to keep your form good to rejoin the basketball team” Ryuji answered.
Ren looked at him. “I told you, they kicked me off the team.”
“Yeah, I know,” Ryuji replied. “But who knows? Maybe whatever they did that for will be water under the bridge when you get back. And hopefully by then, we’ll have proven your innocence.”
“Ummmm, I don’t think being a lesbian is something that could become ‘water under the bridge’ so easily” Ren explained. She smiled. “But I love your enthusiasm.”
Ryuji was shocked. “THAT’S why they kicked you off?!” Ren nodded. “Bastards!” His nostrils flared. “I feel like punching something now.”
“Well, there are punching bags, so go all out” Ren informed him.
Ryuji was a little confused. “Why aren’t you mad about this?”
“Eh, I’m used to it,” Ren said.
Ryuji gave her a confused look. He sighed. “I don’t know how people get used to being treated like shit.”
“Well, things are complicated sometimes,” Ren answered. “I mean, look at Yusuke.”
“Yeah, I guess,” Ryuji said. “But also I’m glad I’m part of the Phantom Thieves for it. That way, we can help people who are used to shitty situations.”
Ren tilted her head inquisitively. “Is something the matter?”
“Huh? Well, sort of?” Ryuji said. He sighed. “Before my dad left, my mom once told me that she was used to his beatings. That ain’t right, ya know? She said it was to protect me, but who’s going to protect her?” He kicked the air. “It’s just unfair.”
Ren steeled herself. “Yeah. It is.” Ryuji was shook. “And I hate it too. The world’s not always sunshine and roses. But sometimes all you can do is grin and bear it. Because if you push too much, sometimes the push back will be a lot more, even if justice is on your side.”
Ryuji spent some time taking that in. He grumbled. “Yeah… Like what happened when I punched Kamoshida…”
Ren smiled. “But I’m also glad you’re a part of the Phantom Thieves.” Ryuji was shocked. “You’re a good anchor to the ideal of not getting used to this kind of BS. That there might be something good about shaking things up.”
Ryuji was now taking that in. He grinned. “Thanks.” Ren started to go to one of the stations. “You know, you’re a good leader for us.” Ren looked at him. “You’re fairly level headed, but you’re open to all sorts of things. You know how to consider things and know when and how to react to them. I think that’s cool.”
“Thanks,” Ren said, blushing. “But that only sort of came about due to my...less than pleasant previous school life.”
“Heh. You think I’m a stranger to less than pleasantness?” Ryuji chortled. “I might as well be wearing ‘less than pleasant’ on a shirt. But you have these abilities that I lack. But I’m thinking if I follow you, I’d get more accustomed to it, ya know?”
Ren smiled. “I told you you’re a good anchor.”
“Well, it’s only because I have something reliable I can anchor myself to,” Ryuji retorted.
Ren giggled. “Fine, we’re both awesome. Now let’s prove it by crushing our workout routines!”
“HELL YEAH!” Ryuji shouted. They began working out, spotting each other when necessary. Soon, they ended up laying on the floor, exhausted. “Man, I haven’t felt this good after a workout in a long time.”
“Yeah,” Ren agreed. “This is the first time after working out with someone who knows of my sexuality that I’ve felt good at all.”
“Oh yeah” Ryuji said. “You hadn’t told us the last time we worked out huh?” He drank from his water bottle. “So like, I know it’s not my place to say much, but when are you thinking of telling everyone else?”
Ren looked directly up. “I dunno. But I know I should.” She took a drink from her water bottle. “Telling you three was hard enough as is.”
“I get it,” Ryuji said. “Just know that whatever happens, I’m in your corner.”
Ren turned her head over to look at him. “Thanks.”
Chariot-Ryuji Sakamoto: Rank 4
They got back up, cleaned themselves off in the gym’s showers, and then headed out.
Ren went to the diner to grab a bite to eat. As she entered, she saw Mishima. She approached him. “Hey. Mind if I take a seat?”
Mishima was giddy. “Please, have a seat.” Ren sat across from him. She grabbed a menu. “Feeling alright?”
“Yeah” Ren answered. “I just had an intense workout session with Ryuji.”
“Gotcha,” Mishima said, understanding. Once Ren knew what she wanted, she placed her order. “Anyways, while we’re waiting, I’ve been thinking.”
“About what?” Ren asked, concerned.
“You know…” Mishima said, insinuating.
“Riiiiiiight” Ren said. “And?”
“Well, I think that while some progress is being made, we aren’t changing as many hearts as we could” Mishima explained.
Ren was curious. “Where did this ‘we’ come from?”
“Right, sorry,” Mishima said. “I guess you do the heavy lifting. But that might change when I become a full member!”
Ren was shocked. “Um, do you even know how we do what we do?”
“No clue,” Mishima answered honestly. “But I think I can learn once I’m let in.”
Ren stared at him. If he doesn’t have the app now, I doubt that he’ll get it ever. But I don’t know how to explain that without, well, explaining everything. She then got an idea. “Mishima.” He perked up. “If you’re part of the team, who’s running the Phan-site?”
“I will,” Mishima said. “I’ll pull double duty.”
“Yeah, but doing what we do is hard work,” Ren explained. “I doubt that you can do both effectively.”
“Well, I could try,” Mishima insisted.
“Mishima,” Ren said, placing her hand on his. “Trust me.” Mishima was stunned. Ren let go as Mishima pulled back as he grew frustrated. “But…” Mishima looked up again. “Your place as head of the Phan-site is important as well.”
Mishima was conflicted. “You’re just saying that to make me feel better.”
“I’m serious,” Ren continued. “The Phantom Thieves get involved with all sorts of trouble. Having a degree of separation between us is beneficial. You can focus on things we can’t because we need to focus on what we know. Much like you can’t do both, neither can we. And having someone like you helps.”
Mishima seemed unconvinced for a bit, but then smiled. “Yeah. I guess that makes sense. Ha ha.” He looked down at the table. “You know, I was kind of hoping to get made a member immediately once I told you about the Phan-site. It’s the first time in a while I did something on my own with such a bold stroke. But I guess being a satellite to the Phantom Thieves is good as well.”
Ren smiled. “I know how hard it can be to put yourself out there. But I think it’s important to do so. I mean, none of us would have thought of the idea for the Phan-site.”
Mishima was shocked. “Really? But we live in the age of the internet.”
“Yeah, but we have other things we need to focus on as the Thieves” Ren iterated. “It would have slipped our mind.”
“I see…” Mishima said. “I guess by being the head of the Phan-site, I’m earning my place. Heh I never thought I’d have a place of my own.”
Ren smirked. “Neither did I.”
“What?!” Mishima said, surprised. “But…”
Ren chuckled. “We all have our own insecurities.”
Mishima was stunned with this knowledge. “Huh. I guess you're right. Well then hopefully with the places we occupy, we’ll work to overcome them.”
Ren smiled and nodded. Her drink had arrived. She picked it up and raised it. “To overcoming insecurity.”
Mishima responded in kind. “To overcoming insecurity.” They clinked their glasses.
Moon-Yuuki Mishima: Rank 3
Once Ren’s food got there, she could hardly focus on anything else. Mishima didn’t seem to mind. They both finished around the same time. Just as Ren was about to leave, Mishima interrupted. “Wait!” Ren stopped. He slipped her a piece of paper. “These are a few names of people I found causing some trouble; including that guy Takanashi was talking about. Whenever you decide to go for it, contact me, and I’ll let the world know.”
Ren looked at the list. She smiled. “See. We couldn’t have done this without you.” Mishima chuckled. Ren nodded, and headed home for the evening.
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eerythingisshaka · 4 years
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[Y’lan Noel x Reader]
Word Count: 2.1K
Warnings: Angst/Third base shit
“Can I get one more gin and tonic?”  you motioned to the bartender as you finished what remained in your glass.  At the moment you began to feel a familiar lightness as the alcohol hit your nervous system.  Just enough to feel frisky or fight someone, depending on who came.  You checked your phone again but there’s no reply from earlier in the evening.  You weren’t surprised that you would get stood up, guys are just great at being horrible in that way.  But you expected the bare minimum of a check in.
The bartender laid your glass down in front of you.
“This is the last one.  Can you close my tab?” You dug around in your purse for $20 when a pair of voices turned up behind you.
“Hey girl, is that you?”
You turned around swiftly to see your acquaintance from work with her boyfriend Y’lan.  You smile genuinely at them both.
“Wow, hi!  I didn’t expect you guys to be here too!  How are you?  You look phenomenal!”  Your eyes took in the layered spaghetti strapped shirt that did nothing for her figure and jeans that were more for the barn than the bar.  And were those Pumas…
She wagged her finger, smiling goofily as she hung off of his arm.  “No, no.  You are being WAY too nice!  I couldn’t wear heels today because my arch is bothering me again but honestly I think it gives me a cute casual vibe, right?”
She looked to Y’lan who blinked a few times like he just woke up from a dream.
“Oh, yeah.  You look great.  My girl always does.”  He smiled a smile that could grow crops and end world hunger indefinitely.  Your coworker was very lucky to have him.
You raise your glass to the two of them.  “To the amazing couple that is you both!  So what are we celebrating tonight guys?”  You adjusted your low cleavage top for comfort, looking from your coworker to Y’lan who you definitely caught staring.  Happens to most men.
Your coworker said, “Well, we have decided to consider moving in together!  I mean, it’s been almost a year, it seems right, you know?”
She looked to Y’lan once again who scratched the back of his head.  “Yeah, sure.  It would be fun to have you around more.”
You crossed your arms under your chest in deep thought.  “Well are you guys still considering the move or decided to move in?  You worded that weird…”
She smacked her forehead.  “Duh, yeah I guess I did.  Well although like Y’lan said, it could be fun, it’s still a lot of responsibility and kinks to work out so we are still talking about talking about it, basically.”
You squint and nod slowly trying to wrap your head around their situation.  This is why you couldn’t receive her fully as a friend, she was too into appeasement but also indecisive.  First time you both decided lunch was a good idea, the hour was almost gone just picking a place and you know she cried in the bathroom after about how she thought she upset you.
You pick up your drink again and start to turn to the bar again.  “Well don’t let me guys hold up your evening and enjoy your meal.”
“Oh but, what about you?  Are you here alone?  We could pull up a chair for you to join,” she offers.
You almost laughed your gin and tonic up your nose at the thought.  “Not at all, I hate being a third wheel.  A huge pet peeve.”  You looked at Y’lan before saying, “Plus you guys have some serious talking to do.  My date will be here any second.”  You waved them off and turned up your glass once more.  Out of the corner of your eye, you see them find their seat across the way in a booth.  You felt awkward with them being in your area but at least your coworkers back was to you.  You couldn’t stand the thought of her seeing your drinking alone in a bar and possibly scarfing down some boneless wings that you suddenly had a taste for.  You bothered the bartender once more for a to go order and got your phone out to text that guy to forget it.  You didn’t feel like the dating mood after all this waiting and drinking.  
As you look down at your screen a message pops up that makes your heart skip a beat.  Heat radiates your cheeks as you look across the bar.  Y’lan stares at you for a minute as it appears your coworker is gabbing on about the menu.  His eyes are intense, leaned back in his seat with one arm splayed across showing off his wingspan.  You get flustered, and head for the bathroom.
Bursting through the door you leaned against the sink feeling your forehead and cheeks with the coolness of the back of your hand.  Your breathing became erratic with excitement so you run the sink and splash your face with some water.   There was no way you could answer that guy intelligibly right then so you pick up your phone to text him back, cancel his proposition.  Just then the bathroom door opens.
“You waiting for me?”  
You stood back in shock as he stood before you, leaning against the bathroom door all cool like a Sidney Poitier character.  
You sputtered a response.  “I was just gonna ask to talk to you.”
He nodded, turning to pull the lath on the door, locking it.  “Then let’s talk.”
He entered the bathroom until he was mere inches in front of you.  His olive green V neck with his gold chain resting around his neck tempted your eyes to look closer.
“I was going to say...that if you plan on moving in with her, there is no point in us doing  what...we do…” Your voice quivered on every third word, trailing off anticlimactically.  Not even a 2nd grader watching Sesame Street would believe you were real.
Y’lan scratches through his beard thoughtfully, whipping up the essential oil smell to arouse your nostrils.  “And what is it that we are doing?”
The scruffiness of his voice was his springboard to jump on him.  You looked away and caught a glimpse of you in the mirror.  Your pupils dilated from the gin told the story of what you wanted to do but your brain fought like hell to overcome it.  Watching him in the reflection staring at you up and down, hands in his pockets to camouflage his bulge; you had him in your palm.
You looked straight into his dark eyes with a smirk and said, “If your girl only knew…”
Y’lan’s hands grip your biceps and push you against the wall roughly.  The swift movement took your breath and your eyes widened.
“What would she know?”  Y’lan growled.  
You steady yourself, pushing yourself into him to find that spot that told all his business.  “You want me so damn bad.”
Y’lan smiled, turning his face to laugh.  You loved making him laugh.  “You think just because we had a couple of good conversations that now I want you?”
You knock his hands away, wrapping your arms around his waist and slid your hands down his back pockets.  He wasn’t going to get away that easy.
“How about a couple good conversations, one of which ended with a makeout session in the supply closet at the office party?”
“Which was months ago…”  
You whipped your hips against him until a stiff peak formed.  “And here you are still texting me, DMing me in front of your girlfriend to try and get together ‘as friends’.”
Y’lan takes your hips, spinning you around and onto the sink, setting off the automatic water.
“You shouldn’t drink alone,” he warned.
“Y’lan!  If you get my skirt wet, I swear to God!”  You arch your back, hanging onto his neck.
Y’lan’s beard tickles your neck as he licks it, hiking your skirt up over your ass.  The coolness of the counter on your skin makes you gasp.
“Just look at you, pathetic.  Can’t control yourself,”  you scold him as you dig into the muscles of his back ravenously.
He grips your neck, expertly holding you in place.  Your mouth hangs open in anticipation as he looks at you with evil glee.  You can hear the tick tock of his watch on his wrist underneath your jaw.
“You think your ass slick dressing up like this when I told you we were coming here.  Playing with them titties like it’s a game.  Skirt showing your ass follow you around the corner?  You try to set me up every step of the way.”
Your thighs cling to him tightly as you pull the neck of his shirt and laugh.  “If that’s how you see it, we could never work.  You deserve the busted, ditzy, goodie two shoe, weak pussy ass girlfriend in there.”
Y’lan let’s go of your neck with a loud grunt, tearing at your shirt to expose your breast, suck at your nipple with a force that shut down your capacities.  Your nails dig into his scalp while he manages your underwear up to your knees, before pushing them into your chest.
“Tell me you don’t want me too.”  Y’lan looks at you with a stoic seriousness as his hand holds your knees up strongly.
You try to buck against his hold but it proved no use. He had you pretzeled and exposed for whatever he needed.
“Fuck you,”  you barely squeak out due to the limited air from your chest being squished by your legs.
Y’lan shakes his head slowly before rearing his freehand back to smack your ass.  The sound reverberates off the walls like a crack of lightning.
“OW!  DAMN!”  You shout.
Y’lan scoffs.  “Finally cracked that cool shell off of you.  Now tell me and I’ll leave:  Do you want me?”
You still buck against his hands, kicking a little at the air.  “You have no rights to me.  It would just be a waste of time.”
He bit his lip as he smacks you again, harder.
“FUCK Y’LAN!”
“I didn’t ask you what you think will be, I’m asking right now what you want.  Now you got me hot, so I gotta do what I gotta do.”
Y’lan lowers himself between you, spreading your lips apart and before you could say please his tongue took its time on you.  Your head rolls against the mirror behind you as your squirm with gratification.  He does not miss a single crevice and hums happily into you as his thirst became fulfilled by your waters.
“Please…”  you whimper as he lets your knees relax over his shoulders giving you command again.  When his eyes locked onto you while he pulled your clit with his lips you felt yourself lose it.  You face strained in satisfaction, locking your thighs around his ears until you absolutely shook for mercy.
“I need...I need…” you gasped with each aftershock that trembled through your body.
Y’lan stood up again, unbuckling his pants a glistening smile.  “You need some of me, don’t you?”
You take what strength you have left to get off the sink, crashing into him and your knees woke up again.  He looked at you with concern as you adjusted your top to pop your girls back in their place and bent for your underwear.
“I need…” you gasped, pulling them up over your hips and smoothing your skirt down.  “...to get my wings.”
Y’lan’s face screwed up in an incredulous manner.  “What?  What wings?”
You turn to the mirror to straighten your hair and give a final once over.  “I ordered some to go.  They should be ready.  I’ll fuck a bitch up if their cold.”  You pat Y’lan’s hardened crotch.  “Down boy.”
As you walk slowly for the door, Y’lan calls out.  “So you just gonna leave it like this?  Until when?”
