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abbyromanoff · 6 months

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YOU’LL ALWAYS BE MINE

PAIRINGS: Wanda Maximoff x reader

WORD COUNT: 2,475

WARNINGS: angst, cheating, divorce, depression, fluff, mind manipulation, the hex being created, pregnancy, kinda dark, think that’s all :)

NO ONE IS PERMITTED TO STEAL, COPY, OR REBLOG MY WORK AS THEIR OWN!!

Wanda hummed as the flavors hit her taste buds, her eyes directed at you as she smiled warmly.

“How do you like the dinner, sweetheart?” You grinned beneath the fork inside your mouth, instantly returning your lips back to a thin line when her eyes left you.

“Well, I hope you’d like it, I spent many hours prepping this.” She chuckled, giving your hand a squeeze from across the table. You still didn’t utter a word, she was growing concerned.

“What’s wrong, baby?” You shrugged, nervously playing with your food as you bit the inside of your cheek, a habit you started and failed to stop, much to Wanda’s liking.

“C’mon, you can talk to me, that’s what I’m here for.” You looked up, noticing her intense gaze that showed she knew exactly what you were going to say.

“You still haven’t signed the papers.” Her body tensed, her eyes shutting as she sighed. Her hand balled into a tight fist as she continued to eat. She could see you were lacking the ring on your finger, the sight making her want to crawl into a corner and cry her eyes out. There was no way out of this, she realized, so she had to make one.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about-”

“My fucking God, Wanda,” You slammed your hands down, standing as you paced urgently. She refused to look, instead finding her meal all the more interesting.

“You’re pathetic, you know that? You can’t sign some fucking papers, really? This marriage has been ruined the moment you slept with that tramp.” The realization made her throat tighten, tears nearly ready to spill from her loopy eyes.

“I told you it was a mistake, it meant nothing-”

“That doesn’t stop the fact that it happened, Wanda! Do you think it’s easy for me to have to live here daily? To see you and constantly be reminded of what you did? I worked so hard to even convince myself I was worthy of you, and you go and do this?” She cowered down, wiping her hands on the small cloth in her lap while you stared at her, nostrils flared and eyebrows furrowed.

“I’m sorry-”

“Sorry doesn’t fix what you did-”

“God, will you let me fucking speak?” She yelled, growing frustrated with the constant interruption. You didn’t refute, instead placing your hands on your hips as you waited for her voice to return.

“I told you, I was drunk and she looked so much like you. We were fighting, I was upset, you were too, so I went out and got wasted to the point I could barely walk. I saw her there and I…I let her take me home, but when I woke up I- I realized what I did and I knew I fucked up.”

“Yeah, you did.” You already heard the story before, the same one that haunted you in your dreams. You imagined someone else being able to hear the moans she promised were only for you, it made you violently ill.

“I made a promise to you, and I plan to keep it. I will never, and I mean never, touch a drink again. I won’t even look in another woman’s direction because I don’t need to when I have my wife right in front of me. My perfect, breathtaking, loving wife that I care for so much.” She wrapped her arms around your waist as she dropped to her knees, placing her forehead against your thigh.

“Please, baby, I don’t know how many times I have to apologize before you forgive me, but I’ll continue to tell you for the rest of my life.” She placed small kisses against the covered skin, feeling the warmth that you supplied, the same warmth that brought her comfort at night. Now it brought her shame and guilt, but she’d rather carry that burden for the rest of her life than lose you for even a moment.

“I don’t want to have to be reminded of what you did for the rest of my life, Wanda. I’m constantly having someone down my ear telling me how terrible you are, and how I should never forgive you. For fucks sake, even our friends have told me to leave you! How am I going to look them in the eye again knowing all they see is someone who’s too gullible to even leave their cheating wife?” You sobbed, and the look on your face only brought misery to the woman. You seemed so lost, so exhausted, and she was the cause.

“I know, I know, and none of this is fair to you, and I’m so sorry I caused this-”

“Stop saying sorry. Please, I can’t do this.” You begged, your voice cracking as you drew more emotions.

“But I mean it! I never want you to feel like I don’t want you because I want you more than anything. I need you, Y/N, I need you in my life.” It was true, she didn’t know how to properly function without you. You were the only one who kept her going, you were the one who held her when she felt like she couldn’t stand. When she was ready to give up, she had you holding her back. Without you, she’d be nothing.

“You say you need me, but you don’t consider what I need. And what I need is for you to let me go, and sign the papers.” You wanted to give in, to fall into her embrace and let her make it up to you. But you couldn’t, your mind would never let you forget the scene you walked in on. And maybe you’d still remember it vividly without her, but at least you wouldn’t have to be in the exact place it happened with the person who did it. At least you could move on and find someone who wouldn’t hurt you like this, intoxicated or not.

“No- no, I won’t do it.” Tear stains painted your shirt from where her head rested, you knew you’d have to throw this out sooner than later.

“Wanda, please, just do it.” You squeezed your eyes shut, forcing yourself to ignore her pleas.

“But-”

“I’m begging you, Wanda. If you truly loved me, you’d want me to be happy.” She rushed towards you when you tried to escape her tight hold.

“You’re happier with me-”

“I can’t be happy with you, not when I can’t stop thinking about what you did. It ruined me, Wands, and it continues to haunt me every breathing moment.” The nickname brought a crack to her rotting heart. Her body felt like it was decaying the more you pulled away and the more she tried to hold on.

“You’re going to sign the papers. And then I’ll be gone. This is best for the both of us, you’ll learn to live without me.” She felt as though she was going to be sick, why were you still denying her? She couldn’t let you go. No, she couldn’t.

You leaned down to her level, moving the hair that covered her face out of the way. You cupped her cheeks, smiling sadly as her sobs caused her hands to shake lightly. She reached out hopefully, copying your action and bringing herself closer.

“Can I- can I have one last kiss, at least?” You looked down, sighing as you shook your head before returning her gaze.

“If I kiss you, I don’t think either of us will be able to stop.”

“That’s not a bad thing, is it?” You chuckled, and it felt like music to her ears. She smiled warmly, even though her chest tightened and her breath cut short.

“I love you, Wanda, I always will. Maybe we were just never meant to be, and that’s okay. But if I don’t let you go now, I’ll never be able to be happy.” But you could’ve been meant to be, she realized. You could’ve been the best, most loving couple. Your kids would’ve grown up in a healthy, safe household full of love. But that all came to an end when that night left her hopeless, she pleaded with God constantly to rid her actions but they were never heard.

“I love you too, Y/N, and I want you to be happy, I just wish I could’ve been the reason.”

“You were.” The past tense was what caused her body to crash into yours. She lost all control as your arms brought her a sense of comfort she lacked for so long.

“I’m sorry I failed you.”

In a few months, the divorce was being settled and you officially moved out. You had been staying with a friend for some time, and she was more than happy to help you out. She had been in a similar situation before, so it was clear what she had to do when she saw you standing on her front porch. Wanda thought she would be able to see you when you would gather your stuff from her place, but a multitude of your friends went instead, all of them giving glares to the older woman as she refused to look at the empty home. It seemed wrong without your stuff here, and all she had were pictures of the two of you that she couldn’t remove.

She felt hopeless as time progressed, and the lack of messages or calls from you only made time move slower. Every day felt like a decade as she failed to execute basic human needs. She often struggled to get out of bed or brush her teeth, and now it’s been two days since she last showered. She wondered how you were, she hoped you weren’t in such a horrid state like herself. But a part of her also hoped you were, just so she knew you still cared.

Eventually, it all became too much. She hadn’t slept in her bed in over a year, the constant reminder that another laid where you once were disgusted her. The couch had become her home, but even the couch seemed to shame her. Her favorite movies didn’t feel the same without you laughing with her. The sitcoms she loved so much now annoyed her; she had changed completely, and it was all her fault.

She couldn’t hold it back anymore, she broke. Her small, empty home in the town of Westview became full once again. She didn’t know what happened. One moment she was sobbing uncontrollably while huddling close to the stuffed animal she had won for you on your first date, then the plain walls filled with hope. Her heart slowly gained a beat, and her hands felt warm again. She stood in front of a door, her fist finding the wood and creating a small knock.

“It’s open!” She heard, and she stopped in her tracks. It was you, it was your angelic voice that was slowly fading from her mind. She gulped fearfully before twisting the knob, letting her legs take control as she stepped forward.

“Love, you’re home!” You greeted with a smile, turning to face her as Wanda’s eyes fell on the toddler being held in your arms. She had the same hair as Wanda, and while it wasn’t easy to spot from so far away, she could see her green, piercing eyes looking back at her. The child giggled and pointed her chubby finger her way, causing a smile to break out on her face.

“Everything alright, sweetie?” You asked when she didn’t move, her mouth agape and her hands nearly releasing the briefcase she held.

“Yes…everything is just perfect, my love.” She mustered out, rushing towards your figure and embracing you in a tight hold. The replica of her was left with a small kiss to her forehead before she took her into her arms, blowing raspberries on her exposed tummy. Alana giggled again, and it felt like Wanda’s ear would explode. She felt like she was dreaming, only this wasn’t the nightmare she fought with every night. No, this time you were here to cure her.

“Momma!” She heard from a distance, seeing a young boy running to greet her. He hugged her leg tightly, causing Wanda to stumble before she leaned down, ruffling his hair before she gave him a small side hug, the baby in her arms restricting her from embracing him as much as she wanted to.

“Hey, kiddo! How was your day?”

“It was amazing! Me, Mommy, and Alana made dinner!” She gasped, showing her appreciation towards the excited boy before he ran off to the kitchen as she requested. He was still too young to carry his little sister, so she continued to do so.

