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the-bau-quinjet · 1 year

Text

Back to Me

Summary: Aaron needs you and Jack to come back to him.

Word Count: 8030

Warnings: kidnapping, CM type violence, guns

A/N: Not gonna lie, I love this story. I'm very obsessed with our dear Agent Hotchner right now. I might not be the best writer, but I am actually proud of the story :)

Masterlist

The sound of the lock in the door opening clued you into his arrival. You shifted slowly, not wanting to wake Jack as you climbed out of his bed. He had only just fallen asleep a few minutes ago as you finished reading him a story.

"Aaron?" you called quietly as you moved through the apartment to the front door. Just when you wrapped your arms around him, his phone started ringing.

"Hotchner," you stayed hugging him while the conversation played out. "I'll be there in an hour." He hung up, finally returning your embrace.

"Do you want me to wake Jack? Say hi before you have to leave again?" you asked, relishing in his embrace a little longer.

"No, better to let him sleep. The case is local, so I shouldn't be gone long." Aaron replied, stepping out of your arms and retrieving his bag. You followed him down the hall, watching as he unpacked and changed before getting ready to leave again.

"Hey," you stopped him on his way out of the bedroom. "I love you, okay?" He sighed in relief, stalling his exit to pull you back into another hug.

"I love you too. Thank you." After another moment, he stepped back. He kissed your forehead before turning to head back down the hallway and out the door.

You met Aaron a little over a year ago. You had just moved to DC for a new job and decided the farmer's market would be a fun change of pace.

"Thank you," you smiled at the woman selling produce before turning back to the rest of the market. You roamed aimlessly through the stalls, not looking for anything specific.

"Excuse me," you turned at the sound of a young voice, surprised to find a small boy trying to get your attention.

"Hi there," you smiled, squatting down to his level. "What's your name? Are you here alone?" you asked. The boy couldn't have been any older than six or seven.

"I'm Jack. I came with my daddy, but I can't find him. I just wanted to get some candy, cause there were free ones." He held out his hand to show you the candy.

"It's nice to meet you, Jack. I'm Y/N. what does your daddy look like? I can help you find him." You listened as he tried to explain his dad, but the description could mean anything. What does tall really mean to a six-year-old? All you really know is that he has dark hair. "Okay, what's your daddy's name?"

"Aaron!" he answered excitedly, proud to know the answer.

"Alright, let's start looking!"

You hadn't made it more than five steps before someone was anxiously scooping up the boy. The man looked relieved to find him, but Jack's reaction wasn't what you'd expected. He looked stiff in the man's arms.

"Jack! I told you not to leave my side," he spewed on and on about how happy he was to find him, Jack's face tucked into his shoulder.

"What's your name?" you were too skeptical of the situation to let him just walk away with Jack.

"Hm? Oh, Aaron," he smiled. "Thank you. For keeping him safe." He nodded toward Jack.

Despite his correct answer, something didn't feel right. Jack stressed that his dad's hair was dark. Sure, this guy has brown hair, but it wasn't exceptionally dark.

"Just a minute!" you called before he could walk away. You grabbed Jack out of his arms, catching the man off guard. "Jack, is this your dad?" He just shook his head, eyes wide.

"Hey! Give him back!" The man screamed, reaching for Jack. You turned away from him, shielding Jack with your body. "Give him to me you stupid bitch!"

His yelling only justified your decision. You leaned over Jack, protecting him from the man who you were now sure is not his father. Unbeknownst to you, the man's yelling caused quite a scene in the otherwise peaceful farmer's market.

"Jack!" You heard another voice yelling for Jack, but your adrenaline was pumping too much to let him go. The man was still reaching for Jack, hitting and scraping you. Jack's safety was now your top priority.

Eventually, someone pulled the man off you, but the yelling never stopped. He kept screaming "that's my son" or "give him to me" over and over. You could hear sirens in the distance, growing closer.

"Are you okay?" you leaned back just far enough to look Jack in the eye. He nodded his head, but you could easily tell how scared he was.

"Where's my dad?" he asked, voice shaking. You opened your mouth to respond when someone else started talking.

"Excuse me, ma'am? Could you explain what's going on?" you turned to see a uniformed officer asking you the question. Her partner was holding back the man who claimed to be Jack's father. You picked Jack up without even thinking about it, still feeling him shaking. You explained everything to the officer as quickly as you could, not wanting to put Jack through anything else.

While the officer wrote everything down, you finally had a chance to scan the newly amassed crowd. Jack looked with you, still anxiously searching for his father.

"There!" he pointed. "That's my dad! DAD!" You followed his line of sight, finally noticing a dark-haired man pushing his way through the crowd. "Daddy!"

Jack bounced with excitement as his dad got closer. When he finally reached you both, Jack practically jumped from your arms to get to him sooner. That is more like the reaction you expected.

You stepped back, letting the two of them greet each other. The officer asked you more questions, moving on to whom you could only assume was actually Aaron. You couldn't help but overhear his answers.

"I was putting my change away and when I turned around he was gone." He held tight to his son, barely looking at the officer asking the questions.

"Then I found that lady and she saved me from the bad man!" Jack chimed in, turning the focus back to you. You smiled at Jack.

"I'm just happy I could help."

Before you could say anything else, the police started talking again. They collected everyone's information, taking down everything they would need to call you in for a formal statement.

You shook Aaron's hand and said goodbye to Jack, assuming that would be it. You didn't fully realize how involved you would be in the case against the man who attempted to kidnap Jack. Thankfully, he took a plea, so you didn't have to testify in a trial.

Throughout the process, you saw Aaron and Jack a few more times. With each encounter, you learned more about the two of them. You found yourself looking forward to seeing them. When you received a call with the sentencing information, informing you the case was over, you found yourself mildly disappointed that you no longer had an excuse to see them.

That feeling was quickly followed by guilt. You would only serve to remind them of Jack's near kidnapping. Being free of you would only improve their lives and let them move on.

For a few months, that was it. You had thought your life was Hotchner-free. But, a chance encounter at a coffee shop changed everything.

"Y/N!" a young voice shouted your name causing you to turn around. Just as you finished spinning toward the sound, you felt the force of a six-year-old boy throwing his arms around you.

"Jack!" you nearly squealed, squatting down to hug him better. You looked around for Aaron, surprise covering your features when you couldn't see him. "Where's your dad?"

Jack paused, looking around with you. "I don't know. He... he was right behind me. But then I saw you in here so I ran to get you!"

"Well, let's go find him." You held out your hand for Jack, carrying your coffee in the other. Just a few steps later, Aaron was running into the store. He stopped short when he saw you with Jack.

"You must think I'm a terrible father," Aaron sighed.

"Not at all," you smiled, leading Jack toward him.

"You're a great daddy!" Jack chimed in, eager to calm his father's fears.

"Thank you, buddy. I need you to stop running away from me," he smiled down at his son, taking his hand from you.

"But you said to stay with adults I know, and I know Y/N!" Jack explained.

"That's right, bud. You do know me." You smiled at Jack, trying to keep this light-hearted despite the serious potential consequences. "But, you shouldn't run away from your dad. He worries about you, so you should tell him where you're going. Then he can help keep you safe." Jack nodded, hanging on your every word.

"Daddy, can Y/N come with us to lunch?" Jack asked, bouncing with excitement. It seems you weren't the only one missing your time together. Aaron looked at you, the question clear in his eyes. You smiled, a slight nod showing your agreement.

"I don't know. You'll have to ask her." Aaron smiled slightly, encouraging his son to actually ask you instead.

"Y/N, do you want to come to lunch with us?" Jack asked, more shyly than when he questioned his dad.

"I'd love to buddy. Let's go."

It didn't take much for you to fully fall for Aaron, especially when you started loving Jack along with him. You grew closer every moment you spent together, and eventually confessed your feelings toward each other. A few months ago, Aaron asked you to move in with them.

It wasn't unusual for cases to happen back to back like this. The last case took a little over a week, but that meant nothing when another case popped up immediately. At least with a local case, you've got a chance of seeing Aaron at night. However, returning to work this late could only mean emergent attention was needed. You hated to think what that meant.

Instead of dwelling on it, you checked to make sure Jack was still asleep before getting ready for bed yourself. You followed your nightly routine methodically, still trying to clear your head of what Aaron could possibly be facing.

Everything was completely normal when you finally settled into bed. You checked on Jack one more time while you turned off the hall lights, then laid down in bed to read. You were just a few pages from the end of a chapter when you heard a noise down the hall.

"Jack?" you asked, walking down the hall. You looked in his bed, glad to see him still asleep. You heard another sound in the kitchen just as you shut the door to Jack's bedroom. "Aaron?" you called.

You continued down the hall, eager to see Aaron again so soon but nervous about what it could mean for the case. Just as you turned to enter the kitchen, you felt a sharp pain across your forehead. Then, everything faded to black.

You groaned as you woke up. The pain in your head made your thoughts foggy. You reached to rub the spot that hurt, but your arms were stuck behind your back. The restriction of your movement jolted you to the present, reminding you of the events before you lost consciousness.

"Jack," you whispered, anxiously looking around the room. No light streamed in from windows near the ceiling of the warehouse-type building you were being held in, so you knew it couldn't have been long. There were crates and boxes strewn about the room, some covered in canvas cloths.

You pushed yourself across the floor toward the nearest stack of crates, stretching as far as you could to pull the cloth off. Dust floated through the air, the cloth falling over your head. You moved desperately across the floor trying to rid yourself of the covering.

Finally getting free, you pushed yourself back toward the crates. You searched the edges, looking for anything rough enough to help you get rid of the tape. The rough concrete floor tore at your skin as you pushed further and further to search the other edges.

On your third try, you found a nail sticking out of the corner near the very bottom. Getting into the correct position was harder than you expected, and you scraped your hands and wrists in your efforts to cut the tape. Still, you managed to free your hands enough to rip through the last of the bindings. You quickly used your newly freed hands to tear the tape from your ankles as well. Slowly, you rose to your feet. You could feel your limbs were weak after being restrained.

You crept toward the door quietly. Before opening it, you listened for the sound of anyone on the other side. You could hear a faint whining, but no other movement. You winced at the sound of the door opening, but you moved through the doorway anyway. Jack was in the corner, his hands and feet bound similarly to your own, but with tape over his mouth.

"Jack," you rushed toward him. You removed the tape as carefully, but quickly, as possible. "Are you okay?" He nodded, but the tears in his eyes betrayed his true feelings. "Come with me."

You grabbed his hand, again looking around the room in an attempt to escape. There was only one other door in the room making for an easy decision. Once again, you stopped at the door to listen for anything on the other side. When you didn't hear anything you slowly pushed through the door. You pulled Jack behind you, trying to keep him out of harm's way.

The new room looked just like the previous two, with one more door on the far side. Listening for noise on the other side, you could hear footsteps coming toward the door. You pushed Jack behind a stack of crates, ducking down with him just as the door flew open.

"FBI, show yourself!" A voice you'd never heard before called through the dust.

"Oh, thank God. Jack, let's go." You picked him up and ran toward the agent paying no mind to your weary limbs or the fact that Jack really was too big to be carried. "Where's Aaron?"

"He's checking another site, please come with me." The man guided you out of the warehouse and to a running SUV. You climbed in the back with Jack still holding him close to you.

"Where are the people who took us?" you asked, wanting to be sure you and Jack were safe.

"My colleagues took them in just a few minutes ago. We found them in the front of the warehouse. It's nice to finally put a face to the name, Y/N" he continued.

"Oh, of course! It's nice to meet you..." you drifted off, clearly waiting for a name.

"Derek. Derek Morgan," he supplied. You felt Jack squeeze your hand, but you attributed it to nerves.

"Well, thank you, Derek. You're alone here?" you questioned curiously. It didn't make sense for an agent not to have a partner.

"Like I said," he started. "My colleagues left to take in the men who took you." Once again, you felt Jack squeeze your hand. This time, you turned toward him.

"What's up, buddy? Derek is taking us to your dad." You tried to smile, but it was clear to both of you that it was a little forced. Jack shook his head as you spoke, gesturing for you to lean in closer.

"That's not Derek," he whispered, eyes wide.

"What?" you asked, although you heard him clearly. "But then..." Your adrenaline started pumping as you realized the precarious position you now found yourself in. "It's okay Jack. I'll figure this out."

"I don't think you will, Y/N. I don't think you will." The man driving cut the act. "I have to say, you weren't supposed to get out of the restraints. How'd you manage?" You ground your teeth to hold in your rapidly fluctuating emotions. "Oh, that's okay. I'll use something stronger than the buffoons who took you. Idiots."

Your mind was reeling as you tried to remember everything you knew about self-defense and how you might lead Aaron to you. A secondary location was bad enough, but a secondary kidnapping? One who you left with voluntarily? There won't be anything at the scene to tell them where to go... If you're going to get out of this, you have to do it yourself.

"What are we doing here?" Morgan asked, his exhaustion giving way to frustration.

"Tori Fallon, age 6, was reported missing an hour ago. She was taken from her bedroom after her parents read her a story." JJ filled in the team as Hotch walked through the door.

"What do we know?" he asked, not one to waste time on pleasantries.

"The window was broken and there was a note left," JJ added.

"From a chained accommodation, I see a desert with monuments built by the hands of an adolescent." Spencer read the riddle, pausing only momentarily to think. "A playground. Is there a playground she went to frequently?"

"Let's find out, she lives 25 minutes from here. Let's go," Rossi chimed in, already rising from his seat.

"A playground?" Emily questioned as they walked to the SUVs.

"A chained accommodation is a swing, the desert a sandbox. Children build sandcastles or 'monuments' in the sand." Reid shot back.

"Dave, take Morgan and see if you can find anything at the house. JJ, go with them and talk to the family. Reid, Prentiss, we'll head to the playground."

The team all nodded with a newfound focus driven by the motivation to find the missing girl. It didn't take more than half an hour for Hotch to pull the SUV to a stop in the playground parking lot.

"Check the swings and the sandbox. He might've left another clue," Hotch instructed, one hand on his weapon and the other holding his flashlight.

"Hello?" a young girl called out, her voice clearly terrified. "I did what you said!" she cried.

"Tori? We're with the police, where are you?" Emily called while Hotch and Reid followed through with the original plan.

"I'm in the slide!" she called, her voice more urgent. "You have to get me out, those were his rules!" Emily rushed to her, quick to check the slide was clear before climbing inside to help Tori. Hotch and Reid met them as they climbed out. Tori was completely fine, although still terrified.

"You're parents are on the way. They'll be here soon." Hotch tried to reassure her. "Whose rules?"

"The man you took me here. He said to stay in the slide until the police came to get me out. Or else he would hurt my mommy and daddy." She was still shaking in Emily's arms as her parents pulled up to the playground. JJ, Morgan, and Rossi walked up to the rest of the team, the question clear on their faces.

"Why kidnap a child and leave her completely fine at the playground 5 minutes away?" Rossi voiced the obvious.

"Reid." Hotch nodded to him and Spencer held up the note he found in the sandbox.

"For this," he unfolded the note, all eyes on him. "Lost something?"

"That's it?" Morgan asked, incredulous.

"No, there's a picture..." Reid turned the page around to show the team. It wasn't a recent picture, although Hotch was the only one who could tell with absolute certainty when it was from. You were squatting so you could be at eye level with the young boy you were talking to. The concern on your face was evident, but you were clearly smiling to appease the child. Hotch remembered that day. How could he forget? He nearly lost Jack and met you in the process.

He had his phone in his hand, speed-dial assisting him to make the call before anyone else had looked up from the image on display. "Answer the phone... Answer dammit!"

When the phone went to voicemail, Hotch immediately started moving. He gestured for the team to follow, but didn't bother waiting to see if they would. Dave and Emily got in the car with Aaron. Morgan, Reid, and JJ followed in the other SUV.

"Garcia,' he started when the next call connected. "I need a visual on my apartment building. I can't reach Y/N or Jack. Look out for a white male, dark hair, 5'9". Name is Tucker Landry."

"Running background as we speak." The sounds of Garcia rapidly typing could be heard in the silence. Hotch was already ten minutes from his apartment. "I've got the footage, sir. Two men, both white, but blonde."

"Dammit!" Hotch hit the wheel, his desperation leaking through. "I can't do this again, Dave. I can't lose them."

"You won't," he promised. "Garcia, track their car."

"Already on it, sir. I've followed them four miles north, but they're about to leave the city limits." She continued typing, tracking the car while simultaneously running the check on Landry.

"Find him," Hotch ordered. Meanwhile, he pulled up outside his apartment building. Despite knowing what he would find inside, he ran from the car. Forgoing the elevator, he took the stairs two at a time up the three flights to his apartment. The door was ajar, and drops of blood littered the hallway.

Rossi and Emily pushed past him into the apartment, clearing the rooms as they searched. Hotch stood paralyzed at the entrance, too stuck in the thoughts of what he could find to force himself through the door.

"All clear, they aren't here," Dave called from the kitchen. When no response came, he moved back to the door. "She's not here, Aaron. By the looks of it, they took them both alive."

Hearing that he still had a chance was what he needed to jolt him into action. He was back down the stairs before Morgan pulled the other SUV to the curb.

"What are we looking at?" Morgan asked, JJ and Reid coming around the other side of the SUV.

"Home abduction, minimal blood. Garcia tracked the car north but lost them at the edge of the city." As Rossi filled everyone in, Hotch was already profiling.

"He was opportunistic last time he tried to take Jack. He's not organized enough to coordinate this." Once again, he had his phone in his hand. "Garcia, did you find any properties in his name?"

"Yes, sir. I was about to dial you myself. Tucker Landry's father owned an old warehouse 10 miles north of the city. When his business went belly up, the warehouse was abandoned. Coordinates are already sent."

The warehouse appeared abandoned when they arrived, but that was nothing new. "Morgan, Prentiss go around back. Dave, JJ check for a side entrance. Reid, you're with me." Hotch ordered his team, already on the way inside.

With each room cleared, his anxiety worsened. His need to find you and Jack was nearly overwhelming. Finally, they entered a room, coming face to face with Derek and Emily.

"Back here!" JJ called. "There's duct tape and drops of blood. It looks fresh."

"They were here recently," Dave added. "It looks like she cut herself out of the binding on a nail."

"This is disorganized. So where are they?" Hotch paced, his mind running a mile a minute but coming up with no answers.

"Two bodies out back, looks like the blondes from the surveillance footage," Emily supplied.

"Why lead us here only to take them somewhere else?" JJ questioned.

"The riddle, the 'fake' but real kidnapping to get you out of the apartment, the picture we found there... It's all been about the chase. He wants to feel the power he wasn't able to last time." Reid spoke quickly, trying to keep up with his own train of thought.

"He can't have meant for Y/N to get out of the tape. He might have a plan, but it's not very well thought through." Just as JJ finished talking, Morgan's phone started ringing.

"Babygirl," Morgan started, but he was quickly interrupted.

"Were they there? Are they okay?" Penelope jumped in, the need to know overwhelming her.

"They must have been here recently, but they're gone. We found the blondes, dead. Is there anywhere else he could take them?" he asked.

"The other reason for my call, although I was hoping you wouldn't need it. Landry's father died a few weeks ago. He left Tucker the house in his will. The paperwork hasn't all been filed because he should still be in prison, which is why I missed it on the first pass."

"Coordinates?"

"Already sent. Go get them." Penelope hung up, nervously looking for any more information she could find just in case. The rest of the team split up once more, hoping this would be the ride that lead to your and Jack's safe return.

Jack was bound, tape over his mouth, in the opposite corner of the room. You could still hear him crying, the tears pouring down his small cheeks. This time, he locked you both in a bedroom.

After forcing you and Jack into the room at gunpoint, he made you zip-tie Jack and cover his mouth with more duct tape. He then forced you to bind your own legs before quickly binding your hands. Still, he followed your example and bound your hands in front of you like you did to Jack.

With all the force you could muster, you pushed your hands out and pulled them toward you as fast as you could, pushing your wrists apart on the inswing. It took a few tries, but eventually, you felt the plastic snap. The ties around your feet were harder. Maneuvering closer to the bed, you pushed yourself up until you could cross one foot over the other. Then, you tried to sit down, flattening your ankles. Once again, you felt the plastic give.

Before you could move to free Jack, you heard footsteps coming up the stairs. You quickly moved back to your original position, laying the zip ties around your arms and legs as if they were still attached. At the last second, you gestured for Jack to close his eyes.

Finally, he opened the door and walked into the room with the same level of casualty you'd expect of an old woman on a Sunday stroll. He glanced at you and Jack, clearly pleased you hadn't been able to escape his supposedly superior binding- seems he wasn't much smarter than the so-called buffoons that kidnapped you first.

"I'm sure you're wondering why I didn't cover your mouth." He started talking, and you had to force yourself not to roll your eyes. "Now we can finally talk," he smirked. "Do you remember me?" he waited. You squinted at him, trying to recognize any of the features. "Stupid bitch, just like before."

The words triggered a memory. Suddenly, you were back to leaning over Jack, protecting him from an onslaught of force from the man you knew not to be his father.

'Tucker," you whispered, involuntarily glancing at Jack. Thankfully, he didn't seem to recognize the man or the name.

