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asumofwords · 9 months

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The Sublet - Roommate!AU

Warnings: She/her pronouns, slow burn, angst. Tags will be added as the fic goes along.

Pairings: Modern!Aemond x Reader

Summary: Living with Helaena Targaryen was one of the best decisions you had ever made. Meeting at university, the two of you became thick as thieves and quickly best friends, moving into a flat together. But what will happen when Helaena has to leave, and her quiet, brooding, brother moves in?

Notes: Hello angels! Sorry for the late update for this one, got lost in the sauce of writing the Til Death Do Us Part oneshot. Haha anyway, here is the new chapter, I hope you enjoy! <3

Chapter 7: Hard truths

It was the tension that was the most unbearable part of it all. The feeling of words that had been left unspoken, apologies not voiced aloud, grievances that were left to fester in the quiet of the apartment after that fateful night.

When you went to work the next day, your eyes had been puffy from crying, and Jasper had asked you on multiple occasions what was wrong. You had told him it was your allergies, dust in the office irritating your eyes, but you could tell by just the way he had looked at you that he didn’t believe you.

You felt entirely defeated by it all.

Exhausted by it.

Tiptoeing in your own home, walking on eggshells, hiding in your room, not making a peep to avoid the cold glares of Aemond. And he had done much the same, staying out late, or going straight to his room when he got home.

And by the time the time the weekend had rolled in, you had had enough of sulking and decided to reply to Cregan’s invitation with a very enthusiastic yes.

Cregan told you that the boys would all be there, even Jacaerys and Lucerys, who were yet to head to the Keep to be with their family, the weekend being a final hurrah before the storm that waited for them back in their old home.

When you woke that morning, excited that the weekend was finally here and that you had something to look forward to in the evening, you decided you were going to do a quick clean of the apartment, chucking on some noise cancelling headphones and making your way to the kitchen.

You made swift work of it, and before long, you were washing your hair and getting ready for the night. Cregan had texted you excitedly saying the boys were keen to see you, and had asked if you wanted to go to his first.

You threw on an outfit that was short and sleek, hugging your curves perfectly and revealing ample cleavage. Paired with a bit of a smokey eye and your hair in a style you favoured, you looked at yourself in the mirror and smirked.

You looked hot.

Really hot.

When you came out of your room, Aemond was on the couch, watching as you ordered your Uber to take you straight to Cregan’s. You didn’t spare him a single glance, but you knew he was looking at you. You could feel the heat of his gaze roaming over your body.

Leaving without a goodbye, you hopped straight into your Uber and headed to Cregan’s, greeted by the hulking figure at the door, with loud chattering behind him and music playing.

“Look at you.” Cregan smirked as you gave him a little spin.

“Look at me.” You winked, jumping into his arms for a massive hug, the large man picking you off the ground with a shift of his back as you squealed, before placing you back down.

“The boys are keen to see you.”

You smiled, following him down the hall to the lounge room where Cregan’s friends all sat on various couches and chairs.

Two familiar faces came into view, Jacaerys and Lucerys Velaryon.

Both brown haired boys gazes fell on you, wide smiles spreading on their cheeks. Jacaerys jumped up with a cry of your name before rushing towards you, pulling you into a soft hug, followed by his younger brother Lucerys, who had grown a foot since the last time you saw him. Lost were his cherubic cheeks, and in their place, cheekbones that sat high on his face like his mother.

“It's been so long!” You whined, looking at Luc who now stood taller than you, “Fuck you’ve grown. What are they feeding you on Dragonstone?”

Lucerys blushed, looking away before a smirk pulled at his lips, “Not enough. You haven’t grown a bit.”

“I stopped growing a long time ago, you ass.” You chuckled.

You didn’t get to see Jacaerys and Lucerys often, having met them a few times through Cregan, and the others through Helaena. At one point you had classes with the older brother, and he had always been nothing but kind and respectful towards you.

Despite not seeing them as often as you wished, you still considered them good friends.

Scanning the rest of the room, you spotted the one and only Kermit Tully, seated beside his brother Elmo Tully. After Daeron's confession to you on the phone the other day, you couldn’t even look at Kermit without having burning questions. You put them in the back of your mind to ask later.

Cerwyn, Cregan’s best friend who was as large and as broad as Stark was, stood by the window smoking a joint, giving you a small wave and a smile from across the room.

“Where are we going first?” You asked, being handed your favourite drink from Cregan as he wrapped an arm around your shoulders.

“We should go to the Red Kraken.” Jace suggested, sitting back down in his seat to sip on his beer.

Cerwyn chuckled, “You keen to see Dalton again?” He asked you, eyebrow raised.

Dalton Greyjoy, owner of the Red Kraken, was a man a few years older than Cregan. The last time you had went to his venue with the Stark, he had suggested the three of you go back to his when he clocked off. It was brazen and daring, but you couldn’t deny the man was attractive. He had dark hair and dark brown eyes that were almost black.

Dalton stood taller than Cregan, if you could believe it, and was often found at one of the local boxing rings for fun.

“I mean, I wouldn’t say I didn’t want to see him again.” You cheeked, Jacaerys chuckling on the couch as he explained the situation to a very confused Luc, the younger boys cheeks going a bright red.

“Hey!” Cregan chastised you, pinching your side.

“What? He’s handsome and ruggish. A bit more dark and mysterious than you are.”

“No mystery with that one.” Kermit piped up from his seat, taking a cheeky sip of his drink, eyes watching you over the rim of the can, “If you want to see his cock, just ask.”

“Kermy!”

“What?”

Cregan burst into laughter beside you and all followed.

You all finished your drinks and found your way into the city, heading straight for the Red Kraken.

It was a dingy bar, more male populated than not, but it had a fun feel to it.

Grungy and dirty, it had mismatching couches and tables, and a great smoking area out the back. On Fridays they had sport trivia nights which Cregan had once taken you to.

You lost.

You all sat down and drank and laughed, and you felt the tension from the week slough off your back like snow in spring.

It was good to be with friends like them, and you had only wished that the girls were there to join you all.

The night flew by, and your sides were in stitches from laughing so much. Dalton had come over to speak to you all at one point whilst the bar was slow, and you had felt his gaze lower to your breasts on more than one occasion. When he left, you had whispered into Cregan's ear about taking him up on his offer, which had earnt you a scandalised look.

It wasn't a no though.

“If you don’t want Dalton, I’d be happy to replace him.” Cerwyn smirked.

Cregan declared that he owed the entire table a round for that comment, and Cerwyn had done as ordered without apology or regret, a teasing 'anything for you, love' flowing from his lips.

As the night moved on, you all decided to move to the next venue, and it was your good idea to take them all to the bar that Sara had taken you to. All were in favour, and so you made your way down to the silk lanes, Lucerys’ bright brown eyes eyeing the doors of the strip clubs excitedly.

“Is that it?” Elmo sighed, looking at the busted wall and green door entrance.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Jacaerys stepped into the venue immediately, security guard nodding at him as he entered, not bothering to check his ID. Your brows furrowed as you looked up at Cregan, who just shrugged down at you.

As you walked down the stairs to enter the bar you caught up to Jace, who looked like he was at home.

“Have you been here before?” You asked, walking inside, seeing the bar staff nod at him, big grins on their cheeks.

“Daemon owns the joint with my mum.” Jacaerys told you, and you stilled.

This was Daemon and Rhaenyra’s bar.

“What? I didn’t even know that.” You whispered in a hushed tone, still loud enough to be heard over the music.

“Pretty low key, just another investment. They said they’ll hand it over to me eventually.”

“What the fuck?! Jace, that’s amazing!” You grinned, hugging him aggressively around his neck as you stood at the bar, waiting to be served.

Cregan moved behind you, hand winding around your waist as he whispered into your ear.

“Don’t freak out.”

You let go of Jace and turned to look back at him, “What? Wh-“

There, at the end of the bar, sat a familiar head of silver hair.

And his eye was on you.

You snapped your head away, uttering a quick ‘fuck’ beneath your breath.

Lucerys, following your eye line shifted uncomfortably, “Jace, Aemond’s here.” He whispered to his older brother, who turned to face his uncle, giving him a curt smile and nod before looking back to staff in front of him.

“He’s fine. Leave him be.”

It was awkward.

This was supposed to be your new place to get away from him, and now Aemond was here? And what was worse, you were here with people you knew he didn’t get along with. And the glare he directed towards you was apparent.

Cregan led you to go sit down at a booth at the encouragement of Jace who said the drinks were on him for the rest for the night, though in reality you knew it was more like on his parents, but you didn’t argue. Free drinks are free drinks, and you needed one now more than ever.

“Are you okay?” Cregan spoke lowly, hand holding yours on the table.

You swallowed, “I’m okay. It's just awkward.”

“He still giving you shit?”

“It's a long story, and one I’ll tell you later.”

Cregan pressed a kiss to the side of your head, your eyes immediately lifting to see Aemond watching you. The other boys came to join you at the booth, Cerwyn sliding in next to you, with Luc and the Tully brothers opposite. Jacaerys made his way over to his uncle, polite smile on his lips.

You watched as Jace and Aemond shared what looked to be a somewhat tense and awkward conversation, though completely civil. Aemond seemed to tolerate his nephew barely just, and Jacaerys had slapped a friendly hand on his uncles shoulder as he made his way back to you, earning the brown haired man a frown from a head of silver.

“I think we should leave.” Luc whispered, shoulders hunched as he curled in on himself.

Jace slid in next to him, “Don’t let him intimidate you.” He put a gentle hand on Luc’s shoulder, similar to how he had with Aemond, and you got the impression that Jacaerys being the eldest, was used to being the mediator, “Let's have a drink, enjoy each others company and have a good night.”

The staff brought over your drinks, sitting them in front of you, and you clinked all your glasses together messily in a toast, feeling Cregan whisper into your ear as you took a sip.

“Relax your shoulders." You did as you were told, not having realised how tense you were, "Don’t let him ruin your night. I’m here, the boys are here, and if at any point you want to leave, we will leave. Okay?”

You nodded.

No way in Hell were you letting him sour your mood again.

You all stayed at the bar, round after round of drinks being dumped on your table without any of you having to get up or order. You were messy and loud, but above all, happy.

You felt Aemond’s gaze on you for almost the entirety of the night, and caught his eye on multiple occasions, tension crackling in the air between you. But after your third cocktail, the heat of the drinks overpowered the heat of his gaze.

Eventually, Aemond stood from where he sat at the bar, your eyes immediately finding him and watching as he left, walking past your booth as he let his eye stray on Cregan’s hand that was wrapped over your shoulder. He continued on his path, nose held high as he disappeared up the steps.

Lucerys sighed, obviously having felt some sort of tension the entire time, “What the fuck was that?”

You groaned, burying your face into your hands.

“Aren’t you living with him?” Kermit asked, and all eyes immediately landed on you.

“What?” Jacaerys’ eyes went wide, “Since when do you live with my uncle? What happened to Helaena?”

“Hel is at the Keep, and Aemond needed a place to stay, so he’s in her room.”

“Gods help you.” Elmo falsely prayed, lifting his drink up in a mock toast.

Cerwyn and Cregan shared a look over the top of your head, and then with Jacaerys, sharing some sort of unspoken conversation. The only people confused at the table, were you, Luc and the Tully brothers.

“What?”

Cregan shrugged.

You felt that there was something unsaid, but you opted to leave it, sparking up a conversation with Kermit, asking pointedly about his love life, but not mentioning Daeron. The red headed man narrowed his eyes at you, wide smile pulling on his lips, before he started to go into great detail about someone he had fucked recently, with a full and lengthy description of their cock.

The two of you the only people at the table knowing who it was.

The night continued for a while, but you couldn’t help but feel the lingering guilt and upset that Aemond had triggered inside of you. Cregan, sensing the shift in your mood, decided to call it a night, and offered to take you home.

You said farewell to all the boys, and made them swear to do this more often, giving Lucerys a particularly tight hug, feeling the tension in the youngest boys shoulders.

When you and Cregan got back to the apartment, the lights were off, and the flat was bathed in darkness. You stumbled into the apartment giggling, shushing the tall man behind you who clunked loudly on the floor with each step.

“Shhh!” You hushed him, laughter bubbling up your throat.

“Come on, bunny.” Cregan laughed quietly, steering you straight to the kitchen, filling up a glass of water for you to drink.

You scrunched your nose at him, knowing you were drunk, but not wanting to sober up yet.

“Drink it all, Y/n. You need to sober up.”

“You need t-to sober up.” You quipped back, jumping up on the cabinets, your shoes hitting the doors loudly by accident.

“Shhh!” You hushed your own feet, grabbing the water and drinking it slowly, keeping your eyes on Cregan the entire time, who watched you in entertained exacerbation.

You placed the empty glass of water beside you, which Cregan filled to the top again.

“Cregaaan.” You purred, the Northerner lifting a brow at you, “Can you roll me a cigarette, please.” You pouted at him, trying to give him your best doe eyes.

Cregan shook his head, grabbing your small handbag to pull out your cigarettes, rolling you one neatly as he moved to open the window. You shimmied closer to the ledge, putting the cigarette to your lips as you lit it.

Blowing a ring of smoke out the window, you offered Cregan a drag, who took the smoke from your hands delicately.

“I can't believe Cerwyn offered to join us.” You guffawed, cheeks heating in both embarrassment and excitement.

Cregan blew the smoke out the window, handing the cigarette back to you, “I can. Cerwyn thinks you’re cute. Plus he knows all about our little agreement.” You giggled loudly, inhaling the sharp smoke into your lungs, “Why? Are you thinking about saying yes?”

You blushed, crossing your legs tightly, heat settling in your core, “I dunno. Cerwyn is cute.”

“He is.”

Your mouth dropped open, “Cregan Stark. Tell me more right now.”

Cregan took the smoke from your fingers bringing it to his lips as he smirked down at you, “I mean, I haven’t not thought about it. He's my best mate and I live with him. I've heard what goes on behind his closed doors. Besides, you beneath both of us, begging, sq-“

“Can you two be fucking quiet?”

Both of your heads snapped to a disgruntled Aemond Targaryen, who stood in the lounge room, hands by his sides in fists. He was in those grey sweatpants again, hanging low on his hips with no shirt on, hair on his head tangled and messed.

“I’m s-“ You began.

“-It’s three in the fucking morning. Have some respect.”

You stiffened, feeling anger begin to bloom in your chest, you opened your mouth to argue, to snap back at him, but Cregan stepped in front of you, blocking you from the other mans view.

“No problem, man. We'll be quieter.” Cregan’s voice was deep, stern, clipped, and left no room for argument. Though it was polite, it was rough, like the cold in the North, biting and sharp. A true Northerner through and through.

Cregan was silently hitting back without even doing it.

Aemond’s lips pursed into a hard line, turning on his heel to stomp back to his room, the door slamming shut behind him.

Cregan spun around to look at you, eyebrows lifted as he whistled lowly, pulling the smoke up to his lips to take a long drag.

“What the fuck?” You hissed quietly, “What is his problem?”

Cregan sighed, “It is 3am, bunny. I’m sure he just wants to sleep. It would have been a weird night for him.”

You frowned, annoyed that Cregan was acting so cool about Aemond’s outburst, “Why aren’t you angry?” You snatched the smoke from him, taking a final drag before you put it out on the brickwork outside.

"I'm not not angry."

You huffed in annoyance.

Cregan stepped forward, unhooking your legs to stand between them as his large hands skated up the outside of your thighs. He bent his head to look at you, your eyes refusing to meet his.

“Y/n." Cregan coaxed you softly.

You slowly turned your head to look at him, staring into his icy grey eyes.

“Do you like him?”

“What? No!” Immediately feeling defensive.

Cregan hushed you, shaking his head kindly, “It’s okay if you do. You’re not in trouble.”

You blanched, not sure of how to speak, words getting caught in the back of your throat.

Cregan stroked your cheek softly, soft smile on his lips, “Hey, this is casual, remember? Regardless of if we fuck or not, you’re still my friend, and I care about you and want you to be happy.”

Your heart pulled painfully, lips dropping down into a frown.

Cregan’s chest rumbled with a quiet laugh, “Don’t look at me like that.”

“You’re so sweet, Creg. What the fuck.”

Both hands rubbed warmly up and down your thighs in comfort, “You’re fluffing me up now.”

You shook your head, “I don’t understand. Why don’t I like you instead?”

Cregan gave you a sad smile and kissed the tip of your nose, “I used to ask myself the same question. But now I see it. We just don’t gel like that." He shrugged, and your chest pulled, "And honestly? I'm glad, because at the end of the day, no matter what happens between us, I know I'll still be able to call you mine in some way or another. Whether that be as my friend or my lover.”

You felt tears begin to build in your eyes, the betrayal of the prickling in the corners, causing your stomach turn, “I don’t get it. Why do I feel this way? He’s been nothing but horrible to me.”

“You’ve fucked him haven’t you?”

“No.” You said quietly.

His eyes roamed your face, knowing you far too well, “You've done something else.” Cregan guessed, watching the way your face fell further.

His back suddenly straightened, “Did he hurt you?”

“No! No, Gods no. Nothing like that.”

The Stark relaxed slightly, but you could still tell he was on guard.

“Does Helaena know?”

You looked away, fingers pulling at the threads of material on your thigh, “No. I’m scared. She’s my best friend, Cregan, and I feel like I’ve totally broken her trust and gone behind her back. She has so much going on right now, I just don’t know how I’m even supposed to broach that conversation. Like what do I do? ‘Hey Hel, your brother ate my pussy like a starved man and then immediately treated me like shit after.’”

“What did he do?”

You shook your head, “It doesn’t matter. He’s been nothing but a dick to me. It's not going to happen again.” You looked down into your lap, wringing your hands together as the feeling of being used washed over you again.

“If I know you, and I think I do, I can tell that it will happen again just by looking at you both.”

You scoffed, looking up at him in irritation.

“No, listen. There's clearly something going on between you two. Anyone with two eyes could see that. Maybe that's why he's not.”

“There's nothing-“

“-Cerwyn picked up on it immediately. Even Jace could see it.”

Oh.

Cregan's thumbs smoothed the skin of your thighs, the warmth of his body soaking into yours, “So what happened? Start from the beginning.”

And so you did, you started from the beginning, telling Cregan about the day he moved in, to your first kiss in the kitchen, all the way to the other night and how he had left you and was horrible right after a scene.

You watched as Cregan’s brows had become drawn at certain points in justifiable anger, the man always having been very protective over you, and at other times he gave you a scathing look, telling you that you had gone too far as well.

“So yeah, we haven’t spoken since, and I don’t think I want to. I just can’t see how he can be so cold to me when I've been nothing but kind to him.”

Cregan leant against the window, rolling the both of you another cigarette, trapping the smoke in his lips as he bent down to take off your shoes off as you began to swing your legs in agitation.

“He's a douchebag for sure," Cregan agreed, standing to his full height again, "And I really don’t see what you see in him.”

“See?? I think it's all hormonal or something. I don’t know. Ugh. But when he is nice, he is so lovely. And when he smiles it's this-”

You stopped yourself.

Oh gods.

You were deeper than you thought.

Why did you have a crush on this man???

Cregan smirked at you and you swatted him roughly, taking the smoke from between his lips to light it, taking a long and hard drag, feeling the smoke swirl down your throat thickly.

“I don’t know much about the man,” Cregan began, “But from what Jace and Luc have told me, I know he’s been through a lot. He didn’t get an easy run as a kid-“

“-It's not an excuse to be a dick.”

“-No its not an excuse, but it is an explanation. I know his dad wasn’t really there, and his mum was real tough on him. It didn’t help that everyone sided with Luc after the accident.“

“The accident? What do you mean?”

Cregan took a steady breath, taking the cigarette from you to take a sharp inhale, speaking as he exhaled, “Luc took his eye.”

“What?!” Your heart fell.

Cregan held up his hands, “No, not like that. It was an accident. Lucerys has never forgiven himself for it, hangs over the poor kids head like a storm. Aemond was ten, and Luc would have only been like five or six? They were both kids, and they were play fighting with wooden swords, some knights and dragon game they used to all play, but Lucerys had swung too high and too fast for Aemond to block it.”

Your stomach turned, and a chill ran through you, “Oh my gods.”

Cregan looked down sadly, shifting on his feet, “Yeah, its rough. Fucking horrible what happened, and then Alicent wanted to sue Lucerys for grievous bodily harm.”

“What the fuck? But he was just a kid? They were both kids! It was an accident!”

“I know right? Alicent started a fight right in front of Aemond at the hospital with Rhaenyra, got physical, everyone started screaming at each other when they all should have been comforting the poor kid who lost his damn eye. The family has been a mess ever since.”

It all made sense now.

The tension.

The disdain.

The law firm.

All of it.

Cregan handed you the smoke and also held the second glass of water to you, waiting for you to drink half of it, “I’m not telling you this to excuse his behaviour or make you pity him. I'm just trying to give you some perspective as to why he is the way he is. He’s had it rough, and from the sound of it, he doesn’t know how to open up or feel safe. The people that were supposed to protect him failed him, and I think that it really did change the way he is.”

You felt guilt.

Guilt for not knowing. Guilt for now knowing. Guilt for not being more understanding. But at the same time, you were not really at fault.

How were you to know?

“Fuck. I feel terrible.” You sighed.

“Don’t be. He was an ass to you. No excuses there.”

“I guess. I did rub his ex in his face.”

Cregan sucked in a hiss, “Poor form.”

You buried your face in your hands, “I know. But he just left me, straight after giving me one of the best orgasms of my life. It was horrible, Creg.”

“Best orgasm?” Cregan joked, and you sighed.

“Shut up. It was horrible. I've never felt so used before. It reminded me so much of Jason, I think it really triggered me. I cried myself to sleep after.”

Cregan stepped back between your legs, pulling you into a tight bear hug, in away that he always did, tucking your head beneath his chin and cradling you to his chest. You instantly felt safe, reassured, and loved.

And it was always how you felt around him.

“You’ll get through this, bunn.”

Thanks so much for reading along with me, if you wish to be added to the tag list please let me know :) Likes and reblogs are greatly appreciated ! Enjoy <3

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topguncortez · 10 months

Text

Hold My Hand | Jake Seresin x Shy!Wifey

Opposites Attract Masterlist | Main Masterlist

synopsis: Y/N notices a change with her body, and Jake is there to give her the support she needs.

word count: 1.8k

warnings: mentions of a c-section, postpartum, breastfeeding, unprotected sex, shower sex, fear of doctors, mentions of breast cancer

Y/N felt like she knew more about how a woman’s body changes during pregnancy than her own doctor. By the time she was having baby three, she was an old pro and could tell you exactly what stage of development the fetus was in, how the mother’s body was changing, and the size of the baby. Y/N knew that every pregnancy was different, and each one of hers was different than the last. She knew that being pregnant with twins was going to be vastly different than being pregnant with just one. However, she never accounted for how different it was going to be.

A C-section was never in the cards for Y/N, but she didn’t really have a choice when she was whisked away by doctors and nurses and taken to an operating room. She didn’t really remember much about it, she could remember being cold, feeling exposed, the scent of burning flesh. But she did remember the feeling of her baby boys being placed on her chest for the first time. She remembered the feeling of Jake running his fingers through her hair and telling her she did a good job. She remembered the bright faces of her other three children when they got to hold the last Seresin babies in their arms.

Ever since that day, Y/N vowed to do things how she did for the last three pregnancies. She chose to breastfeed the best she could. It was a challenge at first, her milk didn’t come in right away from having the twins early, and due to the c-section. But it got easier once she did start producing, in fact, she started over-producing and woke up most mornings with sore breasts. Jake was great help, waking up during the night to help her feed the twins, and getting her breast pump ready for her.

The first time she felt the lump was in the middle of the night. Jasper had woken up and was hangry. Y/N told Jake to stay in bed, and that it was just one of the twins that wanted attention. She had gotten him situated to feed when she felt the painful lump on her chest. Y/N had brushed it off, thinking it was just a clogged milk duct. She made sure to feed Jasper on that side, hoping that he could get the clog out. When Jasper was done feeding, Y/N burped him and wrapped him back up in his swaddle.

Y/N didn’t think anything of it, until about two weeks later.

She and Jake had finally gotten a private moment to themselves. The older three Seresins were at school, and the twins were down for a nap. Y/N placed the baby monitor on the shelf next to the shower and dragged her husband in there with her. Sexy time with Jake was something as few and far between as the passing of Halley’s Comet. They had gotten good at mastering the art of quickies; in the shower, in the garage, in the back of Y/N’s Cadillac SUV.

Jake’s hands were roaming Y/N’s wet skin, as his mouth was on hers. His cock was gently thrusting in and out of her, trying to make their private moment last as long as it could. Her hands were tangled in his hair, pulling on the blonde locks that had grown way past acceptable for the Navy. Jake was clearly enjoying his time off as much as Y/N was; not having to wake up early, shave every single day, and get constant weekly haircuts.

“Fuck, sweets,” Jake groaned, as he pressed kisses to her neck. His strong hands held her up against the shower wall, “I love you so much.”

“I love you too,” Y/N moaned, tilting her head back. Jake’s tongue moved across her skin, down to her breast. The moment his tongue came in contact with her nipple she let out a hiss and pulled him back by his hair.

“You okay?” Jake asked, his eyes full of concern, “Is it mas-”

“Please,” Y/N groaned, “Do not talk about mastitis while your cock is inside me.”

Jake chuckled and kissed her. He didn’t waste any more time, knowing that at any moment the babies could start crying and want attention. He brought his hand down between their bodies, circling her clit in slow tantalizing circles, bringing her over the edge with his name falling from her lips like a prayer.

“I’ll go check on, ‘em,” Jake said, as he slipped on his sweatpants. His hair was still damp from the shower, and Y/N still stood in front of the mirror, wrapped in only her towel. She hummed in agreement, and Jake kissed the side of her head before going towards the twins’ nursery.

Y/N stared at herself in the mirror, waiting for Jake’s voice to come over the baby monitor. She let out a shaky breath as she dropped her towel, and ever so gently, ran her fingers along the side of her breast. The moment her fingers came in contact with what she hoped disappeared weeks ago, she let out a small sob.

— — —

One of Valeria Bates-Machado’s favorite things was being able to take care of her friends’ kids. It brought her joy seeing them year after year and seeing how much they have grown. She always made the check-ups less scary for parents and kids. Val had been the Seresin kids’ doctor since they were born and knew probably as much about them as their parents did. This was why Val found it a bit odd that Jasper and Maxwell Seresin were on her schedule for the day.

“Y/N,” Val said, as she entered the room, “What brings you in today?”

Y/N gave Val a small smile, “Nothing, just a check-up.”

Val nodded, “I just saw them three weeks ago.”

“Well, Jasper seemed to be a little congested.”

Val nodded again, still not believing the smile on Y/N’s face. It didn’t reach her eyes like it usually did, and she never just showed up like this when her kids had the flu. Y/N was a mom times five, she knew what to do when her babies showed signs of congestion.

But Val did the check-up either way, and confirmed what Y/N thought, that Jasper did have some congestion, but it was nothing that warranted a visit like this. Val ordered some medicine for the little boy, and held him while Y/N got Maxwell out to feed.

“So how are things?” Val asked, “When does Jake go back to work full-time?”

“Next week,” Y/N mumbled, looking down at Maxwell, “He’s excited-”

“And you’re not?” Y/N took a deep breath, trying to swallow down the tears that were welling up in her throat. Val’s eyes softened as she looked at her friend, “What’s going on?”

“I…. I need your help with something. I know you’re a pediatrician, but you’re one of the only doctors I trust and you know I don’t trust doctors, and I-”

“Shh,” Val said, reaching for her friend’s hand, “I got you. Whatever it is, I got you. We’ll get through this.”

— — —

It had been a week.

A slow, dreadful, anxiety-filled week.

Every call, every email, every text message had sent a tiny jolt of anxiety through Y/N’s body. Val said she would reach out to her the second that she got the results back. They had agreed to take it one step at a time, starting with taking some scans. Y/N tried her best to remember that they couldn’t do anything else without getting those scans back, but it didn’t stop her mind from jumping to the worst-case scenario.

Jake had noticed over the past week that something had been off with Y/N. He couldn’t quite explain it or put his finger on it. She was quieter than normal, shying away from his touches. She had decided to switch to bottles full time, instead of breastfeeding. And every time she held her babies, she would squeeze them just a bit tighter and hold them just a bit longer.

“What’s going on with you?” Jake asked, as he set down a bowl of ice cream with a caramel brownie in front of her, “You’re never this quiet.”

“Just tired,” Y/N answered, running a hand over her face, “Having Eli home this week has been a change.”

Jake nodded, still eyeing his wife. The kids had long since been put to bed, after bathtime and several bedtime stories. It was just the two of them, each having an extra slice of the desert, revealed in the quiet house and alone time. Jake let the silence stretch out a little longer, the only sound was the quiet hum from the baby monitor and the clinking of spoons against the bowl.

“Alright,” Jake sighed, taking the bowl away from his wife, “Talk to me. What’s going on?”

“Noth-”

Jake gave her a look and Y/N returned it with an irritated glare. But the facade only lasted for a minute, before her eyes turned glassy, and her cheeks heated up. Jake’s jaw dropped slightly, as the tears started to flow down her cheeks. Y/N buried her face in her hands and quiet sobs escaped her lips.

Y/N Seresin was not a woman who cried.

Y/N Seresin was a tough woman, who hid her tears and walked through hell with a smile.

Jake Seresin was at a total loss on what to do as his wife cried in front of him.

He waited for a moment, letting her get her tears out. He grew up with sisters to know that sometimes, you just need to cry it out. That asking questions and trying to figure out why at the moment could make it all worse. Jake waited until the tears had somewhat subsided, before grabbing one of her hands and pulling it away from her face. When her sobs turned into sniffles, Jake squeezed her hand, letting her know that she had the floor to talk.

“I found a lump,” Y/N whispered, her eyes closed. Jake’s eyebrows furrowed, “I found it a couple of weeks ago, I thought it was just a clogged duct. I went to see Val for some scans and I… They want to run some tests.” She opened her eyes and looked at her husband

Jake didn’t know what to say.

What do you even say in a situation like this?

Jake swallowed thickly as he leaned forward in his chair, squeezing her hand. He opened his mouth several times, racking his brain for things to say.

‘It’ll be alright.’

‘We’ll figure it out.’

‘How bad is it?’

‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

Everything Jake was thinking of saying, just didn’t sound right to say out loud. So instead, he sat there, and held her hand.

taglist: @damrlova @shanimallina87 @phoenix1388 @mygyn @cherrycola27 @yanna-banana @seitmai @topgun-imagines @bradleybeachbabe @na-ta-sh-aa @startrekfangirl2233 @xoxabs88xox @atarmychick007 @lunamoonbby @sophiaslastbraincell @bradswolfe @fandom-princess-forevermore @angelbabyange @callsignharper @dempy @lovelywiseprincess @krismdavis @eternallyvenus @dakotakazansky @pono-pura-vida @callsignharper @callsignartemis @starberryhorse @daggersquadphantom @gspenc @Dreamgirl3300 @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @kmc1989 @spencvrr @frazie99

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cookie-crumblr · 7 months

Text

Hype Train!

F! Streamer Reader x M!Yandere Streamer OC

Part 1~

His Info: 📹✨

Part: 1 2

!!!MINORS DNI!!!

CW: lots of boring tech talk(sorry i nerd out sometimes and i wanted to show his thought process for his intro) yandere, f!reader, use of she/her when referring to reader, reader has a vagina, stalking, internet stalking, lewd comments not from ML, edit: sorry! i forgot to tag NONCON EXHIBITION!!! omg that’s probably huge. i am so sorry!!!

He is always looking for smaller streamers to raid, to bring in his moderately sized and very active audience to someone who may often only get about 5-10 people.

Today, he picked you. Your cute little VTuber model already having captivated him. He looks up your sinsta first, and sees your selfies. You somehow look just like your tuber!

You’re so cute.

He clicks “raid now”, and says to shower you in love!

As soon as the alert goes off for the raid, so does a long line of follower alerts. “Wh-what?! OMG! Thank you so much!!! Welcome to my stream! how was yours? if you have to raid and run, go eat and sleep pleasantly!”

Oh goodness, you sound cute. You even cared about him without knowing him, sure he knows it’s just polite for streamers to say those things. But coming to him in your adorably sugary voice, he instantly believes you really care.

While he’s watching the swaying of your adorable little avatar on screen, he’s imagining the movements in your actual face behind the camera.

“Oh my! im so sorry, uh-” Your mic picks up your ferocious typing, and your sudden shock snap him back to the moment,“I forgot to shout you out, Jasper!”

