#and if you ARE seeing this again in the tags please pardon the dust of reuploading it here too XD | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

cybersvoid · 2 years

Text

❥ Your Highness ii

──⇌••⇋──

♡ Pairings: Shigaraki x Reader

Summary: Prince Shigaraki was born with a curse. Anything he touches with his bare hands turns into dust. Everything except you, the new maid who's working in the castle.

Tags: [18+ NSFW] Vaginal Sex, Possessiveness, Controlling, Dubcon, Masturbation, Jealousy, Cursing, Loss Of Virginity, Breeding Kink, etc.

≺Part One≻

──⇌••⇋──

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Miss Y/N?” A gentle voice called, stirring you from your sleep. You lazily lifted your head, taking in your surroundings of the room as the prior night started coming back little by little. Your head whipped to the side expecting to see Shigaraki, but luckily he must have slipped away before you had even woken up. You hated the idea that you might see him again. Praying the bed swallows you whole so you could just disappear from existence.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

“Ah, sorry! Come in,” you called out.

“Please don’t apologize it’s me who has woken you up,” a woman’s voice explained, she had short brown hair and kind-looking eyes. A warm aura surrounded her in a comforting way. She was in a maid uniform, but she didn’t look familiar to you, but then again, you never had the opportunity to meet the maids in this hall since they ran a different area. She must be far more experienced than you to have been moved up to this section of the castle, but she still didn’t look much older than yourself. “His Highness has called me in to prepare a bath for you.”

A bath sounded nice. The perfect opportunity to wipe your slate clean and try to forget about the events of last night. “Thank you, I would greatly appreciate it.

She wasted no time drawing you a bath and helping you inside. You insisted that you were more than capable of bathing yourself, but she was extremely persistent. Claiming your only job at the moment was to relax. It felt a bit invasive at first, being naked in front of someone you just met, but she also made you very comfortable.

“What’s your name?” You asked to fill the silence.

“Oh, pardon my rudeness. My name is Ochaco Uraraka, please feel free to talk to me informally.”

“My name is Y-”

“I know. Everyone knows. There’s a lot of rumors buzzing around you Miss, I wouldn’t let it bother you though. You’re lucky.” She spoke up, bringing you a towel to dry yourself, “when His Highness has taken a maid to bed, they usually don’t survive through the night. He must have taken quite the liking to you.”

Lucky? Why did you feel anything but lucky in this moment?

After you bathed and ate, you felt eager to jump back into work, hoping it would help take your mind off of things. Maybe if you kept busy, His Highness wouldn’t look for you and you would be safe. So you did just that, throwing yourself into whatever work you could.

“Wow, you sure are eager, Y/N.” Uraraka laughed, “Are you sure you don’t want to take a break? His Highnes-”

“Yes, I’m sure,” you cut off, not in the mood to hear his name. Possibly picking up on that, she just nodded her head and continued showing you to your next assignment.

“I see, well, how about we sweep some leaves off of the pathway outside? It’s a beautiful day and I’m sure you could use some fresh air.”

“Yeah… that sounds nice.” You could use the fresh air. Everywhere you went you heard whispers, everyone’s eyes locked onto you no matter where you went. You couldn’t even pin the looks to one emotion. Sympathy and jealousy crowded you in every direction you looked. You wish you could just scream and explain to them that this wasn’t what you wanted in the slightest, and if it was up to you, you would be gone, but His Highness was right, it’s not like anyone would care, and even if they did it’s not like there was much they would do.

“Y/N?” Uraraka called, snapping you out of your trance. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m sorry. I was just thinking.” You explained, continuing to sweep away the fallen leaves on the path.

“How about I go get us some water. Wouldn’t want you overheating out here.” She joked, a small smile making its way onto your face as she ran off, leaving you to work alone. You didn’t mind it though. It was strangely peaceful. The whole castle was beautiful. You never got to fully enjoy it yesterday because you were so busy, but you were glad you got to now. The breeze flowed against your skin, cooling you as you worked. The birds flew in the air as they sang a beautiful song of freedom. You truly wished this moment would never end.

“My my, you are a cute one!” A voice cooed, a short blond-haired girl skipping over to you, as a taller, more brooding, black-haired man trailed close behind. “You must be my future sister! Big brother Shigaraki has good taste, but I gotta say you’re way out of his league.”

“I-I’m sorry?” Did this girl just call you big sister? And she referred to Shigaraki as big brother which means they must be...

“Oh, don’t mind us,” The deep voice of the man next to her cut in, “we just wanted to check out our brother’s new toy. Word travels fast in this kingdom and when we caught wind that there was a servant lucky enough to survive the night with him, we just had to check you out personally. But now that I’m looking at you. I can see why he’s taken a liking to you.”

The way his eyes traveled up and down your body, his gaze lingering on some areas more than others, made you feel vulnerable. That he was somehow looking at every part of you despite the fact that you were clothed. You nervously began to shuffle in place, your arms crossing over your chest in an attempt to create some sort of barrier between yourself and the two strangers in front of you.

“Now, now.” He chuckled, taking a step closer, his hand trailing down your arm as he stood over you, “Don’t look so afraid. We aren’t here to hurt you.”

“Dabi, enough. You’re scaring them.” The girl warned before giving you a soft smile revealing her slightly pointed teeth,

“It’s not my fault she scares so easily.”

“Dabi! Toga!” An angry voice called out, Shigaraki approaching with a look of disdain coating his face. You felt your stomach drop at his sudden arrival. Feeling even more uncomfortable than before.

“Big brother!”

“Well, it was fun while it lasted,” Dabi grinned, sending a wink your way as you diverted your attention. Shigaraki slid next to you, his arm being wrapped around your side as he aggressively yanked you into him.

“Leave. Don’t come to my castle again without an invitation. You have your own, now use them.” That was all he said as he pulled you back inside.

The last thing you heard was the two mumble a “No fun.” before the doors slammed behind you.

He didn’t speak a word to you while dragging you around. Not even as you cried out about how his grip hurt you, he didn’t care, not even bothering to loosen his hold until the two of you were in his bedroom. He carelessly threw you onto the edge of the bed, towering over you with a terrifying look of anger on his face.

“I’m not a patient man. I tried, I truly did, but you made that impossible. So I’m not going to wait another minute to claim you.” Not even bothering to explain further, he ripped your dress off, your hands springing up in an attempt to shield your breast before he began tearing into your tights and panties as easy as if they were made of paper. He began unbuckling his pants, his cock springing free from its confinement. “When I’m done with you, everyone is going to know who you belong to.”

You tried to back away, begging him to stop, but he couldn’t care less about your futile attempts to stop him as he crawled on top of you. Pinning your hands above your head so you couldn’t hide from him as he palmed your core. It felt so embarrassing and invasive to be exposed like this to him once again, this time in broad daylight. You hated every second of it, crying in embarrassment, and he loved it.

“Stop crying, you deserve this. Bad girls need to be punished. You were just going to let that son of a bitch put his hands on you? How far would you have let him go if I didn’t show up? Would you have fucked him right outside in front of everyone?” He growled a single finger pushing it’s way inside you. You cried out as you felt him stroke your walls from the inside. “Jesus, you’re so tight I can feel your walls clamping down on just my finger. Well, maybe you are a good girl after all. This is going to feel great… well for one of us. This is still a punishment for you.” He smirked, took his finger out, giving it a quick suck before lining the head of his cock up with your entrance.

“Please, not there!” You cried, your mother’s words ringing in your head like an echoing bell. ‘Your virginity is something sacred, Y/N. Only to be given to your future husband, someone you love.’ Her voice was soft, yet stern. How you wished you were with her now. “This should be done between lovers. Husband and wife.”

“Husband? Do you think I would ever let you marry someone? You are a maid under me. I am the future king of this entire shit-hole of a kingdom. I own everyone and everything in it, which means you belong to me. No one else.” He grinned sadistically at your cowering form, “But… if it makes you feel better. You can call me your husband. Come on, give it a try. Say, I love you, Husband.”

You turned your head away, refusing to give in to his cruel game. His teasing was going too far, but worst of all there was nothing you could do about it. You felt the head of his cock start rubbing up and down your slit, a tingling feeling sliding through your body causing your nipples to perk up. A moan slipped past your lips as a new feeling started to overtake your body. “Come on, princess. I might go easy on you with it being your first time and all. Just say it. Won’t it make you feel better?”

You almost wanted to scream. You doubt in any way that this would ‘make you feel better’ but you also doubt he cared to begin with.

“I… I love you, Husband.” You cringed, gritting your teeth at the statement that just found its way out of your mouth. You hated calling him that word, but Shigaraki on the other hand seemed a bit excited by the new name. He couldn’t wait to fill you up any longer.

He lined up the head of his cock with your hole before pushing his way in. You inhaled sharply at the pain, your nails sinking into his shoulder out of reaction as he somehow managed to fit his entire length inside of you. It hurt, tears slipping past your eyes as Shigaraki was panting with desire. The feeling of your tight cunt wrapped around his cock as you were completely at his mercy felt incredible. There was no way he would ever let you slip out of his grasp. You and every hole in your body were his, and he would make sure that when morning came your body would remember that. Remember the feeling of him inside of you, and the feeling of his skin on yours, just like he did with you.

All day he was suffering. The feeling of your cunt pressed against him when morning came had got him turned on before the day had even begun. He ended up masturbating over your sleeping form once again, even though he was so desperate to just take you then and there. While in his office he couldn’t get the night prior out of his head, leaving him with a hard-on and a rather foul mood that only seemed to worsen at the sight of you and his shitbrained brother talking. But with you now, taking his cock like a good servant, maybe he could forgive you.

Before you were even able to adjust to him filling you up, he began pumping in and out of you at a fast pace, as your hole clenched around him. Every time he pulled out, he felt your walls pull him back in, keeping him wanting more and more.

This was sex? Your mind was finding it hard to focus as he continued to enter you with an almost animalistic desire. It hurt, but it was almost starting to become… pleasurable. Your walls slickened at the continuous feeling of him hitting deep inside you. Your toes curled as a strange sensation started to build up.

“Feel good?” He groaned, not even slowing his pace as he asked the question, too eager chasing his own high. You leaned back as chills ran up your body, you were starting to feel so hot, the cold breeze nipping at your skin. Shigaraki took this as an invitation to let his mouth wander, immediately latching onto one of your nipples, sucking and biting with such a desire, as if he was a starved man and your tit was the only source of nourishment he’s had in years. He bit the tender skin and pulled with his teeth quickly, before releasing your small bud and latching onto its opposite. You whimpered out in pain at his harsh treatment of your now sore nipple.

“I asked you a question.” He mumbled over your breast, sinking his nails into your thigh to give himself a better grip and pulling you closer so he could somehow manage to pound even deeper into your now soaking cunt. He was addicted to the feeling of your skin, he couldn’t get enough. He wanted to leave his mark all over you. “I asked, do you feel good?”

You could barely find the words to describe this feeling. It was hurt but in almost a good way. The pleasure somehow overpowering the pain and leaving you wanting more. All you would do was nod.

“How about a thank you? Didn’t I say I would make you feel good? Even though you don’t deserve it. You little slut, coming onto my brother, like a fucking whore. But luckily for you, I’m very forgiving. I think I deserved to be thanked. Don’t you? Say ‘thank you Tomura, my sweet husband’”

Once again he was feeding you words to say, but this time your mind was too fogged to put up a fight as he began to suck and nip at your chest and neck. Causing the skin to darken where his lips once lingered “T-hank you, Tomura, my sweet husband.” You managed to cry out, your voice quivering at all the overwhelming feelings erupting through your skin.

“Mmm, fuck. So obedient. So perfect. I want you to take all of my cum. I want you to be swollen with my heir. Every time someone looks at you, with my child growing inside of you, I want there to be no doubt that you’re mine.” The final word seems to finish him off as he shoots his load inside of you, filling you up past your limits as pleasure flowed over you, wave after wave. Your cunt clenching around him and sucking every drop out of him. Both of you became weak as your orgasms faded, a weight seeming to be lifted off your chest as your whole body felt relaxed. Shigaraki’s hand came up to your face wiping the stray tears off of your tired face. His hand slipped down to your neck, yanking your forward and crashing your lips against him as he stole what was left of your breath away in a kiss.

God, he could definitely get used to this.

“My father wants to have dinner with me and my siblings,” he stated, releasing you as he pulled himself out of your cunt, the tiniest of whimpers leaving your lips at the empty feeling, “he has some things he wants to discuss with us. I’ll be bringing you, so you better be on your best behavior… or don’t. I don’t give a shit. I sure as hell wouldn’t mind punishing you again if necessary.” You couldn’t think about leaving the room, your body feeling overly sensitive to even the air in the room, but at the same time, another punishment sounds less than ideal. Not to mention you’d be meeting the king, and be forced to reunite with Dabi and Toga, this whole situation seemed like a disaster just waiting to happen.

“I’ll send one of the servants in to help you bathe and get you a new uniform so just stay put until then. I’ll be right back, so don’t even think about wandering off.”

Again, you couldn’t even imagine it. Your body finding the bed the comfiest place in the world as of now.

"After dinner, if you're a good girl, I may just give you a present."

You cringed at the words. Why do you have the strangest feeling that the present would be something only he would enjoy?

I apologize, this was rushed and crappy I just wanted to get it out, and had a flow going. Anyway, please don't repost/translate my works onto any other sites. If you'd like to give me a tip, consider donating to my Ko-Fi, it's greatly appreciated! You can find some of my other works here.

People who wanted a part two: @tesop @unamused-aang @artloverizzie2021 @xxshinimakixx @athalahild @azelmawhy

1K notes · View notes

theunquenchablethirst · 3 years

Text

Hooked (Jerome X Reader)

Ok, so this is a thing. I was kinda surprised nobody had used this scene yet, because the Gotham fandom seem to collectively agree that Jerome is BIG KINKY and yet the one scene where he canonically has people cuffed up and hung from the ceiling... nobody has touched??? Y'all have been sleeping on that scene! It's fanfic gold! Anyway, enjoy the hedonism. Much love xxx

Warning: SMUT, 18+, GRAPHIC SEXUAL CONTENT, BDSM, bondage, cuffs, dom/sub, vaginal fingering, oral sex, biting, spanking, slapping, pussy slapping, light choking, spitting, belt whipping, praise/degradation, marking, mention of scratching, Jerome is big meanie pants mean man

The new mayor of Gotham is having a meeting with his council members, but things take a turn when the Legion of Horribles show up to kidnap them and reader. When the victims are being unloaded from the truck, Jerome Valeska notices reader, because she isn't exactly on the guest list.

Tag list of lovelies: @gabile18 @valeskaduh @fangirl--writes @persephoneblck

Masterlist

I had been working as a housekeeper for the new mayor. It was a good job, but I wasn't appreciated. I was just there to clean and serve when needed. I don't think he even knew my name. I was just hired help to him. To all of them.

He was hosting a dinner for his council that day. I had been placed in the corner of the room with a bottle of expensive wine where I was to wait until wanted. He gestured for me to come forwards and fill their glasses while they started talking about their displeasure with the rising foul play in the city, like it was anything new for Gotham. The chairwoman wanted to know what he was going to do about it. Very little in my opinion. He was just coasting. In too deep over his head. He had been appointed far too fast and everyone knew it. He wasn't going to last.

He made an attempt to save face and talk about how he too was disturbed by the recent goings on and was doing everything he could. Trash, utter trash. As he rose from his seat, the lights fizzled out. I stopped pouring. Had this been any other city I would have assumed it was a simple power outage, but nothing was that simple in Gotham. The security guard closed us in and went to see what was happening. The air turned icy. No, this was not good. Gunshots and screams came from the hallway and everyone rose from the table terrified. We quickly started walking towards a door hoping to make an escape, but there was something about the windows. They were freezing over.

The doors burst open and I dropped the wine. It smashed into pieces as a blueish man in some kind of robotic suit and a weird looking, but huge gun stepped into the room. Was that Victor Fries? Then through the second set of doors another man in a top hat who I recognised as Jervis Tetch burst in with some other strange looking friends.

Before I could comprehend the situation, we were all being cuffed and taken outside. Our kidnappers pushed and pulled us towards a huge truck, all the while the mayor tried to buy his way free. He was showing just how little he really knew about the underbelly of Gotham. I knew just by looking at them that they were probably Arkham escapees and couldn't be bought like a sane man could. They had their own plans and you can't bargain with crazies.

We got to the truck and they opened the back door. My blood ran cold when I saw that standing there waiting for us was Jerome Valeska. Of all the criminals Gotham had seen he had been the only one that had scared me, truly and thoroughly. He didn't have any kind of reason for what he did. He just enjoyed death and chaos. And after his last escapade he looked like madness personified, his scars circling his face and eyes and giving him a permanent evil smile. Dread consumed me as I realized that he was no doubt the leader of this operation and if that was true, we were already dead.

I felt myself jolted forwards. The mayor had pushed me in front of the rest of the council to get whatever was coming first. If I wasn't cuffed, I would have turned around and broke his nose. I was lifted into the truck, my hands were pulled above my head and fixed to two hooks. I had to stand on my toes to keep standing which made it awkward and difficult as they pushed me to the back of the truck.

Was that Penguin? What was he doing here? He didn't belong here. I had gone to Penguin looking for a job in his club when I was 16. He was impressed with my audition, but when he asked my age, he rejected me.

"This establishment is not a playground for children. It's a nightclub." He had told me. At the time I had been steaming mad, but in hindsight he was probably right. Even if he was rude. So, after that, I found it hard to understand why he was here and working with Valeska. Maybe he had been kidnapped too?

The rest of the council were loaded on and hooked. The mayor was still trying to offer them money and pardons. When he saw it wasn't working, he resorted to empty, unintimidating threats. Jerome was completely unfazed and even a little disappointed in the lack of smiles.

"Nobody knows how to have fun anymore, right?" He said putting his arm around Penguin. So, he was a part of this.

Jerome pointed to a scary looking figure dressed like a scarecrow. Johnathan Crane? Crane released some kind of purple gas in the face of a member of a council. She started laughing and convulsing violently.

"What have you got to lose? Except your sanity?" Jerome joined in the crazy laughter. So, this was his plan. He'd figured out a way to forcefully drive everyone insane. With a gas.

I silently prayed to God in my mind for any kind of help.

After sufficiently terrifying us half to death, they left us in the back of truck. None of us could say anything and after a few minutes the truck started moving.

"Is she ok?" I asked looking towards the victim of the insanity gas.

"Who cares?! We have to figure out what they want and get out of here." Replied the mayor.

"Maybe they want publicity for whatever that gas is. Offer them some TV time." Guessed the chairwoman.

"Don't you get it?! This isn't a situation you can buy your way out of!" I snapped, frustrated with their idiocy.

"These aren't normal criminals. They don't want your money. They want chaos and madness." They stood there silently stunned. They had never heard me speak with such confidence, but in that moment, they knew I was right.

After what felt like hours the truck finally stopped.

"What's going on?" The mayor whispered.

Everything was quiet. We listened for any noise or sign of life. All we could hear was our own breath.

Then suddenly the doors flung open once again and in hopped Valeska, Tetch and Crane.

"We're here!" Jerome grinned.

The other two started to pull the council one by one off the hooks and walk them out of the truck, closely watched by Jerome. Until they got to me.

"Wait..." He stuck an arm out to stop Tetch from unhooking me.

"Who's she? She wasn't on the party list." He took a few steps closer to me.

"This poor young girl is an unlucky maid. Wrong place, wrong time. Very bad day." Jervis explained looking at me.

"Would you like me to... dispose of her?" Asked Crane, stalking close to me and lifting needle covered fingers to my throat.

"Not so fast, Mr Potato Head." Jerome said pulling him away from me.

He came so close that we were only inches apart. He looked down at me as if he was thinking for a few seconds then smirked and turned around to the others.

"Guys, go and see that our guests are comfortable, will ya? Get everything ready." He ushered them out of the truck. Fear travelled up and down my body. This had all been a bad situation, but being alone with Valeska scared the hell out of me.

"You're lucky I have a soft spot for pretty little girls." He closed the truck doors and turned to look at me.

"Freddy Krueger there... not so much." He relaxed, leaning back against the doors with his hands in his pockets. "You got a name?"

I stayed silent, more out of fear than defiance. He sucked his teeth and stood up straight.

"I get it. You're scared. Who wouldn't be, right?" He started slowly walking closer. "But things will go a lot smoother if you just play nice."

I still couldn't find any words.

"Aw, come on, doll! I'm getting awful lonely over here." He brought his hands up out of his pockets and leaned against a wall of the truck.

He was quiet for a few seconds and I noticed that his eyes were making their way up my legs. Being held up by my wrists on my tip toes had pulled my uniform skirt up and almost all of my thighs were exposed. I blurted out my name in an attempt to distract him from my bare legs. He smiled.

"What a pretty name. Now, was that so hard?" He pushed himself off the wall and came a little closer.

"So, you're the mayor's dust bunny, huh? I gotta say, doll, I can see why he keeps you around." He chuckled, eyeing me.

My whole body flushed and my face turned hot and red.

“But, uh, the thing about mayors in this town, they don’t last very long.”

"Please let me go." I whimpered.

"Oh, but we're having such a good time! Plus, if I did that, you'd scamper off to the GCPD and I can't have good ol' Gordon crashing the party early."

I scoffed at his suggestion. Not likely. I had a distinct distaste for the GCPD. They hadn't helped me when I needed them. I would never need them again.

"What's the matter? He book ya before or something?" Jerome smiled with intrigue.

"My parents... they... did things to us. When I ended up in the hospital one too many times..." Tears stung my eyes as I remembered. "They left me there and disappeared with my little brother. No one ever managed to track them down."

I didn’t fully understand why I was opening up to Jerome, but for a second, I saw a spark of humanity in his eyes. Like he understood my pain. I'd heard his first kill had been his mother, so maybe he did?

"I'd give anything to see him again." I sniffed and a tear rolled down my cheek.

"Yeah, I had shitty parents too." He sighed. "I killed them both."

I had thought about what I would do if I ever saw my parents again. What I would say, what I would ask. I could never think of the right words. But the thought of killing them, well that made me smile.

"What was it like?" I asked.

Jerome grinned from ear to ear and stepped closer so that we were toe to toe.

“Have you ever stood at the edge of a really tall building? You know that little voice in the back of your head that says ‘Jump! You can fly!’ even though every other part of you is screaming ‘No you can’t! You’re gonna kill us!’”

I nodded shakily.

“It’s like finally giving in to that voice. Like jumping off Gotham Bridge and finding out you can fly. And realising you never have to walk again.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat and my heart felt like it was going a million beats per minute. His eyes were locked on mine and it felt like he was looking straight into my soul.

“You wanna fly, doll?” He brought his hand up to cup my jaw and ran his thumb along my bottom lip.

It wasn’t humanity I saw in Jerome Valeskas eyes. It was freedom. A freedom that I had wanted for as long as I could remember. And I could have it right now. He was offering it to me. The only thing standing in my way was myself.

“Yes.” I breathed. “Yes, I do.”

The next thing I knew, his lips were crashing into mine and he had hooked his hands under my thighs and was holding them around his waist. His kiss was desperate and hungry, like he had been starved for days and his grip on the bare flesh of my thighs was rough enough to leave bruises. I locked my ankles together behind him to steady myself from swaying underneath the cuffs. When I did, he drove his crotch forwards, grinding into my centre, a quiet moan escaping me as I felt him.

He slowly trailed a hand from my thigh, up my back and to the nape of my neck, before balling my hair in his fist. I gasped as I felt the sudden, sharp tug of him pulling my head back.

His eyes wandered down to settle on my exposed throat, before yanking my head to the side and nestling in the crook of my neck. He must’ve left a hundred open mouth kisses, but as he started to suck, I felt his teeth sink into my skin. I pulled back with a hiss at the sting, but he wouldn’t let go. He just kept on leaving harsh, red bitemarks and pulling my hair, all the time grinding harder into me.

He licked over the bruises he’d left and gently kissed them, before trailing his tongue up my neck to nip at my ear. He smiled darkly and pulled back away from me, dropping my legs back to the floor. He stalked around me, eyeing me up and down like a predator. I felt him behind me, his hands softly holding onto my waist, pulling me close to his chest.

“You know what’s great about this?” He cooed. “You’re already pre-cuffed.”

I flushed and my core swelled hot, his breath so close to me made my skin tingle all over. He pulled at the top of my skirt and dragged it down my hips, letting it fall down around my feet. He caressed my thighs and then stepped back, tugging at my underwear, playfully letting the elastic snap back to me.

“Y’know...” He said, before the familiar sound of a belt unbuckling. “Marquis de Sade said ‘sex without pain is like food without taste’...”

My eyes widened at his words and my heartbeat quickened.

“So, let’s make this... delicious.”

A million thoughts raced through my mind, but before I could process any, I felt the sharp snap of leather against my ass. I jolted forwards and let out a high pitch yelp.

Even though I couldn’t see him, I could tell he was smirking. I could hear it in his voice. I bit my lip in an attempt to brace myself and he landed the belt across me again.

“Please, Jerome...” I whimpered at the sting, closing my eyes.

He brought it down again, making me arch my back in a gasp. A couple of tears rolled down my cheeks and I realised there was little point in resisting the torment. So, I gritted my teeth and prepared for another lick of the belt.

He whipped me once more, harder this time and a small scream escaped me.

“Please!” I begged.

I heard him chuckle with dark delight. The bastard was enjoying this. Of course he was. What else had I expected from someone like him? I tightened all my muscles for the next sting...

But it didn’t come. Instead, I felt him pulling my underwear down. Relief washed over me when I heard the belt drop to the floor and I realised Jerome was finished and was now crouched, ready to inspect his work. He ran his fingers over my burning flesh, taking in the bright red lashes he had left on me.

“What a pretty picture?” He said, landing a spank. “I wish you could see too doll, but having you cuffed is half the fun.”

His voice was dripping with venom and arousal and I could practically feel his grin in the air. He traced the marks with his fingers a little longer, before grabbing my flesh in fistfuls and sinking his teeth in. I gasped loudly at the hard bite. I wasn’t sure how many more of Jerome's surprises I could take. He laughed and ran his tongue over the new bruise.

“Yep. Definitely a pretty picture.” He smiled, giving me another spank. “I like those little noises you make, doll. Why don’t you make some more for me?”

He snaked his hand up my inner thigh and began stroking along my slit, relighting the fire in my stomach. I moaned, biting hard on my lip and tried to bring my thighs together, wanting friction.

“Naughty.” He said, landing a swift slap on my entrance causing me to let out a little yelp. “I need you to keep those legs open for me.”

It wasn’t as bad as the belt. In fact, it felt quite good. The heat inside me swelled as Jerome returned to running his fingers back and forth in my slickness. I hummed softly in my throat, fighting the urge to close my thighs again, my knees starting to shudder underneath me.