"And she finally gets it!" he laughs. "You ruined my life. That boy," he points at Jack, "was my ticket out! Out of debt. Out of the country. OUT!" You didn't need to be a profiler to notice he was manic and devolving. "You know, when they gave me the task I thought that was it. There was no way I could figure out how to steal a child. And, boom, then he walked right past me, unaccompanied. But of course, you had to RUIN IT!"

He punctuated this most recent fit by hitting you across the face with the butt of his gun. You winced but still waited for the right opportunity.

"They broke me out of jail to finish the job. You see, bookies don't take kindly to getting stiffed, especially not the kind I've dealt with." Finally, his whole story made sense. "I had him! This would've been so much easier if you just stayed out of it." The sound of his laughing would haunt you for the rest of your life. "And now? Now you get to watch as I get the money I need, and I'm gonna use that kid-"

He turned as he spoke, gesturing to Jack with his empty hand. You took the opportunity to strike, your fear for your own life and Jack's life taking over.

Dating Aaron had many perks, but knowing how to defend yourself was possibly the most important thing he taught you. It was easy enough to surprise him, knocking into him hard enough to get him to drop the gun. Using the momentum to your advantage, you hit him in the solar plexus with the butt of your hand - no harm in falling back on knowledge older than your relationship with Aaron. Miss Congeniality was there for you when he wasn't.

When he fell backward, you quickly stooped to pick up the gun. Standing firmly, you braced yourself the way Aaron taught you, careful to stand at an angle that allowed you to point the gun at Tucker without having Jack in the background.

Tucker stood casually despite the gun aimed at his chest. His glare never left his eyes, but the pretentious smirk on his face clued you in. He was still underestimating you.

"You don't have it in you to shoot me."

You pulled the trigger with no hesitation. The bullet knocked him back to the ground, blood leaking from the chest wound. You could only hope Jack listened to your earlier warning and closed his eyes. You stood frozen, gun still pointed at Tucker for a moment. He was still looking at you when you saw the light leave his eyes.

Suddenly, his phone started ringing. The noise was enough to jolt you into action. If he was trying to sell Jack, then it's possible other people were on the way to the house right now. You made sure to click the safety on before stuffing the gun in the back of your pants like you see in movies.

You found yourself chuckling at how Aaron would definitely yell at you for bad form but now wasn't the time. Without a knife, you weren't sure how to free Jack without hurting him. Instead, you removed the tape from his mouth and carried him out of the room.

"It's okay. I'm gonna get you out of these and we're gonna drive away until we're safe and can call your dad, okay?" Jack just nodded, tears giving way to panic. Your frantic movements likely weren't helping, but you were running on pure adrenaline.

Making it down the stairs with Jack was difficult, but not impossible. Then, it was just a matter of finding the kitchen and using a small knife to cut through the zip ties. The fake FBI vest Tucker wore to "rescue" you was sitting on the counter. It might not be FBI issue, but maybe it is actually bulletproof. You slipped it over Jack's head and tightened the straps as best as you could without wasting too much time.

Thankfully, Tucker threw his keys on the counter as well, so you were able to grab those and head for the front door. Just before you could actually open the door, headlights shone through the windows and you froze.

"Let's go out the back, okay?" you grabbed Jack's hand and the two of you took off. You knew the house backed up to the woods from the ride in, so you ran until you and Jack had enough trees between you and the house to offer cover. You were close enough to see the people running into the house, but you couldn't quite hear them.

"Okay, this could be the actual police. But, it's only two cars... real police would bring SWAT and ambulances."

You sat with Jack behind the trees, holding him close while you tried to think of a plan. Running to the car would almost certainly end poorly. Staying in the woods would only work for so long. You glanced around the tree, thankful that the people inside left their headlights on. You could see clearly all the way down the driveway.

"Alright Jack, here's the plan: we're gonna steal one of their cars. They parked further down the driveway, so if we sneak through the woods we can reach the car without running into the open. Okay?" Jack nodded, his hand gripping yours tightly.

The two of you started making your way as quickly as you could manage with the limited light. As far as you could tell, the people were still looking for you inside- you could see their flashlights in the upstairs windows. About halfway to the car, you heard the back door bang open.

One of them was yelling, but over the sound of your own heart beating and the crunch of leaves under your feet, you could barely hear them. You pulled Jack a little harder, trying to reach the car faster now that the people were outside.

"They have to be here somewhere, fan out!" Aaron screamed, his panic clearly showing through. He took off toward the woods leaving the rest of his team to follow. "Please, Y/N. Please. I need you to be okay. I need you to have Jack. I just... I need it." Aaron muttered, desperately scanning the woods with his flashlight for any sign of you and Jack.

He was so deep into the woods he could barely see the house when he just barely heard Morgan yelling. His heart nearly stopped and for a minute he froze. Then, he ran.

"C'mon, Jack! We're nearly there," you whispered, still holding each other's hands tightly. When you were finally level with one of the SUVs, you wasted barely a glance before jumping out. One of the people was definitely headed in your direction, so you needed to move quickly.

You threw open the backseat, forcing Jack into the car and quickly the door. Already on the driver's side, you threw open your door as well. You could hear the closest person yelling, this time near enough to hear his words.

"Stop! FBI!"

You didn't let the claim phase you, instead hoisting yourself into the car and slamming your own door shut. "Jack, you buckled?" you asked, fastening your own seatbelt.

"Yeah," he whimpered, still terrified.

"Okay, close your eyes again buddy. I'm gonna keep you safe." You threw the car into reverse, whipping around only to find two other people in FBI vests waiting for you. An older man with a beard and a young blonde woman stood in front of you, guns in hand but not pointed at you. You could see the man who yelled running toward the SUV in your rear-view mirror.

Indecision coursed through you. You'd already taken one life today and these people were strangers. The gun you took from Tucker sat on the passenger seat, but you knew a car was a better weapon. You shifted into drive and pressed the gas, praying these two would just get out of the way. When the two realized you weren't going to stop, they jumped to the side, giving you a clear path out.

It was only when you reached the street that you realized you had no idea where you actually were. It was easy enough to remember the way back to the main road, but everything after that is a blur. It only took a few minutes for the other SUV to catch up to you.

You could feel the panic beginning to set in as you sped down the road. You couldn't see any turn-offs and the road was deserted. The people following you were going to catch up. The question was, what were you going to do about it?

"Who was that?" JJ asked, not bothering to dust the dirt from her pants before running with Morgan and Rossi to the other SUV.

"Call Hotch. That was Y/N and Jack," Morgan filled in as he started driving.

"You're sure?" Rossi questioned. When Derek merely nodded, he pulled out his phone. "Aaron, we found them. Y/N's a fighter. She managed to steal one of the SUVs, Jack's in the backseat."

"Where are you?" Aaron felt his panic subside, but he knew he wouldn't be fully calm until he had them in his arms again.

"We're following about a mile back, but she's in fight or flight. If her instincts said running was the safest bet, you can be sure she won't stop until she has to." Dave answered, doing his best to help calm Aaron's fears.

"So, how do we get her to calm down if we can't contact her?" JJ posited.

"She'll calm down if I'm there. I know she will," Aaron was quick to answer, but Rossi was just as fast.

"If we turn back now, we'll lose sight of her. If she thinks we can track the car, she'll ditch it. Aaron, where would she go?"

"Guys..." Morgan nodded toward your car, noting its declining pace. He slowed with you, maintaining the distance. Suddenly, you pulled a 180 and slammed to a stop and they watched as Jack ran from the car into the woods. "What the hell?"

"She wouldn't separate the two of them without good reason. Stop here," Dave instructed as they pulled up about 30 feet away. To their surprise, you got out on your own and stood behind the car door.

You needed a plan and you needed it quickly. Looking around the car, for anything that could help, you finally noticed a phone in the cupholder. Calling Aaron would help your nerves, but he couldn't help you fast enough. You needed a plan now.

"Jack, I'm gonna pull over. When I do, you have to take this phone and run into the woods," you started forming a plan, but Jack wasn't having it.

"I don't wanna leave you!" he cried, tears once again pouring down his face.

"I know, buddy. I know! I need you to be brave. I just need you to run and hide and call 911, okay? I'll stay near the car to keep the bad guys from following you. Then the police and your daddy will come to help us, okay? Can you do that for me? Can you call for help?" you hated putting this kind of pressure on him, but it was your only idea to keep him safe.

"I can do it," he said through tears, gripping the phone tightly when you passed it to him.

"You're so brave, Jack. Your dad is gonna be here soon," you could only hope you were telling the truth. "Don't come back out to me until you hear the police sirens, okay? Are you ready?"

After a few deep breaths, he whispered that he was and you slowed the car. Confident that they weren't going to speed up to crash into you, you whipped the car around and put it in park. Jack followed your plan precisely, running from the car as quickly as his little legs could carry him.

You quickly checked the bullets in your gun counting only five. It would have to do. Without much thought for how insane the entire situation was, you threw open your door and took cover behind it. Gun in hand, you watched the other car just sitting there while praying for the sound of sirens.

After a moment, the three people exited their SUV and stood in a similar fashion to you.

"Y/N, we just want to talk! We work with Aaron!" The older one yelled to you. You could tell the younger one who first yelled at you wanted to follow Jack into the woods.

"Don't come any closer!" you screamed back. "If you work with him, then why isn't he here?"

You know Aaron wouldn't give up the chance to find you. He wouldn't let himself be left behind, not when Jack and you were on the line. You won't fall for this again.

"He's back at the house," the blonde one chimed in. "He was searching the woods for you when you managed to escape."

You started shaking your head before she finished her sentence. After everything you and Jack had been through, you stubbornly refused to believe he had been so close and you missed him.

"We're FBI. We're here to help." The older one started yelling again, but you didn't know what to believe. "I have Aaron on the phone."

You had no idea if he was telling the truth, and no plan came to mind to get the phone without putting yourself in danger. But if Aaron really was on the phone...

"What are your names?" you asked. Even after a year together, Aaron was still too anxious to actually introduce you to the FBI world. Despite never meeting his team, he has told you plenty of stories about them.

"My name is Jennifer Jureau, friends call me JJ." Her voice was calm as she spoke.

"Derek Morgan," the younger man added and you sobbed. You could hear the older man giving his name, but you couldn't understand them. It was the same name. You had no way of knowing if they were telling the truth.

"Why don't you let me get Jack out of the woods? He's probably scared," the man claiming to be Derek called, already moving toward the woods.

"No. No!" Your hands shook as you lifted the gun. "Don't go anywhere near him! I'll shoot! You saw Tucker!"

"Gun!" One of them yelled and they all jumped back behind the doors.

"Y/N, we just want to talk. Tell us how we can convince you."

Aaron was still on the phone with Dave, listening as they tried to calm you down. Emily holding him back was the only thing stopping him from chasing after you on foot.

"I should be there, dammit!" he screamed, pacing.

"She's safe, Hotch. We called for backup," Reid started, but screaming on the other end of the phone stopped everyone.

"Gun! Y/N, we just want to talk. Tell us how we can convince you!"

Dave must've shifted the phone to speaker and set it on the car because Aaron could hear you yelling this time.

"That's what he said!" Your voice was raw and shaking and his heart broke a little more. "He said he was there to help and he lied. He lied! Where's Aaron? I just want Aaron."

Finally, the local police pulled into the driveway. Emily and Spencer stayed behind to fill in the officers. Aaron practically jumped into the first squad car that pulled up to the house, paying no mind to the police that just left the vehicle. He used Emily's phone to follow the GPS coordinates Penelope sent once the two SUVs stopped moving.

"I just want Aaron," you practically sobbed. You hastily rubbed your cheeks to rid yourself of the tears. You were so close, you couldn't give up now. You were still trying to come up with a plan when you finally heard sirens approaching.

Jack ran to you from the woods when the first squad car pulled up. You threw the gun to the ground and wrapped Jack as tightly as you could. Everyone was approaching you, but you only had eyes for Jack.

"You're okay? Does anything hurt?" you asked him, eyes running over his entire body.

"I'm okay," he started. He was going to continue when his eyes lit up. "Uncle Dave!" He ran from your arms to hug the older man from the other SUV. "Uncle Morgan! Aunt JJ!" He hugged them all before returning to you.

You felt renewed tears when you realized what Jack's reaction meant. "You're actually FBI? Aaron... Aaron's at the house?"

"He's on the way here now," the real Derek Morgan filled you in.

"I- I'm sorry I pointed a gun at you," you swallowed, hugging Jack again while you spoke. The relief of finally being safe was setting in and you realized how exhausted you were.

Before any of the agents could reply, another squad car screeched to a halt. The door was opened practically before the car was fully stopped.

"Aaron," you whispered just as Jack screamed, "Dad!"

Aaron was to you and Jack before either of you could take a step. For a few minutes, he just held you both.

"Daddy! I called the police and you came! Just like Y/N said," Jack was all smiles now that everything was over. He would obviously need to work through all of the trauma experienced in the last six hours, but right now he's just glad to be with his dad.

"Of course I did, buddy," he answered, still holding the two of you. "I'll always come for you. Both of you," he squeezed tighter before looking between the two of you. There were uncharacteristic tears brimming in his eyes and his voice betrayed the emotion he was clearly experiencing.

"Jack, why don't we take you over to the ambulance to get checked out? I'll stay with you," Dave guided him over, removing the too-big bulletproof vest as they went.

"Where did you get a vest?" Aaron tried to smile at the adorable image of Jack in an oversized vest, but it vanished when you sobbed into him.

"I'm so sorry, Aaron. I'm so sorry. I wanted to get him out and I walked right into his trap. Tuck- Tucker pretended to be FBI, said the rest of his team took in the guys who kidnapped us and you were searching another potential site. I, I shouldn't have gone with him. I should've known. I-"

"It's not your fault," Aaron cut you off. "You kept him safe. You got him out," he comforted you.

"He," you hiccuped. "He said he was going to sell Jack to pay off his debts. After I... I killed him..." you trailed off. You were only now coming to terms with the events that transpired. "I didn't know if the people coming into the house were the buyers. I didn't know if you'd be able to find us when he took us to a tertiary location. I had to get away. Once I got Jack to safety I was going to call you, but then we were being followed."

"You don't have to go through this now," Aaron interrupted the story, trying anything to get you to stop shaking.

"I do," you insisted trying to get through it quickly. "I found a phone in the car," you started up again, wiping your cheeks. "I asked Jack to run into the woods and call 911 so he wouldn't be caught in the crossfire. I thought... I was willing to kill them if they tried to take Jack," you sobbed.

"I never wanted you to have to do that, but I need you to know how proud I am of you," Aaron soothed, and you managed to choke back your tears enough to listen to him. "I know you did everything to protect Jack. You fought and you bled and you did what you had to to make sure both of you came back to me," his voice broke as he finished the sentence.

"You came for us too," you breathed out. You held each other for another moment before Jack came running back.

"Uncle Dave says it's your turn to get checked," Jack grabbed your hand. "Are you okay?"

"I'm okay, Jack. I'm just so happy that you're okay, and that your dad is here," you squeezed his hand back. He pulled you toward the ambulance and Aaron followed along. They both stood with you while you got cleaned up, Jack still holding your hand. With these two by your side, you knew you'd be okay.

Taglist:

Permanent: @averyhotchner @jesuswasnotawhiteman @strawberryspence @ellobruv

CM: @mac99martin @goldeng1rl8 @measure-in-pain @justreadingficsdontmindme

#aaron hotchner x reader #aaron hotchner x you #aaron hotchner #hotch x reader #hotch x you #hotch #hotch criminal minds #criminal minds fic #hotch fic

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bearsinpotatosacks · 1 month

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I've got a lot of random snippets I may never use so here's a new series of me sharing random scenes in my google drive. This one is from a Mission Impossible idea, written before Dead Reckoning, where Ethan's kidnapped, his death is faked, he's tortured into submission and slowly brainwashed into being the bad guy's strong man. Here is Ethan seeing his friend's for the last time.

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Ethan watched from afar, hidden in the slight shadow of the alleyway but not too dark so he couldn't see. The world was busy, as it tended to be. The streets of London were full. Full of businessmen, tourists, a cyclist throwing their arms up in the air in annoyance and a woman laughing on the phone.

Busy, busy, busy. But not missing him. There was no Ethan shaped gap here as he wasn't sure why he expected one.

For there to be a gap in society one had to participate in it. And although Ethan sacrificed more than his share to save it, he should know by now that he was not part of society. And was never destined to be.

He was happy. Benji was laughing, outside a coffee shop. Ilsa sat to his right, Brandt next to her, Luthor opposite. Someone else was to Benji's left. He supposed, if there was to be am Ethan shaped hole somewhere in the world, it would be there, by his side.

But there wasn't one. Someone else was. Someone so wonderfully ordinarily handsome, in the most brilliant way. Not 'international spy who needs to seduce for a living' attractive, the kind of attractive that screamed that this person had a life, had a job, passions and hobbies, a family, one of blood or choice.

He had dark hair, 60's style thick rimmed glasses on. He looked tired yet sophisticated, the kind of guy who could listen to Chopin one minute and belt along to ABBA the next. Someone who fit Benji. Someone who could take him to the opera when it wasn't to find a nefarious terrorist.

Someone who could love him like he deserved.

Benji laughed. And all of this was worth it if Benji laughed, if he was at peace. If he was happy, then Ethan could survive.

It didn't matter if he couldn't be there to see it and wouldn't be the cause of them. Because yes, seeing Benji's fingers interlaced with the man to his left made him feel like he didn't have a heart anymore and he had to restrain himself from blowing his cover by storming over there and kissing him silly. But if he was happy, he could keep his distance.

"There you go, I've kept my part of the deal," Bad Guy said.

Ethan almost scoffed, but the fear that had been instilled into his bones stopped him. He knew that over time he wouldn't even know to scoff. They were going to remove all doubt from his mind, make him believe he was free and happy, maybe even forget that he used to be on the law's side.

He shuddered and looked back at his friends. Well, the people who used to be his friends. A sense of ease almost came over him. Almost because a bittersweet taste hit the back of his throat when he realised he'd never see them again. He hoped he never saw them again, it would break his heart if he did.

"At least tell me what they're doing?" He said.

Bad Guy huffed and Ethan heard the flick of a lighter, the crackle of a cigarette and the smell of smoke.

"Ilsa is running self defence classes in London, she's doing well, seems happy, has a cat." He said. "Brandt is the Secretary of the IMF, he's putting more care into each agent, treating them a bit more like people. Luthor is still outshining everyone with his tech skills,"

Ethan gulped, "And Benji?"

"He's left the IMF, started his own tech company, that man to his left is Carl Oswald, owns a bookshop, they've been together almost a year now," he said. "Benji's attending therapy, but he's doing better, he's happy."

Ethan nodded. There was that, at least

"They won't matter, in time." He had to ruin it. "They'll forget you, you'll forget them, everything will be better."

He stubbed out the cigarette and pulled Ethan along as the bittersweet feeling turned to a sick anger.

Better in time? He didn't want to forge them, they were his lifeblood and forgetting them would be worse than death.

"Come along, Mr Hunt."

And they were gone. Lost behind the crowds of people and soon to be gone from his memory.

Perhaps he couldn't stop the inevitable. This would be his life whether he wanted it or not, god knows he'd tried to escape. Perhaps it was better they forget him because it would make it a whole lot easier to fit into his knew life if he never had to fight them.

#benthan #mission impossible #mission: impossible #ethan hunt #benji dunn #luther stickell #ilsa faust #william brandt #can you tell I wrote this pre-dead reckoning #unfinished snippets #bear writes #wips

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mythicamagic · 1 year

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Sukuna's Roommate (Sukuna x Reader) Chapter Seven

Summary: The rent is cheap, that's the only reason you're moving into apartment 167 on such short notice. The rent is cheap, you remind yourself again, staring up at the four-armed monster you would be living with. (Female reader x Sukuna)

Warnings: some dubcon moments and general Sukuna stuff i.e: murder. Will eventually feature smut.

Previous Chapters: One, Two, Three and others can be found on Ao3

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There was something distinctly depressing about break time on college campus. Groups of people tended to flock together, coffee in hand and chatting merrily away.

I wasn't accustomed to being a loner. The truth was that I'd always been in the thick of it with people, wanting to please, to entertain.

Now my days were better spent people watching rather than participating. A funny feeling twisted low in my gut as another round of laughter came from the table opposite mine in the cafeteria. I looked down at my sad little sandwich, swallowing with difficulty. It wasn’t as though I’d been excluded by my new classmates, more like I’d taken a deliberate step back on purpose.

When the laughter came again, I set down my barely touched food. Standing, I quickly strode outside. An unnamed, strange kind of panic beat in my chest, forehead beading with sweat. The air fanned crisp and fresh over my face the instant I stepped out into the open, immediately soothing frayed nerves. I took a few deep breaths, drawing away from the dining hall and continuing to walk until my steps threatened to take me over the campus border. Only then did I feel my panic abate, a hand resting over my chest.

“Fuck,” I sighed, wetting my dry lips.