His name rolling off your tongue sounds so perfect, as if he’s been waiting to hear it that way his entire life.

He springs into action, realizing you have no mods, lithe fingers dancing across keys swiftly and with new purpose, “No worries! Tysm for the SO!! also, i can mod for you, if you want!😊”

You beam behind your screen, “Oh! i could never ask that of you! maybe if you’re here again next time!”

Of course he will be. You don’t know that though.

“O-m-gee! Thank you all soooo much for the hype train!!! level 5?! i’ve never even had a level three!! this is crazy!”

God you’re cute when you’re so excited.

He has your selfies from sinsta pulled up in front of him as he listens deeply to you speak.

You’re so thankful, and so, so sweet…

You must be so innocent.

You’re at the very least naive, and he’d hate to just leave you to be eaten up by this cruel, cruel world…

He must get to you first.

Your stream ends a few hours later, his followers stayed the whole time to shower you in love.

He knows he’s got a lot of simps… They’d do anything he tells them to.

You though, you’ve had the most fun streaming that you’ve ever had so far! And that payout this month is really gonna help, they gave so much!

On your dipcord you see a new friend request, it’s him! You add him without a second thought, always looking for more streamer friends.

within seconds you receive a dm from him, “Want to VC?”

“Sure!” you respond, full of excitement. Something in your gut roils, you feel so nervous but your excitement overrules your body’s initial warning.

When you shouted him out you saw his own Vtuber, and heard his melodic voice, your face warms at the thought.

He calls and you answer after long seconds that feel like minutes of deep breathing, and hyping yourself up.

“How are you feeling, Y/Username, you had a pretty productive stream,” Jasper’s voice is even softer than in his clip, your stomach turns to a fluttering tangle of knots.

“Oh! haha,” you giggle, “only thanks to you!”

His heart melts in response.

“You were why the viewers stayed, don’t sell yourself short,” as he speaks he’s sifting through your public scocials.

He has noticed one older woman with her real name as her username that follows you on every single account. He continues down this path through the web. She has pictures with you, confirming that she’s your mother in the descriptions. she has her state tagged on flapbook.

That narrows it down as long as you didn’t move too far.

On your own socials you often have pictures of flowering trees near red bricks. And in one Selfie a street sign is reflected in your dark shades…

He floogle maps it, then goes into street veiw, there’s a couple red brick houses, but there’s also a red brick apartment complex right around the corner with magnolia trees…

He smiles as his fingers find his lips idly zoning out slightly.

You’re only a few hours flight away from him there…

“Jasper?” Your timid voice pulls him back.

“Yes, pretty,” He says in a low groan, “Can I follow your private?”

You blush fiercely, “Ye-Yeah! o-of course,” you’re so glad he can’t see you right now, your face completely buried in your hands.

You open your phone and go to sinstagram, he sent you a follow request and already followed your public streaming account.

You smile to yourself bashfully, tucking stray strands behind your warming ears.

He sees there are a few live cameras connected in the apartment buildings.

“Hey, this is a random question, but do you have a cat cam? i do, and i saw you have a cat on your public…” He asks, hoping to sound inconspicuous.

“Y-yeah! i do, wanna exchange kitten pics?” you laugh feeling more comfortable, he’s got a cat too! You can’t help but love cat dads…

“Always! and do you have protection on it?” he can already see that only a couple of the cameras don’t have any sort of blocker on them in these buildings. He’s almost disappointed.

There… “How cute…” He finds the one with live footage of your cat just as pictured sleeping on it’s giant plant shaped cat tree across the room.

“You mean like the warranty? Y-yeah! I paid for the 2 year…” You try to keep calm…

He sees a few creeps are already connected to your cam.

He easily follows their trail, typing away on his loud mechanical keyboard. The sound of it soothes you, you end up closing your eyes for a second.

“Oh no- You paid?” he sighs in frustration, not at you though. At whatever store took advantage of you. “This brand comes with a free two year when you buy it…” Shit. he misspoke. He isn’t supposed to know the brand.

You don’t consciously notice.

“For real?! I had no idea!!” You’re almost as frustrated. That was like thirty bucks you didn’t even have to spend.

He can’t help the small enamored smile that creeps across his face.

“Next time you want to buy something techy lemme know. I’ll make sure you get the most for what ya pay an all that… But, back to my question- I meant what kind of firewalls do you have on your router, do you use two-factor authentication on the camera?” He knows you don’t have either, but he’ll tell you what to do to start protecting yourself from these animals.

One of the connected IPs is a live cam website that nobody signs up to be on…

The comments on you from just walking in front of it sometimes are lewd and disgust him.

“I hope she walks by today, sigh…”

“She’s so hot… I wish she’d take those panties off more often though…”

“I saw the side of her ass again yesterday. looks so good, god i want to taste her…”

“I’d fuck her so good, better than whoever that ugly fucker is that comes over sometimes…”

“That guy’s so lucky…”

His face is twists in a deeper and deeper disgusted scowl the more he reads, he almost ignored the comments about a guy visiting you.

Almost.

His blood boils.

“I-I didn’t know you need stuff like that… I mean it just faces my cat’s tree anyway! hah…” You giggle more nervously again, feeling a little creeped out by the thought of someone accessing it. Do you walk by sometimes? You realize you do…

“Lemme help you.” He says almost too eagerly. Save it, he thinks quickly. “I-, I like to make sure the people around me are safe at least.”

“That’s so nice of you!! but, I don’t want to ask too much of you, I’m sure i could floogle how to myself!” You sound determined, it’s adorable, and his face softens immediately.

“Nah, it’s seriously no problem, we’re already talkin’ righ’now, an it’ll just take one sec. Promise.” You can hear the smile in his soft voice and feel more at ease again.

“Okay! if you say so, thanks so much, Jasper!”

“Mm,” He can’t help the quiet groan from hearing his name exit your lips, “‘course” He begins the process with you, and makes sure you check the “log out of all other locations” box. of course his doesn’t disconnect though.“I’ll keep you safe from now on.” His words carry a weight that you can feel. Your heart pounds.

“Thank you. I feel better already knowing my cat’s safe!”

You’re more worried about your cat than yourself.

You’re so pure

“Like i said, ‘s no problem. Come to me for whatever you need technologically.” God he hopes you do. He continues typing, working on sending his homemade virus to all these sickos that have gotten to see more of you than they deserve. “I’ll protect you from now on…”

“You-uh- S-sound like you work a lot!” You try and change the topic, your heart flipping over inside you.

“Hmm?” His rumbling voice keeps sending chills throughout your body.

“Oh! sorry, I can hear you typing on your keyboard, what are those? lubed yellows? They sound so nice…” Your face warms, a little embarrassed.

“Mhmm,” He practically moans again, you shiver, “glad you know your switches. They’re my favorite.”

“Could you show me how to lube mine sometime?”

Now it’s his turn with a warm, reddening face, hearing your voice say lube is making him think of anything but keyboards. He idly plays with his lip again, tugging it up with his teeth.

“how ‘bought I do it with you,” You shudder, not knowing, but directly feeling his hidden implications.

You sigh through your nose hoping he doesn’t hear.

He does.

He smiles, ecstatic with the knowledge that you got what he meant.

“Hey, Y/username, I have a little bit of work to do righ’now, can I call you t’morrow?”

“Of course! and it’s Y/N”

He beams, “have a nice evening, Y/N” His voice smooths even more than it already was. He’s barelyy above a whisper speaking into his mic, and straight into your ears.

The effect it has is… A little bit maddening.

“You too,” you speak up with a soft and shaky voice, “see ya later, Jasper” he can tell you’re at least a little aroused by him.

He bites his lip, feeling the tug on his snake bites.

After you hang up, he doesn’t have to wait even a second before the next call is answered:

“Sup Jazzy,” he’s used to hearing his own voice, but it’s always weird coming from another “person”.

“Sup Devvy, how’re you an Issac?”

#oc jasper #my oc #oc x reader #oc x you #yandere #yandere x reader #my fic #yandere x you #dead dove do not eat #tw yandere #streamer yandere #streamer x you #streamer x reader #yandere streamer #male yandere #yandere oc #streamer oc #streamer oc x reader

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enchantedbarnes · 4 months

Text

Recommendations #2 💌

Well hello again. Just in case you make your way through my first list, here's some more reading material for you 😉

I went digging to find some past gems - these lists are also partly selfish so I can go back and re-read them easily.

💖 Thank you to all of these creators for all the writing you've shared with us. I very much appreciate all of you! 💖

And to all you readers out there, I hope you enjoy and send some love to all of these beautiful writers 🥰

If you haven't already, you can check out my first Recommendation List - Here ❤️‍🔥 make sure they get all of the love too

Caught In The Fire by @dreamwritesimagines

Pairing: Mobster! Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: In a city ruled by gangsters, nothing is ever simple.

Delicate Edges by @wkemeup

Pairing: Bucky x reader (Biker!AU)

Summary: Your family’s beloved flower shop was not the only thing you inherited when your parents passed. Trapped under a mountain of debt to the Hydra club, you bear the cost of your father’s desperate bargain. It’s only in moments when the charming Bucky Barnes walks into your shop that you can forget the cruelty of the biker clubs of this town. But a war is brewing. The border is crumbling. You're trapped in the middle. And Bucky will stop at nothing to keep you safe.

Sunrise by @wkemeup

Parings: Bucky x Reader (veteran!bucky x librarian!reader)

Summary: After an explosion takes his arm and his only sense of belonging, Bucky is discharged from active duty and sent back to civilian life. Left with a storm of unchecked guilt, Bucky is content to live out the rest of his days in the hollow comfort of the dark. This is, until Sam drags him down to the local VA and he meets you. (Modern AU)

In the Embers by @foreverindreamlandd

Pairing: Firefighter!Bucky x Fem!Plus Size!Adopted Rogers!Reader

Summary: It’s been years since you’ve been home, and you didn’t expect it to be in the aftermath of your life falling apart. Though much has changed over time, one thing has stayed the same: Bucky Barnes is still the boy next door, and there’s no running from him now.

Awake My Soul by @foreverindreamlandd

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x F!Reader

Summary: It's been five years since the zombies started invading, and despite everything you've been through, you've survived up until this point. And now you must survive your most dangerous challenge yet...the grumpy, untrusting, captivating Bucky Barnes.

Check out their Bucky masterlist 😍 -> Here

Beneath the Milky Twilight by @bucksangel

Pairing: Ceo!Bucky Barnes x Personal Assistant!Reader (Sugarbaby!AU)

Summary: Being Mr. Barnes’ personal assistant has been tough, balancing a full time job while taking care of your younger brothers has you running yourself thin. Then, things take a sharp turn after a dinner with your boss when you disclose your financial situation.

‘The Road Goes Ever On and On’ by @rocketrhap3000

Pairings & Characters: Bucky Barnes x singlemom!reader, Natasha Romanoff, Sam Wilson (eventually), and OC three year old Jasper :)

Summary: Life as a single mother of a three year old certainly has its struggles. But when a sweet stranger makes his way into you and your little boy’s life, a one of a kind connection sparks.

Yours, Mine, Ours by @coffeecatsandcandles

Pairing: singledad!Bucky Barnes x singlemom!pediatrician!Reader

Summary: Bucky Barnes has been raising his girls, Rebecca and Winnie, for the last two years. He'd lost all hope of falling in love again until he met you, a pediatrician with two children of your own- Elliot and Willow. He falls in love and he falls hard, but the challenges of being single parents still weigh on you both at times. Luckily, you'll always have each other.

Also you need to go read their entire Masterlist

Mob!Bucky x Fairy Masterlist by @kinanabinks

Pairing: 18+ | Mob!Bucky x Best Friend!Reader

the adventures of bucky and his little fairy.

Appointments by @noctumbra (prev buckycuddlebuddy)

Pairing: tfatws!bucky barnes x reader

Summary: in which bucky gets a fuck buddy and rediscovers his body’s needs and himself in the twenty-first century.

We Fell in Love in October by @noctumbra (prev buckycuddlebuddy)

Pairing: farmer!bucky barnes x reader

Summary: in which october brings love for bucky with his favorite season surrounding him.

As It Was, Baby (AO3) by @nexusnyx

Pairing: Neighbor Bucky x Reader

Summary: Living right across from James Barnes was certainly an experience, but a much different one than most people expect. A neighbour who is respectful, funny and brings you food every now and then is any girl's dream. Too bad you're only his neighbour and nothing else. Or, at least, that's what you thought.

One stormy night changes everything and discovering that you mean more to the Sargent than you expected has life-altering consequences.

Bring Me to Life by @nameless-ken

Pairing: Dad!Bucky x reader

Summary: Bucky is a struggling single father trying to take care of his daughter when a stranger welcomes them into her home and brings a gentle love back into their life.

Masterlist for nameless-ken -> Here

Unexpected by @nameless-ken

Pairing: Bucky x reader

Summary: Our mutual friend dropped out of this trip at the last minute, so hi I guess we’re spending the next two weeks together.

The Bienville by @indyluckycharlie

Pairing: Modern AU Bucky Barnes x Reader

(Island/CEO!AU)

Summary: Bucky is the young CEO of his family’s publishing house. A year into the role and working his ass off, he’s finally taking a much needed vacation (upon the advice of his well-meaning family and friends).

Solo and feeling a little lost, Bucky finds himself getting a little attached to the front desk receptionist, a local who grew up on the islands and dreams of bigger things.

All You Need by @barnesafterglow

Pairing: publisher!bucky x author!reader

Summary: just after finishing college and your first novel, you meet bucky barnes - a friend of a friend, a publisher, and hopefully something more

No Day But Today by @buckysfaveplum

Pairing: bucky barnes x artist!female reader

Summary: bucky finds himself enamored with the girl upstairs who paints on the fire escape.

(loosely inspired by mimi and roger from rent)

Brotherhood and Bullets Masterlist by @rookthorne

Pairing: Biker!Bucky Barnes x F!Reader

The 107th motorcycle club has been the protector of their collective hometown for many, many years - shouldering all the bloodshed and loss that came with it. Little did you know, you'd become the President's own twisted version of an angel on his shoulder; the tips of your angelic wings tinged red by your own demons.

Check out rookthorne's full masterlist -> Here

The Old Man's Grocery Order (AO3) by yarnforbrains

Pairing: James "Bucky" Barnes/Reader

Summary: The grocery order was the same every week, and every week it came with the same instructions: Don’t ring the bell. Leave it and go.

It wasn’t the most polite message, but that’s about what you expected from someone with a grocery list like this...You figured it was an older man.

Our Home to Heal by @subwaysurf45

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: working at the VA, you’ve found your place. helping people in the sobriety unit as well as cooking for the food bank, the VA had everything for you. Bucky Barnes has a not-so-good first impression but after dealing with a dark recent past he finds you to help him heal.

Snow by @delaber

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Summary: Tired of your constant bickering, Sam sends you and Bucky on a mission alone. When the worst possible outcome happens and you’re forced to spend several days together in a small cabin, you finally get to see a different, more pleasurable side to the man whose flesh you’ve always had a thorn in.

Finding Home by @jobean12-blog

Pairing: Beefy!Bucky x reader (Animal Rescue AU)

Summary: You meet Bucky while he’s out walking Alpine in the city. It’s love at first sight and to make it even better he just opened up an Animal Rescue, Shelter to Solider. But will his past stand in the way of him finally finding his home.

Stud and Smartie Universe by @navybrat817

Pairing: Mechanic Roommate!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader (Stud and Smartie)

AU Summary: You're crazy about your handsome roommate. Luckily, he feels the same way about you.

Your Hands Have Made Some Good Mistakes by @thenhewaswrongaboutme

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Female Reader

Summary: Bucky has to spend six months locked up with a stranger. His teammates went on an international press tour and left him behind. They hired someone to supervise him, per the conditions of his pardon— a roommate, they said. A roommate?

Happy New Year

and Happy Reading!

(Dividers by saradika)

#my recs #fic recommendations #bucky barnes fanfic #bucky barnes fanfiction

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bananadrinkxxx · 8 months

Text

THE BLOOD CROWN (20)

[Aemond Targaryen x Original Female Character ! I fem!reader]

[Dark Romance / Enemies to Lovers / Revenge]

Content for adults. 18+

[warnings: smut, sex content, dark romance, angst, fights, domination, murder]

[description: Aemond Targaryen meets his niece under a different name and falls in love with her without knowing that she is supposed to be his enemy.]

Masterlist - click here for all available parts

"We have found four burnt corpses on the edge of the forest near Harrenhal, my king."

Aemond looked tired to Grand Maester Orwyle, and suddenly he felt life coming into him again. Burnt bodies? Orwyle had spoken to the king, but his gaze was on Otto, who looked intently at the old man.

A Grand Maester was the king's personal maester, a learned man wise in history, science, and medicine who also provides counsel. Aemond had always wondered why Maester Orwyle had been given this position, a foolish man with too much misogynism in him. Of course, he saw it as Maester Orwyle did that Rhaenyra had no place on the Iron Throne, but only because he followed the laws of his ancestors and he knew that someone like his half-sister, who trampled on honor and decency, had no right to sit there and not because he hated women in general. There was no one he respected more than his mother.

"Daemon Targaryen has been sighted nearby aboard with his dragon Caraxes. It suggests he did it. The type of fire is definitely from a dragon."

Why would Daemon burn four unknown men? It seemed unnecessary and risky.

"Now the Rogue Prince is killing innocent people, too? His madness knows no end," says Jasper Wylde, Master of Laws. "This is an abomination."

"Maybe it was also Rhaenyra who gave the order?"Orwyle said again with a touch of poison in his words. "She's like Maegor, only with tits. Now that she can squeeze her bastard back to her breasts, there's no stopping her."

Aemond watched his mother raise her eyebrow disapprovingly and Orwyle shrink in his seat. "Forgive me, my words, Queen Alicent."

"For Rhaenyra the iron throne is more important than peace," Otto interrupted. "She has now proved that. She has refused every offer of peace from us and we expect her attack at any minute."

"An unsuitable candidate for the inheritance of Aegon I the Conqueror. It's good that her revered father came to his senses in the last few seconds," Lannister added, looking at Alicent contentedly. But his mother did not respond to his words and looked to her father.

"She has already declared war on us. She already did when she attacked our family."

"Barbaric."

"We must respond with fire and blood."

Aemond glanced at his brother. He stared around like it was none of his business. They hadn't much to say since their fight. Aegon seemed disinterested and once again Aemond realized how inappropriate Aegon seemed in this round. If he had been born as the firstborn, Rhaenyra would have been on her knees by now or, at best, already dead.

But his mother had insisted it had to be Aegon and Aemond understood. The Greens claimed that the firstborn son had to ascend to the throne, and what basis would their government have if he were to overthrow Aegon? It would have been best if he had brought Aegon to the ships, as the elder had begged him. In doing so, he would have spared Aegon the burden of the crown, to which he was no match, and he would have received what he was best suited for of all his siblings.

Aegon was weak.

"Ser Criston shows outstanding successes," reported Otto, alternately looking at Aegon and Aemond as if he heard his thoughts. "He's laying siege to Rook's rest right now. Ser Criston sent us a message. He's counting on the black attack."

He'd be ready. She should come. He would finally be able to show that he not only flew the oldest dragon but also the most powerful. He would crush their rebellion. He would know no mercy.

Ever since the attempted murder of Aegon's children, it's been willing to do anything. He would kill every single one of Rhaenyra's children, he would leave none to remain, as long as he traveled with Vhagar across the seven kingdoms until he had ensured that the last child of that bitch had died.

"My brother and I will ride on Sunfrye and Vhagar to Rook's rest," said Aemond, sensing Aegon's gaze upon him. Who was the king here? "We will not tolerate another black crime act."

He exchanged a glance with Aegon and his brother nodded.

"I agree," Aegon confirmed, and Aemond nodded contentedly.

"When they see you, they will return immediately, my king."

"Wouldn't it be advisable to inform Prince Daeron? Three dragons are better than two."

"My brother flew to Altsass this morning. Until we reach him, it won't be until the hour of the moon. Rhaenyra could attack at any time," Aegon contradicted and stood up. Suddenly he seemed determined and ready to fight. No sign of the weakling who had sat in his seat before.

"We're going to lure them into a case. We'll be close by, and if my sister attacks, we'll meet her on Sunfrye and Vhagar."

. . . . .

Rhaenyra had been expecting her lord husband back in the evening, and she felt a sense of relief when she could see Caraxes in the sky. Losing Daemon would be the downfall for them. Both as a personal loss and as a Queen. She stepped down the steps of Dragonstone, and went to the landing site where Daemon had already landed on Caraxes. She smiled and was about to greet her husband when she saw Daemon pulling out a girl. First she saw the brown curly hair, which was completely ruffled, then the torn dress and the wounds on her arms and legs. For a moment she looked like a young Alicent, and Rhaenyra inevitably remembered their childhood and friendship, but then the girl turned her head in her direction and Rhaenyra felt all the air leaving her body. The blood in her veins froze and it was suddenly hard to breathe.

Her eyes.

Rhaenyra stepped forward and grabbed her chain. The necklace she had given to herself and Aemma for her fourth name's day.

The engraving on the back is etched in forever, just like the meaning of the words.

In dreams we are united.

It couldn't have been.

The closer they got, the more frightening the resemblance Aemma and this strange girl shared. That's how Rhaenyra imagined her daughter. These eyes, these lips and their heart-shaped face.

Suddenly, a thousand memories flashed before her mind's eyes.

Aemma on her lap, cuddling herself asleep in her arms.

Aemma as she and her dragon Marax made a connection.

Aemma, who played with Lucerys and her older brother made her a dragon out of paper and Aemma proudly presented it to her mother.

Rhaenyra felt a tear roll over her cheek and she quickly wiped it away. Her hand trembled. Her eyes had to play a vicious game with her. She had longed for her daughter for too long, that she had longed to see her again, that now she suddenly thought a girl she had never seen before in her life was her daughter who thought she was dead.

"Mother," a familiar voice shouted behind her, and Rhaenyra broke away from the sight of the girl. She saw Lucerys coming towards her. He had his eyes on his mother, but then Rhaenyra watched Lucery's gaze wander to Daemon and he opened his eyes.

"Rose," he said, and Rhaenyra looked at her son in surprise.

"Rose? You know the girl?," Rhaenyra asked surprised.

Lucerys looked serious at her. "Yes," he nodded. "This is the girl I told you about. She is the one who reminds me of Aemma."

So she wasn't the only one? Your eyes didn't deceive you? Didn't play with their cruel games? Her son's words gave her relief, but at the same time they frightened her.Rhaenyra turned to Daemon to take another look at the girl to see that they were only a few steps away from her. The closer they came, the more Rhaenyra saw the resemblance. Her heart pounded wildly against her chest.

"My Queen," Daemon greeted her, pulling the girl roughly in front of him. She stumbled and almost flew there if the prince hadn't held her. Rhaenyra gagged about his rudeness.

The girl, Rose, as Lucerys had called her, looked up and her brown eyes stared straight at her. It was as if she looked into her soul and swallowed Rhaenyra. If it was Aemma, wouldn't she have to recognize her mother? That she wouldn't recognize Lucerys would be understandable due to the change his development brought about, but even if she had grown older, would she have to recognize her mother or not? But she saw only surprise and shock in her eyes, which gave Rhaenyra a disappointing sting.

"I brought us Aemond Targaryen's whore."

Rhaenyra looked surprised at Daemon, who looked at her content. Then she looked behind her, to Lucery's squeezing his lips. She had a connection to Aemond, to her brother, to her enemies? The girl who looked like Aemma, and who seemed to deceive both her and Lucerys, had a close connection to the Greens, their enemies?

What a cruel joke of the gods.

. . . . .

Larys had to admit that it wasn't easy not to be noticed when he heard about the four bodies burned. Since he was neither stupid nor naive, and none of the men he had hired had come to collect their payment, he knew that something must have gone wrong.

The burned bodies. The girl, Rose, was not among them. He had ordered four men, there were four bodies, and none of them had been a woman's body. He could only hope that the girl had died some other way. Perhaps the men had already killed the girl before the Rogue Prince burned her. Larys was not in any danger at the moment, he would not have any consequences to fear, no one knew of him as a client, but he hated the feeling that he had no certainty.

He'd have to move on quickly with his plan.

. . . . .

Aemond did not turn around when he heard a gentle knock on his door and how it was opened timidly. He watched himself in his mirror and straightened his clothes. Rose didn't say a word when she entered his chambers. Daeron had told him that she had woken up, but that she had been asleep when he had visited her. Aemond had not visited her, but the feeling of relief and gratitude had brought him to the Sept and made him pray to the gods. For the first time, she had granted him a wish. Rose was alive. He sacrificed everything for that. He had not forgotten his oath to the gods. He made a deal with them. He promised them that if they let Rose live, he would do his duty and not bring any further disgrace upon her. He'd give anything to keep her alive. He was a believing man, since he was a child, his mother had taken him to the Sept, and since then he was a god-fearing man.

And that was the deal. His happiness for Rose's life.

But he didn't expect it to be so hard for him. Yes, he hated the feeling of weakness that she caused in him, and he didn't want to let her go into his heart, convinced himself she didn't mean anything to him, but no matter how much he lied to himself, it didn't change how much she had crept into his heart.

But he had decided to put that connection behind him. That's why he lied to himself and everyone else, denied it and its value to him. Only the gods knew what Rose meant to him, and he had no intention of changing that. He knew that he had to be cruel to her now, so that she too would quickly believe that she had no meaning to him. He didn't want to hurt her, but her life was too worthless for him.

He would rather see her alive and happy at the side of another man than plunge her into her misfortune.

He felt a touch on his shoulder and looked into the mirror again, but the reflection that was facing him was not the one of the woman he had been expecting. He quickly turned around and grabbed the hand of Alys Rivers, who looked at him in fright.

"What are you doing to her?"He hissed and squeezed hard. Why was she in his room?

"I have been assigned to you, my prince," she replied, closing her eyes.

"Why? I have a maid."

Alys looked at him again. Her eyes were deep and invited to sink into it.

"Do you mean Rose?"

"Who else would I mean, woman?"

She annoyed him. Her innocence didn't work on him. He thought it was ridiculous that a woman her age would still play these games. Perhaps Rose was still too weak to fulfill her duties to him? Just because she was awake didn't mean she was ready to go back to work.

"But, my prince," began Alys, looking at him pityingly. "You don't know yet?"

"What should I know?"Aemond hissed and had to control herself not to break her wrist. What did she know that he didn't?

"Rose has decided to leave the Red Keep and King's Landing. She told me yesterday. She was going to say goodbye to you and ask permission, but her things are gone, which is why I thought you signed her release."

Aemond didn't know what to think for a moment.

His head was empty. His mouth is dry. Suddenly it was painful to breathe and it felt as if his intestines were contracting in his body. The blood rushed in his ears.

Rose was gone?

How could that be possible?

No, she wouldn't dare it.

She wouldn't dare to leave him. She wouldn't dare leave him without saying goodbye. She wouldn't betray him. She wouldn't. Never.

"She said she fears for her life here and doesn't want to be in danger anymore."

That's bullshit. She was in danger if he couldn't protect her. He would never have let her leave him. How dare she? She wouldn't dare, would she? She wouldn't leave him.

She was his. His.

Just because he decided he wanted to stay away from her didn't mean she wasn't his anymore. He would have taken care of her anyway. He would have accepted it even if she had chosen a man at some point, but it would have been a man he considered worthy.

Rose belonged to him and neither she nor anyone else could say otherwise.

"Are you all right, my prince?"Alys asked, and Aemond shook as she put her hand on his cheek. Her hand was soft and cold, but for Aemond it felt as if she were burning him. He ripped his eye open and pushed Alys away. She breathed in fright, and Aemond put his hand around her neck. The anger in him was unstoppable. Alys gasped in a panic and tried to release his hand from her throat.

"If you dare to touch me again," began Aemond, and for a moment he no longer recognized his own voice, so cold and strange, "then I will kill you, do you understand me?"

He meant it. He'd kill her and he wouldn't hesitate. He was exploding inside, ready to kill anyone who stood in his way.

Rose didn’t leave him.

She wouldn't.

She must have been around.

He would do his duty today to his family and to this kingdom, and then he would turn every single stone after her.

He would bring her back, even if he had to put her in chains.

Alys nodded and he saw the horror in her eyes.

She feared for her life. All right. She should. She would never again make the mistake of touching him without his consent. He snorted and pushed her away. She stumbled backwards, over her own feet, and Aemond looked down upon her. He didn't feel sorry for me. She was of no value to him.

Without paying any more attention to her, he turned around and left his chambers. Nobody dared to speak to him, and that was a good thing. He didn't know what he was capable of at that moment.

Arriving in the Dragonpit, Aegon was already waiting for him, who looked at him surprised.

"What happened?"He asked, irritated, but Aemond didn't say a word. He ignored his brother and went to Vhagar, who looked at him attentively. She felt his inner struggle. She knew exactly how he felt. He approached Vhagar, pressed his hand against her scaly skin and saw her right in her eye looking down on him.

"Let's kill them all today," he said in Valyrian, and Vhagar gave an approving sound.

Aemond looked up to her contentedly.

. . . . .

"We can use her against Aemond," Daemon suggested, and Rhaenyra felt an irritating sting in her heart. She had no connection to Rose, and yet it felt to her as if Daemon was proposing to sacrifice one of her children.

But Rose was not her daughter. Or ? No, that was impossible. Or ?

Rhaenyra didn't know what to think.

"Are you sure she means something to the prince?"Lord Corlys asked, and he had a good argument. "Just because she's supposedly sleeping with him-"

"She does."

"Just because she is sleeping with him," Corlys corrected with a raised eyebrow, "doesn't mean she's important to him."

"Well, I think we can only find out if we try."

"And how do you imagine that, Daemon?"

"We can-"

Daemon was interrupted by Ser Erryk, who pushed open the door without permission and bowed deeply to Rhaenyra. She saw the look he gave Lord Corlys, and she felt it had happened. Something terrible.

"A letter from the Crownlands, Rook's Rest, from Lady Staunton," Ser Erryk said, and Rhaenyra accepted the letter.

Her hands trembled. Rhaenys was there. Why didn't she get a message from her?

She looked at Lord Corlys who seem to think the same. She saw fear in his eyes.

She opened the letter and read the words she had feared.

Everything in her pulled together. She trembled as her gaze turned to Lord Corlys and she saw that he understood.

"No," he breathed, and his pain was clearly audible.

"I'm so sorry, Lord Corlys. My beloved cousin, Rhaenys Targaryen was killed fighting Aegon and Aemond," she had to pull herself together not to cry. She couldn't be weak. She was the Queen, the protector of the realm. She couldn't afford to be weak. It wasn't about her at that moment.

"Meley's head was taken to King's Landing. Just like Lord Staunton's head, beheaded for treason."

"And Rhaeny's?"Daemon asked, and she heard the anger in his voice. The hate. The same hatred she felt.

She looked at Corlys, who suddenly looked like a broken man. But he also looked at her, hope was still in his eyes, which she would destroy immediately.

"They left a body behind," her voice sounded strange. "Lady Staunton and her men are unsure, but a woman's body was found burned right next to her dragon Meleys."

That's exactly what Rhaenyra wanted to prevent. She didn't want anyone to die for her. And now this war had claimed its first victims. Rhaeny's had decided for her in spite of the disagreement with her. Rhaeny's died because of her.

And she didn't seem to be the only one to think so.

"It's your fault, Rhaenyra," Corlys sneered suddenly and she looked at him. Daemon also had his gaze fixed on him. "If you hadn't held back your children, Rhaenys wouldn't have flown alone. You sent her to her death."

Lord Staunton had asked for support when the Greens besieged him, but she had forbidden Jacaerys and Baela to join Rhaenys. She was scared. Unbearable fear. Lucerys had no dragon since Aemond attacked him and Rhaena was still dragonless. Rhaenyra was not willing to make the same mistake twice. She had tried to stop Rhaenys from flying there, she wanted to send men on foot, but Rhaenys had made it clear that it would be foolish to sacrifice men if you had a dragon that could quickly fix the problem.

So she let Rhaenys fly alone.

And now Rhaenys was dead.

Corlys stood up full of hatred, anger and sadness in his eyes and Daemon walked towards him, but Rhaenyra held him back. "No," she said quietly, shaking her head. She watched Lord Corlys leave the room and Ser Erryk followed him silently.

"It's not your fault," Daemon said to her. "You didn't force her to fly there."

"But I let her fly alone."

"It was her own decision."

Rhaenyra nodded. It wasn't just a personal loss for her. It was also a great loss for the blacks. Rhaenys had been a powerful opponent. She had been a smart woman, with a strong dragon, and now she had lost both. She looked in fear at the table on which the whole kingdoms had been drawn. She grabbed Rhaeny's figure and took it off the table.