You look back at him with pity and serendipity.  “You think she would go crazy if she knew?  Or she would just cry?  Will you kiss her later on tonight?”
Y’lan stood there silently, buckling his pants back up and grabbing a paper towel for his mouth. 
“Maybe she would be happy, she seems very positive spirited.  But don’t ever call me again if you got some other girl claiming you.  Believe me when I say.  You know what I could do for you.  But you ain’t ready.”
You left him standing there in that bathroom and headed to the bar just as your order is called.  Picking up your food, you saw your coworker sitting there sipping her lemonade and waiting.  You didn’t feel guilty, however.  
Sitting at home and enjoying your wings, your phone lights up that you received a message.  
We’re not moving in together ever
You text back.  Did she cry?
No... she was mad
Wow, maybe you let a good one go after all
Nah, I’m straight.  
So am I...with these wings.
Do you have some left to share?
Hm, I coulda swore you ate earlier
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selfless1978 · 3 years
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SURRENDER PART 2
Leo groaned as he slumped in his chains. He was bruised, beaten and battered to the point even his mighty endurance caved. He was bleeding from numerous wounds, and he was alone.
Barely able to keep his eyes open, his head tilted towards the ground, he watched silently as the blood trickled from his lip to fall the seeming endless distance to the floor. Despite their efforts however, Leo had kept his silence. His brothers had gotten away with the plans they had come to steal. Karai had desperately tried to get him to reveal where his brothers had fled to, and she had failed. But she had come very close to breaking him to his breaking point physically.
Despite his dire situation, his mind wasn’t on his predicament. It was lost somewhere else entirely. His Father, his brothers and….her. Vicky now filled his mind along side his family. Her smile, her gentle teasing, her laugh, her hair. The scent of lavender that filled his nostrils every time she was near. Her soft skin against his as they lay exhausted in each other’s arms. It physically hurt how much he wanted to see her right now. 
This wasn’t the first time he’s been in a dangerous situation. This time was different though. He was worried, about her. What would happen to her if he didn’t make it out of here? She seemed so fragile to him in so many ways. The pain and hurt she had already suffered through, this shouldn’t be added to it. It was those thoughts that let him hold on, that fueled that inner fire within. He had to hold on. He had to….
There’s so much life I’ve left to live, and this fire is burning still
When I watch you look at me, I think I could find the will
Time seemed to not exist here in this darkened room. The only way to tell that it was passing at all was the slow drip of his blood down his body. It was finally beginning to slow, his advanced healing kicking in. That little win was quickly smashed back down to the ground when he heard the doors open in front of him. Someone was coming in. Several someones by the sounds of footsteps. He lifted his head and watched Karai come in. Four of her cronies following her.
“Have you decided to talk, Leonardo?” She gave him a vicious half smile when her only answer was a glare from him. “No? Then I think it’s time to increase the severity of our methods. Bring me the cables.” She snapped over her shoulder. Two of the four individuals walked across this room of hell to grab the requested items as Leo stared Karai unflinchingly down. He wouldn’t tell her a damn thing, because if he did it would put everyone he cared about at risk. He raised his weary head up more and glared at her defiantly.
His cool anger flared in him.
To stand for every dream, and forsake this solid ground
And give up this fear within, of what would happen if they ever knew
And turned into shock as another figure appeared in the doorway. One he knew now very intimately.
Vicky was there. She was furious. Even from here he could see the anger in her eyes as she carefully made her way in. His heart beating wildly at the sight of her, but he remained silent. If he spoke out he would reveal her presence which was obviously still unknown to his captors. What was she doing here? How did she find him? And what in the nine hells was she thinking!? If something happened to her….
I’m in love with you
Even as she approached, her eyes watching everything as she slowly crept closer. A low growl escaped his throat and with a surge of adrenaline he jerked hard at his chains. His fear for her safety rapidly rising. 
Kara laughed at his feeble efforts. “Try as much as you want. Those chains were made specially for you, Leonardo. I seriously doubt you will break them. Fool.” She then grinned maliciously and held up a single key. “This is the only way out of them for you, and I have it.”
Vicky stopped, her eyes now locked on Karai from behind and narrowing dangerously. Carefully she pulled something out of her belt and she began to brace herself for something.
Leo could only watch. He knew what was about to happen but he could do nothing about it. His fists clenched in helpless fear filled anger as Vicky took in a deep breath, met his eyes with her deep brown orbs and smiled at him. Giving him a minute nod of assurance. Leo forced himself to calm down. If he wasn’t careful, he’d give her away. And he was beginning to understand that she was his only hope to get out of here. He had to surrender himself to her. He calmed, his fists unclenching as he watched, and waited.
‘Cause I’d surrender everything, to feel the chance to live again
I reach to you, I know you can feel it too
Leo held the gaze with her a moment longer, then she charged on silent feet. 
Vicky’s hair had been tied back into a long braid and it now swung violently behind her as she rapidly closed the distance between her and Karai. As she grew closer Leo could see that what she was holding in her hand was a collapsable asp, and she snapped it out with an expert flick of her wrist. It was that sound that finally made Karai turn around, just in time to receive the self defense weapon right in her cheek. Kara’s head snapped around as she fell to the ground. Without stopping to look, Vicky quickly spun and gave the two soldiers with Karai the same treatment. That gave Vicky enough time to pick up the dropped key and quickly unlock one of Leo’s wrists and placing the piece of metal in his hand. Which he quickly put to work on his other wrist.
We’ll make it through.
The reason why she handed him the key became apparent when the two Karai had sent off to find the requested Items came running back. With a squeal, Vicky turned and ran, her element of surprise now lost. She was just fast enough to make it around an island counter to use it to put some distance between them. 
Of course there two were smart enough to split up and go around each end. That left Vicky with the only option of going on top of it. She managed to kick one in the face with a victorious “Ha!” before the second managed to grab her foot and pull. 
Vicky fell hard grunt onto the metal surface, but she was watching Leo struggle to get free and that sight refused to let her cave to the pain. Instead she snarled and began to kick the man viscously in the face as he approached. She was fighting, not for herself but for him. Leo was at a loss of words as he watched her furious struggle. Struck with something a mixture of concern and awe.
A thousand dreams I still believe, I’d make you give them all to me
I’d hold you in my arms and never let go
Finally, he managed to get the damn thing off, and promptly collapsed to the ground. Having been locked up in that uncomfortable position for god knows how long, his weakened body just couldn’t support his weight. He struggled anyway, knowing she would need his help.
Or did she?
Even as he fought off his dizzy haze at the sudden freedom, he felt gentle hands cup his cheeks. 
“Easy. We got a few moments. Gather your strength, we still have a bit to go to get out of here.”
Leo struggled to focus as he looked into her face. By now she had torn a strip off cloth off of one of the fallen guards and used it to wipe the blood from his face. Despite his cloudy vision, the concern, and something more on her now gentle features, was clear to see as she tended to him. After a few moments, not caring about his larger size, she guided him as he stood shakily on uncertain feet.
“I got you.” She murmured to him as she took his hand. “Just follow my pull.”
Leo sighed, not liking this helpless feeling, but he nodded and moved his feet to follow her as she led him out.
I surrender.
Right outside the door Vicky paused a moment to bend over, picking something up off the floor. When she turned and walked behind him and he felt her tugging on his harness he realized that she had found his katana and slid them home in their sheaths. Once they were secure, she once more led him along.
Leo’s vision was beginning to clear and his head was slowing it’s spin. But not fast enough. He stumbled and she quickly pushed him against the wall she had been hugging so he wouldn’t fall. The spell passed a few moments later and he looked at her with a clearer vision, and found her looking back up at him. No fear in her eyes at their predicament. The surge of emotion he felt for this woman suddenly surged high, a huge lump forming in his throat. She smiled back up at him as she squeezed his hand.
I know I can’t survive, another night away from you
Leo took a moment to repay the gentle motion from earlier, his hand cupping her cheek as he looked into those brown eyes. Eyes that closed as she raised her hand to cover his. That one moment telling both how much they needed each other.
That intimate moment lasted a short bit longer until she once more led him towards the exit. Leo quickly noticed that she was going a different route than he had been brought in from. “Where are we going?” 
“Servant entrance.” She replied even as she kept a sharp eye out around them. “It’s closer than the main entrance. I guess the clan likes to keep the maids close by the holding cells incase if they have to clean up any messes.” She spat out, anger in her tone. Obviously considering Leo as one of those ‘messes’. 
They lucked out for most of the trip, until the sound of a klaxon blared out. Vicky swore under her breath and Leo needed no clarification to figure out what was wrong. His absence had clearly been found out. Vicky’s tug was more urgent now, though she still was gentle with him. Leo was recovering, but not fast enough to escape what happened next.
The corridor in front of them was blocked off with soldiers who had been alerted. Not far behind them, Leo saw the door she had been hoping to get through without being detected.
“Shit!” Vicky swore under her breath as the first cry rang out. Her expression was firm as she snapped her weapon back out as they rushed forward. She let his hand go, and to his dismayed shock, she charged them. Her angry scream feeling her pure stubbornness. His eyes were wide as she spun, her asp slapping one soldier hard in the side before she pushed him into another. A third she kicked in the groin and when he bent over, her arm came up from below to slam the asp against his chin. He fell to the ground but there were more. More than she could take on. Leo froze a moment in shocked fear.
Just for a very, very short moment.
You’re the reason I go on, and now I need to live the truth
Right now, there’s no better time. From this fear I will break free
Leo watched as the person who completed him fought so hard for him. The fact that she was in danger spurned something deep inside of him. Something he had though had been drained out of him by Karai’s relentless torture. He shook off his fear for her, understanding that what she needed now was not to be coddled, she needed a fighting partner. She had come here for him. She had risked everything….
….for him….
Leo was beginning to understand that this special woman, who didn’t have the fighting experience he had though she obviously had some fighting knowledge, was trying desperately to give him time to get his shit together so at least he could get out of here. As he watched, she tried to divert the mass into another corridor to free the way for him to reach the door. Then, she finally fell to the ground. Still fighting and cursing, but obviously out matched.
And I’ll live again with love. And no they can’t take that away from me.
With a low growl and steely hiss, his katana came free. Held in steady hands.
And they will see
Leo charged. Not as fast or as strong as he normally was, but he pushed away the pain as he drew closer. He came in with a spin, one blade high and the other low and unleashed a flurry of swings that send the first three in his path to the ground. 
The ground where Vicky kicked the knee out from a fourth, her defiance still clear to see in her eyes despite the bloody lip and cuts on her black sweater clad arms. Another booted foot kicked out even as she slapped another in the calf with her asp. 
‘Cause I’d surrender everything, to feel the chance to live again
I reach to you, I know you can feel it too
Two more were cleared out of Leo’s path. His breathing heavy as he struggled. But he could do this. He had to do this. They were so close to the exit, so close to freedom. They were so close to him being able to hold her safely in his arms. He refused to let it end here. Not when she risked everything to get him out. He punched out and yet another soldier was cleared.
We’d make it through.
Vicky was growing  weary. He could tell. Her furious flailing was starting to slow down. Still, she refused to give in. Holding her own as best she could as the group was beginning to thin out. 
Finally, she had made it back to her feet. They were now cut off from each other though. With the remaining men in-between them. Vicky let her frustration out at that situation by slamming her asp upside the head of one of those men. They had obviously seen Leo as the larger threat, much to their error. While Leo worked his end, with most of the men facing him, Vicky had no problem using that to her advantage. She systematically slammed her weapon into everyone she could from behind while Leo himself forced them to face him.
A thousand dreams I still believe, I’d make you give them all to me
I’d hold you in my arms and never let go
In normal circumstances, he would have refused to ever even let her think about doing something like this, but now he had to trust in her. Because without her even he in his current state couldn’t fight through this. He had to surrender his trust to her. And he did.
I surrender
Leo didn’t know how long this went on. Long enough for his arms to grow heavy and pained with weariness. It was the fact that Vicky was here with him that kept him going. The fact that she was right there. So close, but out of reach. He wanted nothing more than to hold her. To feel her hand in his again. He had to keep on as she kept on.
Every night’s getting longer
With another growl, he pushed himself harder. Determined to get to her, and then to get out. He refused to accept another option or outcome. 
And this fire is getting stronger, babe
He heard her curse out in pain, and heard her asp retaliate. Then, suddenly it seemed, the way was clear. It was also then that he stumbled again. His body giving in, his vision blurring as he struggled to stay conscious.
I’ll swallow my pride and I’ll be alive, can’t you hear my call
“Vicky! Where are you!”
I surrender all
“Right here.” Once more her hands cupped his cheeks. “I’m right here.” 
‘Cause I’d surrender everything, to feel the chance to live again
There was another sound of feet rushing in, and Vicky swore loudly. She stood up to face this new onslaught without fear, her eyes on fire as she stood in front of Leo to protect him. This time, he couldn’t help her, he had nothing left to give. All he could do was watch through the pain and haze as she once more had to pick up the fight. He had to believe in her, trust in her. Surrender his entire being to her.
I reach to you, I know you feel it too
But she didn’t have to make that last stand. The door behind them suddenly was ripped from it’s hinges. The reason why stepped through the now empty frame and towered above the downed Leo and standing Vicky. 
We’d make it through
“I got this.” Raph rumbled lowly as he walked by. Donnie following him. “Get him out of here.”
A thousand dreams I still believe, I’d make you give them all to me
I’d hold you in my arms and never let go
Vicky wearily stepped back as Mikey helped Leo to his feet. Vicky then joined Mikey in supporting what weight she could to help Leo stand. Leo pulled her weakly to him. His mouth and nose resting in her hair as he held her close to him for a moment.
I surrender
He just held her as the fight raged on. Breaking that hold only because Mikey ushered him towards the door and into the waiting vehicle. Raph and Donnie soon followed and finally, finally, Leo was on his way home. 
Donnie worked around the couple, not seeming surprised that Vicky had been there. A fact that Leo took note of.
“Why?” Leo asked the woman he held to him.
Vicky knew what he meant. He could tell as she pulled her head back to look at him. Her face worried about him, but still gentle. “Because you needed me.” Was the simple reply. She smiled up at him. “I’ll always be there if you need me.”
Right here, right now. I’d give my life to live again
My everything, I surrender all to you
Leo was at a loss for words. He just gazed down at this woman who had just risked everything for him. He really didn’t know what to say as he pulled her close to him again. After a while he managed “Don’t do that again.” In a gentle tone as he held her.
“Unlikely.” Donnie piped in dryly. “She threatened to shave dad bald, paint Raph’s shell pink, pawn off all of Mikey’s games and destroy my lab if we didn’t let her help us get you out once she found out what happened. Her argument was that one human could find their way better without causing too much attention than three large turtles. Your little cookie has some rocks instead of chocolate chips buried in her, Leo.”
Right here, right now. I’d give my life to live again
My everything, I surrender all to you.
Leo just shook his head and chuckled. Then he grew quiet and held her, surrendering to the relief, and to her warm embrace as she held him just as tight. He let himself surrender to his feelings for her, and the unspoken awe he was feeling again for this woman who was determined to be in his life, for good and bad.
@the-second-circle-of-shell
@bushido-in-blue
I found this version of the song and I just had to do one in reverse mode. I hope it turned out good.
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issabangtanfic · 5 years
Text
[Jungkook] The Windmill House (Chapter 2)
Masterlist
Synopsis: When for once rich doesn’t rhyme with Christian Grey.
Pairing: Jungkook x OC
A/N: Feel free to submit a cover! Tell me what you think in my inbox! Enjoy!
-
“Why?” I frown, cofused, even though I know I should just shut up and thank him given the position I'm putting my company in.
“I thought you hated my vision.” I murmur. His eyes light up, and he gives me a soft smile.
“It’s all the contrary. I love your vision, Maya.” He croons, my whole body going rigid. Oh, please.
“Mi-“
“Miss Fair.” He corrects himself. I swallow.
“Then why didn’t you give me the project for your mansion?” I ask him, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Because this is much more important to me.” He counters.
“Huh.” Is all I manage to say. I don't understand his logic. I should be the last person he gives such an important project to then.
“Wanna see what it looks like?” He proposes, jerking his head towards the house. I nod, my curiosity getting the best of me. Mr Jeon leads me up the stairs to the porch. 
This house doesn’t even have a door. It’s just a big plywood board with a metal chain on each side, chains that are attached to the house by two hooks and two big locks. Mr Jeon fishes the keys out of his pocket, opening each lock. He then lifts the board effortlessly and moves it to the side to reveal the inside of this old guy.
We step in, and I discover a dark and desolated place. The left wing of the house is closed off by a door, and in front of me lay old wooden stairs that lead to the upper floor. The only point of light comes from the open room on our right, the high column where the windmill is. My feet carry me inside that room, the old wood crackling and squeaking under my heels. A stuffy smell of rotten wood invades my nostrils, and I absolutely love it. This definitly is an old guy.