Not to be a downer but friends made me think of loud music, the taste of beer and smell of weed. They reminded me of partying, and partying led me to think of-

"No way…is that-" a voice muttered, far too close for comfort. Ice froze my veins. I stilled, becoming completely rigid and unable to move. No. Nope, nien. This was just a dream, it couldn't be real. Any moment now, Sukuna would walk by naked, as he often did in my fantas- nightmares. Suddenly bright green eyes were peering down at me. A guy with short dark hair automatically smiled out of habit rather than affection, a complicated look passing over his face.

"Virago! Wow…shit, I didn't expect to see you here. They'll let anyone into this place, huh?"

I wish he'd drop that nickname. Not like it applied to me anymore. I felt far too meek these days. Probably because I had some damn perspective now. My hands curled into fists at my side. The small, circular cigarette burns on my upper arms and collarbone thrummed. My mind might’ve been fogged that day but my body remembered.

"Why are you here?" I asked tightly.

"Not much of a greeting. Aren't you happy to see me? You could use a friendly face right about now."

He'd heard about the DUI of course, but I wasn’t expecting him to know I’d moved away. Not surprising, I guess. Maybe my parents had broadcasted it. Severed the tumor from the family and all that. Word had traveled fast in our small hometown. I was glad to be rid of the constraints of quick gossip. Cities were so much easier to live in if you wanted to achieve anonymity.

"Not in the mood to greet an ex, Neil. Let alone be happy about it."

My head ached and the sunlight felt too bright. That newly familiar panic was rising up again.

"Come on, you're still thinking about that?" He dismissed in his usual amiable tone. The kind that downplayed anything you might be feeling. "It was said in the heat of the moment- I forgive you for losing your temper. I broke up with you for the right reasons."

My heart lurched. White hot rage flew up my throat. "I broke up with YOU!" I snapped. “What are you even talking about?!”

Neil winced and glanced around, as if embarrassed I was causing a scene. Several people lounging around on the campus shot us curious looks. Shame heated my cheeks but I soldiered on. He opened his mouth but I cut in, lowering my voice. I’m ashamed to recount that it trembled. "You…y-you spiked my drink."

"Are we back to that old chestnut again?"

"It's the truth!"

"Yeah yeah, and look how well that worked out for you last time,” Neil sighed. “Not like you got drunk on your own and made your own mistakes, nah. It always has to be someone else's fault. Everyone got sick of your shit long before that accident, you know?"

When achieving maximum anger- nay- full throttle rage, it left me unable to speak. I could only tremble violently, fingers dug tight into the meat of my palms.

"Listen. I didn't come here to fight,” he held up his hands magnanimously, flashing a pretty-boy smile I yearned to break. “I'm just in town for a few days visiting a friend. I'll be out of your hair before long. But…" he trailed off, reaching out.

My brain short circuited. Those long fingers tucked a few strands of hair behind my ear, brushing the skin of my cheek as they drew away. I recoiled, arms instinctively raising to curl protectively around my body. "I still wanna catch up,” he murmured. “Come grab a bite to eat, for old times sake?"

That anger that had been buoying me along the majority of this conversation felt like it had been well and truly stabbed with a pin- all that hot air leaving me at once. I felt cold and vulnerable in my deflated state.

"I don't want to. I'm- I'm busy,” I said lamely, softly. Where was my bite? Why did I feel so damn powerless?

Neil remained unconvinced, even appearing slightly mocking. "Uh-huh. What, you gonna make up a pretend boyfriend next?"

"There's no need to fabricate a lie when it's the truth, now is there?"

That deep, sonorous voice wrapped around me before the length of his arm did. I felt rather than saw a sharp grin press against my flushed temple. Sukunas unique scent swallowed my senses. Copper, baked meat, incense and smoke from a kiseru pipe all blended into one. A heady, sweltering cloud. Despite myself, I felt a complicated sense of relief in having him step close, my shoulders relaxing slightly.

Sukuna sized Neil up, poised and at ease, a kind of laziness in his gait. He didn't draw himself up to stand taller or puff out his chest, one hand remaining slung half heartedly into his pocket. No voices were raised. All that needed to happen was a slight upwards tilt of his chin. To me, the effect felt instantaneous. Sukuna looked down from on high.

And ultimately what he saw was not impressive enough to engage with. Whatever curiosity Neil inspired for half a second dimmed into a laissez-faire attitude.

"Who are-"

"...I'm bored, come entertain me," Sukuna turned the full force of his attention on me. "You’re on a break now, right?"

He knows my schedule?

“Y-yeah,” I managed, bobbing my head stiffly. His large hand curled tighter around my shoulder, pressing me harder against the heated slab of stone that was his body.

Sukuna smiled, sharp teeth flashing. “Good. Hurry up then,” he turned, drawing me along with him like I really was a stray buoy left out at sea, wrapped up in the storm that was Ryomen Sukuna.

"I-I guess I'll see you later, Virago."

I heard the confusion in Neil’s voice but could no longer see his face, too preoccupied with Sukuna all but spiriting me away from campus. My legs worked automatically to keep up with his long strides- and it was too late to throw a snide comment over my shoulder at Neil, the slimy ex long gone.

"I just remembered, you still haven't received sufficient praise for showing loyalty to me the other day."

I blinked, glancing up at Sukuna’s unreadable expression. His silver ear-cuff and chain caught the warm sunlight, making them shine white.

"There's really no need-"

"Rejecting my goodwill? Heh, bold move."

When faced with Sukuna’s full, toothy smile- the kind that promised kinky violence- I clammed up, too dazed after the encounter with Neil to be appropriately bantery.

Sukuna sighed, as if sensing my mood. The sound was a surprise. I checked his expression again, but it quickly became shadowed by the heavy shade of a building. The fact that he’d all but dragged me into an alley in the heart of the city should- most definitely- have inspired some terror. Too bad my stress batteries had overloaded.

"Tell me what you'd like,” Sukuna grunted, finally stopping to release me from his grip. “If it's not too annoying, I might be generous enough to entertain your wishes."

I stared.

What?

Where was this coming from?

Sukuna’s bored expression was impossible to dissect. I could only grasp at straws and conclude he was either fucking with me or operated on a bizarre sense of honor. He’d said he’d reward me, so the honor system demanded he follow through?

Too bad I was exhausted enough to let slip a tired giggle and think- fuck it.

"Honestly I could use a nice spar or something along those lines right about now," I smiled wanly, running a hand through my hair and trying to shake off the echo's of Neil's touch.

He tilted his head. "A spar?"

"Yeah, like a massage, a nice long soak in an onsen or uh…something along those lines,” I nodded, picturing the kind of fancy establishments my mother had used to traipse back from, smelling of soap and hairspray.

"Ah, that kind of spar…" Sukuna tsked, gazing up at the narrow gap between the buildings between us. He gave a chuckle, rolling his shoulders with a gleam in his eye I definitely did not like. "Lucky you- that can be easily arranged! Ever the thoughtful pet to your owner, huh?” his large, weighty palm patted my head. “Hold still,” the words purred out lowly, the red of his eyes gleaming as he made a strange hand-sign.

My stomach dropped- seconds before my feet followed suit- and I plunged into deep, dark nothingness.

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For a long moment, there was ceaseless, endless black. A void. It swallowed me whole, silent and yawning. During this time, I knew I was falling, but no breeze tugged my clothes and hair. No wind kissed my face. It was like being suspended between time and space.

As if having enough of that potential existential crisis- a sudden flash of red rushed up to greet my legs- and I plunged feet first into water a moment later.

I floated, stunned, before regaining my senses and quickly kicking- breaking the surface a moment later.

“Hah- hah,” I panted, blinking. Steam lapped around my face, curling lazily in the air like kiseru smoke. It was enough to obscure my vision, for a moment- but there was no hiding the red liquid I was treading water in for long. The smell of copper soaked the air. I squinted, brain leaping to horror-struck conclusions- but no, the liquid was too clear to be blood. Upon tilting my chin up, I noticed the black nothingness spreading out above my head like the abyss had constructed a dome. Strange, white things on the ground level had been piled high into what I assumed were sloppy towers, but they were too far away to see clearly. Noticing the black rim of what I assumed to be a pool edge, I swam toward it, gripping the edge soon enough and preparing to pull myself up.

The moment my eyes peered above the rim-level, a skinless skull met my gaze.

I shrieked, and lost my grip.

Sputtering to the surface in a tangle of limbs a moment later, I found that the eerie silence of the red hot-springs had been broken by sharp, rumbling laughter.

“Still flailing around and fretting about every little thing. You’re supposed to be relaxing, pet.”

Gripping the smooth edge of the pool-wall, I turned slowly, losing my voice all over again.

Words dried up in my mouth.

There, wading casually into the other side of the hot-springs, stood Sukuna. The four armed menace, the grinning tormenter. And, apparently- the two-dicked monster, very much naked and on display for all to be seen.

#sukuna ryomen #sukuna x reader #Sukuna jjk #Sukuna fanfiction

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sagau-my-beloved · 1 year

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I love we now made venti a potential hitman, like he’s so eager to kill for the all creator just to get attention, just imagine on the rare occasion you send him to kill some boss guy that been a nuisance for a while. Like on the outside to the public your the gentle all loving god. but in the shadows you have a team of your most loyal followers willing to kill people that you send out to take care of stubborn nuisance that refuse to make peace with you after giving them every offer you can. I imagine childe would be on the team of course, but also surprisingly, venti would too, like seriously, you a big bad boss guy that has unknowingly pissed off the all creator and this bard dude is sent to kill you? Only to come back to him master covered in blood and smiling cheerfully. Just, pure all creator secretly has a dark hitman unit she uses. She’s not all pure.

Really I mean what desperate acolyte wouldn't kill for the creator, I can't imagine there would be a lot

If we're talking about who all would be a willing hitman for their divine grace, all the Archons immediately make the checklist and also all the characters who have caused a death before, so obviously Childe's there, like a few different times

I'm just saying it would be really funny if the list looked like this

1: Childe

2: Venti

3: Tartaglia

4: Zhongli

5: Ajax

6: Ei

7: The 11th harbinger

Etc.

But something's just weirdly wholesome about the image of Venti covered thoroughly in blood, happily trotting back on his merry way to gush to his beloved how good he was for them, smiling and blushing as you clean up his face with a wet washcloth and he recounts the death in explicit detail, then you give him a lil kiss on the forehead for a job well-done

Que Childe pouting in the corner cause he didn't get a lil kiss

Anyway, yeah, it really is unrealistic to expect dear creator to just be all happy-go-lucky "let's solve this with the power of friendship!" when they literally came from our world, which is not notorious for having a lot of conflict solved in that manner

I mean at some point you just have to call it and resort to the secondary option, ie. murder

And who is a better helper than the drunk innocent bard, who looks as if the very worst he could bring himself to do is maybe steal a few sips of wine from unsuspecting patrons when they finally blackout after a long night

Realistically, if word ever got out to the general public that some 'less than innocent' things were going on behind the scenes, they would be relatively fine with it, I mean you have the right to enact divine judgment on whoever you see fit of course, and the fact that you're so loving and caring and pure on the outside only helps emphasize that everything you do is justified for one reason or another

And also what are the harbingers if not a team of 'problem solvers', I mean let's be real here, the game already has a canonical hitman team loyal to a divine power that everyone seems generally ok with, so you really wouldn't have to worry too heavily about that, your word is absolute after all

But if word did get out, there would suddenly be a very long list of people that want to join your elite hitman team, just saying, the line would be out the door

Then you'd probably have some of them claiming that they're actually better than the harbingers because they're loyal to a higher divine power, and then there's just Childe there who has to nervously sweat in the corner for being a part of both

Poor guy always gets swept up in divine hitman teams for some reason, if I had a nickel for everytime—

Anyway yeah, feral characters covered in blood and ready to kill 👌, more of that in fiction pls, we deserve it

#genshin impact #sagau #genshin x reader #yandere genshin au #yandere genshin x reader #brainrot #i feel for childe man can't catch a break #he'd be happy to do it though i mean #it's one of those 'well I'm not gonna say no'

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imagines-by-a-typical-fangirl · 2 years

Text

Wouldn't Change a Thing

Pairing: Eddie Munson X Reader

Chapter word count: 1.2 K

Summary: When you started dating Eddie, everyone told you it wouldn'd end well... But it didn't end at all.

{Stranger Things Masterlist}

You never wanted a wealthy life and having a career never sounded appealing to you. Everything you ever wanted was to live a slow, calm life. Have your place, a job you enjoy, and him.

Eddie had your attention the moment you started High School. And, because he never really cared about school, he graduated the same year you did. And that was a good thing because it was during that year that you started to hang out, and by the end of it, Eddie asked you to be his girlfriend.

And, as you expected, your parents didn't like it. They gave you hell for a long time, but as time went by, they started to understand you and Eddie were a thing. A solid, real thing. There was no breaking you apart, that was crystal clear from the beginning.

For you, Eddie changed. Neither of you had college plans, so you both started looking for jobs. It took him way too much time to find one, and when he did, he spend his first paycheck on a trip to Indianapolis, just the two of you.

And you came back married.

It's unnecessary to say people were in shock, your parents more than anyone. But it didn't matter. You were both adults, with jobs, and the next thing you knew, you were renting a house and moving.

Four years later, you have a four-year-old child... Because the two of you were as busy as rabbits.

And that didn't change one bit.

“And then the shark goes RAWL!” Jimmy says, and when you look up from your book and through the window, you see him splashing the little shark toy into the water.

The plastic pool was huge, a gift from your mother to Jimmy last Christmas. It was a pain in the ass to keep clean, and it needed a hell lot of water. But it was Summer, the first Summer you and Eddie managed to coordinate your vacation with the end of the school year, so you don't mind the pool.

“Yeah, but you know what's way cooler than a shark?” Eddie asks, and Jimmy looks up at him, fresh from a dive, hair glued to his face. “This!” Eddie pulls up the water from under his chair and shoots at a laughing Jimmy.

“Not fair!” Your son yells, diving again for protection.

“Hey, come back here! This fight is far from over!” Eddie gets up, his rock band T-shirt, with the sleeves cut off wet from their playing. He circles the pool, and the moment Jimmy comes up for air, he shoots again.

The scene makes you smile, and you feel so blessed that your eye fills with tears. Sometimes, your mother still talks about how much better life could have been if you went to college... And for setting your eyes on someone better than Eddie. But the thing is, there's nobody better than Eddie, not for you. And if you could go back in time, you wouldn't change a thing.

The doorbell rings and you put the book down, heading to the door.

“Hello, Mrs. Munson.” Says the dark-skinned boy, with a smile on his lips, and a truck in his hands. “We can pick up Jimmy.” He gives his older brother a look. “Imma go in and call him, you stay cause mom said-”

“I know what mom said.” The teenager says, then looks at you with an apologetic look. “Good morning, Mrs. Munson. I hope we're not-” He stops talking when little Anthony walks right past you. “Anthony!”

“Let him.” You say, smiling. “Jimmy is in the backyard!” You tell the kid before offering his brother something to drink. He says he's good, then you ask about his mom. But the conversation is short, because Anthony and Jimmy come out, your son soaking wet, with a towel around his shoulders.

He looks up at you, pouting already. “I know I should change, but the sun will dry me and Tony has a pool too.”

With both hands on your hips, you bend down. Then, you smile. “Alright. You have some clothes at Tony's if you need any.” You get on one knee and Jimmy throws his arms around your neck, kisses your cheek, and walks out with Anthony.

“Better behave, little shark!”

“Okay!” He shouts back.

Once you're alone at home, an idea comes to your head. Rushing upstairs, you change into a black bikini - Eddie's favorite -, and goes back down, heading to the backyard. But Eddie is nowhere to be seen. “Where are you, Freak?” You ask, walking towards the pool.

“Who do you think you are to call me a freak?” He yells suddenly, and arms encircle your waist. “You're more of a Freak than I am.” Eddie lifts you, and before you can say anything, he's putting a hand under your legs and throwing you in the pool.

You have half a second to hold your breath before you're in the water, but soon enough you're up, grabbing Eddie by the shirt before he can move away. “That wasn't very nice!” And you start pulling him, trying to get him to get inside the pool.

“You started it!”

“I did not.”

“Oh, you did.” When it gets clear you'd never get his legs to move, you wrap your arms around his neck for support, and jumps, locking your legs around his waist. Eddie almost loses his balance before he catches you, hands under your thighs. “What's that about, wild one?”

“First of all, I wanted to chill in the pool with you.” You say, smiling down at him.

Eddie raises an eyebrow. “And second?”

“I have something to tell you.” Biting your lip, you try to keep the smile off your face. And fails.

“What did I do this time?” He asks, seriously worried.

Rolling your eyes, you chuckle. “Well, you did do something...” Eddie furrows his eyebrows, tilting his head to the side a little. Pulling some hair off his face, you peck his lips. “I'm ninety percent sure you got me pregnant again.”

Your cheeks are burning at that point because you have no idea what his reaction would be. Jimmy was a surprise. And so is this baby. But Eddie doesn't say anything, he just keeps looking at you. But you can see the gears turning in his head. “I shouldn't have thrown you in the pool!” He exclains, and it makes you laugh.

“I'm pregnant, not sick, Eddie.”

“No, no, no. You gotta relax.” Then, he finally steps inside the pool, sitting down with you. The water reaches your neck like this. “When did you... For how long...”

“I'm late. Very, very late... And that pasta you made yesterday?”

“Your favorite.” He nods. “You hated it.”

“I did. Just as it happened when I was pregnant with Jimmy.”

“And you've been complaining about your tities being sensitive.”

“Funny how that's the only thing you noticed.” You say, rolling your eyes. “Anyways, I'll buy a test tomorrow. But by all the signs... I'm pretty sure it'll be positive.”

“I really hope it is.” He says, a smile on his lips.

“Really?” Moving to sit on his lap, you play with his hair, now soaking wet at the tip.

Eddie doesn't answer, he just kisses you, a long, sweet, and passionate kiss. “I love you, and I'll love all the kids you give me.”

That makes you blush again. “How about chilling in the pool for a while, hitting the sheets, and then we go to grab that test?”

“A perfect plan, my lovely Freak.” And he kisses you again.

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson fanfiction #eddie munson x you #eddie munson stranger things #eddie munson imagine #imagine eddie munson #stranger things imagine #imagine stranger things

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diaco1968 · 2 years

Text

The knight in the baggy shirt

Dylan x Gender neutral reader

TheQuarry, Dylan is infected

A mix of the Nick&Abi pool scene and the Dylan and Katelyn scrapeyard scene but with you and Dylan ;)

Your foot slipped on the wet metal step unable to stop your momentum from jumping off the magnet grapple, almost toppling face first onto the stairs ,but a strong arm wrapped around your abdomen pulling you back into a firm figure, breath hitching from the force and the impact, your hand shooting up to grab the forearm wrapped around you for reassurance. You did expect him to be lean but didn't expect him to be toned and firm under his baggy loose clothes.

"Oh wow I almost broke my neck... thanks."

The nose poking around in your hair had you realise just how close he was holding you, you were very much engulfed by Dylan's body and he was sniffing in your hair. His right arm was wrapped around your abdomen all the way from your right and resting on your left hip, still in the same position as he caught you from falling, pressing your back into his chest.

"...Dylan?"

"You smell great... so sweet..." he rasped lowly in your ear with a serious voice very unlike his usual carefree friendly voice and you felt the hair on the back of your neck stand on edge, as your fingers wrapped tightly around his wrist trying to pull it off of you slowly. It wasn't the same sweet voice he had charmed you with when he pecked your lips tenderly next to the campfire after everyone else had left.

"...uh...thank-"

"I wonder if I could take a bite."

He said it in a way that if you weren't paying attention you would pass it off as a very normal thing to say.

"...what the fuck dude?..."

You had heard these words before not too long ago right before Nick had turned into one of those nasty things, you knew this wasn't Dylan talking, especially since you felt his teeth scarpe on your skin as his jaws started closing around the side of your neck. You raised your hand slowly in his field of vision as a sign of submission, knowing he can't even see the fear in your eyes.

"Dylan," your voice came out as a quiet whisper, his teeth started pressing into your neck harder.

"You are hurting me..."

His fingers twitched on your hip, his grip ever so slightly tightening. After a long pause he let go of your neck and pulled his teeth away from it, resuming his much taller normal posture instead of looming over you and started speaking again, his voice now more like himself.

"... you should probably get away from me then... cause you're smelling very ... uh... edible right about now..."

You tried to pull his arm off you again but he was gripping you just as firmly as before.

"I would, if you... you know? Let me go."

As if realising his actions just now he pulled his arm off you and took a step back defensively holding his hands up in surrender. His yellow eyes gleaming in the light, even more prominent while surrounded by the dark bags under his eyes.

"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to... um... whatever that was that I was doing..."

"It's okay..." it kinda wasn't really, your heart was still beating in your throat. But you knew it wasn't really his fault, so no point guilt tripping him.

"No it's not... I really mean it... I think you should go... what if I can't control myself next time?"

You looked around at the scrapeyard fear gripping you.

"No way! I'm not going back alone! It's almost an hour walk! In the woods! All alone?! Hell no..."

"I don't want to hurt you!"

"Better you than whatever is out there!"

Heavy silence fell over the two of you as you stared each other down before he finally sighed and rubbed his hand over his face giving in.