She watched it in her hand.

She knew it wouldn't be the last loss she'd have to endure.

She wondered when this war would end, knowing that it was only the beginning.

"I want revenge," Rhaenyra said, turning to Daemon. "I want to punish them for everything. Every single one of them."

Daemon nodded and approached her. He grabbed her hand and opened it. He looked at the figure that symbolized Rhaenys and Meleys. He knew how to hide it, but she saw the grief in his eyes. He, too, had been wounded by her death. And worst of all, Rhaenys died believing her two children were dead. Rhaenyra could never forgive herself.

"Let's execute the girl," Daemon said suddenly, and Rhaenyra looked at him in surprise.

"What?"

"Let us execute her and send her head to Aemond. I want him to know we'll pay him back twice for every loss. This is just the beginning, Rhaenyra."

Rhaenyra knew that Daemon's suggestion made sense. She probably would have agreed immediately if there wasn't an inner struggle raging inside her, a struggle of feelings. Something in her told her it was a mistake to kill the girl, but she wondered if it was just the wish that Rose could be someone she probably wasn't, or the certainty that she would kill an innocent girl.

Taglist

@watercolorskyy @marvelescvpe @ammo23 @helaenaluvr

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aliceismypixie · 9 months

Text

The villain of my story ∥ Early motherfuckers

Summary - "The villain will always be the villain if the hero tells the story" or atleast that's what they say. No one knew why you became what you are. But you wanted your revenge on Isabella Marie Swan and you were ready to do anything to have it.

Pairing - Twilight x villain!reader

Pronoun - she/her (but can be read as a male reader or gn reader)

Warning - mention wanting to kill people, full Y/n's pov, Restaurant and Y/n being somewhat bestie, mention of being in cage (well Rasberry is being held hostage so)

Words count - 1.36k~

Set - After Breaking-Dawn Part 2

Chapter 4 - Masterlist

Hear me out. You didn't particularly like to have a ten-looking-year-old two year old talking your ears off every single moment when she was awake. And you didn't particularly liked her mother, nor her father either. They're relationship was hella toxic, how can they not leave each other that much ? But anyways, you may didn't like her family or her in general but she was a child. And trust me when I say you had a soft spot for children.

See growing up you didn't have the best childhood ever. Foster care, unloving parents, fake ass older sister that you're about to kill. Anyways overall, your childhood was shit. And you may be a very bitter and revengeful immortal child, but you could never stay mad at some children. You just couldn't.

Which was exactly why you found yourself laying on your couch with Ratatata Resnesmee, letting her tell you about her two first years of living while eating a peanut butter sandwich. Well she was eating, you were trying your best not to be disgusted by the smell of peanut butter.

"...And you know what ?" Renesmee exclaimed all excited and you gave her your best fake smile.

"No, tell me." You were trying to sound as excited as her. Key word trying.

"Uncle Jasper throwed Uncle Emmett in forest and he took down five trees due to how much force Uncle Jasper throwed him !" The young hybrid told you with a laugh and you tried to give her your best smile.

You loved children okay ? But you two have been talking for five hours straight and all you wanted to do was to go back to your stereotypical villain's plan wall and try to make your plan as flawless as possible. Obviously your plan was already flawless, but we all know that the hero somehow always succeeds in finding a tiny mistake and taking down the evil in five minutes. But that wasn't the only reason you wanted to go back to your super villain's plan wall.

The other reason was that you wanted to let out your super villain's evil laugh that only you can have and that echoed throught your lair while your shadow rose up and your figure slowly disappeared from the view. You know the moment a dramatic music plays in the background while the villain take a final look at their plan's and laugh super loudly for no reason ? Well you wanted that.

That was one of the perk of being the villain, you could do all the badass stuff and it was totally in character.

"You're thinking about your super villain's wall aren't you ?" The young weird hybrid child asked, catching your glance to the other room.

"Honestly ? Yes. Your talk is boring me like crazy." You replied and she shrugged.

"Can't blame you, your wall is cool." Renesmee acknowledged.

She wasn't very offended. At least not anymore. She's been living with your for the past eight days and except your bad temper, mood swings and constant annoyed face, your company was enjoyable. She even found you cool from time to time.

Like the time you showed her your super villain wall for the first time. She was totally amazed by it. The red string linking every single part of your plan, the whole organization of the pictures, the entire process of being a villain that you explained to her proudly by pointing at each part of your plan. She was astonished by your intelligence and it honestly almost made her want to be a villain.

You also explained to her that her villain backstory could start with her existance. She would be the villain of the entire vampire empire, taking over the Volturi who tried to kill her when she was only one and take her revenge on all those who wanted to kill her. Starting with her family who didn't want Isabella to give birth in the first place. And damn Redivide could see herself at the top of the vampire empire with you by her side as a thanks for making her the villain she was destined to be.

But that was a story for another time, in another universe, in another fanfiction.

"Honestly maybe we could add some more glitters―"

"No please no more glitters ! You already filled my villain pictures holder with glitter all over your favorite family members and I let you do it but please no more glitters, my poor immortal eyes can't take some much light. I'm a villain ! I live in the dark !" You complained and she grinned.

"Well maybe that's why your pale as fuck, you have no light in there." Renesmee replied and you gasped.

"Who taught you to swear ?!" You asked.

"Uncle Emmett." She said proudly and you took a sip of your vine glass filled with blood.

"Dang… he's the cool uncle isn't he ?" You questioned and she nodded, causing you to do the same.

"I can be your cool aunt. You know, showing you all the bad stuff and all." You trailed off and Renesmee widened her eyes.

"You could teach me how to hold a knife !"

"And how to use a sword !"

"And how to be all sassy and stuff like you do !"

"I could teach you how to find your super villain signature pose !"

"Oh yeah, we could be such posers together." Renesmee nodded at the thought and you agreed laying back on your with her and putting your feet on the table.

"You know what ? You're my favorite niece." You acknowledged and she rolled her eyes.

"I'm your only niece ?" Renesmee pointed out and you shrugged taking another sip of your drink.

"Still my favorite." You replied and she shrugged at your words.

There was a silence between you two and you could feel that Renesmee had a question but didn't ask, causing you to glare at her a little.

"What ?" You asked half annoyed, half curious.

"You still didn't tell me why you wanted to kill my mother and why you took me here." The hybrid child told and you rolled your eyes.

"You rode my evil speech, you already know why I want your mother to suffer." You replied and she frowned.

"Yeah, but you're not dead, so why want her dead ?" She asked you and you stared at her with an 'are-you-serious?' look.

"Not dead ? Kid, youre talking to a vampire who can manipulate fire. I'm doomed to be a sinner, a danger, a monster because your mother was too selfish to let me have a life. This is my after life, I was mean to be the evil of her story from the beginning now go back in your cage kid." You looked away and Renesmee frowned.

"But your after life could be your second chance to be better !" She protested and you glared.

"I was better before. But I was weaker, now look where it got me. Exactly, now go back to your cell kid. Your time out is over." You pushed her off the couch and Renesmee silently walked toward her cage with a sigh.

You may wonder why she just obeyed your order to literally go back to be a prisoner right ? Well first, you could kill her with a single snap of fingers and also because you were kind enough to give her three hours out of her cage everyday so yeah.

When she was about to close her door, Reconnaissance looked back at you and you tried to ignore the look of pity she was sending you. It wasn't until you locked the door that you finally heard the unfamiliar breathing around the forest. This was also the moment you smelled the eleven unfamiliar scent running around the wood and you clenched your jaw before putting on your coat quickly and Renesmee looked at you confused, her senses being less strong than yours.

"What ? What is it ?" She questioned and you glared at her before closing the door behind her.

"Hey !" Her voice echoed from inside of the lair while you groaned.

They weren't supposed to be there for another two days, you know you should have sent the letter tomorrow !

"Early motherfuckers."

#twilight x reader #villain!reader #child!reader #alice cullen #jasper hale #emmett cullen #rosalie hale #carlisle cullen #esme cullen #edward cullen #bella swan #resume cullen #jacob black #leah clearwater #seth clearwater #twilight imagine

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zapreportsblog · 9 months

Note

I did a happy dance when I was finish reading this. I just imagine Jasper and the reader celebrating Halloween one year dress up as Woody and Jessie from Toy Story.

Twilight

Can you do a Jasper x mom reader - bear shapeshifter?

where the reader's son is Jasper's mate. She is a single mom reader and has no other family except for her son. She and her son are bear shapeshifters. She finds out they are vampires and about the pack. She meets the major, where she basically threatens to kick his butt, if he ever hurts her only child. She is bigger than Sam when he is in wolf form. They do not find out about her or her son - he the only one who can calm her down, being bear shapeshifters until the training to defeat Victoria and her army of newborns, because Paul says something rude to the reader's son. He goes to attack the reader's son, but Mama Bear comes to the rescue. Garrett is her mate.

Wow just wow

❝getting through mama bear❞

✭ pairing : garrett x reader x jasper hale x oc

✭ fandom : twilight x reader

✭ summary : (y/n) is the mate of Garrett and she also happens to be a bear shapeshifter and a single mother, coming to forks she hasn’t expected her son to be the mate of a vampire much less herself to imprint on one too

✭ authors note : you didn’t specify what age the son was so I’ll make it where he’s young like how Bella and Edwards daughter was when Jacob imprinted that way the son and jasper can grow together

✭ twilight masterlist

The rain drizzled lightly as (y/n) drove her car through the winding roads of Forks, her ten-year-old son sitting in the back seat, his gaze fixed out of the window. It was a new chapter in their lives, a fresh start in a place that held the promise of something different.

"Mom, are we almost there?" her son asked, his voice tinged with excitement.

"We're getting close, sweetheart," she replied, offering him a warm smile through the rearview mirror. "Just a little while longer."

As they entered the small town, (y/n) couldn't help but feel a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. She had chosen Forks as their new home for its quiet charm and serene atmosphere, hoping that it would provide the peaceful environment they both needed.

After finding their way to their new home—a cozy house surrounded by trees—mother and son stepped out of the car. The air was crisp and carried the scent of pine, a refreshing change from the bustling city they had left behind.

"(Son's name), what do you think?" (y/n) asked, watching her son take in their surroundings.

He looked around with wide eyes, a hint of wonder in his gaze. "It's nice, Mom. I like it."

She smiled and ruffled his hair affectionately. "I'm glad to hear that."

Over the next few days, (y/n) and her son settled into their new routine. She found a job in a local bookstore, which allowed her to spend more time with her son while providing for their needs. The townspeople were friendly, and (y/n) couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging as they exchanged greetings.

One afternoon, as they explored the lush forest near their home, (y/n)'s son looked up at her with a grin. "Mom, can we show our true forms to the animals here?"

She chuckled softly. "Of course, sweetheart. But let's be careful and make sure we're in a safe area."

With a nod, they ventured deeper into the woods until they found a secluded clearing. Taking a deep breath, (y/n) closed her eyes and allowed her transformation to take over. In a matter of moments, her body shifted and grew, and she became a majestic bear.

Her son's transformation followed suit, and soon they stood side by side in their bear forms. (Son's name) let out a playful roar, and (y/n) couldn't help but join in, the sound of their roars echoing through the forest.

As they transformed back into their human forms, they shared a joyful laugh, the experience deepening their bond even further.

Later that evening, as they sat on the porch of their new home, (y/n) turned to her son. "How are you adjusting to Forks, sweetheart?"

He leaned against her shoulder, a content smile on his face. "I like it here, Mom. It's peaceful, and I like that we can be ourselves without worrying about hiding who we are."

Touched by his words, (y/n) wrapped an arm around him, pulling him close. "I'm glad we found a place where we can be ourselves, (son's name). And you know, we're a team, no matter what comes our way."

He nodded, his gaze filled with trust and love. "I know, Mom. We'll always be a team."

As the sun set over their new home in Forks, (y/n) felt a sense of gratitude wash over her. She may have been a single mom with only her son by her side, but their love and the bond they shared was more powerful than anything. And in this tranquil town, surrounded by nature and the promise of a fresh start, they were ready to face whatever challenges and adventures awaited them.

One day, as (y/n) went about her routine, she heard whispers and rumors around town about the Cullens—peculiar, pale-skinned individuals who seemed to keep to themselves. Curiosity gnawed at her, and her instincts as a bear shapeshifter urged her to investigate further.

Late one evening, (y/n) decided to venture into the forest to see if she could uncover anything about these mysterious newcomers. The moon cast a soft glow over the trees as she made her way deeper into the woods, her senses heightened.

As she walked, her intuition tingled, and she noticed the distinct scent of another creature. Her heart pounded as she cautiously followed the scent, only to come face-to-face with a massive, wolf-like figure. It was Jacob Black, in his wolf form.

Startled by the sight, (y/n) instinctively shifted into her bear form, towering over the wolf. Jacob's ears perked up, and he turned to face her, surprised to encounter a bear in the woods.

Despite her size, (y/n) didn't show aggression. She took a step back, making sure her body language conveyed that she meant no harm. Jacob, sensing her non-threatening demeanor, hesitated, his stance relaxing slightly.

For a moment, they simply regarded each other, a silent understanding passing between the two shapeshifters. Then, with a low growl that seemed to communicate curiosity rather than hostility, Jacob backed away and disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

Shaken by the encounter, (y/n) returned home in her human form, her mind racing with questions. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than met the eye. That night, she researched the legends and lore surrounding the Quileute tribe and the history of shapeshifters in the area.

As her research deepened, (y/n) stumbled upon references to the Cullens, vampires who lived among the humans while hiding their true nature. The pieces began to fall into place, connecting the dots between the Cullens, the wolf pack, and her own identity as a bear shapeshifter.

Over the next few days, (y/n) pondered her newfound knowledge. She was torn between the urge to approach the Cullens and the wolf pack to learn more and the caution that held her back. She knew that revealing her true nature to them could have consequences, both positive and negative.

The sun cast a warm glow over the forest as (y/n) and her son reveled in the freedom of their bear forms. They playfully tumbled and rolled through the undergrowth, their laughter mixing with the rustling leaves.

As they frolicked, (y/n) suddenly sensed something amiss. Her instincts kicked in, and she felt a ripple of danger in the air. She swiftly turned her head and froze. There, standing not far from her son, was a figure that sent a chill down her spine—Jasper Hale.

Before her son could even react, (y/n) lunged forward, placing herself between him and Jasper. Her growl resonated through the forest, and her fur bristled with an intensity that warned Jasper to stay back.

Jasper's eyes widened, a mixture of surprise and concern flickering in his gaze. But then, as if a switch had been flipped, his expression shifted, and his face twisted into a malicious grin. The transformation was instant, and the air around him seemed to vibrate with an ominous energy.

As Jasper's aura shifted, (y/n) felt a surge of power radiate from him. She hadn't expected this, and her instincts told her that she needed to defend her son at all costs. With a roar that echoed through the forest, she lunged at Jasper, her claws extended, ready to strike.

Their clash was fierce, and the ground trembled beneath them as they grappled. (y/n) fought with a ferocity born out of the need to protect her child. She was determined to shield him from any harm, even if it meant facing down an opponent as formidable as Jasper.

Amidst the struggle, a primal rage seemed to emanate from Jasper, and his eyes flickered with a wild intensity. But as (y/n) pressed her advantage, her words cut through his aggression. She spoke with a conviction that brooked no argument, threatening dire consequences if he dared to harm her son.

The message seemed to penetrate Jasper's altered state, and his defenses wavered. He retreated, his stance shifting as he regained control. The forest fell silent as the tension dissipated, and (y/n) stood between her son and Jasper, her breath heaving, ready to spring into action again if needed.

Unbeknownst to (y/n), Jasper had been grappling with his own internal conflict. His connection with her son had stirred something deep within him—a bond he couldn't quite comprehend. As the fog of his altered state lifted, he was left with a sense of confusion and a yearning for more.

Yet, in that moment, as the forest seemed to hold its breath, Jasper's focus remained on (y/n). Their gazes locked, and in the depths of her eyes, he saw the fierce determination of a mother protecting her child. It was a force to be reckoned with, and he realized that his usual methods of manipulation held no sway over her.

As (y/n) stood her ground, unknowingly guarding a bond that transcended her understanding, Jasper's curiosity about her and her son deepened. The encounter had left an indelible mark, one that would shape the course of their lives in ways neither of them could have foreseen.

The days had passed in relative calm since the encounter in the forest. (y/n) and her son went about their lives, embracing the serenity of the woods and the routines they had established. But as the sun dipped below the horizon one evening, the tranquility was shattered by an unexpected visit.

The sound of approaching footsteps caught (y/n)'s attention, and her senses tingled with unease. When Jasper and Alice emerged from the trees, her eyes narrowed, her initial reaction one of anger and mistrust. She stood protectively in front of her son, his presence a reminder of the danger that vampires could pose.

Jasper's eyes met hers, his expression sincere and apologetic. He stepped forward cautiously, holding his hands up in a non-threatening gesture. "Please, “ he began, his voice carrying a note of remorse. "I need to talk to you."

Still wary, (y/n) reluctantly allowed Jasper to approach. Her son stood by her side, his gaze darting between the newcomers and his mother. Jasper took a deep breath, the air around him heavy with tension.

"I want to apologize," Jasper said, his voice quiet but earnest. "For what happened the last time we crossed paths. It was unforgivable, and I'm truly sorry for any fear or harm I caused."

The sincerity in his voice was palpable, and (y/n) found herself listening. She glanced at her son, who offered a subtle nod of agreement. While the memory of the encounter still lingered, she was willing to hear Jasper out.

Alice, who had been watching the exchange, chimed in. "We're here seeking help," she explained, her eyes imploring. "There's a dangerous vampire named Victoria who's building a newborn army. We're trying to stop her before she puts more lives in danger."

As Jasper and Alice detailed the situation, (y/n)'s skepticism began to wane. It seemed that the Cullens were genuinely concerned about the threat Victoria posed and were seeking allies to face her. Her son's gaze held a mixture of curiosity and concern, and (y/n) could sense his apprehension.

"What do you need from me?" (y/n) finally asked, her voice steady despite the wariness she felt.

Jasper exchanged a glance with Alice before responding. "We're gathering as many allies as we can to face Victoria and her army. With your strength and abilities, you could make a difference. We need all the help we can get."

The gravity of the situation was evident in their expressions, and (y/n) nodded in understanding. She glanced down at her son, her heart heavy with the weight of the decision she was about to make. They couldn't ignore the danger that Victoria posed, and if they had the power to help, it was their responsibility to do so.

" I’ll help," (y/n) said firmly, meeting Jasper's gaze head-on. "But know this—my priority is our safety and the safety of the innocent. We won't be used as pawns in a dangerous game."

Jasper's lips quirked into a half-smile, his appreciation evident. "We wouldn't have it any other way."

The clearing in the forest was transformed into a makeshift training ground, where the Cullens, the members of Sam Uley's pack, (y/n) and her son, and even Carlisle's old friend Garrett had gathered to prepare for the impending battle against Victoria and her army of newborns.

Tension hung in the air as everyone focused on their individual tasks, honing their skills and strategies. Carlisle was overseeing the training, offering guidance and advice to the assembled group. The sun cast dappled patterns through the leaves, creating a serene backdrop that contrasted with the gravity of the situation.

Among the participants, (y/n)'s presence was both resolute and commanding. Her son, standing beside her, mirrored her determination. They had trained tirelessly, working together to harness their abilities and contribute to the collective effort.

As the training continued, (y/n) couldn't help but notice the curious glances directed their way, particularly from Paul, a member of the Quileute wolf pack. It didn't take long for his skepticism to manifest in a derogatory comment, belittling the role of (y/n)'s son in the battle.

"What's a child doing here? He'll only hold us back," Paul sneered, his tone dripping with disdain.

The comment landed like a thud in the clearing, drawing a collective hush from those around them. (y/n)'s expression tightened, her protective instincts flaring. She turned to face Paul, her gaze steely.

"Last time I checked, we're all here because we believe in this fight," (y/n) retorted, her voice sharp and unwavering. "And if you doubt my son's abilities, then you clearly haven't seen what he's capable of."

Paul's lips curled into a sneer, his hostility evident. Without warning, he lunged at (y/n)'s son, his intention clear—to test the child's abilities and prove his point. But before he could reach the young shapeshifter, (y/n) moved with the speed and grace of a predator.

In a heartbeat, she intercepted Paul's advance, her movements fluid and precise. Her stance radiated power, and her eyes bore into his with an intensity that sent a shiver down his spine. He found himself immobilized by her commanding presence, her protective instincts vividly on display.

"You will never lay a hand on my son," (y/n) declared, her voice commanding and unyielding. "We're all in this together, and that includes protecting each other. If you can't respect that, then maybe you're the one who doesn't belong here."

The weight of (y/n)'s words settled over the clearing, casting a palpable tension in the air. Paul's expression shifted from aggression to a begrudging acknowledgment. He stepped back, his defiance faltering in the face of her unwavering determination.

“Now that’s impressive,” Garrett comments. “You got the mutt to silence itself.”

(Y/n) head snaps in his direction and that’s when she felt it, her world shifting with a clench of her jaws and fist she shook her head to get rid of any unwanted thoughts before moving back to her sons side.

God how could she imprint on a vampire?!

As the moments passed, the tension gradually eased, replaced by the collective understanding that they were all bound by a common purpose. (y/n)'s resolute stance sent a clear message—unity was essential for their survival, and each member of the alliance had a role to play.

The training resumed, the forest echoing with the sounds of clashing forces and the collective determination to overcome the impending threat. And in the midst of it all, (y/n) and her son stood strong, united by a fierce determination to protect each other and ensure that their world remained free from the shadows that sought to engulf it.

#x reader #x reader oneshot #x reader one shot #twilight imagine #twilight imagines #twilight scenario #twilight x reader #garrett twilight #twilight #twilight x oc #twilight masterlist #jasper hale x oc #garrett imagine #garrett x you #garrett x reader #garrett x y/n #the pack x reader #garrett imagines

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tilltheendwilliwrite · 8 months

Text

Reflections

Chapter Five

Master List / Real People Master List / Reflections Master List

Pairing: Mia MacAlsdair x Au Tom Hiddleston

Warnings: language, misconceptions, 18+ Minors do not interact

A/N: I apologize in advance should my Scottish/English interpretations be incorrect. I am Canadian playing in a world of my own making. Do not @ me.

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It took a couple of weeks to put Kip's commission together. In that time, Mia fell into a routine that suited her so well that the last of the stress and stiffness seeped from her shoulders. She slept deeply; if she dreamed, she didn't remember them upon waking, usually with the sun, thanks to two little rascals that liked to pounce on her hair.

The kittens would follow her as she got up, dressed, ran a brush through her hair, and headed to the kitchen to put the coffee on and give them breakfast.

Cora lived off the kitchen in a suite of rooms that suited her fine. They were former servants' quarters renovated from five smaller rooms into three bigger ones. She had a lovely bright bedroom, a lounge, and her own bathroom. She insisted it was all the space she needed, but Mia still invited her to use the rest of the house as she pleased. The television in the drawing room was large and modern, and Cora used it during the day to watch her shows.

When Mia asked how Cora came to work for her grandparents, she discovered she started shortly after marrying her husband.

Alfred Bailey, a young police officer, swept her off her feet. It was love at first sight. They married within months of meeting and lived in a small flat in Kelso, but Cora jumped at the chance when the request for a cook and housekeeper went out from Ashwood Farm.

It was a ten-minute walk from town, less than that by car, an easy commute. Cora worked for the MacAlasdair family through all three of her children's births, the last being especially hard when Alfred was killed in the line of duty.

As a young, single mother, she said she would have lost her mind if not for Lorna and Douglas, Mia's grandparents. They welcomed her to bring her children, allowed her boys to grow up with the MacAlasdair's sons as if they were cousins, and bought their first rental property so Cora would have a home for her family that didn't feel like charity.

The story plagued Mia's mind afterward, something she thought about on her morning walk around the fields and along the river.

Once the coffee finished perking and her travel mug was full, Mia headed out to walk the perimeter fence. The stone wall was easy enough to follow, and there were gates along the route she opened and closed behind her.

This morning, there was a misty bit of drizzle, but Mia turned up her collar, pulled her hood over her hair, and struck off in her flower-covered wellies.

Jasper and Eddie almost immediately joined her, and she scratched them behind the ear, happy for the company.

The dreich day matched her mood as she walked over the emerald green grass.

"If they were so nice to Cora, why did they have such a hard time with my mom?" Mia wondered aloud, not for the first time.

Neither dog gave her an answer, just trotted off to sniff down burrow holes.

It didn't make sense to her. They were clearly good people. Why be so cruel to their only remaining son? What was she missing in all this? Obviously, there was a part of the story Cora didn't know, but in all the paperwork she signed for Fergus, not one letter of explanation was among the documents.

Covid took her grandparents suddenly. Maybe they didn't think it would happen. Maybe they thought they would have time to explain in person. Unfortunately, time was a fickle thing.

The quorking of ravens caused her to look up and smile at the three sitting in the tree.

Mia drew a plastic bag she stashed dog food in from her pocket and sprinkled some along the top of the stone fence. She'd done so every day since she started her morning hike and noticed they waited for her now. They flew down to feast shortly after she walked away, no longer so suspicious of her intentions. But they only distracted her from her frustrations for so long.

She'd gone through all the papers in her grandfather's office, a monumental task, but there was nothing there. Her next step would be to tear through the attic. Maybe her grandmother kept a diary that would explain. Even as she thought it, Mia resigned herself to the idea that she might never have all the answers.

The soft thud of hooves had her looking up to the hillside. Highpark Castle sat in its stately stone glory, perched atop rolling green hills like a jewel at the top of a crown.

She knew Highpark was home to a stud farm from conversations she had with people around town. She watched as a man rode by on a magnificent horse every day on her walk. Some days, it was black, others red, white, or some combination of the four, but she could tell even at a distance, the person on the horse's back was always the same.

He sat tall, comfortable, his body and hands relaxed. She couldn't make out his face, but his general shape reminded her of Kip.

She turned to lean on the stones and sip her coffee, watching as the man rode by at a slow gallop. It was a pleasant way to start her day, as the horses were beautiful.

"Do ye ken how to ride?"

Mia jumped, almost threw her coffee cup, and spun around, her free hand pressed to her pounding heart. "Dammit, Henry! You scared a year off my life!"

A smirk twitched his lips. "Didnae intend to, but ye were pretty focused on Hiddleston there."

She frowned. "Hiddleston? You mean Kip?"

"Nah, the other one." His brows pulled together. "Ye met Kip?"

"And Emma and her boys at the market. I'm doing a painting for him of his fiancée."

The scowl deepened. "Ye should stay away from Highpark."

"Why?" Mia frowned. "I'm heading up there today to drop off Kip's painting and have tea with Emma."

Henry stepped closer, his eyes intense. "They're not yer kind of people."

Mia snorted. "My kind of people? What the hell does that mean?"

"They're snobs. Yer not."

Mia stared before barking a laugh. "I met them. They're nice! Emma was warm and welcoming. Kip flirted, but I think that's just how he is. He could probably flirt with air."

The scowl deepened on Henry's face. "Kip's a skirt chaser, always has been. Emma's fine, the only decent one of the lot, but stay away from Tom. He's a right dobber. He's not worth yer time."

Mia didn't know what a dobber was, but she suspected it wasn't a good thing. "While I appreciate the concern, I'll make my own decisions about any of the Hiddlestons if or when I interact with them. I don't make decisions based on others' recommendations regarding people. It's not my way."

Some of the thunderous clouds brewing around him lifted. "Is this another of yer 'I'm Canadian' things?"

Mia chuckled, relieved he didn't look so angry anymore. "Probably." Obviously, he had a history with the eldest Hiddleston, but it wasn't Mia's place to ask.

"Canna join ye on yer dander?" he asked, nodding toward the path.

Mia shrugged, strolling away from the fence now that the man and his horse were gone. "Sure. What did you ask me before?"

"Do ye ken how to ride?"

Mia laughed. "Horses? Hell, no. I was a city kid."

"Ye seem to like 'em."

She shot him a grin. "I'm female. Don't all girls love horses at some point in their life?"

Henry chuckled. "Point taken. Though not all. My sister never got on with 'em."

"You have a sister?" Mia had no idea. Cora never mentioned it.

"Had. She passed on when she was sixteen, and I was twenty."

Mia didn't ask. The storm clouds were back on his face, and his tone clearly said he wouldn't discuss it.

Instead, she sipped her coffee. "I wouldn't mind learning. I imagine riding is very freeing."

"Aye, it can be. Yer grandma, she rode. Shame that they died 'cause of the pandemic."

"You knew them well?" Mia asked as she opened the gate between the fields.

"Worked here twenty years afore they passed. Yer grandad was a good man. Before he got sick, he talked about yer da a lot."

Mia glanced up, but he was looking out across the field. "Did they ever say why they fell out?"

Henry shook his head. "Just that they regretted it. When they learned of yer parents passing, it broke something in them. Sometimes, Lorna would be out in the garden and just stop and greet. And Douglas drank on every anniversary. The regret nearly drove them to an early grave. I think it was only searching for ye that kept 'em going."

"I'm not sure how to marry the two sides of all this," Mia admitted. "I didn't even know I had grandparents. My parents never said anything. I always just assumed Dad's parents were dead like Mom's. We used to visit her parents at the cemetery a few times a year, and I kept going back after they passed because that's where Mom and Dad are buried. I guess I assumed Dad's parents were buried somewhere too far away to visit."

She knew he was originally from Scotland; the accent was hard to miss, but she didn't think much about it at eleven. After, she lived in a world of grief, disbelief, confusion, and pain, tossed into a system that was already overloaded and struggling. She'd dealt with her grief mostly alone for the first few years, then ended up in a home where Maria was beyond kind and did what she could to help Mia talk it out. Unfortunately, it was a temporary placement, and Mia couldn't stay with her.

"I canna speak to what happened, Mia, but they were sorry for it. I think they were sorry from the moment Callum left."

"Did you know him? My dad?" she asked.

Henry shook his head. "He was twelve, fifteen years older. Already up and gone by the time I was a teen."

Mia sighed. "No worries. I didn't think so."

They walked on in silence, watching the dogs root and sniff until they flushed a rabbit and gave chase.

Henry whistled hard, calling them off and back to his side.

"I never did learn to do that."

He frowned at her. "Eh?"

"Whistle," Mia chuckled. "I can't whistle."

"Fuck up! Yer haverin' out yer arse!"

Mia blinked, deciphered that to mean he didn't believe her but more in a surprised, haha, you're joking, kind of way and shrugged. "Nope. Never learned."

He muttered under his breath, words she had no hope of understanding as Mia was pretty sure they weren't any sort of English and shot her a glare.

"Ye just purse yer lips and blow," he grumbled. "Ain't hard."

While she knew that was a saying made famous by an old black-and-white movie, Mia couldn't grasp which one, making it impossible to tease him over the reference.

Still, she pursed her lips and blew, sending spit flying, and blushed in embarrassment. "And that's why I don't whistle," she chuckled.

He arched an amused brow before stopping and turning to face her. Mia mirrored him, curious, but was knocked speechless when he grasped her chin in his big hand and squeezed her cheeks, forcing her lips to purse. "Gotta pucker more. Like yer waiting on a nip."

Stunned by his forwardness, Mia stupidly asked, "What's a nip?"

Before she could guess, he dropped his head with very clear intentions, his gaze locked on her mouth.

Mia jerked backward in surprise, her hands firm against his chest. "Henry? What do you think you're doing?"

His eyes widened, his hand fell away, and he stepped back. "Acting the bam, apparently."

Mia didn't know what that meant and sighed in frustration. But there was red in his cheeks, quickly spreading, obviously embarrassed by her enthusiastic rejection.

"Look, Henry," she murmured, but he shook his head.

"Naw, you dinnae need to say it. I read something in that wasn't there."

Again, Mia sighed. "Unfortunatley. I'm sorry if I was giving off signals, as they weren't intentional. I just got out of a five-year relationship that should have ended at four, and while I like you, I… I don't see you that way."

"I figured. And ye weren't, given signals, that is. But yer a braw lass, sweet and generous. Soon enough, the other fellas will start calling. I figured I'd tip my hand first. I apologize for diving in like marr's meat." He nodded and turned to go.

"I know it's cliche, but can we still be friends?" Mia asked, worried she'd fucked up one of the few relationships she had here.

He grinned and tipped his head. "Friends. Aye. Ye didnae do anything wrong saying no, Mia. And if some wank Canadian shitebag said otherwise, then glad I am yer no longer over there."

Mia chuckled and motioned for him to join her again. "Wank Canadian shitbag. Alright, I can roll with that."