The room we walk in is the living room, one of the most beautiful spaces I’ve seen in my life. The room is high, really high. Easily dwarfing the ten meters I had guessed. And it’s luminous, bathed in light by two humongous bullseye windows, making the inside look like a ship of some kind.
The furniture is covered by big white pieces of cloth, and I’m dying to uncover them. I guess the shape of a couch, two armchairs, a table and a cabinet by the windows, and a bar on the left where there are no windows.
If half of the cylindric room is covered by windows, the other half has a huge embedded bookshelf as a wall. I’ve never seen anything like this except in harry potter. A huge wall of books, easily covering half of the height of the room, and a ladder that can slide across it.
Oh wow.
At the far end of the room, there is a small metallic spiral staircase that leads to a small platform at the very top of the room, and I guess it’s the windmill maintenance area.
“So?” I hear Mr Jeon ask expectingly. 
Is this, like, his childhood home? Someone clearly has spent a lot of time here. Was it him? His parents? Windmill houses are usually found in America, and he has an American accent, it wouldn’t be surprising if this was family home. 
But it’s odd. The whole Poudlar spaceship spirit of it makes it look like some kind of… big child room. A place where you’d come to escape reality, far from the city.
“It’s…” I trail off, trying to put a word on all of my thoughts. This house speaks to me, and I can feel that it’s filled with meaningful moments and memories.
“Heavy.” I breathe, my shoulders sagging. I look up at him and watch his eyebrows slightly furrow.
“Heavy.” He repeats, looking at me intently. I shy from his gaze, focusing on these beautiful windows again. That’s when I notice the fireplace. 
“Take a look at this.” He offers, pulling my attention back to him. He strides across the room, towards the metal stairs, and grabs the wall. Thats when I notice a crank I hadn’t seen before.. He grabs it, and it must be rusty, unsurprisingly, because he has to put some strength on it to get it to spin. When he finally gets it moving, I hear the sound of heavy metal rustling. 
The sound comes from above, so I lift my eyes, and see the ceiling opening. Wow! The roof of the windmill is actually made of blinds, against glass. And as Mr Jeon turns the crank, the blinds lift up to reveal the sunny blue sky.
“Woah.” I breathe as I’m starting to get bathed in sunlight. Now that is luminous!
“That’s amazing!” I laugh in delight. This is so cool! But who the hell would’ve thought of that back then?
“And also, really strange.” I had, now that I think of it.
“You should see it in the night.” He says, pulling my eyes back down to him. He’s taking slow but confident steps towards me. I don’t answer, my eyes glued to his face. I hope he’s not going to stand too close to me.
“You can see thousands of stars. There’s not much light pollution.” He adds, still walking to me. I’m tempted to  take a step back, but that would give away my lack of composure. He stops when he’s unreasonably close to me, as if he knew it would make my heart pound in my ears.
He knows.
“You can even see Saturn, in the summer.” He finishes. I look up at him. Not knowing what to say, unable to form any decent answer to that. He smells so, fucking divine, It’s giving me a head rush.
“You in on this?” He asks softly. I manage a small nod, swallowing a big lump in my throat. The corner of his mouth curls up.
“Good.” He says, his lips twitching, refraining a grin. Good? This is anything but good. He’s trouble. Is he not going to move? 
His phone rings in his pocket, and I take the opportunity to look away and step back from him. He fishes his phone out of his pocket and looks at the caller’s ID.
“I have to take this.” He says, looking up at me. “Make yourself at home.”
I manage another small nod, and he strolls out of the room to take his call. Sighing, I place my bag on the bar and walk over to the covered furniture. I pull a cover, revealing a leather couch and also sending dust into the air.
I cough, taking a look at the fine piece of work. This could stay here. But I’m more intrigued by the  bookshelves. I cover the couch back and take my heels off, walking to the ladder. I slide it across the wall and climb to the top, grabbing a random book.
Curiosities of the sky by Garrett P. Serviss.
Astronomy. 
I put it back and grab another one.
A brief history of Time by Stephen Hawking.
Astrophysics. This place is a spaceship! I open it and find a note on the inside.
For my neutron star Jungkook. Don’t aim for the stars but for Canis Majoris. Love A-
I have no idea what this means. But at least I know Mr Jeon has lived here. And he’s keen on space science. What an actual nerd.
The squeaky floor boards announce Mr Jeon’s return way before he enters the room again. I look down at the doorway until he appears, and notice his tie is gone and the top two buttons of his shirt are undone. Yum.
His eyes land on me and widen.
“What are you doing?” He scolds, pacing towards me. 
I thought I could make myself at home!
“I’m sorry, I thought I could look around.” I stutter, surprised.
“Of course you can, but not. like this. Do you realise how high this is?” He mutters. I look down at him, realising he has to bend his neck to look at me. 
Damn, I am high. 
He could see my knickers!
“I’m scared you’ll fall.” He murmurs, holding his hand out to me, inviting me to come down. He’s scared I’ll fall? Well, he better stop making me so dizzy.
I place the book back on the shelf and proceed to step down the ladder.
“Where are your shoes?” I hear him ask from under me.
“Erm…”
“In such an old house, that’s dangerous.” He lectures.  Yeah, yeah, whatever.
I look down at him, and he’s still offering his hand. I have no choice but to take it. I decide to jump down the last step.
You could get a sh-“
“Ow!” I cry.
“Shard in your foot. Well, congratulations.” He mutters. I hop on one foot, my heel stinging painfully. I don’t know what I just landed on, but it was not a shard!
“Careful.” I hear him mutter, and suddenly I’m sent flying as he scoops me up in his arms. I gasp, wrapping my arms around his neck so I don’t fall off, but shocked this is happening. I’m in his arms, and they are strong. He has a hand on my back and the other curled around the back of my knees.
My eyes bulge out of their sockets and I feel my face heating up. I feel hot in my cheeks and my heart is racing. This is both hell and paradise.
“Let’s see.” He breathes, walking to the couch. He sets me down on it and sits on the adjacent armchair’s arm, grabbing my leg and setting my injured foot on his knee.
My face is about to explode. He takes a look at the underside of my foot.
“You’ll have to take your stockings off.” He declares, looking up at me. 
And I know. I know myself and I know, my face is bloodshot and I’m busted from miles away. Mum and Dad always tell me this will bring me troubles, blushing that hard that easily, now I know why.
I blink and swallow, not knowing what to do.
I take a minute process things. My dress is knee-length but it’s flowey, so it won’t rise up to my waist if I reach under it. If I ask him to turn around, he’ll make fun of me. I must act confident,.
Looking away from his eyes so I don’t see his reaction, I carefully reach under my dress and grab the waistline of my stockings, lifting my bum to slide them down.
When I’m past my bum and reach halfway down my thighs, his hands cover mine, and he “helps” me get the rest off without having to bend. But the way he does, it sends my body in a frenzy. He doesn’t take my stockings off, he caresses my legs, sliding his hands down on my skin and dragging the stockings with them.
Heat licks along my skin and I let out a shaky breath, shocked by his boldness but too focused on not letting it show. My stockings come off, and I exhale deeply.
His thumb strokes my ankle as he lifts up my foot, and I chew down on my lip, not wanting to make a sound. Suddenly, his phone vibrates again. 
Halle-fucking-lujah!
“I’ll take care of it.” I declare, removing my foot from his lap. “Take the call.”
He nearly yanks my foot back onto his knee.
“While you’re bleeding all over my floor?” He mutters. “Sorry to disappoint, but I’m not that much of an asshole.”
Not that much? So he knows he’s an arse.
“So, you’re aware that you were a arse to me yesterday?” I ask, my feverish body making me brazen. He examines my foot carefully, tugging on a shard.
“I’m... merciless, when it comes to business.” He muses, removing a shard with a sharp movement.
“Ow.”
“Sometimes it’s a quality, sometimes it a flaw and costs me a lot.” He says, pensive. This is dangerously close to an apology.
“Is that your way of saying you’re sorry?” I try.
“No it’s not.” He retorts, pulling another shard out of my foot. I scowl at him.
“Would you happen to have tweezers?” He asks casually, looking up at me and ignoring my scowl. I blink at him.
“In my bag, yes.” I indicate. When he stands, I sag against the couch, rubbing the bridge of my nose. This man is so attractive, I hate feeling like this. I know men like him.
He comes back with my tweezers.
“You went through my bag?” I ask, shocked. I thought he’d bring it to me!
“Well, that’s where the tweezers were.” He retorts, sitting back down on the armchair, ignoring my semblance of annoyance. He grabs my foot again.
“Has anyone  ever told you it’s very rude to snoop in a lady’s bag?” I mutter, readjusting my position.
“Stop moving, woman.” He mutters. Rude!
“There.” He declares, pulling out what feels like a huge chunk of wood. I hiss in pain.
“That’s a nasty cut. You’re still bleeding. I’ll see if I can find bandages somewhere.” He declares before leaving again. He comes back a few moments later with bandages and disinfectant.
He cuts a piece of bandages and pours some disinfectant on it, before bringing it to my heel. The product stings. 
“Ow!” I squeal, removing my foot from his hold.
“Maya.” He calls, grabbing my foot back. Will he stop?!
“It’s Miss Fair.” I grind out,  yanking myself out of his reach. He looks up at me, sighing deeply, his tongue briefly poking at the inside of his cheek in annoyance.
“Yeah, as soon as I get this disinfected.” He mutters. Huffing, I reluctantly give him my foot, letting him do his business and wrap it up in some bandages.
“Done.” He declares once he’s finished.
“Thank you.” I mumble, because I’m that. He places his medical equipment on the covered table.
“I guess that’s enough designing for today. Wait here.” He announces before rising and disappearing. He comes back with my bag and hands it to me. I take it and stands, and before I can even take an actual step I’m flying again.
“Jesus Christ!” I yell in surprise as he scoops me up again. What the heck? “Mr Jeon, I can walk.”
“Clumsy as you are, you might break a leg.” He mutters, casually walking towards the exit, with me in his arms. I clench my jaw.
I am the clumsy type, but this is wrong!
“I am not clumsy. You can put me down.” I try not to sound like I’m begging, but I bloody am.
“ I insist.” He retorts, stepping out of the house. Oh, how fucking perfect. He carries me over to my car, but heads for the passenger side.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
“Taking you home.”
I start to panic.
“I can drive, really.” I blurt out, stumbling over my own words. He sets me down in front of the passenger door.
“This is really unnecessary.” I murmur, looking up at him. 
“I don’t feel comfortable knowing you’re driving with an injured foot.” He shrugs a shoulder, narrowing his eyes at me because of the sun in his face. He looks perfect in the sun. I imagine him in shades and a V neck. Mmmh..
“Injured is a big word.” I retort. He opens in mouth and I’m not having any of this.
“And, I don’t feel comfortable with you taking me home.” I say before he can argue, reminding him he’s a client and I’m not going to cross this line with him. 
He frowns, staring at me for a moment, his face a knot of confusion. Finally, he scoffs.
“Listen to me, lady.” He admonishes. Lady?
“I know I affect you, and you should know the feeling’s mutual, but this,” He pauses, taking a small pause and knocking the air out of my lungs. “Has nothing to do with how bad I want to have sex with you.”
I mean, I knew he knew I was attracted to him. I keep making a show of myself whenever I see him, but I didn't think it would be mutual! Oh, and the way the word "sex" sounds in his mouth is filthy and filled with promises.
Oh my god, if I come home with him, he might just-
“I’m not giving you the keys.” I say sternly. His lips curl up and he seems pleased.
“I see you’re not denying it.’ He murmurs. 
Oh bloody hell!
“Oh, and I already have them.” He says, fishing them out of his pocket and holding them up. Bloody bastard!
"In." He jerks his chin.
"In not going home, I have to go to my office." I try.
"At this time?"
"Yes."
"To your office we go then. Hop in." He pipes up, unlocking my car and opening the door for me. I make a desperate attempt to snatch my keys out of his hand.
I fail, and he smirks at me.
“Cheeky.” He murmurs. “I like that.”
There’s a detonation inside me and blood rushes to my face. This is just getting worse. I thought just being around him was hard, but how am I supposed to keep calm when he teases me like this?
Huffing, I get into the car just because I can’t stand the way he looks at me. 
"I'll get the door. Don't go anywhere." He says to me before closing the door. While he’s good I take a look at myself in the rearview. I’m one messy tomato. I sag against the seat, defeated.
I groan. When will I stop being a fucking impressible? I have no fucking taste in men. Ugh.
When Mr Jeon finishes closing off the house, he gets in my mini, cramming his frame into my tiny car. he pushes the seat all the way back and still looks like a clown in a clown car.
I don’t make any remarks though, I don’t think he’d laugh at himself. he ride to my office is silent and feels like an eternity because he just had to look smoking hot while driving.
He parks in front of the office and gets out the car. I don’t wait for him to open my door for me, and I don’t even know if he was going to. I kick my shoes off and leave the there before getting off as well.
“And now on the concrete? Miss Fair, how much do you hate shoes?” He utters while circling my car.
“A lot.” I mutter.
“Here.” He says, bending to grab the back of my knees.
“That’s enough!” I squeal, swatting his hands away. Not on the bloody street! Is he mental? 
His brow furrows. I clear my throat.
“My keys, please.” I ask sternly , holding my palm up. Sighing, he hands them back to me.
“Thank you for the ride.” I say before turning on my heels.
“What about when you go home later?” He calls from behind me.
“I’ll manage.” I reply, looking over my shoulder. “Thanks for worrying.” I add before disappearing inside the building. I sigh deeply, feeling exhausted. My foot doesn’t even hurt that much.
This man is mentally exhausting. I feel more drained by an hour with him than by a full day at work. And I’ll have to see him again and again until the project is finished! What am I going to do with myself?
I make it up to my office to grab my sketchbook, and on my desk lay a bouquet of flowers. Frowning, I take a closer look, discovering a card with the white Roses. I open it, and it says:
I’m sorry. - J x
So he is sorry after all! And he sent flowers to apologize? So that’s what he meant. He said his speech about him being merciless wasn’t his way of saying sorry because he had sent a whole bouquet of flowers to my office.
When I realise my smile is reaching my ears, I pul myself back together and put the card back. I’ll deal with that tomorrow. I grab my sketch book and head back out, taking a moment to reply to my Mum’s text asking why I din’t call her after work.
Worked late today. I’ll call you when I come home. Love you lots x
While I’m sending the text, I feel my car keys being snatched from my hand.
“Ah!” I yelp, feeling myself flying again. And here I am again, in Mr Jeon’s arms, confused and nearly having a heart attack.
“Walking down the stairs with your eyes glued to you phone and an injured foot.” He mutters, walking me down the stairs. What in hell?
“It’s like you want to get hurt.” He grumbles.
“Put me down! What are you doing here?” I utter, in deep shock. He waited outside?
"Taking you home.”
“I said I was fine!”
“And I don’t want to take the risk.” He retorts, circling my car and bringing me to the passenger’s side.
“You’re taking care of a life project of mine. I don’t want you to die on me.” He explains, letting me down. I take a step back,, leaning against my car huffing and puffing.
“Pretty sure driving with a stinging foot isn’t going to kill me.” I mutter, smoothing my hair and tugging my dress down.
“Not taking the risk.” He counters, opening the door.
“Mr Jeon.” I grab the door.
“Mind your head.” He says, taking advantage of my lack of balance and pushing me down onto the seat. I groan, frustrated at him. 
It’s not like I can do much to stop him. He has the keys and he seems stubborn as heck. Grumbling to myself, I let him get in the driver’s seat and take me home. I guide him to my house, relieved when we make it in front of my home. I wait for him to join me on the pavement, and he gives me my keys back before leaning against my car.
“Did you receive my flowers?” He asks me.
Oh.
“Yes.” I reply. “They’re pretty.”
“Do you accept my apology?” He enquires, stepping in front of me, trapping me between him and my car. I swallow and nod.
“Great.” He smiles to me. 
“Now that I’m forgiven, I think we should drop the honorifics.” He proposes.
“This whole Miss Fair Mr Jeon thing is getting old.” He shrugs. Oh hell no!
“I’d rather we didn’t.” I counter.
“Why?”
“I don’t call my clients by their name.” I lie.
“Well, in case you still haven’t figured, I hope to be more than a client to you.” He replies, his tone changing, becoming low and inviting. I refrain a gasp and try to hold his smoldering gaze.
“Mr Jeon, this is highly inappropriate.” My voice is almost as quiet as a whisper.
“Yeah.” He breathes, nodding. Yeah?
Yeah, it’s inappropriate, and he knows it. What kind of excuse was that. Everything about this is inappropriate, I bet that’s why he wants to have sex with me.