"Okay... okay...that's a problem...so? I saw a cabin thingy in that corner... we could go there and that way... that way you will have a bit of defense, if I...uh..."

"Yeah... great."

"Alright let's go then."

He started heading off and you followed him.

"Dylan?"

"Yeah... yeah?"

"Thanks... I really don't want to go alone..."

"It's okay, let's just hope, you won't regret this..."

***

Inside the cabin after a not so long discussion, with his own agreement and for your safety you decided to lock him in a separate room with a metal door.

And for a long time it looked like a good idea.

Until a giant man decided to show up and look for you. A giant man you got to know to be Bobby Hackett.

"I am not going anywhere with you! Fuck off!"

"That's not very nice to say."

The little bit of barricade you had managed to make in front of the door crumbled with each kick or shove Bobby did on the other side and soon enough he was inside launching his body at yours and in the last moment deciding to instead grab you by the neck and haul you over to the door as you kicked and struggled to get free; all the while Dylan watching through the fenced glass window of the door.

His voice loudly pleading with your persuer was muffled by the closed door as he was struggling with the lock to open it and come to your aid.

"Hey man!... C'mon... pick someone your own size or something... at least..."

"I asked daddy and he said to bring this one to the house. And that's what I am going to do. You might be next too."

You managed to break free after you bit Bobby's arm, scrambling towards the room Dylan was stuck inside. Your throat was feeling hoarse from the force Bobby's grip had on your neck.

"Ow! Did you infect me? Never been bitten before, come here!"

"(Y/N)! This way! Let me out."

You turned around once you reached the door to face Bobby approaching, hands searching blindly behind you for the handle as you watched Bobby make his way towards you. Finally finding it you unlocked the door, which flung open behind you before you could push it or lean away from it, your weight making you fall backwards on your butt.

Dylan had literally pried the door open and with a feral growl his figure flew from above you across the room slamming into Bobby and knocking him out of the door and out of your view.

You couldn't help but to shuffle backwards more inside the room, still sitting on the ground paralyzed with fear. What just happened wasn't at all like Dylan; getting physical with someone that big and buff? And what was the deal with the growl... was he losing it already?

You could hear them struggle for a while but in the end Bobby seemed to have gotten out of it alive as he ran off with heavy footsteps, calling for his dad on the walkie talkie.

You could feel your heart beat in your throat as you heard much lighter footsteps coming back towards the room.

His gleaming yellow eyes was the first thing you recognized as he appeared in the doorway. His expression was his usual nonchalant smirk, but in total contrast with his sick looking face. He looked like he was in pain but was holding it back. And as scared as you were from him turning, you couldn't help feeling sympathy towards him.

"Do I perhaps... get a reward for my bravery? You know saving the... uh... person in distress and all?"

As terrified as you were, his familiar quiet tone made you feel a bit easier.

"I could perhaps reward my," you had to get over the huge cringe that threatened to break loose before continuing, "knight? In shining armor? Or loose baggy shirt more like..."

"Would appreciate if you stopped underselling..."

"Yea, you're right. What do you want, Knight?"

"I say we should pick up where we left off at the campfire...rudely interrupted by screams of terror and despare... I wasn't finished. Not even close..."

You stared at him for a few seconds mouth opening and closing, having nothing to reply.

"Are you... you're not serious, right?"

"Yeah, no... I kinda am. Who knows, we might die or something... I don't wanna regret things I didn't get to do... so? You in? Orrr...?"

He was standing over you by the time he stopped talking and his hand was held out for you to take and get up.

Your mind was racing. You were into him, he had a point, but was this situation the right time and place? You had just witnessed the calm and friendly Dylan aggressively launch himself at a way bigger man. What if he was going to turn soon.

But what if you would never get to do this...

"I guess I'm... in..."

Your hand had already subconsciously stretched out and grabbed his waiting one without you even noticing it, so he pulled you up with ease letting go of your hand as soon as you were on your feet.

"Oh well, let me show off my new superpower a little."

"Your wha-! Dylan!"

His hands had reached out grabbing your waist and hoisting you up against the wall like you weighed nothing more than a pencil, your immediate reaction was to shoot your arms out around his shoulders and when he stepped closer, pressing you further to the wall, your legs wrapped around his waist too.

"Cool, right? Should've seen the look on that guy's... what was it?... Bobby? Yeah that's what the guy in the walkie talkie called him...whatever, when I pushed him across the yard, Easily 10feet away!"

You were staring in his yellow eyes in awe as he spoke as if everything was normal, as if he wasn't bitten and turning into a blood thirsty beast, as if he wasn't pressing you to the wall, his body so close you could feel everything; his heartbeat against your own, his oddly minty breath on your face, his excitement...between your legs...

You were sure the heat creeping up your neck was very visible even in the darkness of the room.

"You're kinda making me shy staring at me like that..."

"Oops, sorry... not every day you get to see a soon to be wolf tell you violent things he did to the big bad stranger with such excitement... don't even get me started on those big yellow eyes..."

You moved your hand to card your fingers through his hair.

"Big eyes to see you better with..."

Your eyes drifted from his eyes to his lips and before you could reply his lips crashed over yours shyly, but passionately.

You could get used to this half Dylan, half beast.

Too bad you didn't know if either of you would make it out of this alive.

Prequel now available in:

Part1

Part2

#the quarry #dylan lenivy #dylan lenivy x reader #dylan x reader #dylan x gender neutral reader

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dotieeee · 1 year

Text

The Dream That Got Away

Chapter 18

Pairing: Dark!Morpheus x You (no Y/N!)

This is a multi-chapter fic — Weekly updates (either Saturday or Sunday) because I found a rhythm of sorts lol

(The entire fic has been outlined, so I will see this to the end, you have my word)

**********************************************************

Link to the Masterlist

Overall Warnings!! Take heed:

Morpheus is DARK – in canon, he changes for the better (or at least, tries to – but we don’t do canon lol, so he goes even more batshit crazy) cue obsession, manipulation, possessiveness, powerplay

18+ ONLY – explicit scenes will be present, some explicit language

DUB-CON and NON-CON scenes

Character death (sort of)

Creator vs Creation drama

And other dark stuff that may be added in the future

This chapter’s warnings:

graphic non-con and dub-con ahead - turn back now if this disturbs you :)

the filthiest smut I've ever written, I think

chasing

edging

You have been warned!! Proceed with caution!!!

Link to the previous chapter

Chapter 18: A Confession...of Love?

Frantic screaming from the Voice renting space in your head jolts you awake, only to find your Dream Lord towering over you, his eyes landing on your arms which you held close. You watch cluelessly as his face loses whatever colour it has left, his soft, adoring look vanishing in the blink of an eye and replaced with a livid, fiery expression. You wonder what on earth for, but then you realise you had something cradled in your arms that by his law you had no right to even set eyes on.

With great force, yanks the offensive object right from your grasp with a force that almost pulls you with it, causing you to scream and scramble to your feet.

You observe, horrified, as he spares a repulsed look at the book in his shaking hands then meets your eyes with his own, black and filled with rage you’ve only seen in him when he caught you with the man whose dreams he’s plagued with nightmares.

“Why do you have this?”

His lips barely move, but the voice coming out of him echoes your bed-chambers, menacing enough for you to start backing away until the back of your legs hit the bed. You try to open your mouth, but no words come out, and frankly, you couldn’t find any.

“I am waiting, little dream.”

With nothing else to continue backing into, you’re now trapped between the four-poster bed and his body, standing at his full height, his palpable anger so strong it makes you flinch. At this stage, any explanation of yours would fall on deaf ears, but you had to try.

“My Lord, please -”

“Do I not love you enough for you to seek this mortal’s company?” he interrupts you, but this time, his voice isn’t strained by fury at your actions.

He sounds deeply hurt. Something you had not expected and had not meant to do. Frantic, you try to appease him as much as you can, so you place your hands on his charcoal coat, over his chest.

You start, your words coming out a mess, “My Lord, th-that wasn’t my meaning -”

“My sister has corrupted you,” he concludes in a whisper, as he traces your cheek with a finger.

“No, I came along with her on my own accord, she didn’t -”

But he grabs your chin harshly, his tone harsh and chastising, “Have I not ordered you to stay away from the dreams?”

“You were killing him, my Lord!” you exclaim as you let your own resentful tears stream down your cheeks. The hand on your chin moves to wipe them, but you swat it away, to his visible surprise. “How could you be so cruel, condemning him to a life of unhappiness, and for something he can’t even remember!”

“It is no more than he deserves,” he responds with a snarl. “That was my judgement of his transgressions against me.”

Swallowing thickly, you put on a brave face and confess: “I put it right. Before I said goodbye.”

Your Lord narrows his eyes at your revelation. “What did you do?” he asks with a clenched jaw.

“I undid Sumnio’s damage, my Lord,” you say, bracing yourself for the repercussions. “It was the right thing to do.”

No one could ever defy him and not face the consequences. Not even you.

“You still love this mortal.”

It wasn’t so much an accusation, as it was an observation, and it throws you off so much you just stare at him wide-eyed - it’s enough of a response to him. He bares his teeth as he grits them in his ire, grabbing the back of your neck in warning.

“Did you lay with him?” he asks seethingly, the pain in his voice evident once more.

“What? No!” How could he still be jealous of someone you already let go of, when he now has you locked in a relationship with him, very much pregnant and with nowhere else to go? “My Lord, I would never do that to you. I already bid him farewell. I will never see him again,” you say in an attempt to mollify him, but you tear up at the finality of your own words.

You’ll never see him again.

You choke back your tears, and whisper, “Please, you have to believe me.”

Despite your weepy confession, he remains as stony and immovable as ever.

He lets go of his hold on the back of your neck and caresses your cheek. He begins softly, venomously, staring at you with those dark, pitiless eyes, “You broke into my office, went against my command and undid my punishment. So tell me: what shall be yours?”

“Please, Lord Morpheus, forgive me just this once,” you beg, clinging again to his coat as your tears fall freely. After all, you came but an inch to losing your sanity the last time he punished you, and you might just not make it a second time. “I only ended everything with him so I could put him behind me, and focus on us. Please…”

You watch him pause as he searches your face with an almost pained expression. Finally, he says, his voice almost breaking, “And yet you went out of your way to ensure his happiness, all while refusing mine by denying me your love.”

You shake your head vehemently, while you watch him dip his hands into the insides of his coat, and, already anticipating the worst, you close your eyes, feeling fine grains of sand brushing against your skin. As soon as it dissipates, the smell of damp and musk invades your nostrils, and your eyes are greeted with a sight you thought you’d never see again:

Your prison cell in the form of the chambers in the tallest of towers in the abandoned castle.

Very much panicking, you kneel at your Lord’s feet and grovel. “No, no, you can’t leave me in here again, Lord Morpheus, please, I beg of you!”

Slowly, he gets to your level and cups your face, but he has no empathy in his eyes for your woeful pleas.

“You leave no choice, my dream,” he whispers as his thumbs stroke your tear-stained cheeks. “I am taking your dreaming abilities back. I cannot allow you to continue disobeying my word and endangering our child.”

“But I didn’t - !” you start, but he starts backing away from you and sand begins to engulf his form.

“This tower will be your home until our son is born.”

“No, no! Please don’t leave me!”

But your screams only echo in the now-empty room, and even the traces of sand that he left as you scream yourself hoarse vanish, refusing to lend you an ear.

Please come back.

Your Dream Lord doesn’t come back, so you spend the night in the abandoned castle alone, curled up in the corner of the room on the cold stone floor, not bothering to use the four-poster bed. The pain of losing Ollie for the second time is just as fresh as ever, and add to that being sentenced to carry out your pregnancy on this desolate island, far away from the heart of the Dreaming…

Could this have turned out differently had you done more careful planning?

However aware you are about how pointless it is to cry about it, you still do, until you couldn’t anymore, and you collapse on the floor wishing you could sleep and never wake up.

***

Dungeon.

You are roused with a start by the Voice’s prompt, recognizing the same word it uttered many times in the last time you were here. You rub the sleep and dry tears off your eyes, wanting nothing more than to sink further into the soft mattress. Immediately you sit up to find yourself tucked comfortably under the warm sheets of the four-poster bed you remember giving a wide berth to. Has your Dream Lord been here, and has he moved you to the bed himself? The theory alone is enough to wipe all traces of drowsiness in you, so you kick the blankets unceremoniously off you to sit on the edge of the bed and contemplate what in the name of the Fates you’re supposed to do now.

Dungeon.

Perhaps you could watch the sea from the balcony? That’s certainly better than moping inside the depressing room. Maybe you could go to the shores and watch the tides until dusk?

Dungeon!

Yelling out of frustration, you grab a pillow and throw it against the brick wall, where it bounces off without making a single sound.

“Could you for once leave me the fuck alone?!” you scream at no one in particular, and the only response you get is your own voice bouncing off the grey walls.

As if you had better things to do, comes the Voice’s snarky reply.

“Fine,” you grumble under your breath.

Not bothering to take a bath, you approach the closed door that leads to the spiral staircase of the tower. The old brass knob surprisingly turns easily, meaning your King had not bothered to keep you locked inside and away from the other areas of the desolate palace. You hadn’t run out of luck yet, it seems.

Tracing the path you and Lady Delirium wandered together is easy enough, seeing as your first meeting was quite memorable. Thankfully your way to the dungeon is unobstructed, and in no time you reach the clammy underground cell you had once sleepwalked to, its iron bars still ajar, just the way you left it.

“I’m here. What now?” you ask the Voice.

But, infuriatingly enough, it remains silent.

Pacing in the middle of the dark cell, you try casting your mind back to the words it had kept on muttering. What could be here that it wants you to find? Hidden treasure, perhaps? What you would do with it if you find it, or how the Voice in your head could have known its existence is a mystery to you, but whatever it was had to be buried underneath the stone floors.

You kneel on the floor and start lifting each stone. They’re bloody heavy, so it takes you a while to reveal the entire dungeon’s black earth and pile the stones neatly in a corner. Huffing heavily at the effort, you notice through the small, high window how the sun had quickly risen past noon, so you hastily run to the upper rooms of the castle to find a wooden plank you can dig with.

You spend a good few hours ploughing the soil for something that is yet to be revealed to you. Once you’ve dug up a spot to find nothing but crawling bugs, you move to another, hoping you’d unearth something, anything, that could be of value to that resident in your head, but it doesn't say a word, not a single sausage, and you end up empty-handed, with only nothing but dirt soiling your fingernails and your dress.

You decide to take a breather, sitting down on one of the stone bricks and throwing pebbles against the brick wall.

He’s here.

Your master had just arrived, presumably in the towers, wondering by now where you’d gone. Obviously, he could not in any circumstance find you in the dungeon, for the questions he’d raise would certainly be something you wouldn’t want to answer.

So, you run, intending to lead him as far away from the underground cells as you possibly can. You barely reach the ballroom when you hear a deep, velvety, disembodied voice.

“Where are you, my dream?”

It’s your Dream Lord’s, and it’s coming from the walls of the palace itself, reverberating in the empty, decaying halls, and it’s impatient.

Unsatisfied with your distance from the cells, you sprint to the opposite wing, reaching a wide, once-grand staircase and ascending its worn steps, tripping twice as you do. You’re panicking just a little by now, and it doesn’t help that you’re almost out of breath and your heart is pounding in your ears.

“There is no point in running, little dream. I will find you,” the disembodied voice declares.

Still, you continue giving chase. The second floor, with its confusing labyrinth of hallways, is hard to navigate, and you don’t know if your eyes are just playing cruel tricks on you, but at every turn, you seem to glimpse out of the corner of your eye a black shadow at the end, still and waiting, only to find it gone the moment you focus on it.

He’s toying with you, whispers the Voice.

And for the first time in a long time, you find yourself agreeing with it.

The fourth floor of the palace is no different, except most of its empty hallways are unpassable, its ceilings already caved in and exposing it to the elements. Once you find an empty passageway, you scurry along, navigating through its fallen debris, until you reach the end, where a closed door lies waiting. With no room for hesitation, you push it open.

You enter what was once a grand room, except its entire ceiling and its walls have all but collapsed, revealing a scenery not unlike what your balcony at the tower offered. The afternoon sun exposes the ramshackled contents of what was once a room worthy of a noble, and when you reach the edge where a window once stood, you see nothing but the ocean waves crashing against the rocky cliffs below.

You have nowhere else to run, it seems.

Behind you, you feel your Lord’s ominous presence manifest, and goosebumps spring all over your bare arms as his warm breath fans your ear as he whispers against it:

“I found you.”

He twists your body so you could face him, and all you see is a glimpse of his smug grin and fiery eyes before his lips capture yours hungrily, while his arms wrap around your form to prevent you from breaking away. You’re forced to concentrate on kissing him back and moving your tongue along with his that you barely notice the tiny grains of sand brushing all over your skin - only until your back hits something soft does it dawn on you that he has taken you back to the tower, and laid you on the bed in your dirt-soiled clothes, shoes and all.

You whine into your kiss and pull your head away, breathless and panic-stricken, breaking into sobs, as memories of him taking you night after night mercilessly against your will on the same bed flood your thoughts. You beg, as you have done on those nights, for him to stop, but he ignores your pleas just as he has done many times before. You writhe underneath him in your terrified state, but in response to your defiant actions, he growls in disapproval and grips your jaw to make you face him.

“I must admit: your little chase gave me quite the thrill, dream of mine,” he says under his breath. “But, disobey me again and I shall ensure you will never see our son after he is born.”

Undeterred by his threat, you feebly push against him with your palms, you beseech him, “Please, Lord Morpheus, I don’t want to do this anymore, please…”

He just tuts in response and takes both your wrists and places them above your head. You feel sand wrap around them snugly and they get pulled gently to the posts - you try to yank them back, but to your horror, the sand around your wrists tightens its hold and wouldn’t budge.

He’s cuffed you to the bed using his sand.

The realisation sends you into a state of hysterics, but your Dream Lord just nuzzles your neck, shushing you and gently nipping from your jaw down to your throat.

“No, nonono, please…” you continue to sob while his hands freely roam your body, his hands grazing over your clothed breasts. In the blink of an eye, your soiled dress disappears, and so do his clothes. Helpless, you could only squirm as his mouth ravages your right breast and squeezes the other, pinching your nipple as he does. You whimper in pain at the action, and he actually pulls away, but before you can sigh in relief, he parts your legs and settles between them.

And you couldn’t thrash, because he grips you firmly at the waist as he slips his hard cock inside you. Groaning above you, he hooks his arms under your knees, sliding in and out of you at an angle that makes you bite your lip to stifle your increasingly louder moans. He picks up his pace, then brings your foreheads together, whispering heatedly over your lips:

“Can your mortal make you feel like this, my Mera?”

A particular thrust causes you to cry out, rendering you unable to respond and powerless underneath him. He continues goading you on:

“Can he pleasure you like I do, Dream of mine? Can he love you, worship you, as I do?”

“Please stop, please stop…”

But instead of heeding your piteous sobs, he grabs hold of your hips and starts slamming hard into you, earning screams from you, and desperately you try tugging on the sand binding you to the bed, but like his thrusts, its hold on you is relentless.

“Will you renounce your pathetic mortal and pledge to me your eternal love?”

But, how could he demand that from you, when he’s already taken from you everything that actually mattered to you?

“Answer me, little dream.”

And so you do: with a vigorous shaking of your head. No matter what he does to you, what he will do to you, you refuse to give him that satisfaction.

“Is that so, then? Have it your way.”

His thrusts start becoming more unsteady, his release burgeoning, as is your own -

And then he pulls out of you, much to your dismay, and you watch him with disappointed tears in your eyes as he spills his seed on your belly with a groan of pleasure. He had done it countless times in the confines of your chambers, but this time, it was meant to punish and humiliate you.

He looks down on you, sprawled underneath him and tied to the bed, with a merciless look on his face, his eyes silver, and you could have sworn you could see hurt behind them - not that you cared, he’s hurt you so much more than you did him - so, you gaze up at him with the most belligerent look you could muster.

“You shall have your release when I get the answer I seek.”

Your Dream Lord pulls away from you and gets out of bed. You couldn’t sit up much, but you crane your head as much as you could, only to see him clothed, and with nothing but a lazy flick of his finger, a blanket wraps your naked form.

“You’re leaving me like this?” you ask, even if you already knew the answer.

“At least, untie me, you fucking -”

A scream of frustration and embarrassment tears through your throat, and your outburst ends up again in hysterical weeping. He approaches your side and had the gall to cup your cheek as if it would bring you any comfort.

“I will come back for you. Until then, I leave you to consider your response.”

You look up at him in disbelief, but he’s gone in a swirl of sand, leaving you wanting, alone, and every bit disgusted at the state with which he left you.

***

You wake up to the sound of loud, squelching, firm hands gripping your thighs apart and a hot tongue flicking and sucking on your clit.

Your immediate response is a moan of pleasure, but it’s gone as soon as you hear a dark chuckle from the Endless grinning smugly from between your legs. He doesn’t break eye contact with you as he continues lapping the wetness you offer, alternating between flicking your clit with that devious tongue of his and marking the insides of your thighs with little love bites that drive you to the brink of madness. With your hands still being held down by his sand, you couldn’t really hold his hair to keep him in place, so eventually, as you predict, he pulls away again, denying you of the climax you’re starting you get desperate for.