“Look how wet you are and I’m barely touching you.” Jerome chuckled darkly. “I wonder what happens if I do this?”

Jerome plunged two fingers deep inside me and slowly started pumping them. I let the warmth roll through me, moaning blissfully. He gently started to pick up speed, making it nearly impossible for me to keep my thighs apart. The faster he got, the deeper he dove, making me tighten around his talented fingers and struggle to keep steady on my toes.

My legs were shaking and despite my best efforts I just had to squeeze them together. As soon as I did, Jerome removed his fingers from me, leaving me feeling empty and spanked me hard.

“What did I say about that?” He barked, laying down another spank.

His spanking felt different this time. It felt pleasurable and sent a thrill up my spine.

“Sorry.” I whimpered.

“Sorry for what?” He spanked me again. “For being a needy little whore? Hm?” Another spank.

“Yes!” I gasped. “I’m a needy little whore! I just...”

“What? You just what?”

Jerome landed another slap at my core. It made my muscles clench, but it also aroused me so much more in a way I’d never thought I’d experience.

“What? What do you want, whore?”

“Please...”

“Big words, princess. What...” Spank. “Do you...” Another spank. “Want?”

“I want... I want you...” I forced, breathlessly.

“You want me? What do you want me to do, princess?” Jerome teased, tracing a finger along my burning entrance, just barely touching me.

“Please... Make me feel good, Jerome... Make me cum.”

“Are you gonna be a good girl?”

“Yes...”

“Are you gonna do as I say?”

“Yes, I will.”

“Exactly as I say?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes! Just please...Jerome.”

I couldn’t take it any longer. I felt so pathetic and needy. I needed him to touch me.

“So desperate.” He giggled sadistically. I supposed he loved seeing me beg.

Then, finally, he spread me open and dove his tongue deep into my wanting warmth. I closed my eyes and bit down hard on my lip as he swirled his tongue around inside me. I wanted to grab his hair and feel it in my fingers, but all I could do was squeeze my fists together in empty frustration.

Jerome grabbed a hand full of my ass, gripping it tightly, digging his nails in and rose his other hand to my pelvis front, pulling me down further onto his tongue. I squealed, a delightful mixture of pleasure and also pain from the tugging on my aching forearms. He ran his front hand down to play with my swollen clit, circling his fingers around beautifully.

He grinded his face deeply into me, sliding his tongue up, down, around and around inside me. He pressed his fingers down harder on my clit, forcing a loud moan out of me. I felt the pressure inside me build, coiling and tightening like a burning spring. I squeezed my thighs around his head in a desperate attempt to pull him deeper, his tongue nestling inside finding all of my sweet spots and lighting them on fire.

I could feel myself ready, ready to burst. He was pulling an amazing orgasm out of me and I wanted nothing more than to just let it go. All it took was one more upward jolt of his head, pushing his tongue that last little bit deep enough to push me over. I screamed out in erotic pleasure, letting the feeling flood me like warm water. My back arched and my legs convulsed until I withered, letting myself dangle from my cuffs in a breathless defeat.

Jerome slid his tongue out of me and pulled his face back away.

“You sing so pretty, dollface. Like a little birdie.” He said, squeezing the flesh off my ass.

He gave me one more light bite and a spank, before he rose back up to stand, snaking his hands along my sides all the way. He let his hands wander up to cup my breasts, massaging them softly. He leaned in close and began leaving wet kisses in the crook of my neck. I shuddered, his touch sending a cool tingle down my spine. He let his hands squeeze my breasts slightly harder, then pulled away and crept back around in front of me.

He stood facing me, his eyes locked on mine. They seemed to burn holes right into my flesh, creating a sense of fear in me. I was scared of Jerome Valeska, I truly was. But everything he was doing to me right now... The way he touched me, kissed me. I wondered how he managed it. How he was able to both terrify and arouse me in equal amounts.

Lost in my thoughts, I didn’t register his hand rising until it was firmly wrapped around my throat. He leaned down to kiss me, dominating my mouth with his tongue, making me taste myself. Once again, I felt the familiar warmth build in my core as I sensed we were not quite done here. He finished the kiss with a little nip to my bottom lip.

“Are you scared of me, doll?” He purred.

I swallowed hard, unsure if truth was wise here. Then I felt him increase the pressure around my throat, not wanting to wait for an answer.

“Yes.” I breathed.

“Good.” He said through an evil smirk.

He crashed his lips to mine once again, his free hand picking up my thigh to wrap around him. I locked both my legs around his waist, wanting to feel him close against me. I felt his erection hard, under his clothes, grinding into me and I wanted it. Badly. He pulled away from the kiss, leaving his taste on my tongue and raised his hand from my throat to grab hold of my face. He took his other hand away from my thigh and pulled at his tie. I didn’t drop my legs this time, instead I gripped tighter as he slid his tie from around his neck and scrunched it in his fist.

“Open your mouth.” He ordered.

I did as he said and he smiled, before spitting into my open lips and gagging me with his tie. I’d never had anyone do that before and it shocked me a little, but then again, I’d never had anyone like Jerome Valeska before.

He backed up slightly, just enough for him to reach down and unzip his trousers and pull down his underwear, freeing his erection. I couldn’t help but look down at it. It was bigger than any I’d taken before and I wasn’t sure how prepared I was. He started to slowly stroke himself, lifting up my chin to look at me.

He gently stroked a single finger across my jaw and then, suddenly, landed a harsh slap across my cheek. I yelped at the slap, causing a dangerous smile to form on Jeromes mouth. I should’ve been repulsed by him. He killed people and was aroused by my pain and fear, so why was I so attracted to him?

He angled himself underneath me so he was lined up and ready. He wrapped his hand back around my throat and then pushed forwards into me, causing us both to let out deep moans.

“You like that?”

I nodded and whimpered through the material of the tie. Jerome giggled darkly and with his free hand, gripped onto my waist.

“Brace yourself, princess.” He warned, through a poisonous smile.

He pulled back slowly, until he was almost completely out of me and then, like a bullet, ploughed himself right back in, jolting me backwards with force. He continued his thrusting rough and fast, making me whimper and bite down hard on the tie. I closed my legs tightly around him, pulling him closer and forcing him in deeper.

He let out a low, guttural groan and moved his hand upwards from my waist to slap me again, spitting at my face as he did so. I closed my eyes to endure the onslaught of him pounding inside me like a raging animal. I felt like a toy, dangling there for him to use as he liked, but still the searing pleasure of it all made me moan lustfully.

“Open those peepers, princess.” He commanded. “I want you to see exactly who’s in charge here.”

I opened my eyes and saw him grinning at me like a man possessed.

“You like this? You like me fucking you?” He growled, gripping my throat tighter.

All I could do was whimper and moan in response.

“I cuffed you and hung you up, hurt you, spat on you... even made you cry! And you still let me fuck you?” He laughed through shallow breaths. “You’re pathetic, you know that? A pathetic little whore.”

Jerome threw another slap at me and I felt myself tighten around his considerable length, taking him all deep inside me. He drove up into me like he was trying to break me open with his girth and I welcomed every inch of it.

“You’re so fucking tight.” He moaned.

I clenched my walls around him, the feeling of being filled by him sending flutters through me as he pushed in deeper and laughed.

“I don’t think your pussy ever wants to let me go, doll!” He grinned. “But I already know you like taking my cock like this, cause you’re such a good girl for me... I like that.”

I flushed at his words. I didn’t know why, but it made me feel good to please him and, in that moment, I would have done anything for him. I could feel my ecstasy creeping up on me, like magma rising inside a volcano. I cried out wantonly, the heat rising as he worked me, exploring every detail of my canal with his thick shaft.

He let go of my throat and moved both his hands to grab onto my ass and squeezed, steadying me so he could pound me harder and climb to release. His thrusts became erratic and sloppy and I could tell he was just as close as I was. I moaned loudly as he rammed into me harder and faster, burying himself deeper and making my arousal burn.

I could feel it coming, so close. I was about to boil over and all I needed was him. Just him. He continued thrusting like a raging animal, digging his nails into my flesh and scraping them along my ass, stinging sweetly. I whimpered at the sensation and tightened my legs.

“Cum for me, doll.” He panted. “I wanna feel you cum on my cock.”

He plunged into me, pushing the magma higher and just so close to bursting. It was coming. I could feel it.

He pounded again. So close. Again and again, so hard inside me. Just a little more...

I screamed out, closing my eyes and letting everything go. The feeling of my orgasm washed over me like a tidal wave of pure elation. My whole body shook from the force of it and I trembled like a leaf. Jerome continued to thrust into me until he too reached his climax. He growled like a beast and I felt him throb, releasing his hot load of sticky lust deep inside me.

We both relaxed, catching our breath and he stared down into my eyes. He unlatched his hands from the flesh of my ass and brought one round to gently stroke my cheek with his fingertips. It was quiet, but only for a minute.

He threw his head back and laughed like the madman he was, before pulling out of me and stepping back. My legs dropped to the floor and he began to put himself away and zip his trousers back up.

“Well, that was fantastic, dollface. Thanks for playing nice with me.” He said, throwing me a wink.

There was a loud metallic knock at the truck doors and I guessed whoever it was, was trying to get Jeromes attention.

“It’s been fun princess, really. But time waits for no man and I’ve got a party to attend” He said, smiling at me. “Well, more like crash.”

When he turned to leave, I tried to speak, but all that came out was intelligible muttering. He wasn’t going to leave me here, dangling, half naked and gagged like this? Was he? He began walking to the truck doors and I tried to call out.

“Oh! Wait, almost forgot.”

I felt a flood of relief when he began walking back to me.

“I’m gonna need this back.” He said and pulled the tie out of my mouth.

I was glad to finally be rid of it, but my joy was short lived, because he was starting to leave again.

“Hey...” I croaked; my mouth dry.

“Yeah, I’ll have someone come get you later.” He said, too nonchalantly for my liking. “For now, you can just... well, why don’t you just hang out?”

He laughed at his joke and opened the doors.

“Hey! You can’t leave me here!” I tried to shout, but my throat was too dry.

And then... he was gone. He really did just leave me alone, half naked in the back of a truck. How long would it be before someone found me? An hour? Two? The rest of the day?

All alone with my thoughts now, I decided the only thing to do now was wait. Wait and try and go over what the hell just happened between me and Jerome Valeska.

#gotham #jerome valeska #jerome x reader #fanfic #smut

543 notes · View notes

middleearthpixie · 2 years

Text

Where I Belong ~ Chapter Twenty-One

Summary: Smaug and the treasure hoard of Thrór grabs hold of Thorin…

Pairings: Thorin Oakenshield/ Noelle James (female oc)

Characters: Thorin Oakenshield, Noelle, the Company, Bard the Bowman

Warnings: Battle violence, the destruction of Esgaroth,

Rating: T

Word Count: 4,210 words

Tag List: @tschrist1 @i-did-not-mean-to @lathalea @bitter-sweet-farmgirl @linasofia @fizzyxcustard @legolasbadass @kibleedibleedoo @xxbyimm @ocfairygodmother @exhausted-humxn-being @shalinizhara @rachel1959 @laurfilijames @sketch-and-write-lover @sherala007 @enchantzz @knitastically @notlostgnome @myselfandfantasy

If you’d like to be added (or removed) to the tag list, please just let me know!

Previous chapters here and AO3

“He keeps asking for Dís.”

Fíli looked over at Noelle. “I beg your pardon?”

“He keeps asking for Dís. She’s your mother, right?”

“She is,” Fíli nodded, “and she would brain him if she were here. She hates it when he calls her by her given name. Which means, that’s all he usually calls her.”

Noelle chuckled. “Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

“But, how do you know of her?”

She smiled at him. “Your uncle spoke of you all, of how he stepped in to help her after your father died.”

Fíli offered up a sad smile. “He did, yes. Kíli doesn’t really remember him. All he knows is Thorin was always around.”

“I can see that.” She turned back to look at the water, feeling Thorin’s absence acutely now. She couldn’t wait to see him again. Please, keep him safe.

Darkness had fallen and Bofur had yet to return. A hint of the reheated stew hung in the air and Kili was more restless than ever. Noelle laid her hand against his forehead and quickly drew it away. “I wish Bofur would return already. What does kingsfoil even do? I’ve never heard of it.”

Óin looked up. “It is a wondrous herb, with almost magical healing properties and a multitude of uses.”

Wood creaked and she turned in hopes that meant Bofur and Sigrid had returned. A low rumbled sounded in the distance. A low, ominous rumble that she didn't think had anything to do with Bofur or Sigrid. Dust filtered down from the ceiling and she and Bard exchanged looks as Tilda said, “What’s happening?”

Bain looked over at the windows at the far end. “It’s coming from the mountain.”

Noelle’s gut kinked. Tilda looked up at her, then at her father. “Is that the dragon? Is it going to kill us?”

“I think it might very well be the dragon, but no,” Bard shook his head, “it isn’t going to kill us.” He reached up and yanked down a large black iron arrow. “Because I am going to kill it first.”

He left, with Bain on his heels, and Tilda looked up at her once more. “Now what?”

Drawing an arm about the girl’s shoulders, Noelle said, “We wait and if need be, we make a run for it.” She looked over at Fíli. “We should probably try to find a boat or something, shouldn’t we? I mean, I don’t know about you but I really have no desire to swim in that water again.”

Kíli moaned softly and Noelle sighed softly as she watched him stretch, then grimace. “Can we even move him?”

“I don’t know.” Fíli in turn looked at Óin. “Can we?”

“Only if absolutely necessary.”

Kíli moaned, louder this time, and as he tried to stretch once more, he grabbed at his wounded leg and let out a howl. More dust filtered down and Noelle looked up at the sudden thunder of footsteps above them.

“What the hell is that?”

Before anyone could answer, a window shattered and Tilda screamed when an orc burst through, followed by two more. Fíli dove for the cutlery drying on near the sink and tossed a blade to Óin as well, while Noelle grabbed the first thing she saw—a cast iron skillet (of course) on the stovetop. She swung, and to her shock, took an orc’s head clean off.

The spatter of black ooze turned her stomach as she stared down at the headless orc for one moment. Then, a flash of movement caught her attention and she swung about again, doing the same to the orc coming up alongside her. A knife whizzed past her, into the forehead of another orc and Tilda screamed once more, grabbed a fork, and stabbed another orc through the hand, impaling him to the table. The door swung open and the red-haired she-elf, and the blond he-elf who threatened Thorin in Mirkwood burst in.

Chaos broke loose in the house. Noelle armed Tilda with a smaller skillet and together, they worked as a team, smashing anything even remotely orcish, while Fili and Óin worked as a team with the elves as more orcs swarmed them. The five of them made quick work of dispatching the invaders, then the blond elf was gone, shouting something in elvish to his companion as he departed.

The she-elf paused in the doorway, her gaze on Kili. For a moment, Noelle thought she was going to say something, but she didn’t. She left the house, only to return moments later with a fistful of kingsfoil, Sigrid and Bofur on her heels.

Another low, managing rumble shook the house, but this one was far different from the earlier rumbles. It came from somewhere in the distance, and it made every hair on Noelle’s body stand on end.

She made her way outside, into the darkness. Snow fell once more, the wind whipped in from the water icy and frigid to sear her lungs, and she was glad to be in her jeans and sweater once more. They offered up a bit more warmth than any dress. But one glance down at the water and all she could think was, I do not want to jump in there if I don’t absolutely have to.

The soft, fiery glow in the distance dragged her thoughts from her clothes as it caught her eye. Her stomach knotted as the glow steadily grew both larger and brighter. Oh, shit…

“Is that what I think it is?” she whispered, unable to tear her eyes from it. And if it was what she thought it was, did that mean Thorin and the others had perished within Erebor’s walls?

Please, no… not that. She felt sick at the thought, her stomach churning wildly, bile rising sourly into the back of her mouth. She swallowed hard as Bofur came up behind her, his hand coming to rest on her shoulder. “The elf is saving Kíli.”

Noelle peered over her shoulder to see the she-elf standing over Kili, the kingsfoil in her fist, then turned back to stare into the snowy darkness. She heard something in the distance—a low rumble that seemed to go on far longer than any thunder she’d ever heard, and while she’d heard thunderclaps in snowstorms before, it still gave her pause. Somehow, she didn't think it was thunder at all. It was far different from the previous rumbles. This was almost throaty in its sound, shaking the house to its timbers, shaking all of Laketown, it seemed.

Without looking at Bofur, she said, “We need to get the girls out of here.”

“Aye. We do.” His hand tightened on her. “I think that’s the dragon. Stay here, I saw a boat anchored where we came up when we arrived. I’ll go get and meet ye below.”

He took off, clopping down the stairs, only landing on about half of them, and Noelle leaned into the the house to yell, “Tilda! Sigrid! We need to go now! Óin, Fíli, grab Kíli and get him down below where Bofur is!”

Then Noelle saw it.

The dragon.

Smaug.

At a distance, he really looked only slightly larger than a bat. But as he drew nearer, she could only stare as a horror unlike anything she’d ever felt swirled thorough her. A dragon. An honest-to-god fire-breathing dragon bore down on them, his leathery wings lazily propelling him across the night sky, his scales glinting in the odd brightness he created around himself. For a moment, Noelle’s mind went absolutely blank and it wasn’t until she watched the beast’s belly begin to glow—first yellow, then orange, then red, that she managed to break out of her stupor.

“Noelle!” Bofur voice rose with a hint of panic in it. “Come on! Jump!”

“I have to wait for the girls!” She leaned inside once more. “Come one, guys, we need to go now!”

As Tilda and Sigrid appeared in the doorway, Smaug swooped overhead, the heat emanating from him like a blast furnace. A fireball burst free over their heads and without thinking, Noelle grabbed Sigrid’s hand in one, Tilda’s in the other, and they all leaped down into a long boat bobbing just below them.

The girls landed without any trouble, but Noelle landed oddly, rolling her ankle in the process. She bit back her yelp as Fíli caught her wrist and helped her up. “Are you all right?”

She nodded even as a throbbing burn pulsed thorough her ankle and foot. “I’m fine. Let’s just go, okay? Please?”

The house went up in flames, the heat blistering and unlike anything Noelle had ever felt before. It dissipated the cold around them and for a moment, she thought her sweater actually melted. But then, Fíli and Bofur rowed and they pulled away from the inferno and for the first time since arriving in Esgaroth, Noelle was actually grateful for the cold.

Tilda and her sister clung to one another, Kíli stared up at the cloudy night sky, Bofur steered the boat, and Óin crouched to prod Noelle’s ankle. “Let me look, lassie.”

“It’s fine. Concentrate on Kíli, please.”

“He will be fine. Elf magic is a wonderful thing. I’ve never seen anything like it and it was a gift to be present for it.”

She sucked in her breath as he prodded her ankle, and she couldn’t hold back her cry. But then the air stirred hot around them and she jerked her head up to see Smaug making another pass, each fire he created blazed hotter and brighter than any fire she had ever seen, but Fili remained calm and he and Bofur steered the boat through the canals.

Shards of fiery wood exploded all around them, raining down on them like hellfire. One swept past Noelle’s cheek and she sucked in a sharp breath at the stinging burn it left in its wake. She spun away, throwing herself over Kili, who was on the bottom of the boat, gripping his wounded leg.

“We’re almost out and look!” Bofur pointed in the direction of a flaming bell tower. “He’s going to take him!”

Noelle craned her neck, shifting so Kili could see as well. Smaug made a slow, lazy turn, toward the tower, and the heat grew ever more intense as he prepared to launch another firebomb.

But Bard and his son remained cool and Noelle’s heart leapt into her throat as they all watched the black-tipped arrow slice through the fiery orange sky and right into the missing scale on Smaug’s left breast.

“He hit him! Look!” Fili hollered, pointing up at the bell tower from which Bard had shot the fatal arrow.

They all watched in wide-eyed amazement as the dragon spun high into the sky, the fireball in his throat dying into blackness, his magnificent scales no longer gleaming, but blackening and smoking. He spun about and then…

“Uh… Bofur…” Fíli’s voice rang out with a notes of panic woven into it. “He’s going to hit the water any moment. We might want to hang—”

He never got the chance to finish and Noelle threw herself over Kíli once more, only to have Óin throw himself over her.

She never saw the dragon hit the water, but she most definitely felt it. It seemed as if the entire world shook. A huge wave rose, lifted them up above the bulkheads of most of the houses of Esgaroth. Her belly whooshed as they became airborne and Kíli’s arm wrapped about her waist, tightening to pull her against him as he said, “Thorin will kill me if I allow anything to happen to you.”

They sailed for what seemed like forever, but then slammed back down, the wind knocked from their lungs for several terrifying moments when they landed against the lake's surface. The boat hit, then skipped across the lake surface like a rock skimming along it. They all bounced around, but thankfully remained in the boat and miraculously remained unharmed. And when she could actually breathe once more, Noelle slowly sat up to see the center of the lake, where Smaug had hit it, go calm as the firedrake slipped silently into the water’s depths.

“Is he… is he dead?” Sigrid asked from the bow.

“Oh, please, let him be dead,” Tilda murmured, clutching her sister’s hand.

Noelle nodded slowly, turning to her. “I think so, yes.”

Behind them, Esgaroth glowed like the fires of Hell, almost every structure there aflame. The firelight’s glow reflected in Tilda and Sigrid’s eyes and without thinking, Noelle reached out to take each girl’s hand. They squeezed hers back, but that was their only show of emotion.

The burning wreckage grew smaller as the current carried them toward the shores on the wrong side of the lake. Noelle sank between the two girls and cuddled them against her as the night’s chill crept in. All three of them shivered through the night and by the time the first rays of morning stretched across the crimson sky, frost layered their hair and clothes and Noelle was fairly sure she would never feel her fingers again. Her ankle hurt. Her cheek stung. Her shoulders and upper arms were sore from swinging a damn iron skillet at orcs. She was so done, it wasn’t funny.

The boat ran aground, along with so many others, and Fíli was the first to climb out. He stretched, and then helped Kíli out. Then, they both went to work helping the others out. Noelle winced as she put weight on her sore right ankle, but thankfully it held her up.

All around them, Esgaroth’s survivors searched for family members, while Kíli, Fíli, and Óin worked to shove the boat back into the water. As they got it moving, Fíli turned to her. “We need to go.”

She hugged Tilda and Sigrid. “Thank you, both. For everything. Now, your da’s waiting. So you should probably go.”

They looked up to see Bard and took off toward him, while Noelle hobbled over to Fíli, who looped an arm about her waist to help her into the boat. She settled next to Kíli, who finally no longer looked quite so gray. “You look better.”

“I feel better.” He smiled. “Thank you.”

“Thanking me? For what? I didn’t do anything.”

“You read to me.” His smile widened. “You didn't think I was aware of it, did you?”

“No, honestly. I didn’t.”

“I did. And your voice was quite soothing.”

Exhaustion slammed into her, and she couldn’t hold back her yawn. “I’m so sorry,” she said, rubbing her eye with one hand, which came away soot-smudged and she realized it had been days since she’d worn makeup or done her hair and she could only imagine what a sight she presented.

But the funny thing was, it didn't trouble her at all. She didn't even miss the routine of it, and not having to worry about heat protectant, leave-in conditioner, hair spray, heat tools was actually rather freeing.

Of course, her hair was frozen and her face was sooty, and she probably smelled like a refugee from a forest fire, but she didn't care. She would be back with Thorin very soon and that was all that mattered.

Thorin.

Her spirits, which had been on the rise since dawn broke, sank then. She had no way of knowing whether or not he was even alive, or if Smaug had killed him. She swallowed hard. No. You cannot take him away from me again. You just can’t.

But of course, the universe had laughed at her more than once already in the past few weeks, so anything was possible and so by the time they reached the far side of the lake and began the trek to the Lonely Mountain on foot, she spent the entire time bracing herself for whatever they found when they reached Erebor.

****

The glow could be seen from where the dwarves stood just outside of Erebor’s walls. Thorin stared at the burning ruins of what was once Esgaroth, his gut churning, his eyes shimmering with tears.

Fíli.

Kíli.

Óin.

Bofur.

Noelle.

Bilbo came up beside him. “What have we done?”

Thorin couldn’t answer. The rock stuck in his throat made speech impossible. What had they done? Their plan was too simple to not work. Drown Smaug in molten gold. Let what the dragon coveted above all else be what led to his ruin.

Only it didn't work.

Now the floor of the Hall of Kings was inlaid with the same molten gold. It would forever be a reminder of Thorin’s failure. A reminder that his failure led to the deaths of some of the only people he’d ever loved. Some of the only people who’d ever loved him in return. He’d failed them in the worst way possible.

Balin leaned against the rocks on Thorin’s left. “They might have gotten out.”

Without taking his eyes off the immense dark shadow that was Smaug making another pass over Esgaroth, Thorin shook his head. “We both know that is not likely.”

“We don’t know that.”

“We do.” Thorin forced himself to turn away, to look back at the ruined façade that was once the main gates of Erebor. It had been blasted away from top to bottom by Smaug, rubble still crumbling to the ground from it. Erebor’s pull caught him in its firm grasp, and without a word or a look back, he started for the city.

“Wait!” Ori’s voice rang out to shatter thee dwarven silence. “What was that flash? What happened?”

Thorin paused, hearing Bilbo’s, “I—I think he’s been hit.”

“Yes!” Nori shouted. “He was. Look!”

Thorin spun about to see the dragon rising into the night sky, glowing orange at first, but then… then he slowly blackened, charring as he died and then without warning, he plummeted into the lake to spend up a a huge splash followed by an even bigger wave.

He always thought he’d feel a sense of relief once Smaug was gone, but as he stared out at the burning ruins that had been Esgaroth, relief was not what coursed through him. Knowing what more Smaug had cost him left him almost numb. His kin were gone. His friends were gone.

His love was gone.

His eyes stung, but when he closed them, no tears leaked out. The numbness pervaded every nook of his body, every fiber and sinew. When Noelle told him what would happen if they became intimate with one another, an icy dread filled him at the thought of having to lose her. He would rather sacrifice himself than lose her.

But now, as he stared off into the night, into the fireball whose light stretched almost to Mirkwood it seemed, he realized he felt nothing but the urge to go back into Erebor. He was tired. His clothes were still damp with sweat from the heat of the forges, from the fire Smaug spit at them, from the battle itself.

“We need to find the Arkenstone,” he said over his shoulder as he once more started back toward the front gate.

“Thorin,” Dwalin came up to him, “we should go back and see if there’s anything we might do, see if the others made it out.”

“They didn’t," he replied flatly, looking over Dwalin’s shoulders as fire consumed what looked to be the whole of Esgaroth. “There is no way they survived that inferno. But,” he shifted his glance to Dwalin now, “we are here and we need to find that stone. Master Baggins!”