“Should I give the project to Mrs Bingfield?” He proposes, tilting his head to the side. My jaw drops.
“I wouldn’t be your client.” He shrugs. I scoff. He narrows his eyes at me.
“So I guess that’s not the actual reason you won’t have sex with me.” He guesses correctly, and a shiver runs down my spine when he says ‘sex’. I’m in so much trouble.
“If you have no reasonable reason, that could mean you’re scared.” He muses. “If you tell me what you’re scared of, I’ll do my best to reassure you.”
I blink, his words echoing and bouncing in my head. 
And then I see him, really see him. 
He’s there, using his charms to pin me against my car, all cocky and arrogant, talking about how he’ll do what it takes to get me in his bed. He’s human garbage. He’s just a rich, power hungry arse who likes to seduce women. He’s playing with me.
I’m a conquest for him, a challenge.
I know that all too well, and it all comes back to me like a nasty aftertaste.
“So, whatever happens you’ll be the one to make it all. better.” I scoff.
“I’ll try.” He shrugs a shoulder. I’m such a fuck-up. He’s just plain trash, how could I have missed that. He’s hot, alright, but he just emanates with manwhore energy and now I want to throw up.
“I absolutely abhorre men like you.” I grind out in his face, using my sketchbook to poke at his chest and push him away. He takes step back, frowning deeply.
“You can keep your project. And your dick in your pants for that matter.” I mutter before pushing past him, and go home without a single look back in his direction.
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kainablue · 5 years
Text
LECTURE ME - A Quick Smoke
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Here’s another not sfw chapter about a student and her professor. Who’s the authority here? The answer might surprise you 😏
You missed the previous parts? No worries, you can read them as stand-alones. 
Chain Reaction
Distracted
Continue only if you’re 18+ (or younger, I won’t judge, but don’t say I didn’t warn you). Enjoy 🍷
A Quick Smoke
     Oliver
     This old university building, as grey and run-down as it may seem, is far more beautiful than the newer buildings erected in the last 50, 40 or - god forbid - 15 years. I absolutely despise those monstrosities with white walls, metal staircases and... electric sliding doors. Why would anyone on this planet ever want to eliminate the possibility, no - the privilege of dramatically slamming doors? Feeling mad - slam! - dramatic exit. Surprise visit - slam! - dramatic entrance. Fighting with someone - slam! - break someone’s nose.
     How about peeking, eavesdropping, leering through a crack? You push that forbidden door just a tiny bit, your heart in your throat, hoping that the old wood and rusty hinges don’t creak and betray your position. Ah, the thrill!
     And knocking. Whether those are light hits of your knuckles or pissed off bangs of your fists - you can’t do any of those on sliding doors. And why am I thinking about fucking doors for whole 10 minutes?
     I look at my lit cigarette. Did I… Did I take the pack with kush by accident? I carefully smell the cigarette - and release a sigh of relief. It’s definitely tobacco.
     I laugh at myself. It’s not pot’s fault that I lost my mind. Someone else is to blame. Someone whose black eyes send shivers of excitement down my spine. Someone whose every word decorated beautifully with a foreign accent is like a chant. Someone whose fingers move with grace of a pagan witch hexing her victims. A seductress. An enchantress. My Slavic vila.
     As I take a long drag, hidden behind this wonderful aging building, I close my eyes and melt into the warmth of the sun. When I open my eyes again, she is there.
***
     Filipa
     Oliver is lounging on top of an old basement entrance. The cellar has been sealed off for years, maybe even decades, but the wooden double-leaf door is as sturdy as it can be. It is not an easy feat to hold the weight of an full-grown man and his overgrown ego.
     I remain hidden for a while. I love watching my beast. I think I could gaze at his features for hours. Every flicker of his eyelashes, every movement of his Adam’s apple underneath his five o’clock shadow, every heave of his hairy chest is like my favourite movie I could watch over and over again. Maybe I could make another Sleep - in colour this time.
     “You like what you see?”
     He is full of himself, as always.
     “Yes. You are far more interesting to look at than to listen to.”
     “Ouch.” He pretends to be hurt, but I know he enjoys my jibes. “Not a nice thing to say to your professor.”
     “Your performance during your last class was disastrous. And I’m putting this mildly.”
     Oliver shifts, assuming a less relaxed position. He exhales two cones of dense smoke through his nostrils, reminding me of a raging bull who is about to charge.
     “My performance was bad because of your and Dani’s leg performance.”
     He’s so adorable when he pouts. I come closer. Oliver takes one last puff before stubbing out his cigarette.
     “You know how much I love to make you squirm.”, I coo.
     He looks up my legs and swallows. Seeing his Adam’s apple jump up and down pleasures me in interesting ways. He deserves a little reward.  
     “Beast...” Oliver’s green eyes widen in expectation, like a dog’s when it hears master’s voice. “Take off your shirt.”
     He obeys, a half-smile revealing a small part of his teeth. I take in his broad shoulders and thick neck. Short, straight hairs are covering his entire chest and a narrow, soft treasure trail connects those with his thick, curly pubes.
     “Give it to me.”
     Oliver hands over his white shirt and I turn it inside out before laying it between his legs. I kneel on it. He finally realizes what I intend to do.
     “Fuck,” is all he says.
     “Put your arms behind your head.”
     He obeys once again, uncertain but excited about my requests. I lean over him, placing my arms on both sides of his chest. A wolfish grin spreads across his face and he tries to pull out his arm probably to touch me.
     “No. Don’t move.”
     I take off my ribbon. Long, violet strip made of pure silk glides down my hair and I lightly drag it across his chest and nipples. I slide it underneath Oliver’s neck and wrists and tie a knot between his jaw and Adam’s apple.
     “Are you planning to choke me?”
     “Would you like that?”
     I tighten the knot just a little bit. He smiles, biting his lip.
     “Anything you do I like.”
     I sit on my ankles and pull him towards myself as if I’m holding reins. Oliver has to lift his body and bend forward. He doesn’t look uncomfortable at all. How does he manage to look like Adonis even when I force him into most awkward positions? His arms are bent backwards as if he’s posing for a magazine, exposing his armpits and his carved biceps.
     “How romantic.”
     I bite his lip before kissing him. The aroma of tobacco is bitter, but it doesn’t bother me. That’s just how Oliver tastes - and he’s delicious. He sucks my tongue, purring like a huge cat, and I can’t wait to start sucking on his cock.
     I push him on his back and start unbuttoning his jeans. It took me almost a full minute to release his already fully erect manhood. His head is wet from precum. I’m usually very patient and I love to tease, but this time I immediately engulf his glans.
     Oliver growls, not nearly aroused enough for my rough handling. His abs contract and my ribbon tightens around his neck as he instinctively tries to move his arms.
     “Fuck!”
     I smack my lips, licking off his precum. “I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist.” As an apology, I slowly trail the veins on his shaft with the tip of my tongue while placing light kisses all over his cock.
     “You witch”, his voice is a lot softer this time. I smile.
     I love the taste of his cock. I love licking and sucking on it, I love the smoothness of his foreskin underneath my fingers. His strained moans are making me whimper, his cock as wet as my pussy. Oliver’s heavy breaths, curling of his toes, spasms of his pelvis are my victory. His pleasure is my pleasure. Because I am creating it. And I don’t want it to end just yet...
     I take a breather, my saliva dribbling down my chin. Oliver’s glans is as red as his cheeks. He was mere seconds from orgasm.
     “No… Don’t stop… Why did you stop?”
     I wipe off my chin and take his cigarette pack. I light one fag.
     “In Serbia, we don’t say we are blowing someone - we say we are smoking someone.”
     “For fuck’s sake, Filipa, I don’t give a flying fuck about your country right now!”
     Oh, he’s so pissed. My ribbon is etching his skin the more he struggles, but he can’t free his arms without choking himself. Why do I find this so entertaining?
     I grab his shaft and press my thumb at the base of his glans - I know that spot is his weakness.
     Oliver groans. “Fuck.”
     “Do you want me to make you cum, beast?”
     “Yes… Yes, please...”
     I start to move my hand up and down, constantly pressing and releasing that sweet spot of his. He makes low and guttural sounds of pleasure. His glans is turning purple - he will orgasm.
     Oliver turns his head to one side, trying to silence his roar, and I press his cock against his belly, enjoying the view. His warm semen ends all over his torso.
     I lick off my thumb and take a drag while my lover catches his breath. I playfully smear his semen over his pubes.
     “Here.” I offer him a cigarette. “Have a smoke after a good smoke.”
     "Filipa," this time he laughs, “you are fucked up.”
     “Says a man tied like a pig and covered in his own cum.”
     “Touché.”
     Oliver’s phone rings. His work phone. His flushed cheeks go white as a sheet.
     “Who is it?”
     I check the screen. “The dean.”
     “Huh? What does she want?”
     He is already on his knees, waiting for me to untie him.
     “I think you are late for the monthly faculty meeting.”
     “Facul—”
     I was wrong. Now he is white as a sheet.
     “Fuckfuckfuck.”
     He snatches his shirt and puts it on inside out. Luckily, his jacket will cover the dirt. But as he runs off, buttoning up his jeans, I wonder will he notice the cum stains before or after he joins his colleagues.
My lovely peeps on the taglist (don’t ever hesitate to tell me do you don’t want to be tagged anymore, it’s cool) 💜 @valentinistefanos 💜 @rhine-cane 💜
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cowardcouch · 5 years
Text
The Eccedentesiast’s Trouvaille
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Chapter 11
" What should I give him ? A watch ."
" I am gifting that to him ."
" Okay , then , ummm a perfume ."
" Seriously Komorebi ? Give him something which he needs ."
" What about a car ? He doesn't have one . Nah , I'm broke . What about -"
" Leave it . Just think about it when you are normal . Whatever your are speaking right now has no rationality behind it ."
You pulled your hair in frustration . Today is his birthday and you hadn't bought anything for him . Chanyeol was also of no help . Should you make something for him?" I think instead of buying something you can make something for him . He likes when people do something for him ." Chanyeol suggested . You can always do this . You had also been so creative so you could make him something . It would make him feel special . " I must say your brain does really work some times derp ." You commented which made Chanyeol punch you in the gut . " Ouch . I was just appreciating your perspicacity , bro ." You scoffed at him and decided to get the things together to design your innovation .
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
" 1 teaspoon cocoa powder . Okay , so here comes the cocoa powder ." You had carefully read all the instructions for making the cupcakes and tried not be reckless . Measuring every dry ingredient and every fluid correctly you mixed them together . You had never tried your luck at cooking before . This was the first time you were cooking for someone , and that too a boy . You had pushed all the maids out of the kitchen and had the kitchen to yourself . You had decided to make cup cakes for him and also a keychain . You had just returned from the market buying all the essential things you required . " What are you making ?" Your stepmom entered the kitchen and folded her arms across her chest . " I-I was making a cupcake for Baekhyun ." You answered while mixing the milk with the flour in the bowl . " Do you need any help ?" She asked you politely . " No , it's fine . I'll do it myself ." You answered with a smile .
You had been talking a lot to her recently but still you couldn't bring yourself to accept her . You were still trying . Baekhyun's words had deeply influenced , like every inch of your skin . You did not know that a man's touch and words could have such an ineffable effect on you . You had never been close to any man except your father and Chanyeol , and now that you were , it was too heavy for your heart to carry such a feeling .Whenever you were near Baekhyun , your heart would start thumping loudly , so loud that you feared that Baekhyun might have heard it . The way he had wrapped his slender finger around your hand that day was so intimate for you . Just a few days ago , you were at Baekhyun's apartment and he had his hand over your knee . The way his milky and velvet like smooth skin touched your denim jeans was making your heart beat rapidly ; you could still feel the warmth there . Whenever his skin made a contact with yours , it would make your insides churn and would start some tingling feels inside your veins .
The way his chocolate brown hair covered his forehead was so sexy . You could actually write a whole thesis about his looks , but that would take a whole day . Some of the honorable mentions are - his thighs , his eyebrows , his nose , his adam's apple , his chest and many more things . The best part of his body according to you was his lips . They looked so plushy and whenever they made that bow kind of shape , you wanted kiss them . " And done ." You poured the batter into the heart-shaped molds and kept them inside the oven. You set the timer for thirty minutes and decided to make the key chain while the cakes were being baked .
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
You poured the mixture of plaster of paris in the guitar shaped mold . You had mixed some adhesive , colors and some glitters in it . You let the mixture dry while you pulled out the tray from the oven when the time was over . The odor of chocolate reached to your nostrils . They definitely smelled good . " I hope he likes them ." You carefully took out the cakes from the molds and let them cool down . After they became a little cool , you covered their tops with cream . You drew shapes on some and faces on the others . Finally , giving them a finishing tough with adding on sprinkles you kept them in the refrigerator . Waiting for the the key chain to dry , you decided to relax by playing your guitar . You tuned your guitar since you hadn't played it for a long time . You cleared your throat and strummed some chords to check if it was tuned correctly or not .
You began singing John Legend's All of Me . You had a habit of singing with your eyes closed so you did that but as you reached the chorus , you could only see Baekhyun's image before your eyes ; His smiling face which you loved the most . You couldn't concentrate and your attention wavered resulting in getting a cut on your finger . " Ouch ." You hissed in pain and immediately got the first aid box and wrapped a band aid around the cut .
Having nothing to do , you decided to watch your favorite k-drama . You liked cute,romantic things . It was weird for a girl who pushed everything away but now you wanted your old self back .You decided to check the key chain and to your relief it had dried up . With great difficulty you carved the letter 'B' on it . You drew some cute and small stars on them to make it more attractive . You had never worked so hard to make something . Whenever you had to go to a party , you simply bought it rather than applying your exemplary skills . It might be a matter of priorities . Maybe Baekhyun meant so much to you that you couldn't miss any opportunity to make him happy . Maybe , you liked him . Brushing away these thoughts , you decided to get ready . You had decided to wear rugged blue jeans and a pink tank top . This was the only non-black cloth you had . Quickly wrapping his gifts you headed towards the venue .
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
" Despacito , fgghjbhtewrh despacito, fsghg ido ~" Baekhyun and Chanayeol SCREAMED on top of their lungs as they SANG the lyrics of Despacito . " Stop singing if you don't know the lyrics . You both are speaking gibberish ." You yelled at both of them to stop them from destroying the grace of the song . But they never followed your orders and continued their leisure . Baekhyun turned his face and winked at you before continuing singing . You blushed and looked down . You never would have thought that going to karaoke would be so much fun . You had never gone to one until today . Even though you hadn't utter a single word except for 'Happy Birthday Baekhyun' . They told you to join them but you decided to just judge them .
You had fun with Chanyeol but Baekhyun made the evening more special . Of course , it was his birthday today , it had to be special . But he had made your evening special today . You still hadn't given him the gift yet ; you were too shy . You weren't sure if he would like it or not ." Komo , come on . We'll sing together ." You were reluctant to go but when you saw his puppy eyes you just decided to give up . "F-Fine." You got and shyly stood beside Baekhyun who handed you the mic .
All the three of you started singing Fifth Harmony's Worth it . Both Baekhyun and Chaanyeol were twerking while you could only laugh at them . Finally , out of breath both Baekhyun and Chanyeol sat down on the couch leaving space for you in the middle . You sat in the reserved space and both of them rested their heads on your shoulder . " That was awesome . It's the best birthday ,thanks to you guys ." He entangled both of you in a group hug ; a group of three friends is always 'legendary'. Pulling away he smiled at both of you which melted your heart . " All thanks to you buddy ." Chanyeol confessed and playfully hit him .
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
After cutting the cake together ,you guys had talked about a lot of things . Chanyeol exposed his deepest secrets and you hit him for not sharing it with you . You told them how you hated some of your college mates you thought were bitches and a little immature for their age . Chanyeol sang some of the songs that he had composed himself which made you and Baekhyun really proud . " I'll have to got bro . Sorry , but mom problems ." Chanyeol spoke ."But your mom doesn't ever-" Chanyeol cut you off ." Dad has come back from his business trip so I need to go." "No problem Chanyeol . Your coming here is the biggest gift for me itself ." Baekhyun thanked him ."Thanks for the party bro and happy birthday once again ." Chanyeol wished and hugged him before leaving the place .
" So I guess it's just the both of us ." Baekhyun spoke while chewing the chicken he had ordered . " Let's talk a walk by the river ." He suggested and you nodded . Paying for the bill , both of you headed outside . Baekhyun draped his arm around your shoulder making you feel all wiggly-wobbly . " Let's sit here ." He pointed towards the wooden bench . He headed towards it and you followed him . He remained silent for a long time , just staring at the dark sky filled with millions of twinkling stars . You just fidgeted in your seat .