Whimpering, you could only observe as his tongue runs over his lips, coated in your juices. He sheds his clothes before you without so much as a blink. He makes his way closer to you until he’s straddling you at the waist.

“Sit up,” he commands simply.

You can feel the sand around your wrist loosen just a tad bit so you could follow his order, and yet it doesn’t fully release you, so you’re still trapped, bound to the bed, with an insatiable king intending for you to take him in your mouth.

“Eyes on me, little one.”

His hand slowly caresses your cheek before snaking to the back of your head, and like you’ve done for him so many times, you open your mouth as he pushes his cock inside your mouth with a groan of pleasure.

With his hand gripping your head and hair, he controls the pace of his thrusts into your mouth, and you could do nothing but take him in, eventually tearing up as his tip reaches the back of your throat. He knows you couldn’t take his entire length, so you’re grateful that he doesn’t shove it fully inside. Still, you fight the urge not to choke on his cock, and your eyes continually water at the effort.

As if sensing your struggle, he coos, “You’re very good, taking me so well, little dream. You take your King so well.”

“You look so pretty with your little mouth wrapped around me.”

He increases his pace and his force, earning whimpers from you, and just as you could feel him thickening in your mouth, he pulls his cock out of your puckered mouth, and, using his hand, he rubs his length and pours his seed on your breasts, some of it spraying your lips and neck.

Once he’s done, he issues another command:

“Lie down for me.”

As if he couldn’t wait, he pushes you gently down on the shoulder, while you still weep quietly, knowing what to come next. He settles between your thighs and positions his once-more hardened length over your entrance. He hovers over you, but he doesn’t make a move, and with your insides begging, aching, for any sort of relief, you try to buck your hips, but his hands clamp down on them to still any movement.

“Now, what shall be your answer?”

Letting out a breathy cry, you plead, “No, please, I can’t…Lord Morpheus, please…”

“Your answer, my dream. Your King awaits.”

His eyes are still locked into yours, expectant and almost impatient, and having been denied release so many times now, you finally snap.

“I will,” you whisper between your sobs.

Unsatisfied with your vague response, he coaxes, “You ‘will’ what, my dream?”

“I take it all back…I don’t love him anymore. I will only love you, Lord Morpheus, until the end of all time,” you declare softly, while your heart wilts inside, your stomach turning absolute revulsion at the words that just came out of your mouth.

You could only look on as his eyes close, as if in pure bliss, seemingly relishing the confession he forced out of you. Slowly, his eyes open, revealing striking blue, gleaming in the soft light of the chambers with the galaxies it contains, and they’re soft, so tender, and for a moment, you almost believe he holds all the affection in the universe for you.

Almost.

“Again,” comes his short command. “Say it again.”

“I will love only you, Morpheus.”

He lets you glimpse a flash of the softest, most subtle smile you’ve seen on him in a long time, before he closes the distance between you both and plants a tender, lingering kiss on your lips, and proclaims, allowing all of his dreamers in the universe, dreaming their little dreams, to hear, “I love you, Mera, and I will destroy entire worlds if it keeps you by my side.”

Dream of the Endless kisses you, deeper this time, more passionate, and you let him sweep you with it, just as he enters you gradually. You moan in his mouth, which spurs him on, and just as he buries himself in you at the hilt, he pulls out almost agonisingly slow, as if relishing how needy you are for him, before settling back inside, choosing a gentle pace. In no time, you’re a sobbing, moaning mess underneath him, and while his thrusts continue to bring you to the edge, the lips sucking and biting on your neck, your throat, your shoulders, and your breasts keep you anchored. He wraps his arms around you as he makes love to you with an all-consuming devotion, and as his lips nip at your earlobe, he whispers a confession only meant for you to hear:

I love you, I love you, I love you.

Until you couldn’t hold it in anymore, and every part of your body just explodes in pleasure. Crying out your climax with nothing else to hold, you wrap your arms around him, only vaguely noting that he’s already released you. A groan rumbles through your Lord’s body, and as you tremble beneath him in the aftermath of your orgasm, he too, finds his release, and he captures your lips in his as his warmth fills your core. Finally, he thrusts the last of his seed inside you before letting his form collapse on top of you. He doesn’t pull out just yet, he just holds you in his arms tighter, as if afraid you’d vanish. You stay, wrapped in his hold, limp and drained, trying to catch your breath.

“Lord Morpheus, you’re crushing me,” you let out in a strained voice.

He pulls away just a little bit, propped on his elbows, his eyes boring into yours and twinkling with mild amusement. “Apologies, my love,” he says as his forefinger traces your cheek softly. “I never want to let you go.”

Even with the most tender look in his eyes, his gaze still feels intense, you look away, feeling bare and vulnerable, while he goes on to rub circles on your collarbone like a real lover would after a night of boundless passion.

After what seems like an eternity, he gets out of bed and picks you up like a bride. Wordlessly, he carries you to the bathroom and lowers you with care down the bathtub which he instantly fills with warm, comforting water. He gets in position behind you, holding you close to his chest, and over your ear, he whispers:

“I love you.”

The hand wrapped around your form squeezes your arm ever-so-slightly - he’s waiting for a response, and from now on, you’d have to give him one, and it should be just the one he likes to hear:

“I love you too.”

And you wonder inwardly if it’s possible to just hate the one who breathed life into you with every cell in your body he’s crafted.

***

The wooden plank in your grasp breaks at the intensity with which you plunge it into the black earth. You huff in exasperation as you get to your feet and find another object you could dig with. You settle for a knight’s helmet you find in the ballroom, grinning just a little as Ethan the Knight crosses your memory. Trudging back to the dungeon, you get back to digging for whatever the hell it is the Voice is telling you to look for.

It’s the day after your rather forced confession of love for your Dream Lord, after all, so you’re really not in the best mood for earth-digging.

You’ve dug just about every inch of the earth twice, wondering vaguely how you’d place it all back now that you’ve gone almost knee-deep enough on some patches. Grumbling under your breath, you begin digging on a patch you swore you’d dug into for the third time. You search for it for about half an hour (you’ve lost count at some point), but the helmet hits a sizeable pebble, and it bends out of shape, rendering it unusable.

Impulsively, you throw it against the stone bricks with an irritated groan, and it hits a brick with a loud thunk. You glare at the spot it hits before springing up to get yourself another helmet, maybe a shield or a spear this time, but then you do a double take:

The brick the helmet hit was now dislodged slightly, and that’s when it hits you.

With your vigour renewed, you start tapping the bricks with the broken helmet, trying to hit a stone brick you could knock out of place. It takes you a while, but you get to a brick located at the very bottom of the wall, so you crawl, on all fours, to get the stupid thing out and finally put an end to the farce the Voice made you undertake.

After struggling with the heavy brick, you find a tiny crevice, and since it’s too dark for you to make out its insides, you tentatively let your hand feel for its contents.

“There better not be a fucking spider in here,” you mutter.

Thankfully, your hand doesn’t feel a single eight-legged creature - instead, your hands discover paper, of all things, lots of them. Making sure you’ve taken them all out, you fumble the space for a final time, before plopping down on the dirt to inspect your so-called treasure.

The papers seem to have seen better days, judging by the browning on the edges. They’re filled from the front page to back with familiar, barely-legible handwriting, and on one, you even spot a lovely little watercolour painting of a map of sorts.

It dawns on you in a flash why the handwriting seemed familiar:

It was yours, after all, down to the same way you dot your ‘i’s’ and loop your ‘g’s and ‘y’s.

But I don't remember writing this, you think to yourself.

Read, comes the Voice’s urgent demand.

Once you find where the papers begin and where they end, you dig right into the material, and you don’t put it down until you’ve read, and digested every single word.

What you read makes your blood boil with indescribable hatred for Dream of the Endless, before clutching your heart and doubling in pain at the gravity of the confession etched in ink - with the papers on hand, you tremble visibly with the burning desire for revenge.

***

Elsewhere in the Dreaming, the Abyss stirs awake with a low hum, its rumbling echoing the cave it has occupied for almost three hundred years. It’s hungry, always has been, as is the function bestowed upon it by its creator. Had it not been so unceremoniously abandoned, it could have its fill of the void the mortals seem to always possess in their hearts, and it could’ve continued consuming its fill, for humanity is rife with it - all the pain, the horror and the depravity - the emptiness they bring to the souls make for a delectable morsel which it had not had the pleasure of tasting in a long time. Being granted a place in the Realm of the King of Dreams had its downside.

Not that it has never fed in its time in the Dreaming. It had, after all, rare visitors: dreamers who unwittingly end up in its cave, only to be tempted by the bliss of nonexistence, and their souls either picked up by Death or be offered a place in the realm, as is customary for those who meet their demise in their sleep.

Ah, but this one, if it happens to cross its path, may prove to be an adequate meal, and it almost makes its cave shake in anticipation.

It won’t be long now until it dines - and what a lovely feast it would make.

****************************** Link to the next chapter

Author notes on the Chapter:

NGL this fic is just a massive excuse for smut at this point lol it’s really just PWEP: porn with elaborate plot

Also, apologies for any typos, I will come back to this to edit tomorrow :'D

AGHKKK final THREE CHAPTERS!!!

******************************

Author's notes in general:

Thank you, THANK YOU for reading!!

Please engage, comment and reblog!! I love feedback from you guys :) This is my first ever fic, so kindness is truly appreciated!

Thank you to my queen @queenshelby @endlessdreamqueen3 for encouraging me to pen this, as well as to my fellow Dark!Morpheus writers whose work I have thoroughly enjoyed and keep rereading :)

Post date: 2/21/23

Edit date: 2/21/23

Taglist: Just lemme know please if you want to be added, too!

Tagging the following:

@wt-fxck

@sandman-33

@reallystressedhoneybee

@akiraquote

@safe-teycar

@ponyboys-sunsets

@izzicle

@spygrrl99

@intothesoul

@thecrazytealady

@tastyinspection8860

@kittenssss-blog

@trinittyy

@mxacegrey

@saraicus

@blu3what

@justporple

@emy635

@chantzmar

@dawnissunnysideup

@esmeralda-tupi

@ggxsan

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maleyanderecafe · 1 year

Note

Hey! You might like the game Dead Wishes. The main concept is that all the love interests are yanderes (some debatable, imo, but all interesting). It's about 50/50 male vs. female love interests. I want to say it's about $10 on Steam, and it has a LOT of content.

Phew, yeah sorry for taking so long to get to this ask, it is a lot longer than I expected. I actually did know about Dead Wishes way back when I first started this blog, but I only really knew briefly about Mateo's route. I honestly thought that the game would be a lot darker than it was (which I mean, don't get me wrong- it CAN be), but it was nice and fun to play. There is about 1-2 male yanderes, and 2-3 female yanderes depending on interpretation. It is well worth the 10 dollars though- there is indeed a LOT of content. It is also pretty r18 despite not having any actual sex scenes or anything as it can get gory or talk about more sensitive topics. You can find more information about this and other games at @violetstudiogames. This is going to be VERY long, so bare with me.

Starting out, I'll give a brief summary of each non-yandere route including some of my brief opinions on it. We will save the yandere (or yanderesque) routes for last since I have more to say on it. The main character's default name is Dante, so we will use that name when discussing relationships. I'll go in order from how me and Cherry played it, skipping the yandere routes until the end. Generally the idea is that the more innocent the character looks, the more terrible their route is and the more problematic they look the more sweet their route is (not always true, but it is to a certain extent)

The game starts out with Dante moving into a new apartment. They are really behind on rent and the landlady is trying to come in and get them to pay her.

Clement's route starts with Dante getting help from the landlady in finding a job. Dante ends up working with Clement at his restaurant. While Clement is generally very angry when people do stupid things in his restaurant (so like Gordan Ramsy), though he is for the most part kind towards Dante because he has an interest in them. Dante and Clement eventually get close to each other. We learn about Dante's past and how they moved away because they accidentally killed their parents in a car accident, and still feel survivor's guilt for it. The two get into a relationship after some cute moments.

Clement's route is very cute all things considered and is the most fluffiest route out of all of them. The route is pretty solid, but I think that Dante's personality in this route was a tad annoying. Not the worse one, but just a bit annoying. If you came into this game not knowing about all of the warnings about how dark it is, Clement's route will very easily fool you into thinking it is a sweet game when it really is not. He's a caring person though and he just wants Dante to be happy. Very sweet.

Festus's route starts with Dante promising to pay the landlady and attempting to steal from a nearby church (and failing). Festus gives them a place to stay in the church and Dante ends up helping out at the church. Dante finds out pretty fast that Anise is sort of corrupting Festus with sexual desires, which is causing his duties as a priest to become worse. Festus persists that it is his own desires that lead him to Anise, but it's also obvious that Anise is enabling them and taking advantage of him. Dante is able to help Festus break of from Anise and continue to lead his life as a priest the way that he wants to.

I actually did like Festus's route. I thought it would be a bit more dark, but it is for the most part rather wholesome the way that Dante tries to help Festus throughout it and that he's not just a sly and promiscuous person, but someone who cares deeply about the community. Dante in this one is probably one of the better main characters (in my opinion) because they are able to help Festus the way that he was able to help them (plus I think that them trying to steal from a broke church is funny). Unfortunately, despite how good the route is, it is relatively forgettable compared to other routes.

Nanako's route starts with Dante going to work for them thanks to the land lady. We are greeted by Nanako and her sister Kazue. Initially Nanako doesn't really have anything for Dante to do, but as Kazue gets clingy towards Dante, Nanako tasks us to take care of Kazue. As Dante takes care of Kazue, we see that her mental state is degrading, becoming very capricious at times. Eventually, Nanako introduce us to her friend Eira, who has been stalking a man named Mateo for her. Mateo seems to have done something to Kazue, which is why her mental state has deteriorated so heavily. Eventually following Mateo leads us to a back alley, where Nanako is able to kill Mateo once and for all.

Nanako's route is where the dark parts of the story become more obvious, with the start of Mateo and his master coming into play. Really Nanako's route feels more like a Kazue route feat Nanako, since it seems mostly platonic but more importantly that she's not really in the route. It's not really a bad route, it's just not really "Nanako's" route, if you know what I mean.

Lucian's route starts with Dante being kicked out of their apartment and them living on the streets. Lucian ends up picking them up and giving them a place to stay at his escort business. They end up working as a receptionist with Lucian flirting every now and then with them. Eventually though, while getting close to Lucian, Dante reads a diary on the side of his bed depicting scenes of being molested, raped, witnessing murder as a child and being abused by his parents. Lucian catches them and is understandably enraged by this, which leads Dante into feeling incredibly distraught. The two are able to make up because of Dante's gift, and Lucian ends up trying to force them even despite their pleas. This leaves Lucian upset that Dante has rejected his advances, which lingers until they make up. Dante is kidnapped by Sergio and his gang to his location, with Sergio trying to warn them about Lucian. Dante refuses to believe him and Lucian comes to rescue him, leading to the two of them shooting him. All seems well afterwards with Lucian being together with Dante.

Lucian in his route is mostly pretty nice to Dante given that you get his good route, but boy does Lucian do pretty bad things in other routes. In his own route, getting a neutral or bad ending will have Lucian turn Dante into an escort against their will, either by manipulating them or telling them that he's spent too much resources on them and makes them work it off in this way. He definitely has one of the worst backstories in the game, but this of course doesn't justify his behavior. He and Sergio were a couple, but Lucian seems to not care or think about Sergio at all, which is especially telling since he sleeps with a lot of other people (and in Ophelia's route, used to "break them in", and even attempts to rape Ophelia as well) and it doesn't even seem like he and Sergio have been broken up for that long. He is written to be the playboy done straight, which definitely is done well since it elicits pretty strong reactions (which for me is disgust, mostly, but I've never liked playboys in the first place). Dante in this version is written to be the doe eye innocent character like a lot of otome girl protagonists, which works on his route since he really needs to have a main character who is that naive for it to be pulled off.

Sergio's route starts with the land lady calling the repo men after Dante refuses to talk to her, leading to Mateo coming in and taking their stuff. Given that Dante pretty much has nothing, Mateo just kidnaps them and brings them to Sergio. Sergio is annoyed, but takes a liking to Dante and gives them a job as a black jack dealer and a place to stay. During this time, Mateo pesters Dante and Sergio tries to flirt with them, leading to Mateo getting beat up by Sergio after letting a customer get away with a ton of money. Mateo ends up trying to get Dante to escape with him, but they refuse. Sergio is pissed that Mateo left suddenly, and gets Dante to stay in his room for the time being. Sergio ends up confessing accidentally (and very cutely) to Dante, who continues to tease him. Eventually getting closer to Sergio, he tells Dante about his history with Lucian, how they were together, but Lucian suddenly broke up with him (due to the fact that he was afraid of his status and him being afraid of them being extremely homophobic to him) and stealing half of his company. This entire time he knows he has to take down Lucian for this, but he is still too shaken up by the break up and still cares for him. With Dante's reassurance, Lucian is able to kidnap Ophelia and Allegra, confining them to the dungeon (which is actually very well furnished with a shower). Dante is tasks to take care of them and gets Sergio to collaborate with Ophelia to get rid of Lucian (since she hates his guts). This leads to an attack on his lounge, but when Sergio and Lucian are seen face to face, Sergio can't shoot him, leading to his right hand lady Eira doing it for him.

Sergio is really cute, but that's no surprise because that's coming from me. Despite his position as mafia boss, he is surprisingly easy to tease and actually pretty kind all things considered. He's in a pretty stressful situation given that Lucian has stolen half of his business and he needs to keep his business afloat. He is also probably the most sensitive of the guys in this game, still attached to Lucian despite all of the horrible things he's done to him/other people. He's trying very hard to keep up the façade, despite the fact that I think he mostly treats everyone pretty well all things considered (Mateo is an exception, but it's kind of understandable given Mateo's personality). Also, canonically is submissive and breedable according to the wikia, which would never lie to me. I think Dante in this route is very bratty, but it works with this route because of Sergio's cute reactions, otherwise, I probably would have been more annoyed at Dante's behavior. He also has one of the worst endings (in my opinion) given that in the bad ending, Sergio misses his shot, causing her and Eira to be shot fatally. Dante is then raped by Lucian in front of Sergio's dying body and eventually sold off as an escort afterwards, thus showing that Lucian is still worst boy and that Sergio has every right to kill him as best boy. That's just my opinion, but man Sergio is adorable, is all I'm saying.

Ophelias route branches off of Lucian's after Dante asks to work with her instead. Initially, Ophelia seems to just be very mean spirited and direct person, spitting on Dante after not understanding how important skincare and fashion is. Initially, Dante doesn't see the big deal of it, but slowly sees just how much work Ophelia does and just how good she is as it, touching up all of the escorts. Ophelia is blunt and mean, sure, but she never lies and is in the end trying to help people, despite how it may come out. Dante slowly learns about all the work she has to do and admires her drive for it. Ophelia starts to let Dante in, telling them just how much work she does for Lucian's lounge and how much she despises him, only working for him as a paycheck. Eventually, Ophelia ends up snapping at Lucian after he tries to force Dante into an escort position, leading to Ophelia stabbing his eye and peeling his face off of his corpse. Ophelia explains to Dante that he was trying to hurt them and that she was only protecting them, adding that Lucian would often sleep with his escorts to "break them in" and even tried to rape Ophelia. After this, Ophelia ends up taking over the business thanks to Sergio and Eira, and the two work together.

Ophelia being one of the poster children for this series has a pretty fun route, all things considered, though I can definitely see people trying to label her as a yandere. She initially does seem like one considering her good ending, killing Lucian to protect Dante, but in her bad ending, its revealed she does this quite frequently to people who don't listen to her and even skins Dante for this very reason. She is much more of a yangire, and I can see why people might have more split opinions on her route. I actually did like her route quite a bit, partially because I just like cute looking characters and because she is very competent at what she does with her advice, while said in a callous way, very useful and generally trying to help people, and if you get in her way, she will kill you. Plus her friendship/love for Allegra is very cute and the two compliment each other very well.

Eira's route starts with Dante going to the bank trying to get a job from Vincent only to be turned down. They are then scouted by Eira and brought to Sergio, where they work as a bartender. Dante gets more and more curious and worried about Eira as she seems to be sneaking around and Dante keeps trying to butt in so that Eira will tell them what's going on. Eira brings Dante to her house where she's renovating and they have some cute moments together, until Eira brings them to meet Nanako. They stalk around in Mateo's turf for a while, before Eira has to go and help Sergio dispatch Lucian. During this time Dante talks to some of the children in Mateo's turf and brings that information back to Eira. Eira returns wounded after being shot, and soon after tending them, the two go out to get rid of Mateo. The two get sucked into the blackhole where Mateo's master lives, leading to a weird scene where Eira and Dante are together.