“And hello to you, my sweet baby.” Wanda placed a small kiss against your stomach, placing her hand against the bump and rubbing her thumb in small, soothing circles.

“Have they been giving you any trouble today?” She asked, resulting in a small sigh from your end.

“They’ve been kicking all day. I swear, if they’re not professional soccer players, I don’t know what else they’ll do.” Wanda laughed before leaving multiple pecks to your lips, grasping your hand in hers before leading you to the kitchen.

“Well, it’s only a few more months until they’ll be out of you, I know you can do it.” You stopped in your tracks, eyeing her and causing the taller woman to stall. Nobody wanted to see you angry, especially when you were pregnant.

“First of all, I don’t see you carrying two demons in your stomach, so I’d shut up if I were you. And, second of all, this is the third time I’m doing this, you are no longer allowed to go without a condom.” She placed her hand on her chest as if she was offended and you grinned, leaving a kiss on her cheek before walking through the kitchen door where your son laid out all the dishes for you four. You thanked him before he climbed onto his seat, still finding himself to be too short for the chairs you had. Wanda placed your daughter in the high chair before taking the seat next to her. You noticed her smiling large, her eyes being filled with more joy than usual.

“What’s got you all happy?” She admired the scene in front of her, Pietro Jr and Alana sitting peacefully, both of them sharing the genes she was blessed with. Her partner, smiling back at her while they carried her twins, she couldn’t have asked for anything more.

“Oh, nothing, I’m just thinking about how lucky I am to have all of you.” You blushed, tilting your head slightly as you bit your lip.

“Well, that’s never going to change, sweetheart.” ‘I’ll make sure of it’, she thought.

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ihaveabuckyproblem · 1 year

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He Had It Comin’ | D.D.

Summary: Daryl once told the group that Merle wasn’t a r@pist, but no one could deny the way Merle looked at you.

Warnings: fem reader, sexual harassment, attempted r@pe, protective!Daryl, villain!Merle, set in Alexandria, (we’re just gonna act like Merle never died), death threats, triggering threats, crying, guns, pinning, etc.

You were groggy, things all confusing and hazy in your awakening state. The sunlight barely creeped through the curtains as they failed to cover all of the window, allowing the golden rays to shine into your face. The urge the open your eyes got the best of you, so you did, and immediately groaned when you were blinded by the sunlight.

After a couple more seconds, you were coherent. You didn’t have to turn to see that Daryl was sleeping peacefully beside you. He had one arm propped under his head, a force of habit he never was able to break away from. His other arm was holding onto you, feeling as though someone was about to pull you away from him at any given moment and he’d never see you again. It always amazed you how strong he was, even while he slept.

Moments like these brought a small smile to your lips as you wished you could stay here in this moment forever. Nothing brought you more peace, you were the safest you’ve been since the world fell and the dead rose.

You could feel Daryl’s steadily paced breaths warming your neck, his face nuzzled into it. You knew you’d have to get up soon, but everything in you was telling you not too. To stay here, wearing nothing but Daryl’s t-shirt and a pair of underwear, while your lover slept next to you as if there wasn’t a world outside of your shared room.

Suddenly, your peaceful thoughts and blissful mood were interrupted as your bedroom door is quite literally slammed open. You felt Daryl’s body tense immediately as you both shut up, Daryl’s hand already reaching for the knife under his pillow.

“Rise and shine!” As if seeing Merle standing there wasn’t enough, his voice rang loudly throughout the once quiet room. Immediately, Daryl relaxed, but rolled his eyes.

“Get outta here, man.” Daryl raised his voice at his older brother, throwing his hands up.

You hadn’t taken your eyes off the older Dixon. And he sure as hell hadn’t taken his eyes off you either, the way your bare legs looked exposed like that mind his eyes have no shame. You shuddered in disgust, immediately throwing the blanket over your body.

Daryl caught onto his brother’s creeping eyes and stood up out of bed, stomping over to Merle.

“Stop bargin’ in ‘ere, asshole. Yer creepin’ her out.” He growled at him, spitting his words out like venom. Merle smirked, finally tearing his gaze off you and looked at his little brother.

“I can’t help but look when my sweet baby brother got himself a nice piece of ass hanging around.” Merle spoke without shame. This made Daryl’s blood boil, he pushed Merle back and out of the room before slamming the door back shut. All you could hear was Merle’s descending laughter as he walked away.

You wanted to be shocked, like you didn’t expect it. Like this wasn’t normal. But, truth be told, Merle’s behavior towards you has always been that way. No matter how many times Daryl threatened to smash his skull in or take off his other hand, Merle said and did as he pleased when he pleased.

“‘M sorry bout him, he’s an ass.” Daryl muttered the last part to himself as he walked towards his dresser, intent on getting ready for the day.

“I think it was a mistake to let him move into the basement.” You muttered, letting your dislike for Merle seep into your tone.

Daryl didn’t say anything because he knew you were right. He hates the way Merle speaks to you, it isn’t okay and it makes you uncomfortable, and that’s enough for him to want to send Merle to an early grave. But, Merle was blood, the last family Daryl had.

“I’ll talk to ‘em.” Daryl reassures, sending you a “I promise” look.

Hours had passed and you hadn’t seen Daryl since this morning. After getting dressed and ready for the day, you parted and went your separate ways. Daryl had been positioned with Rick today on supply runs while you were on training with the kids.

The day was going great, the kids were going through their training wonderfully. Even Adam, the little boy who is scared of his own shadow, did wonderful knife work. It made you proud seeing how far they’ve come.

All that pride washed out of your system when you felt another presence. You didn’t move, standing there with your hands on your hips, observing the children. You felt uneasy, as if prying eyes were on you. And they were.

Merle had been passing by the training grounds when he spotted you. You have no idea how long he’d been there, just watching, eyes glued to your ass. He sexualized you worse than any man ever had and it was disgusting. You were a big girl and you knew how to fend for yourself, but having to fight against the living is the scariest thing you ever had to do.

As long as Merle kept his distance, you didn’t care. You knew how jealous he was that Daryl had you and he didn’t, but that wasn’t your problem. He needed to learn respect.

All of a sudden, you felt a quick pressure on your backside, causing you to stumble forward.

Did someone just smack my ass?

You whipped around faster than you could imagine only to be met with the serious yet mischievous stare of Merle. He had that uneasy smirk plastered on his face that sent chills down our spine.

Oh, your blood was boiling. The nerve he had to put his hands on you, his brother’s woman. You could hear the kids still continuing on with their training, oblivious to the creep in the area, but all you could see was red.

“Now, that’s a nice piece of-“ before you could let him finish his sentence, you reared back your first in seconds, giving it all your force as you felt your knuckles come in contact with his cheekbone.

Merle was on the ground in seconds, looking at you with pure shock. You didn’t hear the children practicing anymore, so you knew you had eyes on you. Your senses came back to you and that’s when you looked down at your red knuckles, instantly getting hit with the sharp pains throbbing in your hand. You gripped your wrist and hissed.

“You bitch!” Merle hollered, making your head snap up.

“Watch your tone or I’ll rock your shit again,” you snapped at him, coming down from your adrenaline high, “Get out of here. They’re just kids, they don’t need to see anything else.”

You didn’t give him the time of day to respond before you turned your back on him and walked away. He gathered himself and left, but not without griping and complaining, muttering a bunch of curses and threats under his breath.

An hour later and you couldn’t bear the pain in your hand, your fear is that it was broken. You made up some lame excuse and told the kids that training was done for the day. You made sure they all put their knives back into their holsters and told them all what a good job they did. After the last child made their way home, you realized the sun was on its way to setting. Letting out a sign, you gently grabbing your wrist, keeping your hand steady as you walked to Carol’s home.

“This looks bad, Y/N.” Carol said softly, having a delicate hold on your injured hand. You winced, trying to bite your tongue from the pain.

“You should see the other guy.” You joked, only, it didn’t come off as humorous as you hoped. Carol was quick to look at you, concerned, before reaching for her medical kit.

“This is from a fight?” She asked.

You scoffed at how funny that sounded to you. It was better than your joke.

“It was less of a fight and more of a promise.” You spoke truthfully. Not keeping the truth any longer, you informed Carol of what happened. She was upset for you, to say the least. Carol was your best friend outside from Daryl, so she already knew of your worries when it came to Merle. She didn’t like him either but she was always worrying about you living in the same house as him.

“Are you gonna tell Daryl?” She asked, putting the last piece of gauze tape on your wrapped hand.

Daryl.

You forgot about the fact that you would have to tell Daryl. He would question your hand… and you never lie to each other. It was an unspoken rule and brutal honesty was a big factor in your relationship.

You bit your lip nervously, how do you tell your boyfriend that his brother smacked your ass? Your thoughts became overwhelming, Daryl loves his brother. But he also loves you. What if he thinks you’re making him chose?

You mentally laughed to yourself at how ridiculous that sounds. After Carol finished your hand, you looked out the window, seeing nothing but the deep setting sun. All the light was almost drained from the sky, you could tell the moon was about to make its appearance.

Thanking Carol, you bid your goodbyes, knowing Daryl was probably home. After leaving Carol’s house, you tried not to think about the situation. It wasn’t worth the stress… Merle wasn’t worth the stress.

It wasn’t long before you reached you and Daryl’s home. The lights were off, meaning no one else was home. You sighed, dragging your feet up the stairs. He must be somewhere with Rick unpacking whatever supplies they brought back. You smiled to yourself thinking about the man you love.