Bilbo jumped. “Yes?”

“Let’s go.”

“But, your nephews… Noelle…”

Thorin shook his head. “I will mourn them once we finish what we set out to do. Completing the quest is how we honor them.”

He didn't wait for anyone else to protest, but started off down the rocky, winding path that led to the bridge into Erebor. A hint of sadness swirled through him at the sight of the once beautiful kingdom, now gone to ruin and ash and soot. The walls were scratched and gouged from Smaug’s talons, the stone that once been polished so much, it was almost mirror-like now blacked with soot and scorch marks. Corners had been crumbled away, the furnishings either shredded by moths or destroyed by the dragon himself.

Some of the grand staircases were in ruin, risers gone, railings broken or missing. His heart sank a little lower as he found himself in what had once been a grand throne room. Thrór’s throne still stood, its upper right corner missing and crumbled, in the center of the chamber. The obsidian walls had once been inlaid with runes and words etched of fine silver and gold. They were also smudged and smeared, but they remained intact.

Thorin stared at the throne that was now his. It stood atop a dais seven steps up from the rest of the room, with space on either side for guards to flank their king. His boots thudded dully against the chipped stone, the thud echoing almost painfully about the chamber. It matched the dull thud of his heartbeat as he reached the throne and the memories of the day Smaug arrived swirled through his mind.

His eyes closed, the need to find the stone that would give him ultimate dominion over the other clans rose sharply within him. That was all that mattered now—finding the Arkenstone. He would not fail at that.

“Thorin?”

His shoulders stiffened at the sound of Bilbo Baggins’ voice. “Have you found it yet?”

“I’m sorry?”

“The Arkenstone,” he didn't turn toward the Hobbit, but instead stared up that the crevice in the throne’s back, where the stone would go once he had it, “have you found it?”

“We only just came in.”

“So go and find it.”

“Thorin,” Bilbo cleared his throat, “I really think we should—”

Now he spun about. “I care not what you think at the moment, Master Baggins! Find that stone and then I might care a bit more.”

Bilbo went visibly pale, but he drew in a deep breath and tried again, “But the others—”

“They are lost and crying over them will not bring them back. Now, you were brought here to do a job. Go and do that job.”

Bilbo’s jaw visibly tightened but he bobbed his head just the same. “Of course.”

“And do not bother me until it is found.”

“Of course.”

Thorin waited for him to leave, then, with a low sigh, he sank into the dirty throne. The stone was cold and unyielding but at the same time, a sense of power unlike anything he’d ever felt before surged through him.

He leaned his head back, his eyes closing, and as they did, images flashed through his mind. Noelle on her knees before him. Intense, almost blinding pleasure as she bent to him. Her beneath him, her glorious hair spread out under her. Her astride him. Her snuggling against him, her head on his chest, his fingers moving over that silky hair. Dancing with her in Bard’s great room. Waking with her in his arms, where she felt just so perfect.

No. Not now.

He opened his eyes and rose from the throne. He stepped down from the dais, left the chamber to make his way back out into the open corridor. The staircase to his left remained intact, and as he descended, the glint of gold caught his eye. His heart sped up as he came off the staircase and out onto a landing that overlooked an absolutely sea of treasure.

The very sight of it stole the breath from his lungs. Gold. Gemstones. Treasures as far as the eye could see and deep enough to drown a dragon in. He’d forgotten just how much wealth Erebor held. Had forgotten just how deep the treasure hoard of Thrór truly was.

But that wasn’t all. Something in the distance caught his eye. It sat high atop a swell of gold and jewels. From where he stood, Thorin thought it was perhaps a golden plate or bowl of some sort, but he couldn’t couldn’t quite tell.

The treasure shifted beneath his feet as he waded out over the swells. More than once, he lost his balance, but quickly regained it, almost afraid that if he fell, he’d drown in that sea of riches. It wasn’t easy, trekking across the ocean of wealth, as it shifted this way and that beneath his boots, and by the time he reached it, he was out of breath and sweating once more.

It was no plate, nor was it a bowl.

It was the crown of the King of Erebor.

Crafted of gold and jade and onyx, it bore the raven, the symbol of Erebor, across its front. One corner was slightly smashed in, but other than that, it was in pristine condition.

He lifted it. It was far heavier than it looked, and when he settled it on his head, it fit perfectly. It took him a minute or two to adjust to the feel of it, but then, he smiled.

The King Under the Mountain had returned.

#The Hobbit #Thorin Oakenshield #Hobbit Fic #Hobbit Fanfic #Fan fiction #The Hobbit fan fiction #Thorin x OC #AU #Thorin Fic #Is it hot in here?#Modern Woman #Romance #The Hobbit DoS #The Hobbit BOTFA

24 notes · View notes

dwaekibinnie · 3 years

Text

Locked eyes

Seo Changbin x female reader

Tags: smut, comfort smut, friends to lovers au, experienced reader x inexperienced male lead, riding, hand job, couch sex, third person pov insert, soft smut, slight unprotected sex.

Word count: 2338

[Not proof read so please pardon the mistakes, if any]

Minors DO NOT interact

His inexperienced hands travelled clumsily over her fragile body. He wouldn't admit the fact that he had infact only done such deed once before, just so he could act all cool and experienced in front of her.

But she already knew.

Unknowingly he was trying to please her that none of the two understood at that point in time. Specially not he himself. Maybe he was just too focused on trying to act experienced that he didn't even realise how he so desperately wanted the beautiful lady in front of him.

She wanted to let him do things his own way just so see how it turns out. And boy was he clumsy. The more he tried to act experienced, the more gawky it got.

Hands trying to find a place to touch, lips moving clumsily across her body, his body was almost as stiff as it got. She wanted so bad to take the lead but then again the want to see him pull it through got to her so much, she let him do as he pleased.

Until she couldn't contain her giggle anymore. Changbin looked at her taken a back. More so embarrassed. He figured out how his act wasn't putting up anymore and he took a step back sighing in defeat.

"Fine fine. Don't laugh. I'm not that experienced okay?" He decided to break the awkwardness with the small pink dust across his face. "You could've just told me so. There's nothing wrong with being inexperienced you know. We all have out first times."

She spoke as her hands travelled their ways up to his chest that was heaving up and down rapidly with heaviness. "Its not my first time." He managed to mutter even with the thrill of it all that she of course got a hold of.

"So you've done it before?" She asked with raised eyebrows and it didn't take him long to answer. "Once. I've done it once before."

Even though she already knew the answer, she decided to hide it. After all she didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable in front of her so she said nothing about it. Changbin was almost sweating to the nervousness he found himself in when she decided to take the lead.

"Why don't you let me guide you through hm?" She spoke quickly that caught him off guard. Changbin wasn't the type to just admit to anyone and anything but this time he was sure of what he wanted.

He wanted to experience it all if its with her. He wanted to know and learn new things with her. He still didn't realise how much he wanted her, just thought its curiosity that's taking the best of him. Even though he ended up agreeing with a faint nod.

It didn't take her long to hop down the kitchen counter and make way to the couch grabbing his strong hands. She pushed him lightly asking him to stay seated. The fireworks inside of Changbin were out of control at this point the more she took the lead.

Changbin sat silently on the couch watching her as she sat on his lap taking his hands and placing them on the small of her back. He seemed a little shaky at first but he quickly got comfortable with it.

The fact that they've been friends for long supposedly helped. Changbin kept his hands on her back strong. Almost like in fear that if he lets go she'll melt away. But he made sure to keep his eyes on her the whole time.

Her hands slid up his broad shoulders to his neck while she looked into his eyes for a brief moment before putting her tender lips onto his. The moment their lips touched, Changbin's grip got stronger almost putting her in place.

As the kiss grew deeper, her hands kept going further to his hair until her fingers we're all tangled in his hair. And unconsciously had Changbin's hands started to roam all over her body till they reached under her shirt and touched her bare skin.

She couldn't help a soft moan from escaping her lips which gave Changbin the confidence he was lacking a few minutes ago. And without further delay her shirt was off of her body. She also didn't wait any further to take his tee off revealing his toned muscled and pecks.

Her dainty hands travelled along his strong muscles not leaving a single place untouched. Changbin at this point was also getting desperate to feel how it felt to touch her bare skin, kiss her naked body. And to his surprise she wanted the same as well he realised.

"Touch me more." She groaned taking his hands away from her back to her bare waist. And little by little his confidence started growing the more he started touching her.

His hands travelled from her waist to her chest and in a swift moment her bra was flying across the room. Changbin looked at her with such awe in his eyes she's never seen a man look at her like that before.

And instantly she started feeling the heat. The thrill of having Changbin to herself. The thrill of getting to experience such an event with him. She didn't realise how much she craved Changbin's touch before their bare bodies touched.

Neither did Changbin. Both of them were unaware of their desires, wants they have for each other. How desperately he wanted to touch her, to feel the tender of her skin under his touch. He realised this was what he's been missing out on all this time.

His patience kept growing thinner and thinner the more she played with his body. Leaving wet kisses here and there to small pecks all over. Their lips had made more contact in this small span of time than they two have ever made.

He just couldn't get enough of her. Every small touch of hers left his body heated up. And by the increasing time, he felt his arousal growing more and more. But he felt the strong shiver down his spine when she rolled her hips against his slight boner.

Automatically a groan passed through his lips and his hands snapped to her hips. Her hips kept rolling onto him until he felt himself getting harder with each stroke. And without delay she moved back to unbutton his jeans leaving him only in his boxers.

He made sure to undress her in the process as well as his shaky hands struggled to take her panty off that just left her with a soft chuckle at his deed. And before he could feel nervous or uneasy she placed her lips on his once again.

The more time passed, the more comfortable Changbin got to the point he didn't hesitate to put his tongue in her mouth which caught her off guard but excited her at the same time. While her hands travelled to his boxers palming his cock slowly, his hands made their way to her bare chest.

Cupping her boob in his hands almost mesmerised to the sight presented in front of him, he plays with the nipple of her other boob. She can't control her moans at this point only to let it out right into his ears as her head drops to his shoulder.

And all the while he was pleasuring her, she made sure to give him a hand job he didn't realised he needed so bad. Her dainty hands wrapped around his thick cock, pumping up and down while her fingers flick on his tip a bit. This is what he wanted but never realised.

She continued pumping his cock until his groans got louder and more stern. He felt like he was so close to cumming but he held on while he used his own hands over her to pump his cock.

The thick veins around his cock getting more prominent all the while she was pumping him and before it was too late she let go of him. Changbin had kept his eyes on her this whole time and the way his eyes would study her made her feel like she was on top of the world.

It felt unreal. Sure she's had sex before. Sure she's had heated moment's with other guys before but this here with Changbin felt surreal. Such emotions she's never felt before with any guy. Such desires she's never felt for anyone.

She was feeling it all at the moment. So she didn't want to delay. Putting her hands on his shoulder she placed herself on his tip before slowly sinking down on his cock. Leaving Changbin with a groan while he throws his head back.

"Fuck-" was all he managed to let out while he felt the pleasure himself watching her take his cock in. So surreal. His hands gripping tightly around her tiny waist as a strand of curses and his name slurs out of her mouth.

She stays still for a while keeping her eyes on him which he does too before she starts slowing moving up and down on his cock. Her back arches to the feeling of his thick veiny cock stretching her insides to the fullest.

Heavy panting fills the quiet room with the slick sound of skin slapping against each other. A few moans and groans here and there. She was adamant in calling out his name every time she sinked down on him and he was firm in keeping his eyes glued to her.

He has never seen a sight more beautiful than this he thought to himself when his hand went to grab on her hands and entangled his fingers with her. She opened her eyes for a brief second before leaning to place her lips on his.

The more she moved, the thinner his patience become. Her walls clenched so perfectly around his cock that it was taking everything in him to not cum right away. But he couldn't wait any longer.

When he took her by the waist and placed her on the couch getting on top of her, her eyes went wide. She never thought Changbin would take the lead even after all of it. Well guess she was wrong.

His hands entwined with her moved slowly to above her head and stayed there while he made sure to claim her lips once again. His tip grazing against her entrance made her desperate.

Desperate to feel his cock buried deep inside her once again. To feel his cock pulsate everytime it enters her. "Changbin" she spoke breaking the kiss to which he hummed.

"Please move." She plead and he executed. He started moving into her in a slow pace while her hips were bucking forward for more friction. The moment he entered her it felt ecstatic.

Something she's never felt before. And also something he's never felt before. Sex was good and all, but this felt dreamlike. Pinning her arms over her head, he leaned forward to connect their lips.

And before they knew Changbin's lips were away from her lips and on different places on her body. Purple marks being left here and there as her hand placed on his butt wanting him as close as possible.

As their bare bodies pressed against each other, she realised how much she needed him and not those countless nights of shitty sex. This is what counts as good sex she thought to herself.

Changbin on the other hand felt on cloud nine. Her body felt perfect under his touch. He never thought he'd feel this way when none of them thought of each other as more than friends.

But this today made them realised that there had always been that lingering feeling they couldn't find out until now.

Changbin's pace kept getting faster with every ticking second as they both were nearing their high. His eyes fixated on the place they were connected while her eyes kept onto his face.

With lust blown pupil she studied him as he and she herself neared their high and with a string of hight pitched moans followed by his name, she finally let the knot in her stomach snap, cumming all over his cock.

While she was cumming and clenching down on him, he couldn't help but feel his high close in as well and not long after her, he pulled out of her cumming on her stomach.

Sweat gripping down his temple coating his face and his bare chest almost glazing with sweat. Her hands travelled slowly to his chest as they looked at each other and she couldn't help a smile from forming on her face.

Changbin's ears got red as he leaned down to close the gap between them holding her waist down. And soon he helped her sit back up on the couch while they cooled off a bit.

"So...how was it?" Changbin asks all nervous knowing very well how she's had countless sex before and knew exactly the difference between good and bad sex. She turned to look at him with beaming eyes before chuckling a little.

She waited a few moments before answering as she thought what would be the words to describe such good sex. It sure made Changbin anxious.

"Why won't you answer? Was it that bad?" As the anxiety takes over he asks again waiting eagerly for confirmation. To him it was supposedly the best thing that has happened but what was it like to her was all that mattered to him now.

Watching him get all anxious about it made her giggle making Changbin's ears grow even more red if that's possible. But she decides to answer while she scoots closer to him putting her lips on his for a final kiss.

"It was the best" was what she said in between the kiss making Changbin smirk while pulling her body closer to his. She couldn't lie to herself that this infact was definitely the best feeling she's ever had.

#seo changbin x reader #seo changbin #stray kids #smut oneshot #smut #changbin x female reader #skz bang chan #skz lee know #skz changbin #skz hyunlix #skz jisung #skz felix #skz seungmin #skz in生 #comfort smut #third person pov #soft smut

86 notes · View notes

randomrosewrites · 3 years

Text

From the beginning to the very end.

Seeing the one you love fall for someone else hurts.

Pairing: Diluc X GN reader (unrequited), mentioned Kaeya x reader (not focused on) Words: 3.3K Warnings/ tags: Alcohol/ drinking mention, unrequited love, reader drinks to cope at one point, general angst. a/n: This was requested by anon. I’ve taken the prompt and altered it a bit, Kaeya and Diluc are both emotionally complicated men *sigh* Someone help them.

Your arrival into Diluc’s life is with all the grace of a baby fawn attempting to stand. Choppy. Awkward. A tad pitiable.

It’s a Friday night at Angel’s Share. The worst ones to be bartender, and precisely why Diluc always drags himself into town to suffer for a few hours. It’s the days where the knights, both seniors and new recruits, gather to spend their weekly wages of mora. He knows the tradition well, after his time with the knights. He used to always sit in the back corner with Kaeya, the two giggling as they drank non-alcoholic cider.

…but the past is the past, and he refuses to dwell on it any further.

They trickle in sometime around 9pm. They’re easy to spot. Uniforms too pristine, armor too shiny. He watches as wide-eyed recruits alongside experienced knights file into the reserved table at the back.

The brave one is sent from the flock to the bar, to order drinks for the table. Diluc gives you his best intimidating stare, arms crossed over his chest. You fiddle with the front of your uniform as you approach the bar, nervously shifting from foot to foot.

“Hello Sir, uh, could I have uhm…” you take a second to count on your fingers. “Ten drinks, please?”

Well, at least you can get your sentence out. (Sawyer, one of the new recruits from a few months back, mumbled everything. It took Diluc ten minutes to figure out what he wanted.) “What kind?”

“Oh…the regular kind?”

He could make this easier on you, but he decidedly doesn’t. “There is no regular kind. Dandelion wine? Lamp-Grass cider?”

“Uh, ten glasses of dandelion wine, please.”

He raises a brow. “Everyone is of age, even the recruits?”

“Oh, yes, the younger ones’ curfew ended an hour ago.”

One quick glance over proves your truth. Fine. He gets the drinks ready quite easily. It’s just pouring wine from the barrels into their tankers. Once he has them on a tray, he says, “Ten thousand Mora.”

“Oh…uh…” you stare at your feet in embarrassment, apparently just realizing that yes drinks cost mora. “I-“

“If you can’t pay,” he starts, annoyance seeping into his voice. “Then I suggest you get out.”

Maybe that was a bit too harsh. Your jaw clenches. Your hands tighten into fists. Diluc thinks you’re about to burst into tears or run out the front door when a hand lands on your shoulder.

“Not to worry, I’ll cover the costs for this.”

Of course. He’d be here, of all nights.

You look to your saviour, lighting up. “Oh, thank you, Captain Kaeya.”

Kaeya smiles amicably, patting your shoulder. “My pleasure. Join the others, I’ll carry the drinks there shortly.”

You hurry off to the table, not one to disobey your superior’s orders. Diluc and Kaeya are left alone at the bar, the former frowning, the later smiling.

Kaeya places a sack of mora on the counter. “Feel free to count it, every coin is in there.”

Diluc snatches it, tossing it under the cabinet. (Kaeya always pays in full. Either that or he purposely omits a single coin, just to fuck with him. But it’s not worth it for Diluc to count ten thousand coins individually.)

“Corrupting fresh recruits already, aren’t you?” Diluc says.

Kaeya chuckles dryly. “Why, Master Diluc, I’d never do such an atrocious thing.”

Kaeya picks up the tray before Diluc can make some sort of witty retort. “Now, I’ve got to amuse myself. Enjoy your night, Master Diluc.”

Kaeya remains out of his hair for the rest of the night. By all accounts, it’s a good thing, but tonight, it only makes Diluc moodier. Especially when he glances over at the knights table, spotting the captain’s arm strung over the back of your chair.

---

“What on earth are you doing?”

You jump, turning to face Diluc, leaning against the nearby tree. He’d been patrolling the area for threats when he’d noticed you, swinging your sword about in the middle of Windrise. The fact that he’d managed to catch you by surprise unnerved him. (You were a knight; you’d need to learn to be alert.)

“Practicing, Master Diluc.” You wipe the sweat from your face with your shirt and Diluc quickly averts his eyes to a group of slimes slugging around the Anemo Arcon Statue. He’d have to deal with them later.

“Don’t the knights have a dedicated training area?” They do. He knows this, outside the city walls or on the northern shores of Cider Lake, he used to go there and take recruits when he was a captain, make them run up and down the sloping hills all afternoon in full armour.

“Ah, they do, yes, but I mostly prefer to train alone.”

Diluc chews on your words for a moment, before pushing off from the tree and striding towards you. “Hold your sword again.”

You hesitate, drawing your sword and holding it like you were doing previously.

Diluc covers his hands with yours, moving them along the sword. “Adjust your hands like this. You’ll have more force when you swing and you’re less likely to hurt yourself if you hit something solid.”

He steps back, allowing you to swing a few times in the air. “Use your chest more, not just your arms – good. Again.”

About an hour passes, with Diluc giving instructions, doing a very bad job of hiding his stares, and with you doing as he says. He doesn’t realize how long it’s been until you sheath your sword, and the sun has set over the horizon.

“I apologize, Master Diluc, but I’ve got to get back to the headquarters now.”

“Oh.” He says, stupidly. Of course, you’d have to leave, to go back to the knights, but that thought hadn’t crossed his mind. “I see, yes. I suppose you should.”

You bow respectfully. “Thank you for your help, you really are as sweet as Captain Kaeya says.”

He suppresses the growl that rises from his throat. Figures, Kaeya would call him that. “Mhm.”

You salute him, the standard knight’s salute. He nods his head as you start back towards Mondstadt, pondering why he decided to help you, until you fade from sight.

---

He swears, he doesn’t mean to keep meeting you like this.

He had been exploring an abandoned domain north of Wolvendom, looking for any members of the abyss order. Fortunately – or unfortunately, there hadn’t been anything but slimes and old artifacts inside, and he’d come out soaked head to toe with water.

He was starting up the path when he saw you huddled by an electro crystal, poking it with your sword and jolting back when it shocked you.

“…you can’t break those with normal attacks,” he says. “They’re elemental crystals.”

You turn around, not surprised by his sudden presence (good, you’re learning.) “You can break them?”

Arcons, do they not teach the knights anything anymore?

Instead of arguing, he simply demonstrates, calling flames to his claymore and slicing the rock. An explosion of pyro and electro occurs, shattering the crystal into purple chunks.

You gape at the crystals. “Wow, you’re amazing, Master Diluc.”

He flushes at your praise, coughing and adjusting his tie. “It’s nothing. What are you interested in with the crystals anyways?”

“Captain Albedo requested them. I guess I’ll have to get outrider amber to gather them, or klee, perhaps…'' you collect the chunks into a small bag, standing up and brushing the dust from your pants. “Thank you again, Master Diluc. You always seem to be helping me out a lot.”

“It’s no trouble,” he says, swallowing for a moment. His throat feels tight and his palms are sweating in his gloves.

You salute him. He nods. They’re your usual goodbyes, nowadays. He watches you march off, the crystals clinking around in your bag.

“Wait,” he splutters, the objection coming from his throat without thinking.

You turn around, waiting expectantly. Diluc swallows, again. (When did he get so warm?)

“Next time, please just call me Diluc.”

You blink carefully, then smile. “Alright, Diluc.”

The sound of his name on your tongue makes his heart race and sends electricity through his stomach.

(And not just because of the nearby electro crystals.)

---

Two days later, a bag of purple electro crystals appears at your doorstep in the Knight’s headquarters. There is no name from the sender, but you suspect who it is from the emblem of the dawn winery logo upon the bag.

You smile to yourself, then hurry to deliver the goods to Captain Albedo.

---

“Do you have a crush on someone, Master Diluc?”

He nearly drops his teacup in his lap, sputtering into his drink. Adeline doesn’t even flinch, handing him a handkerchief to wipe his mouth with. His owl preens herself on its stand, indifferent to her master’s squabbling.

“P-pardon?”

“I asked if you had a crush on anyone.”

“…what would make you consider that?”

She clears the table swiftly, shrugging. “You seem to be in good spirits. You’ve been smiling more, and you’re more pleasant.”

He frowns. “Are you suggesting I’m usually moody?”

Adelinde’s face remains blank. “Not at all, sir.”

She bows and leaves him to his thoughts and paperwork.

A crush. Ridiculous…he’s not a schoolboy. And besides, he hasn’t been acting differently. Sure, he’s taken more shifts on Friday night, and he’s been visiting Windrise more often in hopes of maybe running into a certain knight, but that doesn’t mean anything. It’s all justifiable.

…

His owl cocks her head at him, even she knows when he’s lying to himself.

“…don’t look at me like that.” He huffs, turning around in his desk, back facing the owl.

---

Once the thought is in Diluc’s head, he can’t get it out. It doesn’t help that over the next few months, your presence around him only amplifies his feelings.

Every breath you take, every little movement you make - it transfixes him. He feels drawn to you naturally, wanting to be closer to you, coming up with more and more ridiculous topic ideas just so he can hear you speak.

He feels happy. He begins looking forward to the next day and the next week, not apprehensive about what new problems might arise.

And just as soon as he’s settled into the norm, the world decides to rip it away from him.

---

The knights file into their usual spots on a friday night. Diluc greets them with the same, stiff nods, except this time, his scowl isn’t as deep, and the furrow in his brows is loose. For the knights coming to celebrate means that he might have a chance to see you.

And he does. Diluc can’t stop the way his lips turn upwards when the door swings open and you file in. You give a wave, he nods back.

He does his best to not stare as you socialize with the other knights - (there really are a lot of them here tonight. Even Captain Albedo is among them) - but he fails miserably. So much so that he forgets to serve the other patrons up front.

It’s a relief when you eventually wander over to the bar. You don’t even need to tell him your order anymore - he just gets to doing it immediately.

“Big celebration?” he asks.

You slide into the seat and smile. “I suppose you could say that.”

He raises a brow and pushes the drinks towards you, leaning on the bar. “Oh? Is it a knights secret I’m not privy to know about?”

You swat at him harmlessly and his breathing hitches at your chuckle. “No, not a secret. It’s just nice to celebrate for celebration's sake, you know?”

He does not, but nods anyways. “I suppose it is. In any case, you seem very happy.”

You cover your growing smile with your hand. “Do I?”

“Yes, did you get a promotion? Replace Kaeya as Cavalry Captain?”

“No! No, nothing like that…” you laugh and shake your head. “But Kaeya…”

He hadn’t expected his joke to actually hold some truth. He presses, “Kaeya?”

“Well, we -” you avert your gaze, eyes softening in bliss. “We’re um - a thing. Now.”

Diluc pales, nearly falling off the bar.

“Oh.”

“Yes...please keep it a secret, we don’t want anyone knowing just yet.”

Diluc’s head spins. It feels like a lump of coal is stuck in his throat. He swallows and tries to stop his breaths from becoming erratic.

“Congratulations… I hope-” his voice cracks and he clears his throat. “I wish the best for the both of you.”

“Thank you, Diluc.” you reach over and pat his hand. He barely conceals a flinch, wanting to rip it away. “

You walk back to the knights, and for the rest of the night, he operates on autopilot, picking at the remaining shattered pieces of his heart.

---

It hurts.

Rain and sweat get in his eyes. He ducks to avoid a swing of a club, swinging his fiery claymore in retaliation. He doesn’t know how long he’s been here, only that his hands are numb from gripping his weapon for so long. A long gash runs up his side, stinging each time he moves.

The ache in his chest hurts more.

How naive, how silly, to entertain the idea that you’d ever like him back.

Diluc closes his eyes, and consumes himself in violence once more.

---

He doesn’t frequent the bar for the next week. Enough to collect his thoughts. Enough to smother the pang of hurt he feels whenever he gazes at you.

He’s above this, above being debilitated by his emotions.

(He knows he is not.)

---

Things get better, as they always do. Things always go back to a level of normal. He returns to work at the bar. He returns to looking forward to your visits.

The front door swings open. He expectantly turns, smile dying on his face when he sees who’s entered.