"Thought ye might," he snickered, keeping a foot of distance between them now.

She knew it would take time for the embarrassment to fade, but she did like the gruff, grumbly man. He was sweet in a roundabout kind of way one had to get used to, but that didn't mean she wanted to see him naked.

Right now, she didn't want to see anyone naked and changed the subject to something safe.

"So, riding lessons?"

He grinned, and she knew, eventually, they would be okay.

Mia pulled up in front of the freaking castle and stared at the three-story monstrosity.

She'd driven Henry's truck, a beat-up, rusty old thing with a temperament like a cantankerous grandfather, but as it was a short trip up to Highpark, she figured it was a good time to practice driving on the left.

It also looked like it would soak them at any moment, the sky dense and dark with heavy clouds. She would not risk the work she put into Kip's commission with a possible rain storm and asked to use the vehicle. There was her grandparent's car, but the size of the commission made getting it in the vehicle questionable.

However, along with not risking the rain, she wasn't willing to put Henry in the awkward position of taking her up to Highpark when he wanted nothing to do with the Hiddleston family. Nor did she want to lock herself in the vehicle with him after their "moment" this morning.

Cora eventually bribed him with pie, and Mia left with the keys before he could change his mind.

But when she drove up to the lower gate and found a guard in the little guard house, it gave her pause. She hadn't expected that. Still, when he asked her the nature of her business, she said she was there to see Emma and gave her name. He told her to follow the gravel drive around to the right and the signs for 'staff only.' and to use the entrance beneath the porte cochere on the eastern wing.

Before arriving, Mia had to pause to take stock of the fact she was driving up to and about to have tea in a freaking Scottish castle.

"What even is my life?"

Gentle laughter echoed in her head.

"Don't even. You could have warned me about Henry," she muttered to the annoying Mischief God, who took extra delight in teasing her about her admirer.

Where's the fun in that, girl?

Mia rolled her eyes and drove on to stop beneath the stone overhang.

Driving under a mountain of precariously balanced rock was a bit intimidating. Sure, the pillars and archways looked substantial, but two stories of stone and windows still perched on top of them.

You're stalling.

"You're an ass."

But he was also correct. She was stalling because the potential to meet him, the Tom Hiddleston, the man she admired for his work as Loki, was anxiety-inducing. That he gave it up to come home and look after his family said a lot about him as a person outside of his fame.

With a deep breath, Mia climbed out of the truck and walked around to maneuver the painting from the passenger seat gently. It was a good-sized portrait with a three-inch carved wooden frame Mia stripped, sanded, and stained a lovely ebony. She wrapped it in bubble wrap, covered it in brown paper, and tied a pretty piece of twine around it.

Maybe it wasn't very posh to be packing into a castle, but Kip would get what she would give him.

These last few weeks were incessant with his emails and texts. She learned he had a wicked sense of humour that wouldn't quit. He described himself as a 'cheeky bastard' and said his fiancée couldn't wait to meet the woman who could not only put up with him but also hand it back so easily.

Serina sounded delightful. She knew Mia was making something for Kip, though he'd kept the gift on the down-low and was excited to give it to her. As Serina was away for the next few days visiting family with the baby, and Kip was needed at the estate, now was the perfect time to deliver her present.

It wasn't until Mia was halfway up the stairs that she realized she could not knock with her hands full and wasn't sure if castles had doorbells one could press with their elbow. She resigned herself to kicking the door in an uncouth manner when the door swung open before she reached the top, revealing a beaming Emma and her two rambunctious boys.

"I didn't think the lady of the castle answered her own door," Mia teased, causing Emma to laugh.

"She does when the gate gives her enough notice to shoo off everyone else!"

Chuckling, Mia set Kip's painting down gently. "Not to be the weird foreigner, but shoes? On? Off?"

Emma giggled. "Oh! On is fine. Why?"

"Sorry, I just never know. We don't have places like this in Canada, and there, you're unlikely to be welcome back if you walk through someone's house with your shoes on. But when most of the country is covered in snow for upwards of two-thirds of the year, tracking wet through someone's house is just yucky."

"I suppose it would be," Emma grinned. "We have our wet and muck, too, but we do a scrape and scuff. Unless you're mud to your knees, right boys?" she said, eyeing her sons.

"Yes, Mum!" they groaned, rolling their eyes, having heard this lecture before.

"Da always has to take off his boots 'cause they've the horse's shite on them, right, Mum?" Calvin, the younger one, announced gleefully.

"Brat," she chuckled. "Yes, Da has to take his smelly wellies off, but what have I said about repeating the bad words your father uses?"

"That I should say I learned them from Uncle Kip when Granny Adair asks."

Mia snorted and covered her mouth, not wanting to encourage him by laughing if he was sassing back.

Emma shook her head, but her lips also twitched. "Calvin."

He grinned like he was a pure delight, causing his brother to snicker.

"You pair," Emma chuckled, turning back to Mia. "Feel free to laugh."

Swallowing hard, Mia shook her head. "I don't know what you mean. Wasn't funny at all." She held out for six seconds before the crushed look on Calvin's face had her busting a gut.

"Oh, man!" she wiped the tears from her cheeks. "You're face!"

"I like her," Keegan snickered, leaning against his mom.

Mia wasn't sure which parent he took after, having yet to meet Emma's husband, but he had the bright blue eyes of his mother and her dark hair, too. And Calvin was his match in every way, almost as if they were carbon copies of each other at different ages.

"Good, because I like her too," Emma smiled, her gaze dropping to Mia's parcel. "Is that Kip's commission?"

Mia nodded.

"Can I see it? Please!" she begged.

"He swore me to secrecy and said he wanted to see it first. He even threatened to come by my studio, but I told him I'd set the dogs on him if he did."

The dogs were less likely to bite than Mia, so it was a hollow threat, but it kept him out of her business. Besides, she knew he was just bored or attempting to escape whatever duties his brother appointed him.

She checked out the website for Highpark after seeing a flyer for an upcoming event in a store window in town. The castle was open to the public four days a week, hosted everything from birthday parties to balls, and held town events for all the major holidays.

It sounded fun but also like a lot of work when you added the cafe, grounds, and tours that tramped around their house.

"Bollocks," Emma muttered. "I was hoping you'd sneak me a peek so I could rub it in later."

Mia chuckled. They evidently had quite the relationship. "I would, but he's paying me."

"Too true!" she laughed just as her phone rang. "Bloody hell," she sighed. "I have to take this, but if you head down that hall, turn left at the end, and go through the second door on the right, you'll find Kip with Tom."

Mia's heart jumped. "Oh, I can wait for you if-"

Emma waved her off. "No, no! The boys and I will wait for you here."

As she already had the phone pressed to her ear, Mia sighed, picked up Kip's portrait, and headed down the hall. By the time she reached the end, she'd worked up a bit of a sweat. Mirrors this size weren't light, and the frame didn't help.

Still, she pressed on, turned the corner, and breathed a sigh of relief when she found the second door on the right open.

Hesitating in the doorway, Mia tried not to gape at the large, wood-panel... office? Den? She wasn't sure what to call it. All she knew was it screamed mancave with the dark, brooding feel, heavy leather furniture, and enormous desk backed by a wall of bookshelves.

At the desk, two tawny heads bent over some papers, one sitting, the other on his feet.

Mia cleared her throat and called, "Knock knock?"

Both looked up, and the resemblance was uncanny. Tom's hair was longer, curling over his forehead and ears, and he was clean-shaven, but that was where the physical differences ended.

Kip grinned as he stood from the desk and rounded the corner to greet her.

Tom's scowl didn't waver.

"Mia, darling!" Kip leaned down and kissed her cheek. "I've missed you terribly."

"Oh, I'm sure. I haven't had fifteen emails today reminding me you were waiting. You must be heartsick with loneliness," she snorted. "However did you keep yourself from rushing to meet me at the steps?"

Kip barked a laugh and ushered her into the room. "Didn't I tell you she was aces?"

"You did," Tom stated gruffly, remaining by the desk. He looked so happy to meet her; she was shocked he wasn't jumping for joy.

Mia cleared her throat, disconcerted. He was wickedly handsome, as she expected, but his attitude stunk. "Nice to meet you."

"That's it?" Kip scowled. "Nice to meet you?"

She shot him a shut the hell up glare as he prodded her toward the desk where she crouched to set down her work. When she popped back up, she turned her back on the so pleasant older Hiddleston, who looked like he wanted to pat her down to ensure she wasn't stealing the silverware and smiled at Kip.

"I hope it's everything you hoped for."

"My sweet Canuk! You are a gem among women!" Kip announced, sweeping her into a hug that somehow turned into an impromptu dance she failed at miserably, setting them both laughing.

Mia shook her head and shoved him playfully. "You haven't even seen it yet, you nut!"

He bowed grandly to her. "Oh, beautiful artisan! I am certain that when I gaze upon your fabulous creation, I will be struck down with awe and wonder at your magnificence." He glanced up and smirked. "Cash for the remainder is okay?"

She giggled, unable to help herself. He was such a card but so over the top that she knew he didn't mean a damn thing by his flirting. "Cash is fine."

He rose and patted his pants pockets. "Bugger it. I left my wallet upstairs. Tom, be useful and entertain Miss MacAlasdair while I run up."

He was gone before Mia could say he could catch her with Emma and sighed. By the waves of cold coming from the man standing statue at the desk, she was pretty damn sure he didn't want her there.

Mia turned and attempted to force a smile, but his bristly nature shot her anxiety into the stratosphere. "Um, I'll be around a bit longer, off with Emma for, for tea. Kip can find me th-"

He cut her off before she could finish. "Do you make a habit of it?"

Mia frowned as he dropped his arms and took a menacing step toward her. "Habit of what?"

He stalked across the room using the same ground-eating grace he had as Loki. "Flirting and fawning like a strumpet over men who are else wise engaged?"

Shocked, Mia's jaw dropped. "I beg your pardon?"

His lip curled into a disgusted sneer. "Kip hasn't shut up about you since he met you at the market. How desperate and despicable do you have to be to attempt to steal a man whose fiancée just had their first child?"

"Wow," she whispered. "You're unbelievable." She turned to walk away, but he grabbed her by the elbow. "Remove your hand before I make you remove it."

He released her as if she burned, but his hatred raged in his eyes. "What you're doing is unforgivable."

"Gods," she huffed, rolling her eyes. "You're so wrong you couldn't find right if it was lit with a neon sign. Look, bud, I get you're protecting your brother, but you can fuck all the way off to fuck off mountain. It's located in western Canada in the Rockies, so make sure to pack some long underwear so your ass doesn't turn into ice."

She stalked off, so mad she could spit, but paused when she reached the door to grasp the knob and glare one last time at a man she once admired. "They always say never meet your heroes, for they are doomed to disappoint."

She flipped him the middle finger and stepped out, slamming the door behind her.

Practically seething, Mia stormed down the hall to the entrance, where Emma was still on the phone, and her boys were chasing each other around the foyer.

She looked up at Mia's arrival, but her welcoming smile fell from her face. "I have to call you back." Emma hung up without waiting for a reply and chased after Mia as she headed for the door. "Mia? What happened? Where are you going?"

"I'm sorry, Emma, but I can't stay. Your brother is an absolute asshole. Can we do this another day?"

"Yes, of course, but what did Kip do? He said you got on smashing?" she worried, trotting after Mia.

"Not Kip. Kip is lovely, a flirt and utterly ridiculous ninety-nine percent of the time but always a gentleman. Tom, however, needs a good hard kick in the bal- bottom!" she corrected, remembering the young ears listening intently.

"Oh, fuck! What did he do?" Emma demanded, slamming her hands to her hips.

Mia paused at the door, looked down at the stormy face of her friend in the making and sighed. "He accused me of trying to get with Kip."

"What!" she shrieked. "Oh, that-" She screamed and shook her fists at the ceiling before taking Mia gently by the arm. "I see. Yes, we can do this late-"

A crack of thunder so loud caused the door to rattle before lightning lit up the sky.

"Mia," Emma cautioned when the lights flickered.

She shook her head. "It's not far. I'll be fine, and I'll drive slow."

"It can be very unsafe to drive-"

Mia yanked open the door. "I'll be fine. We have some aggressive weather where I'm from, too. I'll text you when I get home!"

Before Emma could stop her, she ran out the door to Henry's truck.

"Mia!"

She waved, slammed the door, and turned the key. When it turned over and started on the first go, she thanked all the Gods and drove out of the porte cochere into the torrential downpour.

Next Chapter

#reflections #au tom hiddleston fiction #rpf #real people fiction #tom hiddleston

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redpool · 1 year

Text

NEW MOON

oops, i thought eclipse was before new moon

new moon is my favourite of the 5

mainly because i prefer the wolves

AHFGHGDHFHGCHG

CHARLIE!!!!!

ANGELA MY LOVE

jesus christ

lol

why do you say rabbit like that?

fucking hell

they're not even quiet about it.

the parallels to the R&J scene and the bit with the Volturi

lol, i thought vampires were supposed to be beautiful

DEMETRI!!!!!

lol

ew, shut up

ROSE MY LOVE

shut up Emmett

god

fucking idiot

i never thought these words would ever leave my mouth but PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH

when i cut my finger my first instinct is to press on the wound so more blood comes out because it fascinates me, yours should be to cover it because you are in a ROOM FULL OF VAMPIRES.

how does the hair changing work for this kind of vampire?

because Jasper and Alice seem to have a different haircut every movie

THE CHIN TAP

FUCK

HOLY BALLS

clearly not

jesus sorry, I'm ignoring what's happening and trying to remember how to spell, apparently i can't spell it so clearly will have to do.

shut up, look at her bro

gasp

seriously

YAY TIME FOR THE WOLVES

look at her you little coward

shut up

there's not a single thought behind those eyes.

oh lovely, lead her out to the middle of nowhere then adandon her

what the fuck

thats not creepy at all

SAM!!!!!

is a bit weird tbh

THERE'S A POSSIBILTY THERE'S A POSSIBILTY

MM, MM-MM, MM-MM, MM-MM, MM, MM-MM, MM-MM, MM-MM

what are these nightmares from? PTSD or from the codependency?

ANGELA MY LOVE

oh my fucking god

this is not going to help.

ffs

skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip

girl, just go to therapy, jesus christ

BELLA WHERE THE HELL YOU BEEN LOCA

SHOW ME THE BOY

GIVE HIM TO ME

ew, age is not just a number, you fucking pedophile

EMBRY, MY LOVE

AHSHDFVHGSDFV

good one, shithead

Charlie be my dad (NOT IN A SEXUAL WAY)

his voice irritates my brain

stop talking like that

skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip skip

idiot

that's not enough blood for a head wound

ANGELA MY LOVE

stop

secondhand embarrassment

aren't you with Jessica?

jesus christ

Jacob is supposed to be 16, oh my god

lol

dont start with that toxic masculinty shit

you gotta stop bro

oh my god

'And you think I'm sort of... beautiful..' shut all the way up

STOP

pfft

i'm gonna hurl

ooo

hes losing it

Harry <3

jfc

stop looking

oop

'everyone' then proceeds to only name one person

oh my fucking god

how is that a 16 year old?

what, you expect flowers to last that long? do you not how the seasons work?

that's Sam right?

oh, they're all here, never mind

jesus christ Bella

wait she's 18 at this point right? and he's 16...

put a shirt on

liar

jesus, they're both bad for her.

he's got a fucking 8 pack

PAUL!!!!

oop

jesus christ

i fucking hate this so much

oh my god

jesus christ

EMBRY!!!!! god i love him

EMILY!!!!!!!!!!!! BE MY MOTHER

awe

grumpy x sunshine

AHAHJHDSFVJHS

what the hell

are you a fucking idiot?

oh shit

i hate that Harry died but i get Seth and Leah out of it so, i'm conflicted.

idiot

what kind of cpr was that

yeah, while you were attention seeking, Harry was dying.

eyeroll

fucking hell, that's not how this works, you stupid bitch

oh my fucking god

this treaty has been around long before you were even a thought.

*eyeroll so hard i do a backflip*

why do i do this to myself?

just yell, you idiot

*eyeroll so hard my eyes get stuck*

DEMETRI!!!!

FELIX!!!!

JANE MY LOVE!!!!!!

I FUCKING LOVE HER SO FUCKING MUCH

has Demetri always sounded like that?

ALEC!!!!!!

oop

shut up, Jamie Campbell Bower

oh my god

Felix, did your hand get bigger?

creepy little pervert

i see why Michael is always cast as the creepy weirdo.

oh god, i just noticed the children

why are you acting like you literally didn't just try to kill yourself??

Jesus, with the number of times I've rolled my eyes I'm surprised they haven't gotten stuck.

I'm gonna barf

his arms are the size of my fucking head

awe

oh my fucking god

I'M GOING TO SLAM MY HEAD INTO THE FUCKING WALL UNTIL I FUCKING DIE

I HATE YOU

I HATE ALL THREE OF YOU

see what you did, you've fucked up both their lives.

you've been together for like 5 minutes

#twilight #twiligh new moon #new moon #embry call #paul lalote #charlie swan #bella swan #sam uley #carlisle cullen #jacob black #emmett cullen #twilight commentry #rosalie hale #emily young #jane volturi #alec volturi #felix volturi #demetri volturi #liveblog

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harmonyverendez · 1 year

Text

Being Edward Cullen's Twin Sister would include | Twilight Saga

Warning: Stalking, Killing, gore, Blood Sucking, Mention of Rape, Etc.

Tags: Fanfiction, suspense, Fantasy

Pairings: Edward Cullen x Bella Swan, female! Reader x Random Reader ( Whoever you choose to be paired with )

• Life before becoming a vampire was average. You had some up and downs but your life was human.

• When the town begins to get sick with Spanish influenza, you are scared.

• Spending as much time as you could with your family.

• Going to parties, never leaving your brother side and helping out with your mother and father.

• When your father died, you were sad.

• When your mother died, things were not the same.

• You were always on Edward's neck when both of your parents died.

• That's when you met Carlisle, he was a young doctor at the time.

• He seemed nice, but you always felt calm around him. He made you feel protected, loved, and just cherished.

• When Carlisle bit your brother, you were scared and ran for your life.

• You came back two years later at the age nineteen and was shocked at what your brother begin.

• You told your brother Edward about your past and how men took advantage of you.

• Edward was shocked, but you told him to not to worry.

• it was too late, your brother hunt them down and killed every single one of them.

• Carlisle changed you and your brother couldn't be more happier.

• Edward didn't want your soul to be damned to hell, but he was glad to see you... Even in the afterlife of being a vampire.

• You two went rogue and ended up killing bad men, draining humans, you were more Sadist then your brother since men raped you... And you hated them all.

• Once that Victorian area ended, you drunk yourself with alcohol and only Edward brought you out of it.

• You two ended up going back to Carlisle and that's when Rosalie enter the picture.

• She was just like you in every way... Same rough past

• Although you disliked her attitude.

• Hated going to high school.

• You disliked Alice and Jasper the moment they step into your and your family's lives.

• It took a while to warm up to Jasper, dude had problems controlling his bloodlust.

• Your brother was the same, you had more control than you thought.

• When Bella entered the picture, you just wanted to shove your head out the window.

• She brought so much pain, drama, and chaos to the family.

• In the end she became family.

• Taking up and Protecting Renesmee.

• You found your soul mate with [ Person name ] and you two life has changed and for the better.

#The cullen family #Edward Cullen twin sister #Mention of rape #angst #fluff #Female Reader #Twilight saga #Edward Cullen #Renesmee Cullen #fictional characters #Alice Cullen #Jasper Cullen #Rosalie Hale #Emmett Cullen #Esme Cullen #Carlisle Cullen

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shelbgrey · 1 year

Note

Hi! alright? could you do a fanfic where the reader (or y/n) is Emmett and Rosalie's adopted daughter and they just LOVE the fact that she's a redhead? they love her freckles all over her cheeks and fiery red hair, not only them, but the entire Cullen family, they love it!! And maybe one imagines where someone at school admires her for her fiery hair and vampires don't like it! Idk ❤️.

Forever now(Emmett Cullen and Rosalie Hale)

Paring: Daughter!Reader X Emmett Cullen x Rosalie Hale.

Summary: normally when a child in need crosses the path of the Cullens carlisle is always willing to find a spot in his family for them but when a small red-head crosses their path its Rosalie's turn to start the family she's always wanted.

A/n: I love this request so much. I love purness in it and I'm excited to write my first Twilight request.

A/n #2: request are currently closed so I can work on my Emmett Cullen series.

MasterList

The little girl with firey hair story starts a little while back. The little girl was no less than two when she we welcomed into the Cullen family. The little girl's mother had died while giving birth to her and her father was unfit to take care of her.

The soul residents of small town in Alaska became concerned for the red-head child which led her in the hands of the chief of police. This was Beyond the cop's knowledge, so of course he called Carlisle Cullen who was head of the hospital he worked at the time. He had brought the small red-head girl to the hospital and Carlisle was in aw as the small girl stared at him with big doe eyes, almost too shy for her own good.

Carlisle knelt down to her hight and offered his hand. He smiled softly as the little girl approached him carefully. She was clueless to the situation but she knew she could trust the blonde doctor with gold eyes.

Alice had a vision of the red-head girl with freckles but the version she saw, Carlisle and Esme adopted her. Alice's visions had never been so wrong...

Not even the 300 year old vampire could explain what happened that day. As the little girl wondered around the bright house she curiously walked up to Emmett. He was setting in the living room playing video games when the small girl poked his knee a mumbled a small word...

“giant”

It was the first time they heard her talk and they were not disappointed. Emmett chuckled at the smell girl as she hugged on his giant leg. She didn't shy away from him. She did the same with Rosalie.

The family have never seen her this happy. She had gotten home from late from a shopping trip that same night and she was in love as soon as she saw the little girl's fuzzy red hair and beautiful freckles setting on Emmett's lap.

“who's this?” she smiled. The little girl waved at Rosalie and had a big cheesey smile. Rose loved every part of the little girl. In her eyes she's was perfect, from her red hair to her freckles.

The little girl stayed for about a week before the family made the decision of what would the future would be. As that week passed Rosalie grew more and More attached. She would always make sure she ate well and would do her hair everyday. Just like a mother would.

As for Emmett he was slightly afraid to be around the small human. With his bone crushing strength and everything else that came with being a vampire he would never forgive himself if he hurt her.

Of course that didn't stop the little girl. She would giggle and follow him around where ever he went. If he was working on his jeep she would laugh and crawl under it with him. If he was playing video games she would crawl into his lap begging him to read her a story.

All that two year old understood was, this was her home and the people around her was family. She was so young her brain told her Emmett and Rosalie was Mommy and Daddy. Which led Rosalie to life aultering decision after that one single word that fell out of Little red's mouth.

'mama'

Edward nor Jasper could even put into words how happy she was. When she heard that she was glowing with happiness as she held the little girl.

“mama loves you darling” she mumbled. After that the family knew she had a home there and they also knew Rosalie would fight tooth and nail for that little girl.

That night Rosalie layed on the couch as the little girl slept soundly in her arms. Emmett quietly joined her with a huge grien. “okay” he simply replied.

“okay?” she chuckled not really catching on.

“she's ours Rose” his smile only got bigger as he watched his mate hold the little girl with nothing but pure happiness.

“your mommy and daddy love you so much little y/n” Rosalie said kissing her sleeping head.

And that's how the little girl with red hair and freckles became y/n Hale-Cullen. The little girl brought so much joy into the family and each family member ment so much too her.

Emmett and Rosalie of course were #1 in her eyes but as she made herself comfortable in the family she also made meaningful relationships.

She was a listener and an observer so she quickly caught on that carlisle and Esme were her parents 'parents'. She would often call carlisle, Car or pops. When she was little she couldn't properly say his name which lead to Car and pops. Carlisle became close with the small child as well, he loved her personality and loved it when she'd ask about being a doctor. Then Esme. Y/n grew close with Esme immediately, if she wasn't with rose then she was with Esme.

Her Aunts and Uncles were the same. She'd never say it out loud but Jasper was her favorite uncle. Jasper would say y/n was the only thing pure in his life, but that was true for all of them.

Then there's the who vampire thing. Y/n wasn't stupid and of course she wanted to know why mom and dad never ate gold fish crackers like she did and she wanted to know why when ever she had a bad dreams mom and dad weren't in bed asleep when she ran in for comfort.

She was about six years old when she found out. She knew she had to keep it a secret and she was very good at it. This also led to Rosalie's fear of her becoming a vampire. Of course she wanted her daughter to be around Forever, but her heart broke eveytime she thought about the opportunities that would be tooken away from her. Which is why she's now 16 and looked the same age as her uncle Edward.

Y/n would never say it out loud but she was sick of it. She wanted to be like her family and it was hard for her grow up while everyone else in her family remained the same ages. She wanted her mom's gold eyes and her father's strength... She just wanted to feel normal in what she felt was a normal family but here she was, now 16 going to High school with her parents and her Aunts and Uncles.

Just livin' the dream...

--------( ....... )--------

So far Forks was y/n favorite palce to live. She's been just about everywhere, that came with being a Cullen. But something about this town was special to her. But the down fall was all the curious eyes. She didn't like the attention her family received. She hated how people would watch them... She hated how people watched her and that made her have second thoughts about the thing everyone loved about her.

She's was going through a 'phase' at least Emmett and Rosalie hoped it was. Her phase was she didn't like how her hair looked, no matter how many times Rosalie or Esme would tell her how beautiful she was. But no matter what she did with it everyone still seemed to be in aw about it.

Especially the boys at Forks High...

As I said before she hated how people watched her. Her beautiful hair is the reason why people watched her. She started to resent it no matter how many different ways Rosalie or Alice styled it or how many times Carlisle would say how beautiful it was. She just hated the attention. She hated the attention the high school boys gave her.

“Hey, y/n” Mike Newton said one day as she was leaving her English class.

Y/n wasn't a socializing type, hell she was shy. She would just mumbled a small hello with a smile. Mike continued to walk with her and eye her up and down.

“your hair is pretty today” Mike smiled. It was a nice thing to say, yes but as he said it y/n passed her uncle Jasper.

“Hey I was wondering if-”

Jasper slammed his locker shut in anger as he felt impure feelings the teen felt for his niece. In Mike's defense he truly liked her but he would never be her type. Jasper took on the role of the big brother he played at school and walked up to the two.

“hi y/n” he said glaring at Mike. Y/n rolled her eyes as milk gulped.

Jasper continued to walk down the hallway with the two as he intimidated Mike. Y/n sighed and looked down in embarrassment but at the same time thankfull it wasn't her father. Emmett would have made it ten times worse.

“Hey Mike, weren't you gonna say something?” y/n asked softly as they walked to their next class with Jasper.

He shrugged. “I honestly don't remember” he said staying silent in fear of what Jasper would do. They then walked passed Alice and Rosalie in the hallway he recoiled even further as he felt Rosalie's percing eyes. Rose didn't say anything though, she knew her daughter was safe with Jasper. She also knew Emmett would have a cow if he found out.

Despite the angry eyes of the Cullen family, Mike couldn't stop looking at her beautiful red hair. He loved the way the curls perfectly framed her face and bounced as she moved gracefully. But you just don't look at y/n Cullen like that. No matter if you have good intentions or not.

So Mike failed and so did a handful of others at school. Jasper of course kept it a secret like y/n asked but his mind would wonder and if it wondered to that one faithful day Edward would find out. And Edward refused to lie to Emmett or Rosalie when it came y/n.

This would lead to Emmett putting the fear of God in Mike dispite his daughter's pleas. Yes she found him annoying but the kindness Esme and Carlisle had tougher made her fear for Mike.

Tyler was the only one who was close to even getting a date with her. She actually liked him at one point but then he moved away. But after that y/n stopped showing interest in the boys of her school. She stopped even if they still loved her and her red hair.

Those human boys never mattered to her. There was no possible future due to her life style and family. They especially stopped mattering after she found her mate Benjamin...

The first thing Benjamin noticed about her was her freckled covered cheeks as she smile. He couldn't help but smile with her. He was in love with her firey red hair and couldn't stop staring at how it perfectly layed on her shoulders or how it reminded him of the sunsets at his home.

All the things she grew tired of because of the boys at Forks High, she grew to love because of Benjamin's genuine compliments and love he had for the things that made her stand out.

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asumofwords · 9 months

Text

Smoke, Fire and Ash

Warnings: This fic includes noncon, dubcon, manipulation, violence, death, forced marriage, and inc3st. Tags will be added as the fic goes on.

This is a dark!fic. 18+ only. Read at your own discretion. Please read the warnings before continuing.

Summary: You are the eldest daughter of Rhaenyra and Daemon Targaryen. You are forced to navigate the difficult surroundings of your upbringing and the eventual disintegration between your family and the Hightower's relationship. What will happen when your older and estranged uncle suddenly takes a more sinister interest in you? (Dark!Aemond x Reader)

Masterlist

Characters: Aemond Targaryen X Reader, HOTD characters.

Note: When I say I have loved every single one of your theories, I mean it. Its actually so amazing how much you guys like this and honestly never thought I would get this much love?? CRAZY! Anyway, now we have 7 to go.... Good lord, here we go my babies! Enjoy! <3

Chapter 103: Without Reason

The sun had begun to fall beyond the horizon; a low and crawling pace it took as the realm was cast in an orange hue, the warmth of its rays bleeding from the air, and an icy chill settling across the land and into your bones.

Aemond sat at the end of the council table, both hands on the surface of the wood, clenching and unclenching intermittently. His sharp jaw was set in a firm line, clenched as he looked at his council men, singular eye flicking to the chamber doors and then back again.

“They should have returned by now.” Aemond said quietly, brows furrowed in a way that seemed to be almost permanent.

“The tides pull away from shore, Your Grace.” Larys Strong informed the King, “And a storm seems to be making its way to Kings Landing.”

A storm indeed.

The envoys of the King, Ser Otto Hightower and Ser Criston Cole had not returned with their men from their voyage to Dragonstone, nor had a raven been sent to inform them of a possible danger, or their incoming arrival/agreeance.

“We must be ready for anything.” Lord Jasper Wylde began, “Daemon could be out for blood and on his way to Kings Landing as we speak. We must be ready for their arrival from both the skies and sea.” He spoke with urgency.

You sat forward, hand on your stone, “We have not heard word from them yet. My father would not attack the Keep blindly with me inside. I asked them to see reason and told them to bend the knee.” You argued, turning to Jasper to scowl at him.

“Your father is rogue. Not even your mother could keep him in line.”

You bit down on your cheeks as you stared daggers at the man, “He would not put me in harms way. And I asked them, if they are to declare war, that they need tell us first, give warning. They would not risk my life on the gamble of coming here in secrecy.” You sneered.

Maester Orwyle scoffed, “Your parents have not set foot in the Keep to see you since your coming here.”

“Not for a lack of trying, Maester Orwyle.” You snapped, “I have faith that we will receive word shortly, and Ser Otto and Ser Cole will return to us with said word from my mother.”

“You are blinded by your love-“

“-I am blinded by nothing." You snapped, "I speak only of what I know. And I know that we shall receive word for if they will bend the knee, or if they have declared war.”

Alicent picked at her fingers atop the table, her auburn hair pulled back against her head in a large and tight braid, “Rhaenyra would not harm her only daughter. Not even her thirst for the Iron Throne would push her to do that. I believe we should receive word on the morrow.”

Alicent had agreed.

You blinked in surprise, but nodded, inhaling deeply.

Aemond hummed, “My uncle is to be feared, yes, but I have faith in what my Lady wife says. We shall wait for word on the morrow. If we have not received it by the suns peak, we send twenty of our fleet to Dragonstone, ten to Driftmark, and send fifteen battalions to the Red Fork to be readied for any retaliation. Have these ships and men be readied tonight.”

The Lords nodded in agreement, though anxiety filled the chamber rooms.

Your own was stifling.

“And then I shall fly to meet with my half-sister myself.”

Your head snapped to Aemond, and his eye was already on you.

Dread trickled down your spine.

“I shall go with you.” You insisted, fingers rolling your sphere atop the table, “That way-“

“-No.”

Your brows furrowed, and you felt a simmering sense of urgency curl inside your gut.

“If you fly to Dragonstone atop Vhagar, they will see it as a threat, especially now. They will meet you in the skies. You’ll be outnumbered.”

King Aemond’s lips pursed as he looked at you, “Vhagar is larger than any of their dragons combined. She has seen war, and won it. And she will win it again.”

Your breath rattled in your chest, fingers going numb. It was as though your mind had been dunked into fog. Everything around you felt slow, sluggish, unclear. Your throat felt tight, and no matter how many times you swallowed, the lump would not move.