" Whenever it used to be my birthday , my parents used to take me to the karaoke . I insisted the to take me to karaoke since I enjoyed singing . My mother wasn't much of a music-lover but my father had a splendid baritone." Baekhyun broke the silence which made you look at him. " It was a week after I turned twelve that I heard of a music festival being held in the neighboring city and I begged them to take me there . They agreed and decided to drive till there . We were enjoying the ride until a truck came speeding towards our direction and crashed with the car . My parents were taken to the hospital but the doctors couldn't save them . I was badly injured but they managed to save me . For months , I couldn't return to my old-self . I stopped making friends , talking to people and stopped eating ; just like you , I isolated myself for every fucking thing in this world . It was only with a passage of time that I realized that I was just killing myself . I was walking , breathing ,eating but I was dead inside . I was just wasting my life . I realized that instead of dwelling upon my problems , I should do something productive . So , I just decided to become a human being that would help everyone , heal people ; a bright ball of sunshine and I did that , which makes me proud ." He smiled at you and you could see the tears that he was holding back .
" You know...I was just curious about you . I know you suffered , I can see it in your eyes . You can always share it with me . Not that I am telling you to do that right now ." He scratched his nape . You exhaled and just looked towards the sky . " The constant support , my first best friend , my soul was my mother .She was so near to me that I couldn't tell whether I was her daughter or her bestfriend . Her love for me was ineffable . I loved my father too . He was just as bright as my mother . We were just enjoying the days of our life when it was discovered that she had Alzheimer's disease . It was her last day in this world when I had my audition for a company . When I came back home , I just couldn't breath upon discovering the truth . After her death , I couldn't bring myself to talk to anyone . I became numb ; people stopped talking to me seeing that I lost my usual sheen and became one of those weird girls . My father and I became more and more distanced till I started disrespecting him . Things got out of hands when he got remarried two years after my mother's death . I just couldn't bear all the changes and decided to keep myself locked somewhere . I just kept on hurting myself , till there was no humanity left inside me..." You couldn't speak more since tears started appearing from their hiding place .
" Hey...it's fine . I'm here ." Baekhyun crept closer to you and embraced you in the most beautiful way . He caressed your hair and kissed it . " I-I shouldn't have gone to the audition , otherwise it wouldn't have happened ." You sobbed and snuggled closer to him . " It's not your fault Komorebi. Even I thought that if I wouldn't have asked them to attend the music festival , I would have changed the fate but I can't do that . What's has to happen will happen for sure . Problems would come one after the other and you must learn how to confront them . They thrash you till there is no confidence left inside you and your conscience just fails . They just torture you but you need to deal with them at any cost ." He spoke , not leaving you for a second .
" B-But I can't do it anymore Baekhyun . I'm tired of all this Baekhyun." You confessed and wrapped your arms around him . " You can do this Komo and you are doing it so well sweetheart . You inspire me everyday . You are such a strong-hearted girl and the most beautiful girl I've ever met who has beautiful smile despite all the scars ." He confessed and which made you smile and pull away but still his arm was around you ." Really ? You think that ?" You questioned as you couldn't really believe his words. " Yup . I know that." He leaned in and kissed your forehead . Your eyes closed slowly , your attention directed towards the fluttery feeling inside you .
" Hey ! You didn't give me my Birthday gift ." He spoke in a disappointed tone when he pulled away . " Oh Right ! Here." You handed him the packet which he opened hastily . He first opened the bigger box which contained the cupcakes and observed them with a never disappearing smile on his face ." I don't know if they taste good . I have cooked them for the first time.." You confessed shyly and looked at his face to see his reaction after eating the cupcake . " Are you kidding me ! They are so good. Here , try one." He handed you and you hesitantly put one in your mouth . As the chocolate flavor dissipated , you wanted more . They surely tasted good .
"Oh! There's one more gift . You really are my best friend." Baekhyun fished out the the smaller box and opened it . His fingers touched the beautiful red guitar key chain. "I-I made this myself." You spoke which made him gasp in surprise . "It's beautiful . It's so cute . Thanks Komo." He hugged you again and you gladly hugged him back.
♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
" YOU DELIBERATELY LEFT ME THERE ALONE !!!" You yelled into the phone . " Yup I did it so that you can spend some time with Baekhyun." Chanyeol confessed . You hung up the call in anger . It's not that you hated being alone with Baekhyun ; it's just that you had to show his decision failed . You had to tease him .
You still felt the warmth of Baekhyun's hug and you loved it . You shrieked and squealed the whole night before finally falling asleep . On the other side , Baekhyun too was happy since he unlocked the first door to his goal to make you happy .
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Moon Taeil Werewolf AU
Its October, and I LOVE Halloween so why not some Halloween special stories?:)
Humans and supernatural creature co-exist, although most humans don’t- won’t- believe that they do. The ones that believe are humans that are soulmates to these creatures and or if they are friends and the creature feels safe to show them their true form. Soulmates between humans and creatures are rare.
Taeil lay in bed, one hand on his stomach and the other tucked underneath his pillow. He lets out a sigh and rolls over to check his phone.
He flinches and closes his eyes, he forgot that the brightness level on his phone was on high. He blinks rapidly and closes one eye while lowering the brightness. Taeil gives his eyes a moment before looking at his phone again.
4 missed calls. 6 text messages.
He groans, tosses his phone somewhere on the bed and shoves his face into his pillow.
Damn full moon… He thinks to himself.
He rubs his face in his pillow before getting up.
Taeil walks out of his room, his nostrils are filled with the scent of coffee and burning toast.
“Good morning,” Doyoung, his closest friend and roommate, says to him without looking up from his cup of coffee.
“I don’t feel good…” Yuta groans while emerging from his room.
“That’s because you ate human food without eating your kind of food before hand.” Taeil explained.
Yuta frowns at him, Doyoung places a bowl of broth in front of him. Yuta covers his mouth and dashes to the bathroom.
Taeil looks down to hide his smile and shakes his head at him.
“You did that on purpose.”
Doyoung shrugs and picks up the bowl and hands it to him.
Taeil takes the bowl and begins to eat.
“I don’t understand why there’s a rogue vampire creating fledglings… Yuta didn’t and doesn’t deserve this…”
Taeil stops eating and looks at his vampire friend.
Doyoung shakes his head to himself. Vampires mainly followed the rules, they had to, especially since creating fledglings without permission was illegal. That was their main law, and their main blood supply came from animals.
“Are you going to the vault?” Doyoung changes the subject.
“Yeah, Jaehyun still needs help with the chains. And tonight is Haechan’s first turn.” Taeil picks up his dishes and places them in the sink.
Doyoung nods, both men look up and see Yuta walking back to them slowly.
“I’ll get you a blood bag.” He nods and sits next to Taeil.
“Stay in tonight.” Taeil says to him and places a hand on Yuta’s shoulder.
Yuta gives him a weak smile.
************************************
Taeil zips up his hoodie as he walks down the street and shoves his hands into his pockets.
The sun was beginning to set, Taeil mentally scolded himself for not getting up earlier.
He was so concentrated with watching his feet move and frowning to himself that he didn’t see you walking towards him.
You had your headphones in and were looking down at your phone.
Suddenly you were on your butt and someone on top of you.
You yank out your headphones.
“Dude, what the hell!?” You huffed and looked up.
Your eyes met his golden yellow eyes, they looked angry then shocked and then confused.
Wait… his eyes were golden yellow??
Taeil’s mouth open and closes as if he can’t find the right words to say, he knew he had exposed his eyes to you involuntarily. This definitely wasn’t the first impression he wanted to make on his soulmate.
He smiled to him, his soulmate. He had finally met his soulmate. A soulmate who’s heartbeat was beating really fast. And was still underneath him…
“Oh! I’m so sorry!” He climbs off of you and holds out his hand for you.
You just look at his hand, and then back at his eyes.
You slowly look away and down.
“Please don’t kill me.” You say, softly.
Taeil’s smile vanished almost immediately after you said that. His heart broke, he knew that you didn’t know that you were his soulmate. He would never do anything to hurt you, you were basically everything to him.
“I would never…” He began, you looked up at him, but he looked away from you. Hiding his eyes from on looking people.
“Why?” You, mentally hit yourself.
He laughed.
“Because supernatural creatures don’t do that. We’re not barbarians. The stories humans heard were, unfortunately, started when one of our own caught a disease that made them lash out… But now we have vaccine for that!”
“So kind of like rabies?” You ask.
Taeil thinks to himself before nodding.
“Are you going to stay on the floor?” He ask.
You blush and shake your head. His hand reaches down to meet your hand.
“What type of creature are you? I-if you don’t mind me asking.” You blush.
Taeil smiles at you before answering you.
“I’m a werewolf. I have a pack but we’re not all werewolves. We have a couple vampires, a werecat, a shifter–”
“Shifter?” You asked, puzzled.
Taeil nods his head as he moves to the side to avoid people walking towards you guys.
“Yeah, shifters can turn into any animal, or mythical animal. And then we have a hybrid werewolf and vampire. Oh! And one faery!” He smiles at you, and you couldn’t help but return the smile.
“I want to keep talking to you but supernatural duty calls…” He frowns to himself and looks up at the moon.
Your gaze follows his.
“Does this happen every full moon?”
“No, but it’s happening because I met–” Taeil stops himself, he couldn’t tell you that you were his soulmate after only knowing him for twenty-five minutes.
“You met?” You look at him, curiously.
“Uh.. I met one of the younger werewolves in the pack, usually during first turns mature werewolves turn to help them.” He lies, hoping you’d believe it.
“So you guys can control it?” You grab onto his arm, Taeil swears that he thought you could hear his heart about to pop out of his chest.
He looks at you and nods, rapidly.
“That’s so cool! Maybe later you can debunk all the myths I’ve heard about supernatural beings!”
My soulmate is so cute! Taeil thinks so himself.
“Meet me here after the full moon?” You ask and Taeil agrees.
“Bye… um?”
“Taeil! Oh my god, I never introduced myself… Moon Taeil.”
“That’s an ironic last name.” You laugh. “Y/n L/n, I’ll see you later, Taeil.”
You wave good-bye and walk away from him.
Taeil was on cloud nine, he met his soulmate. And he couldn’t believe it, how you weren’t terrified of him. Scared yes, but you both could work on that.
On day two, Taeil was more than impatient. He didn’t think that the pull between you guys would be this bad. It felt like his skin was crawling with spiders, he was uncomfortable not being around you or at least knowing you were ok.
“You should’ve asked for her number.” Haechan laughs.
Taeil frowns and he helps Haechan into his chains.
“I think this part is loose…” Jaehyun says as he pulls on the chain.
“Stop pulling it and I’ll check.” Taeyong sighs.
After checking to see that the chains were properly secure, Taeil and Taeyong sit on the bench across from them.
“Doyoung is helping Yuta today, a classmate had a nose bleed and Yuta almost attacked them. His self control is getting better though. But Johnny will be bringing you a blood bag in a few hours.” Taeyong explains as he reads from his phone.
Jaehyun nods.
Sicheng runs into the vault, and pauses to catch his breath.
Taeil sits up, as Taeyong stands up and walks towards the faery.
“Rogues… at least… four! I saw them following some people!”
Taeyong looks over to Taeil, he nods at him.
*********************************************
Taeil doesn’t spot any Rogues as he patrols the streets.
His phone rings.
“It’s clear here.” He hears Johnny say.
He sighs.
“It’s too quiet. Sicheng saw four, there’s no way they disappeared that quickly.”
Taeil hears a muffled scream.
“Johnny, I’m going to need backup!” He hangs up before Johnny can answer, he knows the vampire will find him.
Taeil runs as fast as he can towards the scream before stopping almost immediately.
He knows that scent. He’s been thinking about that scent for the past two days.
“Y/n!” He yells and runs to your location.
“Shut up!” He hears a Rogue slap you.
“Hel–” Taeil’s anger boils past his limit when he hears you struggling to breath.
You tried to punch your attacker’s face, but all you could do was barely slap his face.
Your hands stop hitting and grab onto his wrist, scratching it.
You needed air, tears poured from your eyes.
 A figure caught your attention, it crept up behind your attacker. Grabbing the hand choking you, it lets you go.
Arms surround your falling body, you cough, loudly.
“Y/n? Are you ok? Did they hurt you?” Taeil’s voice was laced with concern.
“Besides being choked?” You joked, but Taeil wasn’t amused. “No, I’m ok.”
Taeil lets out a sigh of relief.
“Taeil, behind you!”
Taeil quickly pushes you behind him, and bares his fangs and claws at the Rogue.
It laughs at him.
“Oh, no! I’m so scared! Not… not fangs and claws!” It laughs.
You gulp and hide your face in Taeil’s back.
“Are you protecting the food? Oh my god, is… is that human your soulmate?” It looks at you and licks it’s lips.
Taeil growls at it, as Johnny stands next to him and gives you a small smile to reassure you that he was on Taeil’s side.
“Leave now!” Taeil snarls at them. His transformation goes further than just fangs and claws.
The Rogues stop laughing and looking at you.
“Johnny, get out of here.” He growls.
“Taeil–”
“Now.” You couldn’t help but shudder at the tone Taeil’s voice had.
“Come on. I’m Johnny.” He says as he, gently pulls you away from Taeil.
You looked behind you, Taeil was on the border of a full werewolf transformation.
Your new friend was truly a werewolf…
*********************************************
Taeyong hands you a cup of tea.
“Thank you..” You say, and give him a weak smile.
You looked around you, you were literally surrounded by supernatural creatures… yet you weren’t scared.
“Y/n? Is there something on your mind you want to tell us?” Sicheng asks you, as he sits down at the table with you.
Behind him, Doyoung, Yuta, and Taeyong were pacing about and constantly looking at the front door, like you were.
“Taeil’s not back yet…” You could hear Doyoung announce what was already obvious.
You look at the front door again, before looking down at your cup. The tinted green liquid releases steam that hits your face. Peppermint.
“I sent Mark and Johnny.”
“Soulmates.” Everyone froze and looked at you.
You clear your throat and begin again.
“My attacker said that I was Taeil’s soulmate.” You look up at them.
Taeyong walks towards you and crouches next to you.
“It’s not really our place to tell you that. When Taeil returns, he can explain.” You can tell that he was being sincere, you had to wait.
The front door opens revealing Johnny and Mark and lastly Taeil. Thankfully, none of them were seriously injured, just scratched and bruised.
Taeil’s eyes land on you. You felt your body moving towards him.
His arms wrap around you.
“I’m so sorry, y/n. I should’ve came with you–”
“Hey, you guys are ok. You’re ok.” You squeezed his hands and he nods at you.
Taeyong ushered the rest of the boys out of the room to give you guys some privacy.
“Taeil?” You bite your tongue.
“Hm?” He leads you to the couch to sit down.
“What did he mean by I’m your soulmate?” You felt Taeil’s body freeze next to yours.
“Um…” He sighs and looks up at the ceiling and then turns his body to look at you.
“Y/n, you’re my soulmate. Yes, soulmates are real, but it’s different with humans, most humans don’t have, I guess, that extra sense to know when you are near your true soulmate.”
You nod, urging him to continue.
“Supernatural and human soulmates are little on the rare side, but possible.”
You press a kiss to his cheek.
Taeil looks at you with wide eyes, one of his hands touches the cheek you kissed.
“My soulmate’s a werewolf.” You giggle.
“Tomorrow let’s go on a date.” Taeil smiles at you as he leans to kiss your lips.
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shardclan · 7 years
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Dawn had come and gone over the Promenade, but the inside of the room was darkened by the stormy expressions of its occupants. The strange tundra was sprawled out on a bed of roc down in one of the spacious back rooms of Promenade Medical where full-form dragons could be treated.
Telos hadn't left him. Not even when Zo had returned with Junior and Abaddon. Not when Lutia had shown up in surprisingly cool temper only to be followed by Safiri in a fit of fury the likes of which none of them had ever seen. Telos might have been pressed to control her if Hart had not also made an appearance. His anger was silent, but the pressure of it left little room for anyone else's. Rather it seemed to absorb them, binding them together into a united  force with only one target worth striking at.
So they sat in deep silence, waiting for the tundra to awaken.
From further down the hall, a commotion was heard--a series of breathless 'scuse me, pardon me's that finally arrived at their door in the form of yet another stranger. Tall with the horns of an imperial, Arcane eyes, and fine sea green hair well down to his waist.
"Oh gods," he wheezed. "Is he alright?"
Every eye in the room turned on him, prickly and aggressive. "Who the hell are you?"
Perilous pushed past the strange imperial, and put her arm in front of him protectively. "I'm sorry, your Majesty. This is Floe--my grandson."