“Jeez. You think I’ve just murdered someone how you’re looking at me,” Kaeya sighs.

“What do you want?” Kaeya’s the last person he wants to see. Especially since - since -

“Can’t I just drop by for a drink?” Kaeya takes his seat at the corner of the bar. Diluc resists the urge to throw the glass in his hand. He never gets to the point, always meandering about the issue, chatting about this or that until the other party is exhausted trying to humour him.

Not Diluc.

“You’re never here to just drink. Out with it.”

“…I was just wondering how you feel about our newest knight.”

He inhales through his teeth and sets the glass he was polishing down. Fine, if that’s the game Kaeya was going to play, he’d play along. “I think it’s improper for you to be engaged in a relationship with your subordinates.”

Kaeya grimaces, keeping his eye on the wood counter. “Do you say that because you care for workplace standards, or are you perhaps-”

“No.”

“ - jealous?”

The towl ignites in his hands. “Fuck off. Get out of my bar. Now.”

Kaeya sighs, but gets up from his seat, hands raised. “Alright, fine...but If it’s any consultation, I understand how you feel.”

“You don’t get to know where I’m coming from,” each word feels like acid down Diluc’s throat. “You don’t ever get to understand how I feel.”

Kaeya smiles sadly. “I know. And because of that, I’m not gonna come in the way between you two.”

Kaeya opens the door and waves before Diluc can question him. “Good night, master Diluc.”

The door shuts behind him as he leaves. Diluc tosses the towel in the trash, blood boiling underneath his skin.

---

He doesn’t see much of you or Kaeya for a week. (Which he supposes is good. If he saw Kaeya now, Barbados wouldn’t be able to stop him from getting into a fight.)

The next time he sees you is late one night, when most of the patrons have left. You look a mess, hair disheveled, feet dragging against the floor. You mumble your order to him before dragging yourself upstairs, one foot at a time.

Diluc brings what you requested up – one of his strongest liquors – to find you staring off into space. He sets your glass down gently, and you snap from your reprieve.

“Here’s your order. If you need anything…just let me know.”

You nod, keeping your eyes focused downwards. “Thank you, Diluc.”

His heart breaks at how defeated you sound. He returns to his post for the remainder of the night.

Never once does the cavalry captain come in. Diluc has a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.

It’s many hours later when the tavern closes for the night. Diluc shucks on his coat and goes upstairs, finding you half-asleep on the table, empty glass clutched tight in your grasp.

He shakes you gently and you stir with a moan. “It’s closing time. Do you need help getting home?”

You laugh bitterly. “Where is ‘home’?”

Diluc wordlessly slips the glass from your hands. “Come on, let’s get you back to the knights headquarters.”

Exhausted, you relent, leaning on Diluc heavily as he escorts you out of Angel’s Share. The smell of alcohol is strong on both your breath and clothes. It makes Diluc’s nose wrinkle.

You stumble over stones and steps. The walk back to the knights headquarters takes twice as long as it normally would. Diluc doesn’t mind, instinctively activating his vision when he feels you shiver from the cold.

“I thought Kaeya loved me,” you say suddenly, resting your head on his shoulder. “He said he…”

Diluc doesn’t – can’t – say anything, not when the lump of guilt in his stomach threatens to tear him apart from the inside out.

---

Truthfully, he’d thought you would have left the Knights after that incident. It must have been beyond difficult - having to see the person who broke your heart every day.

But you don’t. Diluc already knew how determined and strong you are, and you prove to be stronger than he could have ever foresaw.

It’s rough. There are nights where you show up to the tavern, barely coherent and full of grief. But there are others where you show up with Albedo, or Amber, and he gets to see you smile again.

He observes you from afar, at windrise, training with Noelle, getting quicker and quicker with your sword each day.

The seasons come and go, snow falls and melts, and when the dandelions grow again, before he ever knows it, you’re a Captain yourself.

The tavern is full for your celebration. Wine flows freely - free of charge thanks to Diluc - and the air is abuzz with joyous conversation.

“My highest congratulations, Captain,” Diluc says, raising his own glass (non-alcoholic) in toast.

You clink cups with him, smiling in your new uniform. (You’re radiant, he thinks to himself). “I can’t thank you enough, Diluc...for everything. I’ve always seen you as one of my closest friends.”

Friends. The word cuts deeply into his heart. Yes, friends. But being friends is something that he is ok with. He can watch you thrive, watch you live your life, he can keep your presence in his life, a small candle flickering in the dead of winter.

He knows your heart is elsewhere, he sees it in your eyes whenever you see the colour blue, or whenever the scent of death-after-noon waffs through the air. Your grief isn’t as prominent, but still there.

He doesn’t know if your feelings for Kaeya, if you even have any after the breakup, will ever go away. Perhaps they’ll stay over you like a looming shadow for the rest of your life.

If only – he’ll think, on nights when you’ve fallen asleep on his couch, bottle of wine beside you – if only he hadn’t said anything, maybe you’d be happy with Kaeya.

But the past is the path, and he must look to the future. The future where he can stand by your side, in whatever way you’ll accept him.

(Alone from the beginning, alone in the end. Fitting, for someone like him.)

#i can't beleive this is 3.3k #*falls over*#diluc x reader #diluc ragnivindr x reader #genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #diluc imagines #diluc fic #diluc fanfic #genshin impact fiction #diluc x y/n #diluc x you #my writing

113 notes · View notes

petertingle-yipyip · 3 years

Text

SIN MIEDO - BUCKY BARNES (THREE)

EPISODE THREE : POWER BROKER

series tags: @calums-betch // SM masterlist // another madripoor gif bc i loved those scenes

Pairing: Stark!Reader x Bucky Barnes (platonic/flirty)

Word Count: 9,209

Summary: Leaving John Walker in the dust, Y/N had to follow Barnes to a shifty contact. That leads them to Madripoor and an unexpected, and suspicious, ally. Juggling her grief, her control, her own doubts, the pressure of Walker on their tail, and a school girl crush, can she handle the fight?

The next day, the three of you found yourselves in Berlin. You weren’t surprised how easy it was to get through security. Flashing a smile and an ID with Stark on it opened pretty much any door. Surely it had nothing to do with Sam working with the Air Force again.

“Last time I was in Germany, we weren’t on the same side.” You commented nostalgically as you three followed the security guard. “How the tables have turned.”

“I’m gonna go in alone.” Barnes said as you all approached the last corridor.

“Not a chance.” You laughed as Sam said “Why?”

“You’re Avengers..” Barnes reasoned. “You know how he feels about that.”

“It’s not like you two were known for frolicking in the sun together.” Sam mocked.

“He was obsessed with HYDRA. We have a history. Trust me, I got it.” Barnes assured before turning to leave. When Sam didn’t stop him, you did.

Quickly you reached out and grabbed his wrist. You made no effort to pull him back and he didn’t exactly pull away from you. He looked back at you with a stern expression, that he wasn’t going to cave.

“You’re not going alone, Barnes.” You said seriously, tightening your grip on his wrist slightly.

“Y/N-“ He tried.

“No.” You cut in. “I don’t care. I can do this all day.” You offered with a slight smirk.

He chewed the inside of his cheek for a moment before caving. He nodded slightly, his expression betraying that he was slightly impressed. “Fine. Hurry up.” He said, nodding for you to follow.

“Yessir, Sergeant Barnes.” You chuckled as you followed behind Barnes. The comment earned you an eye roll and a scoff, but nothing was said.

“You sure you want to do this?” You checked as you two waited for security to let you in. “I can handle it on my own..”

“I can do it.” He nodded as you approached the cell.

“I’m sure you can.” You shrugged casually. “It was more about if you wanted to.”

You stayed a couple steps behind Barnes, using the shadows to stay mostly out of sight. You didn’t want to talk to Zemo, let alone be in the room. But part of you wanted to make sure that nothing happened. You didn’t know if you could stop Barnes if Zemo triggered the Winter Soldier, but you probably had the best shot.

You watched Barnes’ body language carefully. From your angle, you could see the look on his face. The tension of his shoulders. The hand you could see was in a tight fist. There was a certain fear in his eyes, in the way his jaw clenched. You could tell that a part of him, even if it was a small part, was scared that Zemo would send him back to the Winter Soldier.

Zemo tried the trigger words but earned no reaction from Barnes. You let out a breath of relief and saw Barnes’ shoulders relax as that tension left him. You didn’t doubt that Barnes had control, that his time in Wakanda was enough to rid his mind of HYDRA’s influence, but you also knew Zemo was crafty. You didn’t trust that he didn’t have a couple tricks up his sleeve. But then again… So did you.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry.” Zemo said, catching your attention. “It was never personal.”

“Seemed kinda personal.” You muttered to yourself. You were anxious, shifting your weight between your feet. You wondered what Sam was feeling back in the hallway but you couldn’t go back. The tension in your body was begging for a release, seemingly burning it’s way through your skin. There was a crackle of electricity between your fingers, a skill you hardly had a grip on. You only figured out how to use it in quick bursts or it would build itself up in moments of high tension.

“You brought a friend?” Zemo questioned, his eyes turning to you. You sunk deeper into the shadows.

“Someone recreated the super soldier serum.” Barnes said to redirect his attention. There was more control in his tone and it settled something anxious in the pit of your stomach. “I need to find out who.”

“You’re assuming HYDRA has something to do with this.” Zemo said simply, studying Barnes as he spoke. The expression Zemo held, the way he was looking at Barnes like an experiment, tempted you to reveal yourself. Something about it made your skin crawl, but you knew you had to refrain. You needed the info. “Which is why you came to me, which means you’re desperate…” A smug tone laced his voice and made you want to gag. “Lucky for you, and your friend in the shadows, I know where to begin.”

“And in exchange?” You finally spoke, stepping into the small sliver of light and taking your place beside Barnes. “What’s it going to take?”

His sly smile made you instantly regret the question.

Without explaining anything to Sam, you and Barnes led him to a series of tunnels underground. You opted to remain silent through the endeavor, knowing you wouldn’t be able to explain it right. While Sam pestered Barnes about the plan, you were busy finding the best route.

You kept one hand against the concrete wall, tapping your fingers to feel the vibrations. The tunnels were empty save for you three. They lead to a basement where you stopped for Barnes to walk Sam through a “hypothetical”.

“Please tell me this is an actual hypothetical.” Sam looked to you. In the meantime, you were toying with balls of air in your palm. You were balancing on them in a handstand.

“Yeah.” You lied. “It’s a hypothetical.”

Barnes continued to explain everything while you purposefully distracted yourself. You weren’t a huge fan of this plan, but Barnes had a point. Zemo offered a starting point. Walker had nothing. You guys had nothing. Though you’d never admit it, you needed Zemo.

“Speak of the devil.” You commented when you felt his footsteps approaching. You landed back on your feet as Zemo entered the room.

“You’re going back to prison.” Sam insisted.

“If I may-“ Zemo tried.

“No!” Sam and Barnes yelled simultaneously.

“Sorry.” You said with a shrug, bringing your forearms up and slamming them together. The movement called walls of earth to rise and trap Zemo in a thick rock casing. “It’s nothing personal.”

“When Steve refused to sign the Accords, you backed him.” Barnes countered.

“You broke the law and stuck your neck out for him.” You added.

“I distinctly remember you-“ Sam pointed to you. “-were on the other side.”

“My name’s not anywhere on that document.” You corrected. “I was a minor. Wouldn’t have been legally binding.”

“I’m asking you to do it again.” Barnes tried.

“I really think I’m invaluable-“ Zemo began again.

“Shut up!” You groaned, lifting the rock to meet his chin. “I will go all the way up.” You threatened before turning your attention back to the boys. “I’m with Barnes. I know it’s crazy but it’s the best shot we got. And we gotta move fast cause Walker is working on this too.”

“Okay.” Sam agreed finally. You dropped the rock prison and looked to the boys. “You don’t make a move without our permission.”

“Fair.” Zemo nodded.

“Otherwise, you deal with me.” You said simply. His eyebrows raised in interest, a slight challenge glinting in his eyes. You lifted your hand in front of your face, palm to the side. As you lowered your hand, you angled it so your fingertips pointed at Zemo. You saw his muscles tighten as he struggled but gave in to your control and went down to his knees.

“Dad once said the best weapon was the weapon you only had to fire once.” You said as if you were contemplating the words. “Let’s hope he was right.” You released Zemo before Sam spoke up.

“So where do we start?” He asked.

While Zemo was collecting his things from one of the cars, he explained where to start. He mentioned a woman named Selby as a starting point.

“This whole time you were rich?” Sam asked wildly as you approached a private jet.

“I’m a Baron, Sam.” Zemo answered in a matter of fact tone. “My family was royalty until you destroyed my country.”

“Eh.” You shrugged. “The Stark jet is nicer.”

You sat across from Barnes while Sam sat across from Zemo. You weren’t too interested in conversation. You didn’t know where you were going, nor did you really care. The sudden movement of Barnes made you snap to attention.

“If you touch that again, I’ll kill you.” Barnes threatened lowly with a hand at Zemo’s throat.

“At ease, soldier.” You reached over to tug on Barnes’ jacket. After a moment’s hesitation, he came and sat back down.

“I understand that list of names. People you’ve wronged as the Winter Soldier.” Zemo said with a solemn nod. He gestured between you and Barnes. “What I don’t understand is the relationship here. Are you two… involved?”

“Don’t push it.” Barnes muttered angrily as you simply rolled your eyes.

Sam talked about the book, that it used to be Steve’s. He bragged about how he suggested something for Steve to write in it. You remembered you had suggested some things for him to look into too, your favorite had been all the horror movies you got him to add.

Sam and Barnes then bickered about the Troubleman soundtrack, to which Zemo chimed in. You groaned slightly, throwing your head back and staring at the ceiling. The conversation quickly shifted to Steve and super soldiers, mildly peaking your interest.

“Cities fly. Innocent people die.” Zemo carried on.

“You forget who you’re talking to.” You laughed in disbelief.

“Pardon?”

“You’re talking about Sokovia… I was there. And my dad nearly died - yet again - trying to save the world… Trying to fix his mistake but no one cared about that part, right?.”

“Only nearly..” He agreed. “I think it’s fair to say the Avengers, none of you were really innocent.”

“And he actually did die to bring back half the universe so excuse me if I don’t share your bitterness.”

“It seems that you do, Y/N.” He analyzed, watching the response your eyes gave away.

“Shut it.” You rolled your eyes.

Conversation quickly shifted to Madripoor. Zemo and Barnes explained what it’s like, what it was. It sounded like a place out of a book, but given that your career was fighting A.I. powered robots and a giant genocidal purple lunatic, nothing was surprising anymore.

“James, you will have to become someone you claim is gone.” Zemo told Barnes.

A solemn expression came over Barnes. You couldn’t tell if it was regret, remorse, or something else. You leaned forward, resting elbows on your knees. You nodded to motion Barnes to come closer. He leaned forward in the same way.

“You sure you’re okay with this?” You asked quietly. “We can find another way, or we can do this witho-“

“I’m not sitting out.” He cut in. “I’ll be fine. Why do you keep trying to sideline me?”

“You won’t be alone.” You offered genuinely. “Sam and I got your back.”

Later that night, you walked the bridge that led to Madripoor.

“So who am I supposed to be, exactly?” You asked after Zemo had explained Sam’s character for the night.

“Rosalinda Calvillo Del Santos.” He said, showing you a picture of the girl. “Heiress to a huge cartel ring out of Mexico City.”

“Woah, she’s hot.” You nodded, slightly impressed. “And this dress… Seems like it perfectly matches her style.”

You motioned to the dress you wore. It was a tight, short black silk dress with a 4 inch slit up the right side that showed off your body beautifully. The chest of the dress hung perfectly to keep you covered but still catch attention. The straps were silver jewels in a halter style while additional pieces of thin black silk stretched across your back in a criss cross pattern.

“She's also a bit sadistic.” Zemo added nonchalantly. “But I’m sure you’ll play that just fine.”

“Fun.” You nodded.

“She kinda does look like you.” Sam commented as he leaned over to see the picture while he adjusted the cuffs of his jacket.

“She can’t be that hot then.” Bucky said sarcastically.

“Oh shut up.” You laughed as you pushed Barnes slightly. “You’re just used to girls in the 40’s and the whole modest look, huh?”

“Yeah yeah.” He rolled his eyes. “You ever gonna retire the old man jokes?”

“Maybe, but you have to admit how good I look.” You countered.

“Not a chance, little lady.” He smiled and shot a wink your way as he opened the car door for you.

“Well, Sergeant Barnes, what a gentleman.” You said sarcastically, holding a hand to your chest. “I’m so flattered.” You patted his chest as you sat down, scooting to sit in the middle.

The car ride was quick, although the motorcycles that surrounded your vehicle put you on edge a bit. The cold feeling of Barnes’ vibranium arm pressing against your own arm was the only thing that managed to keep you from burning through the car.

“The bracelet needs to come off.” Zemo pointed out on your walk to the bar.

“Excuse me?” You answered quickly, your opposite hand moving quickly to defend the metal cuff.

“Rosalinda only wears gold. She’s never been seen with anything else.”

“But this bracelet is-“

“Hideous” Zemo cut in.

“No! It’s from my dad, jackass!” You argued and stopped your steps.

“Here, let me have it.” Barnes held his hand out, to which you simply took a step away from him. “Y/N, come on.”

“No, I- I can’t take it off.”

Barnes sighed slightly before sliding two fingers under the collar of his shirt to pull a small chain out. He reached behind his neck to unclasp it before offering it to you. “Put your bracelet on here. Nothing’s going to happen to it.” Barnes explained.

“What are…” You asked softly as you reached for the chain. Your fingers grazed the small metal shapes dangling at the end, turning them so you could read the inscriptions. “James Buchanan Barnes..” You read silently. “These are your tags.. Barnes, I can’t ask you to-“

“You’re not asking. I’m offering.”

“Y/N..” Sam tried gently. “It won’t be that long, I promise.”

“Okay, fine.” You agreed reluctantly. You handed Barnes back his chain before reaching for your cuff. You put two fingers together above the metal cuff, focusing on separating it enough to slide your wrist out. Your eyes lingered on the band of lighter skin that was hidden by the cuff, proving to everyone around you that you never took it off. Once you freed your wrist, the cuff circled the fingers you used to open it. You glided it to hook over Barnes’ chain, connecting your fingers again to reconnect the metal. “Please don’t lose it.. It means everything to me.”

“Trust me.” He nodded as he reclasped his chain around his neck. He tucked the tags and your bracelet under his shirt and patted it lightly. You smiled gently in thanks before turning back to the door.

“Good. Now, escort her in.” Zemo instructed Bucky. Barnes held out an arm for you to take so you looped yours through his, making Zemo click his tongue at you. “Other side.”

“What difference does it make?” You asked in annoyance.

“The Del Santos family -especially Rosalinda- loves to show power.” He explained. “Having the Winter Soldier makes you powerful, but being on that side-“ He pointed to Barnes’ metal arm. “-shows it off… They also know how to barter for that power, if you know what I mean.” He gave you a pointed look and nodded towards Barnes, assuming you would understand what he meant. You hoped it wouldn’t come to that, but you understood.

“So treat him like a trophy?” You replied with a raised brow as you stepped around to switch sides. “Easy enough.”

“Oh god.” Barnes mumbled under his breath. “Don’t abuse this.”

“I think you’ll like being shown off a little.” You smirked slightly, keeping your head high as you followed Barnes’ lead into the building. “I’ll try not to go too far.”

Like flipping a switch, you fell into character once you stepped into the crowd and instantly made a statement.

“Listo para cumplir, Soldado de Invierno?” You said simply, keeping your head high and shoulders back as you followed Barnes through the crowd.

You heard the whispers, asking if that was really the Winter Soldier. You had to admit, it gave you a feeling of pride in your chest to see everyone look at you in awe. The respect in their eyes when they met yours was interesting. It was different from the respect you got as Y/N Stark. There was an underlying tone of fear in the looks as well.

Your small group stayed at the bar, Barnes kept his head on a swivel while you leaned your elbows on the bar top behind you. You lazily turned your head to check on Sam but saw the bartender slicing open a snake.

“Al menos no tengo que hacer nada que… asqueroso.” You said to Barnes before chuckling. He made a small sound of agreement, the tiniest hint of a smile toying with his features. “Vamos. Diviértete, soldado.”

“Mi misión es protegerte.” He replied in a flat, monotonous voice.

“Ay, díos.” You groaned, turning to face the bartender. “Señor? Bourbon, neat. Please.”

“Since when do you drink, Santos?” He nodded in amusement as he poured your drink.

“Well, it’s been a rough week.” You sighed, lifting the glass in thanks. “Put it on my friend’s tab.” You winked at Zemo before turning back to look at the busy crowd.

“You lot aren’t welcome here.” A bald man came up to Zemo.

“We have no business with the Power Broker.” Zemo started. “But if he insists…”

“He can come and talk to me.” You cut in, resting a hand on Barnes’ shoulder and sipping your drink. “Or bring Selby for a chat.” You shrugged.

“What do you know about the Power Broker?” Sam asked when the man was out of earshot.

“Here he is judge, jury, and executioner.” Zemo said quickly.

“We’ve got company.” You said into your drink. You set the cup down and cleared your throat. “Soldado de Invierno, hora de ir a trabajar.”

The man reached a hand for your shoulder but was instantly snatched by Barnes. You had to give it to him. He was a very convincing actor. It seemed easy for him to slip back into that person, to become the Winter Soldier. You knew it wasn’t really him, but the violent scene in front of you was hard to deny.

Sam saw it too. He looked to you in concern, hearing the same click of the guns that you did. You easily took the few steps to stand between him and Zemo.

“Don’t worry.” You said simply, maintaining the cocky smirk you wore as Barnes did his work. “He’s got this.. But that’s not what that look is about, is it?” You glanced at Sam and saw the expression on his face. It held concern for Barnes but also the flash of a memory when the Winter Soldier attacked you all after the UN bombing.

“You break character and this whole bar is against us.” You used your glass to cover your lips while you spoke. “I don't like this either but-

Before you finished your sentence, Barnes slammed a man on the bar top by his throat. You instantly slipped back into character to respond.

“Buen trabajo, querido soldado.” You giggled with a pat on his chest. He let the man go as the bartender told you Selby was ready. You swallowed the rest of your drink before putting the cup back on the bar.

“Vamos.” You nodded. Barnes held an arm out for you to take, which you quickly did.

“You okay?” Sam asked Barnes quietly as you followed Zemo to Selby. A sharp nod was the only response Sam got.

You let Zemo talk to Selby since you had no idea who the woman was. You stayed towards the back of the room with Sam and Barnes, your arms still linked. The cold metal against your arm was the only thing that kept you from bursting into flames.

It was easy enough to be Rosalinda. Confident, powerful, demanding respect, beautiful and a little flirty. It mildly shocked you that you could play into her sadism. You didn’t know where you pulled that from. Maybe Nat taught you better than you thought. Outside of that, Rosalinda was close enough to a Stark that you didn’t feel like you were pretending too much. And lucky for you, you learned Spanish as a child. It was the people that knew her that worried you. One wrong mannerism, one wrong saying, and the whole thing was blown.

“What’s the offer?” Selby asked after an attempted flirt with Sam. You caught Zemo’s signal, a silent attempt to tell you it was your turn.

“I suppose it’s more my offer.” You spoke up.

“I didn’t know Calvillos travelled this far.” Selby smiled mischievously.

“Well I heard you like to play hard ball.” You said with a sly smile. “Del Santos can play too. My offer is him. The Winter Soldier, el soldado de invierno.” You offered confidently, walking a small circle around Barnes. “And the words to control him, of course.”

You traced your fingers along his shoulders, across his back and down his metal arm. You felt him tense under your touch, but his demeanor never faltered. “He will do anything you want.” You added, facing Barnes and gently running your hands down his arms. “I’m sorry.” You whispered honestly. Your expression reset to a playful pride as you spun to take your original place beside Barnes and watched for Selby’s reaction.

“This is a fun surprise. I’m glad I didn’t kill you all immediately.” She said happily.

“You have information I want.” You stepped in front of Barnes, blocking him from her line of sight. “You give me everything I need and I give you him.”

She bit her lower lip as she smiled. Her eyes looked Barnes up and down, and it made you want to gag.

“Hello? Are we going to do business or are you going to ogle him all night?” You asked in annoyance as you crossed your arms.

“A bit testy tonight.” She said with an entertained smirk and your pulse jumped. “You were right to come to me.” She said with a nod. “The serum is here, in Madripoor. You’re gonna want to talk to Dr. Wilfred Nagel. Power Broker had him work on it but it didn’t go as planned.”

“Is Nagel still here?”

“Crumbs for free but the bakery will cost you.” She wagged a finger at you. “And before you get cute, you can’t find Nagel with me.”

Before either you or Zemo could offer a rebuttal, Sam’s phone went off. You felt in your bones that it wasn’t going to work out well if he answered that call.

As Sam was on the phone, which Selby made him answer on speaker, she circled you and Barnes. You nodded towards Sam, allowing Barnes to take a few steps away from you.

Before you knew it, your cover was blown and the shot rang out. Selby was dead and the boys easily took down the other two guys in the room.

“This is going to come back to us.” You said as you stood on the other side of the room, as far from her body as you could be.

“Just drop the weapons and follow my lead.” Zemo said, trying to gain control of the situation.

Without other options, you all followed Zemo out and through the streets of Madripoor. Every turn you took, you felt more and more eyes upon you. Phones buzzed every second and you could only assume it was word spreading of Selby’s death.

“I don’t like this.” You muttered.

As soon as the words left your mouth, gun shots sounded. Barnes grabbed your hand and began running with you following close behind. You ducked the shots and grabbed Barnes’ hand a little tighter. You turned to see Sam struggling to keep up.

“I can’t run in these heels!” Sam yelled.

“Try running in stilettos and a mini skirt.” You replied in annoyance.

“You want to stop them?” Barnes tried.

“I can’t really focus right now.” You answered with an eye roll. You were going to stop and try lifting a rock wall behind you or creating a gust to push them back or even try to summon a quick lightning burst.

Shots came from a high window and took out the two men behind you before you tried to fight back. Zemo came out from behind a dumpster and made a stupid comment about a guardian angel.

“What a coward.” You sneered, Barnes holding you back when you made a move to slap the Baron.

“This is too perfect.” A familiar voice came from the shadows. You pulled away from Barnes and called a small flame to your palm. “Drop it, Zemo.”

“Sharon?” Barnes asked.

“You cost me everything.” She ignored you guys. You didn’t let the fire go out.

“Wait, Sharon.” Sam tried. “Someone recreated the super soldier serum. Zemo had a lead.”

“That explains why you guys are here and why Selby’s dead.”

“Why are you here?” You asked carefully.