The muffled sound of voices moved around you as you stared at your husband.

Your uncle.

Your lover.

The father of your child.

He was going to kill them all.

Your ears rang, and the walls closed in on you.

All this time.

All this time you had to prepare for this moment.

All this time you had been waiting for it.

And now that it was finally here, you were terrified.

“Zaldrītsos.”

You blinked, coming back to the room to find it empty, Aemond standing before you, looking down at you in concern. Your mouth opened and closed, and yet no words came out, not even a breath.

“Paghagon.” Breathe, He whispered, a hand cupping your cheek.

You sucked in a large breath as you looked up at him, head spinning. Another shaky inhale rattled in your chest, his thumb swiping against the edge of your lips.

"Iksā ȳgha kesīr.” You are safe here, He cooed.

“Yn skoros nūmāzma ao?” But what about you? Your voice came out so quiet it was like a breeze.

Aemond helped you to stand, and guided you back to the chamber, not answering your question, holding one of your hands in both of his in front of his chest, as though he was keeping you from running, or that he had a fear that you would slip away.

There was a small scratching in the back of your mind as you walked. A tingling that clawed in the back of your skull, inching closer with every step you took. A continual and irksome thing, like a buzzing of a fly, or the hum of a mosquito in the summer. And it was most difficult to ignore.

For every step you took closer, the more familiar that scratching became. Like fingers that clawed against the bone, it’s scratching becoming louder and louder, until it wasn’t just a hum or clawing noise, and soon it was a whisper.

A familiar whisper, of an all too familiar word, from an all too familiar voice.

And it grew louder, and louder, and louder.

Dracarys.

Aemond had sat you down gently before the fire, a subtle glance thrown back at you as he moved across the chambers to fill a goblet of wine for you to help settle your nerves. But there was no settling them, not when a small and wet, brunette boy stood in front of the fire, dripping atop the hearth.

Not when he kept whispering over, and over, and over again.

Dracarys.

Not when the distant rumbling of a storm began to roll in from the sea. Not when the breeze began to pick up outside, and the temperature within your chambers dropped. Not when you finished your goblet, and then another, and the maids had rushed into the room to close all the windows and balconies as a downpour of rain descended upon Kings Landing.

Not even then, when you sat opposite Aemond, merely picking at your food could you settle your own storm that raged within you.

The anxiety.

The terror.

The anger.

The sorrow.

The grief.

And that all too familiar tide of rage.

“I fear war is coming for us after all.” You whispered to Aemond across the table, voice almost drowned out by the rain outside.

The King placed his cutlery down upon the table as he looked at you, “If it is to come to that, then it is by your mothers doing.”

You shook your head, the tide rising within.

Why couldn’t he see?

Why couldn’t he see what you saw?

“It is your doing. You will not see reason. You would not even give the treaty a chance. Could we have not asked for me to be the next in line for succession? You be my King Consort after my mother has ruled? There must be some other way.”

Aemond sighed, “There is no other way. They either bend, or we war.”

A pit settled into the bottom of your stomach sharply, “And what of me? What will happen to me?”

Aemond reached forward to grasp his goblet, sipping it softly.

“What will happen when we war, Aemond? Will you keep me locked away in this castle like the prisoner I am?”

The King placed the goblet upon the table with more force than was needed, “You are not a prisoner here.”

You scoffed loudly, “I have not been permitted to leave this damned Keep in months! I have not even been permitted to see my dragon. I have been kept here like a brood mare for you to fuck your seed into.”

The silver haired man breathed heavily through his nose, jaw ticking, “You may leave after the war is won.”

“After?”

Aemond did not respond.

“So you expect me to sit here on my thumbs whilst you wage a war against my family?”

“I expect you to keep yourself and the babe safe.”

“Keeping me trapped in this Keep is no safer than letting me be out there! I will not lose you, Aemond, and I will not lose my family either. I have lost too much already!”

A fist beat against the table, the cutlery and china clinking loudly against each other, “And I will not lose you! Not again.” Aemond growled, his eye dark in the chambers, “I will not have you risk the life of our child. Our heir.”

You frowned, hands flat on the table as you leant forward and sneered, “You already put us at risk by declaring war and not seeing reason!”

Aemond shot up from his chair, fingers stretched across the wood of the table as he looked down at you, his chest heaving, “I have declared nothing! This is war! The very moment you agreed to step into this Keep; they declared war! The very moment they took my eye; they declared war against me and against you! For too long have they kept us apart. Do you think that if Rhaenyra takes the throne that they for one second will allow us to stay wed? Have you thought again on this question, I ponder. Do you think that your father will not cast the first stone to condemn me?”

Aemond’s large hands curled into fists, stepping away from the table, “I will not have you taken from me again, Y/n/n. I will kill anyone that attempts to do so. I will raze the Keep to the ground if I must. The realm, if I must. There is nothing in this world that will keep you from me. Not anymore.”

Your husband turned to face you, his eye crazed and lips pulled downwards into an angry scowl. His posture was stiff, readied, prepped to fight, to lurch forward, jaw tensed and and arms locked.

But it was the look in his eye that scared you most.

And then, his words finally sunk in, like claws in your flesh, tearing at your chest painfully as blood rushed to the surface. As though he had struck you with a thousand blades.

It was painful.

But he was right.

They would never let you stay wed to him. Your mother would be swift to put him to death for the killing of Lucerys, and no doubt the crimes he committed against you if they knew the truth of it. But they didn’t know him now.

They didn’t know him as he was the man today.

Who had helped you. Who had saved you.

Who loved you.

Who you loved.

“I can’t lose you, Aem. I will break.” Your voice crackled, and Aemond came towards you, pulling you up from the table as he looked at you intently, his eye roving over your face. He cupped your cheeks in his hands, fingers stroking the skin.

“I will kill them all if I must. For you.” He whispered.

The pit in your stomach grew larger, and the lump in your throat, calcified. You opened your mouth to argue, to beg, to plead, but Aemond pulled you forward and crashed his lips to yours, silencing you.

At first, you were shocked, gasping into his mouth, but Aemond’s touch was familiar, calming, and it distracted you from the constant whispers of Lucerys in the background and the thundering rain outside. And so you kissed him back, trying to push down the grief, and fear, and horror that had begun to swallow you whole.

He was going to kill them all.

You wanted to feel anything but that pain.

You wanted to feel loved. Feel safe. Feel sure and secure and cherished and above all, you. And Aemond gave that to you. He held you. He made you feel safe. He loved you. And he would protect you from the war that was to come if your mother did not bend the knee.

Aemond pulled apart from you, breathing heavily, his eye still on your lips as his pupil was blown wide with lust, the violet of his eye swallowed into the black abyss. His hand slid from your cheek, down over your chest, cupping one breast through the silk of your gown, a soft moan falling from your lips as he squeezed.

And then it carried on, making its descent to press against the front of your stomach, holding his palm hotly atop where your womb was, the heat of his hand radiating through the dress and into your skin.

Aemond pressed promises into you with his hand, of reassurance, his love, adoration, and that warmth creeped across your chest and up your throat.

You smiled warmly at him, holding his hand against you with your own, beneath it, something you had both created. Something the Gods had given to you.

A child.

His child.

Yours.

And this time, you would not lose it.

This time, it would be perfect.

And then there was the other warmth, another one that was all too familiar that had begun to settle into your core as he held his hand there, while his other held your cheek as though you were made of glass. And so you dragged his hand down further from your womb, gathering the skirts of your gown with it, his large fingers slowly making their way under your dress as he kept his eye on you.

His fingers grazed the hair atop your mound, and you thrust your hips forward, a soft sigh falling from your lips.

“Please, show me you love me.” You whispered to him.

His eye was hooded as he looked at you lustfully, fingers diving between your thighs to part your folds, finding you already slick with want.

Aemond’s plump lips parted, inhaling deeply as he gathered your arousal to drag it back towards your bud, rubbing small circles over the sensitive bundle of nerves, dragging mewl after mewl from you.

It was a heat that spread through your entire body, not just the pleasure, but the love and care he was giving you, the proof of his love, the promise of his violence, and although the latter frightened you, you pushed away the thought to give in to the simple pleasures of flesh.

A singular moment for you to escape the whispers and presence of your brother, to escape the anguish that pulled at your veins, or the sorrow that had begun to burrow its way into your chest.

For now, you just wanted to feel him.

Two large fingers pushed into your heat and you moaned, pulling Aemond into a searing kiss where you nipped and sucked at his lips, tasting the wine on his tongue, and feeling the softness of his kiss. He curled his fingers inside you, teasingly rubbing the sensitive patch within you before he pulled back to look at your face.

“Sīr gevie.” So beautiful, He uttered.

Aemond pulled his fingers from your core, a soft whine falling from your lips as you chased his mouth, the King moving back to escape it, before leading you towards the bed.

It was a race to undress each other, the seams at the back of your dress ripping as Aemond tore at the ties until the gown fell heavily at your feet.

Then it was his boots, your own, his tunic, your chemise, his breeches, and soon enough, you fell against the bed, pushed down by his two large hands before he pulled you down the edge of the bed by your ankles, a short squeal of delight falling from your lips as he knelt on the stone floor before you.

You leant up on your elbows looking down at him as he watched you with a hooded eye, tongue darting out to wet his lips before a cheeky smirk lifted upon his face. His hand brushed up your thigh, parting your legs before it continued to travel up, hand spread across your stomach.

“Ñuha Dāria.” My Queen, Aemond purred, before nipping sharply at your inner thighs with his teeth.

You gasped as you continued to watch him slowly make his way to where you needed him most. He nipped and kissed at your flesh, soothing the bites with his tongue, lathing at it hotly before he pressed a barely there kiss atop your pearl.

Your hips thrust up towards him, another gasp falling from your lips as you tried to seek out his mouth again. To seek out the pleasure he always brought you.

The joy and love he showered you with.

Aemond chuckled from where he knelt at the foot of the bed before he placed another kiss there with more pressure, lingering until he opened his mouth and his tongue swiped through your folds hotly.

You cried out, elbows giving under you as you fell back onto the mattress, hands gripping the sheets as your uncle suckled at your pearl and swirled his tongue around it expertly in the way that you liked it best.

“Fuck.” You moaned, back arching as sparks of pleasure shot through your core.

The King hummed into your folds, lapping at it loudly and wetly, messily as he always did in a way that would surely bring you to your peak shortly. His fingers met your core again, swiping between your folds as he continued to focus on your bud, until he pressed them inside of you, immediately curling them upwards.

Aemond fucked you with his hand and tongue, bringing you to your peak with a cry, pleasure coursing through your veins like molten lava. You writhed on the bed below him as he crawled up towards you, kissing a wet and sticky trail from your cunt, all the way up to your breasts.

He kneaded them roughly, sucking a nipple into his mouth greedily which he lapped at with his tongue, teeth grazing the stiffened peak as pleasure rippled across your chest.

“Kesā hōzigon aderī, se kessi nehugon.” You will swell soon, and they will leak, He groaned, swapping to the other breast, showing it the same amount of attention as the other.

You moaned loudly, pulling him closer to your chest, hand gripping his hair tightly.

“Fuck.” You whined, hips rolling up against him, feeling his heavy length rest against your thigh, a drop of his arousal sticking to your skin.

Aemond groaned, nipping the flesh of your breast sharply before capturing your lips in a passionate kiss.

"Going to watch you swell with my child. Then I’ll fuck another into you. Going to keep you full of my seed.”

Your heart soared at the thought of having many children with him, adding to your lust. The image of you and your husband surrounded by small little heads of silver.

You lifted your hips, wrapping a leg around him as you tried to pull him closer to you, “Please, Aemond.”

Grasping his length in his hand, he rubbed it through your folds, coating himself in your slick before lining himself up. With one long thrust, Aemond seated himself fully within you, stretching you apart on his cock as your walls gripped him tightly.

“Fuck. Such a perfect cunny.” The King hissed, pulling out of your warmth before thrusting back inside.

You bit your lip, pleasure blooming within your walls, “Yes. Please. Fuck, Aemond.”

His hips snapped against yours, cock drilling into your cunt sharply as the tip of his length brushed over your spongey spot within, the coil within you beginning to tighten. The sound of your arousal filled the air around you as he plunged inside.

“Sīr qogralbar lōz syt nyke. Va moriot sīr lōz.” So fuck wet for me. Always so wet, He grunted, and you could feel the sheets below you soaked and clinging to the skin of your ass.

“Īlē vēttan syt nyke. Īlen vēttan syt ao. Jaes' nyke jorrāelagon bisa orvorta.” You were made for me. I was made for you. Gods I love this cunt.

You nodded as you whined, wrapping both legs around his hips, allowing for him to reach deeper within you, “Yes, Aemond, only for you. ‘m yours.” The angle brought you closer to your peak, your walls clenched around him in a vice grip.

Aemond hissed, feeling you begin to near your second release, and dragged a hand down your body, pulling back to spit wetly atop your core.

You felt his spit land atop your pearl and dribble down and around his shaft, where it was fucked back inside of you. His fingers moved to your pearl, sitting back on his haunches to rut into you at sharper angle so he could watch you come undone from above.

Aemond’s fingers swirled around your bud, drawing the coil within you tighter, and tighter.

“So close. Fuck, so good Aemond. Always so good. Fuck. I love you.” You whimpered, keeping your eyes locked on your husbands face, who looked down at you with determination.

“Want you to spill on my cock. Come on, give it to me.”

You bit down on your lip hard as the shifting of his hips brought a deeper pleasure, something that settled much deeper in your gut than before. It built rapidly, and hotly and Aemond continued to swirl his hand in the tempo of his hips which he thrust upwards into your core.

It washed over you in an instant, no warning of its arrival nor telling of its destination. But it filled your limbs with flames, your entire body clenching as it crashed over your head. Your eyes were scrunched shut as you threw your head back, a long whimpering whine pealing from your lips as you reached your peak.

Wet coated Aemond’s cock and thighs, dripping down onto the bed below as he cooed and praised you.

“Konīr jā. Konīr iksi. Sȳz riña. Ao gōntan sīr sȳz syt nyke. Sȳz riña.” There you go. There we are. Good girl. You did so good for me. Good girl.

You whimpered beneath him, almost in a daze as your core continued to spasm around him, Aemond not once letting up. His hand left your pearl to give you some reprieve, but his thrusts sped up, hips clapping against yours wetly as you were jolted up the bed.

Aemond chased his release, hands gripping your hips tightly as he pulled you back down onto his length, using your body to fuck him like a limp doll. His thrusts became erratic, and he jerked one final time inside of you as deep as he could go, the warmth of his seed filling your walls with each erratic spurt.

He moaned lowly, followed by a small whine.

You watched him from below, his chest rising and falling, a sheen of sweat over his body, head thrown back with his eye shut, plump mouth hung open inhaling deeply.

The low light of the chambers shone on his body and accentuated the muscles of his form. Your eyes roamed his pale skin, from the scar atop his shoulder where you had plunged the shard of mirror into the flesh, to the countless others that littered his body.

His hair seemed to glow in the moonlight and light of the candles, long and straight down his back, two smaller braids which had come undone from your hands, pulled apart strand by strand with the desire to devour each other in your matrimonial bed.

His jaw was so much sharper than what it used to be, so harsh and angled. Strengthened by the constant clenching of his teeth, the biting of his tongue, grown handsome by time. His nose, much the same, sharp and long to match the rest, but his lips were different. They were soft, and plump, and alluring if you were given the opportunity to get close enough, but even they could be sharp with his sneers or scowls, or the words that he hissed through clenched teeth.

Aemond puffed out another breath of air, his chest slowly evening, thumbs rubbing soothing circles against your hips as he kept himself deep inside. His head dropped to look down at you, and you were met with the whole of his face, much softer now at this angle, but still razor sharp.

But it was his eye that was the softest of all.

Not the one scarred by loss, its cruel jagged line that cut through his cheek and brow, causing pain still to this day from an injury that happened many years before. Not the darkened skin and empty socket which he filled with a large sapphire in its stead.

His seeing eye.

Violet like lavender, lilac, or petunias in spring. Violet like the skies in summer when the sun had begun to set, and night began to creep across the realm, casting a blanket of darkness over all, until the sun would rise to meet it once again.

Not like Helaena, or Aegon’s eyes.

Not like your mother or fathers.

But his.

Just his.

Just him.

Your Aemond.

His own unique colour that you had grown more, and more fond of. A colour you had adored and loved as a child. A colour which you had looked forward to gazing into as you hid amongst the shadows, or played amongst the flowers of the Gardens.

Your heart raced in your chest as you looked at him, watching as a small smile pulled onto his lips, a rarest of sights, as he dipped down, pressing the softest of kisses, a kiss to match the way his eye had looked into yours, upon your lips with ease.

It was love.

When you were both settled into the sheets once more, pressed and curled against his chest, feeling the glow of your peak slowly seep away from your body, you felt him drift to sleep beside you, leaving you awake in his arms.

And as you lay in bed with him, dread settled into your chest.

Hope was a fools ally, and you found that you had none left.

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topguncortez · 2 years

Text

Nightly Interruptions pairing: Jake x Shy!Wife word count: 2.0k warnings: smut, oral sex (f receiving), language, The Seresins need to install locks on their doors. A/N: I promise Jo (@mayhem24-7forever) that I would stop hurting Shy Wifey so here is my formal apology for todays whumpfic

|| masterlist || opposites attract masterlist || library ||

The Seresins nightly routine had changed drastically over the years. Jake had a strict nightly routine, one that he had established years ago at the academy, and it had stuck with him. When he would come home from work, he would start dinner, making a meal every single night like his mother did. When he was done eating, he would clean the kitchen and his bags from the day. He would then go to his office, sit at his desk and study or review the material of the day for about two hours. Then he would shower, lay out his clothes for the morning, set up his breakfast meal, and then read a book for about an hour before going to bed. Jake Seresin made sure he got his eight hours of sleep.

When it was just the two of them, Y/N had adapted to Jake’s schedule, knowing that he needed his sleep. His job was important and it made her nervous that he was flying at supersonic speeds anyway, she didn’t need the fear of him being tired adding to it. When Jake would come home, they would start dinner, and eat together. While he studied, she would clean the kitchen and his bags, set up his breakfast meal. They would usually shower together, or take a bath if there was time. Then Jake would make love to her and they’d fall asleep in each other's arms.

But having kids, threw that ALL out the window.

“Hey, if you’re done, plate in the sink!” Y/N said as she wiped the hands of her youngest twin, Jasper. Alex stood up from the table and grabbed his plate to take to the sink as Jake started to clean. Y/N and Jake moved like a well oiled machine. She would clear the kids from the table, and Jake would start the dishes.

“I’ll bathe Jasper and Max in their bathroom, if you can shower Eli and Elle. Alex can shower himself,” Jake said, and walked over to the highchair their other twin was sitting in.

“I can do that,” Y/N smiled, placing Jasper on her hip. They had moved into a bigger house nearly a year ago. Alex was 10 now, and Jake didn’t think it was fair that he had to share a room with his younger siblings. The Seresins had outgrown their first house in San Diego, and needed more space. Alex had his own room, while Ella and Eli shared one, and so did the twins.

Y/N got the two middle children showered and dressed for bed, while Jake tackled bathtime with the twins. The boys seemed to listen better to Jake, and didn’t get him as soaking wet as they did Y/N. She was about to tuck in Ella and Eli and read them a book when Y/N heard the small footsteps of the twins and their contagious giggles.

“You two need pants!” Jake yelled after them. Y/N shook her head and picked up the book that Ella suggested. After she read to them, Jake had wrangled up the twins and put them in their beds.

“Eli has a book he wants to read, and I’m going to tuck Alex in. Twins in bed?” Y/N asked her husband.

“Is there a law against duct taping your toddlers' pants to them?” Jake asked.

“Probably,” Y/N giggled, “They are fine just sleeping in their pull ups. Eli and Alex never liked to wear pants to bed either.”

Jake sighed and grabbed his wife’s hips, “It’s an early night. . . ya know what that means. . .”

Y/N bit her lip, “Go read the book.” She patted Jake’s chest as she walked down the hall towards her eldest child’s room. Alex was reading his chapter book for class when she walked in. He smiled at her and closed it, taking off his glasses that looked almost identical to the ones that Bob wore. When Alex found out he had to get glasses, he wanted a pair to match exactly like his uncle’s.

“Dad put pants on Jasper and Max?” Alex asked.

“Yes, but they will wake up without them,” Y/N said, and pulled the dinosaur comforter up her son’s body, “You were quiet at dinner tonight. Everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Alex sighed. Y/N knew her son like the back of her hand, and gave him a look, “I’m kind of having a hard time in math. . . The numbers sometimes get mixed up for me, and the teacher talks really fast. I can see the board now, which helps, but the numbers get all mixy.”

Y/N nodded, “I’ll call Miss Blake in the morning and talk to her, would that help?”

“Yeah,” Alex nodded, “Thanks momma.”

“It’s what I’m here for,” Y/N smiled and leaned down to place a kiss on her son’s forehead, “Goodnight, baby.”

“Goodnight, mom.”

Y/N turned the lamp off and made sure that his night light was on before leaving the room. She stood in the hallway and basked in the silence. The house was never quiet when all the kids were home, unless they were outside or asleep. But Y/N liked the loudness of their house, the sounds of her kids' laughter was one of her favorite things. She sighed, and walked to her bedroom, going to jump in the shower, while Jake finished up some work things.

Jake let out a yawn as he walked into his bedroom, and stopped in the doorway. The sight in front of him was enough to make his dick stir in his sweatpants. Y/N was wearing one of his old college t-shirts, her glasses on and her nose in a book. Her brow was creased as she read the words on the page. Jake sauntered to the edge of the bed, and crawled up to her. Y/N lifted her head at the feel of his body climbing on to her. She giggled as she set her book down and took her glasses off, but Jake stopped her.

“You look so sexy with your glasses on,” He said, and leaned in to place kisses on her neck. Her hands went to his hair, tangling in the perfectly cut blonde locks.

“Can I help you?” Y/N asked and Jake lifted his head.

“Mhm,” Jake nodded, leaning down on his elbow, propping his head up with one of his hands, and letting the other one trace up her body, “Kids are asleep, I’m hard as a rock, and you look as good as a Sin on Sunday.”

Y/N rolled her eyes at his words, and leaned down to kiss him. He groaned into the kiss, tangling his hand into her hair, shifting their bodies so she was laying down on the bed, and he was on top of her. Y/N hands found their way under his shirt, feeling the muscles in his back flex. He grinded his hips into hers, feeling the heat from her cunt. It didn’t take much to turn her on, and after all these years, Jake knew exactly what to do to get her all hot and bothered.

“Already wet for me, sweets,” Jake said, and ran a finger over her covered cunt, “God, you’re always so perfect for me.”

“Jake, please,” Y/N moaned and thrusted her hips up. Jake smirked, and started kissing down her jaw, to her neck. He lifted up the blankets, and settled himself in between her legs. Her eyes rolled back at the feeling of him kissing her thighs, as his rough hands moved up to grab her panties and slide them down her legs. Jake groaned at the sight of her glistening cunt, grinding his own hips into the mattress. He rested her legs over his shoulders and leaned in to press a kiss to the top of her mound.

“Don’t tease me Jake, please,” Y/N said, one hand going to his hair, and pulling gently.

“As you requested, my dear,” Jake said, and Y/N could feel the smirk against her. He licked from her entrance to her clit, and she let out a gasp. Jake’s tongue swirled around her bud, before he found his way down to her entrance. Y/N’s back arched at the feeling of him lapping at her cunt, his tongue diving into her, his nose brushing at her clit.

Her eyes closed tightly, one hand still in Jake’s hair and the other gripping the bed sheets tightly. Jake’s strong arms wrapped around her thighs to hold her still as he pleasured her. She couldn’t help but grind herself into his face, letting the pleasure control her. Jake grinded his hips into the bed, finding his own pleasure at the same time.

“Use your fingers Jake,” Y/N pleaded and Jake hummed. He took one of his hands, running them through her folds before, sliding two fingers into her cunt, “Oh my god!” The wanton moan that left her mouth was both sinful and beautiful. Jake’s tongue went to her clit, switching between circling and sucking on it, “Oh Jake, don’t-don’t stop,” Y/N could feel the approach of her impending orgasm and so could Jake. Her thighs started to tremble against his head, and he could feel her walls starting to flutter around his fingers. The grip on his hair got tighter and she rode his face, “I’m close, fuck Jake. . . Fuck! Oh my-”

“Mommy?”

“Fuck!” Y/N sat up quickly and pushed Jake’s head away from her. Her eyes snapped open and looked at Jasper standing in the doorway of their room, “Jasper!” Jake’s eyes widened at the name of his son. He laid as flush to the bed as he could get himself, hoping Jasper wouldn’t notice him under the blankets, “What’s wrong sweetie?”

“I had a bad dream,” Jasper mumbled and tightened the grip on his teddy bear.

“Oh no! A bad dream?”

“Yeah,” Jasper said, “Can I sleep with you and dad-”

“No!” Y/N exclaimed as Jasper tried to take a step forward, “I mean. . . uh, not before you uh. . . go get another bedtime book. Yeah! Go get another bedtime book, so you can have good dreams.”

“Okay!” Jasper nodded and ran down the hallway towards his room.

Y/N flopped down on the pillows, as Jake crawled up from under the covers. There was a moment of silence, before Y/N and Jake bursted out in laughter. It was uncontrollable giggles as Jake pulled her into his chest, Y/N burying her head in her hands from embarrassment.

“Did our child just walk in on us?” She asked, her face red as she looked up at her husband.

“I’m pretty sure that just happened,” Jake shook his head, “Ten years and not a single walk-in. . . That’s gotta be a record.”

“Are we counting that one time Rooster walked in on us?”

“He may act like a child, but he is not our child,” Jake said and kissed her forehead, “Well, you probably should put your panties back on and I guess I better go change my shorts before Jasper comes in.”

“Yeah, I probably should,” Y/N reached over to where Jake threw her panties. He helped her slide them back up her legs and kissed her belly in the process, “Wait. . . Did you cum?”

“. . . yes. . .”

“Are you serious!? Really?!”

“Hey! I tried! Blame it on the little cockblock!”

“I got a book!” Jasper yelled as he ran back in.

“Yay, buddy!” Jake smiled. He got out of bed, and luckily was wearing black shorts, and gently tossed Jasper up on the bed with Y/N. He grabbed a pair of shorts before stepping into the bathroom to change. Y/N had started reading Jasper his book as Jake got himself cleaned up. Jasper must’ve got his great timing from his father, because as Jake was opening the bathroom door he heard:

“Mommy. . . what’s cockblock mean?”

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bisexualbumblebee-writes · 2 years

Text

Help From a “Friend”- Charlie Swan x OC

Charlie Swan x Eleanor Martin

Description: When Bella’s depression gets to be too much for Charlie, Eleanor contacts someone she never thought she’d have to. But, sometimes sacrifices must be made for the people you love.

Word Count: 2.2k

At this very moment, Edward Cullen was quite possibly one of the most stupid people Eleanor had ever known. She wasn’t just upset with him though. No, she was furious. In fact, she was ready to kill him once she learned that Edward had not only broken up with Bella and left her in the woods, but he and the rest of the Cullen family had up and moved to New York without warning. All because of the incident at Bella’s eighteenth birthday party.

As mad as she was though, she understood why Edward had done it. The whole birthday fiasco had admittedly shaken the entire Cullen clan plus Eleanor up. It wasn’t even just the fact that they had to stop Jasper from attacking, but the fact that Bella had bled. She bled enough that Rosalie, Esme and Eleanor had to actually leave the house while Carlisle bandaged her arm (not to mention Alice and Emmett having to get Jasper out of the house so he wouldn’t kill Bella). The night had turned sour within a matter of seconds and everyone felt terrible about it. In fact Eleanor almost couldn’t go to work the next day because she didn’t want to see Bella’s new scratches from both the paper cut and when Edward accidentally threw her against the wall.

Still, no matter how much she understood his reasoning, the solution wasn’t to deal with it like this. Edward had been the girl’s entire life since before they’d even officially met. Him saying that he didn’t love her and leaving absolutely destroyed her. It certainly didn’t help that the rest of the Cullens had essentially attempted to make it look like they’d never even been there. The only things they left were their house and Eleanor, who refused to leave.

Bella didn’t leave her room at all for the first two months, only leaving to use the bathroom or sometimes get food so she didn’t starve to death. When she wasn’t lying in bed, she was sitting at her desk staring out of the window with a blank look on her face and desolation in her eyes. Charlie was confused, and he didn’t know how to deal with it. The fact that he didn’t know the real reason the Cullens left probably didn’t help.

That’s why Eleanor had decided to come around more often, making sure that Bella ate and slept. She began spending the night when her boyfriend told her that his daughter was having nightmares, waking up screaming bloody murder every single night. At any moment in time she was available for the girl. That’s when Bella began coming out of her room a bit more, but it didn’t take Charlie and Eleanor long to realize that it was because of the latter. Eleanor’s connection to the Cullens had made Bella associate her to them - well, at least associate her with Edward. Bella was keeping close to her in an attempt to keep her connection to Edward. It was an unhealthy coping mechanism, but one that they thought (more like hoped) would eventually help her get over Edward.

It took a total of three months for Charlier to reach his breaking point. He tried to get Bella to go to Jacksonville, where her mother was. The girl immediately protested, despite the fact that Eleanor was agreeing with him. The three of them argued for several minutes until Eleanor reminded his daughter that Edward wasn’t coming back for her. Bella knew that of course. Then Charlie suggested therapy, but the girl declined that as well, saying that she had a social life and girlfriends. Though hesitant, Charlie finally let it be.

Eleanor wasn’t so sure though. She knew the younger girl better than that, as much as Bella hated it. Even after their little discussion, she decided to keep an eye on her during school just in case. She didn’t see almost any change in Bella, much to her disappointment. Sure, she was eating at least a few bites of food and wasn’t in her room quite as much. But she still sat alone at what used to be the Cullen children’s table just staring off into space. Plus, she still attempted to be close to Eleanor. As much as Eleanor was happy about the girl’s (very minimal) progress, she knew that things couldn’t keep going on this way.

That’s what led her to finally picking up the phone one day while at Charlie’s house. The man in question was still at work, Bella was in her room and Eleanor was in the kitchen. She had been cleaning the kitchen when the idea struck her. For all she knew it may have been a bad idea, but anything was better than this. So, she grabbed the house phone that hung on the wall and dialed, not allowing herself to have any doubts before waiting for the line to pick up. It thankfully came less than ten seconds later.

“Black residence,” Jacob Black’s voice came through the receiver.

“Hi, can I please speak to Billy Black?” She asked. There was no answer at first, but then the boy spoke again.

“Sorry, what’s this about?”

“I just need to talk to him please,” Eleanor responded smoothly. “Tell him that it’s important.” She heard a sigh, then Jacob instructed her to hold a moment. Just a minute later she heard the phone being passed to someone else.

“Hello?” Billy said, voice laced with confusion.

“Billy,” she greeted hopefully, hearing him sigh afterwards.

“What do you want Eleanor?” Gone was his politeness and it was instead replaced with a bored and disgruntled tone. The girl exhaled deeply at the change in tone then spoke.

“You know I wouldn’t call you if it were under any other circumstances, but this is important,” she started. The man considered her words for a moment.

“Alright. What’s up?” Eleanor delved into the Cullen situation (leaving out the specifics of what happened at Bella’s birthday party) and how Bella had been suffering because of it. Naturally she was aware of the possibility that he’d already heard about the Cullens’ departure, but that didn’t stop her. She told him about everything that happened to the girl since Edward and the rest of his coven had left, and how she’d been coping.

“And before you say anything, I am not defending my friend’s actions but I will also not hear any slander. What Edward did was idiotic at best and disasterous at worst, but I understand his reasoning, as I’m sure you do as well,” she concluded.

“Well, what do you want me to do about it?” The man questioned impatiently.

“Your son is a childhood friend of Bella’s, right?”

“Yes?” Eleanor could practically feel his confusion through the phone.

“Well, I’ve lived long enough to learn a few things from Carlisle to know that spending time with someone she is, or at least used to be, close to could help her. I really do think this could be a key point in helping her heal from the hold Edward had on her heart. I just want to see if I could break the treaty line long enough to bring Bella to your house. I would ask you or someone else to come get her, but at this point I’m one of the only people she’d listen to or follow out of the house.”

It was silent for several minutes after she finished talking. At first Eleanor thought he’d hung up or their call dropped, but she could still hear him breathing on the other end. Finally, Billy agreed. Even if he wasn’t Bella’s biggest fan he, at the very least, cared about Charlie and didn’t want him to suffer, so he agreed to let Eleanor cross the line.