I really like Eira, but her route is very confusing. I understand it's suppose to sort of tie in with the true ending of Mateo's master, but it sacrifices Eira's route for it, which is not great (at least in her happy ending). I felt really bad though in her normal ending, as instead we get Sergio to help, but before Mateo dies, he outs that Eira has been using Sergio to get to Mateo. Given that, Sergio has no choice but to shoot her, despite how heartbroken he is, leading either Dante to sacrifice themselves or Eira to die. Personally, I wasn't a fan of Dante in this route because while I understand the general idea was to get Dante to push about what Eira is hiding so that she doesn't have to carry the burden herself, it is written in a way that makes Dante seem very annoying, especially since Eira herself states that she doesn't want Dante to get hurt and that Dante doesn't have any way or training to defend themselves. There are cute moments between them, but the ending of the happy ending is jarring and unsatisfying. Probably the worst of all routes just because of that.

Alright, now let's talk about the yandere/ yanderesque characters. The three characters I consider as certain yanderes are Vincent, Kazue and Allegra (in her bad ending) and the ones that can be more debatable are Anise and Mateo.

Allegra's route starts with Dante attempting to steal from her bouquet only to be caught and reprehended by her. Dante ends up crying and telling Allegra about their situation, to which Allegra gives them a job working at the bouquet alongside her. Things go mostly smoothly, though Dante has to learn to work with Allegra's temper when she gets pissed off, until someone attempts to rob the bouquet. Allegra is able to knock him out, but after pissing her off, she ends up killing him, causing Dante to panic. Allegra tries to calm them down, telling them they can sell the body off to Mateo so that the evidence won't be found. Allegra ends up teaching Dante about designing clothing, but also both have to do a favor for Mateo. This results in the two luring a deaf girl named Eden into the alleyway for Mateo's master to leave, which leaves a bad taste in Dante's mouth. With the help of Ophelia, the two are able to escape Mateo's debt and work together in the bouquet together.

In her bad ending, Dante is scared out of their wits of Allegra, despite how hard Allegra is at trying to keep her temper and be nice to them. In the end, Dante seems to be so scared or uncomfortable with Allegra that they reject a matching outfits she designed for them. This leads to Allegra knocking out Dante and Allegra confronting them about how they're still afraid of her. Allegra takes her clothes cutter promising that she will take care of Dante until they learn to no longer fear them and cuts off their legs and arms.

Allegra's yandere ending is pretty cool since a lot of times yanderes use fear as a way to get with their lover (especially male yanderes, in which it often turns them on) but with her, it's the opposite-trying to get Dante to NOT be afraid of her (albeit by cutting off their arms and legs). I think it's a pretty good subversion of that trope and although we only see her do this in her bad ending, it was still pretty cool to see. Her route as a whole is very nice and I think Dante's personality paired very well with it. Despite being dangerous, she still maintains a sweet side and just wants to be loved.

Vincent's route (which is the main one we care about on a male yandere blog) starts out with Dante going to the bank to get a job. Unlike in Eira's route, Vincent is very understanding of Dante's position and proceeds to pay off their rent as long as they work in the bank to pay it off. Dante is very grateful for this and starts to work at the bank, but feels extreme pressure due to the fact that they feel like they're slipping behind despite instruction. This leads to Vincent inviting them over to his house to talk about this, only for Vincent to drug them. Upon waking up, Dante is chained to the bed, while Vincent explains that they are now his wife (yes, wife- doesn't matter what Dante's actual gender is, Vincent will call them his wife). Vincent states his very strong rules about how Dante will be his wife- waking up early to choose his clothes, cooking meals for him and saying goodbye and welcome home when he comes back. Failing to do so will cause Dante to be punished. We see this on the first day when Dante fails to wake up and cook breakfast for Vincent, with Vincent forcing them to strip and walk around naked for the rest of the day. Vincent implies he's put cameras around the apartment, so they can't put on their clothes or risk getting punished. While trying to make food for Vincent's dinner, Dante gets burned and leaves the food to accidentally burn. When Vincent comes home and finds out, he punishes Dante by forcibly placing their arm over an open stove, causing them to be severely burned. As the days go by, Dante gets better at becoming a housewife and despite some hiccups (like chewing loudly), Vincent comes to be more soft and accommodating, even happy when Dante calls Vincent using an old phone that is used for emergencies. While cleaning one day, Dante ends up passing out due to the bleach fumes, leading to an extremely worried Vincent. He reveals that he wanted to have a family for so long, but was always lonely-happy that Dante is now with them to make the perfect family. Vincent ends up adopting two children from the streets after trying to make a baby with Dante (again, doesn't matter gender, baby's gotta be made) whom are also chained to complete Vincent's perfect family. Dante gets punished by Vincent a couple of times for failing to be a good wife, but ultimately Dante gets used to it. Eventually, Vincent lets Dante go out with him to the flower shop. In the end, Dante is fully stockholm sydrome and takes care of Vincent, and the they all stay together as a happy family.

If Dante does try to run away, Vincent will catch them, leading to him killing the two children in front of Dante before killing them, stating that it's their fault that they (and the children) died and that they destroyed his perfect family.

In the bad ending, Vincent is tired that Dante is not the perfect wife and kills them with a knife. Dante is killed, but finally feels free of their shackles.

Vincent runs a pretty fun idea of enforcing traditional values with a yandere twist of confinement and stockholm syndrome. He loves Dante, but wants them to follow his set of rules to be his perfect life, whether they want to or not. I was pretty surprised that Dante was pretty lax in this route, not really attempting to run away but instead succumbing to the stockholm syndrome in the end. As a yandere, he enacts punishments to mold Dante into the perfect housewife, but also worries about them when they are hurt by accident, and is extremely happy when they don't leave him, as he is a lonely person who just wants to have his happy family. He even tells the landlady that the two are dating and that Dante will move in when he pays Dante's rent. There's something both familiar and unique about this situations that Vincent has when it comes to yandere media, which is in my opinion very nice and still adds to the wariness of horror while having a loving aspect to him. It's interesting that the traits for Vincent's route to activate to include submissiveness since he does believe that it is part of his lover to be a wife, and that wives are subserviently in this way. Personally I feel like Vincent and Kazue are kind of an OTP not really because they would have a good relationship (god would they not have a stable relationship) but rather because their traits and personalities compliment each other to a T, with Vincent wanting a loving a supportive wife and Kazue wanting to be useful and being extremely good at housework. They would manipulate each other to hell and back and are too strong of a yandere couple. Also, Cherry really liked him and I liked his route, but I would be turned into fried chicken really fast because boy am I not good at housework. Also, this entire route I was trying to mimic Markplier's voice (because that's kind of what Vincent sounds like sometimes) and I think it's really funny that Vincent kinda just kidnapped two kids off of the streets to be in his family. I understand why, it's just the image of it is hilarious. Stockholm syndrome go brr.

Kazue's route is an extension of Nanako's route, where Dante pays attention more to Kazue. Initially it is very sweet, with the two teasing each other and while Kazue does have her fits of capricious crying, is mostly very kind to Dante...and starts to cling very hard to them. While the two like each other, Kazue gets very jealous whenever they are near Nanako, even if it's just to do certain tasks for Kazue. Kazue also gets very obsessive, sniffing Dante's clothing and using their bathwater. She talks about missing her departed husband Daichi dearly, and wishing that she were more useful despite her broken body- happy that Dante is very similar to how kind Daichi is. Kazue is able to convince Dante to move in with them, and then convinces them to go out and meet Kazue's friend, which is Mateo's master. After passing out and being brought back, they try to tell Nanako what's happened, but can't find her anywhere. Dante continues to tell themselves that Kazue is a sweet person and that she isn't capable of doing horrible things, even though at some point Kazue ends up sexually assaulting Dante and continues to manipulate them into believing that they're being cruel by not doing what she says. Eventually, Dante finds Nanako's corpse in her bedroom, and despite Kazue nonchalantly stating that she was the on who killed her, Dante starts to get attached to Kazue and is fully manipulated at this point. The two are finally married in front of Mateo's master.

In the normal ending, Dante isn't fully manipulated and tries to convince her that she will find someone even better to get married to. Kazue can't accept this and ends up bounding Dante to the bed until they realize they are Kazue's true love.

In the bad ending, Dante pushes her away, leading her to kill Dante. Dante is able to see Kazue keep their dead body, delusionally holding them and taking care of their and Nanako's corpses.

Kazue's route is what I would expect a female route to be like- which is to say less on the physically violent side and more on the manipulative side. I'm not saying that female yanderes can't be violent, but I think that this type of yandere is more found in female yandere routes rather than male ones. That being said, I do kind of wish that there were male yanderes that feign weakness and get the MC to depend on them through emotional manipulation (I call these yanderes "Damsel yanderes" for feigning weakness to get their lover to be with them.) Still though, Kazue's route is very twisted because while Kazue is seemingly weak, she does do a quite a lot of horrible things such as committing sororicide, emotional manipulation, rape or sexual assault and just killing, yet it doesn't feel as scary as Vincent's route. I suppose it's the difference of thrown into lava or being slowly boiled alive- one is more immediately dangerous, while the other seems fine until it's too late, which in many cases, is sometimes even more terrifying. Eventually the two become one, and I can see Kazue as a bunch of types of yanderes from delusional, to a replacement type (Dante replacing Daichi), to manipulative and it works very well without it feeling like it's just tacked on. Still pretty horror esque, though in the way that something is creeping up behind you that you don't see. Again, Kazue and Vincent OTP, causing chaos everywhere they go.

Finally the two yanderes that are more debatable... I can see an argument for both ways.

Mateo's route starts through Sergio's- by running away with Mateo to avoid Sergio's wrath. Mateo drags them off to the alleyways where there are children living in boxes. Mateo is very volatile, one second being cutesy and nice while the other spitting out obscenities' and choking Dante to sleep. Dante helps the children the next day find boxes to make new houses but when Mateo returns, he ends up chaining himself to Dante. After not eating nor sleeping well for a while, (and having Mateo nearly killing Dante when peeing on a plant), Mateo and Dante go out to get food for the children, which involve killing Clement and feeding him to the children. He also gets other bodies to feed his master, the giant hole in the alleyway. Dante refuses to cannibalize and tries to get Eira to help them (silently) while the two are chained up. Mateo continues to be volatile, choking Dante, screaming at a child for bringing dead animals all as Dante grows weaker and weaker with little food or water. Eira tries to kill Mateo and free Dante, but ends up shooting Dante in the leg by accident and presumably being fed to Mateo's master. To stop the bleeding, Mateo cuts off both of Dante's legs in a gruesome fashion, and Dante snaps, angering Mateo. Mateo throws Dante into the trash, where Dante slowly grows insane, refusing to eat their own leg which Mateo throws into with them all as they suffer from the pain in the remains of their legs. Eventually, Dante starts to befriend the maggots living in their chopped off leg. Completely mindbroken, they eat cannibalize whatever flesh Mateo throws into the bin and is eventually rescued by Mateo. Completely mindbroken, Dante happily agrees with Mateo about his point of view and even tries to resew their other leg off, only to have Mateo cut off their hand instead, something which Dante accepts happily. Mateo brings Dante to Kazue's place and ends up killing both of them. Mateo and Dante live... happily until Mateo mentions that his master wants to eat Dante, but he doesn't want them to go. Unwilling to let them be eaten the two seemingly run away together.

In his normal ending, Mateo ends up leaving forever (presumably eaten by his master) while Dante waits happily forever for his return.

In the bad ending, Mateo brings Dante to be eaten (though with great distraughtness) and he eventually gets eaten as well by his master.

Mateo's route is the darkest route with the two creators trying to up themselves in every time. It has rape jokes, cannibalism, cutting off body parts, mindbreak, and basically you really feel for poor Dante in this route. Now the question comes down to the thought of Mateo actually does love Dante in this route or is just incredibly insane and does not do this out of love but out of insanity. You can make a case for both, since Mateo does end up mindbreaking Dante to understanding his point of view. Mateo views humans as lumps of flesh and undeserving since they caused problems for the world, and sees anything that harms the innocent (namely animals as plants) as atrocities, thus has no qualms with killing people or doing horrible things to them like stitching and sewing body parts on weird places. Does breaking Dante's will and personality to understand all of this make him a yandere? Personally, I think it does through the impetration that all of this is Mateo's twisted way of showing love in the sense that he wants Dante to understand his love. I think of it as an extreme Vincent, where Vincent does love Dante but also punishes them to make them follow their rules, to come to an understanding of their place as a housewife. Similarly, Mateo does love Dante (he presents them as his lover to Kazue, has a wedding of sorts in his epilogue in front of his master, constantly keeps them alive despite him having every opportunity and reason to kill them and in the endings is always reluctant to have Dante die by his masters hands, which to him is the most important thing) but is trying to make Dante understand his point of view with his extreme hatred of humans even if it comes to mindbreaking them. If this is actually what Mateo believes as showing love, then I can see him as a yandere since he does love them to this much of an extreme, especially if its through the eyes of a delusional yandere. Understandably, I can see why people don't see him as one, since all of his actions pretty much cause harm to Dante, it's not what you would standardly think of love and is closer to sadism, and he does mindbreak them making you wonder if they cared about Dante in the first place. It's understandable, so that's why I think it can be either or depending on the interpretation of "love".

Anise's route is the final route, starting off with meeting her in the church. Dante then cycles through all of the characters, berating them for leaving them, either their relationship or getting them killed amongst other things. We finally see Anise in her pure form, seeing that she is the master that Mateo so greatly worships. She reveals that everyone is already dead, living in a sort of Dante's Inferno, all wandering around her web until they are filled with so much suffering that Anise eats them. Anise is some sort of god like being, unable to die and consumed by boredom. All the characters are brought because of their strong desire and wishes (get it, dead wishes?) and slowly get more corrupted the longer they are there. Anise and Dante then kind of go off into a morality questionaire, where they can either leave or stay with Anise. Staying with Anise affirms that the two of them are the same, while leaving showcases Dante's strong conviction and Anise waiting for them to come back.

The thing with Anise's route is about the mortality of doing bad or good things and that if our actions in the game make us similar to her, sadistic and cruel or make us different. Honestly, I can understand the concept, but there isn't really any indication that we are jumping from route to route in the game and that we are messing up the relationships we've already made, and for all I knew, I was simply starting a new timeline every time. Personally, I feel like it falls short because not only were we completely unaware we were essentially leaving people behind constantly, but also because Anise goes on and on about how selfish we are, yet in most of the routes, Dante is kind of just reacting to certain things as opposed to purposefully doing bad things. To me there is a difference between choosing to purposefully kill someone (for any reason) and going along with someone killing's because of self defense. While they are both bad, one of them does imply a level of choice while the other restrains it. For instance, in Allegra's route, Dante has the choice to call the police after the man is killed, but it will always lead to Dante being killed by Allegra. There is also a difference between knowing and purposefully ending a route to cut off someone's happiness and moving onto the next one and being unaware that you are doing so, since there then is an actual knowledge of consequence to your actions. Finally, despite all of the bad things we've done of jumping from route to route, Anise makes it feel like it's all Dante's fault and that they've destroyed the happy endings of all of the characters while doing so, when honestly, it shouldn't be up to Dante to determine whether or not they are happy. Yes, it does suck that Dante left them, but regardless of their situation, people are responsible for their own happiness and shouldn't blame it on others. Anise is fascinated by Dante throughout the routes as they see them as like her, callous in the fates of others and using them all as toys when in reality we were most likely oblivious to the suffering we caused.

Anise pretty desperately wants someone like her, to understand what she's like and thus grows obsessed with Dante when she believes they are similar. Despite the fact that she seems to despise the idea of love, she's also strangely fascinated by it when it comes to Dante being similar? The best I can see her as a yandere is kind of an extreme narcissist that projects onto Dante in that they are similar because she's just that lonely, but I can't really say that she is (in my opinion) since she seems to despise love and doesn't hold anything remotely close to love (romantically, platonically or otherwise), only fascination. It's kind of like projecting onto an ant and being fascinated by it because you both are hard workers- it's not really love, just an interest. Still, I suppose if Anise did actually feel love at some point, I could see it as one, but considering again how much Anise despises love... eh...

Also, sidenote, I wish I could get a job as fast as Dante does, cuz this person gets jobs left and right without even trying. I get that they're in a limbo of sorts, but please... I wish I could very easily get a job by attempting to rob someone or something like that.

Anyways, Dead Wishes overall is a very well made game from the voice acting, to the routes, to the UI and soundtrack. All of it is well worth $10s and has a good mix of characters to keep everything interesting and well thought out. I got to play their other games because I heard there was another yandere in one of their other games, so you know how it is. If you are interested, please give it a try- it does not disappoint.

#male yandere #yandere #yandere boy #recommendations #asks #dead wishes #my fingers hurt again...

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ln4world · 3 months

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HIDDEN TREASURE LN4

Part One

"why don't you take us back to where it all began?"

"well, i guess it began in las vegas 2023.."

ELENA

Make or break. This will make or break my career hopes. Inhale, Exhale. Focus. That is all I have to do today, is focus.

A glance in the mirror at my appearance shocked me. I do look different.

I do, don't I?

Of course I do. God, Elena pull yourself together.

I didn't spend the best part of a year, changing my hair, changing my style, changing my frickin' eye colour - even changing my name for this not to happen.

I tucked a loose strand behind my ear, standing tall and pouted my lips. Today is a fresh start, things will get better from here on out.

It was the Las Vegas Grand Prix, 18th of November 2023. I was about to make my interviewing debut for Formula One. In fucking Las Vegas.

This is not my first rodeo. I have interviewed for the NFL many times. It is quite easy to interview for a sport you aren't hugely interested in. But for a sport you've lived your whole life watching? That is a whole other kettle of fish.

Stepping out into the chill of the night, I adjusted my dress as it rode up my thighs. Goosebumps trailed up my open skin, bad night to wear a dress I guess.

The paddock was a frenzy with reporters trying to be first to the media pen to get their interviews with the drivers. I looked around in the chaos, my eyes widening slightly.

Am I out of my depth?

My dark hair blew over my shoulder as I began my journey to try obtain the crucial interview. Gerald, the camera guy, followed me capturing the scene unfolding before us.

My inner fan girl screamed as I spotted some of the drivers speaking to other journalists and reporters. Now was not the time to unveil my guilty pleasure of watching every race growing up. It wasn't the time to confess my die hard infatuation with Lewis Hamilton.

I looked like a child in a playground hanging around the back of all the reporters, waiting patiently (impatiently) for my turn to ask my questions. My note pad was gripped tightly in my left hand, microphone in my right. I could feel some eyes burning into my skin as I turned to look in the direction.

Tired, hazy, green blue eyes stared back at me. A hint of a smirk played on his lips as we made eye contact. The burning sensation rose in my cheeks as I'm sure he was well used to making girls blush. He wasn't speaking to any reporters, just hanging out in the media pen, arms crossed across his chest. His body language was closed off, but his eyes were inviting me to speak to him.

Small steps and slight pushes got myself and Gerald closer to him. His eyebrow slightly raised at me as if to say 'What makes you think I want an interview?'. Flashing him a shy timid smile, he softened his gaze and gave me a curt nod.

"Hello, Lando Norris," I started off faking my confidence. "Unfortunate race for you out there, what exactly went wrong?"

He chuckled slightly. His smile was breathtaking, even if it wasn't exactly genuine. He was beautiful, I don't know how I haven't paid attention to him before. The eye contact with him was so intense that I felt I was going to break under his stare at any given moment.

"I hit a bump, lost control and went into the wall. Not much more too it." He shrugged, moving his weight on his feet. I gulped slightly, nodding. I looked down to my notepad to notice my slight shaking hand.

"D-do you feel that if it hadn't of happened, that you could've scored some serious points?" I stammered slightly, before regaining my control.

"For sure, we were going for a podium this weekend. It just didn't work out for us." He licked his lips as he spoke.

My eyes widened as they watched his tongue flick out of his mouth and run over his lips. It was such a simple gesture, but it drove me insane.

I sound like a feral school girl.

"Next race is the last race, have you any last goals you would like to achieve?" I asked but due to the noise it came out quieter than expected, causing him to dip his head lower to me. The blush crept up my cheeks again as I gnawed on my lip, something I do when I am anxious.

"Give it all I have, last race of the season with an incredible car. I'm going to push the limits, who knows what will happen." He smiled brightly, and for the first time I think it was completely genuine. I smiled back, taking a step back from the barrier and expecting him to do the same.

"Thank you, Lando, best of luck." I chirped back. Gerald gave me a thumbs up, walking back with the camera looking at the footage.

In my peripheral vision, Lando was still standing there. His hands were now placed on the barrier, using it to lean against. The way the corner of his mouth was quirked up in a half smile, eyebrows raised suggestively was making me feel.. some things.

"You're new here," He nonchalantly said. I furrowed my eyebrows, I'm sure I looked just as confused as I feel. My mouth opened to speak but no words come out.

You look like a fool Elena.

"I would remember a pretty face like yours around the paddock." Lando explained, his cool breath hitting the air.

I could feel the flutter in the pit of my stomach. Alarm bells rang through my head, he is a formula one driver - he says this to every girl. There was something in his eyes that made me intrigued, the hint of lust, the seductiveness behind them.

As a journalist I had to do my research. I watched his races, multiple of them to be precise. I watched his interviews, he was a cheeky boy. He would cry with laughter at the most immature things. He would crack jokes to make everyone laugh. He was sunshine on a cloudy day.