“I stole Steve’s shield, remember?” She scoffed. “And I took the wings for your ass-“ She pointed her gun at Sam. “-so you could save his ass-“ Her gun pointed to Barnes. “-from his ass.” Her gun landed on Zemo. “I didn’t have the Avengers to back me up so I’m in Madripoor.”

Sam tried reasoning with Sharon but got nowhere.

“We need your help.” You tried and let the flame in your palm die out. “Please. We- We didn’t have any other options…”

With a heavy sigh, Sharon told you all to follow her. You were the first to follow her footsteps. After a second, the other three came behind you. You were questioning the timing of Sharon’s reveal, but overall you were grateful she showed up. Things weren’t looking great up until then.

“Seems like being on the run treated you better than it treated Sam.” You commented as you looked around at Sharon’s place.

“If I was going to be a hustler, I was gonna live like one.” She said, a hint of pride in her tone.

The three boys then talked about the art, and whether it was real or fake. Sam didn’t believe them until a quick google search told him the truth. Sharon made you all change your clothes, pulling out a whole rack of clothes for the boys to look through and letting you sift through her closet.

You decided on a fitted maroon wrap-style dress. It was a soft material, fitting the curves of your body perfectly. The spaghetti straps criss-crossed behind your neck. You kept your same black heels and made your way back to the group and took a seat with Barnes on the couch.

Sam and Sharon talked a bit, ridiculing the idea of heroes. She called it hypocrisy, claiming that’s why Sam gave up the shield.

“Wow.” You teased as you sat. “You clean up nice, Barnes.”

He smiled slightly at you. “Hey, I didn’t know you spoke Spanish.” He said simply.

“Huh?” His statement took you by surprise. It wasn’t the response you expected. “Right. Yeah, I learned it when I was a kid. Dad tried to teach me French but Spanish was more natural cause my mom's side of the family.”

“You look good too, by the way.” He added and gave you a slight nudge. “Cause I know that’s what you wanted to hear.”

“What makes you say that?”

“Your face.” He said simply. “You give away a lot of emotions in your face.”

“I do not!” You insisted quietly with a chuckle, smacking his arm.

“Yes, you do.” He laughed with a nod.

“Wait a second…” You paused, crossing your legs and leaning towards him. “Were you just nice to me?” You teased with a wide smile.

“Don’t push it.” He chuckled.

“Hey... I’m sorry about using you as bait with Selby. I figured that’s what Zemo was hinting at… It didn’t seem like there was any room for me to say no.” You said honesty. The look in his eyes when you dangled him in front of Selby, you could tell it brought back so much of his trauma. That inability to say ‘no’. You truly had felt wrong for doing it. “I shouldn’t have-“

“Y/N.” Barnes said and put a hand on your leg. Your words were cut off instantly. “It’s alright.. It was for the mission.”

“That doesn’t make it right.” You said softly. “You’re not just an asset or a trophy. You’re my friend.”

“How is the new Cap, by the way?” Sharon asked, drawing your attention.

“Don’t even get me started.” Barnes shook his head.

You dropped your head back to look at her over the back of the couch. “He thought he could bail me out of jail and we’d be best friends.”

“He really thought you needed bail money? ” She laughed as she came around to sit with you two. “And you. You were Mr. America before you were his pet psychopath.” She told Barnes. “Cap’s best friend.”

“She’s kind of awful now.” Barnes said to you.

“She was always kinda awful.” You mumbled while Sam refocused everyone.

“You guys shouldn’t be involved in this.” She said, as if she was warning you. “For your own safety.”

“We got a name.” You added, not leaving any room for discussion. Something about the way Sharon talked to you led you to hold suspicions. “Wilfred Nagel.”

“Nagel works for the Power Broker.” She explained.

“I can get your name cleared, Sharon. But we need your help.” Sam tried.

“I don’t buy that.”

“They cleared the bionic staring machine and he killed almost everyone he met.”

“I heard that.” Barnes said, which drew a small laugh from you.

“I don’t trust charity.” Sharon countered.

“Let’s call it a deal then.” Sam offered.

“Fine.” She shook Sam’s hand. “Lay low. Enjoy the party. And stay out of trouble.”

“I do like a good party.” You smiled as you stood. You held a hand out to Barnes, who groaned before pushing himself up.

He held an arm out to you but before you took it, you turned to face him straight on. You casually adjusted his suit jacket before your hands moved across his chest. Your hands went to his neck while he watched your hands carefully. You slid both pointer fingers under the collar of his shirt and he tensed slightly. You pulled his chain out and held it with one hand and used the other to release your bracelet. You fit the metal cuff back to its rightful place on your wrist with a proud smile.

“Didn’t give anything away that time, did I, James?” You said quietly, shooting him a quick wink.

“Shall we?” You asked happily, turning to face Zemo and Sam.

Even though you had a point in being in Madripoor and it definitely wasn’t a party, you were excited for the party. It would be nice to relax, not feel any guilt over your father. Any grief over Nat. Any anger at John Walker. And stress about being an Avenger. You could just be a twenty one year old kid and have fun for the first time in what felt like ever.

You lost the boys in the crowd rather quickly. But it wasn’t a heavy thought in your mind to stay with them. What seemed to bounce around in your brain were your interactions with Barnes through the day. You couldn’t quite figure out if you were flirting with him intentionally or just habitually.

You brushed it off temporarily as your personality. You were a Stark after all. And Starks tend to flirt with anyone… Right?

Regardless, you weaved through the crowd and let yourself enjoy the party for a moment. You enjoyed the music, letting your body sway and spin with the vibrations. It was hard for you to tell where anyone was through the vibrations of the floor with the vibrations from the speakers, but you told yourself that wasn’t your problem. Barnes and Sam would be fine for a little while. You weren’t sure how long you had been dancing when you heard the boy beside you.

“I don’t think I’ve seen you around before.” A boy said from your side.

Turning, you were met by a very beautiful boy. He was a bit taller than you, dark brown curly hair that fell messily across his forehead. You couldn’t tell the color of his eyes, only that they were looking at you with admiration. You couldn’t help but smile at him.

“I’m just passing through.” You answered vaguely. Given your previous escapades through Madripoor, you wanted to be as discreet as you could until you were able to leave.

“You come with anyone?”

“Just a few friends..”

“No boyfriend?”

“A boyfriend?” You repeated with a laugh. “I wouldn’t say that.”

“Girlfriend?” He tried.

“No.” You laughed slightly. “I’ve been out of the dating game for a few years, actually.” You snapped your fingers to show what you meant.

“You’re too pretty to be at a party alone.” He shamelessly flirted.

“Well I’m not alone.” You corrected. “This is actually a friend’s party.”

“Your friends with the Power Broker?”

Before you could voice a response, a hand found your arm. You quickly looked over and saw Barnes at your side, only his eyes weren’t on you. They were on the new guy.

“I thought you didn’t have a boyfriend?” The boy said nervously.

“Come on, Sarge.” You chuckled, noticing the staring and tense shoulders resembled jealousy. But for Barnes, distrust and suspicion was a more likely reaction. “It was nice to meet you.” You told the kid before pushing Barnes to move.

You couldn’t help but wonder… If the party was the Power Broker’s, but Sharon was hosting like it was her party.. Could Sharon be the Power Broker? Or closer involved than she led you to believe at least?

The next morning, you were all walking through an old shipping yard. Sharon was smart enough to grab you a more practical outfit, a skinny fit pair of black pants and a fitted light blue long sleeve and better shoes. You followed Sharon’s lead to crate. While she stayed for lookout, your group of four went in.

You knocked with one hand and felt the vibrations change at the end. You nodded towards the back of the container so Zemo went to take a look and exposed a secret door.

Sam and Barnes went in first, you behind them, and Zemo behind you. The guys tried to get you to take a gun but you adamantly refused, telling them you were a terrible shot and you had weapons of your own. Sam tried talking to Nagel, but he tried to run instead. Instantly, Nagel froze when he saw Barnes.

“You know who he is, right?” You chuckled, something intimidating dancing in your words. It was something you normally didn’t hear in your voice. You usually weren’t the intimidating type but things were different…You were different. “There’s Baron Zemo and me… Well, you’ll see.”

“How about a counter proposal?” Nagel tried. You ignored Sharon’s warnings in your ear. “Make me a better offer and I’ll talk.”

“Your life isn’t enough?” Your brows raised as you challenged him. You nodded slightly before raising your hand. Your fingers lazily pointed straight up as you grabbed hold of Nagel’s blood. “You don’t know what I’m capable of, do you?”

“Maybe she’s the intimidating one.” Zemo said, an odd respect in his voice.

You forced Nagel to his knees while Sam kept his gun pointed at him. “I can manipulate air too… I wonder if I could pull it from your lungs since you refuse to talk.”

“Okay, okay!” Nagel broke and told you the whole story after you released him. You were getting good at your new blood trick, and that mildly worried you but you had to push it to the back of your mind. Parts of his story included Siberia, an American who you could only assume was Isaiah Bradley, the Snap, and the Power Broker.

You caught the name Donya Madani, committing it to memory. If she was someone Karli wanted to help, she was someone that could lead you to her.

“Is there any serum in this lab?” Barnes asked. When Nagel didn’t answer, he pressed the gun to the man’s temple.

“No!” He said quickly. “But would she-“ He gestured to you. “-be incredible with it.”

“Thanks, but that’s a question I don’t need answered.” You crossed your arms and leaned against the wall behind you.

“The pure power you hold..” He continued and let out a devious chuckle. “You’re not at all curious?”

“I’m not the kind of person who deserves it.. Trust me. There’s probably as much blood on my hands as his.” You nodded to Barnes. “Just different motives.”

“Aren’t you tired of depending on them to help you? To save you?”

“I know my value. Anyone else’s opinion doesn’t really matter.”

The rest happened too fast to process in that moment. Sharon burst in. Zemo shot Nagel and that drew an interesting reaction from Sharon. And an explosion went off. Barnes had pulled you out of the way before you could get caught up in the blast.

Your head spun mildly from the quick movement and your ears rang violently. You tried to shake it off but that seemed to only make it worse. You felt a warm stream down the side of your head and realized a loose piece of shrapnel had sliced your forehead.

“You alright?” Barnes asked, helping you to your feet. “Y/N? Are you alright?”

“Yeah.. Yeah, I’m fine.” You nodded, mildly disoriented. Looking around, you saw the smoke gathering in the room. You put a hand above your head, using it to keep the smoke at the top of the room.

“Ah shit.” He muttered, pushing the loose hair out of your face. “You’re bleeding.”

“I’m fine.” You pushed his hand away. “We gotta go. These chemicals are going to go off any second and I doubt I can save us from that.”

You got Sharon to her feet while Barnes got Sam. Sam asked about Zemo, but that was the least of your concerns. You four had to get out of there before you were trapped.

You tried using your powers to move the shipping containers or pull a piece of the wall apart but it was too heavy to do in such a hectic environment. There was too much going on for you to really focus. Once you were out, the boys started arguing about whose fault it was.

“Not the time!” You shouted at them, your back against one of the fallen containers. “We’re blocked in and you three are out of bullets. So either I can try to handle this or we stay here and get caught. Either way, you need to zip it so one of us can come up with something.”

“Just use your pow-“ Barnes tried.

“I can’t do anything when you’re this loud!” You snapped. “Besides, the containers are too heavy. I’m not strong enough.”

You thought out loud to yourself. “I could try a concrete wall but I don’t know how long I can hold it if I’m worried about getting shot.” You chewed your lower lip in contemplation. “I’m too far to try the blood thing… They’re firing too many bullets for me to redirect back… What if I…”

It was so much easier when you had your dad to talk things out with. When you had someone smarter than you and could see a different angle, who could run the numbers and tell you your best chance, everything was so much easier.

“How are you going to handle it then?” Sharon challenged with an eye roll.

“You really don’t know a thing about me, do you?” You laughed in disbelief.

Before she could offer a rebuttal, there was another explosion. A smirk found its way to your face as you got an idea. You quickly hopped the barricade your group was stuck behind, despite the protests from Barnes and Sam. You slid under a hanging metal beam and popped up by the explosion. You shaped the flames away from you four and pushed it towards the people shooting at you. You used what was left as a wall to give you cover for you to get away.

“That’s how I’m going to handle it.” You said with your trademark Stark pride as you met back up with the group.

“You could've got yourself killed.” Sam reprimanded as you four had to duck into a separate container after a gunshot nicked your shoulder. Barnes launched a metal pole through one of the shooters’ shoulders like a javelin before shutting the door behind him.

“Okay.” You groaned, lighting a flame on two fingers. “That could've got me killed.” You ran the flame gingerly along the graze in an attempt to cauterize the wound and stop the bleeding.

“You’re an idiot.” Barnes grumbled.

“Who just saved your ass, huh?” You challenged as he opened the door when the shooting stopped.

“When are you gonna realize you’re not indestructible?”

“When are you gonna realize who you’re talking to?”

The heavy roar of an engine drew your attention and interrupted the sudden tension. The tension and attitude dissipated as soon as it came but you could tell it wasn’t going to be the last time that grievance was brought up.

“Supercharged.” Zemo said proudly as he pulled up in a sleek black car.

You let out a low whistle and nodded in approval. “She is a beaut.” You commented with an amused laugh. “Would it be wrong if I kept her after this?”

“You’re going back to jail.” Sam told him. “And you-“ He told you. “-aren’t keeping the car.”

“You’re no fun... Shut up and get in then.” You rolled your eyes. As Barnes climbed into the front seat, you went to the driver’s side - as if proving a point that you didn’t want to sit behind Barnes - and hopped over and into the backseat. “We still need him.”

Sam got in on the other side and after a quick conversation with Sharon, you were ready to go.

“You’re not gonna move your seat up, are you?” Sam asked.

“No.” Barnes said simply. You rolled your eyes at his childish antics. You leaned forward and tugged his sleeve to get his attention.

“Move your seat up.” You insisted.

“I’m not gonna move my seat.”

“Why not?”

“He didn’t move his seat for me so I’m not-“

“Solo tienes que mover el maldito asiento, Barnes.”

“No me voy a mover“

“Venga, muévete.”

“Por qué debería?“

“Cállate y mueve el maldito asiento. Hmm?” You patted his chest before leaning back. Barnes scoffed, but slid forward slightly.

“Okay…” Sam started, leaning closer to you to speak quietly. “What the hell was that?”

“I’m fluent in Spanish.” You shrugged as you leaned to the middle and spoke in the same hushed tone. “Dad taught me when I was eight-ish. I use it for fun or when I’m trying to prove a point, hence the conversation you just saw. Why?”

“Not that… That.” He gestured to you with one hand and to Barnes with the other. “You guys have been flirting since-“

“Nope.” You shook your head and sat back again. “I’m not talking about that.”

“But you were! Why else would he listen to you?”

“What are you guys talking about back there?” Barnes tried.

“It’s above your pay grade, Barnes.” You answered without thought. “Anyways, Sam.” You turned back to Sam. “I’m a Stark. If there was any flirting, it’s harmless. Starks flirt with everyone.” You shrugged innocently.

“Mhmm.” Sam said unconvinced. “If you guys end up together and-“

“If we end up together I’ll be just as shocked as you.” You laughed. “But it’s not gonna happen. I’m pretty sure he hates me, deep down. You saw how he snapped at me a few minutes ago.”

“So just right now and the other day before Walker showed up, right? That’s what you’re basing this on?” Sam asked, gesturing a small circle in reference to the current scenario. You pressed your lips together in a line while you nodded. “But didn’t he make sure you didn’t make it worse after you got arrested?”

“Sure but-“

“Before we ran into Sharon, he reached for you, right?”

“Okay but wait-“

“And he pulled you out of the way of that blast?”

“I see what you’re saying but-“

“And he only seems to get mad at you when you get yourself hurt!”

“It’s coincidental!” You reasoned quickly with your hands up in surrender. “If he’s gonna like anyone, I highly doubt it’s gonna be me. Wanna know why?”

“Enlighten me.” Sam laughed.

“Cause I push every button I can with him.” You explained. “I annoy him and I talk shit to him and I don’t listen to him. I purposefully see what I can get away with. I’m his annoying roommate/best friend.”

“Right… Because that gimmick never leads to anything…” He rolled his eyes in amusement. “Whatever you say, Mini Stark.” He chuckled.

On the flight back, Sam and Barnes sat opposite each other while they talked. You opted to lay on the ground between them after healing your shoulder and other small scrapes, wanting something flat to let your back relax. As soon as you laid down, you felt your spine pop and practically reposition itself.

Your mind wandered back to the same thoughts it kept coming back to, with the newest additions to your messy brain. Your dad, and if you were doing right by him. Steve, and if you lived up to his expectations. Nat, and how she’d be proud to see you utilizing the skills she taught you. The boy at the party, his unintentional implications of Sharon and the Power Broker. And Barnes… Sam’s suggestion that you were purposefully flirting with Barnes had made you rethink your last interactions with him.

There were comments slipped in here or there, sure. You had played a bit when you took your bracelet back, sure. But were you flirting? Did you.. Did you have a crush on Barnes? No, no it was all in good fun. You didn’t really know him. Why would you flirt with someone you didn’t know? Right?

“Maybe I should’ve destroyed it.” Sam said, which instantly caught your attention.

“That shield represents a lot of things to a lot of people, including me.” Barnes said quickly.

“Yeah, me too.” You agreed from the floor. “My grandfather made that shield… It holds a special place in my heart, kinda the only physical thing from Howard...”

“The world is upside down and needs a new Cap.” Barnes started.

“And it’s not gonna be Walker.” You added.

“Before you destroy it, I’m going to take it from him myself.” He finished.

“Count me in, Barnes.” You said, sitting up when Zemo came down the aisle. You moved to sit by the side of Barnes’ chair and looked up at him. “In it together?” You asked, holding up a fist.

“Together.” He smiled slightly as he gave you the fist bump you waited for.

“Thanks, by the way.” You added softly as Zemo muttered something. “For keeping this safe-“ You shook your wrist. “-and for getting me out the way of that blast. I could’ve died but you didn’t let me.”

“I told you I wouldn’t let you die, Y/N.” He nodded. “You trust me yet?”

“Hmm, getting there.” You pondered playfully. “You’re making good progress, but it depends on if you’re still mad at me.”

“Why would I be mad at you?” His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“You yelled at me..” You realized how silly it was once you said it.

“You could've gotten hurt or even killed and I- I can’t have your blood on my hands too..”

“I know I’m not invincible…” You admitted heavily as you looked between Sam and Barnes. You knew Sam worried about you too, but he and Barnes had different ways of showing it. “I know I’m not Iron Man, but… But that’s the way I’ve always fought. It’s how I learned to fight. One time Steve told us ‘If you get hurt, hurt them back. And if you die, walk it off’.”

“Of course he did.” Barnes chuckled as Sam smiled fondly.

“It’s what I've always followed. So yeah, I’m a little reckless but I can heal myself so I never worried… But I guess I can try to be more strategic if it would make you guys feel better.” You offered with a small smile.

It was nice to know you had people watching your back, two people by your side that would seemingly burn down the world if it took you. You felt safer than you had with anyone since your dad.

“Why do you call him Barnes?” Zemo asked suddenly. “I thought you were all friends.”

“Wait. Does it bother you?” You wondered honestly, looking to Barnes.

“No, just a little different.” He answered with a small shrug.

“Dad always called him Barnes. Not James, or even Bucky. Guess I picked it up from him. I never really thought about it, in all honesty.” You shrugged.

“Yes, but that’s very business.” Zemo continued. “It’s so impersonal. If you two have a good relationship like you claim, or the type of relationship you two display… Shouldn’t you call him something more intimate?”

Using your powers, you plucked one of the ice cubes out of Zemo’s drink and flicked it towards his forehead. It smacked the center and left a wet square on his skin before plopping back in the cup. You smiled in amusement and looked to Barnes, who also enjoyed your little trick.

“Mind your business.” You chuckled, leaning your back against Barnes’ seat. You tilted your head back against the seat too, closing your eyes and letting out a sigh.

“Hey.” Barnes tapped a finger against your forehead. “Don’t sleep on the floor.”

“Stark?” Sam laughed from the other side of the aisle. “Get up, kid. There’s an open seat right here.”

“With the amount of times I’ve fallen asleep on the floor of my dad’s lab or in a desk chair leaning on a lab table or even on the lab table.” You laughed while you stayed in your spot. “This doesn’t bother me.”

“Get your ass up.” Barnes tried again.

“Too late!” You announced, dropping to the ground. “Good night.”

You woke up when you all landed. Even though you had napped on the floor, you didn’t wake feeling stiff or uncomfortable. You followed the boys out of the jet and through the Latvian streets.

It was a beautiful country, as many European countries were. Cobblestone streets that carried vibrations perfectly. Intricate stone buildings that were tall but not towering. Simple painted doors to break monotony.

“I don’t suppose any of you bothered visiting the memorial?” Zemo asked, referencing the memorial for Sokovia.

“I did..” You said softly, almost too quiet for anyone to hear.

“Did you?” Zemo was honestly surprised.

“After my dad’s funeral, when I moved out… There was a gap between leaving and moving in with Barnes. I didn’t know where else to go or who I was without Tony Stark. So I went to the memorial… It didn’t make anything clearer but it reminded me of a lot.”

“I’m sorry about your father.” Zemo said. You swore you heard sympathy playing in his voice. “He had his flaws but he was a good man.”

“Yeah, thanks, you and the rest of the world are sorry.” You said, somewhat bitterly. “He was the only permanent family I had. No one cared about me like he did.” You felt Sam and Barnes shoot you a look of confusion but you didn’t acknowledge it.

“What about the Avengers?”

“Yeah, they were great.” You shrugged slightly. “It just wasn’t quite the same. I was the most important thing to him, you know? Whenever I was feeling off, he was always there with something fun to distract me. Granted, that something fun was usually a new piece of tech he wanted to test, but it always worked to cheer me up. The world misses and mourns Iron Man, the CEO of Stark Industries and Earth’s best defender. No one other than me mourns my dad.” You explained as you noticed a change in Barnes’ demeanor.

“I’m gonna go for a walk.” He announced.

“You good?” Sam tried.

“Yeah. See you in a bit.” He nodded before taking off.

You lingered outside while Zemo went in. Sam turned in the doorway when he realized you hadn’t moved.

“Little Stark?” Sam asked. “You coming?”

“That was weird, wasn’t it?” You commented, pointing in the direction Barnes went.

“Yeah but he’s weird.” Sam chuckled. “You know that…. Oh! I see what this is.”

“It’s not that.” You shook your head with an annoyed sigh.

“That’s exactly what it is.”

“Seriously? He’s our friend.”

“You don’t see me chasing after him.” Sam shrugged. “He’s a grown man, Y/N. If he wants to brood and take a walk, let him.”

“You didn’t see it.. Something caught his attention and made him leave.”

“Well I don’t just stare at him so no, I didn’t see anything.”

“Nat taught me to constantly watch my surroundings. To keep my head on a swivel… He saw something I didn’t, but I saw him see it. I just don’t know what exactly he saw.”

“Just come inside.” He sighed. “You can interrogate him when he comes back.”

“ Or I just go check on him… Cause I’m grown too and don’t have to listen to you.” You said carefully, hurrying after Barnes. You heard protests from Sam but none made you turn.

You made it to the alley where Barnes turned. You knelt at the corner, feeling the ground and knocking your knuckles against the stone. You closed your eyes to focus, picturing Barnes and an incoming familiar figure. With an amused smile, you turned the corner.

“Ayo.” You said happily. “I didn’t think I’d see you here.”

“You followed me.” Barnes said, moderately annoyed.

“You made it easy enough.” You muttered before turning to the Dora.

“What brings you to Latvia?” You asked, already knowing the answer.

“Y/N.” She greeted respectfully. “I’m here for Zemo.”

75 notes · View notes

zoid-i-guess · 3 years

Text

Morning Rush

So this was originally written in middle school and I decided to edit it and hopefully make it a bit better so pardon it's horrible plot

Paring: Katsuki x FEM!reader

Warings: swearing (because it's Katsuki we're talking about here) is it I think

Word count: 761

"Oi hurry up" I hear a husky voice yelling from behind your door knowing instantly who it is I fire back.

"Just a second Katsuki," I yelled back at him. "You should never rush a lady ya' know" I said just finishing up.

"Yeah because you're so classy," Katsuki muttered under his breath, sarcasm dripping from his every word as he leaned on your door and decided to wait.

I have a crush on Katsuki practically the whole school knows about it. I am amazed it hasn't reached him yet. I live right next to Izuku so we've always hung out together. Plus you try to keep Katsuki away from bullying Izuku. My parent's like to say my personality is a mix of Katsuki and Izuku. I swear once in a while but not nearly as much as Katsuki. I do have a bit of a short temper but I try to keep it under control unlike a certain bastard at my door. I'm calm but when someone pisses me off bye bye self control.

"HURRY UP BITCH" Katsuki yelled, turning to face the door and kicking it. I am done getting ready by now but I want to wait a little while longer because I had thought of a pretty simple plan to get my revenge. So I sat on my comfy bed till I heard a magical sound, the sound of him leaning on my door again.

Perfect.

I opened the door quickly so Katsuki would fall on his ass.

Boom!

Yup it worked. I jumped over him and ran to the door and away from his no doubt wrath. 'Time for a nice game of tag' I thought grabbing a quick breakfast of toast that was left out for me. I stopped at my door and munched on my piece of toast until I saw a pissed off porcupine at the top of my stairs. I made a mocking face and ran ahead to UA.

I am in class 1-B so I don't have to worry about Katsuki until lunch thanks to Monoma always finding a way to piss him off (not like it's that hard). ''That's what you get for rushing a girl and calling her a bitch' I thought when I was finally safe at my desk, able to look out the window and see him just arriving looking VERY pissed off. "Treat me like a bitch and a bitch is what you will get". I muttered under my breath smirking.

~Time skip~

Lunch

"OI WHAT WAS THAT THIS MORNING" Katsuki yelled in my ear while I was just trying to have a peaceful lunch at my desk.

I looked over at Izuku who seemed to get an ear full from Katsuki about my little stunt this morning. Izuku most likely followed after Katsuki but that definitely just made his mood worse. Despite my slightly guilty conscience I just kept ignoring Katsuki.

"Oi look at me when I'm talking to you," Katsuki said surprisingly calmly. "Damn it" I heard him mumble as he walked off kicking some poor kid's desk in the process. He just left with the most scrunched up face I've seen. I felt a little guilty because Katsuki didn't do anything wrong aside from the normal stuff. I sighed and got up, leaving deku and my food behind in my search for Katsuki.

After searching for 15 minutes and seeing no sign of Katsuki in the lunchroom you decided to move on and look in class 1-A's classroom hoping he was there. Nope. With only 10 minutes left of lunch you went back to your classroom sighing as I didn't have enough time to finish my lunch by the time I got there.