You made your way into the house, kicking off your boots at the door. It was dark in the house, but there was enough moonlight coming in through the windows that you could make your way around. Your body felt so tired and your hand was starting to throb again. Why did you have to strike him with your most useful hand?

You shook it off and deposited your holster belt on the kitchen counter. The weight off your hips was relieving. You arched your back, giving it a good stretch.

Then, you felt something cold pressed against your head. Your body tenses almost instantly, your heart rate speeding up in seconds. You knew what that was. Anyone in Alexandria would recognize the feeling of a gun pressed to the back of their head.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Merle mocked, his voice flooding your ears.

For fucks sake.

“Bet that hand feels just about as good as my face, doesn’t it, honey?” He chuckled, taking a step closer. You closed your eyes and took and big breath in and out- you couldn’t show him your fear.

“What do you want, Merle?” You seethed. You were eyeing your holster belt that was only a couple feet away that held your knife.

“You know what I want baby.” His voice was low and hungry, now pressing himself against your back. As if you weren’t tense before, you were stiff as a door now. He moved the gun to press to the side of your head, grabbing your hip hard. Your winced in pain at the feeling of his fingers digging into your hip, but he had other plans than just that. He grabbed you by the back of your neck and slammed your body down onto the counter, making you bend over it as sharp groan leaving your lips.

This was happening. This was really happening. The sudden realization of the situation you were in made a wave of fear come crashing over you. All the jokes, the comments, the stares… This is what he was thinking about? Forcing himself on you over the counter?

No. This can’t happen, you weren’t gonna let this happen. Merle was ripping off your shirt when you came to your senses. This was enough for you to throw your head backwards and into his mouth, making him holler in pain. To your surprise, he even dropped the gun.

You stood up and wasted no time, you didn’t even look at him, you just bolted. You ran towards the door, but couldn’t even twist the handle before you were ripped away from it. You screamed in protest, but your vocal cords gave out when you felt a hard hit to your head.

You were pulled to your feet by your hair before being punched in the face again, immediately falling back down to the floor. You cried out in pain, kicking and screaming, refusing to go down without a fight.

“Go to hell!” You scream, spitting a large wad of saliva into Merle’s eyes. He jerked back and let you go, dropping you so he could wipe his eyes. You scrambled to your feet, but tripped over his large boot that he stuck out in front of you. Your body hit the floor hard and you landed on your already injured hand, causing a scream to ripple through your throat. You were silenced by a kick to the stomach, your eyes widening as the wind was knocked out of you, sending you into a coughing fit.

Having had enough of your resisting, Merle knelt down between your legs, flipping you on your back as he pulls you closer by your legs. You cry and try to fight back, but the harsh blows you endured did a number on your body.

Merle had his hands on the zipper of your jeans when the front door opened and shut. Both of your heads snapped to the doorway the same time Daryl looked up to see what was taking place.

Your face was bloody, your lip busted and your forehead gashed. You looked like you had been crying as you wheezed, still fighting for air. Your shirt was nowhere to be seen and your stomach was red, looking abused. You didn’t say anything, you couldn’t say anything, your eyes said enough as they pleaded for help.

When Daryl finally laid his eyes upon his big brother, he was blinded with rage. All the color drained from his surroundings as all he saw was red. Merle didn’t look sorry, or guilty, or ashamed of what he was attempting to do- only disappointed that he didn’t finish the job.

Daryl didn’t utter a word as he took 3 big strides and rocked his fist into Merle’s jaw. There was so much force behind the punch that it made your body jerk.

Merle was pleading with his little brother, but Daryl didn’t care. No one lays a hand on his woman, no one lays their hand on you, and lives to see the next day.

Even through the tears in your eyes, you could see the blood bath Daryl was making of Merle’s face. With every colliding notion of Daryl’s fist to his brother’s face, Daryl would grunt, but never uttered a word. He never threatened Merle, never asked why, he simply wanted him dead.

And Daryl did just that. Daryl beat Merle until Merle stopped pleading, moving, and breathing. You looked on as Daryl stood over his dead brother’s body.

At the realization that Merle was dead, you finally broke. Your body shook in sobs and you covered your chest with your arms, holding yourself as you cried. The love of your life just killed his brother- and you felt guilty.

“Shit, Y/N-“ Daryl bolted over to you, kneeling down to your level. He pulled your body into his lap, holding you close.

“I’m sorry- I’m so sorry Daryl.” You choked out, avoiding the lifeless body on the floor just a few feet away.

“Yer sorry?” Daryl questioned, “Y/N, he was hurtin’ ya.”

“He was your brother-“

“I don’t give a damn.” Daryl said sternly. You grew quiet at his words. Daryl gently cupped your face in his hands, making you look him in the eye.

“Yer the only one I care ‘bout. He had it comin’.”

Daryl reassuring words left your mind at ease, but, you were still shaken up. You and Daryl sat there for god only knows how long as you held onto him and cried. He whispered sweet nothings into your ear and held you tight. He promised himself to never let you go.

#the walking dead daryl #Daryl Dixon #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon protective #daryl Dixon is daddy #the walking dead imagines #daryl dixon fanfiction #Merle is an ass #merledixon #twd #the walking dead

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thedivineladyinwhite · 5 months

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Right back at you.

Summary: Where everything went downhill when you stepped in the city. A/N: This came along re2 and re4 :)) Aaand I made him like a big jerk hihi, lets just follow my silly plot, mwah mwah. (ALSO A LITTLE ANNOUNCEMNT ABOUT THAT GENSHIN WRTING I DID, I'LL PROMISE TO DO IT NEXT MONTH)

In his dark world there was you. All loveable and cheerful, only dating for a couple of months and he was sure seeing his future. He was happy when you agreed to come with him to Racoon City. One step on the city, chaos disrupted. An Outbreak. Both of you met Claire a long the way and got separated. As you and Leon now trying to find a way out of the police station. Many things have happened from being chased and so on and so forth. And that's when you both got separated, he met the Ada Wong the disguised mercenary. The woman he suddenly grew attached when you were only gone for an hour or so. When you guys finally regrouped you wondered. "Hey, who's this woman you met?" you asked, he was still and a small blush appeared on his face. "She helped me when we got separated. Her name's Ada Wong an FBI" The way he talked about her was laced with something you couldnt grasp on. Now being in a group of 3, you noticed the way he would help her instead of you, he would look at her with something other than worry in his eyes, and she felt it too. .... You should've never woke up or even slept when he told you to rest when the three of you got in the train. Was it worth it? You should've stayed in your nightmares if you were only greeted with your one boyfriend kissing another. Yet you stayed silent. Watching the scene unfold as you closed your eyes hoping it was a dream, but it wasn't. Was the world really this unkind to you? - Everything was a blur, you're hurt. A pole pierced in your stomach, as you watched Leon save Ada who was falling after being shot. Was he just gonna hold onto her and leave you? And. she slipped. And the whole building crumbled. And you were buried in those layers of cement and other kinds of heavy stuff. You thought it was the end. so how come you're found alive? Somehow still breathing and able to move? Yet more flexible, faster, and stronger. Who could've done this to you? Until a man walked inside the room. "I see you're awake, took you almost 5 months to get up." A sigh escaped the strangers lips. You look up to see a blonde man, wearing sun glasses as he looked at you with an very different eye color you haven't seen before, crimson. "Who are you...?" You whispered, moving back and hitting the wall as the monitor beside you picked up and your heart beating faster, and faster. "Do you really want to know?" He chuckled with amusement. "You're the only one who managed to live throughout my experiment, sadly Wong died. Such as shame." He shook his head and looked away. "But it doesn't matter now. What matters is that you, now work for me." He walked closer, and seeing him up close he looked more intimidating and scary. "Are you up for it?" You took a moment to take everything. You've been out for 5 months?! That Ada Wong died. And now you're an experiment working for an unknown man! But what were the odds, at least she was alive. And her eyes lit up. He's still alive, he has to be. Leon Kennedy "As if I have a choice." You answered. "Alright." You looked at the man with somehow an interested look. The man seemed to be shocked. "You're interesting, maybe I will keep you." He muttered. The one thing only kept coming back in your head. The same man who left you to die for someone who was already died. For now, you pray you'll meet up in the future to let him see what he'd done to you.

#leon kennedy #leon kennedy x reader #re4 leon #leon scott kennedy #resident evil leon #leon x you #re2 #Leon x you #leon kennedy x reader smut #leon kennedy fanfic #leon kennedy x fem reader #Dollywrites #dollythepuppetwrites

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messrmoonyy · 7 months

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Tess catching reader touching herself? 🤭

Tess Servopoulos x Fem!reader

Wc- 1k | 18+

Navigation | Tess Masterlist

Your fingers moved over the slick folds of your cunt with ease, almost struggling to find friction against your clit. Your eyes were clenched shut, focusing completely on the images flashing on the backs of your eyelids.

Her.

Tess.

You’d woken up feeling like an animal in heat, only to find to your utter dismay that Tess wasn’t home. You’d had a shitty night time shift in the loading bays, not returning home until the early hours and had slept the majority of the day. So it made sense she wasn’t there. She’d still be doing whatever assigned work she had pencilled in for the day.

But god did you wish she was home.

You needed her like you needed air, practically feral with the idea of her fingers replacing your own.

But she wasn’t there. So you had to make do. Had to settle for the memories of every other time she had her way with you. You knew what it felt like to be touched by her so well that you could almost feel the ghosts of her fingertips on your thighs if you thought about it hard enough.

You knew what every part of her body felt like against yours. How her lips felt against your neck, her fingers in your hair and on your face. Curled up inside of you or pinning your wrists above your head. You knew how her own soft skin felt sliding against your own.