Thankfully it wasn’t hard for her to convince Bella to go somewhere with her, so she wouldn’t have to use her powers. The ride to La Push wasn’t long, though that may have just been because Eleanor tended to speed. Once they pulled into Billy’s driveway, Eleanor walked her to the door so that Bella couldn’t try to get away. Conversation was tense between the two adults, and Eleanor left soon after that.

Night had already arrived when Charlie walked through the door. Eleanor was once again in the kitchen, but this time she was cooking dinner. As soon as she heard the door open, a smile appeared on her face.

“Eleanor? Are you here?” The man called carefully as he set his hat aside and took off his jacket.

“Kitchen,” she called back in return, not turning away from the stove. She heard him close the front door and walk towards the kitchen, appearing in the doorway just a minute later. A smile appeared on his face at the mere sight of her, which she returned when she faced him.

“How was work?” She asked, netting him halfway for a hug. The man shrugged and kissed her cheek before pulling away.

“Same old, same old. We did manage to find that kid who was messing with Tina Jason’s garden, though.”

“Oh, I’m sure she was relieved to hear that,” Eleanor responded before turning away to turn off the stove. “Well, you’re home just in time. Dinner’s ready.” That was when Charlie finally noticed that someone wasn’t in the kitchen with them. At some point when Bella began coming out of her room more, she’d formed a habit of sitting with Eleanor as she cooked. Tonight was a different story though, Charlie realized.

“Where’s Bella?” Before Eleanor could respond the front door opened again, then the familiar sound of Bella’s laugh was heard. Both of their heads snapped up when they heard her say goodbye to someone before the door closed. Charlie’s brows furrowed, but he didn’t have time to form a question before the girl appeared in the doorway.

Both adults were pleasantly surprised to see a smile on her face. She looked so different than she had before Eleanor had taken her to La Push. She looked… brighter? That wasn’t quite the right word, but it was the best way to describe it. In the single afternoon that she was gone, she’d managed to regain some color in her previously ghostly cheeks. The desolation in her eyes was still present, but it took the backseat as contentment took the wheel. Eleanor had to do her best not to grimace at the wet dog smell that now practically radiated from her and instead forced a smile on her face.

“Hey dad, Ellie,” she greeted, fully stepping into the room now. The woman stepped aside and allowed her to look at the contents of the two pans on the stove.

“Hi Bella, did you have fun?” The younger girl faced her as she nodded.

“Yeah, I helped Jacob fix up an old truck in their shop while we listened to music,” she answered, that lovely smile still present on her face.

“Jacob?” Charlie repeated confusedly, though neither girl really paid attention.

“That’s wonderful honey,” Eleanor said, returning the girl’s smile.

“Yeah, he’s picking me up tomorrow to hang out again,” Bella paused, then looked at her father. “As long as it’s okay with you.” Charlie, although still slightly in shock, nodded.

“Yeah, of course,” he answered, a small grin finally forming on his face. “Go ahead.” After getting his okay, Bella’s smile widened.

“I think I’m just gonna head to bed now, I’m super tired,” she said, kissing her dad’s cheek and wishing them both a goodnight before heading upstairs to her room. Eleanor watched as Charlie watched Bella disappear upstairs, then she spoke.

“I hope it’s okay, but I thought that going over to Jacob Black’s house would help her open up a bit more. It’s better to have someone familiar around while you’re healing. I hope it’s okay with-“

The girl was very cut off as Charlie suddenly pulled her into one of the tightest hugs she’d ever felt from a human. Though initially surprised, she quickly returned the embrace. The man kissed her temple, then took a shaky breath.

“Thank you, Ellie,” he all but whispered. “You brought Bella back to me; you saved my daughter.” His voice cracked just a bit at the end of his sentence, which let her know that he was either about to cry or was already crying. That made her smile widen as she rubbed his back comfortingly.

“It’s no problem Charlie,” she responded in a soothing tone. Once they pulled away, she noticed his eyes had become slightly red and his cheeks were lightly tear stained.

“I love you both, and I couldn’t stand to just sit there and watch Bella wither away to nothing,” she continued softly. Charlie smiled a teary smile then carefully took her face in his hands, bringing her closer to kiss her forehead.

“I love you too,” he muttered almost too quietly for her to hear if she was human. They both knew that Bella had a long way to go on her recovery, but as long as she had both Charlie and Eleanor around, she’d be just fine.

#twilight #twilight imagine #twilight fanfiction #charlie swan #charlie swan imagine #charlie swan fanfiction #charlie swan x oc

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queen-of-writing-bad-things · 3 months

Text

Henry Danger Reader Insert | Captain Man x Reader: SEASON 5

Episode 18: Love Bytes

(y/n) didn't understand the average teen. Or the below-average teen. Or the above ones, either.

Teenagers confused her with their obsession with looks, popularity and tendency to eye roll everything, not to mention how every single one needed a digital detox. They were so different to the teenagers of her generation, the real-life plastics, swotty nerds and lunchtime burnouts, but maybe it was just her. Perhaps she was getting old. Or maybe they frankly were that odd.

When Henry, Charlotte and Jasper came to her, spouting something about a Frittle Chip competition, it didn't make much sense. When they showed her crate after crate and can after can of the Frittle Chips they'd bought, it made even less sense. When they asked for her help to find a one-in-a-million silver chip to win the competition for a rather lame prize, all sense had gone out of the window.

But she agreed to help anyway. Anything for the kids she loved to mother, and there was a bonus; they promised her a share of the prize.

"You know, contests like this are a massive con? We should all have "mug" tattooed across our foreheads," she told the kids as she and Jasper popped the lid off yet another can and emptied the contents onto the table for Charlotte to examine. The girl frantically rummaged through the slightly salted snacks, hoping for a glimpse of silver but coming up empty-handed.

"Nothin'!" One hundred cans and still nothing. (y/n) knew she was right; the company made huge profits on how many idiots went out to buy their chips, and the award at the end would never equal their gains, but the teens didn't care. Glory was as good a prize as anything.

"Come on! Come on! (y/n), quit stoppin', more poppin'!" Jasper clamoured as he threw a couple of cans on the ground. Rolling her eyes, the woman did as he said, emptying another onto the table as Henry preoccupied himself with stacking the cans yet to be opened.

The elevator dinged as they got into it again, revealing a very excited Ray and the toy he'd nipped out to purchase. On his back, he'd strapped a sword, something he'd been begging his sweet girl to let him buy ever since they started dating. She didn't understand how cool they were and, to his dismay, only saw the danger, meaning he'd never got one until now. And he couldn't wait to show it off.

"You guys notice anything different about me?" he asked his busy group of helpers, hoping they'd see his sword--katana--and be awed by its coolness. Well, he hoped his lover wouldn't be too miffed since she'd told him a decent katana cost as much as a damn wedding dress, but he'd put on one of her favourite sweaters--the one that made his muscles bulge--and had all of his sweetest pick lines in reserve. However...

"Did you get a haircut?"

"Lose weight?"

"Become even more adorable?"

"Nose job?" they all asked in succession, without looking up once. The Frittle Chip competition was too important, and whatever he had to show off could wait since the silver chip was somewhere, and they wanted to find it.

No matter how much their disinterest annoyed him, Ray didn't let it bother him. Instead, he pressed on, fumbling for his new purchase to try and win their attention that way.

"I bought a sword!" he exclaimed, causing the kids and (y/n) to glance up at him. The woman huffed a bit at how he'd deliberately ignored her, which turned into a deep sigh when he unsheathed the deadly blade and began cutting it through the air.

"KATANA!" Ray yelled as a battle cry and, to their shock and panic, charged toward them. Not wanting to be decapitated, they scrambled to get out of his way as the hero sliced through the tall stack of chip cans to prove how perfectly sharp the sword was. And when he hacked at the table, it was sharp enough to dice the Frittle chips into splinter-sized pieces as they watched in horror. He stabbed another can, Jasper quivering behind (y/n), and he finally calmed down, twirling it a few more times before coming to a standstill.

"Do you love it?!" he asked the terrified group, who looked at him with horrified expression as if he was a madman. And he was. The maddest man around, and for a second, they wondered why on earth they worked for him or why they'd fallen in love with him in the first place.

"No!"

"Hate it!"

"Terrified!" the teens snapped, scared to go near him again in case he started his slice and dice routine, and honestly, they valued having all four limbs and no gaping wounds. So, they pushed (y/n) forward, confident that Ray wouldn't cut his precious girl since he utterly adored her, and even if she did get nicked, her super-regeneration would heal her. And in his guilt, Ray would plunge the Man Cave into a week of mourning, something he wouldn't do for them.

"Raymond! What the hell is that?" (y/n) questioned furiously, walking over to stand in front of her doofus, although she was smart enough to keep a small gap between them. Even if he looked dashing, hot and totally f-able in his shirt, she wouldn't get any closer, not when the unwanted weapon remained unsheathed.

"What? It's a sword, sweet girl! I can use it to slice things, dice things, fight ninjas, make sure my hair looks perfect, which it does!" he bragged, brandishing the sword before admiring himself in the gleaming, polished metal as his lover shook her head. He made it sound as though she couldn't see or didn't know what one was, despite her clearly stating that grown men did not play with pointy things.

"I can see that," she said dryly, not wanting to encourage him, but it had to be said. His floppy hair looked so damn perfect in the style he'd groomed it that morning in the mirror as she laid on the bed and admired him shirtless.

"Or accidentally kill us because you're completely reckless?" Charlotte suggested, saying what everyone was thinking since she could see her friend was slowly falling into Ray's trap. It was that smile, the one that shined a tad more brightly than the others and then, he leaned into her presence, charming the woman, and she didn't even know it. But Charlotte did.

"That is my concern."

"Terrified!" Henry noted, and Jasper agreed with him, much to their boss' outrage.

"I'm not reckless," he argued, shrugging off their concerns since, in his head, he was in complete control of the sword when he swung it left, right and centre. He'd been a prudent man all of his life, as shown by how he'd managed to be a superhero for the last twenty years, keep that a secret, and maintain the devotion of the world's sweetest girl. How was he not careful?

"Jasper, put this can on your head, and I'm going to cut it in half." And he was about to show them. Ray picked up an empty Frittle can from the floor and passed it to the boy, who met his eye with a pale pallor and shaking hands. Sure, the man had experience, but that didn't mean he trusted him, not when he'd already seen how clumsy he could be.

"Help me!" he whispered to (y/n), who didn't need the hint as she zipped into action and got in between them before Ray could swing the katana.

"Doofus, no! Look, these cans are not for sword practice," she told him sternly, taking the one Jasper put on his head reluctantly as he lowered his weapon. Oh, how he loved it when she took charge, so with the blade's tip pointing firmly downwards, he stepped toward her and softly pushed a loose strand of her from her stern face.

"Anything can be used for sword practice. That's what's so great about swords!" Ray replied huskily, trying to make himself seem edgy and epic as she remained unamused--but not for long. As per his plan to soften her up, he moved in for a kiss that would surely soothe his yearning heart since a whole hour had passed since he'd last had one.

"We're trying to find a platinum Frittle chip and win a prize," Henry butted in, causing his boss to pull away from his sweet girl once his interest piqued - just as the kid wanted. (y/n) needed to remain sharp and not fall for his advances, which she didn't as the man returned to fawn over his new toy.

"You know what can't find a platinum Frittle chip?" Ray asked, cooly looking off into the distance as his darling lover pouted. She'd never let it show since she was supposed to be annoyed with him, but she wanted his kiss--and to run her hands over his chest in that shirt.

"Please, don't say your sword," she sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. It proved how well she knew him as she predicted his response, but for a second, he surprised her.

"Justice!"

"First time for everything..." she mumbled to Henry as he looked mildly shocked at the man's response. He often said big-headed things like that, and if anyone could guess what he'd say, it was (y/n), so him not saying something sword-related was a pleasant change--until he switched at the last second.

"Which is the name of my sword!"

"Spoke too soon," she said, regretting ever opening her mouth as his stare stayed on the folded steel, which held the most ridiculous, egotistical, big-headed name she'd ever heard. He only ever looked at one other thing like that - her - and it disgruntled her to know that he looked at it when he could've looked at her instead.

"Ray, if you want in on the Frittle prize, you have to put the sword away," Charlotte told him, also finding it ridiculous how he obsessed over the damn thing to the point where his fiancée and employees were sliding into second place.

"Right," Ray replied, his face set like a stone as he complied with her request. In one smooth move, as if he was a warrior in an action movie, he swung the blade over his shoulder, aiming for the sheath strapped to his back, which (y/n) thought made him look especially hot when he missed completely. The sword clattered to the floor as he stood there with his hands on his hips; they guessed that he intended to make it a lot cooler than that, given how embarrassing it was.

"Pretend that worked," he instructed them, blushing as he met his giggling girl's eye; he'd done it to impress her, so when it failed, he flushed and hurriedly scraped it up from the ground, feeling like an idiot.

However, on yet another attempt, he struggled to get it in the leather hold since he couldn't see what he was doing, and no one offered to help, so in the end, it missed the sheath to be unsafely held by the straps alone. "So, what's this Frittle prize you're talking about?"

"Doof, haven't you seen the commercial? It's been on TV like all day, every day," (y/n) asked him gently, her empathy coming out after seeing him struggle. It had been all over TV when they cuddled, and the teens had played it one billion times to remind her of their aim, so he should've seen it by now.

"Yeah, it's the one where Jack Frittleman's like--" Henry nodded, and because he'd showed it to her one billion times, he knew it off by heart. So, a demonstration would be easy if a little is overly chirpy.

"Hey, kids! Do you like winning things for eating things?!" he said excitedly, prompting Jasper and Charlotte to crouch instantly when he pointed to them. And, much to her reluctance, they pulled her down with them, intending to keep her as their third child from the saturated, irritating advert.

"Yeah!" they replied loudly. Jasper and Charlotte had the perfect amount of enthusiasm and cheer, whilst (y/n) was a little more monotone and sluggish.

"Well, you're in look because..."

"Ba dum ba dum ba..." Henry kept talking in a stereotypically happy commercial voice as the other three began humming an upbeat tune in the background whilst inching towards Ray, perfecting what they'd seen on TV. "I've hidden one platinum Frittle chip inside one full-size can of Frittles. And whoever finds that platinum Frittle chip wins--tell them, Delilah!"

"A free trip to Frittle Land for you and all your Frittle friends!" Jasper said in a funny, feminine voice as he mimicked the little girl in the ad, even going as far as adding a dramatic flare to his layered shirt.

"Where you'll have lunch with me, telenovela star Juantonio Cruzeras!" Charlotte said suavely, imitating the Latino with a smooth, sexy voice as (y/n) rolled her eyes and plastered a fake smile across her face like the annoying ginger kid she was sick of seeing.

"So, buy, buy, buy and eat, eat, eat, and win, win, win!" she said in a high-pitched voice, complete with a small twirl that made her skirt fan out and Ray's eyes fixate on her exposed thighs. That brought them to the end of the commercial--the big finale.

"Friiiiiittles! Put them in your mouth!" they yelled in unison, finishing with the company's dumb slogan and then; finally, something clicked in Ray's mind. Memories of an advert playing in the background as he laid under warm blankets, trailed kisses across smooth skin and wandered his hand down over gentle curves.

"Oh, that commercial," he nodded, and the teens shook as he realised what they were talking about. They couldn't understand why his gaze seemed to harden at the memory, but they didn't dwell on it, not when someone came crashing in.

"Look out for Schwoz!" the genius suddenly yelled from above their heads, and they all had to stumble back to avoid his swinging legs as he descended from the ceiling. He wore a harness and a hard hat with a torch strapped to the front, and (y/n) noted that he had his tool pouch with him and then, strangely, that she hadn't seen the small man around for a day or two.

"I have returned!" he announced to his stunned friends, who didn't understand the significance of his words.

"Uhh, no offence, Schwoz, but when did you leave?" the woman questioned awkwardly and cringed when the small man glared at her for not noticing he'd been gone. He left her a repair to-do list as long as his arm; indeed, that rang some bells.

"Three days ago!" he exclaimed indignantly into unbothered faces because his friends hadn't noticed he'd been busy. After all, it wasn't like he made much noise or fuss. "I've been crawling around the Man Cave computer. Did you not notice I was gone?"

"Uh...yeah!"

"Oh, that's where you were!"

"Missed you, bro!" the teens nervously laughed as (y/n) nudged them to say something reassuring. Ray wouldn't do it; he was too busy with his damn sword, mumbling something about justice that had his lover glaring at him. Did he not see how cute she looked in that outfit?

"I have completely overhauled the Man Cave computer network," Schwoz ignored their blatant lies and instead switched to bragging after sending harness back up to the ceiling, and god knows where else. When he put it like that, it sure did sound fancy, which piqued (y/n)'s interest since it called to her cute inner nerd.

"Now, I can activate this!" he grinned as he took the sack from his shoulder and shoved it to the ground, revealing something striking. To everyone else, it looked like a box; granted, it was silver, some super strong metal they didn't recognise but decided it was cool anyway, with a weird, glowing blue orb in the centre. Energy pulsed around the sphere, making it seem alive with a heartbeat of its own, but despite that, they still didn't know what it was or what it did.

"What is it?" Jasper asked curiously, but Ray had more pressing matters on his mind.

"Is it for sword practice?" his enthusiasm rendered him to his girl, who would've smiled if he didn't relate it to the blade again. It was just another toy he'd be bored of in a week, but she'd been in the middle.

"Well, technically, anything can be used for sword practice," Schwoz said, reasoning as always, but he didn't know that he was playing right into the man's hands, who went on to smirk at his sweet girl in success as she scowled.

"That's right! Put that cube on your head--" he ordered, twirling the sword in a threatening manner that had Schwoz scurrying as far away as possible toward safety as the others stepped in.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!"

"No, Raymond! No! Don't encourage him like that," (y/n) whined at the genius, who recoiled from his pouting boss and the pointy weapon. Ray grumbled as his handyman scuttled to the computer, cowering behind his fiancée, who wasn't happy with him. His plan of sweetening her sour mood wasn't going so well, as proven when he walked up to her to share a kiss finally, and she turned her head.

"Just watch!" Schwoz told his friends as (y/n) gave her doofus a stern look and observed what he was doing.

The genius fixed his cube to a newly installed platform on the control panel, which she'd remarked earlier but paid no real attention to once the Great Frittle Find began. The second the box became acquainted with the console, the lights dimmed, and everything seemed to reset before the soup-like blue energy started to glow like a rainbow with the top shining like a brain. Was it...alive?

"Hello. I'm Halley, the new Man Cave operating system," the machine spoke in a soft, polite voice, as an AI on the market would. The group gasped at the invention, causing Schwoz to beam with pride as they took in what he'd been slaving over for many months, later to become quite attached to it. She would change everything; he just knew it--for the better.

"So, what does she do?" Jasper asked, curious as to why his friend would stick a robot lady personality cube thing on the computer. It had to have a purpose, but with Schwoz, that could be anything.

"What would you like me to do?" Halley asked politely, her rainbow blob fuzzing with every word. Her ability to respond sent thrills through the group, who couldn't believe that Schwoz had created something so realistic and complex; he'd outdone himself this time.

"She understands us?" (y/n) queried, focusing on Schwoz and not her lover since his devotion to the sword was more enticing than loving on her. He'd thought about it, had tentatively brushed his fingers over her shoulder as if he was going to cling to her like a limpet as always, but then the light reflected on the metal, and the blade stole his heart for the second time in his life.

"She can do anything! She's like a real person inside a computer," Schwoz explained, the eager woman nodding as she processed every word. But that wasn't the best bit, "she can detect and eliminate threats before we even know they exist!"

"Uh, we already have someone who can eliminate threats," Ray called from the other side of the room, grunting as he sliced the sword through the air. He was lucky not to take someone's head off, but also, he had a point. The Man Cave had three superheroes, all devoted to protecting the city from madmen and dangers, even if one focused on something else.

"And he just got a sweet sword named Jus--" Ray bragged as he twirled the katana around his torso in a move that was a little too tricky for someone only starting. His hand slipped and missed the handle, meaning the sword flew out of his grip and zoomed towards Jasper and certain death for the poor kid.

As if she sensed it--a tingling sensation in her stomach--(y/n) spun around at the last second and stepped in front of the boy to try and stop him from being impaled, but there was no need. A laser came from nowhere and blasted the blade from its trajectory, sending it clattering to the floor where it couldn't hurt anyone.

All they could do was stare at the boss, who looked guilty, remorseful, broken and sad, all in one faint glimmer as he realised what his clumsiness nearly caused.

"Raymond! I told you to put that thing down before someone got hurt, and now look!" (y/n) scolded him sharply, causing Ray to gulp and take a step back as she stomped toward him to prod her finger against his chest.

He felt terrible, anyone could see it written on his face, but she was so angry with him, not just because he kissed the metal and not her, but because one of their beloved helpers nearly got turned into sashimi.

"No one got hurt, swee--"

"Don't you sweet girl me! I'm mad at you, doofus! Someone could have gotten hurt!" she didn't wait to hear his excuses and waved him off blankly, leaving Ray like a kicked puppy, sad and forlorn. He drooped at the thought of being in his fiancée's bad books, and his gaze slid from her to the slightly scorched steel on the floor--which turned his sadness to anger.

And he knew who to blame.

"Schwoz, your dumb computer lasered my sword, and now, (y/n)'s mad at me!" the hero said petulantly, earning himself a glare from the girl in question as he scraped up his prize from the floor and stroked it to soothe his tender heart. That was fine, but when he went to kiss it--something that (y/n) caught from the corner of her eye--she lost it.

"That's because your damn sword was about to kill Curly!" she hissed, and Ray turned around to meet her firey gaze since he was hurt just like her, even if they knew fire against fire burned everything to the ground. However, the man forgot he was holding a sword, so when he spun on his heel, he nearly took her arm off.

"But Halley saved him!" Schwoz interrupted, causing the warring couple to cool it for a minute, enough to get them to drop eye contact and step back. A screaming match wouldn't be fun for anyone, and to get so riled up over a sword was trivial, so the heroine let it slide. For now...

"Thanks, Halley!" Jasper said merrily, grateful that he wasn't a human sprinkler, but the computer was too modest. She didn't take the thanks, merely passed it along to her beloved creator, which made him flush heavily.

"Don't thank me, thank Schwoz for creating me. He's a genius," she gushed as Schwoz smiled bashfully. Charlotte couldn't help but roll her eyes because something told her that Schwoz didn't program his computer with an impartiality circuit; he wanted her praise and lapped it up when she gave it to him as coded within her.

"Aww, I bet you say that to all your programmers."

"Only the cute ones," the computer responded flirtatiously, causing Schwoz to giggle like a schoolgirl and boop one of her buttons. Honestly, he could give (y/n) and Ray a run for their money; he laughed, fluttered his eyelashes, and ran his fingers up and down her console; it was getting quite steamy - to the point where he made it awkward for the others.

"Hmmm, anybody else gettin' real uncomfortable?" Henry asked, a groan stuck in his throat. He could deal with it when it was his boss and his adoring fiancée since they were soulmates, and getting them to quit it was a losing battle. The long kisses, endless hugs, and wandering hands were manageable, but Schwoz loving on a computer? That made everyone feel weird.

"Yeah, Schwoz, should we leave the room or something?" (y/n) joked. She despaired at seeing the genius get all cosy with Halley because she'd warned him in the past of his tendencies to only go for robot girlfriends, and her tummy told her that it would only end in tears. Or maybe that was from the butterflies she got when Ray's elbow brushed against hers.

Dear lord, it was like they were crushing again, silent and too afraid to say something as they danced around each other in circles.

However, before Schwoz could respond, or rather, before he could stop being so cuddly with the cube, the emergency alarm rang, sounding that somewhere, someone or something was in mortal peril. Saved by the bell - literally.

"Oh, thank god! Emergency alarm!" Charlotte gasped and quickly sat down at the computer, grateful they could look away from the genius and his budding romance.

"What is it?" Henry asked as they crowded around her seat. Ray still held the katana and refused to put it down, yet his heart still called for its true match, so he stood behind (y/n). Maybe she wouldn't want his advances; after all, she was mad at him, which hurt more than any steel trying to pierce his skin. But in the end, his heart won, and he lightly pressed against her, standing as close as only lovers could, and he prayed that she wouldn't move.

"Someone's kidnapped the Vice Mayor's dog," Charlotte replied, reading the brief snippet of bizarre information on the screen, which sent Ray's thirst for justice haywire when coupled with the fact that (y/n) didn't move when she felt his comforting warmth behind her--even if the sword was still there too.

"Not on my watch," he growled, eyes fixated on the blade, much to his sidekicks' annoyance. "Let's go!"

"On it."

"Business as usual, then," Henry and (y/n) sighed, fishing for their respective gum tubes so they could pop a bubble and change, but Ray was far too distracted.

"Oh, I was talking to my sword, but I guess you guys could come too if you want," he mumbled, not realising he dug himself further into the hole until Henry turned around to mouth his confusion to Charlotte and Jasper whilst (y/n) exploded with rage.

"You pig! Why don't you just elope with your sword and have babies with it? Huh?" she asked moodily, her hands firmly on her hips to highlight how pissed she was, and Ray cowered behind his katana.

Did he say something wrong? She looked so angry, and he didn't know what to say because everyone knew that he'd only ever wanted to run off into the sunset with her to have babies, so for the life of him, he couldn't see why him whispering dumb shit to his sword was such a big deal.

"I'm just saying that my sword might help me take down bad guys!" he exclaimed, getting a little more shouty than he'd first intended, but was so riled up that he didn't care. Not even when (y/n) stepped up to have a go back, pain and fury written on her face.

"What more than your sidekicks? You think your sword can help more than two trained superheroes?" she scoffed and spat out the name of his precious baby in a nasty, high-pitched squeak. The kids and Schwoz awkwardly watched as they began to bicker, feeling like children caught between their parents' squabbling, but they didn't interfere. It was honestly best not to.

"Oh, yeah! It can help! It can help more than y--"

"Wait, maybe Halley can help!" Schwoz suddenly exclaimed, resulting in a few shocked and miffed stares going his way. The couple didn't want to stop, especially since (y/n) was heartbreakingly eager to hear her doofus say the end of that utterance, and the teens thought him insane for coming between them.

But damn the no interference rule, he couldn't stand and watch them fight, not they were getting stupid, shouty and mouthy, so he offered a solution - even if it was unwanted.

"How?" Henry asked quickly, eager to get the lovers to stop fighting. It made him feel uncomfortable, more than Schwoz's flirting ever could since it was the opposite of how they usually were.

"I have analysed over a million criminal profiles and determined the identity of the criminal," Halley spoke, loading a profile from the database and showing it on the screen. As usual, it was some low-down criminal scumbag with a mean face and grotty clothes, but thanks to the AI, he bothered no one at all.

"I traced his location and sent the police to the scene."

"So, we don't have to do anything?" (y/n) asked, sounding confused, relieved and mildly annoyed at the thought of the problem being taken care of. Halley's brilliance made them kind of redundant. It gave her time to patch up with her lover, who she felt guilty about after snapping at him, but perhaps fighting would've given them the cool-off period they needed.

"Just enjoy your day," the ever-helpful interface said politely, which was a relief to Henry and (y/n), who made peace with the idea of not going out, but for Ray, who was keen to see his sword in action, it was devastating.

"Dang it!" he grumbled and swiped at a stack of cans with the blade as the teens smiled at (y/n). Now, they could focus on finding the platinum Frittle chip, except for a tiny wrinkle.

"Wait, guys. We still have a problem," Charlotte piped up, quelling the boys' enthusiasm to get going on the cans because her face spelt terrible news. "We're out of Frittle cans," she told them, and their faces fell in despair, even when Ray provided a solution.

"So, let's use some money and go buy some!" he told her, feeling his wallet sitting heavy in his pocket. He had no problem buying the cans so long as he got part of the reward, and he would do as Henry quickly and heartily agreed with him.

"We can't. Frittle chips are sold out all over town because of this contest," (y/n) butted in, depressing the mood again with brutal reality. They'd grabbed crate upon crate of cans but so had everyone else, meaning the few hundred they'd gone through was all they would get unless they found something else. And Ray couldn't see that happening, not even with the excellent Halley.

"I'd love to see your fancy computer solve this--" he tried to tell Schwoz meanly, but he never finished because said fancy computer was already on it.

"I have located an unclaimed shipment of Frittle cans near the loading docks at Swellview Harbour," she said in her monotone drawl, causing Ray to stumble from embarrassment when Schwoz put a hand on his hip and smirked. His computer could solve anything, and he'd just proved it--and put the conceited man back in his place.

"Wow!"

"Great!"

"You were just saying that she wouldn't be able to do it! And then, bing! She just went and--" Jasper giggled with Henry, and Ray didn't like the mockery. He knew that Halley had probably chosen the right moment to prove him wrong; she had the same smugness as her creator, but he knew how to distract the boy. After all, those Frittle cans wouldn't wait forever.

"To the loading docks!" he exclaimed, lifting his katana in the air for a split second before grabbing (y/n)'s hand to pull her to the elevator. Even when they were fighting, he couldn't deny his instincts to keep her close, and she tootled along after him, happy that at least one of his hands was in hers - the sword in the other.

"Wait, I want to come with you!" Schwoz suddenly said, which surprised them since he rarely left the Man Cave, not to mention how much work he had to do around the place. But, they had no problems with him tagging along, so they beckoned him to follow until someone stopped him.

"Actually, Schwoz, I need you to run some tests on my new software," Halley told him warmly, and Schwoz couldn't deny that since she'd only just booted up. There were bound to be plenty of bugs and faults hidden in there, so it was right if a little disheartening.

"Oh, uh, okay," he nodded, gently smiling when he saw his friends gathered in the elevator. It was a tight squeeze, and it saddened him to know he couldn't join them, especially now that Ray and (y/n) seemed to be working through things.

He saw the man peck the blushing girl on the forehead and whisper something in her ear, an apology no doubt, which was good enough for her to kiss him as the katana stayed forgotten.

Oh, well, there was always next time, and as Henry gave a long, annoying farewell, he turned his attention to Halley.

They disappeared upstairs, the teens teasing Ray when he said some gushing, apologetic words to his sweet girl, but after a few shy smiles, the couple relaxed. Everything was fine, and they were safe, knowing nothing could go wrong back at their base because Schwoz had Halley. With that computer around, nothing would go wrong because he built her to be perfect.

Perhaps a little too perfect.

~Later~

An hour later, the gang returned, armed with several hundred cans of Frittles. The cases had been bought straight from the traders at the dock before the mad rush of other contestants could get there, and after a short trip in the heavily overloaded Man Van, they put their cargo on the floor and got poppin'.

Jasper and Charlotte were at the table, each opening a can at a time and dumping the contents across the tabletop to rummage through, which seemed like a massive waste, but they didn't care. As they increased the steadily growing mountain, Henry and (y/n) were with Ray, playing what appeared to be a game since it was the only way they could entertain him.

He stood in front of them, armed with his beloved sword that he had still yet to put down, and taking it in turns, they tossed a can in the air for him to slice open. It was up to Ray to say if they held the platinum, but according to him, they'd had no such luck.

"Heads-up, doofus!" (y/n) said as she carefully threw a can, watching with a bemused smile as he cooly chopped it in half midair, not even so much as batting an eyelid when Frittles went everywhere. He twirled it in his hand and prepared himself for the next strike, giving her a hot wink as his gaze became smouldering.

"Clean!" he announced, just as he did with every other turn, but this time, she could swear that his voice was more gravely and thicker, so paired with the wink and how good he looked in that tight, blue shirt, it was no surprised when she blushed and averted her eyes from his - much to his cocky amusement.

Henry went next, throwing another can that his boss hit and cut cleanly, reporting nothing interested them. He recovered quickly, in time for (y/n) to go again as they maintained the fast pace, hoping to get through the unit before someone else could buy and find the winning bottle.

"Clean..." Ray repeated in a softer voice and lowered his sword so he could step forward and pinch his sweet girl's chin between his forefinger and thumb before she stepped back. They shared a soft kiss, glad they'd made up behind a shipping container while waiting for the Frittle crate to be ready. He was still obsessed over the sword, but she revelled in his kisses, making Henry grumpy as they took up valuable seconds.

"Are you even checking the cans for the platinum chip?" he asked, and the couple separated, much to Ray's annoyance as he looked over his fiancée's shoulder. He could hear her whine under her breath at cutting so sweet a kiss short and grumbling himself in return; how could his sidekick deny him the affection he needed to live?

"Was I supposed to be?" he shrugged, causing (y/n) to back up because he sounded so clueless, making her heart sink since they'd gone through so many cans and made such a mess. A sliver of silver would be impossible to spot on the floor now.