"Katsuki!" I exclaimed when I saw he was in my classroom sitting on my desk.

"I'm sorry" Katsuki muttered looking down in his lap, his ears dusted pink.

"What?" You said honestly not hearing.

"I like you damn it!" he said, looking into my eyes his cheeks now flushed red.

You were speechless. Katsuki. You. LIKE!

"So... I would like an answer sometime today please" Katsuki said, getting up and walking out of the classroom and into the halls.

"I- uh I al-" I started to say.

RING!

Lunch was over!

No.

No!

NO!

I need to confess now. "Katsuki I LIKE YOU TOO!" you shouted down the hall that Katsuki went down. He stopped in his tracks, I could see his ears tinted red with his back to me and walked.

Maybe today wasn't so bad after all.

-end

Please excuse any spelling mistakes I had thank you!

83 notes · View notes

nafeary · 4 years

Text

Napoleon, Theodorus, and le Comte’s Reaction to MC saying “I love you” first

Anon asked:

Hey there! I really like all the stuff on your blog, so could you do the suitors reactions to you saying I love you for the first time (like, if the route plots didn’t really happen). If all of them are too much, maybe just Napoleon, Theo and Comte. Maybe also include a little scenario? Thanks in advance.

✧✎ A/N: Heya, sweetest anon! Thank you so much for this request (and for including three of the daddy line), this was really fun to do~

Theo’s got... slightly longer than the others (almost a whole scenario by itself whoops). Don’t worry Napoleon. I have a WIP of yours. Thanks @juminly and @delicateikemenmemes for helping me out with Theo, and @marie-quentin for giving me a quick crash course in French. Drink water, y’all :))))

Warnings: slight suggestiveness, and implied sexual activities.

Napoleon Bonaparte

Pardon? Could you run that by him again?

It had been a morning like any other, welcoming the culprit who’d come to wake him up with his wonted kisses

However, this time around, he hadn’t met an interfering hand—which was by far his favored option. The other ones entailed pillows, fists, and even a certain someone’s foil

So when he met lips, molding together with his like a familiar imprint, he immediately shook off his fatigue, surprised to see his lover before him

His astonishment didn’t stem from the kiss itself (as you’ve done way more than just that), but you’ve never indulged in his habit before

Not only that, but it felt so much more...

Intimate. Passionate. Amorous...

Romantic. Purely romantic.

Your hands rose to his cheeks, cupping them in an ever so gentle embrace. Feeling almost weightless within your gentle expression, he sighed in the intimate comfort only one’s other half could provide.

“‘Leon?” The most idyllic melody made his eyes open, blinking a few times to adjust to the sun’s flaxen rays. He had to halt a few moments, for as his eyes managed to adjust, the golden glow hugging your form truly made you appear out of this world.

“Yes, nunuche?” Your loving and tender gaze almost made him melt, and it was a miracle that his question sounded as nonchalant as he was hoping for it to be.

“I love you.”

Napoleon couldn’t help the pounding of his heart. In all his years, no one had ever managed to make him feel so precious. Of course, he’s had his previous lovers, but as you stood before him like an angel of fortune, holding his head up in a pretense of it being the most wondrous diamond...

He couldn’t help the laughter spilling from his lips. At your affronted expression, he pulled you to his side, your cheek squished against his neck. Closing your eyes against his laughter’s shock waves—tens on the Richter scale—you couldn’t prevent the pout from conquering face.

Napoleon halted his laughter, although not completely, and his arms cocooned your midriff to lean in. Your toes curled as his lips brushed your ear.

“Je t’adore, nunuche.”

Theodorus Van Gogh

You might have to bring him to Isaac or Leonardo to fix, because you’ve completely broken this guy

He always expected to say it first, so he’s kinda mad??? But also really touched??? Fix him, please

It was no secret that Theodorus Van Gogh considered himself to be very domineering

Not because he wants the other person to feel save and protected... it was simply due to convenience pssst don’t tell him

Of course, he found it more than endearing when his girlfriend took the leash from time to time, and he genuinely enjoys her initiations of affection

Everyday, it took Theo all the self control he could muster up not to break into a smile at the sight of you, not to pick you up and whirl you around, not to throw you over his shoulder to carry you to his room...

Anyway, if you were to tell him the famous three words first, he’d be pure molasses in your hands

“Do you need more syrup, Theo?”

While the amount of liquid gold suggested the attendance of the entire mansion, it was only himself and his lover at breakfast. You had risen later than usual (due to certain nightly activities), and Sebastian was so kind as to allow you a day off.

“We’ll see,” he murmured, nevertheless thanking you when you brought him more with a disbelieving snort.

As you ate breakfast in the kitchen, not wanting to bother yourselves with setting everything up in the dining hall, he did not let your “inconspicuous” array of glances go unnoticed. Whenever he caught your eyes, you’d quickly avert your own, a faint blush dusting your skin. Perplexity marred his mind at your bashful actions.

Just when you stood up to do the dishes, he grabbed your arm, turning you around to trap you successfully underneath his form. Bewildered, you squirmed in his grasp, but that only made him pin your wrists in place. While this might not be your first time in this particular position, you could still only huff at his stern expression. “What did I do now? Do you always have to—“

“Quit your yapping, Hondje. Is there something on my face, or why do you keep on staring at me?” he spoke, as blunt and stoic as ever.

You chastised yourself— should have been aware that nothing could escape his detail-oriented eyes. Nonetheless, there was something... disparate about this morning: the hushed words of devotion, the warmth of nonchalant pecks—dare you say, it was almost domestic. It caused feelings of joy and felicity to ignite in your chest, and a certain sentence to cross your mind.

“...I love you, Theo.”

It was apparent that he’d been caught off-guard, a hand flying up to cover a short fit of coughing. And as his grip on you faltered, you flung your arms around his neck, urged by both embarrassment and closure.

“Y—you. Gadver...”

“Have I rendered the great Theodorus Van Gogh speechless?” You couldn’t help the teasing remark; eager to see his flushed expression, you peeled yourself out of the embrace. However, just as swift as he had faltered, his iron grip on you toughened once again, this time around closing the proximity to an intimate distance.

“Have you finally lost what little sense you had before?” His tone’s giddiness betrayed the harshness of his words, despite his best attempts to suppress that. As you tried to focus on anything apart from his breath caressing your neck, you espied the brilliant blush raging on his cheeks.

Deciding not to comment on his obvious joy, you pressed a kiss to his collarbone. “Don’t you have to punish me, then? I wouldn’t want to steal your thunder.”

When you pulled back to look at you love, you were met with his wild cerulean orbs. You’ve heard of people comparing them to ice, but you likened them to the tropic’s water; it might look trifling at most, but once you dive in, it would tell tales of colourful facets. Just like a big misunderstanding, crying out to be revealed.

You couldn’t care less that you were in the kitchen, that anyone could walk in on you, as he pulled you closer to himself, your legs finding their way around his waist.

Comte de Saint-Germain

He’d definitely be shocked at first, widening his eyes at your forthcoming admittance

After all, these three words might seem minuscule to a lot, but they held enough power to truly cement a relationship

Whenever he looked at his chérie, he felt the need to tell them to you 24/7, but he reconsidered that it was only right to give you more time to grow accustomed to him (and his period)

After a few months of living together, and a solitary trip back to the past (which proved itself vain as his offer was declined once again), he resolved to tell her these fateful words

He heard his amour before he saw her, the sound of your steps hurrying down the staircase growing more and more pronounced. Ere he was able to turn around to greet you, you practically pounched onto him, fingers clasping by his waist as you embraced him from behind. You squeezed his middle section gently in an effort to breathe in his scent.

Shock subsiding, he enbosomed your hands with his own, having missed your warmth—your devotion—as it crowned him with more than the sun could ever wish to.

“I have something—“

“—to tell you.”

Both of you spoke up at the same time, prompting you to smile in delight. Hearing composed, albeit joyful, laughter spilling from your lover’s lips, followed by the incessant remark of ladies-first, you uttered the words you have been longing to say, “I love you.”

The gentle rising of his torso came to a sudden halt, and he twisted around to face you. He might not have been gone for too long, but you’d missed each other regardless.

You knew the feeling was mutual as his golden eyes burned with desire, his walls coming down bit by bit, exposing a rare sight of the count’s vulnerability. With his hands inching just above your lower hip, the not so innocent innuendo of their barely proper distance to your butt was duly noted.

“I’ve been hoping to tell you these words myself, ma moitié.” His mouth traced the shell of your ear, and you felt him smile against your skin—as gentle as flower petals, yet just as seductive. “Perhaps we could arrange my reciprocation in private?”

Tag list: @juminly, @kisara-16 (I totally forgot that you asked me to be tagged quite a while ago... I’m sorry (*´Д｀*))

416 notes · View notes

violetmuses · 2 years

Text

Against The World || Chapter 1

A/N: Chapter 1! Please let me know what you think. - V 💜

Tag Team: @norabrice1701 @stylesthesunflower @dreaminrubies @lovie-barnes @zemoslittlebird @belle82devart @writteninsaturn @nerdysuperchick @karimac @schlean

====

2023

James “Bucky” Barnes

“I once believed soft, warm, beautiful things could never flourish in an environment of hard concrete and cold, dark bricks.” - Tom Winton

“Before you truly leave my office this afternoon, promise me something.” Dr. Rayor, my required therapist, closed her infamous notebook and looked towards me with brief sadness.

Because of the pardon and its ongoing federal mandates, I found myself sitting on this couch once again.

“What do I need to promise?” I asked, narrowing both eyes while I faced Dr. Raynor across the room.

“Find a reason to smile.” Dr. Raynor rose from her own seat and walked towards the door, saying goodbye to me before I could offer to say farewell as usual.

From 2016 to 2018, while I stayed in Wakanda, medical staffers were seconds away from setting me under Cryo-Freeze again. Shortly after, people of that wonderful nation helped me lose every bit of mind control and outright violence due to HYDRA.

Not long after, chaos ensued once another villain, Thanos, had snapped his rockline fingers and dusted away half the population. I learned that his scheme kicked off five extremely brutal years of famine, destruction and death.

Now, my calendar at home in that small apartment marked with the year 2023.

After five agonizing years, Tony saved us all by snatching that damn Gauntlet right back, but we lost him, Natasha and Steve, among countless other friends. Life wouldn’t last forever with anyone, but I felt alone, still drifting through time while The Serum moved through my veins.

With another session done for the week and latched right under my belt, I headed directly out of Dr. Raynor’s office. Outdoors here, in the city, bright Spring air prompted folks to grin while moving along the sidewalk. I still blended in, despite using bulk clothes and wearing leather to hide my brand-new Vibranium arm.

Back home this time, I had checked this public mailbox as usual, planning to head to the elevator and rest in my apartment soon. Given my now introverted personality, there was no real need to leave home again, even on warm nights.

In the middle of sorting through junk mail, I quickly noticed that one different object had fallen out of place. After locking this mailbox, I quickly leaned down, picking up that small device before anyone here could trample it on the floor.

Now, I pinched this unexpected flash drive between two fingers of my bare hand, squinting. Around me, no one here seemed to care much. Even here, I knew better than to ask around, especially since this thing had dropped out of my own box.

After booting my laptop safely in the apartment, I settled in, trying to figure out what the hell was going on at this point. Far too many questions would’ve nagged me right away if I hadn’t decided to immediately use this flash drive for answers.

Once that flash drive connected, I’d only noticed one digital folder on screen.

Its title prompted my eyes to narrow:

Wakanda, 2018

Whoever owned this flash drive must’ve learned about Wakanda and kept their notes on the device itself. Clicking further, I sat up in this chair after seeing that a Microsoft Word Document had been saved.

Before long, I almost gasped. My own last name had titled the Microsoft Word document.

Barnes.

Using another bout of curiosity, I opened that same document just moments later. Once this tab opened, I leaned back in my chair, realizing that another familiar name topped the article.

Did Camille lose her flash drive before leaving the nation? Too many questions raced in my mind before I closed that Word Document and ejected this flash drive, trying to look and see if her name had been etched somehow.

“Wakanda: An Outsider’s Review.”

by Camille Ford -- April, 2018

No. No sign of her personal information at all.

Just before I thought of saving this weird puzzle for another day, my burner phone rang out loud. Yet, the incoming call itself wasn’t actually coming from Sam this time.

Another ping of familiarity reached my heart though when this New Jersey phone number flashed onto the screen. At least authorities hadn’t reeled me in for some kind of mission

“Hello?” I picked up the phone, pacing here in this apartment.

“In light of what’s happened over the past five years, it’s great to know you’re still alive.” One woman's voice almost threw me off guard.

“Camille?” I asked, nearly overwhelmed because of what just took place.

It was her. She was alive too, not suffering six-feet-under like so many other people around the world.

“Sergeant Barnes?” Her voice reached my eardrums again, reminding of when we first met. Even our handshake crossed my mind.

“Please call me Bucky instead, it’s actually a nickname from my past.” I cleared my throat, hoping that Camille would ease into nicknames rather than her using my military rank as a formality.

“Bucky…” Camille whispered, already learning. I would never forget that moment for the rest of my life.

“I’m pretty sure that you know about the chaos recently, but where are you? We could meet somewhere and catch up.” I narrowed my eyes again, trying to picture her own environment now.

“Thanks for the invitation, but there’s a problem.” Camille responded on the other line out of nowhere, stopping my end of the conversation for now.

“What’s wrong?” I genuinely asked.

“I’m out of the country.” Camille said, bewildering me.

Before I could ask any more questions, she hung up the phone.

“Shit.” I whispered to avoid yelling, already hitting this dead end.

#bucky tag #bucky fanfic #cannon x oc #marvel fic #interracial #black oc #oc x cannon #marvel au #marvel mcu #tfatws spoilers #mcu tfatws

5 notes · View notes

besanii · 4 years

Text

shifting ground

WangXian ; 1127 words

[previous parts linked at the end]

He arrives at bottom of the stairs leading up to the throne room just as everyone is disbanding; they trickle out of the building in groups of twos and threes, heads bent close together and mouths too preoccupied with gossip to pay attention to his hurried ascent. Snatches of their conversations enter his ear—words like “trial” and “ascension” and “purify” has his heart skipping a beat and his feet flying over the stairs two at a time as he races past them.

The world comes to a shuddering halt when Wei Wuxian appears at the top of the stairs.

He’s not sure how to quantify the time since they last saw each other. Where does he begin counting? From the moment Wei Wuxian had been taken away in chains and locked into the Demon Tower, or on the execution platform as he faded into dust in Lan Wangji’s arms with Bichen buried in his chest? Or does he start from the moment Wei Ying had turned his back and surrendered his life into Lan Wangji’s hands for the second time?

If the whole purpose of my life is to die here today, then that is what I’ll do.

He can still feel the sigh of those words against his lips, the press of a thumb against his cheek, the hitch in his voice. Every last detail of those final moments in the mortal realm is burned into his mind with excruciating clarity, seared into his bones, branded on his soul. He has been in existence for over a hundred thousand years, long enough to see past the trappings of mortality, past attachment, past death—and yet.

There is little trace of the young vermilion bird spirit in the Wei Wuxian who stands before him now, dressed in robes of black and red that ripple and fall about him like feathers. His grey eyes, once soft like clouds during a gentle autumn drizzle, are as dark as smoke and as hard as steel. They falter as they catch sight of him, still only halfway up the stairs, before shuttering closed, wary and uncertain.

His newly-restored heart beats feebly against his ribcage at the sight.

“Wei Ying.” He catches the spiritual energy radiating from him and stops, his heart in his throat. “You’re—”

Wei Wuxian smiles without humour, sliding his gaze away from Lan Wangji.

“I guess the trial you designed for me was more effective than intended,” he says.

He should be relieved, overjoyed that their plan had worked, that the sliver of the Demon God’s seal had been successfully purged from Wei Wuxian—that Wei Wuxian had ascended three ranks to become a High God, on par with Lan Wangji himself. But he finds he cannot muster even a tiny shred of happiness now, not when Wei Wuxian does not smile, and refuses to meet his eyes.

“Wei Ying,” he says, making his way up the stairs. “Wei Ying, I—”

Wei Wuxian flinches almost imperceptibly at the sound of the name, his hands curling into fists, lips pressing into a thin line. It is enough to freeze Lan Wangji in mid-step, the rest of his sentence teetering at the tip of his tongue.

“Begging your pardon, Hanguang-jun,” Wei Wuxian says. “I have only just returned from my trial and find myself in need of rest. Please excuse me.”

He crosses his hands, left over right, and presses his palms to his chest with a low bow—a formal bow, too formal for him to offer a fellow High God, even one with as much seniority over him as Lan Wangji—and moves past him, down the stairs. Lan Wangji’s hand shoots out instinctively to catch hold of his elbow as their shoulders brush, preventing him from leaving.

“I’ll have someone fix up your old rooms,” he tells him quietly, thinking of the cosy little annex in Fuyun Pavilion, still in the same condition as before his departure.

Wei Wuxian pries his arm out of Lan Wangji’s grip.

“Hanguang-jun is too generous,” he says, staring straight ahead, not sparing him a glance. “But I will be returning to the peach forest.”

There is little Lan Wangji can do to argue against this decision. It is only logical for Wei Wuxian to return to the peach forest, his childhood home. What right does Lan Wangji have to keep him here in the Nine Heavens with him?

“Let me accompany you.” He does not care if he sounds close to pleading as he turns his body towards Wei Wuxian, not when Wei Wuxian’s breath hitches as this moves him into his space. “Please.”

“Hanguang-jun—”

“Lan Zhan,” he corrects him. Wei Wuxian shakes his head.

“Hanguang-jun,” he repeats firmly. “It would not be appropriate.”

Lan Wangji exhales.

“There was a time, not too long ago, when you would scoff at propriety,” he says. “And it would not be inappropriate for me to escort my intended back to his home.”

Wei Wuxian turns his head sharply to face Lan Wangji, grey eyes wide with shock; Lan Wangji looks back at him intently, his expression never once wavering.

“Words spoken in a previous life should stay in the past.” Wei Wuxian’s voice is small and brittle and hurt; he draws himself close, holds himself tighter within his body as he tears his eyes away again. “Hanguang-jun should not feel beholden to me.”

This time, when Lan Wangji takes another step towards him, he takes two steps back. Lan Wangji tries not to let his own hurt show.

“I am a man of my word,” he tells him. “It does not matter in which life the promise was made, only to whom. I made you a promise, Wei Ying, I vowed myself to you. So I am yours.”

He watches as Wei Wuxian’s eyes flutter closed as a shudder runs through his body. But when he raises his hand to brush a stray wisp of hair from his cheek, Wei Wuxian avoids his touch and steps back even further.

“Lan Zhan,” he whispers, pained. “Don’t.”

Lan Wangji breathes an inward sigh of relief at the sound of his name from Wei Wuxian’s lips at long last.

“Wei Ying,” he says. “Please. Can we talk?”

Wei Wuxian shakes his head and turns away.

“I need time,” he tells him. “Give me some time.”

Then, without waiting for Lan Wangji’s response, he raises his arms and shifts into his original form, leaping into the sky and vanishing in a burst of flame.

Lan Wangji watches him go without a word.

If it’s time he needs, then Lan Wangji will give it to him. He has waited over a hundred thousand years for Wei Wuxian, what is a few hundred more in comparison?

Notes:

Follows on from Love and Destiny AU ficlet below, where LWJ has to kill a mortal WWX to help him reascend as an immortal:

https://besanii.tumblr.com/post/620336237706969088/he-watches-as-wei-ying-backs-away-from-him-the [copy/paste link]

And set some time before the other Love and Destiny AU ficlet where WWX carves out his heart to save LWJ and loses his memories in the process:

https://besanii.tumblr.com/post/621699777307033600/you-dont-love-me-anymore-for-wangxian-from-the [copy/paste link]

So technically...part two?

The tag is now shifting ground fic

Title is from the idiom 翻云覆雨 (fanyunfuyu, to produce clouds with the turn of one hand, and rain with the other), meaning to shift one’s ground or to be contradictory

One day I will stop writing AUs of the Three Lives Three Worlds dramas, but today is not this day. Also, I’ve decided that Love and Destiny > Peach Blossoms > Pillow Book in my heart.

master post and ko-fi link on my sidebar!

#mdzs #wangxian #my writing #love and destiny au #🔪🔪#phoenix!wwx #dragon!lwj #shifting ground fic #lan wangji #wei wuxian #翻云覆雨

210 notes · View notes

abject-chaos · 3 years

Text

I’m still not gonna reveal the title just yet, but this is officially chapter 1

@silvermun sorry for tagging you again, but the first chapter is officially here (and far sooner than I anticipated)!

“Are you hungry already, Lance because you seem to be enjoying eating my dust?” The newly crowned king of Camelot quipped as he sped past his trusted knight in shining armour. The barest huff of laughter made its way to Sonic’s ears as he raced towards their designated picnic spot at the edge of the prairie. Before long there came a surprisingly well-articulated comeback considering how much Lancelot must have been exerting himself.

“That was a clever jest, Sire. Although, and forgive my audacity, your insult would have far more bite if it were not you who was lagging.”

“Huh?” Sonic said eloquently before a dashingly handsome blur caught him by surprise as Lancelot skated past him with the ease of a practised runner. Some things never change.

Luckily in this weird Arthurian fantasy world, Lancelot was no ultimate life form from space so Sonic was still the fastest thing alive and rushed over to match pace with the knight. “I think my joke rings true, Sir Lancelot,” Sonic said teasingly and was unashamedly pleased with the startled gasp he managed to coax from the seasoned knight as he once again surpassed him.

It wasn’t long after that exchange that Sonic arrived triumphantly in first place on the hill overlooking the open field below. Lance arrived seconds later, elegantly gasping for breath before he noticed his king watching him smugly. He straightened instantly and willed his lungs to settle for shallower breaths. Sonic, thoroughly chuffed that he’d won, smirked and laid down the picnic blanket. He sat down and patted the seat next to him. Lancelot stumbled over, a lazy smile on his face. Sonic couldn’t believe it had been a year since he’d become king. Looking back on the early days he could see how far he’d come with getting Lancelot to treat him as a friend and not as a ruler.

“It has been a pleasure racing with you, Sire.” Well, almost.

“And it has been a pleasure kicking your arse.” Sonic joked to get the knight to loosen up.

“Careful, Sire. Hubris is often the downfall of a tragic hero,” Lancelot said with a cheeky wink. The pair laughed and joked for a bit longer, tucking into the picnic basket to unveil the assortment of goodies they had managed to sneak out of the kitchen. There were grapes and cakes, bread and cheese, and all sorts of delicious treats that weren’t chilli dogs. Truly a tragedy. Sonic had tried to teach the chefs in the castle how to make them, but the last failed attempt was catastrophic enough to brand itself as the chilli fiasco, thereby convincing everyone involved to never endeavour to repeat the incident.

Lancelot began sharing his take on the whole debacle, animatedly waving his hands about to express the enormity of the failure, when a figure in the distance caught Sonic’s eye. He fixated on that point near the horizon that seemed to host a familiar silhouette. The figure was getting closer, yet the details of their form were still too muddled to make out but they looked so familiar.

Then it hit him.

“Oh, but the scene was grim. The curtains were soiled! The dinnerware shattered. The only hope of salvaging the dubious concoction was littered on the floor and-”

“Lance, stop waxing poetic for a second and tell me I’m not crazy.”

Lancelot looked taken aback for a second before he opened his dramatically closed eyes and saw Sonic’s incredulous expression looking off into the distance. “Sire?”

Sonic’s voice was barely above a whisper, nursing an emotion that Lancelot had only heard once in the king’s voice as the figure grew closer, steadily advancing the hill on which the pair were seated. “Is that..?”

Just a few metres shy of reaching the slight hill the figure stopped short. Crimson eyes gazed unbelievingly back at Sonic. The king stood slowly on suddenly unsteady legs, overwrought with emotion. “Shadow?”

A small smile and a sudden “who’s asking?” from the stranger was apparently all it took to jolt Sonic from his state of doubtful observation as he suddenly sped forth and threw himself at the other presence, desperately clinging to them in a tight embrace. Despite being caught off-guard, Shadow returned the hug, though a mystified quality never left his eyes. “Oh my- I missed you so much!” Sonic gushed, sending the slightest pang of jealousy through Lancelot’s heart. Apologies and assurances were thrown back and forth, though the rest of the exchange went unheard as the knight tried to make sense of the inexplicability of his interdimensional counterpart’s appearance. He was more than a little suspicious.

Having finished their impromptu reunion, Sonic promptly acquainted the two strangers. “So, uh, this is awkward,” he started with a nervous chuckle looking between the two lookalikes. “I guess I should introduce you two then?”

“That would be helpful, yes,” Shadow deadpanned, studying the obvious similarities he shared with Lancelot.

“Well, this might be a lot to digest but, in short, this is Lancelot and he’s this dimension’s version of you.”

“Hm, I figured as much.” Shadow hummed, his eyes narrowed and his fingers steepled against his chin in an expression of thoughtful investigation. “Why is he dressed like that?”

“I beg your pardon?” Lancelot exclaimed with righteous indignation as Sonic guffawed at the stranger’s lack of tact. “I am a knight of remarkable standing. The accoutrements I adorn are a symbol of such and you will do well to respect that.”

“Oh please,” Shadow said, rolling his eyes. “Go back to the renaissance festival, ‘Sir Knight’.”

Lancelot was fuming now, his fingers twitching inches away from his sword as he glared at his parallel. It took much too much effort to rein in his composure as Sonic’s laughter died down to a snicker. He resolved to not attract the ire of the king by striking down one of his closest friends.

“Now with that out of the way,” Sonic began, breathless from his laughing fit, “Lance, you already know enough about Shadow I assume so-”

“Wait,” Shadow interrupted, his face contorted with confusion. “Why does he- how do you know who I am?” he asked pointedly at the knight.

“I’ve been here for a whole year, Shad. You were bound to come up in conversation at some point,” Sonic said, bashfully rubbing the back of his neck.

“But...but you’ve only been gone for a week.”

“I’m sorry, what?”

“Amy said you went missing a week ago.”

“B-but that doesn’t make sense,” the king sputtered. “I’ve been here for a year. We had a coronation and everything. I’m on the currency!” Sonic exclaimed, producing a coin engraved with the image of his cheerful visage.

“Perhaps we should take this exchange back to the castle, Sire,” Lancelot chimed in, sensing the king’s unease. He sent a pointed glare at the newly acquainted Shadow, a silent threat communicated through the eye-contact. Shadow didn’t flinch. “Merlina might have some answers.”

Needless to say, the picnic was cut short.