You couldn’t even pick a particular memory to replay. Too many to choose. Too many bliss filled moments in time to sieve through and pull out a favourite. Nights and days spent coming apart on her fingers, on her strap, or the times where she refused to touch you at all and made you get off by grinding against her thigh. And there had been that one time with her boot…

You’d do anything for any of those moments to manifest themselves into reality right now.

But unfortunately they couldn’t. And all you had were the memories. And your fingers. Fingers that were moving quickly, desperate to find some relief from the almost suffocating tension in your body.

Your wrist was starting to ache but you didn’t care, you had one end goal. And that was coming with your girlfriends face on your mind. You were focussed. Determined. Desperate.

“ well. Was gonna ask you if you had fun whilst I was gone but… I can see you did “ you startled as Tess’ voice filtered into your ears, turning your head so quickly your neck cricked with the movement. She shed her jacket as she walked towards you, smirking slightly as she looked you up and down

“ Tess “ you couldn’t quite work out if the sigh of her name was out of embarrassment or pure and utter relief.

“ you know I could’ve been anybody right? I came in, locked the door and got half way over here and it wasn’t until I spoke that you knew I was here “ she said as she stood beside the bed, leaning over you and nudging her fingers under your chin “ so caught up in touching that pretty pussy weren’t you hmm? “ you practically melted under her gaze, muscles and bones turning to mush and pooling into the mattress beneath you “ well don’t stop on my account, I know that pretty face you were making. So close weren’t you? “

Words failed you for a few moments, too caught up in admiring her face above yours and the sultry tone of her voice. There was something about her voice. Maybe it was the low tones, the way she always spoke so slowly and precise. How every word felt almost… dangerous. You loved it.

“ yes “ you managed to whisper, mesmerised by her utterly.

“ then keep going “ you didn’t need telling twice, fingers returning to their previous motions as she moved to sit beside you on the bed. Watching, intently as your hand moved underneath the fabric of your sweats. Which she didn’t seem too pleased about “ such a shame to hide away” she mused and patted your hip lightly as she grabbed at the waistband, pulling your sweatpants and underwear off with a smile “ there we go. I know you’re not shy “

Her fingers grazed over the newly exposed skin of your legs as she went, her eyes hungry as she admired you in front of her. She moved up beside you, resting her elbow in the pillows beside your head to prop her up, ensure she still had a good view. Maybe you should’ve been embarrassed having her watch you like that. But you weren’t.

In fact quite the opposite. You let your legs fall apart, let her see the mess you had created just by thinking about her.

“ tell me what got you like this? “ she said softly, her spare hand ghosting lazily over the exposed skin of your stomach “ exactly. I want every detail “

So you told her. Every single thing you had been recounting. How it felt to have her fingers inside of you, her tongue on your clit. How it felt to have her teeth grazing over the skin of your neck or the sensitive buds of your nipples. You told her it all, watching her face carefully as you did so and trying your hardest to ignore the burning need to come.

Her eyes practically sparkled as she watched you, even more so when you couldn’t hold on any longer and let your orgasm flood your vein. Not even needing to exaggerate your movements or sounds because you knew she’d see right through that. You knew she knew you looked and sounded like. She’d see it often enough.

You went slack as the afterglow washed over you, the blissful warmth of your orgasm still thrumming in your blood, bones made of jelly. Tess made some small sound of approval, her fingers suddenly tracing over your hot skin lightly and leaving goosebumps in their wake, tracing down your arm to join your fingers that were still wet and sticky against your cunt.

“ now “ she said with another smirk “ let’s see how many more times you can make that pretty face for me “

#smutober round 3!#tess servopoulos #tess servopoulos x reader #the last of us #tlou #Anna torv #tlou hbo #tlou tess #smut #tess x reader

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radioactivepeasant · 2 months

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Snippets Thursday: Meddling Mar (part 2 of 2)

(Jak is back from Haven and in so much trouble)

"Gate pass."

Two words, absolutely devoid of emotion, were all it took to shatter the facade of defiance Jak had crafted. Nausea churned his stomach, and he bit down on the insides of his cheeks until he tasted blood. He'd known there would be a price to pay. But this-

With a shaking hand, Jak drew the gate pass from his pocket and silently cursed the trembling limb for betraying his weakness as he held it out for Damas to take.

Damas didn’t look at him.

"Three weeks." His voice was a little too calm. Jak could feel anger underneath the words, waiting like vipers under the sand. "You left for three weeks without a word to me, to Phobos. To anyone. And in that time the only word from you I had, I had to get secondhand from Sig."

He didn't look at Jak.

"What have you to say for yourself?"

Jak tried to swallow around the boulder in his throat and wondered why this, of every scolding or reprimand he'd ever received, terrified him beyond words. He wanted to tell Damas that he'd tried to come back the first day, only to be stopped by the force fields. He wanted to tell him how Veger had paid for signal jammers around the walls, fearing that other city-states might take advantage of Haven's compromised capitol. He wanted to beg for forgiveness. But it all fell short, didn’t it? Pathetic excuses from a pathetic excuse for a hero. A runaway. A deserter, that's what he was.

Jak’s throat closed around his words, stifling them. He swallowed, felt the muscles of his neck tense and pulse. But the panic had a stranglehold on his throat and he just couldn't.

Damas wouldn't look at him.

Damas couldn’t see.

Look at me! Please, please look at me! he silently begged.

"Haven's-" Daxter's voice squeaked into the air between them, faltering and guilty. "They...made it real easy to get in and near impossible to get out. We got caught in the lockdown, just a couple hours after we got there. It wasn’t supposed to be three weeks. It wasn’t even supposed to be three days."

"And that somehow excuses you slipping out like thieves in the night, unsanctioned and unaccompanied?" Damas demanded, finally turning his eyes to them. "Do you know how many people were searching the city and desert for you? We did not even know you had made it to Haven until Sig went back to look for you! We feared Egil had taken you!"

Jak physically took a step back. Damas looked as though he hadn't slept in days. Deep, dark circles ringed his bloodshot eyes, and his face was haggard.

I did this.

He opened and shut his mouth uselessly, then fell back on SparSign on instinct.

"I didn't think-"

"You didn't think," Damas interrupted, "Full stop. Haven is a hotbed of our enemies, Jak, and you just walked into the vipers' den. I had no idea where you were! What if you'd been injured? Or arrested? Hm? What if they’d framed you for something else and tried to kill you?"

A little confused, but afraid to further provoke the man, Jak kept his head down.

"It's never mattered before that they tried to kill me."

"Because I didn't know you were there!"

Even Damas seemed surprised by his own cracking voice.

"You run from one danger to the next like you think it doesn't matter if you live or die. It. matters. Jak. You think you're the only one who suffers if something happens to you?"

Jak cringed. He knew he wasn't. Daxter was always there. Daxter was always in danger because of him.

And he'd left Spargus down one person for three weeks, which meant someone else probably had to do his share of the work-

And Mar was alone that whole time-

Shame, hot and acidic as dark eco, burned in his gut. It reached up with long claws to pin his lungs shut.

"I- I'm sorry. I'll go. I'm sorry," he signed, utterly dejected. "But don't make our brother leave. Don't blame him or Daxter for what I did."

"Go?" Damas demanded, stepping closer, "And where, exactly, did you think you would be going?"

oh gods, he's going to make me say it. He's going to make me pronounce my own exile-!

Jak couldn’t speak. He just gestured to the gate pass resting in Damas’s clenched fist.

Shock colored the king’s eyes for an instant, softening his face into something sadder. Wearier.

"You-" he seemed to be choosing his words carefully. "You think I- I'm exiling you?"

Jak kept his eyes on the floor and twisted his fingers into his tunic.

"I understand why," he answered, short and to the point.

A strangled noise startled him enough to drag his gaze upward, meeting Damas’s eyes.

"You-!"

He inhaled sharply through his nose and shut his eyes for four seconds.

Then he stormed down the steps and caught Jak by the shoulder. Before Jak had time to think, he'd been yanked into Damas’s arms, all but crushed against his chest.

Whatever he had been expecting, it wasn't this.

"You stubborn, frustrating child-!" Damas croaked next to his ear. "Exiled?! After I spent three weeks barely knowing if you were alive, you think I would let you out of my sight?"

Jak stiffened. This wasn't what was supposed to happen. He screwed up, he got rejected until he earned some kind of redemption. That was the script life followed. He didn't have a script for this.

"Mar told us you-" Damas swallowed. Gritted his teeth. "You thought you had to lead enemies away from our walls. Alone! Have we done nothing to earn your trust, even after all this time?"

Jak couldn’t answer. He could barely move. He wanted to protest that he fought his own battles, that he didn't want his past screw-ups to come haunt his only real home. But his mind caught on Damas’s words and rang in his ears.

Mar

Mar.

He knows.

Jak’s jaw worked in silence, and his eyes darted left to meet the same panic in Daxter's eyes.

Damas pulled back and gripped Jak’s face between his hands, forcing his gaze back to him.

"Jak, I lost you once before. I cannot endure it a second time. If you will not heed caution for your own sake, then at least think of your brothers first. Think of Phobos and me."

What.

Tongue finally loosened, Jak choked on questions and only managed inquiring noises. A second time? What was Damas talking about? Why was he hugging him instead of yelling at him?

"I don't...I don't understand-" he tried to breathe around the tightness still gripping his lungs. "I don't- Mar told you?"

Damas’s eyes glimmered, the only evidence betraying how close to breaking down he truly was. "No, son," he said quietly.