Most eyes dropped to his neck, where sure enough a collar of ice threw off its own haze, and the room relaxed slightly. Floe had insisted on staying with Hibernas out on the edges of the old territory. Hibernas was a minor deity of winter in service to the Icewarden, and similarly Floe was in service to Hibernas. It was unclear if the Arcanist simply had no power over them or if they were exempt from exile like the coven was. Either way, Floe had never come to Aphaster. So this was the first time any of them had seen how he looked when he was shifted.
"You came through the portal," Telos mused, turning the ring in her fingers. "It should have reached you that I expressly forbid passage without my approval."
Floe quickly dropped his head. "I did, and I'm sorry. But it was important! That dragon is one of Icewarden's Chosen, Renat; if Hibernas is the like Warden's eyes in the Isles, Renat is the chains. He watches over the things in the ice, in the crystalspines, sometimes even in the waters--makes sure they sleep. I must take him back!"
Hart laid a hand on Floe's shoulder, commanding his complete attention. "This Chosen Renat... He had the ring that belonged to the last of the old Dynasty."
Floe's lips pressed together, and his already near-transparent skin went even whiter. "I see."
"Fragment always had this ring. Always. It had to have been on his person when he went to exaltation." Telos' finger closed tight, creaking around the  offending item. "So I would like to know how Renat came to possess it."
"I understand. If," Floe groped for the right words. Ones that wouldn't ignite the subdued anger filling the room. "If you're worried he somehow retrieved the ring by means related to de-exaltation, I can promise you that wasn't it."
"Can you."
"I can. Chosen Renat would never dabble with the affairs of the gods. The Chosen are only allowed in the Isles because of an old pact. Something about the receding and relinquishing of the Northern Icefield. Any Chosen who profanes the Arcanist is destroyed. That is Law."
Telos stared into Floe's nervous but sincere eyes, and leaned back with a sigh. She didn't know him or Hibernas, but she knew about Law among dragons who were true servants of the Icewarden. If he said that Renat would die by Law if he blasphemed, then the mere fact that he still breathed was proof he hadn't come across the ring by foul means.
"So he just...found it? Why would he be carrying the ring around? He wasn't even wearing it."
Hart sighed. "He is a tundra as well as being a born one of Icewarden's Chosen. He probably thought it an interesting artifact and sought to preserve it."
"That's exactly what I did," came a gravelly growl.
Renat sat up in his bed with clearly foul temper undaunted by his unfamiliar and hostile company. A flash of silver runes shone cold through his fur, and his massive fangs bared themselves as he flexed his aching body.
"What were you even doing up there," Safiri hissed. "That's sacred ground."
Renat stared at her, completely unmoved. "I've noted no less than forty-four completely unaffiliated Arcanites stand where I stood to study the aether. How sacred is it?"
"What she means to say," Telos said sternly, before it boiled into a fight. "Is that a lot of bad things happened to our clan up there. And we'd like to know why and for how long you've had this ring."
"Bad things happen everywhere," Renat said flatly. "The importance you place on that particular patch of dirt has nothing to do with me. Same for that ring. I found it half-buried in the dirt a few eons ago. I preserved it in dry ice."
His eye happened on Junior. He snorted, but did not appear to bear a grudge. "With Flameforger's so close, it's been hard to keep ice magic functioning properly without melt. It was merely a bit frosty when that lad apparently found it familiar and lost his composure."
Telos immediately got out of her chair to keep Abaddon and Zo in check, but that left no one to keep the lid on Lutia.
In spite of the difference in their size, Lutia showed no fear in grabbing Renat by a tuft of his mane and yanking him down to her eye level. "You've been up there often. I can smell the ozone and the cold in your fur. And I know if you think very hard, you will recognize my scent. Big breath now--"
"Yes," she snarled as she saw recognition in his eyes. "That's exactly right, that was me. That 'lad'? What you picked up is his brother and their father's ring. He found the source of their scent, which he hasn’t experienced in seven eons, in a stranger's claws at the place he last saw them. I think he’s owed a loss of composure. So if you demean him again, I will lose my composure."
Renat shifted his jaw around. Certainly it was humbling to come face to face with the source of that excessive Arcane energy from several eons ago, but something more important ate at him.
"You..." He leaned in, his nostrils flaring invasively against her tiny shape. His eyes narrowed. "You were the one who shook the crystalspines, weren't you?"
"I haven't done any magic in the Isles recently," Lutia growled.
"He means the moving of the Seat," Floe squeaked. "As the celestine shattered, so were other things damaged. Many Outsiders have been roused or released."
Renat finally noticed Floe, and immediately rose from the bed. "You. You knew about this? This is your home clan?"
"Yes. You've been busy. You never asked myself or Hibernas for information. You haven't had the time."
"And now I find out who is responsible. Gods, your Arcanist could not have chosen a worse time to stir the Outsiders." He grabbed his hood and staff from the corner of the room and pointed Floe toward the door. "You will debrief me in full on our journey back."
"It's gonna be a lot shorter than you think; I really think you should see Hibernas."
For the first time, Renat's hackles rose. "I think my duty can be done without intruding on the little love nest you keep trying to build with your kidnapper."
Perilous gripped at her sword even as Floe went bright red with both embarrassment and anger. It was technically true that Hibernas had kidnapped Floe. But it was Floe who chose to stay even when his mothers had come to rescue him. It was Floe who loved Hibernas and insisted on staying, not the other way around. Hibernas was lacking in a dragon's common sense, but he was not cruel and he had never once prevented Floe from going home.
"Don't talk about him like that,” he muttered with quivering shoulders. “You don't know either of us."
"It's better that way."
Telos's grip on the ring tightened until veins stood out stark on her hand. "Enough. I can't detain you if you're god-chosen, but I can make your escort out of my territory very rude. Floe hasn't lived among us, but I consider him as my own. Mind your tongue, be about your business, and get the hell out of here."
Floe grabbed Renat and dragged him out, eager to be off before the situation soured even further. Perilous went after them, and could be heard hissing and cussing on her grandchild’s behalf until her voice faded out.
Telos sagged in her seat. Only a little had really happened but it all felt so jumbled. Was the business with the Outsiders something she needed to be concerned with? Renat seemed to have it under control, and it was a problem older than the Seat or any of their woes. Older than the current age for that matter.
Godsdammit. All she'd wanted was to go to the mountain top and get some things of her chest. She felt angry, but Renat had encountered the ring completely by coincidence. And relinquished it so easily. Aside from his complete disregard for others' feelings he really hadn't done anything wrong. But it all still felt wrong somehow, like she should have punished Renat. Like she should have been able to have more control over the situation that she did and his walking out was...anti-climactic. She couldn't even really let herself be happy or grateful to have a memento of her husband for how irrationally vexed she was.
Of course, she might have just been a bit high-strung given she hadn't slept in a full day now. When she finally spoke, it was with a weary finality that plainly said the loose ends of the situation would have to be dealt with another time.
"I'm going to bed.”
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omgnsfwisnsfw-blog · 5 years
Text
NSFW #14: Three’s The Limit
StableWars was over. EWC was packing up, taking their flights home, the four brands again taking to their own paths across the world. NSFW was no different- they’d decided, instead of going straight to Johannesburg, to spend the Thanksgiving holiday at home in Pittsburgh. But this sojourn home would be, at their request, a bit different than all their other homecomings, at least for one afternoon. Mike McGuire sat at Bishop Church’s side, the two of them bundled in a toasty matching pair of chocolate brown cable knit sweaters to ward off the autumn chill. Her left hand, as it often seemed to be, was gripping his right as they sat in a pair of director’s chairs set up in the center of their ring, a leaf occasionally drifting down onto the canvas. Across from them, also seated, was someone who, while supposed to be a neutral party, had become something of a nemesis of theirs- and yet, he’d been afforded an invitation that no one else in EWC had. Ace Heart cleared his throat, and began. “Hello-” “Hold up, Heart.” The mustached interviewer looked up from his clipboard and leveled a glare at Mike. “You asked me to be here.” There was some apprehension in his voice. “You didn’t even let me interview you at the show.” Mumbling. “Grabbed the mic from me.” “I know. And that…” She paused, breathing in. As if the words about to come out of her mouth were incredibly difficult to spit out. “...wasn’t cool of me.” John finally interjected. “Don’t think none of this has been cool. From day one. I was inclined to believe that your attitude towards me was the catalyst to this. I don’t think it’s that simple. We all have had a part to play in this. I think this has been one giant … misunderstanding.” “You haven’t treated my partner well. I don’t fuckin-- sorry. I don’t take good to that and so I haven’t treated you well. It’s a bad cycle, Heart, and we gotta nip it in the bud at some point or we’re just gonna keep getting worse.” Ace looked at them both intently. Dead air as tense as a Mexican stand-off. Until finally he answered them with an almost relieved sigh. “Yeah. I wasn’t exactly professional. Sorry about that. Want to take it from the top?” Mike, perhaps for the first time ever, gave the interviewer a genuine smile. “Shoot.” He looked directly at the camera. “Hello, EWC fans, Ace Heart here and we are 24 hours removed from StableWars. And while many are talking about Dominic Sanders being the lone survivor, my guests here retained their world tag team championships against The Eternal Circle. Mike McGuire. Bishop Church.” “Ideologically opposed.” John paused, rubbing the back of his neck perhaps in retrospect. “Worthy contenders.” “Yeah, loss or not, they kinda kicked the tar out of us. I wouldn’t mind doing that again sometime though, that was fuckin’ fun.” Mike’s grin was the now familiar sharkish look that it tended to take on at the prospect of violence, mischief, or both. “But here we are. Still champions.” “And so there are now a few notable events on the horizon. Wrestlefest in December. But before that, the Brawl season finale. New number 1 contenders for the world tag team titles will be crowned.” John and Mike nodded. “We’ll be watching.” “And for NSFW, Victor Price has decided to showcase the best of 2018 in this landmark show. You two. Against The Limit.” Mike gave a wordless look to her partner, her hand briefly tightening its grip before relaxing again, the squeeze quick and reassuring. “These chumps have put our collective asses in the hospital twice. And yet, they’ve never beat us once. If they think we’re gonna be intimidated, that we’re scared of them? They’re stupider than they look.” “Let’s talk about that a little. Ethan Alexander and D.J. Frank made their debut - by viciously assaulting you two. And it seems like you two came out on top. It got quiet. They went their own way effectively. Causing destruction throughout the division. Not too much success but a lot of broken bodies. But there was one question that wasn’t answered until recently. Why? And well, Mike, Bishop, that was answered emphatically. It wasn’t Victor Price nor Steve Bennett. It was Dominic Sanders. He set these two men upon you two.” “That’s right. Doesn’t really change who they are. They have been always been subordinates. They have always lacked any true agency.” Mike nodded in agreement and slouched in her chair a little, crossing her outstretched legs at the ankles and waving her free hand casually. “They were always nothing more than a couple of fuckin’ meatheads working for some guy. I just happened to be way off on who that guy was. But dumb muscle is dumb muscle any day of the week. Being a big muscle bound lug doesn’t do you no good if the other guy can outsmart you, and Church here can outsmart a hundred Lummoxes.” Heart tapped the clipboard as if to interrupt this chest-thumping. “This isn’t any match. Not under normal circumstances. Even more than the brutality exhibited in the tables match at Night of Champions. This match will be contested inside the …” Poignant pause. “Hell in a Cell.” John looked at Ace blankly. However, the camera also caught a flicker of a grin from the Bronx native. “A match neither of you have competed in. Seems right up your alley, Mike. But Bishop - I don’t think it's unfair to say that an ultra-violent stipulation such as this puts you out of your element. Do you not see this as a detriment?” Mike was about to speak. Possibly to end it as the question could be construed as hostile but John squeezed her wrist lightly. “I think-” There was a clank. A tug at the heavy warehouse door. It budged a little, casting a ray of light into the concrete and steel building. A little more. The morning sunlight glints off something metallic. A little more… “...do you need help?” Mike huffed, irritated that they were being bested by a door of all things. This was pickle-jar stereotypical. Still, they nodded, and their partner pulled the heavy steel door the rest of the way to the side with ease, if not with a very ear-displeasing screech. Stepping in and reaching to the side, Mike yanked on a large industrial switch, a loud click echoing through the cavernous room as overhead caged lighting provided some illumination. The warehouse was full of various odds and ends. Rolls of canvas. Ring parts. A few racks full of folding chairs. Cardboard boxes, likely full of unsold merch. The bits and bobs that kept a wrestling show looking and running the way everyone expected it to. Interesting, but not what NSFW came here for. That particular sight was housed right in the center of it all. A ghoulish masterwork of steel and chain link fencing that any wrestling fan worth their salt could identify on sight. Something that called one of the most legendary spots in the business to mind. Seven feet of tattooed death and a blood-soaked madman with a molar in his nostril. The one Up North was newer than this, shinier, perhaps put together a bit better. This particular model was for a company that didn’t have the means to have a new one built every couple years. But still, there in its twenty foot tall, five ton dark majesty, was The Cell. Mike approached it first, walking slowly around its circumference, reaching out a hand and letting their fingers drag along the side with a soft metallic series of ‘tings’. It was like stroking a sleeping monster. Frozen, John kept at a distance to what Mike so easily approached. Making their way back around, Mike paused, seeing their partner more or less where they left him. Their brow furrowed, expression softening a bit as they walked back over to him, reaching out and resting a hand on his bicep, by now a common gesture when they wanted to reach out to him in an especially sincere manner. “...are you okay with this, bud?” One could possibly pinpoint where his trepidation came from. It was not a difficult leap. He balled up his fists as his gaze drifted up and up towards the roof of the cell. “Don’t think it matters what I’m okay with.” “Yes it does. Look. I can talk to Pr… no, forget that, the dude’s a fucker. I can go over his head and talk to Mac himself. See if we can get a stip change.” John stepped forward away from their comfortable touch. He reached out, hand trembling, and locked fingers through the ringlets of steel. He grasped and pulled. It rattled. Maybe the beast reacted to being prodded by someone who it considered unworthy. “No. We don’t need that. This seems just as much as our opponent as them.” He shook at the fence again. As if wordlessly pleading to it. “I’m afraid.” Something he has admitted before to Mike. But this time the omission seemed to be for all in the room. And the confidence in his tone seemed contradictory if one didn’t know the kind of man John was. “Not at them. This. Maybe.” He considered that and shook his head. “This is just a cage.” And turned to Mike. “More afraid of what it makes us. As of late, we’ve spent so much time saying we’re good. It would be so easy because of everything they did to us and reciprocate. This being the vessel.” Mike chewed it over in their head. He did have a point. At some point, declaring yourself the good guy meant you were protesting too much. And something like this gave one all kinds of excuses to do all kinds of terrible things. The structure almost demanded it, as if it really were forged in Hell and required blood tributes. Frowning, they approached again, reaching up. Gripping the chain link high as they could reach, then letting the toe of their Lugz boot find purchase in another gap. Holding tight and taking care not to slip, they ascended the side, arachnid-like, for a couple feet, as if testing the beast. Assessing what could be done. They dropped back to the floor with a slight ‘oof’, the impact of the thick soled boots echoing off the concrete. “I get you. But there’s something to be said for taking back our pound of flesh too, you know. They may never’ve beat us but that don’t matter. They’ve said as much. They hurt us. They hurt you. I want to make them sorry they ever agreed to do Sanders’ dirty work.” John leaned back on the cage wall, arms folded across his chest. He looked down towards his feet after letting Mike’s statement sink in. “In that sense, they just aren’t worth it. A lot of this isn’t worth it as of late.” Out of nowhere, he conjured what has happened lately. “Six on two - and I can’t help but to think it was my fault.” They gave him an odd look, head cocked a bit to the side like a dog hearing a high pitched noise. “Your fault? How do you figure that?” “How many of the people who offer us smiles and platitudes daily came to our aid while they stood over us like trophy kills? It would be easy to lash out. As we have. But perhaps it was a symptom.” Mike folded their arms, but moved closer. “You can’t take all the blame for that. I mean, number one, like you said, we had pretty good reason to be tender as a couple’a fuckin’ toothaches about all this. Number two, there’s two of us. Maybe we handled this all not so good but you can’t take the burden all on your shoulders.” “Been a bunch of misunderstandings. One after another.” They pursed their lips in thought, fingers drumming against their arm. They uncrossed them, and instead reached out with both hands for his, reassuring and reassured by the comfortable warmth. “I know the new year’s over a month off, but I don’t think we need to wait till then to start fresh. If there’s been misunderstandings, maybe we oughta try to iron them out. Iggy was a good start. Maybe we should branch out a little.” Mike made a face, and sighed. They couldn’t believe what they were about to suggest. “...I think there’s somebody we oughta talk to.” “-that I’ll do just fine. I’ve always felt defensive towards the accusation that I don’t have what it takes in an environment such as this cage. But for the most part, they’re right. I lack the proclivities towards barbarism. But I will do what is necessary. I will adapt. I already have. Here I sit. One half of the world tag team champions. And not the wash out many pegged me as so early on. And I can feel it. One of the reasons as to why. To some perhaps a delightful irony. A fool’s allegory. Spoken from a true lack of understanding as to what this cell and that cell do to a human being. No comparison.” “For one thing, we won’t be alone in there.” Another squeeze of her hand, a quick but noticeable pulse. “I’m sure a sharp journalist like you has figured it out by now, and for all the folks out there who don’t know, I’ll tell you. I’ve said quite a few times that NSFW-” Mike pointed to herself, then to Bishop, and then back again. “-has perfect synch. That doesn’t mean we think alike, act alike. It means we cover for each other. We understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses and lock in our strategy so every base is covered. But we don’t just leave it at that. We learn. We get fucking better, stronger. Hone our weaknesses so every time, our partner has less to have to cover for. That’s growth. Not just as a tag team, but as fucking humans. We don’t just make people re-evaluate what they expect of us, we smash those expectations to bits.” John nodded. “And The Limit? Well, it kind of works for them the same way.” “This is our third dance with them, as everybody knows. And I wonder, what the fuck have they learned? About each other? About themselves? About us? Have they grown at all? Or are they the same pair of play for pay assholes from Detroit that we’ve gone around with twice before? Are they worthy opponents, or just a couple of hired goons that will only everbe hired goons?” Mike reached down and picked up a thermos, drinking from it before setting it back down. “Heh, sorry, Heart. You’re the guy supposed to be asking the questions, yeah?” Ace chuckled. “That’s quite alright. Upon observation, there seems to be some receipts to be dished out to your opponents. Is that the gist of it?” The champions turned their gaze to each other. There was a silent affirmation in their exchange before Church piped up. “Right.” He ran a hand through his sandy blond beard considering that very thing. “But why? Think about it. What do The Limit even have left? They came into his company and made an impact. Tried to use us as stepping stones. And then they lost. And lost. And lost.” “Didn’t they beat those old guys? And the perverts who tried to fucking hit on me?” John shrugged. “Doesn’t everybody? But when it mattered? A statement against the tag team champions at the time? Disqualified. On purpose. A chance to fight us for the titles? Disqualified. On purpose. I mean, why?” “They keep saying they don’t care about winning. Which begs the question on why the fuck they’re even here. If all they wanna do is beat the shit out of people for money, then all they really need to do is grab a camera and fight homeless people, and some jerkoff will give them an easy payday… oh wait, that jerkoff is Dominic Sanders.” She rolled her shoulders, neck cracking a bit. “But this is the EWC. You should be here to at least try, to aspire to some fucking thing- titles, glory, inspiring others, even just because you love this sport and give yourself over to the spirit of competition.” “All of that angry blustering seems to be covering up something. The inability to get to that next level. Honestly, why would they? They’re paid and they don’t have to think for themselves. But something must be tugging at the corner of their psyches when they’re constantly attributed as mindless goons. Who are The Limit? What makes them tick? What’s their story? At this point - after all of this...” He tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair and looked directly at Ace. “...who cares? Frank and Alexander have one thing left to their names.” He held up one finger. “Never pinned.” Two fingers from Mike. “Never submitted.” And a third from John. “Never defeated.” The two of them stood, positioning themselves at such an angle that the mustachioed interviewer was still visible in the shot. “And that’s where you two come in?” “Exactly. The Limit’s going to be taught a hard fuckin’ lesson at our hands, something they should’ve known before they signed the dotted line at Saunders’ behest- Never Stop Fighting to Win. And if we have to make use of the steel to teach them that lesson… well, to borrow a phrase from my partner, so be it.”