This man stood before me didn't give me that vibe. I liked it. I liked to feel slightly intimidated, it was a familiar feeling I unfortunately became comfortable with. I guess the adrenaline excited me.

"Thanks." I simply replied, tucking a strand of my hair behind my hair. He looked me up and down once more, before biting his lip.

Biting his fucking lip.

"After party in an hour," He called out as he began to turn away. "Zouk nightclub - Just say my name pretty girl."

My face burned. He called me pretty girl. Why is he having such an effect on me? I have only spoke with him once, but those green eyes with flecks of ocean blue draw me in.

"Elena, my name is Elena." I called out to his back. He stopped in his tracks to turn and look at me. A wide grin on his face.

"Pretty girl suits you better." He winked.

And then he was gone.

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applesontheground · 7 months

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💘 house call 💉

sending birthday wishes to @bisexual-horror-fan! as always, utterly thankful for a great friendship, and how else to show it by making our barbies kiss each other? this was another hypothetical we had talked about a little after the last cross-canon piece -- how the triads would react to properly meeting each other -- and in my nature i ran to write it for the special day.

(btw, i def intend for this to be something that happens outside the events of prometheus/post the "oh my god they finally hooked up" moment that's still coming. it's a slow burn after all, so spoilers that they get together eventually, i suppose?)

also: just to avoid confusion since there are a severe lack of names in this, i use she/her for the TTHITOW reader and they/them for the YOP reader!

SFW | Word Count: 2,771 | Tiffany Valentine x Reader x Charles Lee Ray & Herbert West x Reader x Daniel Cain contains canon typical/injury, compliant with Through The Heart Is The Only Way and Your Own Prometheus

In the dead of night, a car went squealing down the road. Trying to get away from an audience of dark windows, clear and open like crystal eyes peering into where they were going – and more importantly, who they were.

“Stop lettin’ go of it, you’re just gonna bleed out!”

“I’m not. Tiff, don’t fuckin-! OW!”

Another yelp from the backseat made the tires squeal, causing a sharp turn being made and the woman behind the wheel to finally slam both her palms down in an aggravated motion. “I can’t drive straight if you two are screaming in my ear! I just can’t!” She cried, hands white knuckling as they returned to take control.

Chucky looked to the ceiling of the car cabin, rolling his eyes and disguising it as agony to keep both of his girls off his back. Tiffany swung around from the passenger seat, and she argued, “He’s the one that says we can’t go to a hospital, especially not with the sorry sap in the back.”

Being reminded of the body in the trunk, the waitress rolled her neck but finally gritted, “No, nope. Fuck it, I have somewhere better than a hospital. Somewhere far safer for all of us, sealed lips and all.”

“Sure, sure. Take us wherever is best right now, baby cakes.” Tiffany finally softened, an arm on the crook of her elbow. “Only thing I have t’ask is where it is.”

“…Across from a cemetery…one town over or so…” She mulled, then quickly insisted, “A friend of mine, they work as a document runner. Believe me, we can trust them-“

“Oh, that’s nice. Perfect, just what we needed.” Chucky grimaced in a sarcastic bite, but the waitress snapped, “For God’s sake, if I’m your accomplice you could let me fucking finish-�� Tiffany gave a downright diabolical look to him, patting the waitress’ arm as she mustered the patience. “…They got a couple doctors for roommates.”

“Oh,” His hands came up in a shrug, “Fine, that’s actually better than I thought.

Let’s make a house call. Sure they’d fuckin’ love that at this time of the night.”

Knock on the door.

From inside the house, the sole person in the kitchen looked up from the counter. First at the door an ocean’s away with the desolate living room seeming so vast; then at the clock on the mantle. Finally, a familiar voice hushing on the other side made them sprout up from their seat, discarding the question of a warrant before entering that had been forming in their mind. Even though no one else was on the main floor with them, they couldn’t help sneaking, the heavy quiet making them very aware of their own footsteps.

Opening the door, their eyes fell, a little disheveled in an expected way for this time of the night but growing in moments at the scene before them. Two women holding a man between them, one of them they recognized like the back of their hand. If there wasn’t a dark stain trailing down the man’s torso, they would’ve been quicker to say hello.

“Is everyone home?” The waitress asked, giving a pointed look from under one of his arms. The courier stammered, “I- They’re…” They looked to one woman, then the other. Finally, the man for only a brief glimpse as they answered more confidently, “They’re downstairs, but I can…Oh my god,come inside.” Forgetting formality, they held the door open.

“Downstairs, like in a basement?” Chucky clarified. Tiffany sighed, “What else could we be talking about, huh? Come on, you’re bleeding all over the porch.”

“Oh yeah, let’s go inside and bleed on the carpet-“ He snarked, his other girlfriend lingering by the door to catch a worrisome glance from the courier. Still, they smirked as she murmured, “I can explain, I promise. Thank you so much. We just couldn’t go to the hospital, you know.”

“Sure, of course.” They assured, nothing else needed to be said as they guided them in. One last look into the street, across it to the cemetery for a beat, then they closed the door behind them.

“Good timing. I had just been up and walking around when you pulled up.” The courier explained, ushering an open jar of peanut butter behind the toaster on the counter, one second upright and another crouched down, opening a drawer where you might expect them to keep the pots. Looking over one shoulder, they offered, “You can take a seat anywhere you’d like, by the way.”

“So, sweets.” Chucky rolled his eyes over to the waitress, and teased, “Do you have multiple pals that happen to be bangin’ a couple doctors, or is this who I think it is? Be honest.” The courier perked up, trying not to smirk. “She’s told you about me?”

Chucky shot a look towards the woman on his left. “All I’m saying is that you told me that you weren’t taking me to the Frankensteins. What do we mean by doctors, exactly?”

The waitress asked, “Do you want to be taken care of without the legal work or not?” and the courier lamented as they set some medical supplies on the counter, “Do we have to word it like that?” The gears continuing to turn in their head as they tore the seal on a bottle of peroxide, they then repeated in a confused tone: “Frankensteins?”

Seeing them busy quickly, even finding a pair of nitrile gloves conveniently stashed with the rest of the supplies and wasting no time to stretch them over their hands, Chucky scoffed, “Well, this whole household’s full of doctors, huh?” They met eyes with him and chirped, “Oh no, I’m a courier for the county, actually.” He gave a look of concern back down to the heavy tear – both through his sweater and doubling down into his skin – above his stomach.

They then hummed, “It’s alright. When you live with people in the business, you learn a little. Believe me, I may not be licensed but I know what I’m doing. I’ve patched up those doctors themselves a few times when they weren’t able to.”

“What, when they burn their hand on the stove or something?” Chucky scoffed, getting a small laugh from the courier. “Sure, or when they stub their toe on a doorframe.” They went along with it, shrugging casually but their smile slightly bent into a disguised grimace.

Chucky sighed, half from the load off he took on a barstool by the counter and half by the return of his humor. “Sure. Just like everyone here, you also know a thing or two about all that necromancy garbo, too. I know a sadist when I see one.”

The courier’s kind eyes grew wide. “Oh, did she tell you about that, or…?” They met eyes again, both confused now. He mumbled out, “…No? No, I was- I was joking, buddy.”

Before they could rewind their terrified expression, a door opening down the hall towards the right side of the house made their head snap towards it. They dropped the gauze from their hands into Tiffany’s lap. She merely watched in shock as the poor thing nearly lost balance shooting around the counter.

“The boys must be in.” Tiffany mused, one hand resuming the work they had been doing but still giving a curious glance towards the doorway where they had slipped out of sight.

Hushed conversation. The courier begging with a quiet, “please” was all they caught before they slipped back around the doorway and cleared their throat so all three people in the kitchen looked over. There were emerging figures from the hall, still shrouded in the deep dark of the corridor but still clear enough to see that one was taller, lankier while the other had a pair of metallic-framed glasses.

“These are friends of mine. They ran into some trouble and just needed the help.” The courier explained, “Friends, these are my partners.” The two men finally followed as they walked back in, the light showing their faces far better. The taller one was quick to react, giving a confused nod before his eyes settled on the blood seeping across the counter, finding the source and immediately softening in stature at the sight, concern making him antsy in how he stood behind the other two. His counterpart was far less disposed to it, still giving a close look to the courier, a raise of the eyebrows when they locked stares in a silent ask of ‘All this, and you brought them inside?’

“Oh, that one’s definitely a freak.” Chucky cringed under his breath, both of his girlfriends slapping hands over their own mouths and then his with the free ones. The courier disregarded it, ignoring the offense from one man by saying his name. “Herbert, Dan. This is a friend I meet up with every Thursday after late runs, and … her partners. Chucky and Tiffany?” Looking in a silent question to the other two just to be safe, both silently greeted in affirmation.

“Sorry about the blood, you guys. I know tricks on how to get it out of linoleum if you need.” Tiffany mentioned to them as both men tried to find their place in the scene unfolding. Dan quickly responded, shaking his head hurriedly and trying to crack an edgeless smile for her, “Oh, we got cleanup down well. I, uh- “ He gestured to the courier, “They get nosebleeds a lot, actually. Don’t you, honey?” Briefly pecking each other on the lips, the courier put a hand to Dan’s lower back and commented, “Yeah, about that. They know we do more than nosebleeds around here.”

“They what?” Herbert turned from the counter, paused in his movement to find some gauze. He even held it close to one shoulder, like he was about to abstain from the entire ordeal, but Dan quickly snatched it from him. Knowing there were more pressing matters, he came around the counter and asked Chucky, “How did you manage something so bloody? At this time of night, too?”

“Believe me, it’s better you don’t ask. What’s important is making sure I don’t die around your boyfriend over there.” Chucky grimaced, earning a suppressed glance from the man.

Herbert snorted at that, the courier cringing to themselves as Dan assured him, “Come on, you’re not doing that. You haven’t lost enough blood to die, I promise.” The courier then added kindly, “You’d need a lot more than that, actually.”

“I’m sure stranger things have happened,” Herbert warned, making Dan finally frown over at him as the courier hissed, “Enough.”

Chucky groaned, “For Christ’s sake, I think I know where this caravan is going. We all kill people, or at least know about the whole murder ordeal, so let’s stop being a bunch of pusses while we have this small talk, huh?”

“Kill people?” Dan echoed, half terrified of the mere mention but trying to disguise it as confusion.

“Oh, murder?” The word stained Herbert’s tongue, like a bad burn, “Is that what you call it?”

The courier scoffed at him, “I didn’t give them that word.” Giving a pointed look back, like they were growing exasperated from the assumptions, they silently resolved the issue and looked back to the others.

“Huh, we seem to know a little more ‘bout each other than I thought. Have you been yapping, too?” Tiffany then asked the waitress, crossing her arms to make the other woman huff, “Not…not anything specific about what you and Chuck do for a living, if that’s what you mean.”

“Well, we can understand now, can’t we?” Herbert piped up again, the courier handing him a pair of gloves as he now joined the small circle forming in the center of the room, “We don’t need to be so discrete: If you must know, I met Daniel in a morgue and the other one sneaking around two nights after they had moved in.” Even though it was a bit rude, the courier seemed tickled by the use of the other one, and when Tiffany noticed with a narrow of her eyes they whispered, “Long story.”

The right man for the job, Dan closed in as the one in charge of patching Chucky up. Herbert watched in a thinly veiled , but was soon distracted by the courier, who mosied over and took his fiddling hands. He gave them a tough look, but it was ignored in favor of peppering a soft kiss to one knuckle, whispering something that made him roll his eyes but finally release the tension in his hands and let them rest on his sides.

He fell far more content with watching, their chin on his shoulder as they mouthed, “God, he’s handsome, isn’t he?” Herbert didn’t respond, but a contemplative glance back over at Dan was all the courier needed to smile a little. They met eyes with the waitress, and they couldn’t help but feel some sort of strangely placed perfection in how they acted with the two misfits that had emerged from the depths of this strange little house in the middle of some desolate valley of silence and almost crypt-like complacency.

The waitress then turned her attention back to her own two. Tiffany had been idly speaking with Dan, but as soon as the awful gash in Chucky’s side was no longer visible under a healthy layer of gauze she was looking at him.

Dan finally gave them space, nodding one last time before walking over to the sink to wash his hands, meeting the other two there. Putting a hand on his shoulder, the waitress grinned as they shared a kiss themselves as Tiffany huffed, “Very nice work, Dan. My man’s almost good as new. If only you could fix that clunky chip on his shoulder.” Chucky made a face, and muttered, “Keep talking like that, and I’m running away with this one.” The waitress giggled, slapping him on the shoulder playfully as he pulled her into the two of them, giving her a kiss as well. A dim thought fell over her, and her smile faded as she murmured, “Well, now we just need to scrap the body that’s still in the car.”

There was a plastic clatter on the counter over by the sink, the triad looking at them while Dan slowly turned off the water. “You guys brought the body?” The courier gasped, and Chucky shrugged, “What, were we supposed to leave it out in the open with our fingerprints all over it?”

Tiffany then pointed out, “Well, we’re by a cemetery, we can just find a hole in the ground and take care of it.” She looked at Dan, who was shooting a gaze to the living room with the window pointing towards the graveyard. “You guys know a good spot for that, I suppose?”

“Body disposal?” Dan murmured, letting one of his dry hands slip around the courier’s hip, having them fit snug against him. Chucky jutted his chin towards him. “What, are any of you gonna say something?”

Tiffany then sighed, “Whether it’s burying the guy, dissolvin’ him in a bathtub like you see in those over-the-top crime shows…I dunno, we just need it gone one way or another, so we all don’t go to jail.” The courier gave a careful look to the hem of their shirt, streaked a bit with blood that had been lingering on someone’s hand while they had brushed past them.

Finally, Dan offered, “Well…we can help with that, too. I-If you want, I mean- we know how difficult…” Listening to him stumble, the courier’s arm came up to press their fingers into his back in mute support, “It can be to get rid of evid- Bodies, all of that stuff.” He finally swallowed his last thoughts, looking down at the tile floor with an almost ill look on his face.

Herbert stopped rubbing the smudges from his glasses, placing them back on his face. When he got another uncertain glance from the waitress, he then mused more to his partners than them with an amused tone.

“Yes, I think that can be arranged.”

Tiffany beamed, “Great, so it’s a double date?”

The courier looked over at the waitress, and instead of anxiety, confusion, worry… There was a glimmer of mischief on the way they pursed their lips. It was more to hide a smirk than to express discomfort, and the waitress had to put a hand over their mouth to hide the matching smile.

It was dangerous; they had a match made in Hell and they weren’t sorry about it.

#poly!chiffany x reader #tiffany valentine x reader x charles lee ray #poly!danbert x reader #herbert west x reader x daniel cain #✏️#💉#💘

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neonacity · 2 years

Text

ARCANE : INIZIO | CH.3 | NCT DREAM X READER

Summary: When human deviants granted with the abilities of the legendary Arcana cards find themselves racing against devious forces, they are left to make a choice that might change the fate of the world itself: be the victims of the game, or become the masters of it themselves.

But will this war end with a crowned hero?

Or will it just create another mad villain?

*****

Note: This is the second book of Arcane. The happenings in this story is a prequel to the first installment which you can check in my Masterlist. Since the lore is highly dependent on the first book, I highly suggest you check it out first—otherwise, new readers might have a hard time understanding what is happening here. Expect lots of time jumps and flashbacks throughout the chapters.

Pairings: Dream 00’ Line + Mark x Reader

Trigger Warnings/Themes: romance, violence, torture, trauma, poly dynamics, suggestive themes, language, psychological, mystery, sci-fi. The concept of the tarot or Arcana cards will be loosely used throughout the series. Note that I am not a trained doctor so there may be some slips here and there about medical things. Again, this is a work of fiction and I am not implying any likeness between the characterization here of the boys to their real life counterparts. I also reserve the rights to all my work—I do not post anywhere else other than tumblr. Minors DNI. Please do not repost. I only publish my works in Tumblr.

IMPORTANT NOTE [PLEASE READ]: Since this is a prequel, a lot of the scenes have happened in the past before the happenings of Arcane. To make it easier for everyone to navigate, I’m putting this symbol [&] before the start of every part that happens in the present time, post Arcane.

Previously > CH. 1 | CH.2

[16 years ago]

The smell of old paper and aged leather hung thick in the air as the rain outside continued to pour. Across the window, the library's lone occupant stared at the darkness outside from her spot on the rugged floor, unperturbed by the constant rolls of thunder that tore the gloomy skies. The open book on her lap doubled as a warming blanket, because the thinness of her dress was certainly not enough to protect her against the sudden drop of temperature in the room when the rain started.

A flash of lightning split the skies again, followed by a particularly loud clap of thunder that made the lights in the library momentarily flicker. You didn't flinch, though you did turn your head at the soft sound of a terrified gasp that came from somewhere in the room. It was followed by a slight sniffle, then some soft shuffling as if someone was trying to find his way in the dark. The room was covered with shadows cast by the few dimmed light bulbs, and they unfortunately restricted what you could see from your spot. Blinking slowly, you carefully closed your book and picked yourself up from the floor so you could peer in between the bookshelves. You kept quiet, however, waiting for another sound to give the intruder away.

"H-hello? Is anyone here?"

The frail voice that carried over to you was only loud enough to be heard over the downpour outside. The yellow glow of the light in the room was already bad as it is, so it took you a while to spot the smaller, darker silhoutte moving a few bookcases away from you. When the thunder clapped again, its owner yelped in fear once more, causing you to instinctively step away from your hiding place so you could see him better.

"Who are you?"

Your tone was not particularly warm and inviting when you spoke, but you could still clearly see the look of relief that spread on the trespasser's face when he finally took another step closer into the light. Standing a few feet away from you was a boy with neatly combed dark hair and eyes so round they stood out from the rest of his dainty features. He looked just about the same age as you, but the way he was dressed clearly showed some stark differences between the two of you. While you almost shivered from the lack of heating in the room due to your humble clothes, he looked cozy—albeit terrified—in his thick, but well-pressed button downs.

"Are you—"

"You shouldn't be here. This is my room," you cut him off almost defensively before he could even finish his question. You felt a little guilty for the tone you used because he did look afraid and lost, but at the same time, you can't help but be protective over your safe haven. For a few weeks now, your father has been taking in so many visitors to your home, and the library is the only place you find solace to hide in before any of those strangers could get a chance to talk to you. You never said it out loud, but you hate meeting those people—hate the way they would look and talk to you with pity. They always asked the same questions, but you never answered any of them.

"I-I'm sorry. I was looking for a library. The Headmaster said you have it here and that I can check it out," the boy said in a timid voice. Another flash of lightning illuminated the room, and you saw the way fear streaked across his features again as his shoulders hunched for the incoming boom of thunder. You paused. Despite yourself… you did feel a little sorry for him for looking so scared. Carefully, you crossed the distance to him so you could see him better.

"Are you lost?" You asked, your voice just a little bit gentler this time. He seemed hesitant to answer at first, but nodded anyway.

"I was looking for another adult because I don't know how to get back to the main foyer. But I couldn't see any."

"Papa is the only adult in this house."

He blinked.

"Your mom?"

"My mother's dead."

You don't know if it's the deadpanned way that you delivered your words or the surprise from that revelation that caught him off guard, but for once, he didn't actually flinch when lightning and thunder boomed outside again. A few more seconds passed before he blinked and looked away.

"I'm so sorry to hear that."

You didn't answer. You never bothered to react to those kinds of statements because the truth is, you never felt sorry about your mother. How could you, when she was a stranger to you?

"I think you should wait here first. If your parents are like the other visitors my father had recently, it will take them a while to finish talking."

The boy looked unconvinced as his eyes flickered towards the open door of the library. A small, teasing smile tugged at the corners of your lips as you watched his gestures.

"Are you scared of the thunder?"

The answer was obvious, of course, but he still whipped his head back at you as if he was about to protest. He opened his mouth to say something, his brows creasing defensively, but then he stopped until his lips settled into a small pout instead. It was dark, but you were also convinced that he was blushing from embarrassment.

"I-I'm not. I just don't like loud sounds."

That made your smile turn into a full-blown grin.

"How old are you?"

"Six years old…"

You nodded. Without thinking too much about it, you grabbed his wrist and gently tugged him to follow you. You ignored the look of surprise on his face as you pointed towards the row of bookshelves you were hiding in earlier.

"I'm older than you, so I should take care of you. It's okay. You just need a distraction. Do you like books?"

"I… love them."

That made you smile. "That's great. I'll show you my favorites. We can read together, then you wouldn't have to notice the thunder."

"Um…"

"You can call me noona."

If you were in doubt about him blushing before, then you are definitely sure of it now as you saw his cheeks warm up right before your eyes. He even had to look down on his feet as he processed your suggestion, some strands of his locks falling over his eyes. After a while, he gave a small nod.

"Okay… noona."

"Let's go. I left a book there. I'll show it to you and—"

"Mark. What are you doing?"

The pair of you stopped on your tracks when a foreign voice suddenly called out from out of nowhere. Turning around, you saw two men standing by the door of the library, their silhouettes lit by the brighter hallways outside. One of them was your father, but you couldn't recognize the taller and older-looking man standing with him. Beside you, the boy you were holding immediately turned to fully face the newcomers, his back straight.

"Dad."