The word seemed weightier than usual.

"I knew."

Jak pulled back. "You knew?! How long?!"

"In truth? The day I found you in the desert." Damas blew out a breath that was just barely shakier than it should have been. "I knew in my heart who I had found, but after two years I was afraid to believe it without proof. That proof came sixteen days ago."

Sixteen days. While Jak was gone, then. Damas had been looking for Mar before Jak had come from the past? Why? He was nothing like the Underground, so Jak couldn't imagine that he'd meant to use Mar's powers for his own gain.

Swallowing hard, he tentatively asked, "What proof?"

Damas looked away for a moment, reaching for something in one of his belt pouches.

"The results of a cheek swab when we found you. A...computer test. One that can show us the building blocks of a person's blood, and who their parents were."

He knows I'm Mar! Jak realized, and excuses and justifications crowded behind his teeth. He knows we aren't blood brothers-!

Having apparently found what he was looking for, Damas opened his hand and held it out to Jak.

An amulet of Mar, far older than the one Jak shared with his brother, lay on his open palm, and the last pieces began to click into place.

"I see you, Jak," Damas whispered. "You don't have to keep fighting alone."

"You're...you're one of us?" Jak asked, "Like, from the- the future?"

"One of you?" Damas laughed, a little brokenly. "I'm your father, you ridiculous boy!"

His father?!

In the secrecy of his heart, Jak could easily admit that he saw the man as a father-figure, if an idealized one. And as he and Mar had started to ease up and let Damas closer, he'd pretended sometimes that their relationship was more familial than mentor and student. He knew Mar thought of Damas -- and Phobos a little moreso -- as "his" grown-ups.

Had they, somewhere deep inside, remembered them? Was that bond instinctive, picking up something that had always existed? Or had they built it themselves?

Jak wanted to apologize -- for leaving, for not explaining, maybe for existing in this form and not his childhood shape -- but what came out of him was only a noise. Soft, pained. He squeezed his eyes shut as if that would help him keep his jaw clenched.

"Oh, oh-"

Damas pulled him close again, shushing him as if he were a child.

"Oh Jak."

His voice was hoarse, and full of pain.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I waited so long for proof. I should- I should have confronted you the first time I saw you using Mar's sign name."

He pressed Jak's head against his shoulder and held him tightly. "I'm- I'm sorry I made you think you might be sent away. I was- You scared me, Jak. I thought I was going to lose you before I could find out if you knew-"

Over Jak's shoulder, Damas looked down at Daxter and sighed. "Thank you," he said, "for going with him. If you say you got caught in a lockdown, I- I believe you, Daxter."

"You...do?" Daxter asked in a very small voice.

He didn't know what to feel. Relief? Confusion? A bitter envy?

"You've never given me a reason not to trust you," Damas answered simply.

Daxter swallowed twice. "So uh...does this mean you ain't mad anymore?"

Damas scoffed wetly. "No, I'm furious. But I'm so relieved that you're both safe."

He arched an eyebrow, though the stern look was softened somewhat by the tears in his eyes. "But. As the oldest, you should know better than to sneak out like that. You're as grounded as Jak is."

"Grounded?!" Daxter sputtered.

"So grounded." Damas nodded. "You two aren't- aren't getting this gate pass back for weeks."

Jak wanted to protest, to tell him all the responsibilities on his shoulders that required him to be able to go back and forth between cities. But he couldn't catch his breath long enough to form even a syllable.

He had a father. They had a father. Parents. That wanted them! All of them! But he didn't deserve it! Especially not now, after deserting the way he had!

"M- m- Mar?" he finally managed to force out.

Damas shushed him again and clicked his tongue. "He's alright. He's with your mother."

Your mother.

"I'm- I'm not...him, the right him-" Jak tried to warn Damas -- he ought to have known, he'd seen what Jak was like-

Damas’s arms trembled against his back.

"No. I don't want you to be your brother. Be you. Be my reckless, impudent, war-sage son, as you are." He gave a choked sob, wrapped partway around a chuckle, and added, "Though perhaps- perhaps so that I can sleep at night, a bit less reckless?"

#fic prompts #writing prompts #jak and daxter #dadmas #king damas #jak and daxter au #free day thursday #dadmas angst #someone finally gets through to jak about people caring about him #meddling mar #meddling mar au #jak and daxter mar

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bubbles-for-all-of-us · 1 year

Text

Hardest of hearts

a/n so this was born after my midnight Eris talk with @swansworth and me abandoning Eris my fire boy. So I present to you a harvest moon celebration and Eris meeting the most captivating stranger. Please be gentle on me cause I think I forgot how to write actually.

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Eris could think of a thousand reasons why he didn't want to be here. The leading two were (A) He despised his father beyond all measure and had been up his ass for far too many hours than he should have wanted already. Adding to that attending the stupid party that he had frowned on for his ego wasn't on the list. (B) He wanted to be left alone without all of these females who were tugging at his sleeves at any given moment. As if Eris was candy in a wrapper.

It was a shame, truly. The fireling used to love the moonlight harvest celebration. His mother had always told them endless stories and tales on the night of the brightest moon that would condense into specks of approaching evening dust. They sat by the fireplace near a large window and talked, talked, talked. It lulled the younglings; their imaginations were crackling inside them. It all seemed forever ago now. Now all Eris remembered from a night like that was his father dragging him off to beat him up for being childish and listening to that nonsense.

Eris swirled the drink in his glass. An hour. Max. Then everyone would be way too into their drinks, and he would be free to slip out through the back door and watch the moon in his own company with no distractions. Just be. Just be himself. "Oh, Lord Eris, your mask tonight is exquisite," the female that had been pinning after him said. Her fingers had once again wrapped around his arm, and Eris had to work harder than the devil to not grimace. She was the daughter of some lord that Beron loved. Making a scene with her would only backfire on him. So the fireling smiled, practically making the girl in front of his drool, "Your cat ears are... fluffy". He cringed a little at his own words. Eris was happy that she was more interested in spreading her legs for him than his words, and the simple fact that he was even speaking to her was enough to make her all flustered.

That was another thing he hated about this weird circus that his father demanded. Everyone needing to dress up and wear masks. It was silly, and even if he knew that he looked good, the deep orange jacket that he wore alongside his fox mask and his red hair. Eris knew he was full of himself for thinking so, but he wasn't too surprised that all the females were running after him. Particularly in a court of old, cranky men.

Did he use it to his advantage, yes? Too many times. He slept with most of the females in the room, but it never gave him what he wanted. It hurt him more than anything. Made him feel even more lonely. Those embraces didn't warm him; they made him feel dirty, just like the piece of shit his father always painted him to be. And out of everything Eris hated that it made the females he bedded assume that they had made it. They had ripped his walls in half and stepped inside to see his true face. In reality, they couldn't have been further away from it.

More girls walked past him. Dresses cut so low that their breasts were almost falling out of their corsets. At least his mother wasn't here. He was thankful for it even if she knew that Beron himself dragged a young, naive woman into his rooms after events like this. Even now, up on the throne, his father was surrounded by females, who fed him his food and poured him drink after drink, their hands roaming everywhere. This was a nightmare, and now more than ever, Eris wondered why all the fathers, brothers, and whatnot allowed their daughters and sisters to step so low. For what? A night to be high lord's or his sons sluts? Where did they think it would lead them? The throne? Eris and his brothers had at least enough decency to just leave them be. Beron, on the other hand, had sent a handful of these girls six feet under.

"My father speaks so highly of you. You're the best male to be married to," the girl from the other side chirped, dragging her finger over his chest, and Eris instantly pulled away. Downing his drink in one go, he turned to the girl and said, "Ge dance with someone; I need a new drink." With that, he walked away and over to his father's throne. It wasn't a better place to be. Since all he was going to hear for the rest of the evening were moans from the young girls being touched on by his father. At least he could turn his back on it. No one dared to stand so close to the throne if they weren't on their knees for Beron but as the future high lord had stood there for the majority of his life anyways.

The fireling found no entertainment no matter where he turned his gaze. There was nothing. Nothing held his gaze for longer than a heartbeat. Soon, he once again reassured himself, just a bit more, and you would be free than blame tomorrow's absence on too much alcohol. and you'll rest as you deserved. But the doors to the ballroom opened. Not many people cared, among them Eris, since he was sure that it would be servants with trays of food. Yet he couldn't have been more wrong.

Two males came into sight first, dressed in expensive clothes. Eris could tell by the way the material held its shape. They looked over the lower dance floor for a second before turning back and extending their hands towards something, or more like someone. Eris' mouth fell open. Music seemed to die down in the background as the males brought a female into everyone's sight. No, not just a female. You had to be a goddess. An angel. Some kind of holy spirit. Your beauty was beyond anything Eris had ever seen. Even with a mask covering most of your face, you looked like the most beautiful thing he had ever laid eyes upon. Your movement looked as smooth and elegant as the flowers that bent slightly to the morning breeze. You bowed to the lord on the throne alongside your companions. And here and now, Eris was thankful that he chose this place. He knew your attention wasn't on him. But maybe you noticed him too, and your manners were not inclined to honor Beron but instead were a kind gesture to him.

A new need blazed inside Eris as he watched you slowly move down the stairs; he needed to get to know you. And he found it frustrating, almost, that he wasn't the only one who had noticed you. Everyone seemed to be looking at you as you lovingly smiled at everyone whose eyes you met. Something like jealousy rumbled in the pit of his stomach as one of the males leaned closer to your ear, probably slurring some nonsense that, regardless of its stupidity, had made you let out a laugh. Gods, strike him! Even your smile seemed addictive. Like a drug. He already wished he could see it again.