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ecotone99 · 5 years
Text
[MF] I can't ask permission and I don't expect forgiveness
"Here it comes," Virgil whispered under his breath, turning away from the approaching policeman.
Joanie shoved hands in pockets and replied, also in a whisper, "Be cool." Then, to the Nora, "Keep digging."
"Hello," the policeman said, talking loud as he was still twenty yards away, moving with purposeful strides across the green grass of Tranquility Park. "I'll have to ask you to stop that digging."
Virgil, in a navy blue suit, took a breath and squared his shoulders towards the Policeman. He attempted a smile and stuck out his hand. "Hello officer. What seems to be the problem?"
Behind him Joanie and Nora, both wearing work clothes - jeans, boots, reflective safety vests over cotton and hard hats - paused to watch. They were standing around a plaque set into the ground that read: "City of Houston Time Capsule. Buried September 2nd, 1960. Not to be opened until September 2nd, 2015."
"Can I see your work permit?" the cop asked, ignoring Virgil's hand.
Virgil looked around, confused and stammered, "...permit...? Why... what...?"
"Yeah, yeah," Joanie said. "I got it over here." She retrieved a metal clipboard, opened it, and flipped through a stack of paper.
"I can call the Mayor's office?" Virgil offered.
"No, no," Joanie replied. "I'm sure I have a copy."
"So do I dig or what?" Nora said.
"No," the cop said.
"Yes," Joanie said at the same time.
Nora speared the blade of the shovel in the ground and leaned on the handle. A big girl, crowding six feet tall and past the two century mark, her top-weight pushed it down a good six inches. She winked at the cop. "I'm listening to the man with the gun."
For all her heft, Nora had a very pretty face. Long, wavy curls of hair escaped from her hardhat and she made a show of tucking them back in. "Hell, even if he didn't have the gun," she continued, "he's too cute to argue with."
The cop - a youthful black who enjoyed visiting the gym, radiated confidence, and kept his appearance sharp and professional - did a double take. When she caught his eye, Nora winked again and there it was - that moment a man, confronted with such an unlikely specimen, thought, what if...?
"Here," Joanie snapped up a piece of paper. "Found it."
She handed it to Virgil who passed it to the cop.
The cop looked at its face. It appeared official enough, with stamps and signatures, but he didn't know enough about it to say one way or the other. "I'll have to call this in," he decided.
"For Christsake," Joanie bitched.
"Hey now," Nora beamed. "Overtime!"
"Look," Virgil said, "Just call the Mayor's office. You know Jack Vance, right? Ask for him."
"All I know is this thing isn't supposed to be dug up until tomorrow," the cop said. "There's supposed to be press; even a van. Buses of kids and all that. You guys are making a mistake."
Virgil nodded his head and chuckled, "Yes, you're right, officer....?"
"Martin."
"Officer Martin. See, the thing is, well.... Did you hear what happened when they opened the League City time capsule two years ago? No? It was somewhat of a disaster. Fifty years ago they didn't appreciate what the groundwater around here could do to even the sturdiest box made during that time. Anyway it was a stinking mess. The only things that survived were bits and pieces of old junk that couldn't be corroded. They pulled something out that looked - I swear to God - just like a wooden dildo. Might have been part of something else when it had been buried, but when they slapped it in the Mayor's hand.... Well, most people snickered, but quite a few were very offended. All those kids asking 'what's that, mommy?'.
"Oh! And there was the frog, too. Well, the frog skeleton, dressed in an adorable tuxedo - complete with a top-hat and cane, hermetically sealed in a bag with the sheet music to Ragtime Gal-"
"-Can we get on with this?" Joanie interrupted. "No way this project is authorized for golden time."
Virgil touched Officer Martin's arm, gently turning him away. "Our Mayor does not want that happening here. So this is somewhat of a preemptive strike. If we find everything in order, the capsule goes back and we cover it up just like it was. Bada bing. If, however, it's a big smelly puddle of slop? Well, I've got some clean old junk in my car. You understand how this works? Have to make hizhonor look good for the cameras."
Officer Martin's eyes went from the unctuous Virgil, to the exasperated Joanie, landing on the bemused Nora. "Okay," he said. "Carry on."
"Thank you Officer," Virgil said, once again attempting to smile.
"Hey Officer Martin," Nora called out. "You want to help dig? I'll bet those big arms of yours could make short work of this hole."
Officer Martin fought back a grin. "Tell you what, lady. I'll swing by here after I get off work and see if still need help with your hole."
Nora barked out a laugh loud enough to be heard in Sugar Land. "When's your shift end?"
"Eight o'clock."
"Me and my hole will be waiting."
Officer Martin strutted away using everything his momma gave him.
When the policeman was out of earshot, Joanie cut her eyes from Virgil to Nora and back again. "Jesus, you two...."
***
"I have bad news," Richard Hautala told Joanie. As if to emphasize the words, he dragged a straight razor across his hairy and bespotted forearm. A thin line of blood welled up from the cut.
"Um," Joanie said.
"Oh, this?" Hautala held up the razor. "This is just for effect." He turned it around and showed Joanie the other side where a tube containing red-dyed Vaseline lay across the blade. "It ain't real. It's about as sharp as an asshole. You squeeze this here for the blood." He demonstrated, dragging it across his wrist this time - same result: a thin line of red.
"Okay."
"But why, you're wondering?"
"Hey, Mr. Hautala, really-"
"-Surely you noticed my new look?" Old Man Hautala smiled - dentures gleaming - and twisted his head to let Joanie take it all in. An octogenarian, Mr. Hautala was bald and shriveled with the body shape - and skin texture - of an avocado. But since Joanie had last seen him, he'd added eyebrow studs, ear stretchings, and facial tattoos - tears at the corner of his eyes. He had a stud on one nostril and a loop through his lower lip.
He winked and lifted his polo shirt. Both sagging, leathery nipples had been pierced; connected by a silver chain.
"What do you think?" he asked.
"That's.... Something," Joanie rubbed the back of her neck. "You said bad news?"
"Kids today," Mr. Hautala explained, tucking his shirt back in, "do this shit now. If I want their business, I have to show them I relate." He gingerly brought a finger up to touch one of the ear stretchers.
Joanie flinched when the whole ear fell off, hitting the ground with a clang.
"Oops," Mr. Hautala reached to pick it up. Like the razor, it was a fake. His real ear was still where it belonged, on the side of his head. It had liver spots and tufts of hair, but no holes.
"I don't mind telling you," he said, fitting the prosthetic and screwing it in place, "it's all fake. Even the tattoos. Why take a needle when Sharpies cost, like, a dollar?"
Joanie shrugged.
"Right?"
"You said bad news?" Joanie prodded.
"These couple of kids come in looking to trade on old tech. On chips? Yeah, right, I tell them I'll do what I can, but don't go buying that house in the subs just yet. Anyway, these kids look like... like... the colour out of space, you know? Barely human. The dude had horns. No shit, implanted little nubs on his forehead, supposed to be horns. Huh. The girl's pants were so tight, you could tell what she drank for.... Nevermind. Anyway, when they come back and I tell them the deal, she starts slicing up her arm. I'm hip. Bad news hurts. Give me a whetstone, a Gillette, a squirting flower and five minutes and we'll commiserate together, darlin'. So here I am. What do you think?"
"Desperate times," Joanie stated.
"Too right!" Mr. Hautala exclaimed.
"The bad news?" Joanie tried again.
"Yeah. Turns out the buyer is in a sanitarium so.... No money."
Joanie rubbed a hand over her face.
"Okay, so this is not to say there will never be money, but just now...? She's kind of tied up."
***
Houston, September 2nd, 1960.
Ten year old Marion Bradley stood in wide-eyed wonder as the celebrity worked his way through the crowd. He tossed his head back and showed teeth when he laughed and, when he shook hands with the city's politicians, his head tilted slightly and his eyebrows raised inquisitively at their names. Houston doesn't have a fall season, so it was hot, but even still the celebrity wore a tapered jacket with a fleece collar. His waist was encircled by a gun-belt; the holster of which bore the image of a chess piece. He said "Thank you," with a peculiar clip to the words.
His name was Richard Boone and he was there on a publicity junket and to watch the time-capsule buried.
To young Marion, however, his name was Paladin and he was just about the closest thing to a living god she'd ever seen. Once a week she saw him on the television being as brave and intractable, wise and lusty as the entire pantheon of Greek deities; so how could he be here, now, walking around with them just as if he were a real person?
She was positively transfixed.
As he moved among the people, his eyes fell on her and he smiled. "Ho ho!" he said, scooping her off her feet. "What do we have here?"
Under his hands, Marion's flower dress became wings and she flew in the sky. If he let go, she'd fall into the sun. He didn't let go, however, just spun her around in a circle then set her back down. "You are just about the cutest thing I have ever seen. I believe I'm going to ask your father if you can join me for dinner tonight at the Carlton Hotel?"
Standing next to them, beaming like a child himself, her dad said, "Maybe when she's older."
"It's a date," Paladin said, slipping her a card with a wink. He gave one to her father, too. In fact, he handed them out freely to all around.
As they were closing the lid on the time capsule, he used two fingers to expertly flick one of those cards into the box. People cheered as it spun through the narrow opening at just the last moment possible.
The cards all bore the image of that same chess piece from the holster. They read "Have Gun, Will Travel".
Marion Bradley held the card in both hands like an icon. She knew it was a treasure she would never lose.
\***
"Of course she lost it - or threw it away." Mr. Hautala had bagged up the card they'd retrieved from the time capsule. He slid it across the table to Joanie. "This was supposed to be the replacement. Shame. She was going to pay over a two hundred grand for it too."
Joanie, hands folded on her lap, looked at the card. It was remarkably well preserved. "What's it worth, really?" she asked.
"Less than nothing," he replied. "Well, check that. Because of the press you're getting, I could maybe get a couple thou. Maybe. It isn't every day you can snag grip from a stolen time capsule. The weirdness factor alone might go five grand." Mr. Hautala shrugged.
"Well, the buyer still wants it, though, right?"
"Sure. But, like I said, they locked her up."
"When's she getting out?"
"Eh, this could be one of those if she's getting out situations." Mr. Hautala rubbed his thumb against two fingers, making the international gesture of money. "She's very wealthy and her family is worried about their inheritance."
"Doesn't seem like a reason to lock her up." Joanie crossed her arms. "Isn't she fighting it?"
"Absolutely. She's a big shot lawyer, you know. It's just that, well, she has gone a little crazy." He tapped the card. "Two hundred grand plus for this? Do you know how many of these cards are out there? Even supposedly authentic ones - printed by the studio in the 50s and 60s - can be had for around fifty bucks. Hell, you can get one signed by Richard Boone himself for a thou or less. Nope. She has to have this one; no matter what the cost." Mr. Hautala whistled low and circled a finger around his ear.
"She's a collector," Joanie said, sounding indignant. "Lots of people pay lots more for stupider stuff."
"Sure," Mr. Hautala agreed. "But Marion Bradley isn't a collector. She is trying to recreate her life to be exactly like it was when she was a girl back in the '60s. Bought her parents' old house; got a refurbished Chevy Covair; snatched up every toy from that era. Changed her wardrobe. She's been sinking millions of dollars into this obsession. The doctors call it crippling nostalgia."
"They just made that up."
"She showed up in court wearing pedal pushers and a denim blouse knotted under her breasts. Her hair in ponytails, sucking a lollipop. She weighs close to two hundred pounds."
Mr. Hautala lifted the duffel-bag containing the rest of the stuff Joanie and her crew stole from the time capsule and handed it over. "Me? I don't get it," he said. "I never did look forward to looking back. Of course, that's probably because things were so terrible when I was a kid. Wars with a capital W. Diseases and no medicine. Hunger. And the constant fear of death from above 'cause all those damned pterodactyls."
"Is anything in here worth... anything?" Joanie said, lifting the bag.
Mr. Hautala made a face. "I took pictures and notes. Like I said, I'll shop it around. Y'all got a trending news story with that time capsule burglary, so there may be some interest there. But beyond nostalgia or weirdness?" He shook his head.
Dejected, Joanie stood to leave.
"Hey kid," Mr. Hautala stopped her at the door. "Just in case you're interested - the sanitarium where they're keeping Marion Bradley is located over on the Southwest side. In Missouri City. A place called Sendak's. Not like she's locked up in Supermax or anything."
Joanie paused with her hand on the doorknob. She blinked twice.
"She'd be grateful, I'm sure," Mr. Hautala continued, "for a visit."
Joanie nodded slowly.
"Hey, check this out!" Mr. Hautala raised the fake razor to his mouth. "You think this'll freak those kids next time I see them?" He opened his mouth wide, eyes popping, and dragged the dull blade all over his tongue.
He also squirted some of the fake blood.
"Pah!" he winced, spitting. "Yuk!"
Joanie left him, closing the door on a sputtering of "Puh!"'s
***
"Oh shit," Virgil said, his eyes growing wide. "Ohshitohshitohshit,"
They were sitting in the booth of a Mexican restaurant close to the airport with the time capsule items spread out over the table, taking inventory. Virgil's outburst had been caused by the door opening. Joanie looked over her shoulder to see Detective Donald Sobol walking in.
"Be cool," she grabbed Virgil's wrist just as he was about to start scooping all the stolen items into the bag. "Be cool."