Your father turned his full attention on you before his visitor could say anything again. With a slight wave of his hand, he invited the other male to go inside and cross the distance to where you, and who you could assume is his son, were standing.

"We've been looking for you everywhere. Have you been hiding here all along?”

You didn’t answer immediately. Instead, your gaze silently wandered to the stranger looking at you now with an incomprehensible look in his eyes. Looking at him reminded you of those fictional griffins you’ve always read about; silent, but deadly. Your father noticed the silent stare down and decided to gently jump in to make introductions.

“Darling, this is Junho Lee. He is a...close friend of mine. He wanted to meet you today. And this, right here, is his son, Minhyung. Though I suppose you two already got acquainted with each other?"

Wait. Junho Lee…?

The sound of that name alone rang a distant, yet clear bell in your memory. You've only read it once—in one of the restricted hardbound books that records all the significant names in this complicated tree that your father calls 'The Family'—but you remember having that name stick to you because of the history connected to it. Junho Lee is the current head of one of the ancient Lee branches whose roots could be traced back to the times of royalty and aristocrats. More than being one of the richest names in the Family, they are also famous for being a clan that has produced countless 'Masters' in history.

Slowly, you loosened your hold on Mark's hand and let him go.

"We were just talking…" you said, looking away. You could feel both men's eyes drilling at the top of your head.

"Talking is a good start," your father said after a while. His voice sounded casual, but you knew him enough to notice the slight notes there that others might not pick up. He was being careful… like he was being extra gentle over his next words. You didn't look up as he stood closer to you and Mark.

"I think it is a great idea for the two of you to be friends. Listen, princess, the Lees here have been kind enough to offer us some help. You'll be seeing more of them around for the next couple of months."

You didn't know how to take that. The only consolation that you could take comfort from at the moment is the fact that Mark looked as confused as you are beside you.

"Help with what?" The words were out of your mouth before you could even stop yourself. Your father didn't look surprised at all with your bluntness, but you didn't miss the way the other man's brows raised ever so slightly. When your father seemed to toe over a reply, his companion walked over to where you were and buried his hands in his pockets as he looked down on you.

"You're still too young to understand it, but I will be helping him with the management of Rosewood. We'll be… providing resources to make sure the school continues to run," he said plainly. He sounded casual, but you knew well enough that his statement was just a fancy choice of words for lending your father money. While you haven't visited the Academy too much, you have a pretty good idea of its current state. Your father have been keeping it afloat, but the constant stream of bills and calls says that wouldn't last for too long unless a financier steps in.

No, you aren’t too young to understand that. You’re not even too young to piece together the reason why one of the bluebloods of the Family is here, standing in front of you. Because even though you've stowed yourself away every time your father had guests over, you also made it a point to check who his visitors are. Junho Lee is the biggest name among them, but the others also hold significant positions in the book you read before. The Kims, the Suhs, the Nas, there are even families who came from China. This isn't a simple call for financial help.

It's a gathering for something so much bigger.

You watched now as Junho slowly lowered himself to sit back on his knees so he could get in your level. He was handsome, but unlike the kind eyes of his son, something about his stare and the smile he gave you made you clench your fists behind the pleats of your skirt.

"I'm not sure if he's told you, but my son here is the new L'Imperatore. He had just manifested his abilities half a year ago. He is this generation's Emperor. I'm sure your father has already explained to you the Major Powers, yes?"

You didn't answer. The man took your response as a yes.

"As the head of my family, I personally promise my allegiance to you, my dear. You and your father can trust that our clan will put you and his safety as our top priority. When the time comes, Mark will do the same for you."

You were frozen on your spot. The man looked at you for a couple of seconds more before he finally made a move to stand up. Just as he did though, he said something that only you caught. It was a harmless thought, so you found it confusing when it made you feel cold all over.

"It's nice to meet you, IL Matto. I have to say… You have the same exact eyes as your mother's."

*******

[Rosewood Academy, 16 years after]

"Hey, have you seen the schedule for today?"

You felt the long bench you were sitting on slightly move as Mark slipped beside you at the table. It's been a week since you came back to Rosewood after college, and you have picked up the habit of waking up early to join the boys in the Food Hall for breakfast even though you could technically sleep in if you want. The current time is 8AM, half an hour before the bell for first period rings, and Mark looked freshly showered with his hair still damp as he settled in. You could smell his shampoo from where you were and you watched as he leaned over to grab a toast without exactly looking at it. Instead, his eyes were set on the rest of the group who were also seated on the table, busy with their own plates. Jeno, who was across from him, shook his head slightly in answer.

"No. Why, what's up?"

"It's Field Day today," Mark replied with a raise of his brows as if that alone could already explain his apparent interest on the subject. Next to Jeno, Haechan looked unbothered as he slathered more jam on his bread.

"It is. Which means we can all slack off in the benches today while jocks like you and Jeno run around passing balls and beating your chests after," he said, his words cut off by his own yawn. "I'm so excited to do nothing today. No classes, no lessons, just us pretending we love sports."

"Why do you look so bothered, hyung? Did something happen?" Jaemin asked next from your other side. Before Mark could even answer, Renjun strolled in with his own tray of breakfast in hand, wearing an equally troubled expression.

"Did somebody see the schedule today?" He asked as he sat next to Haechan. The latter frowned in answer this time.

"Okay, I'm gonna need the answer to that soon. What is going on?"

"Ten-hyung talked to me. There's a Tourney today. And we’re in the line-up.”

Everyone at the table finally turned to look at him at his announcement. Jaemin slightly frowned from behind his coffee cup and Chenle and Jisung actually stopped their chopsticks fight and swiveled their heads towards him. It was the youngest who decided to speak up first.

“Today? All of a sudden?” he asked, perplexed.

“Apparently, it’s a surprise announcement. And you’re invited too, noona.”

Your brows raised as you pushed cold pieces of bacon to the side of your plate.

“Cool. First of all though, what is a Tourney and why do you all look so worried about it?”

The others exchanged looks before answering. “It’s one of those competitive exercise drills that we have where we are teamed against each other. We started doing it two years ago when our Arcanas started to mature,” Chenle explained. That made you finally frown.

“Drills? So what do you do there?”

“We fight,” Mark said simply. You turned to look at him, slightly scandalized, but he was soon enough amending his comment. “It’s a friendly fight, at the very least. It’s basically a session that’s used to…”

“To check the progress of your abilities,” you finished as the realization clicked in. He nodded as the rest looked on.

“And here I thought I was going to have an easy day today,” Haechan huffed as he threw his half-eaten bread back to his plate. “Turns out they’re going to work our asses instead. Who’s moderating?”

“I think it’s just Ten-hyung and Kun-ge,” Renjun answered. “And probably you, noona because your name is there.”

You didn’t say anything. Already, you have a hunch of why this came all of a sudden, but you kept silent for now.

“Could’t really care less for it, but I do hope they team us better this time,” Jaemin said, leaning against his chair. Chenle scoffed and jerked his head towards the boy sitting next to him.

“Yeah. I had to carry Jisung’s weight the last time.”

“No, you did not. What are you talking about?” Jisung scowled back.

“It’s four against three again. I’m sure they’ll make sure it’s balanced,” Jeno cut off before the pair could even bicker. Out of everyone there, he’s the one who looked the least bothered about the news.

Mark, however, doesn’t look that convinced. “I don’t think it’s going to be four on three this time…” he said slowly, his eyes slipping towards you. You made a point to avoid his gaze by lifting your coffee cup and taking a sip of the hot liquid there. It did nothing but worsen the bitter taste that has already started forming at the back of your tongue.

“What do you mean?” Jaemin asked, confused. He looked at Mark, then slowly at you, waiting for his answer.

“There’s an eighth player now,” you said quietly from your seat. You raised your gaze to meet the others, and that's when the realization hit them.

“Me.”

*******

"You can come in."

The lone girl leaning against the wall of a shadowy corridor looked around as a voice called out to her from out of nowhere. The hallway she was standing on was discreet, but she was not at all surprised when her eyes landed on a man standing in front of an opening of what she initially thought was the corridor's dead end. She pushed back from her spot and gave a polite bow before gracefully walking towards him, her steps lithe like a panther. There is something about the way she moves that almost makes her blend in with the shadows, a quality that the other didn't fail to notice as she approached. She stopped just a few feet away from him as he offered his hand.

"Qian Kun, I'm one of the teachers of the Academy. I'm afraid the Headmaster left for an emergency a few weeks ago, but he told me to take over your orientation."

The girl took his hand, long fingers and perfectly filed nails wrapping around his firmly. Kun's face remained calm, but he couldn't deny the subtle undercurrent of energy that he felt just thrumming under her skin.

"Kim Mijeong. It's nice to meet you. Has my father sent over a letter to confirm my identity?" She asked with an easy voice. Kun nodded and briefly pulled an envelope from his pocket.

"He did, but I need you to give me the code, just to confirm."

"Quod est superius est sicut quod inferius."

Kun studied her briefly—but intently—before slightly pursing his lips.

As above, so below. One of the core belief pillars of the system of the Arcana.

"Very well. You came just in time. We're just about to start."

Mijeong watched as he slightly stepped to the side, revealing behind him a long corridor that seemed to stretch into nothingness. Unlike the other hallways in the Academy made of expensive and heritage mahogany, this one looks roughly made, with its foundation hewn from what looks like bedrock itself. She wasn't entirely surprised by it since she is at the lowest of floors of the school, but she still can't help but feel curious as to why she was being led down into a now obvious secret passage. She finally moved past the threshold of the entrance when Kun made a motion for her to follow him down the path.

"I thought I was going to be introduced to her today. I didn't have any idea that it would happen in one of Rosewood's legendary dungeons," she said with an almost teasing lilt to her voice. Kun smiled and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Her voice sounded casual and unbothered, but the hint of suspicion was obvious there, too.

"You are going to be introduced to her. There was just a slight change of plans today. Do you think she will recognize you though?"

Her head tilted a little bit to the side as she thought that over. In the two years that they have attended the same University, she could easily count the number of times she had actually talked to the girl who is the reason behind her visit today. It was something she intentionally did, of course, because she could do her work better the lesser the other knew of her.

"I think so. We ran in very different circles, but we've talked a couple of times casually. She mostly kept to herself, but I know she's also a very observant person."

Kun's eyes briefly slipped towards her now as they passed one of the few dim light bulbs that illuminated the tunnel they were walking on. He is no mind reader nor a trained doctor of the psyche, but as a member of the family, he does possess a ‘feel’ for others like him. For the untrained eye, it is easy to label the girl walking beside him now as an average young woman—obviously coming from old money with the way she confidently carries herself, but a trust fund heiress nonetheless who probably does nothing but spend her family’s money for her affairs. But he knew better than that, of course. In fact, if there is one thing Kun can be sure of as the fact that the sun will rise again tomorrow, it's that something else lies beneath that facade of hers. After all, the Kims are not known to be the Famiglia's esecutores—its deadliest members and guards—for nothing.

If the Lees are infamous for their wealth and heritage as Masters, the Kims are notorious for their lethality and unfaltering loyalty. They hail from a line of knights and commanding generals who have served and died protecting previous Masters of the Arcana, earning them the title of being the designated 'protectors' of the circle. The role, which generations of the clan have carried over to the present, gives its members the freedom of hiding their identities to other members of the family, especially for the sake of a mission. Looking at the girl, Mijeong now, Kun is sure the tradition of valor is something she lives and breathes, despite her well-practiced cover of a spoiled and pampered heiress.

She has proven it too, so far, with her being here as proof. The Headmaster may be a kind soul, but he can also be scheming for the sake of his daughter. Of course he didn't send her off to university away from his close watch without giving her protection. Even before his daughter agreed to move, he had already secured her well-being by reaching out to the Kim family in secret. That protection came in the form of this girl now, walking the dungeons of Rosewood with too much ease for a newcomer. Kim Mijeong had a simple mission given to her two years ago:

Protect the youngest of the Triads with her life from a distance.

"We're here," he announced now as the two of them stopped in front of a heavy-looking metal door. Kun pressed his thumb against a fingerprint scanner and stepped back a little as a whirring sound from the other side hummed. "They'll just be a little distracted for a while, but we'll make sure to introduce you after."

Mijeong slightly frowned at him as she picked up the implication behind his words.

"They? Who's they?"

There was a loud, resounding click before the door automatically opened. The light from the other side filled the once dim corridor and Kun waved his arm to usher her inside.

"You'll see."

*******

"Oh. You're here. I'm almost done with the prep," Ten stopped in the middle of typing something when Kun and his visitor walked into the room. Fingers still in mid-air, he peered at the girl from over his black wired frames momentarily before his lips tugged into a friendly smile. Mijeong returned it with a slight bow of her head.

"Mijeongie? You've grown up so much. Thank god you didn't take after your brother."

The girl's lips visibly twitched at the quip. "I'll tell Doyoung-oppa you miss him too."

Kun's eyebrows rose at the quick exchange.

"You know each other?"

"His brother is a same age friend. We used to run in the same circle when we were kids. Mijeong here was still skinning her knees from climbing trees when I last saw her," Ten grinned.

Mijeong replied with a dramatic roll of her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "You are literally just two years older than me, oppa. And I've become so much more sophisticated since then."

"I can see that. Anyway, congratulations on passing the Headmaster’s test. Glad to officially have you onboard. Your timing is perfect, this is the best introduction you could ever have to the family," he said as he turned his attention back to the computer in front of him. "Come watch."

She gave the man a quick questioning look before she walked over to his side. To be honest, she couldn't exactly see what's special in this room the three of them are currently in. Sure, this one is more well-lit and modern-looking than the tunnel they just came from, but it looks like an average cubby office that you could see anywhere with its smallish space and low ceiling. The only telling pieces on it that seem out of place are the rows of electric panels, consoles, and monitors that stretched out in front of Ten.

"What exactly should I be looking at?" she asked as she peered at the screen right in front of the older male. Ten tapped the side of his monitor to direct her eyes to the right spot, and there was a beat of silence that followed as she tried to understand what she was looking at. It didn’t take her long before her lips slightly parted in realization.

Plastered all across the screen are different angle views of what seems like an expansive-looking field the size of a basketball court. The area was bare, but its towering walls also seem to be made of the same rock from the tunnel from earlier.

Ten grinned but didn't say anything. From her other side, Kun reached over to press a metal button on a panel next to the monitors.

"This is what you should be looking at."

Mijeong looked up, alert, at the loud whirring sound that suddenly filled the room. At first, she thought one of the far walls was being demolished right in front of her very eyes, but then she realized that the partition in front of her is rolling upwards instead, slowly revealing a view of the very same field reflected in Ten's screen. When the secret wall fully rolled out, she realized with quiet surprise that she is actually standing in a semi-open balcony overlooking the court, the place perched far enough to hide whoever was there but close enough to observe whatever was going on below. Kun nodded towards the view with casual calm.

"Welcome to the real dungeons of Rosewood."

Her jaw dropped.

"No way. These are the legendary undergrounds that were used before by the previous Masters? Rosewood actually was built over them?"

"Yes. But we've made some upgrades. Right now, we're using it as a training facility for the current Arcana holders. It's where we usually hold assessments for them to observe the growth of their powers."

"So you mean to say, today…"

Kun leaned his head a little bit to the side to signal Ten. The other typed in some keys before leaning over a small microphone.

"Doors are opening. Let's get started, guys."

Mijeong's confusion on who he was talking to was immediately answered when she saw movement on the monitor. Seven boys and a girl walked into the arena, wearing similar-looking black overalls. She leaned a little closer to check if she was seeing it right, and sure enough, she recognized her former protectee in the small crowd.

"Glad to see you back, sunshine. Ready to rock and roll?" Ten asked with a teasing grin from his mic again. The girl on the field rolled her eyes and pressed a small device by her ear.

"A regular hello would have worked, oppa. Did you really need to work my ass off without even giving me a proper welcome party first?"

"Sorry, babe. Orders from Mr. Big-Boss-while-your-father-is-gone. Don't worry, this is going to be fun," he said, grinning towards the other man in the room.

There was an audible sigh from the speaker.

"Thanks, Kun-ge."

"What's going on?" Mijeong whispered to Kun to make sure that her voice wasn’t picked up prematurely by any of the mics in the room. For some reason, she didn't want to reveal her presence yet, especially with the charged air that she could almost physically feel from the grounds below. The man in question buried his hands in the pockets of his pants, his eyes set on the small sliver of ground that he could see from their elevated place.

"It's a Tourney. A friendly competition that we do every now and then for the kids to see their teamwork."

She frowned at the answer and moved her eyes back to the screen. The other people in the field—who she assumes are the other Masters—look young, but they don’t scream ‘inexperienced’ either. It doesn’t take a genius to notice how the girl sticks out of all of them—and not in a good, nor safe way either.

"And you're having her play with them? Isn't that dangerous?" She asked, a natural protectiveness already settling on her again. To be fair to her, she believes she has the right to prod about such an important question. After all, she didn't watch the girl for the last two years only for her to be crushed by her fellow Masters.

Kun, however, looked unbothered. In fact, there was an amused glint in his eyes as he finally turned his attention back to Mijeong.

"Do you have any idea what she can do?"

She paused. Well, that's the catch. While she got the order to protect her, the ability of the IL Matto wasn't really disclosed to her. It wasn't an uncommon practice for protectors like her to only be fed with enough information to do their job, so the only thing she knew about the girl was the Arcana she possesses. Kun smiled upon reading her expression and dipped his head a little towards the direction of the arena below them.

"Watch. I think it's the perfect opportunity for you to really know her. You've earned it."

"Okay, I'm going to call out your names for your teams, alright? Divide yourselves and go to each side of the court," Ten announced from his seat before she could even speak up again. Below them, his voice also echoed across the court, loud and clear for the group below.

"Mark, Haechan, Chenle, and Renjun, you're Team Black. Jeno, Jaemin, Jisung, and you sweetheart, you're Team White."

A collective sound of groans and sighs came from the arena below.

"Why do I have to be paired with this brute?" A lithe-looking boy frowned straight at the camera as he jabbed his thumb towards the one standing nearest him. The latter rolled his eyes and gave him a salty look.

"Shut up, Renjun. I could say the same to you. Yah, Ten-hyung. I want to be on princess' team."

The girl simply threw the dark-haired pouting boy a smile before turning towards the three others in her own group. She placed a hand over the arm of the tallest, her eyes excited.

"Jisung, we're in the same team."

The boy tried to return the gesture to her, but even Mijeong could sense his nervousness from the screen alone as she watched from above. At the very least, he seems to be the exact opposite of the others with him, a duo that looks like day and night of each other. The platinum-haired boy stood confidently to the side with a subtle smile on his lips as he watched over the rest, while the dark-haired one looked on silently, almost in a disinterested fashion. Mijeong's gaze stayed on the pair a little longer as she tried to read off their energies.

"Are they brothers?"

Kun followed her gaze and shook his head.

"By blood, no. Ability-wise though, you could say that. That's IL Diavolo and La Morte. The twins of the underworld."

Mijeong's brows raised slightly. If this is going to be a competition, then putting those two names together is already intriguing in itself.

"Putting The Devil and The Death in one team? Are you sure that's a smart idea?"

Her question made Ten give a playful scoff. "Don't underestimate the other group. They have a bite of their own. That's La Luna, La Papessa, IL Bagatto, and L' Imperatore. Mark alone can be hard to handle by himself."

Mijeong wasn’t entirely convinced still, but her eyes found the screen again in time to see the two groups finally settling on each side of the arena. She has to admit… the idea of seeing such an interesting mix of Masters in one fight is also lighting up her nerves with excitement.

"Alright, everyone here are the game rules," Kun took over the microphone momentarily when everyone seemed to have finally settled in their positions. "Both groups need to choose one Queen to protect during the Tourney. The Queens will wear a ribbon on their arm—your goal as Knights is to steal that ribbon from your opponent. Only rule of the game is that the Queens cannot attack each other. Other than that, everything goes."

"Black Team, who is your representative?"

"Renjun, since he's already a primadonna," Haechan said with a smirk. Renjun shot him a death stare but grabbed the black ribbon handed to him by Chenle anyway.

"White Team?"

"Jaemin," Jeno simply answered. The boy simply shrugged and started tying the white lace to his left arm without further question. The decision pulled a low whistle from Chenle whose eyes were already dancing with excitement.

"Dang. I think I know where this is going. Smart choice."

Mark, who was standing beside him, looked less amused though. His eyes settled on the girl on the otherside, concern evident in the way he frowned. He didn’t say anything despite his eyes clashing with Jeno’s. Even with the distance between them, the two got their messages across to each other loud and clear.

Seriously?

Seriously.

You better protect her.

You don't need to say it twice.

"If that's set, then we can start. Game is on at the sound of the bell. Oh, and another thing," Kun paused as his gaze touched every face on the screen.

"Try not to kill each other."

The sound of a bell filled the whole space like the low growl of a waking monster.

CHAPTER 4

*******

A/N: Hi. Yes, I’m alive. Had to cut this off before the chapter because I am worn out and didn’t want it to get to 11,000 or so words again. Thank you to everyone who has and still continues to stick around for this story. As usual, enjoy! <3

P.S. Happy 6th year anniversary to my favorite boys. 💚

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