He watched you like a hawk for some time before one of the servants walked past him with glasses of wine. The fireling grabbed two with a swift move before he made his way toward you. More than happy that the two males you brought were already surrounded by the chatter of the autumn females. "What dishonor to this house that a lady like you wasn't offered a drink yet", with a foxy grin on his face, Eris handed you a glass. You let out a giggle and said, "Was about to walk myself out after such disgrace." Now Eris was grinning from ear to ear as he stood by your side.

"Will I have to watch my back now?", you gestured to the girl's leaning by the back wall frowning at you as if you were the devil. "I'll keep you protected, don't worry. You're saving my brain for that empty chatter". With yet another chuckle, you pressed the glass to your lips, and Eris couldn't help the thought of kissing you that washed over him all of a sudden. Your lips looked as soft as the clouds. "Do I get a name, butterfly?", Eris spoke softly. Your mask was shaped like the wing of a butterfly on one side, with a tiny butterfly covering the rest of it. As if they had landed on the most beautiful flowers for some rest. From closer up, you looked even more like a dream. "Names are only formalities, my lord. What do we learn from them? Nothing", Eris wanted to groan from the need. You were like no female he had met before. "That's an interesting take, my love. But you know who I am", that sounded way too cocky for his liking, but it was out in the open already.

Your heart, on the other hand, had fluttered at the sound of the fireling's chosen nickname. Of course, you knew who he was. It was hard to not know Beron and his sons. They always stood out of the crowd. Especially Eris. Eris had already been the talk of the town. His name barely left any woman's lips. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't. All I know is that I don't care," you said, raising your gaze to him, and Eris was relieved he had swallowed the wine because the depth of your eyes pierced him so deeply that he forgot how to breathe for a spear moment.

"Dearest, join us; we need to say our thanks to the high lord," the male that walked with you said, appearing from behind you. Eris instantly noticed his hand on your lower back, which was exposed, and the Lordling couldn't help but tighten the grasp on his glass. "Lord Eris, what a pleasure to see you here tonight. Your father has outdone himself", through gritted teeth Eris managed to smile, "That's just how he is". You bowed to him before the men guided you through the crowd. Yet as you passed Eris, your fingers gently grazed his palm as you gave him one last look. He almost grabbed your hand in his. Hooked. Eris was hooked, and now more than ever he needed to catch a moment with you without any interruptions.

More than anything, fireling hated the fact that his father's eyes were now on you. Gods knew what disgusting thoughts were lingering in his sick and twisted brain. Over Eris's corpse, would he ever get a chance to lay his hands on you? Seeing Beron put a finger under your chin and lift your head to meet his face made the lordling want to strike through the floor and spare you from that interaction. But for now, he would stay put. Sharp emotions like this could only doom him. Give his father an ill need to mess with his son more and use you as a way to implicate him in more pain and suffering. So he waited. Then waited some more. Watched as a couple of males tried to approach you, either trying to offer you a drink or lure you onto the dance floor. All their attempts, however, were met with a polite decline. Slowly, like a predator approaching its prey, Eris inched closer to you. He waves off female after female.

"The crowd is rather boring here," you turned your gaze to a now somewhat familiar voice, "You've been watching me all night, lordling," Eris sucked in a breath. He truly thought he was being discreet about it. But then he wasn't the one to admit to it, so he only moved his gaze from you to observe the dance floor. "Are you not a fan of dancing?", "Quite the opposite. I'd love to, but...". You didn't need to finish the sentence. Eris knew what lay beneath the silence there. So he offered you his hand, bowing slightly. A silent request for you to dance with him. Your shoulders feel a little tight as the sound of people gossiping intensifies around you. But you weren't the one to back out. Oh no. So you bowed to the lord, taking his hand as he led you to the dance floor.

Eris was inches away from you in the blink of an eye. You could feel his breath on your skin. All you saw was him. All you felt was him. His musky, woodsy smell is swirling all around you. "Would you mind if I placed a hand on the small of your back?", The gesture took you by surprise, yet it warmed your heart. You knew it was mostly because of the exposed back, "Ain't that's how two people dance?", "Yes or no, darling?" You nodded your head, quickly moving closer to him as his warm palm came in contact with your skin, sending a shiver down your back.

Nothing else mattered. Nothing else existed. The audience's murmurs had faded into nothing. Eris pulled away right before the first notes of the melody began as you two circled one another, eyes upon each other. The steps felt easy, long ingrained in your memory from the endless dancing lessons you had as a child. It was strange to you that something so elegant could be performed by someone like Eris. A male who had this unshakable harshness about him. When your bodies finally collided and his hand reclaimed yours, and the warmth between you grew, you knew hiding your flushed cheeks would be difficult. You both moved in perfect sync. Like you and the music were one and not two separate things in this world. To Eris, you were perfect. You were perfect before the dance, but now. Now that he had seen you so lost in the melody, so relaxed, so at one with the sound. You were immaculate.

Your eyes never left each other. You moved around the dance floor with no fear of bumping into anyone. Fools. Fools would only step in your way. As you two flouted, the fireling spun you around only to catch you in place and continue guiding you through the steps. Your touches felt gentle and inviting, and Eris found himself dreading the last note of the melody already. You fully gave yourself to him. If he wanted you to step right, you did; if he wanted you to bend slightly backward so your back arched, you did just that. And every time he inched closer and closer, your heartbeat increased, yet you only pressed yourself closer to him. With the last beat of the song, Eris spun you around one last time. This time further away from himself. He watched as you gracefully twirled like a golden autumn leaf. Until your movements halted and you sank into a deep bow. Still breathing heavily, you lifted your eyes back to him. You both broke into a smile as your eyes met. The crowd erupted in cheers and applause. But Eris only walked closer to you and offered you his hand one last time before he led you away from the dance floor.

"I've never danced like this before," Eris admitted as you both walked toward the quieter part of the room. "Shame you're a wonderful dancer", "I can only say the same about you, mysterious butterfly", you huffed quietly, hand on your chest as you still tried to catch your breath.

"I suggest a dare," you whispered, and Eris turned to you in an instant. "Say a word, and I'll be on my way to do it." The fireling leaned on the wall, watching you. "There's a celebration in the village as well. I heard that people dance around the fire there. I want to go". Eris's eyes scanned you. The celebrations in the town were more to his liking. It felt more in tune with nature, more authentic, and more ancient. "Not quite getting the dare, love", "Get us out of here, dance with me around the fire, and I'll take my mask off. I know that you've been dying to see my face". Eris snorted. You wicked thing. Already sensing that you had him wrapped around your finger, "A slight correction. I'm dying to know your name," Eris purred, coming closer to you as a smirk broke onto your face. "So you would know what name to moan when you jerk off tonight?" you teased playfully, pressing your nail into his chest. Eris let out a low growl, shaking his head slightly. "You are playing with fire, little girl," he said. "Is it a yes or a no?" You held a strong gaze on him. Eris quickly looked toward the back door and said, "After you, my lady."

It felt like you two had entered a whole new world as you walked through the backyard. The moon was bright and full, hanging low in the sky. Only the muffled sounds of music could reach you here. Your fingers carefully ran over the hedges, taking in the illuminated garden in front of you. "Won't your man notice your absence?" Eris questioned. The silence between the two of you was way too loud for his liking. "My man," you laughed quietly, "Are you territorial, my lord?" He would not have had it if any other female had pushed his buttons like that. But something about you fighting and teasing him had him feeling things he hadn't felt in a long while.

When Eris didn't answer, you continued, "They are my brothers. Your competition is more limited than you might think." A strange relief washed through the heir of Autumn. And he almost felt silly for indeed feeling jealous towards them, "Who said I'm interested in you in any way?". Your eyes went big, and your step nearly halted. Eris noticed that as well and once again hated his stupid mouth for blabbing things like this. "Good thing we're on the same page then," you muttered, stepping forward way more quickly as you walked in front of him. Eris let out a sigh, quickly moving towards you. Shrugging off his jacket as he draped it over your shoulders to shield you from the chillier night before you reached the bonfires.

"I did not wish to upset you," Eris said, the need to apologize flourished inside her. Even if the sensation was new, he didn't. Couldn't have you upset with him, "My temper gets the best of me sometimes", "Not surprising considering that fire runs through you". So you knew. You knew who he was. What powers he had? You knew all of this information, but he was left with nothing.

"Are you from around here? Have we met before?" Eris pushed slightly. Trying to get at least something out of you. But all he got was a laugh, "Do you read poetry, lord?" Mother, you were going to kill him tonight. The fireling nodded his head, and you hummed in delight. "Mine eye hath played the painter and hath steeled, thy beauty's form in table of my heart", you spoke, eyes fixed on Eris as you quoted your favorite sonnet. Eris felt like someone had taken him into a chokehold as those lines filled his ears. "My body is the frame wherein 'tis held, and the perspective that is best painter's art", the fireling continues, and he could swear your eyes had to glisten brighter. A gentle smile on your face now, "Very well, we had not met before, and no, I'm not from these lands." This had to be a cruel joke. Eris thought to himself. For the Mother to send you his way. To show him the beauty of a real strong-minded, educated female. How could he go on after meeting you?

The rest of the walk was silent, and when the light of bonfires filled your eyes, and the sound of gypsy music ran through you, Eris quickly pulled his hair up into a messy bun. Thankful for the masks, now that the people of the town will be involved. There was more than one male with red hair here, so blending in would be easier. Well, if not for your clothes. He reached for your hand, clasping your fingers together as you two entered the madness of the party. Ale and food plates were passed from hand to hand. People were singing old songs. Everyone was dancing everywhere. You let out an excited squeal, and Eris couldn't help but smile. He genuinely smiled as he watched you scan your surroundings.