She let go the wrist. Virgil folded his hands.
Momentarily, Detective Sobol stood at the edge of their table. "Well hello, Ms. Muncie," he said. "Fancy meeting you here."
"Detective," Joanie muttered by way of greeting.
Detective Sobol set his hands on the table and hunched over the various maps, papers, trinkets, toys and doo-dads. He smiled. His aquamarine eyes sparkled. He laughed, showing them the two rows of coffee and cigarette stained teeth. "You've got to be kidding me."
"What?" Joanie said.
"Oh, nothing." He stood up. Then pushed his hands on his lower back and stretched. "Hey, maybe you can help me out with something. There was this unusual robbery yesterday, maybe you heard? A crew of slick operators stole a time capsule just before it was supposed to be dug up. Really embarrassed the Mayor in front of all those news cameras; standing over an empty hole with a bunch of nothing. But you wouldn't know anything about that?"
"What's a time capsule?" Joanie asked.
"Right." The detective said. "Y'all ought to be more careful. Food here's good, but they don't really clean the tables very well. Might get all this stuff sticky."
"Oh, right!" Virgil exclaimed. He started shoveling the stolen goods away immediately. "Thanks for the advice."
Detective Sobol watched Virgil, shaking his head sadly. Then he turned his attention to Joanie. "When are you going to stop this?" he asked.
Joanie cocked her head and just looked at him with a dull, blank expression.
"Can't you see it's over?" the Detective continued. "The time for this type of nonsense has come and gone. There's no more room for the common crook in today's society. You either have to be a brutal, remorseless killer or a highly sophisticated criminal to get noticed. These little grifts of yours? I hate to tell you this, but they're passé."
Virgil used both hands to cram the items in the bag. He struggled with the zipper, catching it on the edge of an old map. When he forced it, the paper ripped. "Shit," he said, holding up a ruined piece of history.
Detective Sobol motioned towards Virgil with an open hand. "See? This is who you're working with now? What ever happened to Leonard? Stark and Westlake?"
"Hey, those two...." Joanie sat forward, getting upset.
"Yeah, I know," Sobol interrupted. "But then there's Connell and Matheson, too. Hell, even Bradbury left you."
Joanie brought a fist down. Her mouth became a tense, white line and her eyes narrowed. Sobol recognized he'd gone too far. His voice softened. "I'm just saying. You're time has passed."
A waiter came with a basket of chips and two bowls of salsa. Detective Sobol took advantage of the interruption.
"Anyway, I'll leave you to your meal." He set twenty dollars on their table. "On me."
"Whoa, hey," Virgil pushed the money away like it was on fire. His distrust for police ran deep. "No need for that."
Detective Sobol put a hand on Virgil's shoulder and squeezed. He used the other hand to tuck the money into the breast pocket of Virgil's shirt. "I insist," he said. "I voted for Chris Bell."
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scribomaniac · 7 years
Text
Man of Ash and Thorns: Chapter 11
From a slaughter house to utter carnage, the club's occupants quickly realized they were not, in fact, on top of the food chain and that these strangers were of a whole different caliber. Bub went straight for the jugular, ripping out his victim's larynx and watching them with demonic glee for just a split second before placing his mouth over theirs, stopping just before physical contact, and stripping them of their souls. He was efficient and merciless, but also very humane in his executions. His brother, on the other hand, was not.
Samyaza ripped his victim's limb from limb, slowly torturing each Vampire that fell into his path one by one. First he started with the left arm, then their right. Next the right leg, then the left leg. At one point Reyna heard him laughing maniacally over in a corner of the club, hitting a cowering Vampire with their own arm, taunting, "Why're you hitting yourself? Why're you hitting yourself." Only after his victim was nothing more than a stumpy torso and wailing, begging for death, would Sam lean down and rip out his victim's soul. It was a little stomach turning for the Sorceress, but didn't stop him. This was the deal, after all.
Reyna hardly had to raise a finger to help the Devils. All she had to do was seal off the doors, magically locking them from the outside, to ensure no one escaped. None of the Vampires even turned her way in their desperate attempt attempts to escape. Given enough time, Reyna knew they would have figured a way to get out, but Bub and Sam didn't give them a moment of peace. She watched silently as Sam and Bub gorged themselves on the Vampires, her expression cool and un-bothered by what was happening. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw three Vampires flash behind the bar in the back right corner. Stalking over to them, the Sorceress peered over the bar and saw the three frantic Vampires pounding their fists against a trap door in the floor and try to pull it open in a last ditch effort to escape.
"Well, well," Reyna tilted her head to the side and clicked her tongue. "What do we have here?" The three Vampire's heads snapped up, just now noticing her presence and barred their teeth in warning. Humming, Reyna stretched out her hand and silently summoned several gasses to her loosely closed palm. She called on Hydrogen, Helium, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and a few others, all in different amounts—specific amounts. The thing she was creating in her hand was dangerous, but she'd seen it done before so she new it could be done. Quickly her hand began to heat up, a warning sign to open her palm.
One of the Vampires lunged at her courageously, but it was too late. Reyna's palm opened and with it she unleashed hell. A small sun sat in the palm of her hand, burning furiously and brimming with barely contained elements. The Vampire directly before her never stood a chance. He barely had time to howl in pain before his body withered, his skin turning an ashy gray and flaking from his body like leaves from a tree during a tornado. Where his body should have fallen was only a heap of ash. The other two Vampires succumb to the heat of Reyna's sun as well, but tried their damnedest to run away from it's long reaching rays. Unfortunately for them, the further they ran, the longer it took for them to die. Turning to follow their escape path, Reyna watched as their skin bubbled and boiled from the heat. Their internal organs did the same. Although no one could see the internal effects of the spell, they could see the side effects. The Vampires gagged several times before purging thick, dark blood, drying themselves out until there was nothing left but a hollowed out corpse.
"Damn Reyna," Sam whistled once it was all over. Reyna saw that he was still carrying someone's arm around like a rag doll and raised her brow at him. "Where'd you learn to do that?"
Shrugging, Reyna answered truthfully and bluntly, "Dunstan."
Brows raising, Sam nodded appreciatively, "Makes sense. So what'd you find?"
"A trap door," Reyna turned back to it. "They were trying to escape through it."
"Or call for help," Bub suggested, walking around the bar and pulling on the handle to open it. It didn't budge. "The hell?" He muttered under his breath before trying again. His arm and back muscles tensed as he put all his might into opening the door, but to no success.
"Smells magicked," Sam commented lightly, moving over so he could lean on the bar and look down lazily at his brother. When he saw Bub's dirty look, he grinned, "What?"
"You could've said something before I pulled a muscle trying to open the damn thing."
"S'not my fault you've lost your edge, Bubby."
Reyna had to push down the many questions bubbling in the back of her mind—magic could smell? Since when?—and walked around to stand next to Bub who was now kneeling beside the trap door. Reaching out a hand, Reyna sent out some of her magic and wasn't surprised when she felt something blocking her. "There's definitely a spell keeping it closed," she confirmed. "A strong one, too."
"You can break it though, right?" Bub asked.
"Probably—" Before she could even try, though, a ripple of magic flooded the room and with a resounding crack, the trap door unlocked. Frowning at the floor, the Sorceress sent out her magical feelers again and hummed. "Looks like I won't have to.'
"That's weird," Sam mumbled, suddenly behind her. "But I guess that's as good an invitation we're gonna get."
Bub reached for the handle and this time met with no resistance, easily opening the door and revealing a stair case that led to a dimly lit hallway. Standing up, he looked to his partners in crime. "Ready?"
Reyna looked the two of them over. They were both covered in the dark blood of Vampires. It drenched their shirts and caked their skin. It even made Bub's blue eyes stand out in a semi-attractive way, which was very disconcerting to Reyna. When she verified that none of the blood was theirs and they wouldn't need any magical patch-ups, she nodded, "Let's go."
"Further down the rabbit whole we go," he sighed before walking down the stairs.
"What rabbit hole?" Sam asked, following immediately behind.
Bringing up the rear, Reyna shook her head, "Don't worry about it."
The stair case led to the end of a tunnel, barely illuminated with old, yellow lights. the tunnel was a straight shot and led to a door at its end. the door hissed as it opened, and Reyna wordlessly led the two Devils through it. The door led to a large room, which was most likely meant to be used as a storm shelter during hurricane season. Now though, it was being used as a prison. Reyna didn't need magic to tell that Lilith was nearby.
Once all three of them stepped through the door, it slammed shut behind them. "Welcome!" A rich, deep voice greeted them from the other side of the room. A tall, light-skinned male Vampire stood across from them, his arms stretched wide as if he were greeting long awaited friends. He looked like he'd just walked out of a fashion magazine. His head was shaved close to the scalp, full lips that were accented by dimples that made the Mississippi seem shallow. There was something about his eyes, too. They were dark brown, and held mischief and warmth in them. There was a glimpse of cleverness in them as well, just the slightest amount, but it was enough to make Reyna realize she not staring at some green horned, rebellious child.
"Welcome!" He repeated, slowly walking towards them. He smiled widely, apparently all too pleased with their presence. "I'm so glad you made it! What a night for entertainment, am I right?"
"Just shut up and hand over the fanged-bitch," Sam growled, losing patience with the Vampire. "Or ill do to you what i did to your friends upstairs."
"Huh, see, I don't think you will." He responded smugly, his smile stretching wider.
Sam took a threatening step forward, "Is that right? And who's gonna stop me?"
"That," a light, airy voice chimed in from off to the side, "would be me." A woman with wavy red hair and pale white skin stepped out from the shadows, a coy smile curling at her lips. She was young, maybe Reyna's age, and most definitely not a Vampire, although her complexion was paler than one. Reyna knew nothing aout her but couldn't stop the appreciative thoughts running through her head as she took in the girl's attire. She wore a long, flowy pale pink dress embroidered with wild flowers and adorned a golden laurel atop her head.
"The name's Adele, and this, "she gestured to the Vampire, "is my partners, Ashur. Do forgive him for not introducing himself. He's just overly excited by your presence and completely forgot his manners."
Bending low at the waist, Ashur looked at them through his dark lashes, "My sincerest apologies." The hair on the back of Reyna's neck stood on end. Ashur was charming, no doubt about that, but sincere? Reyna got the feeling that he was anything but. Standing back up to his full height, Ashur's facial expression shifted to one of apology, "Now," he said, directing his words towards Sam, "Although under normal circumstances you could beat me in a fight hands down, in this particular instance I'd highly advise against it."
Sam took a step forward, fully prepared to make Ashur eat his own words, but Reyna threw up a hand, stopping him in his tracks. Reyna could hear the angry huff of air he'd released from his nostrils, but ignored him. "Clever bit of magic you have on this building," she said conversationally to Adele. Her tone was calm, as if she were asking about the weather forecast.
Adele preened, "Liked it, did you? I'm surprised—it's not easy to impress a member of the Council of Three. Your master deemed me insignificant, after all, and look at what I've accomplished."
"She's become the Queen of New Orleans," Ashur purred, stepping behind Adele to wrap his arms around her waist and kiss her lovingly on her neck.
Brows furrowing, Reyna wondered when Adele had met Dunstan and if anything more had transpired between the two of them. Those questions could wait. "First New Orleans, next the world?"
Adele shrugged, "Something like it. Though I think Queen of the Night has a better ring to it. And of course, every queen needs a king," she cooed and stroked the back of Ashur's forearm.
Grimacing, Reyna asked, "What the hell did you do to this city? It's always been a back water cesspool, but luring tourists in—Castor tourists—that's a whole different level. You're right," Adele and Ashur perked up at that, "I am impressed. Disgusted, but impressed."
"The city has too many Supernaturals for you to have them all in your pocket," Bub continued right behind her. "The Weres, the Fae, the Vamps—hell, the Castors alone should have been able to squash . . . whatever this is."
"It's a rebellion, my friend," Ashur explained, pulling away from Adele to step closer to them. "A well executed one. The Weres? They're useless and practically defenseless without the moon—it was all too easy to push them out of the city. The Fae?" He rolled his eyes, "They don't care who's in power so long as they get to run free. And the Vamps? Well, my Adele really is a genius when it comes to magic."
"I did what you never could," Adele chimed in, lifting her chin up proudly. "Not you, not Dunstan, not even Merlin himself."
"Oh? And what was that?" Sam barked out, itching for a fight again. They all knew one was coming, but it seemed their opponents had a preference for dramatic flare, and Reyna wasn't one to start a fight without fully understanding what she was getting in to.
Ashur pulled down the collar of his grey, v-neck shirt and showed them the branded skin on his chest. "She brought me into the light."
Reyna stared hard at his chest, taking in the crude spell work. Snarling, she looked to Adele, "Vampire's aren't allowed to walk in the sun for a reason. You're not the first one to figure how to do it. You're just the first Castor dumb enough to actually do it.
Ashur's eyes turned black, the veins in his eyes protruded from his skin, and he stalked forward, "Who're you calling dumb?" He hissed, his fangs gleaming in the dull light of the room.
Adele's laugh echoed through the room, "Oh, Ashur, calm down! She's just jealous." Ashur didn't take another step forward, but he also didn't return to his position beside Adele. "Maybe if she'd figured out how to do it, Lilith wouldn't be in this mess in the first place."
"So that's how you did it?" Reyna asked, not taking her eyes off Ashur. "You ambushed her in the day? What?" She scoffed, "Too scared to try it when she was able to fight back?"
"And have her threaten suicide unless we backed down?" It was Adele's turn to scoff. "No, that was a risk we couldn't take. We need her, after all—even if her stupid rumor is false."
"She's our trophy now. Proof that the new regime has begun!" Ashur grinned, feral like.
"That's sick," Reyna sneered.
"And the Castors?" Bub asked, almost out of the blue. Everyone turned to look at him. "How did you defeat the Castors here? They're notorious for their strength."
Adele hummed, looking more preoccupied with picking invisible lint from her dress than answering Bub's questions. "Do you know how the Castor's magic works down here?"
Sam growled, annoyed by the question. Bub, though, answered straight, "It's Ancestral Magic. They gain power from their deceased ancestors. It's what makes them so powerful."
"That's true," Adele agreed easily. "But it's what also makes them so weak."
"What the fuck does that mean?" Sam growled.
"It means their magic's bound," Reyna explained, "to the burial place of those ancestors."
"Yup!" Adele chirped and clapped her hands together. "If they get beyond a certain distance of their family graveyard, their magic will disappear. They're cut off. Flat Line. Dead on Arr—"
"We get it," Reyna crossed her arms and rolled her eyes.
"Too bad they didn't. They also didn't guard those graves all too well."
Ashur snorted and added, "All all, you mean."
Adele nodded, almost mournfully, "You'd think, wouldn't you, that if all your magic was tethered to one sport, you'd maybe protect it a little better."
"What did you do?" Reyna asked, her brows furrowing with concern, her arms dropping to her sides.
"We went grave robbing," Ashur's smirk was so sharp it looked like it'd cut glass. "And visited a member of every single family with Castor history—"
"—And borrowed a bone," Adele finished, a matching smirk on her face. She walked up to Ashur and linked her right arm though his left. They were now so close to Reyna that she could see the light sprinkling of freckles across Adele's nose and cheek bones. "Did a little spell work," she wiggled her fingers, "and voila! No spell is spoken, no potion brewed, no enchantment cast without my knowledge—or consent."
"And if they don't get your approval?" Bub asked darkly.
Ashur patted the spot on his chest where the gruesome mark that allowed him to survive the sun was, "Then I remind them of our rules—no magic without approval."
"You were right, Reyna," Adele nodded to her, "when I came here this place was a cesspool. A lawless land without civilization, but now . . . we're here."
"And you've, what? Brought order to New Orleans?"
"We've brought them into the light."
"You know I won't let you get away with this." Reyna rolled her shoulders back, standing straight as a pole. Her hands curled into fists so tight she could feel her nails biting into the skin of her palms. "Your reign ends here."
"Oh, I was so hoping you'd say that," Adele said, breathless. "You see, I've been wanting to test my skills. See how strong I'd become . . .and what a better way than to challenge the famous Sorceress Reyna?"
"You want to fight me?" Reyna asked, needing to clarify. The red head nodded. Sam stifled a snorted laugh in the background, making sure everyone knew what he thought of Adele's chances. "A Castors duel—to the death?" Again, she nodded, looking all too happy for someone about to face their possible end. "You're sure?" Reyna asked again, giving the girl one last chance to back out.
"Yes, Reyna. You're not afraid, are you?" Adele taunted, "You're lapdogs won't be able to interfere. You'll be all on your own."
Glancing over her shoulder at both Sam and Bub, she silently nodded to each of them, confirming that they weren't to interfere with the fight. "All right," Reyna raised her gaze back to Adele. "To the death it is, then."
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A03
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