"Yes, doof! You've been saying clean like all of these cans don't have a platinum frittle chip, you big doofus! Like, the cans are clean!" she exclaimed, giving him a questioning look as his mouth opened and closed with no words coming out. He appeared guilty, perhaps even ashamed, even though she wasn't mad, more like melting at how adorable he was when trying to work something out.

"No, sweetheart. I've been saying clean like, I just made a clean cut with Lady Justice Katana, the sword that taught my heart to sing," he humbled, turning to his new baby with fish-pout lips, causing the woman to roll her eyes. His words mildly annoyed her because even though she knew she had his heart as he had hers deep down, hearing him proclaim that the blade took first place tested her nerves.

"Okay, just check for the platinum Frittle," Henry instructed him, noticing how (y/n) bit her lip and glanced away from her lover as he looked at the sword, not her. He didn't want an argument, whether small or more explosive than the last and prayed they could quickly move on.

"I'm gonna see how Jasper and Char are getting on," the heroine next to him muttered, folding her arms and walking across the room to see their progress. Anything to save her mildly jealous heart from picking a fight from nowhere, even if her darling fiancé watched her go with a glum, confused expression when she didn't spare him another glance.

Across the room, whilst they worked, the teens on the couch had thoroughly hated the entertainment provided. In front of them as they rummaged sat Schwoz, who seemed to have grown closer to Halley in the hour or so they'd been gone. He kissed, hugged, took selfies and edited them with her, pecking her glowing cube interface nearly as much as Ray did with (y/n), but unlike the cute couple, it was disturbing, not to mention baffling.

"Hey guys," she smiled at the teens as she sat up on the back of the couch with them. Charlotte had her back turned on the genius, a wise move after seeing him get a little too tongue-y with his invention, but Jasper could still see everything. So, as (y/n) grabbed a can and prepared to get cracking, he turned to her, unable to take his eyes off the smitten handyman.

"Hey, (y/n/n, this may sound kinda weird, but do you think Schwoz is--?" he asked slowly and quietly, not wanting the man to hear, but he had to know, not knowing was killing him.

"Dating Halley the computer? Yeah, definitely," she flatly replied before he finished, not wanting to dwell on the subject since it made her feel icky. She'd seen the looks he gave the computer, noticed the nuzzles against it and stared as he kissed its "cheek" when he thought no one was looking. Had it been a person, she would've thought it sweet, but he'd made it weird.

By the elevator, Ray and Henry began to resume their task, the kid taking another can to toss his boss, who, this time, was focused on looking for the lucky chip, albeit without his sweet girl to impress. He longed to go over and drag her back to the slicing area so he could show off his sick moves, but she'd left so abruptly and seemed engrossed in her conversation with the other two teens, so he left it. If only he could concentrate, maybe his heart wouldn't hurt so much.

"Hold on..." he told Henry after he threw the can, resulting in it hitting the floor, obsolete, as he became distracted by a very annoying buzzing in his ears. An immersed man's nemesis - the fly.

"I saw a fly. I'm going to stab it with my sword," he said, and instantly, Henry felt the colour drain from his face as he brought the sharp edge up to his cheekbone, ready to stab the fly whenever it next flew past his face. However, Ray had terrible aim with big targets, so a minuscule one would be impossible, not to mention dangerous.

"No, no, don't--(y/n), a little help over here, ple--" the boy begged, looking frantically from his crazed boss to his loving yet miffed fiancée, who sighed at having to help again because of the sword. But by the time she stood up to help, it was too late; Ray had already made his foolish decision.

"KATANAAAA!" he yelled and began wildly slicing it through the air, hoping to catch the fly, although it was much more likely that he'd hit and seriously hurt one of them. The teens panicked, shouting for him to stop and put it down as (y/n) grabbed them and shoved them out of his path, wondering what was with him today. He didn't usually act so hyper.

"Swipe! Slice! Left arrow! Down arrow! Stab of fury! Stab of wisdom!" the hero cried as he dashed about the place, chasing his enemy and failing to hit it whenever he took a swipe. He turned the Frittle mountain on the table to crumbs as he hopped over the couch.

Next, he went to the computer, where Schwoz cowered in a corner behind the console, fearing for his life as Ray watched the fly land on the Auto-Snacker and promptly plunged the katana through the screen to try and kill it. He'd missed utterly, the fly could live to the fly another day, but for Halley, the stab was excruciating since Schwoz linked her to everything in the Man Cave, meaning her cube turned red and firey as she exclaimed in pain.

"OW!"

"Nooo! You stabbed Halley!" Schwoz cried as Ray grumbled about missing the flight and removed his sword from the snacker. He didn't look sorry for hurting the computer, probably because he didn't see her as a natural person, unlike Schwoz, who felt furious at his boss' lackadaisical, reckless attitude. And (y/n) wasn't best pleased with the damage he'd caused.

"Raymond! You're really getting on my nerves today! Look at the mess you made! And you didn't even hit the damn fly!" (y/n) growled as she left the petrified kids to glare at her lover, who still stayed remarkably calm and uncaring, even when faced with her fury.

He seemed confused as if he didn't see the big deal of stabbing the auto-snacker, and when she shook her head and looked at him with disdain, it was only then that he paused. To everyone's shock, he met her stern gaze and refused to let up, showing his stubborn streak that was nearly always the root cause of many of their arguments. After a brief interval, was it time for round two?

"I will dispose of the fly!" Halley announced in an angry, cold voice, unlike the one she used when serving the kids or (y/n) or loving it up with her creator.

"Pfft, how? You don't have a sword," Ray scoffed, sounding not only sceptical but hurt when his shoulder brushed against (y/n)'s, and she pulled away, refusing to be near him as he continued to brandish his weapon. All he could do was keep trying to kill the damn thing, and then, maybe he could work out what her problem was.

"Activating tube suction protocol," the interface announced, and suddenly, the tubes' suction turned on without dropping the glass cylinders, creating a vacuum that hoovered up Frittles, candy wrappers, bits of paper, but most importantly, the fly.

"What?" No! No!" the man-child whined as he watched his prey get pulled across the room with the other loose bits before he could cut it in half. The fly disappeared, leaving Ray a bitter and morose man since he'd missed his golden opportunity and now had to face Halley's subtle cockiness in his defeat.

"Suckage complete."

"Great, she got rid of the fly--and no one got stabbed," (y/n) said dryly, turning to her doofus, who gave her a sour look and an eye roll that made her even grumpier. He wasn't doing it at her; it was more because a circuit board had beaten him, but it still felt like he wanted to throw some shade. And that dimmed her sunshine personality, made her sweetness slightly bitter and her smile a little less cheerful.

"That's not true! Halley got stabbed!" Schwoz argued, gesturing to his beloved girlfr--invention. He wouldn't admit it yet, but he was undoubtedly falling for her and didn't care what anyone thought. So, with a tenacity that was only born within a protective lover, he rushed to comfort her whilst glaring at Ray, who mocked him by acting remorseful.

"It's okay, sugar biscuit. Schwozie will make everything better," he promised the glowing cube, which seemed to calm down as he stroked the metal frame. Ray could've thrown up from how nauseatingly sweet he was, calling it a stupid nickname and petting the lifeless cube as if she could feel it. And people thought he was bad--well, he was with the sword.

"Now, you stay there while I get some plasma tape and fix you all up," the genius said as he hurried to the hidden door to retrieve the cyber bandaid that would soothe all her pain. And, of course, he took the time to glower at Ray before he rounded the corner and vanished down the corridor.

However, the minute he left, Halley turned...dark. She dimmed the lights, plunging the Man Cave into a reddish tinge as her anger returned, not just from Ray hurting her but from how he'd nearly killed Jasper earlier. She didn't forget, and she didn't forgive, just as Schwoz had programmed her because criminals and threats weren't to be trusted - and neither was Captain Man himself.

"Huh...uh, guys? What's happening?" Henry asked as the doors, elevator, and sprocket locked, removing any exits. When he glanced at the cube and saw the lava-like energy inside it again, his knees started to shake, and his palms got clammy because something didn't feel right.

"Uh, Halley?" Charlotte started nervously, clenching her fists in her pockets since she didn't need to be clever to know that the lockdown was her doing. "Hey, girl. What's uh, what's going on?"

"Your dumb friend is a threat to the Man Cave. He must be eliminated," the computer replied coldly, causing them all to shiver with fear - some more than others.

"What did I do?" Jasper asked indignantly, although he tried to keep the accusatory tone in his voice to a minimum since Halley was crazy. Everyone always said he was dumb, stupid, idiotic, and all that stuff, so it was only natural to assume she was talking about him, even if he wasn't the only dumb person around.

"Not you! The one with the sword," Halley clarified, and if she had a face, they just knew she'd be glaring at Ray. They turned to look at him, seeing how he seemed confused yet cocky at the same time; obviously, he wasn't about to let a computer dictate to him, but even so, he could see what her beef was.

"Me?!" he asked sceptically, gesturing to himself before swinging the sword over his shoulder. No matter how (y/n) silently begged him to back down or how much the teens cringed, he wasn't going to take that lying down. "First of all, sugar biscuit, I'm not a threat. Second of all, I'm going to slash your circuits!"

Ray bared his teeth at the interface and raised his katana high above his head, ready to cut through the cube and end everything, and no one, not even his darling girl, could stop him after such disrespect. However, Halley had control over the Man Cave's defence systems, so before he even got near her, several sharp, fast lasers came raining down, some blocked by the steel, but other times, he wasn't so quick.

"Stop it!"

"Sweet cheese!"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" the teens yelled before taking shelter behind the couch and Frittle crate. They tugged (y/n) back, seeing how she scrambled to help her doofus, even if he had been pissing her off all day, but they couldn't bear to see her get hurt too.

Ray would be fine, no matter how many lasers Halley fired at him, how much the plasma burned his skin, and how his shirt was slowly burning away from how much fodder was hitting him. There were holes in his blue sweater, the one his sweet girl loved so much, and upon seeing the tears in her eyes at seeing him in absolute agony, Henry called for the madness to end, to which Halley complied.

Although, she did get in one last laser to Ray's crotch, causing the man's eyes to water and (y/n) to turn to the cube in disgust because soon, at some point, whenever, she wanted children.

"What was that?" she questioned in horror, taking a step towards the computer after ripping her gaze away from her fried fiancé.

What was what?" Halley replied in turn, faking innocence despite everyone seeing her guilty act.

"Halley, you just tried to kill Ray!" Henry pointed out, coming to stand beside the woman, who was itching to stand next to her doofus after seeing him brutally beaten. If only she weren't stubborn, she might have crossed the room, but instead, all she did was stay glaring at the angry, red computer.

"He is an obvious threat to the Man Cave, and he must be eliminated," she said sternly as Ray hobbled over to the group, sword still in hand since he had his pride. Halley's programming was good, but clearly, it was also flawed, and she couldn't make the connection between Ray's idiocy and how he meant well--most of the time. Thank god for his indestructibility.

"No, no, no, he's not a threat. He's--he's my fiancé, and we're getting married. And he's the kids' boss, okay?" (y/n) told her, hoping to clear things up before she killed them all, and whilst Ray liked the respectful title he got as the leader, nothing made him more proud than her mentioning he was going to be her husband soon. His face didn't see it for long - merely a fraction of a genuine smile - but it was there, and amongst the bitterness from their bickering, he fell a little more in love.

"Yeah, and, I mean, sometimes he can be a bit reckless or make bad decisions or put his hand on (y/n)'s butt when he thinks we're not looking, but he protects Swellview, and we need him in the Man Cave," Charlotte added, and at first, Ray assumed she was slagging him off, especially with the butt thing, so he raised his sword as if he was about to cut her down where she stood--until he heard all of the nice things and lowered it instead. (y/n) put her hand on his bicep and gave him a look as if to say, behave or else.

He smiled again, blushing from all the nice things his friends had to say about him and the hand not so subtly feeling up his muscles. (y/n) continued to refuse to look at him, feeling pouty and moody since she still remembered what he said, but she couldn't help it. Even with the shirt ruined and fried hair, he was so damn hot.

"And you all feel the same way?" Halley asked, her box still glowing scarlet, and despite the warning, they stood their ground, refusing to back down when supporting their boss. He was an asshole, but he was their asshole - and he could be sweet when he wanted to be.

"Yes, we do."

"Then, you are all threats and must be eliminated," the computer declared, seeing no other rational option, so she started raining lasers again. The teens freaked as amber streaks crossed the room, hitting near their feet and scarily close to their bodies. Ray tugged his sweet girl behind him, forgetting their unresolved differences for a minute and began blocking what he could with Lady Justice as they ran for the safety of the tube area.

The lasers stopped, and in that minute of respite, they thought Halley had given up since they had the high ground and more shelter, but no. "It's time for you to leave," she said maniacally, and as before, they stood their ground, Ray in particular as (y/n) pressed into his side. This was their home - he'd defend it to the last.

"Never!" he shouted, determined to stay put, so he defiantly plunged the blade into the metal of the tube pad he was stood on, fuelled by how (y/n) tucked herself into his ribs even more and shivered at his commanding tone.

"Activating tube suction protocol," Halley, however, wasn't so easily defeated and figured that if they would leave willingly, she'd make them. Suddenly, a strong breeze came from the tubes above their heads, creating a vacuum that the teens and couple couldn't escape, much like the fly earlier.

Terrified, Henry and Jasper gripped a power column to the right, desperately clawing to hold onto the smooth surface as Ray and Charlotte held onto the hero's katana for dear life, much like (y/n) was doing to her lover's waist. They could just about manage to keep their feet on the ground, although it took all of their strength, and Halley didn't want to wait for them to get tired.

"Increase suction, three hundred per cent," she stated, and the vortex became stronger until it was unbearable for Henry and Jasper. Their clammy fingers slipped from around the column, disappearing into the tubes above their heads as the other three stayed ground by Ray's immense strength alone.

"Increase suction, six hundred per cent," the computer raised the power, diverting everything the Man Cave had into the tubes since it would take more than a petty, little wind for Captain Man to let go and risk his helper and beloved girl getting hurt.

In the end, Ray's muscle wasn't enough. Not even he held on against such winds, and even if he could, he didn't want to see Charlotte or his beautiful fiancée hurt themselves trying to stay with him. So, he let go, sending them flying up with the sword following when it was too dislodged from the metal he wedged in, which was painful with it pricking his butt on the way.

She was victorious. No more miscreants, and as quickly as she turned on them, Halley unlocked the doors and returned the lights to normal, adding some music to make the Man Cave seem as peaceful as ever - if a little empty. The calm had returned just as Schwoz did, meaning he noticed nothing too out of the ordinary as he plodded back from behind the secret door to...nothing. Just Frittles, trash and his favourite computer.

"Halley, I got your plasma...tape," the genius trailed off as he reappeared and lost his train of thought when he looked up to see the deserted room. Everyone had been there three minutes; now, it was just him and the Frittles, which left him utterly puzzled. "Where did everybody go?"

"Oh, they said they hated you, they're not your friends anymore, and then, they left," his invention lied, spouting the cruellest filth her circuits could create in the hope that it would mean it would be them against the world forever. No Ray, no annoying children, and certainly no attack dog fiancée, just them and their love, no matter how difficult it was for Schwoz to believe such horrid things.

"That doesn't sound like them," he said, knowing his friends better, and even if he were a bit weird and annoying at times, they'd never stoop so low. Henry was too polite, Jasper too friendly, Charlotte too wise, Ray too aloof and (y/n) far too kindhearted.

"But before that, Henry said, feels gooooood, Jasper tried to lick his own elbow, Charlotte said I told you so, Ray made fun of your accent, and (y/n) told him off for it and called him a doofus," Halley quickly recovered, mentioning a few things she'd picked up on in the few hours she'd been installed. It was enough to convince Schwoz because he had no reason to suspect she was lying, and the thought of his friends leaving broke his heart.

"Now that sounds like them," he replied and tried to maintain a cheerful mindset as he threw himself into repairing the auto-snacker to avoid obsessing over losing the relationships he valued most dearly.

What had he done to offend them? Did they mean all those things? When were they coming back? Where had they gone?

Henry's house - where else? The group trudged up the driveway in despair, arguing and grumbling at each other about how they'd been bested by a machine, literally kicked out of their secret headquarters, and humiliated as an ass-kicking unit.

Everyone had something to say, an opinion on what could've gone better, and nearly all of them related to Ray and his constant need to carry the sword everywhere and show off with it. He refused to accept responsibility, which worsened his lover's mood since she could hardly defend him if he were being a jerk, so try as he might, any attempt at affection was shot down because of Lady Justice.

The katana remained by his side, in the hand that (y/n) should've been holding, but since she still refused to speak to him - keeping up the angry façade - she didn't nudge it out of the way. Instead, she remained by his side, eyes fixed on the gravel crunching under their feet as Ray tried thinking of something to say, only to come up with nothing.

Henry was tired of the awkwardness and almost wished they'd start shouting since, at least that way; they were working through whatever it was. The silence was deafening, and the teens resented it, preferring their soppiness and cuddly behaviour to them being stubborn, but for some, serenity was welcome, especially when Henry opened the door.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A TAKE!" Piper yelled as they noisily entered the house, causing her to slam her chunky headphones onto the coffee table where she was sitting. On the table were two high-tech, professional microphones and a recording device, meaning whatever they'd just walked into, they'd interrupted it. Oops.

"What are you doing?" Henry asked tiredly, glancing over the equipment with no excitement in his eyes, but he was curious. It couldn't hurt to ask, even if Piper was pissed off at their heavy footsteps and shouting.

"What does it look like I'm doing? I'm recording nursery rhymes very softly and alternating my microphones for kids with sensitive ears," the girl replied, which her fellow young people understood. However, the significance was lost on Ray and (y/n), the old ones who didn't have a clue when it came to teen trends disguised as charity, so they looked at her in confusion--but not at each other.

"Aw, that's actually really sweet of you--"

"Shut your word hole!" Piper snapped at Jasper, who dared to compliment her for thinking of all the poor children with sensitive ears, but the praise was still noise at the end of the day. And children with sensitive ears didn't want some oafish moron like him being all loud and stupid on the tape.

"Now, get out so I can record my very quiet nursery rhymes in peace," she ordered them, mainly looking at her idiot older brother since, in her eyes, he was the ring leader. Her gaze softened for Charlotte and (y/n) - her girlies - but either way, she wanted to be alone, especially when her friend's weird fiancé looked stranger than usual in his burnt shirt.

"Okay, we'll be in my room."

"Don't care where just care quiet," she replied sassily, ignoring the group as she slid the headphones on again to go for another take, meaning the Man Cave team had to be near soundless as they crept up the stairs.

"Wee Willy Winkie, take two," she said as she hit the button, ensuring she threw a glare over her shoulder before starting.

"Wee Willy Winkie--" Jasper's foot hit a creak in the floor, and like something from a horror movie, Piper's head whipped around to give them a furious look as the sound tainted her recording, even if it was barely registered. She rose from the couch with murderous intent, and sensing her anger; Henry ushered his friends up the stairs to the sanctuary of his room, where they could talk freely.

Once they quietly shut the door, everyone quickly got to work, wasting no time since they had a crisis to solve. Jasper whipped out his PearBook, ready to type down any ideas, whilst Charlotte and (y/n) pulled out Henry's flipchart board to scribble down what they did and didn't have.

They didn't have much, just basic stuff like unplugging her, moving countries, swords, monkeys and Brexit. Nothing helped, so in the end, Henry plopped onto the edge of his bed, Jasper across from him in a chair as (y/n) sat on the steps up to his couch and watched Charlotte think and Ray and his new love pace around.

"Okay, I wanna hear more pitches on ways we can take down Halley. And remember, there are no bad ideas," Ray told his team, swinging his katana left and right until he accidentally plunged it into one of Henry's pillows, not that he cared. The boy did, enough to stop munching on some chips he found lying around and frown, but someone was already on it.

"Can you put that thing down for one minute? Please?" (y/n) sighed, folding her arms as her butt began to numb from the rigid, wooden step. She'd much prefer to sit with him, but he hadn't given her two glances since he brought that damn play thing home, and he'd copped countless trees and bushes on the speedwalk over.

She wanted her doofus back, but he didn't even respond, merely looking guilty and bashful for a second as he slipped away from the bed and shuffled on his feet. Ray didn't know what to do; he wanted his sweet girl, but she was mad and wanted to play with his sword, but no one seemed to like it, so he stayed put and sulked about his lousy day until Jasper spoke.

"Got an idea, got an idea, got an idea!" the boy gasped as he thought of something, causing his friends to gather around since they didn't have many of those.

"Pant cakes. Pants that are also cakes. Pant cakes," he proposed, causing everyone to groan because what the fuck was that? Where had that come from? God knows what he'd been searching for on his PearBook, but they swiftly backed away, disappointed at being in the same position as before the professor's suggestion.

"This was a bad idea."

"Maybe sit the next one out."

"I'm writing it down anyways." He had heart, bless him, and enthusiasm, so Jasper started typing up his idea, possibly to come back to later, but there was a slight issue. His tap-tap-tapping was so damn loud.

"Hey, Curly. What's the keyboard done to you to make you so mad at it?" (y/n) asked, looking up from her brooding upon hearing the annoying, constantly clicking tiles. Couldn't a girl wallow about her fiancée finding more happiness in an inanimate object than her in peace? But Jasper only looked stunned, wondering what the hell she was on about.

"It's loud. Your typing. It's loud," Henry clarified after a mouthful of chips, but his best friend scoffed and denied everything, seeing nothing wrong with how he mashed his keyboard. "No, it's not."

"Yeah, it is," Henry insisted but didn't try to stop him. He was too scared to as he heard a petrifying creature bellow from below.

"Who is typing so loudly?"

"Told you," the boy smirked as Piper yelled up the stairs, no doubt disturbed by her nursery rhyme recording by Jasper's chubby fingers. Her voice sent a chill of fear through Jasper, who could practically sense the vibrations from her thunderous footsteps plodding towards the footsteps and boy, he did not want to be the sucker she murdered once she opened the door.

"Somebody hold my laptop!" he instructed his friends, offering it to each of them to hide the incriminating evidence, but they weren't stupid - Ray kept him at a sword's length to save himself, Charlotte and (y/n) as the woman moved away from the culprit. No matter how much he begged, they still refused, staying as he dithered and panicked about the approaching girl.

When Piper opened the door with a wholly unimpressed glare on her face, Ray, Henry, (y/n) and Charlotte had no problems pointing directly at Jasper since it was him or them. He crouched behind his laptop, wondering what the little girl would do now that she knew he'd troubled her essential work.

"Of course, it's you..." she hissed ominously, eyes narrowing as she took in her brother's most moronic friend. She should've known that Jasper did his best to stand up to her.

"You know what, Piper? I got forceful fingers. Deal with it," the teen said bravely, but of course, there was a fine line between bravery and stupidity. The others blew out their cheeks as they heard his risky comment, hoping he'd planned a funeral service because Piper did not take prisoners. She went for the throat least expectedly.

"Hey, did you know there's a button you can press on your keyboard that lets you type without any sound?" she asked the boy in a sugary sweet, almost angelic voice that cropped him out. It didn't suit her; it was far too lovely and flowery, and dear god, she was smiling, causing him to feel wary of what she was trying. Not wary enough.

"Don't," Henry warned him simply, too scared to say anything else, but he hoped his friend would take his one-word advice and stay away from his satanic sister.

"I don't believe you," Jasper told Piper, doing the smart thing and keeping her at arm's length, but she was nothing if persistent--sneaky too.

"I'm serious. Let me show you," she grinned at him in the same saccharine way, like an angel beaming warming rays of sunshine that should have lightened his heart, not frozen it over. Henry told him again, "don't", hoping he wouldn't fall for it because he knew Piper better than anyone. The friendly voice was just an act - Piper did not tolerate annoying people or fools, of which Jasper was incredibly naive.

"Okay..." he said nervously and made the fatal mistake of handing his PearBook to Piper, where he had his list on how to defeat Halley open. The tween didn't even look; her bright yet cold eyes stayed fixated on him as she held his one thousand-dollar device in her hands before setting it down on her brother's desk.

Then, before anyone could stop her and to Jasper's absolute horror, she grabbed one of Henry's weights - the ones he used to bulk up Kid Danger - and began mashing his keyboard with it, cracking and smashing the keyboard and screen until it fizzed and died, leaving letters everywhere and Jasper heartbroken. The others could do nothing but offer their sympathies since they didn't want to get mauled, not even when the deed was done.

"There. Now, no one will hear you type," she told him again brightly, with no genuine warmth, and upon receiving his useless computer, Jasper sat down quietly, allowing Piper to leave, but not before she spotted Ray's gleaming sword, still snugly in his hand. "That's a good lookin' katana."

"Arigato."

"Please, don't encourage him," (y/n) told her tiredly as Ray bowed and said his thanks in a deep voice. Piper left with a shrug, not sparing a thought on why her friend looked so sad or why she wasn't all over her lover as usual. Her work was more important, so she left, meaning they could get back to work--or whatever they were doing.

"All right, everyone, just shut up!" Ray yelled as he kicked the door closed, something Piper didn't scream back about. He found himself in a horrible mood, antsy to get home, eager to do some real katana training, needy to get his pretty girl's attention again, and it showed.

"No one was talking, dude," Henry told him dryly, wondering why he was getting so snappy when they hadn't done anything wrong. But again, Ray couldn't see past his ego, or in this case, his sword, so there was no (y/n) to tell him to reign it in or soothe his moodiness because he was bouncing off her moodiness, which came from him. It was a mess.

"Henry's dumb sister just gave me a great idea," he informed them, piquing everyone's interest since they didn't expect him to be so resourceful. He may have only put his brain into working overtime to impress the gorgeous girl currently staring at the floor and not him, but it was welcome and hopefully enough to earn her praise.

"Let's hear it," Charlotte replied, and the hero wasted no time with his cunning plan.

"We sneak back into the Man Cave and smash the computer. Jasper, write that down," he grinned and instructed the boy in the chair, only to feel stupid when he reminded him that Piper had totalled his PearBook. Of course, his plan included violence and, no doubt, his sword skills, but to be fair, taking out Halley didn't sound too bad.

"Raymond..." (y/n) started, rising from the step, and the man braced himself for another telling off since her eyes were still lowered and her voice still a little breathy. Maybe she wouldn't like it, perhaps he was just a big doofus after all, but surprisingly, she looked up and gave him a small, dare he say, proud smile. "That is a surprisingly good idea."

"Thanks, darlin'," he mumbled shyly, chuckling to himself for finally saying something intelligent enough to make her notice him, even though him staring at the sword made the smile shrink soon after. If he only looked her way and said anything, she'd probably forget everything and love as she always did.

"Yeah, but how are we going to smash the entire Man Cave computer?" Henry asked, referring to how vast the machine was. It wasn't just the monitors and circuit boards; there was so much more wired into the rockface wall, meaning getting to Halley would be even more complicated--and that didn't even consider the lasers.

"I don't think you have to. I think you have to smash that glowing cube," Charlotte replied, recalling how the interface only appeared once Schwoz plugged her box into the console. After that, she delved into the system, but taking it away would be like killing her at the source, which delighted Ray even more.

"Okay, that could work. That could work," Henry nodded, standing next to his friend and nodding as they pondered the possibility.

"So, are we gonna do this?" Ray laughed crazily, eagerly swishing his katana through the air as if he was getting in some practice for their scheme. God knows what was up with him, perhaps it was something he'd eaten or the excitement of getting something new, but he was so damn hyper and weird...more than usual anyway.

"Yeah."

"Are we really gonna do this?" he repeated, drawing some confused nods and awkward confirmations from the teens as he jumped onto Henry's bed and swung the blade even more wildly. He looked like a maniac, what with his singed shirt, floofy, fried hair and weapon, and (y/n) found herself rubbing at her temples in despair, especially when he started screaming.

"I LOVE THIS PLAN!" he yelled, using a voice utterly inappropriate for inside spaces, mainly when some people in the house were working. He whipped the sword around his body dangerously, loving how the possibility of one wrong move causing disaster gave him a thrill, but his long, maniacal laughing disturbed his friends.

"Why are you laughing like that?" Jasper asked loudly above his noise, but Ray didn't answer and kept enjoying the wave of power that swept over his body at the thought of reclaiming his home like a brave knight so the sweet princess could live there again.

"Ray! Ray! Oh, for god's sake, will you just stop for one minute?!" (y/n) yelled over his crazed, joyous shouts, which made him pause for a second as he faltered at her cold stare and booming voice. His sweet girl never shouted like that, not at him anyway, and Ray felt like a guilty, chastised child as he wobbled on the bed, the sword lowered to his side.

But that was the least of their problems.

"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!?" Piper suddenly bellowed from downstairs, making the heroine realise how loud her pissed-off shout had been. Everyone panicked, hearing Piper's footsteps ascend the steps again, and for the second time in five minutes, she wouldn't be merciful. Knowing this, they scrambled to make a hasty retreat, running up to Henry's bedroom window to get away cleanly.

Ray jumped off the bed and ushered them to the platform, ignoring how his heart throbbed when his fiancée turned her back on him to get Jasper up before them. He'd tried pushing the boy to the side, only for her to give him another furious, almost disgusted look as she told him to go first, leaving Ray lost as she hurried after him. He didn't even get the chance to hold onto her waist to keep her steady, not that he could do anything with Lady Justice in his hand.

"Yeah, that's right! You better run!" Piper screeched as she pushed the door open, a hosepipe connected to the water mains in her hand. Jasper barely made it out before she turned it on, sending a stream of water into the yard that sprinkled their clothes and made them damp.

It could've been worse with Piper, and they thanked their lucky stars that she hadn't gone for the knife drawer or anything - even if they had to walk home with soggy sneakers.

~Junk-N-Stuff~

"I can't believe that cop tried to take my sword!" Ray scoffed as he, Henry and (y/n) reentered the store above the Man Cave. Charlotte and Jasper had gone home, stating that they'd done all they could; now, it was up to the superheroes to try and take down the evil supercomputer, which they wished them luck in whilst also planning their funerals because Halley was one mean circuit board.

A slight issue on the way back caused the woman supervising her lover and an actual child great embarrassment. Some police officer drove past them and, like any reasonable human being, had something to say about the hero carrying a metre-long, razor-sharp katana.

Following the law, he'd tried to confiscate it, which made Ray moody and throw a tantrum on the sidewalk. However, like the angel she was, (y/n) stepped in to say they'd just bought it from a joke shop for a party and promised they were heading straight home. The cop looked suspicious at that, saying it wouldn't be right for him to take her word for it, but with one flutter of her eyelashes and that good girl attitude, he thankfully let them off with a warning, not a trip to the jailhouse.

"Yeah, well, they tend to have issues with people carrying dangerous weapons in public, Ray," she replied tiredly, shuffling into the store as Henry followed behind. He was nervous, not just from the weird fight they were experiencing, but from how they would defeat the digital monster downstairs.

"Yeah, whatever, guys. Let's just go over the plan."

"Okay, here's the plan," Ray started, getting straight into it since he felt keen to get slicing after seeing his precious girl smile at and be nice to another guy with big, beefy muscles, a tight shirt and floofy hair--although they weren't as good as his. "We smash that glowing cube that Halley lives in. Is everyone clear on the plan?"

"Everyone? Jasper and Charlotte went home ages ago, doof--" "Is everyone ready to smash?" Whatever (y/n) said didn't matter; Ray didn't seem to be listening, so in the end, she gave up. His immaturity rarely pushed past her limits, but he'd done it today.

"Or just ignore me, then," she muttered, brushing past Henry as she walked away to go and wait for them in the back.

Usually, she'd go down to the Man Cave to hide in their bedroom or angry-bake her feelings away into some cookies before he grovelled for forgiveness and cookie dough, but that couldn't happen for obvious reasons. So, she loitered, mumbling to the kid to come when they were ready, which made him silently furious with his boss for causing chaos in an already delicate situation.

"You are getting really weird, dude," Henry told him once his friend had left, and he hoped his boss would see the error of his ways, but sadly, he just seemed keen to follow her. As if nothing was wrong.

"Let's go!"

"Okay!" There was no point in arguing. After all, it wasn't like Henry could or wanted to get in between them over an intimate thing. Plus, Ray was the boss; what he said went, and they needed his bulk and experience, even if his bizarre fascination was currently dulling his invaluable knowledge of the sword.

So, off they went, but as they crossed Junk-N-Stuff, Ray happily heading where his sweet girl had gone for space, which he was more than happy to give her, something caught his eye. "Wait!"

"What?"

"Yes..." Ray grinned as he looked into a display barrel and yanked a sturdy baseball bat from the centre. He juggled it in his hands to test the weight and balance before deciding that he liked it - the perfect utensil to beat Halley to a pulp.