"I would suggest you try Beta's roasted duck leg. Nothing is as delicious," the male said, reaching for one of the plates before turning to you. "How do you eat that?", "You bite from the whole leg and hope for the best." You gave him a look as if silently asking if he was seriously going to make you do this, but Eris only pushed the plate closer to you. And the Lord wasn't wrong; you practically moaned as the flavor hit your tastebuds. "Didn't I tell you so?", the fireling questioned before taking a bite himself.

Caramelized apples followed suit, then some pies. Eris kept on telling you stories about how his grandma used to bake all the goods and bring them to such events. How he watched the biggest bonfire being lit from behind his grandma's back. He wasn't even sure why he was telling you all of this. He hadn't told anyone about it. He did share. He took. Never gave. But it was the way you listened to him that kept him talking.

"Come, we need to find the best place for the best view of the fire", swirling through the bodies, Eris walks you closer and closer. Then gently guide you in front of him as his arms wrapped around you. "The oldest of the town usually lights it up", "Why?", you watched as the girls with flower reefs spun around. "It's believed that then he grants his fellow villagers a drop of his wisdom." You rested your head on Eris' chest as you watched the ceremony unfold, and you could swear you felt Eris pulling you even closer to him. And he did. Because he felt so at ease. For a moment forget that he even was the hire of Autumn. He felt free, and with you present to his chest, he couldn't help but allow himself a moment to dream. Maybe he would one day get to do this again. A gasp left your lips as the roaring flames shot up into the sky, and specks of ash rushed through the crowd.

"Don't fret, I would not let fire touch you, you're safe here", you looked up at him. Your lisp only a breath away from his. Eyes filled with lust and desire. Oh, how you wanted to press your lips to his! To just melt into this warmth with him, but a pang in your heart stopped you. A harsh reminder slashed through this misty full moon shield as you pulled away from Eris. The lordling's face was covered in confusion, and with one last sad look at him, you took off running. Moving through the crowd of people. Eris taken back by your sudden flee only darted after you moments later. But the crowd seemed to grow thicker, and within a blink of the night, you were gone. It was as if Eris had awoken from the most magical dream. Once again thrown into the sinking loneliness. Alone. All alone again.

#eris vanserra x reader #acotar imagine #acotar x reader #eris x reader

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puppypawprintce · 2 months

Text

1740 words - gen

2/?

snily friendship, nightmares, severus loving potions class, angst

cw: self loathing

ao3 link if you'd prefer ♡

One, two, three, four - four ounces of Moondew, the herbal green fluid joining its brethren of finely pulverized Unicorn Horn, Syrup of Hellebore, and Stewed Mandrake. The greenish blue substance simmers in the cauldron. Severus couldn't be more focused if he tried, his careful hand stirs its contents while slowly adding in 12 ounces of Honeywater. It beginning to shift to a much warmer shade of amber. The sweat beads by his brow and the steam emanating makes his skin feel false, like wax paper, disgusting.

There are an abysmal amount of ways to screw up an elixir, and he'll be damned if any of the infinite creep up on him today.

When he woke up this morning he'd been excited-an immensely rare sight for the student-to work on his potion of anti-paralysis. Something about it all intrigued him, and he knew he'd wanna pocket some bottles for safe keeping.

Professor Slughorn had begun giving him heads up on what his class had in store, often lending extra books and indulging in the boy's curiosity.

"You could be a great Potions master one day you know." And Severus had known, being one of the only people to carry around tiny bottles of his own creation was somewhat of an ego booster. All the more fun in Herbology and all the more easy to take care of himself.

Maybe just 4 this time.

Other students in the room seem bored, not meeting much a reason to be brewing such a potion in the first place. It must be nice to walk in for the grade alone; Severus finishes pouring his honey-like antidote and runs his fingers through his hair. Everything always feels so sticky around cauldrons, his wrists hurt.

"Okay everyone, clean up for today." Slughorn's voice flits past Severus' ears, crackly and friendly as ever. "Keep this recipe in your repertoire.. Never know when Petrificus Totalus may sneak up on you."

What an understatement. Severus wouldn't be leaving Slytherin Dungeon on Sunday unless absolutely necessary, He wrings his hands and envisions a peaceful evening ahead of him, Saturdays bringing a sense of calm. It's just a trek back to his room and he can finally fall to his pillow and take a nap.

"Hey Sev." Lily's velvet voice acts as an invisible wall he walks into. Her eyes meet his as he takes a second to really catch up in his mind, and Lily's hands fall on his shoulders like knocking over old books. She just barely exceeds him in height, her freckles highlighted by the scattered warmth in her cheeks. "You look exhausted! Did you sleep at all?"

"I slept." He answers, voice croaking like he hadn't been awake the past hour. "Not enough though. I've been planning a long nap all day."

The arms of a warm floral cinnamon hold him tight and it's oh–so familiar. Everytime Lily hugs him, Severus doesn't quite know what to do. Does he hold her back? Would it be embarrassing for her if his hands grazed her hair and does she ever stop to think that it may ruin her reputation to be seen with whatever he is—so close to her lungs and– Why can't he just live in the moment? She always sees right through him in a way that no one else does. Perhaps it's because they've known each other for so long.. Perhaps he's just not the best at hiding his shadow. It's so easy to know a terrible person when Heaven on Earth stands directly next to you.

"I've been having some nightmares. Not too many, but some." His shoulders stay tense. There's never enough time with her, even if he were capable of simply standing here with more confidence he'd still have that voice in the back of his head screaming into the canal that connects his ear and up to his eyes and through every vein that reaches his brain. Spilling acid of it's disgusting to be seen and you ruin everything you touch. It's a shame really, his work in class shows otherwise. Good wizard, bad person. Nothing can change that.

She squeezes him ever so slightly, her fingers going to pet his hair before she brings him back to an arms length apart. There's a face of worry; he hates when she looks at him like that.

"I'm sorry." It's not fair, sleeping is supposed to be a time to rest. The one time when nothing else matters except just laying there unmoving, and trying not to go crazy when the loneliness veers its ugly claws. "Mind if i ask what about?"

Severus shakes his head. It's not like he has to hide this sort of stuff from her.

"It's just mum. She's much busier now, I never know when I'll see her. If it's for one month or one minute." Chest rising and falling, he doesn't expect to feel his throat tighten. He only cries when he's tired. "Sorry I need to go."

"Naptime?"

Please take care of yourself.

He nods and whispers a quiet "see you later" before quickly finding his way around the Hogwarts corridors. It always feels empty when he runs away from her, and whenever she says goodbye. He's always hoping for something better to come up, but he knows it's not logical to think that way. To wish and wish for anything to become perfect, for his life to grow into something he's not and will never be, for things to be different.

Reaching the common room, Severus doesn't say a word to anyone. He heads straight past leather sofas and flickering lamps, through the diamond-shaped door. He lands in the carpet of his room and the way his body hits his mattress feels like a rolling pin grading on his bones 10 times over. He'd exerted himself today, and it hadn't even been a full day's worth of classes.

Counting to 112, his hands grip the 2 layers of blanket he's buried himself in and the world around fades to a depressing gray, warm but far from inviting. Sometimes he wishes for a cat to accompany him with soft paws and a gentle purr.

Other times he just wants to stay asleep 'til Christmas comes.

______

Waves and waves of saltwater fight to pull him under, stinging his eyes and blocking his breath but he can't let them win. It's not a choice, but a responsibility, his long sleeves make it exceedingly hard to move and when he reaches this small puppy in front of him he's counting to 100 hoping they'll reach the shoreline before his lungs and limbs give out. She's shaking, and all he can do is wonder where his mother is.

Eileen had been in the water too, the fury of nature's pool hoisting uncertainty in every direction. Severus looks around, running past several people he can't recognize and it's starting to frighten him. Where'd she go? Is the beating heart he's carrying in his arms meant to be here? It's all a haze, a dreary haze.

They're all suddenly together, Severus ripping the paper wrapper off his straw and their waitress brings in a rack of many books. Eileen doesn't seem to even see Severus, she chatters and laughs but doesn't quite look at him, his brain hammers and drills and he just wants her to say 'I've missed you.'

You don't want to be here do you?

It hurts, hurts more than the water pulling him under and the times he's fallen down the stairs when wanting to skip out on Church and she still won't look at him. It's only when they're in his room and he runs into her arms that her voice is aimed directly at him, the small form she can barely hold on to.

"Why do you wish to be around me when I've been so wrong?"

Severus can't stop crying.

"I miss you. It doesn't matter what you've done, I still miss you."

This hug feels like he's fallen into their burning fireplace in the dead of Winter. He knows she's slipping away. She's always slipping away.

"I can't.."

His head pounds. The feeling of chills play through his shoulders and up his neck, it's a wonder that he's still submerged in fabric of green and silver. He can feel his eyes straining with remnants of salt when he opens them and it's only a little shocking when a rough palm collides with his forehead.

"You haven't got a fever, at least I don't think.."

Regulus has no sense of personal space.

"I'm not sick," Severus responds in such a way, he doesn't know if it's even audible. "Head.. hurts."

As if he were struck by lightning Regulus flings his entire arm back to then hang by his waist, presumably what he'd be doing if he hadn't gone to check Sev's temp status. His place next to his roommate's bed is awkward, and Severus is too wracked with leftover pain and confusion to care.

"Is it 7 already?"