#chapter 1 #fanfiction #satbk

52 notes · View notes

irondadfics · 4 years

Note

Do you have any long irondad fics you'd recommend? I really want to settle down with a good muti-chapter fic, I'd love to know your favourites!

LONG FIC REC LIST PART 2

I know some of you are stuck inside due to be quarantined right now, and I really hope each and every one of you are doing alright. Please stay inside if you can and be safe!

To help pass the time, here’s a continuation of one of our older lists (be sure to also check out part 1 for more recs). During hard times such as this, we often turn to different forms of art for entertainment and to help us cope. BE SURE TO LET THESE WONDERFUL AUTHORS KNOW THEY ARE APPRECIATED!

This list is organized by word count. Most of the fics listed below are complete but some are not. For example if the word count is encompassed by two asterisks it means the fic is not complete and is subject to change, but the word count is correct as of the day this list was posted.

ENJOY LOVELIES!!

The Guardian by Emily_F6 @justme–emily (234k+)

Guardian: a person who guards, protects, or preserves. When a terrible accident claims the life of May Parker, Tony Stark steps up as Peter’s guaridan. But it’s not just a traumatized super-teen he’ll have to worry about when he recieves a transmission from Thor.

If They Knew All About You by MsHermia (*224k+*)

Tony Stark had lost his son when he was only 2 years old, stolen away in broad daylight with nobody the wiser of what exactly happened. Years later, Tony has just made it through the disaster with Ultron. He is trying to keep himself and the team together but relationships are strained and tempers are running high.Then a random turn of events leads to his path crossing with that of a particular vigilante. They are strangers to each other, or so they think.Peter Parker is on top of the world. After a few shitty years, losing his parents and then losing his Uncle, things are finally looking up. Sure he lives in a crappy little apartment with his Aunt but he might have just found his mission in life.——This is an AU story obvious by some of the tags. I’m starting out a few weeks after Age of Ultron took place. Civil War will be a thing. Other than that I’m not too concerned about sticking to every canon detail and storyline.

The Third Option by Uncertainty_Principle (220k+)

Homecoming A/U. Ben and May divorced before Peter’s parents died, so when Ben is murdered Peter goes into foster care. It takes just a tiny taste of superpowers for Peter to decide he doesn’t want to put up with his horrible foster father anymore—the streets are infinitely more appealing. All he wants is to be Spider-Man anyway.So he leaves.Simple.Simple, that is, until Iron Man needs Spider-Man’s help. Peter isn’t about to turn down an opportunity to fight alongside Tony Freaking Stark, but he also isn’t going to let his hero know that his recruit is a fifteen-year-old homeless dropout. So they strike a deal. Peter will help Tony. In return, the mask stays on.And that’s when things get complicated.

Lights To Guide You Home (series) by JolinarJackson @jolinarjackson (185k+)

Tony becomes Peter’s guardian after May dies unexpectedly and over the course of a year, they learn to become a family.

hydra’s not a home (series) by tempestaurora @tempestaurora (139k+)

At 6 years old, the son of Tony and Pepper Stark, Peter, is kidnapped, never to be seen again. Or, so they thought. Ten years later, while raiding a HYDRA base, the Avengers come across a new, enhanced individual, working for the enemy: in black spandex, with a tendency to stick to walls and shoot webs from his wrists, the Black Spider is a pain in the ass in more ways than one.

built from scraps by peterstank @peter-stank (138k+)

“Everybody needs someone. That’s what you said, right?” Pepper meets his eyes and he’s struck by the way she’s almost pleading. “We both lost. We can help each other.”Her hand, palm up and open, stretches into the space between them.Peter hesitates.Then he takes it.or: the one where tony was dusted instead of peter, so he and pepper try to figure out the whole ‘family’ thing together.(oh, and it turns out that the man who died in peter’s arms on an alien planet is his biological father. who knew, right?)

rescue me from the waves (series) by homebuilding @marveal (*125k+*)

“Richard Parker was studying Cross-Species Genetics, but struggled with the ethics of it, because it required he use human DNA, which no ethics board would agree with. So he used his own. His work was successful based off of his own DNA, and every human has a unique DNA,” Bruce explains. “So, naturally, when HYDRA wanted his research, they knew they would never get his support, so they took the next best thing they could to his own DNA. His son.“Or, Tony finds a tortured and experimented-on Peter Parker in a HYDRA base and decides to help him because who else will?

more peril in thine eye by iron_spider @iron–spider (119k+)

Tony sits in relative darkness, the TV on mute, Friday running searches like she has been every day for the past month. A month, since Quentin Beck’s grand plan crumpled underneath him on that bridge. A month, since a flash of light was able to distract Peter just as he was about to bring Beck down. A month, since Beck snatched him, since both of them disappeared. An entire. Month.I’ll keep you updated. I promise.I love you, kid. Rhodey’s on his way, alright? He’s coming. He’s gonna go as fast as he can.I love you too. I’ll be okay. I promise. I can do this.The last thing Tony heard Peter say. Rhodey, Happy and Fury traversed the London landscape immediately afterwards. They found the glasses, but not Spider-Man. There was footage enough to incriminate Beck for what he was, but somehow, nobody was able to get a shot of when he grabbed Peter. Peter was knocking him around, looked like he was getting the upper hand, and then that flash of light. Gone. Gone.

I Never Knew I Was Broken by GotMyInkPen @gotmyinkpen (*111k+*)

Peter Parker has been living in HYDRA ever since his parents died at age four. All he can remember are the lesson’s HYDRA taught him and a series of words that strike fear into his heart. The only thing driving him forward are the memories of meeting his hero The Winter Soldier when he was seven and the goal to one day be as great an assassin as him.At age sixteen Peter finds himself tangled in the lives of the Avengers and can’t help but wonder if there’s more to life than what he’s been told.Tony wants to help him, no matter what.

Reviving Peter Parker by YellowDistress @yellowdistress (100k+)

Spider-Man was murdered five years ago, on a beach, at the hands of Adrian Toomes. Peter Parker never came home.Spider-Man was murdered five years ago. Today Peter Parker took his first breath.

It’s a Secret to Everybody by StarPrince_Punk @starprincepunk (97k+)

“I have kids,“ Clint said. “I know dad behavior when I see it.”Tony blinked multiple consecutive times, processing the statement. “Excuse me?”“Tony,” Steve said now, “how long have you had a son? And how come we’ve never known about him?”“Yeah,” Clint spoke again, “I thought I was the only one with a secret family. Turns out you’ve had one longer than me!”——-Peter gets to spend all summer living in Avengers Tower with Tony. When the Rogue Avengers get pardoned and come back to live at the Tower too, they’re confused as to who Peter is. However, once they see how Tony acts around Peter, that confusion goes away, as they know for certain who Peter must be - Tony’s secret son.Tony and Peter decide to make the most of the situation, and play along. They hope they can keep up the act all summer. But they soon learn that they barely have to act at all.

Peter and the Jailbirds by beautifullights @beautifullights1 (86k+)

NOW COMPLETE “If you did play chess,” Ross said, “you’d remember that a pawn can become a queen. The most powerful piece on the board, Parker, remember that? But—” Ross smiled— “only if it obeys.”He adjusted his tie, stood, and looked down at Peter. “I’ll ask you again,” he said. “Eventually. You may feel differently after you’ve been living in a six-by-six cube without sunlight or fresh air for a few years.” “What pawns do,” Peter said, voice shaking slightly, “is sacrifice themselves for the greater good. I have no regrets.”He had a lot of regrets.Like, a lot. A crapton. A shitload. An overloaded dumpsterful.“When I visit you on the Raft,” Ross said, “you’ll be old enough to grow a beard.” The cell door clicked shut behind him. [Rated mature for graphic violence.]

Hardest Lessons (Softest Results) (series) by mainstreamelectricalparade @riseuplikeglitterandgold (*76k+*)

The MCU if Peter was Tony’s biological child.

In the Home by aloneintherain (68k+)

The Avengers have been infected, turned violent and aggressive against their will. And Peter, the only one unaffected, is trapped inside the Tower with six feral teammates.“Natasha,” Peter says cautiously, “what happened here? Steve attacked me, and if there was ever a sign that something was wrong, it’s having the embodiment of Truth, Justice, and the American Way throw you across the room—”Natasha comes closer, her stride controlled. Nothing necessarily out of the ordinary, but there’s something in her face, in her eyes—Natasha lunges across the space, and slams into Peter, hard.

From Fraud to Father by TonyStarkissist @tonystarkissist (67k+)

“Tony,” she placated, “all you have to do is read a couple children’s books to them and answer a few of their questions. You’ll be fine.” “Will you come with me? You’re so good with kids,” he pleaded as she finished up with his collar and awkwardly patted the lapels of his suit down, forcing a smile onto her face when she looked up at him.“No. I’ve got a lot of work to do. Phil’s going with you, though, and so is Happy. You shouldn’t have a problem. They’ll make sure you don’t do anything stupid.”Theres a long pause before Tony finally voices his true concern.“But what if one of them sneezes on me?”

Archetype by Bean_reads_fanfic @the-reverse-mermaid (57k+)

Tony knows something is up when the research of ex-Hydra agents gets recycled in an underground Oscorp lab… what he doesn’t expect is the boy in a hospital gown sticking to the ceiling; or, how said boy proceeds to imprint on him like a baby duckling (a poor decision on his part, really). Did he mention he wasn’t intending on bringing home a kid that day?

Taking Leaps (and the falls that come with them) by Kamomile_Tea (*45k+*)

All across New York City the boroughs are crying out with one voice, asking a question everyone wants the answer to.Where is Spiderman?But no one is asking about Peter Parker.So, he sits alone. Contemplating how his life could have gone so downhill. Grief and nausea well up in his chest and the boy quickly shoves it back down. A shiver courses through him as the cold November air seeps into the building and through his thin clothing. And on the back of his navy blue overshirt, in blocky, white letters, reads the words:CROSSROADS JUVENILE CENTERBROOKLYN NYINMATE 3042 ========== The world seems content with ignoring this young teen. That is, until Tony Stark shows up and asks him if he wants to go to Germany.

Runaway by Spectra @iridescent-spectra (42k+)

Tony and his adopted son Peter get into a huge spat over his late night spiderman escapades, in which case Peter takes the term ‘Not while you’re under my roof’ way too seriously. After all, how hard could it be to run away from a multi billion dollar genius?Chaos ensues as the whole city becomes a metaphorical chessboard for the two equally stubborn masterminds.

#fic rec list #Favorite

501 notes · View notes

keelywolfe · 3 years

Text

FIC: The Rose and the Thorn: Chapter 17 (Mafia AU)

Summary: While Rus is off learning to dance and getting into trouble, his brother is worrying about him and Blue is about to find some unexpected trouble of his own.

Tags: Spicyhoney, Cherryberry, Mafia AU, Flower Shop AU, Violence, First Meetings

Warning: Heads up, let me add a warning here for attempted sexual assault and violence.

~~*~~

Read Chapter 17 on AO3

Read it here!

~~*~~

Blue could hardly say that he trusted Red, but he did believe he’d keep his word. He had to, what other option did he have. If Red were lying to him, then he might as well never have come here; he and his brother could have fled the city entirely, abandoned their home and their shop, and taken their chances with the Human world outside the city.

The mercy of unknown humans might be kinder than the Fell brothers, but it wasn’t a chance he was willing to take. Not yet.

For now, he was forced to rely on Red’s uncertain promise to return his brother to him yet again. He obediently went back to their rooms to wait and wait he did, his earlier anxiety returning as he paced the room, counting his steps distractedly, fifteen across, fifteen back, and nothing changed. Another hour ticked slowly by and there was still no sign of his little brother, no word from Red or the Dogs, or even, Angel forbid, from Edge.

His own troublesome thoughts refused to be silent. What if Papy had gotten into some trouble? What if he were hurt, what if, what, if, if, if. If he were hurt, Red might very well try to cover it up, mightn’t he, keeping the truth from Blue in order to keep him growing those illicit, rare golden flowers.

The very idea of his little brother hidden away somewhere in this building, frightened and hurt, perhaps calling out for him, was too much for Blue to bear. He couldn’t wait any longer.

Cautiously, he opened the door, but the Dog that had been there earlier was still gone, off searching for his brother, Blue hoped. The long hallways were empty and while he knew there were discreet cameras in the corners and hidden behind the awful artwork, if he was quick, he might be able to get where he was going before anyone was around to stop him.

Red said that Papy went downstairs earlier, down to the club, and that was where Blue was headed. He knew how to get there; his mental map was clear and far easier to follow than the winding paths they’d been shown before would lead anyone to believe.

With bravado that didn’t match the tremor in his soul, Blue boldly walked down the hallway, turning the corner and heading directly to the stairwell door as he tried to act as if he belonged here.

Not that he ever could.

No alarm rose, no sharp cry telling him to stop or halt. The door was locked, but he’d watched Dogamy put in the code earlier and it worked on the first try, the door hissing softly as it swung open.

The stairwell was darkened and stark, all metal railings and grate steps, the industrial appearance nothing at all like the luxurious rooms that led to it. His footsteps echoed with every step Blue took, wincingly loud, and as he came to the bottom landing, he could hear the heavy thrum of music, muffled as it came through the walls.

When he opened the door at the bottom, that music flooded in like an assault on the senses. The hallway was dimly lit, the overhead bulbs a deep and garish crimson as if to paint the rooms themselves as scarlet as their reputation. It was difficult to see anything, and Blue floundered, directionless, until he finally decided to simply follow the music. He paused at every doorway he came across, peering behind gauzy curtains and doors, his pale eye lights skimming over empty sofas and scantily-clad ladies sitting in front of mirrors rimmed with lights where they painted on their makeup. Hiding their true faces from those they danced for, surely the sort of horrid people who was more interested in the various body parts barely hidden beneath their pretty lingerie than the soul they were attached to.

Blue knew about that sort of person all too well, and he shuddered, letting yet another curtain fall closed as he made his way further down the hallway. The music was achingly loud now, rattling in his skull, and he barely heard the voice above his head before he nearly walked into its owner.

“Well, now, where have they been hiding you.”

Blue looked up, up, to see a Human looking down at him. He didn’t look like the sort of patron someone might expect in a place like this, but then, they never did. Brown hair, brown eye ordinary, sporting a cheap suit that he’d likely worn to the office that day where he worked as an accountant or an office manager or in the marketing department. His suit was rumpled, the tie loosened either by himself or by an enterprising one of the ladies who was bartering for an extra tip. A quick glance down the hallway showed a muted neon sign glowing ‘restrooms’ above a set of doors; someone had taken a wrong turn and why on earth wasn’t there a bouncer around to keep such a thing from happened…unless they’d been called away and Blue tried not to think of why, not because of his brother, please, no.

“I beg your pardon,” Blue said stiffly. He tried to walk past the man, but a rough hand caught his shoulder, fingers digging painfully into his fragile collarbone, holding him back.

The Human leaned over far too close, his voice slurring out over the pulsing music, “You’re a pretty thing, aren’t you.” He licked his teeth, his breath foul with alcohol. “Haven’t seen you out on stage yet.”

On stage? The delicate satiny material of his shirt with its froth of lace at the sleeve cuffs might qualify as pretty, but Blue was hardly dressed as a dancer. Either this drunkard couldn’t see that, or he simply assumed that any Monster here was one who might take off their clothes at any given moment to show the toy surprises inside.

“I’m not a dancer,” Blue snapped, trying to pull away, “let me go!”

But he didn’t, his grip slid painfully down to Blue’s upper arm, his foul-breathed smile twisting, trying to form into something coaxing. “Come on, darlin’, I got a twenty-dollar bill that isn’t working too hard, could be yours.”

Disgusting and cheap, what a horrid combination. Nausea lurched up unpleasantly, leaving sour taste in the back of Blue’s mouth.

“I’m not for sale!” Blue snarled, even as a tiny piece of his soul snickered darkly, wondering if it was even true. Not for sale here, but upstairs in the garish wealth that lay behind closed doors, what about there, what about when faced with Red’s endless grins.

Then his breath left him as he was shoved hard against the wall and any sort of humor fled, real fear blooming. This couldn’t happen, he wasn’t about to let this horrible person molest him and he knew well how to defend himself, an attack already trembling at his fingertips, but a Monster using magic on a Human could have terrible repercussions, not only for him, but the entire community. Would the police believe him if this man went bleating to them that he’d been attacked? Or would they take one look at the address and think that whatever this horrible man intended, that Blue had it coming.

“Stop!” Blue shouted, trying to be heard over the thrumming music. There were other people close by, there was some safety in numbers but before he could cry out again the harsh blow of a fist caught him dead in the face, snapping his head back and thudding his head against the wall behind him. Blue sagged in dazed surprise, the sudden ringing in his skull coalescing into a high-pitched whine that drown out any other sound. He blinked dumbly, his vision swarmed with darkness and only distantly felt a rough hand worming under his shirt to fondle his ribcage, the hot, foul blurts of breath against his face as a heavy weight pressed him harder against the wall and—

Before his mind could clear, that suffocating weight was suddenly torn away, letting him gasp in clear, deep breaths of uncomplicated air.

Blue didn’t move, using the wall at his back to stay upright as he blinked uncomprehendingly at the scene unfolding before him.

There was a Dog is crouched close by on all fours, the coarse fur along the back of their neck raised and their eyes reddened in anger, jagged teeth bared in a vicious snarl, but the Human was already on his knees, twin ribbons of thin blood running from both nostrils as he whined and cringed away from the opposite wall.

From that shadowy corner came a triple glow of crimson, revealed as a pair of eye lights and the glowing tip of a cigar as Red stepped from them. For all that his height was barely above Blue’s, somehow he seemed to loom over the whimpering Human, his bulk nearly blocking them from view. Red took a long puff from his cigar, blowing out a cloud of pale smoke. More smoke trickled from his sockets and it made the crimson of his eye lights seem to burn hotter than embers.

“c’mon, pal, up you get.” Red grabbed the front of the Human’s shirt and hauled him to sit upright. He reached down to dust off the front of his suit jacket with mocking solicitude, his cigar leaving a trail of ash on the cheap polyester.

The Human made a weak sound of protest, but he didn’t try to flee, only stared at Red, his eyes rounded marbles and his hands fisting against the tile floor, a paper tiger in the face of an actual beast.

"chum, i’m kinda thinkin' you didn't read the rules of admission," Red grinned, and standing over the cowering man in his cheap suit, eye lights blazing coals that shifted and flickered in his sockets and his teeth a hungry grin, he looked like the Human’s devil himself. He crouched down and wiped away the blood trickling down from the Human's nose, rubbing his thumb and forefinger idly together as if testing the consistency. "rule is, keep ya hands to yerself. you get me?" He patted the Human's cheek, his sharp fingertips scraping lightly and leaving reddened trails behind. "cause when you touch what’s mind, means i get to touch you back, capiche?”

The Human nodded frantically, his head wobbling on his neck, a dandelion tottering in the wind from an incoming storm.

“yeah, you understand,” Red crooned. His fingertips curled and the Human choked on a cry as they dug into his cheek, leaving four tiny, even puncture wounds to spill bloody streaks downward, dark rivulets in the dim light. "think you've already got a debt more’n you're worth.” Red stepped back and wiped his hand carelessly on his own fine jacket, the bloody smears hidden in the dark fabric. He nodded curtly to the Dog, gesturing sharply, “help him find his way out.”

The Dog let out a low bark that rumbled downward into a growl as they caught the sobbing Human under the arms and hauled him to his feet, shoved him stumbling away, clutching at his bloodied cheek.

Red rolled his cigar to the other side of his mouth and shook his head with a deep sigh before turning to Blue, that fiery glare landing on him. “as for you—"

Before he could say another word, Blue burst into helpless tears, heaving out a sob as he buried his hot, stinging face into his hands. Humiliating as it was, he could have no more held back those tears than he could a flood, the broken dam of his control letting loose in a gushing torrent. He slid weakly down the wall, replacing his hands with his updrawn knees as he choked on the wails that threatened to escape along with his tears, weeping out all the swelling pain and fear of the past week in a glut of sobs.

He didn’t even flinch from the awkward hand that settled on his shoulder, tentatively squeezing, “aw, c’mon, don’t do that.”

Blue only cried harder, his breath coming in hiccoughing gasps. He was exhausted, he’d spent so much magic today, he was sickened with worry for his brother, their lives were collapsing around them, and the feel of grubby Human hands still felt painted across his ribs, muddled fingerprints left behind on his bones. He couldn’t seem to stop crying, sobs hitching out of him until thick nausea was rising up from his soul, his abused magic curdling within him as he wept, almost lost in the ecstasy of his grief.

Distantly, he heard a rough sigh and he couldn’t even cringe from the hands upon him, gently urging him out of his fetal curl, “okay, c’mere, come on, baby blue.”

All his will had abandoned him, all his rebellious nature, and Blue only allowed Red to pull him close into a rough embrace, rubbing his back soothingly, if a little awkwardly.

Eventually, he ran out of tears, all his fears and pains as exhausted as the rest of him. His throat ached, a match to his face, and all he could do was lean into the unexpected comfort of the strong arms around him. Beneath his face, the front of Red’s shirt was darkened and soaked.

“you okay?” Warily said, as if Red was afraid speaking would set Blue off again into gales of renewed weeping and Blue nearly let out a hysterical giggle, only barely swallowing it back.

“Yes,” Blue managed. A horrible headache was looming, from crying surely and from that Human’s fist, and still he didn’t move from Red’s arms. How strange, he thought tiredly, that they were sitting here in the middle of a hallway in the back rooms of a strip club, the loud industrial music still throbbing around them with the occasional loud interruption from the DJ making their announcements, and yet, somehow Blue felt safe, as safe as he’d felt since the morning he’d arrived at their shop to find his brother’s favorite mug shattered on the stoop.

He drew away, looking up at Red…who looked back warily, perhaps still worried that he might burst out crying again. He didn’t seem to care that they were both sitting on the filthy floor or that Blue had covered his fine shirtfront with all the fluids that came with a feverish crying jag. Other people walked past them, their curious gazes sliding over and past Red’s broad back as his bulk curled around Blue, shielding him from the rest of the club. From the world.

It was only then that Blue saw one of Red’s sockets was blackened and swollen, the lid half-closed. He gasped aloud, reaching out, his fingers hovering anxiously over the bruised bone, "What happened?"

"eh,” Red’s sharky grin curled up on one side. “my bro doesn't value my opinion on certain subjects.”

"Your brother hit you?” Blue asked, horrified. He couldn’t imagine raising a hand to his brother, no matter how frustratingly angry Papy could make him.

“heh, don’t be too mad at him, baby blue,” Red chuffed out a rough laugh, “bro keeps his temper on a tight rein, but i can always get him to lose his grip. must be my charm.”

Having borne the burden of Red’s ‘charm’ himself a time or two, that at least Blue could understand. “I can imagine. Here-" He reached out and Red flinched back, startled. "Let me heal you."

"don't think so, baby blue.” He’d lost his cigar somewhere in the midst of Blue’s storm of weeping and started patting at his pockets in search of another, “it'll heal on its own.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Blue said firmly, still trying to reach out. He was quick, but Red proved to be quicker, somehow keeping out of reach without ever letting Blue go. Blue huffed out a frustrated breath. “I can help!”

“honey, you need to save your magic for yourself.” Red cupped the side of Blue’s face in his palm, his fingers still tinged bloody, and pressed a thumb lightly to Blue’s cheekbone. Pain flared and he flinched, imagining the ugly bruise that must be rising. It was true, his own magic was hardly recovered from all the gardening earlier in the day, both the rows of golden flowers and his time on the roof. If he healed Red, he likely wouldn’t be able to take care of his own wounds. But as he’d told Red before, he paid his debts, and their current arrangement was certainly putting him into the red, literally.

“I want to help you,” Blue said stubbornly.

“heh, that’s a first.” Red gave up on finding a cigar, his smirk twisting, “okay, sweetheart, go on.”

Cautiously, Blue settled his hand over Red’s socket, ignoring the way Red’s fingers circled his slim wrist like a cuff, holding on. He called up his magic, guiding it with his Intent and a soft green glow formed in his palm. The magic twining briefly around his fingers, playfully following the path down to Red’s gripping fingers, before obeying Blue silent command and sinking into the damaged bone. Immediately the swelling began to fade, the darkened bone lightening again to ivory.

Red’s half-hooded gaze opened wider, staring at Blue through the cage of his fingers until Blue tried to draw away.

Even then, Red’s grip loosened slowly, his fingertips lightly scraping the delicate bones of Blue’s wrist as he pulled free. “listen,” Red said, slowly, “i was lookin for ya to tell ya, your little bro is fine, he’s with mine right now. i’ll get him brought back to your room, toot sweet.”

Papy was fine. Blue closed his sockets briefly, tasting the ashes of shame; he’d forgotten his own brother was missing, forgotten his worries and fears in this moment of paying back a debt.

There wasn’t time to wallow in his shame. Red rolled to his feet with a grunt, finally locating another cigar. He lit it with a flick of his thumb against a wooden match, puffing on it hard for a long moment before saying around it, “c’mon, i’ll take ya to your room.”

Without another word, Red started walking, his bulk clearing a path while Blue trotted along behind him. He tucked in his shirt as they went, straightening his clothes, and hyperaware of the gaze of those they passed. Gossip was surely already flying and what did it matter, anyway? His reputation was never going to survive being within these walls, the best he could’ve hoped for was the narrative labeling him a whore. Better that than the alternative, that people would think he was in business with the Fell brothers. Better than them knowing the truth.

Instead of the stairs, Red led the way to an elevator. It was small enough that he was forced to lean against Red, but that was all right. Tomorrow was soon enough to remind himself of Red’s variety of sins.

Another Dog greeted them as the elevator doors opened, falling into step behind them. They positioned themselves by his door as Red paused in front of it, insurance against Blue wandering off again, he shouldn’t wonder.

He found he didn’t mind it, at least not right now.

“go to bed,” Red ordered through a cloud of foul-smelling smoke. “your bro will be back soon.”

Blue turned, for once willing to be obedient, then he paused and turned back. “Thank you,” Blue said with quiet sincerity and it was not only for the return of his brother.

“ain’t a problem, baby bl—"

Red broke off as Blue rose up on his toes to press a soft kiss to Red’s freshly healed cheek bone, a gentle, lingering touch. Behind him came a bemused sound from the Dog, and when he drew back Red was looking at him with an unreadable expression on his broad face.

Blue ducked his head, breaking that stare as he whirled towards the door, fumbling it open and darting inside. He leaned against it and worked at evening out his shattered breathing. He needed to take a shower and get changed, needed to clean away the past few hours, and he would in just a moment. He would.

His brother would be back soon, that was all that mattered, and Blue didn’t want to think any more about the cost.