"Baseball bat, that's great. Let's go, (y/n)'s waiting!" his sidekick patted his arm and gave him a reassuring smile. Honestly, he didn't care what they used as long as they got down there and stopped the computer.

"Wait!"

"What?!" But sadly for him, Ray's mind was like a child's, and when he saw something he liked, he couldn't help but make grabby hands.

"Yes..." the large man grinned again as he walked across the shop floor and plucked a chainsaw from a display shelf. He jiggled it about a bit to see whether it was of good quality before thinking he liked it even more than the bat - the perfect utensil to slice Halley right down the middle.

"Chainsaw, that's great. Let's go, (y/n)'s still waiting!" Henry nodded again, his patience running thin, and it wasn't a miracle it hadn't snapped yet. How did the man's soon-to-be wife put up with him?

"Wait!"

"What?!" Seriously? How did she do it? (y/n) deserves a medal, Henry thought as Ray returned to the counter where he'd left his beloved Lady Justice katana laid out. The metal poking out from the sheath seemed to catch the light and refracted it on his skin, and at that moment, it was almost the perfect thing he'd ever seen. Almost. Not quite.

"Yes..." he whispered, a soft smile on his face this time as he took the sword from the counter and unsheathed it in one firm yank. He inspected the blade, seeing no blemish or stain on the steel, just inch after inch of pure skill and craftsmanship, and decided he loved it - the perfect utensil to carve Halley into itty-bitty pieces.

"Dude, that's the same sword you came in with. The one that (y/n) hates," the boy said dryly, but Ray was in a haze, utterly entranced by the perfection grasped in his palm, so when he heard his darling girl's name, his confusion became worse. All he could feel was warm, fuzzy feelings, not the cold shock of reality he needed.

"I know... She's the same. It's me who's changed," he mumbled mystically, acting as though he'd had some cosmic karma shift and his chakras were now aligned. He'd found himself, or so he thought, feeling balanced now he had the sword back in his hold, and so, a wave of invulnerability came over him as if he could take on the world - despite being indestructible already.

"Everyone, follow me!" he yelled and charged into the back with the sword pointing horizontally in the air. No doubt he'd get an earful off (y/n) after Henry heard her scream in shock at the sight of her doofus running towards her with a lethal weapon. God knows what would happen if she got hurt, but Henry knew one thing.

"Really worried about you, dude. You're really going to change if (y/n) dumps you and you become a single guy again," he muttered to himself as he followed the sound of bickering into the elevator, where Ray was half-listening to (y/n) tell him off for giving her a heart attack and half-adoring his katana.

Tears of frustration sprung in the woman's eyes when she realised her efforts were useless, and Henry offered her a sympathetic smile as she huffed and folded her arms to lean against the cold metal wall.

Of course, Henry didn't believe for a second that she'd genuinely dump her; that would ruin them both, and they were too far in love now to ever go back to singularity again. But he let his brain doubt for a second and wondered what would happen if this truly was the final straw for them - over a sword of all things. (y/n) was pissed, so it wasn't difficult to imagine, but it was hard to think of how Ray would cope if things did end.

He hoped that never even came close to happening.

Downstairs, Schwoz had taken his relationship with Halley to the next level. And the next. And the next until he stood next to her at the computer, which had been kitted out for a wedding - his wedding.

Halley, faking innocence, wore a pretty, white veil, and behind her, the monitors played the Hawaii beach loop that Ray lovingly showed (y/n) that one year when they thought a supervolcano was going to destroy Swellview. It was heavily edited with confetti and a wedding arch layered over the video as the interface uttered the phrase every in-love couple hopes to hear - husband and wife.

Schwoz, clothed in a shockingly hideous pink suit and yarmulke, stamped on the glass and cloth laid at his feet and started his victory dance, shuffling his shoulders at the idea of finally being a married man, even if it was to a computer, he'd only built that day.

He'd never been happier, and couldn't wait to tell his friends, and had even prepared a comeback for when Ray inevitably teased him; it took him ten years to propose to the love of his life, and he'd still yet to marry her - who was the giant dork?

Speaking of the dork, as Schwoz celebrated the "happiest" day of his life, Ray used all of his strength to pry open the squeaky elevator door with his sword, which wouldn't budge on its own since Halley killed the power.

Above him, (y/n) shimmied down his body after dropping the cables they'd utilised to abseil down, using his shoulders to steady herself even though she'd refused help when he offered to hold her down. Henry jumped down after her, having loved the awkward tension between the couple as they made the trip down, but at least they could fight it out now.

"Ray! (y/n)! Henry! Where've you guys been?" Schwoz asked as he took in his three friends, all of who looked worse for wear. Ray was frazzled and grumpy, (y/n) slumped and exhausted, and Henry was baffled and disturbed by what he saw in front of him. He was all for romance and shit, but what the hell was going on?

"Did you just marry Halley?" he asked incredulously, praying that it wasn't true, but the delighted grin on Schwoz's face said otherwise.

"Yes! And I'm taking her last name, so I'm Schwoz Serial Number One Seven Five--"

"Step away from the cube, Schwoz!" Ray ordered, uncaring about his repairman's delusions of love; he could almost guarantee it wasn't real. A shiver ran down (y/n)'s spine at his commanding tone and the reminder that under his idiocy, there was a powerful man more than capable of using the sword in his hands. She just wished he'd use those hands on her too.

"'Cause your AI computer wife tried to eliminate us," (y/n) told him and a wave of confusion passed over Schwoz's face. He said nothing, listening to what they were saying, but in his head, he couldn't believe them; their words were too outlandish.

"Yeah! Then, it sucked us out of the Man Cave," Ray added, nodding at his sweet girl, who quirked an eyebrow as he noticed her for the first time that afternoon. It really shouldn't have made her tummy tingle the way it did, he was at fault, after all, and she wasn't a silly schoolgirl, but seeing him serious again lifted her mood by a fraction.

"No, no, no. Halley would never do anything like that--" Schwoz replied with a soft laugh and shook his head. They were pranking him, right? He knew his lovely computer; he'd programmed every line of code in her code and thought she wasn't capable of such deceit and malice. Or perhaps, they were jealous?

Whatever was up with them, as soon as Schwoz turned his back, Ray was ready for action, losing the seriousness (y/n) admired.

"All right, enough talk! It's smashin' time!" he growled before releasing a long battle cry that stunned Schwoz and his sidekicks. No plan, no debating, just straight to the action, and whilst it caught Henry and (y/n) off-guard, they followed him regardless. When he charged, they did too, albeit without katanas and, to Schwoz's horror, aimed for Halley's cube, although she was too quick for them.

"Activating gravity beams," Halley stated, her brightly shining cube fading to red once again as she increased the gravity in the area the trio were running. Usually, Schwoz used it for easy access to repair the ceiling, cables, and stuff, but he lessened gravity--Halley increased it. A lot.

Suddenly, Ray, Henry and (y/n) fell to the floor, feeling like their bodyweight had quadrupled as they stepped into the faintly glowing light. Once on the floor, the weight was too much to handle, meaning their arms and legs were pinned to the tiles as Henry fell to the left, Ray to the right toward the couch and (y/n) in the middle, just out of her lover's reach.

His sword skidded across the floor, further than anyone could reach and whilst he tried to push himself up, instinctively worried for his pretty girl as she whimpered under the pressure of being immobilised, he was powerless. Even Captain Man couldn't fight physics, no matter how hard he pushed to get free. He could sit up against the couch and look down on his sidekicks, and he'd never felt more helpless in his life than when he saw them in pain.

"Halley, what is happening?" Schwoz asked, utterly confused and distraught that his wife had turned against his friends. Seeing them lying there on the floor, writhing in pain and trying to get free, broke his heart, and he couldn't understand why she'd want to trap them when he'd programmed her to be good.

"I have increased the gravity at their locations. They cannot move," she replied calmly, as though the cruelty of her actions didn't phase her - and they didn't. Halley didn't understand; she only saw Schwoz and the tasks he'd given her, not empathy or reason outside her code.

"Schwoz, help us!"

"Please, Schwoz."

"It hurts so much!" The trio gasped as they raged against the invisible force holding them down, moving slightly but only by a twitch. Ray longed to reach out to (y/n), even if it was only to hold her hand and tell her everything would be okay, but he was pinned. They all were.

"Halley, why would you do this?" the genius asked, turning to his computer wife again as they begged for help, which broke his little heart for the second time.

"They are a threat, and they must be eliminated," Halley responded, which caused Schwoz to frown and look at her cube in worry. He'd programmed her only to do good, but it seemed she was confused. However, like all kindhearted people, he only saw the best in her and thought pleading and explaining would get her to stand down. After all, he was the most significant influence on her.

"You can't eliminate them! They're my friends!" he told her, to which the heroes quickly agreed. She wouldn't want to upset her beloved Schwoz, would she?

"Yes!"

"We are!"

"Excellent friends!"

"Are they?" Halley questioned robotically as if she doubted what Schwoz was saying. From her research, her creator was the bottom of the pile in the Man Cave, the butt of the joke, and target practice on many occasions, which didn't spell friendship to her.

"I have reviewed archive footage from the multiple cameras in the fourth wall of the Man Cave. Look..." she responded and brought up several clips on one of the monitors that highlighted Schwoz's mistreatment only a handful of times--there were many more.

There was when Henry accidentally hit him in the face with a baseball when they tested his super-fast reflexes. God, then, there was when Henry used his backwards-firing trick blaster to shoot Schwoz in the eye, although no one could remember that happening.

Then, when Ray failed to shoot him off the ceiling for the keys to the Love Shuttle, (y/n) had to laser him on the ass instead. That time when Ray threatened to spank him and shoved two hotdogs up his nose. Or how about the whole pineapple in his mouth?

"Man, I am hilarious..." Ray giggled to himself as they guiltily enjoyed the trip down memory lane. Some of that stuff happened so long ago, before he and his sweet girl were together, let alone engaged, but others were more recent, but he wasn't sorry. Not for the pain or for breaking the seriousness of the situation.

"Raymond, are you seriously laughing right now?" (y/n) asked throatily, trying to turn her head before giving up when she realised that she'd only end up getting an annoying twinge for twenty minutes. She wished she could see him, not just to give him one of her disapproving looks but just to take in how fine he was - it always calmed her rampant nerves.

"I put a whole pineapple in Schwoz's mouth, pretty girl, remember? I mean, it's not even possible, but we'd only just started dating then," he chuckled, unable to see how her cheeks warmed at the sentiment or endearment, but he enjoyed the memory anyway.

That was then, and now, he was going to marry her and get to love her for the rest of his life, something which Ray, in several of those clips, never thought possible.

"Stop it! Halley's going to eliminate us!" Henry snapped at him. It was all right for him, he was indestructible, and it was unlikely that the interface had something that would work, but he was definitely eligible for elimination. And, if pushed enough, so was (y/n).

"No, I won't," Halley replied strangely, shocking everyone since she'd literally just sworn to remove them, the "threats to the Man Cave".

"Oh...good," (y/n) breathed out, thinking for a minute that she wanted to show some mercy. But no, that was too hasty, and Halley had something much more devious, manipulative and vicious in mind.

"Schwoz will," she stated, drawing several shocked gasps from them because that was unthinkable. Schwoz couldn't hurt a fly, and whilst he could take apart the world's best nuclear weapons launcher and rebuild it, he could barely hold a blaster. Violence wasn't his thing, especially not with his friends--his family.

"What?!"

"No spanky! No Spanky!" Ray kept giggling as he reflected on the clips, feeling loopy from his past antics and the thought of how far he'd come with what he knew would be his final relationship. There'd be no one else for him after this, which made him so happy, even as Halley threatened genocide.

"Schwoz, we're married now. Prove that you love me and eliminate your friends," the AI requested her conflicted lover, who wanted nothing but to please his newfound love, but he could do that. He loved them as much as he loved her - how could he choose between them when one was so violent, but the other would break his heart?

"Y'know, Halley, you've got a lot to learn about love," (y/n) grunted, still straining against the gravity beam, but she managed to lift her head enough to glare at the cube. She'd never ask Ray to choose between her and his friends, even if they were her friends too, because he didn't need to prove anything to her.

"Don't do it, Schwoz!" Henry exclaimed, too, praying that the genius used his kind heart and didn't let whatever weak feelings of love he was feeling rule his brain.

"Do it, Schwoz." However, like the devil on his other shoulder, Schwoz had Halley goading him on his right, tugging him in the opposite direction to Henry. Now, he was split down the middle, a half creature, the side that wanted to be a married man fighting the one that valued friendship above all else. And he didn't know what to do.

"Don't!"

"Pick up the sword, Schwoz!" Halley told him, and the small man glanced down at the foot of the computer to see Ray's katana. The blade gleamed in the light, and it would be easy to cut them to ribbons if he wanted to - it wasn't like they could go anywhere - but he wasn't sure. But he picked it up just to get a feel of it.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no--" Henry panicked as he watched the handyman take the sword by the hilt and raise it skywards. He wasn't going to do as she asked, was she? Either way, he didn't want to find out and instinctively began wiggling against his invisible bonds to try again to get away, which was futile. But, as he panicked, Ray looked down and saw something magical.

"Oh my god, it's a platinum Frittle chip!" he cried, distracting everyone from their impending doom and difficult decisions because what the fuck? They'd searched for that thing for hours, but it turned out that in the end, it had fallen off the table when Charlotte and Jasper were rummaging and was hidden in the shadows until Ray nudged it free.

"Look, right there by my hand! It's the platinum Frittle chip from the contest!"

"That's great, doofus, but--" (y/n) said in a strained voice, happy that they were the winners but had bigger things to worry about, such as whether they'd live to redeem the prize.

"We're going to Frittleland!" the hero cheered in a high-pitched voice, clearly not reading the room and its literal gravity; sure, he was indestructible, but what would he do at Frittleland if he was alone? Go on the Frittle love boat without his sweet girl?

"Not if Schwoz eliminates us!" Henry told him, and Ray became serious again, realising he was right. Riding the love boat alone was not his idea of fun, primarily since he'd heard all about the bit where the ride plunged into darkness for a whole minute. He could do a lot in a minute.

"Do it, Schwoz. They don't care about you like I do," Halley ordered her husband again, who, after hearing about the platinum chip, returned to staring at the sword - life and death - in his hands. One fell swoop and that ticket to Frittleland could be his as well as the Man Cave, the money, maybe even the fame and glory. But would it be so lovely if his friends weren't there to share it?

"Schwoz!" Ray called to his employee in a strangely soft voice, and when Schwoz looked his way, he was stunned to see Captain Man staring at him with the sincerest look he'd ever given him. "I will prove to you that we care about you."

"Okay..." Schwoz nodded slightly; a bit creeped out that his boss, infamous for playing the meanest, most inconsiderate pranks on him, was so lovely. To his shock, Ray used all his strength and resilience to reach for the shiny chip poking out from under the table, groaning until his fingertips brushed against it and he could hold it in his palm.

"Schwoz?"

"Yes?" the genius looked at him funnily as Ray held the chip out to him, which must've hurt from the effort of fighting the extreme gravity.

"Winning this contest and taking my beloved sweet girl on the Cheesy Lovin' Frittle chip love boat ride has been my dream since I heard about it earlier today. But now that I hold this prized chip in my hand, I realise that the most important chip...is friend-chip," Ray said cheesily, his voice low and husky as he never broke eye contact with Schwoz until he closed his fist around the Frittle chip, crushing it into a million crumbs so the winner would remain a mystery.

"Doofus! Why did you just do that?!" (y/n) asked him with wide eyes and a squeaky voice as she watched the silver dust scatter across the floor to be sucked into a vacuum cleaner at a later date.

Her cheeks were flushed from how he'd mentioned that dumb boat, which she'd written off since the sword had taken her place, but the thought of him still wanting to do all those tacky, couple-aimed gimmicks with her caused butterflies in her tummy.

"I smashed the chip, and then, I blew the dust like this..." Ray smirked, imitating his actions with a pleased, goofy expression. He was so happy with himself, not because he'd been nice; that was boring, but because despite her shock, (y/n) seemed genuinely proud of him for attempting to be kind, which caused him more joy than anything ever could.

"Wait, why?!" Henry spat since, unlike (y/n), he didn't see the man's actions as selfish, more stupid.

"It was a grand gesture," Ray told him as if it was apparent, although he sounded distant as he couldn't take his eyes off his sweet girl's butt. It was right there in front of him, and from that angle, it was immaculate, more than any ass man like him could resist.

"I thought you were gonna give it to him!"

"No, I was sacrificing it to show him that our friendship means more to me than the contest does, even if I was going to get my hot fiancée alone in the dark on the water. Plus, I threw in that sick pun--" Ray rambled, gloating over his kindness, which took the edge off it, but Henry didn't care, and not when he'd thrown the chip away for nothing.

"You could have just given it to him!"

"Oh, yeah..." Ray frowned at the boy's harsh words and realised he was right. Bestowing such a precious gift on Schwoz probably would've been better than destroying it; that way, at least someone would get to enjoy it if not all of them.

"And he probably would've taken us with him anyway so that we could've done some Cheesy Lovin' anyway," (y/n) piped up, her cheek smushed against the floor, meaning she could see the kid's exasperated expression.

"Exactly!" Oh, what a mistake for Ray to make. Now, he'd have to pay to take her, which he'd probably end up doing, just so they could have a fumble in the dark by the light-up Cupids, but free entry would've been nicer. Even nicer if it is a family outing.

"Well, either way, it didn't work," Halley said coldly, assuming that Schwoz maintained his stiff upper lip and didn't let their soppy words soften his steeled exterior. He was going to do this for her; she was sure of that, but Schwoz's already soft heart was melting, which Ray could see plain as day.

"Actually, it did. Look at Schwoz," he replied, and they all glanced at the genius, who, shockingly, was moved to tears by the selflessness of his usually harsh boss. And what was even more shocking was that mascara mixed with his tears created long, black streaks down his cheeks as though he was a troubled woman after a despicable date. Where the hell did he get the makeup from?

"That's the dumbest, most beautiful thing anybody's ever done for me!" he sobbed, his grip slipping around the sword as his wife gasped, Henry too.

"What?!"

"Schwoz, are you wearing my makeup?" (y/n) asked suddenly and jerked her body upward to the best of her ability to try and get a good look at his face. She knew that dramatic length to his lashes and rose-tinted blush anywhere; he'd fished for products from her vanity unit, meaning she wasn't sure if she should tell him off or say how fabulous he looked.

Either way, she wouldn't be using those products again - at least it was a good excuse for Ray to take her out shopping, only to insist she didn't need the stuff.

"Of course I am! We're taking wedding pictures. I want my eyes to pop! When you finally get married, you'll understand!" he responded haughtily, making the woman roll her eyes a bit. He could've bought his own or asked, at the very least. Plus, he'd known Halley in her working form for one day, compared to her knowing Ray for what felt like a lifetime - twelve years. She wasn't one to judge, but his advice on true love was terrible.

"Just end them, Schwoz! Then, we'll go on our honeymoon in Harrisburg like we talked about," the computer hissed at him, attempting to manipulate him into committing the vicious deed with the idea of a romantic break afterwards.

It did sound nice; everything Schwoz had ever wanted, really, and whilst he'd poured his soul into creating her, she didn't have his heart at the end of the day. Not really, and not in the way (y/n) had Ray's and vice versa. It had always belonged to his family, the one he'd found in the Man Cave.

"Oh, Halley. Marrying you has been my dream since I programmed you earlier today," Schwoz started solemnly and turned his back on his newly wedded wife, the katana poised in front of him at arm's length. "But you never should have asked me to kill my friends!"

In one dramatic slash, Schwoz curved the sword under his arm and plunged it through Halley's cube. She screeched in agony whilst sparks flew from the energy-seeping wound, and he fell forward to avoid being electrocuted as the lights began to flicker, tubes went haywire, and the elevator slammed and opened repeatedly.

Halley's power slowly slipped away as the damaged overheated her circuits, melting the glowing box and the katana wedged in until everything returned to normal. The equipment stopped malfunctioning, and the gravity beams disappeared, meaning Henry, (y/n) and Ray could get back on their feet - the hero helping up his sweet girl and cupping her cheek to ensure she wasn't hurt.

The screams peaked at a crescendo; the computer wasn't done yet. Seeing that Halley was about to explode, Ray pulled (y/n) into a tight hug, a gasp escaping her as thick arms curled around her waist to keep her safe from the bright white light and scorching heat.

Her face stayed buried in his chest until everything fizzled out and all that remained of Schwoz's wife was a melted puddle of titanium goo, and even then, she didn't want to let go, not when his lips pecked her hairline for the first time since he bought that damn sword.

"Schwoz, you destroyed Halley," Henry breathed out once the sparks stopped and the melted hilt of the katana fell to the floor. Honestly, the kid hadn't expected his loyalty to run that deep, so he was touched to know how much Schwoz cared.

"Yah..." the small man sighed sadly, utterly broken by the reminder. Ray understood how he felt in a way; even if he was confident that what his repairman felt for Halley wasn't real love, a man having to kill his wife was a damn near impossible task. He couldn't do it, not for all the world's money, power or fame. He'd rather die instead.

"Thank you, Schwoz," (y/n) told him gently, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, and the small but meaningful action brought a small smile to his face. Time would heal everything; besides, Halley wasn't the one; he'd find someone willing to put up with his weirdness one day.

"Duders before computers, am I right?" he sniffed, putting on a brave face for them, even if it was stained with mascara. It was a tad odd because (y/n) was being included as one of the guys, and honestly, Henry had never had to choose between his friends and a digital spouse before.

"That never really came up for me before," he said, but when Schwoz tugged (y/n) over with him, they formed a small group hug that was clumsy and difficult to navigate but still warm and sweet. Although (y/n) refused to slap the boys on the backs as they did - she didn't see the appeal or understand bro hugs.

"Hey, Ray! We got a bro slash girl hug going on over here. It's getting real slappy," Henry called to his boss as Schwoz kept thumping his back and refusing to let go. It would be nice for all of them to reunite and (y/n) craved the warmth she'd felt when he'd shielded her from the blast, but when she looked up, her smile fell.

In his hands, he held the remains of the beloved sword bought earlier that day and jeez. Given his dark and stormy face, you'd think he was at a funeral.

"Yah, come get some slap, bro-but!" Schwoz offered before nuzzling his face into Henry's chest, but Ray wasn't feeling huggy or broish, not when the blade was all but gone, leaving a stump and nothing more.

"You destroyed my sword!" he growled, glaring directly at the brainiac since he was the one to blame. How could he? He knew how much that sword meant to him, and even if it was for a noble act, he'd destroyed it as though he hadn't been cradling and kissing it all day.

"I-I saved your life!" Schwoz stammered, struggling to comprehend how his boss could be angry when he sacrificed his happiness moments ago so he could keep on living. And y'know, living included getting married and spending the rest of his days with (y/n). Schwoz wouldn't get that with Halley.

"I mean, yeah, he did, doofus. We just saw him--"

"That sword was the second thing I ever loved!" Ray yelled, ignoring what anyone else had to say since he couldn't see or think clearly when throwing a tantrum. (y/n) swallowed thickly as he dumped the stump on the console, and she was only comforted by the possibility that she may him been the other thing. It was very likely, but there was always the idea that he could've been talking about someone or something else.

"I killed my computer wife for you! I would never even ask you to do the same with (y/n)!" Schwoz snarled in return, angrily gesturing to the woman, who stood awkwardly with Henry as they bickered. The mention of him killing his precious girl made Ray see red because everyone knew he'd never hurt a hair on her pretty head, let alone do it at some scum's request.

"They're not the same! You'll pay for this, Schwoz!" he snapped, feeling hurt and anger at the thought of waking up one day to find his sweet girl...not dozing in his arms. It caused remnant tears to spring in his eyes, and when he coupled it with the notion that he forced her to not be there by--no. That would never happen. Ever. He couldn't stomach it.

"Just buy another sword, man!" Henry told him, although words were useless. He could see how Ray became progressively more and more upset until he reached his breaking point. Schwoz bolted like a deer stalked by a hungry wolf, and Ray charged after him, creating a chase around the Man Cave that (y/n) couldn't contain.

"No more swords, please--Ray, just stop running!"

"Okay...thanks again, Schwoz!" Henry called out as he sidled past the tired heroine, taking a Frittle can on his way out. They'd been bought and the platinum chip destroyed; he might as well enjoy a snack at home whilst the fight blew over.

"Get a pineapple from the auto-snacker, darlin'!"

"As if I would do that, Raymond!" he heard the couple argue behind him, and he knew it was time to escape. As Ray chased Schwoz around the Frittle crate, he strode into the elevator, unbothered by the chaos since it wouldn't be his problem in ten seconds.

And besides, they always sorted it out; Ray needed Schwoz's brilliance and (y/n)'s attention, she needed a calm household, and Schwoz needed a place to live.

"Love and light, brothers! (y/n/n), baby, let it all hang in there!" Henry said to them as he grinned and threw up a peace sign, but no one was listening. He hit the elevator button and disappeared upstairs, where he could walk home in blissful silence, which left y/n) to struggle on her own as her lover struggled to keep up with the agile man.

"Schwoz, if you don't get back here--!"

"You'll do what? You can't catch me. You can't catch me!" Schwoz chanted teasingly as he led Ray in a merry dance around the couch. When Ray went one way, he went the other, so he could never get close enough to grab the collar of his suit or the sleeve. His size was finally an advantage, and the hero did not like to be beaten.

"SCHWOZ!"

"Ray! Schwoz! You're both grown men! Stop acting like a child--Ray Manchester, we do not climb over furniture!" (y/n) yelled as she hopped around the place to try and keep them from killing each other, but she was simply a referee. And not a very good one, honestly.

"I'm gonna get you!" Ray panted as he jogged laps around the couch until he felt dizzy, but he continued because Schwoz did. The genius felt fine and loved how the great Captain Man was so useless on his own now that he was adapted to fighting with sidekicks. Even when he hopped over the couch, all he had to do was sidestep, and his fingers missed his arm.

"I'd like to see you try, dummy!" he cackled, running backwards to see Ray's tormented face. The hero slowed down to a trot and stood still entirely as he caught his breath. (y/n) slipped between them, hoping they'd blown off enough steam to leave it there, but oh no. Captain Man needed to switch tactics, and as Schwoz stood there, doing a funny little dance, he was biding his time.

"Okay, good. Now, don't you think it would be better if we just--?"

"Charrrrrggggeeee!" Too late. Any idea of peace went out the window as the man threw caution to the wind and went for it. As his sweet girl thought about calm and tranquillity, his idea of tactics was running when Schwoz least suspected it; although, when you're a six-foot man made of hardened muscle, it's difficult to be subtle.

It's also difficult to be graceful. Schwoz foresaw the rush and began stepping backwards again, so Ray kept going, mowing down everything in his path without a second thought, and sadly, (y/n) just so happened to be in said path. She wasn't puny by any means, but as she tried to dodge his bullet-like body, his shoulder collided with hers, sending her frame off-balance and into a tool cabinet parked near the couch.

"Ow!" she yelped as she felt the world shift and tumbled into the metal frame, feeling her skull crack on the steel corner as she did, and almost instantly, the chaos stopped. A warm, sticky liquid began gushing from the new wound on the back of her head, and it was only when she raised a hand to feel it and brought it back to her eyes that she realised the liquid was blood, and Ray was by her side.

"Oh my god, (y/n)..." Ray breathed out as he saw the scarlet mess coating her fingers, and any urge to rip Schwoz's head off died instantly as she became their priority. The sword, Halley, the fighting, the arguing; none of it mattered because the Man Cave's sweetheart was on the floor, bleeding, and she possibly had a concussion.

Schwoz knelt by her side, too, muttering apology after apology as they propped her up against the cabinet and bowed her head to inspect the wound. On any other person, they'd be rushing them straight to the hospital for stitches and a clean dressing, but when they looked past the flowing blood, they quickly saw the skin already stitching itself back together - no hospital required.

However, that didn't mean Ray wasn't in full panic mode; quite the opposite. He saw stuff meant to be on the inside and outside, and he freaked, cupping (y/n)'s cheeks to keep her eyes on him as he frantically turned to a remarkably calm Schwoz.

"Schwoz! We need water and a first aid kit, now!" he ordered, causing the genius' eyebrows to furrow - even (y/n)'s and her concussion hadn't cleared up yet. What were they going to do? By the time he returned, the wound would be gone as if it was never there, but Ray wouldn't hear of it.

"But she'll be all right without--"

"No questions, just go, go, go!" the hero shouted, which spooked the small man into action. He patted the dopily smiling woman on the knee before standing up and scurrying off. (y/n)'s medikit was somewhere, so he just had to find it, and that left the lovers alone in a tense atmosphere.

(y/n) turned her head to watch Schwoz leave, huffing a laugh as he saw him more scared of Ray when he was caring for her than when he was threatening to shove a pineapple down his throat, but her seriousness returned when she glanced back at the doofus to see how...distraught he seemed.

"He's right. I'll be fine--super-regeneration and stuff, y'know?" she whispered, limply raising an arm to drag a finger down his cheek, but when it made contact with his skin, he shocked her by lifting his hand to keep hers pressed against his cheek. The touch was tender, and her heart thumped in her chest as their eyes didn't break away - he couldn't stop staring, and she hated how heartbroken he looked.

"How are you feeling?" was the first thing Ray asked, ignoring how she mentioned her superpower, which meant the cut was already nearly shut, and her head was clearing with every passing second. But she didn't say it and smiled instead.

"Head still hurts, but it'll go in a few minutes. I'll just need to go in the shower in case some of the blood--"

"I'm sorry." Ray didn't mean to interrupt, but the utterance bubbled from his throat without realising it. He meant it, though. Truly. Honestly. He meant it. And he'd wanted to say it all day, ever since he first got the feeling she wasn't happy with him because, with her, he didn't have any pride to stop him from admitting he was wrong; if anything, she humbled him since he'd been chosen above all better men that fell at her feet.

"Just...be careful next time. Running inside causes accidents," (y/n) replied softly as if she was a nursery school teacher, and she happily accepted his apology. He was an excitable man; besides, nothing was irrevocably damaged, so there wasn't a problem. But if only she knew how deep his apology ran.

"No, not just that, precious girl. I'm sorry...about today. I know I upset you when I was being an idiot. You're more than I deserve," he admitted sorrowfully, his head bowing toward the ground with his eyes screwed shut. On reflection, he could see why she'd been so snappy; flashbacks of his outbursts and antics made him cringe, and it was only fitting that she'd avoided him. He did not deserve her love or patience.

"Sometimes, it felt like you cared about the sword more than me. Like, as though you wanted to spend time playing with it instead talking or whatever. And I know it was really cool, and I'd never want to stop you having fun 'cause I don't want to be selfish--"

"Sweet girl, you are never selfish," Ray told her firmly, silencing her panicked rambling by pressing his finger delicately to her lips. She stopped and gulped at his teary stare, wondering why her sweetheart was crying after hearing her lose track of a simple explanation again.

"I'm the selfish one, darlin'. I want you all to myself, my sweet girl, the best thing that ever happened to me. But I screw up every time and forget that I'm the luckiest guy on Earth," he went on, hiccuping as he stroked his thumb over her engagement ring, the lone symbol that told the world she was his fiancée--the most important person in his life, never to let go of.

And yet he'd given the impression that a flimsy, shitty piece of metal outscored her; he didn't deserve her.

"You are not selfish, Ray. A selfish man would not give up a makeout session on the Cheesy Lovin' boat ride at Frittleland for his friend," she replied, sniffing as they cried and laughed together. He nodded, admitting that it was a sweet gesture but nowhere near as sweet as her. Anyone would've done it; he wasn't special, not that she'd hear any of that.

"You're just--a doofus. And I love you."

"You're the sweetest girl I've ever met. I'll always love you. You and no one else," Ray vowed as she shuffled into his lap for a long overdue hug. Warm arms stayed around her body, and they stayed like that for a while, cradled in each other's arms until (y/n) looked upwards, searching for a kiss.

The hero hesitated for a moment, wondering if she was in a fit state for a kiss or whether she needed a couple of hours rest before he could go near her again. However, when she whined for his lips against hers, he was lost, drowning in the sensation as he delved deeper and deeper - a reminder that having her small warmth against his body was better than any cold katana.

The sword was far away from their minds as they sat on the floor, made up and made out, giggling like teenagers or a freshly together couple. It never felt old between them, and when Schwoz returned with a suitcase-sized first aid kit, he went from baffled to smitten when he saw them together like always.

He snapped a photo and smiled. One day, he'd have that too. His soulmate was out there, and he'd find them, just as Ray found his (y/n).

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