~~*~~

tbc

#cherryberry #spicyhoney #keelywolfe #underfell #underswap #underfell papyrus #underswap papyrus #mafia AU

41 notes · View notes

falcor-thee-luck-dragon · 4 years

Text

What a Time to be Alive - Diego Hargreeves x reader Season I

Chapter 8- I Heard A Rumor

Summary: Five’s healing from his shrapnel wound, Diego’s been arrested, now it’s up to you and Allison to find Vanya.

Masterlist - where all the other chapters are⚔️

Tagged: @sambucky8 @white-wolf-buckaroo @2cuteforyourlies @la-vie-en-amour1 @fandomoverlord221 @thatfandombitcch @alonewolfsblog @starrrybarnes @winterboobear11

The drive to Jenkins grandmothers house is long and silent, the two of you settling into a nervous quiet. Allison worried for Vanya, while you’re worried for what’s happening with Diego. Of all the times for him to get arrested and it’s right when you guys get a lead. Perfect. You cross your arms as you lean yourself against the door, closing your eyes tight and taking a deep breath as you open them once again. Looking out the window at the scenery, it’s dark out and raining heavily as Allison drives. Deciding now is as good as ever, you close your eyes and lay your head against your arm, trying to catch up on some sleep, hoping the ride goes faster.

When you open them again it’s early morning, the sun is still hiding behind the clouds leaving the world in dull blues, pinks, and oranges. You shift your gaze over to Allison who looks like she’s about to fall asleep at the wheel.

“I don’t think you’d survive a car crash...so in other words, I’ll drive the rest of the way there. Deal.” You tell her with a bit of tired humor in your voice, she gives you a weary nod, slowing the vehicle down and steering it off the side of the highway.

You both get out, switching positions, as you start the car up beginning to take down the road again. You glance over at Allison who’s already passed out on the window, “Good talk.” You mutter to yourself, content with the comfortable silence.

You get off the highway, making a couple turns here and there until you reach a gravel backroad. This is it. You cautiously make your way down the drive, past trees, ferns, and other greenery. You’d honestly be enjoying the surroundings of nature more, if this trip wasn’t about finding Vanya and her crazy boyfriend.

“Allison wake up, we’re here.” You whisper, reaching out to nudge her shoulder as you park at the bottom of the small gravel driveway. She startles awake, looking at her surroundings, relaxing once she sees how calm you are.

“That seemed fast. Thanks for driving us the rest of the way...I was seriously about to pass out at the wheel.” She explains with a yawn, you let out an amused puff of air.

“I’ve been in a car wreck before....I know surprising right...it’s not what I would consider, a fun experience.” She lets out a small chuckle at your early morning bluntness, it still amazes her how unfazed you’ve become to traumatic events that have happened to you. You’re guessing it all stems from the rapid healing and whatnot, you’re body doesn’t exactly give you a proper second to contemplate your injuries. Already deciding to heal everything quickly and get on with the next problem.

The both of you get out, slowly walking up towards the cabin, deciding to find a side entrance instead of barging in through the front. It’s best to be subtle, unlike some specific individual who you will not name. You slyly stalk your way to a low window, Allison right behind you.

“See anything?” She whispers as you peer carefully through the glass, not catching sight of anything of any real importance.

That is, until your eyes land on a black violin case, “Vanya’s violin case...but that’s it, I don’t hear any movement.” You whisper back, moving away from the window to face her, “Let’s get out of here, they can’t be that far.” You add glancing around the old cabin, she agrees and the two of you turn to leave.

——

“Someone better have fucking died, why are we stuck in goddamn traffic...in the countryside...literally nowhere. We’re not even in the city, what the hell?” You angrily ramble as Allison sits at the wheel listening to you go off. It takes another ten minutes to finally make it to some restaurant type business plaza area where something out of the norm has defiantly occured. Traffic is at a standstill once again as you look out the passenger side window at the various policemen wandering about in the nearby parking lot. She suddenly gets out of the car, noticing police cars surrounding some fenced off area with police tape all around it. You grumble, opening up your own door, flipping up your hood and hastily following her. She grabs a scarf that was hanging from off of a sign, walking over to the police tape and lifting it up to make her way into the off limits zone.

“Allison what the fu..” You start to tell her as a police officer gets to her first.

“Hey! Pardon me. Hey! I gotta ask you to stay behind the lines. We had an accident here last night.” He explains, halting her from walking any further. You make it to the yellow caution tape, standing on the outside like a civilized person.

“What happened here then?” You wonder, not unnoticing of the narly blood stain smeared on a nearby wall. Shit maybe someone did die.

“Ma’am. The line, please.” He adds, still wanting Allison to get behind it.

“Okay. Yes. Sorry.” She says, lifting up the yellow caution tape and standing next to you.

“Got a lot of stuff on the ground, okay? To be wary of.”

“What happened?” You ask again, really curious as to what’s holding up traffic.

The officer sighs while putting his hands on his hips, “We’re trying to figure that out. As soon as we do, you’ll be able to read it in the newspaper with everybody else. So have a nice day.” The officer says turning to walk away. Allison takes off her sunglasses, “Look officer, is there any way we..” He snaps back around his eyes shooting wide in surprise, “Holy shit! You’re Allison Hargreeves. I saw you on tv like two nights ago in that Sandra Bullock movie about underpaid teachers that rob a bank.” He excitedly rambles on. Rolling your eyes you flip your hood back, not caring if he recognizes you since Allison has taken it upon herself to blow cover. Your hair falls around your face as you blow a puff of wind to get a piece out of your eyes, this overly enthusiastic police officer’s mouth drops open once again. His face contorting from confusion to shock to realization. Ah, shit..he does indeed recognize you to your great surprise. He points to you excitedly, “No freakin way, you....you’re.....you’re...Y/N. This is crazy, you’re the Olympian! Of the frickin’ Umbrella Academy.” He gushes passionately, you purse your lips together, internally cringing a bit at hearing your old superhero name. The name you were given due to your likeness in powers and obvious immortality, to that likeness of the Greek gods and goddesses of mythical lore. You truly haven’t heard that name in many, many years, apparently you still have some old time fans.

“Yep, That’s us.” You fake smile at him, Allison doing the same, enjoying the recognition way more then you are.

“Oh! Wow. Hey. Never in a million years could I have thought I’d be in the presence of Allison Hargreeves and the Olympian. How bout’ that. What a day, huh.” He says, at a loss for words and what he could say next to his two idols, you and Allison just stand in an awkward silence. “Copy, Cheddar?” Speaks a woman’s voice from his cop radio. He quickly goes to answer, “Yeah, what do you got, Fred?”

“Hospital called. Perp from last night just regained consciousness.” She replies back. “Copy. I’ll be right over.” He says back, his face morphing back to that of an excited child’s, “Wow. Allison freakin Hargreeves and Y/N...the Olympian! Wow. My wife’s not gonna believe it.” He gushes yet again, you’d love to bitchslap that smile right off of his stupid face along with his dumb stereotypical small-town cop mustache. Allison just chuckles, as you cross your arms, “Anyway, I...I..I..I gotta go. Work stuff....Yeah.” He says almost sadly. “Yeah, of course. Sorry.” Allison answer with, as Officer Cheddar walks past you two, headed for his police car. “Actually, that’s...why I’m here. I’m... I’m researching a role. A law enforcement role.. with Y/N.” She explains giving you a quick side eye, you turn your head away from them, trying to hold in laughter. No fucking way is this cop gonna believe that load of bullshit. “In Jackpine Cove? We haven’t had a murder here in years.” He tells her. “Oh, uh...it’s about, um...a small-town cop who takes down a drug cartel. In fact, maybe I could tag along while you conduct some official police business? I promise...I won’t get in the way. I just...I think you could really, um...help develop my character, if I could live a day in the life, you know.” She tells him, hoping her little fib will do the trick. He nods carefully thinking it over, “Day in the life, huh? Eh..Come on. Follow me.” You’re eyes widen as your mouth drops open, how in the fuck? And she didn’t even have to rumor him, Allison you sly dog. She gives you a hopeful glance as the two of them start walking towards his car leaving you in the dust.

“It’s fine, I’ll just trail along...gotta get the car....that you’re leaving in traffic.” You grumble as they shut their doors, you walk over to your own vehicle. Opening up the door and getting inside.

——

When you finally made it to the hospital, Officer Cheddar wouldn’t allow you near the wounded victim, calling it official police business or some shit. Allison gave you an apologetic look as you walked out the sliding glass doors without another word.

Leaning against your car, you watch cars come and go, birds going about their day, and listen to the sweet sound of leaves rustling in the breeze. Ever grateful for the lack of car horns honking every ten seconds. As well as the usual nasty smells radiating from parts of the city and coming from god knows where else. You close your eyes, letting your mind wander.

What was happening with Diego? Is Five’s injury healed yet? Was Klaus okay? And where the hell was Vanya? So many questions and concerns throwing themselves at you, and oh right. There’s an apocalypse happening within the week. Things just are not going tremendously well this week, well that’s not entirely true. Considering you’ve had some pretty stellar times with Diego here and there, all very nice times indeed. Ah, but of course, Allison would get to have a fun little detective adventure with the local idiot. And she didn’t even have to rumor him! Even now she always gets what she wants, she always has, no..stop..you can’t think like that. You stopped giving a shit about who got the most attention long ago, you’re not about to start feeling resentment now. But your mind can’t help itself as it starts to saunter into darker grounds.

———

“Number Eight, if you weren’t so focused on the safety of Number Two, this mission would have been an utter success. But due to your lack of consistency when engaging in combat, you deliberately discontinued the annihilation of those four crime bosses. Jeopardizing the lives of their hostages, and all so Number Two wouldn’t get shot.....wounds heal.” Snaps Sir Reginald Hargreeves, as the whole of the Umbrella Academy plus yourself, sit around the dinner table. He’s verbally beating you down for saving Diego’s life on the Umbrella Academy’s latest mission. Where all of you surprise attacked a crime boss and his minions in his own mansion. You freed multiple people that where there due to human trafficking and other depraved things concerning illegal drugs and whatnot. It was successful to say the least, but a maid got shot in the arm when you decided to save Diego’s life instead. A mistake that Sir Reginald would not miss, nor would he ignore.

You glare up at him from across the table, “That maid survived. What? Would you rather have Diego die, or have a normal civilian live with some small injuries?” You ask him, as calmly as you can muster. He puts his fork down, sitting back, “You are part of the Umbrella Academy. Act like it. I will have no further arguments out of you for the rest of this meal, is that understood?” He replies sternly, cutting you off from further arguing, he takes a bite from his fork while watching your every move. You clench your jaw in frustration, no matter what you say he won’t care, “I understand.” You mutter through clenched teeth, turning away to focus sourly on your meal that you could care less about enjoying at the moment. The rest of dinner is held in an awkward silence.

As you’re returning to your room, Luther comes walking around the corner, headed for his own one. “Why do you always try and talk back to him? I mean, he is kinda right. You should have helped that woman, that’s what we’re there for.” Explains Luther as the two of you walk down the hallway.

“Of course you’d agree with him, why do I even bother.” You growl at him, rolling your eyes.

Suddenly Allison walks out of her room, joining the two of you stopped in the hallway.

“If you’re here to tell me I was wrong for talking back I’ll shove my foot up your ass.” You deadpan, her face grimacing in disgust.

“That’s lovely. But a little advice, Y/N, if you want to stay on his good side, just shut your mouth and try to be less of an asshole.” She tells you like a scolding mother, you shake your head at them, “All you two have to do is exist and follow everything daddy tells you. While the rest of us get kicked under the rug. He likes you two the best, you know. But I don’t even need to tell you...I’m positive you both are capable of already understanding that.” You whisper yell at them, sick of all their high and mighty comments, just don’t talk and let Reginald boss you around. No way. “Whatever.” Mumbles Allison. “You just don’t know how to be normal, or how to not be a smartass.” Sasses Luther rudely.

“What? We are literally the closest thing from normal for fucks sake.” You snap at him giving him a what-the-hell-are-you-serious face, he crosses his arms in annoyance.

“Don’t swear. You know we can’t say stuff like that. Dad or Pogo might hear. And Y/N, stop trying to start stuff. You wonder why Dad makes sure you’re last for everything, he doesn’t exactly like you as much....then again neither do I.” You look at him with a poker face, trying your hardest not to bitchslap him right now. It’s honestly incredibly tempting.

“I’m really feeling the family love, Luther. And by the way.....all of you suck.” You add bluntly, flipping them off as you turn on your heel and walk angrily into your room, slamming the door in their faces.

You sat in the middle of your floor for a good hour just fuming with quiet rage, until everything started to simmer down. They all get on your nerves to no end, and the only ones you can stand for longer then two hours are Vanya and Ben. Klaus is fun for awhile, that is on most occasions, until he starts trying to get you to see how long you can hold your hand over a flame before it hurts to much. Oddly fascinated with your ability to rapidly heal yourself, oddly enough you’ll usually do it, but you can only take Klaus in small doses. Then there’s Diego, who you’ve formed a solid love/hate relationship with. He’s just so weird, one minute he’s acting super cute and funny and trying to impress you or show off his knife skills so incredibly hard. Then a second later. Luther, Allison, or Reginald walks into the room and he’s being a jerk. Pretending like you don’t exist, and acting like such a hard-ass, it’s stupid. Klaus swears he’s got the fattest crush on you, but sometimes you’re not so sure, that kid gives you hella mixed signals.

Suddenly you hear a knock at the door, “If it’s you Luther, I’ll shank you with a paintbrush.” You tell this mystery person, crossing your arms as you look up at the door. You hear a soft chuckle from the other side, “No need. It’s just Diego....uh...could I come in? Please?” He whispers from the other side, your heart swells and you quickly get up to open it. “What’s up loser, I hope you’re not here to crush all my hopes and dreams.” You quip opening up the door wider so he can walk in, you closing it once again. He walks over to your carpet, sitting down by a bunch of random pillows. You soon follow, sitting across from him. “So, whatcha doin here?” You awkwardly ask him, confused as to why he’s in your room, not that you mind, but still. He fiddles with one of his daggers, looking down at his hands, “Uh, I wanted to say thanks for saving my ass yesterday. Sorry you took the fall for it, that was pretty badass of you to stand up to Dad.” He tells you still avoiding eye contact, you smile at him, “Well, I’d rather not have my favorite frisbee partner kick the bucket.” He smiles at that, finally looking up at you. “Yeah, we make a pretty good team, huh.” He glances down again at his dagger, nervously twisting it in his hands, “So, uh, Y/N. I..uh...have something to um...tell you.” He looks up at you, you can hear the thumping of his heartbeat quicken as a light blush dusts his cheeks, he continues, “Please don’t think I’m weird...but I really...like..yo..” Before he can finish his declaration of how he truly feels for you, the door bursts open. Revealing Luther and an angry Reginald, “Number Two. Number Eight. You were strictly told to go to your rooms and not come out until morning. I will have none of this, Number Two, out!” He snaps.

“I’m already in my room.”

He gives you a deadly warning glare as Diego gives you a sad look before bolting out the door. Reginald following as Luther gives you a snide smile, practically silently laughing at you. Fuck off, Diego was about to tell me something important you pricks. You would have liked to say, but thought otherwise, a wonderful moment utterly ruined.

———

Oh the fun childhood memories that stay with you to this day, intrusively barging their way back into your brain when you’re alone. Damn they all were little pricks back in the day, huh. All you tried to do was stand up for others and keep them safe, but all that the others wanted was to desperately please Reginald at any given opportunity. And that was the first time Diego truly opened up to you, it was short lived, but it was the start of something amazing.

“Y/N! Y/N! Hey!” Shouts Allison who’s running to you, your head snaps up at the sudden noise.

“What? I can hear you, calm down.” You tell her, pushing yourself off the car door.

“Vanya and Leonard Peabody were just here this morning. They were here, when we were at the cabin, they must have come back. We gotta go.” She hurriedly rambles, taking the keys out of your hand and opening up the drivers side.

“Well shit.” You run around to the passengers seat, hoping in quickly, as Allison takes off towards the cabin.

The drive is thankfully short, but by now the suns beginning to set as a new darkness starts to engulf the land. It’s beautiful and calming to feel the night air and listen to the wind sway the pines back and forth. But you have no time to fully enjoy it, to worried and on guard for what you and Allison might run into.

“What the hell. Why’s it so windy all of a sudden.” You say aloud, shutting the car door and turning to walk up the gravel driveway. “Yeah, this is definitely odd.” Mutters Allison, equally as puzzled.

As you both reach the porch, the sound of Vanya’s violin wafts its way out and into the quiet night air. It’s beautiful, with the exception of all the lights and other porch furniture that’s swaying to the wind, er music. You’re not completely sure what’s going on. “Vanya? Is that you?” Shouts Allison as she looks into a window, quickly walking up to the door and opening it. No regard for safety, come on Allison we talked about this, you think to yourself as you follow her into the windy cabin. “Vanya, there you are. What is going on?” Allison half yells, bringing Vanya’s attention to the two of you. “Hey V.” You wave at her awkwardly, as she stops playing her violin.

“What are you two doing here?” She questions, trying to figure out how you would have found her, and most importantly why?

“We came to find you. Are you okay?” Allison worries. “Yeah.” Vanya says with a small but confused smile.

“Vans, you wouldn’t happen to know what’s causing all the spooky ghost wind? Now would you?” You question her, giving the room a short look around.

“Me.”

Allison walks in closer, “What do you mean, me?” She asks, confusion clear on her features. You furrow your brows, puzzled as well. “I mean....I made those things happen. With my powers. Turns out I’ve had them all this time. It’s weird, huh?” Vanya tells the both of you, her voice holding a tinge of resentment.

“It’s in..it’s incredible.” Allison gasps, shocked and amazed at this new information.

Vanya’s face falls, “But?”

“Can we just leave now. We’ll all have a nice lovely conversation about it in the car.” You rush, feeling the tension in the room starting to increase, as you attempt to get things rolling.

“Why?” Wonders Vanya. Allison glances down for a moment, sighing softly, “You’re not gonna want to hear it.” She warns, oh right, we gotta tell Vanya about her psychotic boyfriend. That’s gonna go well.

“Well, that’s never stopped you before.” She adds dryly, ouch. But well deserved.

“Leonard Peabody? His real name is Harold Jenkins.” Allison pauses for a moment, letting the information sink into Vanya, “Remember when I couldn’t find anything in the library on Leonard? It’s because Leonard Peabody doesn’t exist. Harold Jenkins does.” She explains, Vanya listens in silence, not sure what to believe anymore.

“She’s right. He was in prison for 12 years. The sick fuck murdered his father when he was 13...his pops might have had it coming..but still.” You tell her, further backing up Allison’s facts.

“This is...insane. His dad was an engineer at the..” Allison cuts her off, “I have the police report in the car, Vanya. I can show you.”

“I don’t...I don’t understand.” Vanya says shaking her head, not believing in these obscene facts. You walk closer to Allison, who’s standing a couple feet away from Vanya. “Leonard, Harold, Yeah man. It doesn’t make a lot of sense, and it sounds crazy. But we were in his house, this wack-job has pictures of us with our eyes gouged out.” You urge, trying to help her understand. Her brows furrow in agitated bewilderment, “Wh..What?” She starts as Allison quickly interrupts her, “I promise I will tell you everything in the car, but it is not safe.” Rushes Allison worriedly as she grabs Vanya’s arm, pulling her a couple feet towards the door. “No, stop.” Objects Vanya, sitting down in a rocking chair, Allison falling to her knees in front of her. “Look, um...I can’t imagine how hard it is for you to hear this...how you feel right now, but I..I love you, and I just...I wanna be here for you, as your sister.” Pleads Allison, desperately trying to get Vanya moving and away from this place. You stand back, folding your arms in concern, you can feel a heavy uneasiness crawling over the room.

“There’s just no way. I love him. This just doesn’t make any sense. And this power...I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going on. I don’t know what to do.” Mutters Vanya, her face washing over in troubled distress, overwhelmed by everything that’s happening.

“Now I understand.” Whispers Allison, apparently remembering a long forgotten memory, “When we were four. Dad told us you were sick. You had to be isolated. We were so young. None of us knew to question it. But then he asked me to do something I never understood...until now. He made me an accomplice.” Explains Allison shamefully, bowing her head down in disgust for what she did. You watch Vanya’s shocked face, you had no idea any of this happened. And clearly neither did she.

“You did this to me?” Whispers Vanya.

“I...I didn’t realize.”

“You knew this whole time? That I had powers!” Shouts Vanya, getting up off the rocking chair in a fury. “No, no! I didn’t understand until we came today, until I saw it.” Pleads Allison standing up as well. You just stand back and continue to watch the shit-show, damn, this family continues to surprise you to no end.

“Well, now it all makes sense. This is why you never wanted me around.” She cries, anger and sadness fueling her.

“What? No!”

“You couldn’t risk me threatening your place in the house, your...your dominance.” Vanya continues, her temper rising by the minute. “That is not true.” Adds Allison, Vanya screaming back, “You couldn’t handle the fact that Dad might find me special.”

“You are special, with or without powers.” Snaps Allison desperately.

“Don’t...Don’t say that!” Screams Vanya, her face a mask of hurt and anger. “We have a chance to start over.” Allison tells her calmly, Vanya not buying into anything, “You destroyed my life!” She yells. You throw your hands up to your hypersensitive ears, not being able to stand the shouting anymore.

“Oh, come on Vanya. Everything is out in the open. We can move on.” Begs Allison getting frustrated. Vanya shakes her head, “Oh, I’m moving on. But not with you, or Y/N, with Leonard.” She snaps, you interject for the first time, “With Harold, the crazy bastard remember.” She ignores you, screaming back, “With Leonard! The only person who has ever loved me for me!” Allison stands back, lightly chuckling at the ridiculous thought of this random psychopath loving anyone. “Look me in the eye and tell me you’re not threatened now.” Says Vanya calmly, you look around you as the wind begins to pick up in the cabin once again, shit.

“I don’t wanna argue with you.” Begins Allison, Vanya vocalizing her rage, “Then go! I don’t want your help!” She wails, you cover your sensitive ears tighter.

“Vanya, I love you!” Allison cries, begging her to listen.

“Stop saying that!” Screams Vanya, even louder then before. Allison’s face scrunches up in confusion as she looks around the windy room, “Are you okay?”

“I said go!” A second later the lights above Allison shatter, raining down glass into your hair and hers. “Please don’t make me do this.” Begs Allison, at her whits end, and out of ideas on what to do about Vanya’s growing outrage. You take a step back, your legs hitting the front of the couch, afraid of what she’s about to do next, “I heard a rumor..” Allison begrudgingly starts, without warning Vanya reacts with lighting speed, you watch on in horror as Vanya whips her violin string across Allison’s vulnerable throat. Slitting it in one clean motion, your eyes shoot over to a shocked Allison, then deep red blood begins pooling out of her neck. Her eyes go wide as she raises her hands to stop the bleeding, you and Vanya race over to her as she begins to fall to the carpeted floor. “Allison!” Screams Vanya, terrified at what she had just done. “I didn’t mean to...I didn’t....I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” She cries, glancing at you then back to Allison as hot tears begin streaming down her face. You listen to the strained gasps coming from Allison, as you rip off the bottom of your shirt and place it firmly where the injury is, doing your best to stop the bleeding. While Vanya’s hyperventilating next to you, you can hear Leonard urging her to get up and follow him out the door. He rushes over, grabbing her arm roughly and pulling her away, you snap out of your trance of saving Allison’s life.

Racing after them, Leonard shoves a hysterical Vanya out the door, before he whips around to face you, who’s staring daggers at him from the doorway.

“The Olympian. It’s an honor to finally meet you.” He says with an agitating grin as you sneer at him.

“Well, I wouldn’t stay to excited about it for much longer.” You snap, he chuckles at that while taking a step back.

In an instant you lunge at him, pushing him ferociously into the porch railing, the boards snap as they catch his weight. He staggers to his feet, wiping a smear of blood from his mouth and letting out a ragged cough while giving you a sly smile as he goes to picks up Vanya, “You won’t be able to move for quit awhile. And that’s all we need.” He tells you mysteriously, turning away and hastily limping down the steps, hand in hand with Vanya. You snap out of your daze, going to take a step to finish the job when your stomach has the most intensely jarring sharp pain, practically screaming at you to stop. You look down, this fucker stabbed you with a Swiss Army knife. “Goddammit.” You groan, grabbing its hilt and pulling it painfully out of you. Some blood squirts out and drips onto the wooden floor. You grimace, lifting the bloody blade up to your nose, you take a small sniff. “Oh fuck.” You deadpan, he coated the blade with some type of poison. You’re not sure what from, but you can tell its been tampered with, this dick knew what the fuck he was about, damn he must really hate the Umbrella Academy.

Knowing you probably only have a couple minutes left before the toxins fully reach into your system. You drop the knife, stumbling over to a barely conscious Allison. You fall to the floor, grabbing the arm of the couch with your left hand. Your whole body feels sick and you start to sweat heavily, you’re not sure if you’re about to vomit or not. Luckily it passes, replaced by an intense agonizing pain stabbing at your stomach, at least you can still breath. You crawl to Allison’s legs, leaning yourself against the couch, fighting to keep yourself awake, you have to stay awake, you have to fight through the poison that’s desperately trying to kill you. But everything feels so fuzzy and you can hear your own heartbeat pounding in your ears. It’s deafening. Nonetheless you crawl forward, reaching your right hand up to press gently onto her bleeding wound.

You don’t know how long you’ve been slumped on the floor in agony, straining to keep your eyes open as bloody drool seeps out from the side of your mouth. But you could have swore you just heard the sound of car doors slamming shut. A moment later the screen door bursts open, Luther entering first, followed by Klaus, Five, and Diego. Luther races over to Allison’s left side, since your slowly dying on her right. Klaus kneels down in front of you, lifting your head up, it’s so hard to move, your body feels like it’s on fire and tied down by a thousand ship anchors.

“Y/N, what happened? What’s wrong with you?” Pleads Klaus breathlessly, terrified that you’re not healing right away. It’s how poison works, it won’t kill you, but damn will it keep you awake in a half dying state until the affects wear off.

Diego suddenly materializes from up above you, your vision is so blurry, you could barely tell it’s him. You can’t clearly make out a single comprehensible word from either of them. But a minute later you can feel yourself being lifted, and carefully carried out the door and down the steps. Where you’re then put into a car, your head and shoulder is leaning against something soft and warm. Presumably Diego or Klaus but you can’t tell anymore. Then the vehicle begins to move, the dull rumbling of the engine, forcing you into a half-conscious state. You don’t remember the ride home.

#the umbrella academy #diego hargreeves #diego hargreeves x reader #diego hargreeves x you #tua #tua season one #the umbrella academy imagine #the umbrella academy x reader #the umbrella academy x you #number two #what a time to be alive fic #falcor the luck dragon stories

100 notes · View notes