"Nuh uh. Still 5:30." Regulus checks his wrist as if he remembered to bring his watch to school this term.

"More sleep."

And then Severus is out again, the tension in his forehead fading once he's breathing steadily and Regulus can't help but stare for longer than any normal person would. Disgust rises in himself because he doesn't feel like he should bear witness - he sighs out with thoughts racing. It'd be so easy to tease him for everything, but easy isn't what he's about. It's not like he's out to start wars. Only out to finish them.

Everburning candles lead the way out of the room in their spot on the small coffee table, almost like a glowing sign pointing him out. No one else is in here, though that shouldn't surprise him. Leave it to Severus to be the only Slytherin avoiding everyone else like the plague.

Once he can't justify standing around any longer, Regulus picks up a small book from under his bed and snakes his way back out from whence he came. A grimace forms on his face when the door has the audacity to screech and his head whips back to make sure it hadn't been a disturbance. Pangs of empathy, it's not something he knows yet. But maybe one day it'll make sense. And maybe someday it won't feel weird, weird that he stared with not much reason.

He's gotta write this all down.

#severus snape #young severus #pro snape #hp fandom #harry potter fanfiction #harry potter #lily evans #snily friendship #regulus black #sev has nightmares and sleep issues #esi writing!

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red-dead-do-over246 · 1 year

Note

Hello~~ your Micah stuff keeps me coming back!

It’s so good!!

Can I please request GN or F s/o taking care of micah after he wakes up from a nightmare with prompt #52 “The nightmares can’t get you when I’m here.” I think micah would be a little fussy after waking up, because he doesn’t wanna seem all WEAK but his S/O calms him down and gets him to go back to sleep!

Thank yoooou🖤

Thank you!! I'm glad you like Micah stuff XD my friend wonders how I can write for him. Hope you enjoy!💖

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nightmares Are For The Weak

No one can control their dreams. Or nightmares. But Micah Bell can sure as hell try.

#52 “The nightmares can’t get you when I’m here.”

There was a reason that Micah doesn't sleep.

It brought him to a place where he was vulnerable and faced with things that he couldn't fight no matter how hard he tried. After all, no one can control their dreams.

Or their nightmares.

Micah is stubborn though and tries to control his horrible sleep experiences by not sleeping. It's why everyone sees him up and about even in the darkest hours of the night. People thought he was just being creepy, but they didn't understand how much he was secretly suffering.

Somedays his body just forces himself to sleep. And that's exactly what happens now.

He can't exactly recall what the nightmare was about. All he could remember was that he woke sweaty with quick breaths, tears were nearly falling from his eyes.

Absolutely unacceptable for Micah Bell.

Of course, he was quick to get to his feet and move away from whatever tree he was laying against. Perhaps some movement will get him back in touch with reality. Micah ran a hand over his face, trying to get his normal personality back on his features and wipe this childish one away.

His heart told him to go to you, but his head told him otherwise. However, in the end, it mattered not. You found him anyway.

"Micah? I shouldn't be surprised that you're still awake." Your soft voice frightened him in this vulnerable state. But he didn't let you notice that.

"But I am that you are. Why are you still up?" He asked gruffly, masking his emotions in what he thought was perfection.

"Miss Grimshaw put us ladies through a lot of work today. I guess it's made me not tired." You said with a shrug, eyeing him. Micah didn't look like himself. Sure, he puts up a good act because that's so him. But when you've known him for as long as you have, you can see through the cracks in his mask.

Something happened.

"Have you slept at all tonight?" You asked him, and he was too quick to respond.

"No." He muttered, rubbing another hand over his face.

"Got ya." You said with a slight smile, and Micah groaned. He hated that you knew him well enough that you could catch him lying.

"So, you actually slept, but something happened, didn't it?" You pressed and Micah began to walk away. It was the only way to escape your questions, but you simply followed, causing him to curse under his breath.

"Nothing happened." He guarded himself, still walking away.

"Did something wake you? A nightmare maybe?" You said, causing him to pause his walking. You hit the nail right on the head, but Micah was too stubborn to admit that to you right now.

"What is this? An interrogation?" He asked, turning to look at you. You simply nodded, a look of concern on your face. Micah won't admit it, but he softened slightly. You never looked to prod him or tease him like the other camp members did. Perhaps it was one of the many reasons he loved you. So, eventually, you broke him.

"Yeah...I guess I did have a bit of a nightmare." He mumbled, face burning in shame as he avoided your eyes. Instead of pressing any further, you moved in to hug him. Micah has allowed you to do this without much complaint, but you felt it was the right thing to do.

You got the answer you wanted.

"I think there may be something I can do to help." You told him, moving away from the hug.

"Y/N, I don't need-"

"Come along."

You dragged him towards your tent, curtesy of Hosea's prodding at Dutch. Once in its privacy, you pulled him to lay with you. You could feel him tense up, obviously fearful of the thought of going back to sleep, but you won in the end.

"I don't need this, Y/N. Just let me be." Micah pushed, but you shook your head.

"There's nothing you need to feel shameful of." You told him.

"I ain't ashamed of anything, dammit. I shouldn't get nightmares. I ain't a child." He protested, crossing his arms over his chest as he laid beside you on the ground.

"Everyone gets nightmares, Micah. It doesn't stop when you get older. With lives like ours, the mind will always find a way to try and scare us. That's why we have each other." You informed him, pulling him closer so that his head rested over your bosom. Now, as much as Micah would like the proximity, he couldn't help but get a bit embarrassed.

“The nightmares can’t get you when I’m here.” You promised while stroking his hair, not realizing that he was rather red in the face.

"I feel like a child." He mumbled.

"Shut up and let me try to help you." You ordered and you could hear him chuckle a bit despite the awkwardness that he felt.

"Yes ma'am." He said and you look pleased with yourself, smiling.

"That's what I thought. Now, you better be here when I wake up." You told him, a maternal tone in your voice. Micah smiled in spite of himself.

He did see you as a blessing in his life that he didn't think he deserved. You were able to sleep peacefully with him there, so Micah could only hope that he would find some peace in it as well. His heart raced a bit more, and he could feel that childlike fear entering his mind. The fear of the unknown that might creep up in his dreams.

However, the feeling of your hand in his hair and on his back brought him some peace. Your heartbeat and breathing reminding him of a place of safety.

So, with new courage, he found the strength to close his eyes and fall asleep.

#red dead redemption 2 #red dead redemption 2 x reader #rdr2 #micah bell #micah bell x reader #micah bell imagine #rdr2 micah bell #micah x reader

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loveackermannn · 1 year

Note

Can u maybe do a college au levi x reader where they're super close friends with feelings for one another. And there's this project they have to work on and reader is struggling. She's never really been good with grades and she's barely passing her classes.

She gets super frustrated and starts pulling all nighters for a whole week to get the project done. She starts skipping meals and isn't hanging out with Levi as much anymore. Saying that he's super worried is an understatement. Hes never seen you like this.

One night while you were working on ur project, he got up and off of the top bunk and walked up to your desk (you both share a room). He began slowly massaging ur shoulders, telling you to go to sleep already.

After a lot of bickering back and forth, you agreed. You both cuddled against each other and fell asleep. It was the best sleep hes had in a long time.

Have a nice day♡♡

☰ MORE THAN ENOUGH.ೃ࿐𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐱 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

It wasn't supposed to get this bad – It wasn't.

While you did expect the late nights to bleed into the early hours of the morning considering how much you decided to dedicate your time for the final semester project, you didn't think it would be difficult. But fuck, was it draining you to the absolute core. On top of that, it didn't calm the fact that you were on the edge of final grades as you couldn't manage past a C+. You were trying your best, you really were.

And one person could very well see that on the sideline.

"Hey."

You instinctively jolted at the husk of the voice you could only recognize as your best friend who held nothing but earnest and concern. He rested his head in the palm of his hand as he peeked from the top bunk of your shared bed, comfortably dressed in sweats and a plain shirt. He'd been eyeing you from a distance, not wanting to disrupt the groove you had going on for a few hours – but that was the issue. You had been glued at your desk for god knows how long and he can't even recall the last time you actually sat down for a meal with him.

Visibly, he seemed cross with you for completely neglecting your needs.. and admittedly, him too. You spare him a glance once your attention was directed away from the damned laptop that Levi internally despised for keeping you up so many nights in a row – Childish it may seem, but all he wanted was for you to take a break.

"What is it, Levi? I really need to finish this project or I won't pass the class. You already know how my grades are looking right now, I cant afford-"

Suddenly, you felt the sheets ruffle from above as he began to make his way down the ladder and over to your desk. Your eyes finally met his for the first time in a while and from what he could tell, your undereyes darkened with each day and night that passed – It was almost as bad as his.

His features softened only for you while two fingers hooked underneath your chin, forcing your gaze upwards to him.

"When was the last time you slept?"

"I don't.. know," you shrug, wanting to look away in shame for knowing well that you hadn't been taking care of yourself the way that you should have. But, he kept your head trained exactly where he wanted. He narrowed his eyes to you and decided to press on more – with such gentleness, of course.

"Hm. You know it's not good for you to be doing this. I understand you have a lot to do, but cramming all of it in a number of days isn't healthy. You could've just asked me to help you, you don't have to go through this alone."

You knew he had you. There wasn't much you could say nor object – the papers and assignments on your desk were long forgotten the moment he spoke out to you. His palm traced down to your shoulder as you couldn't do anything but merely give into his careful touch.

"Turn around, I'll ease up your neck and shoulders. Is that okay?"

"Of course."

Your body faced back to your now dimly lit computer and you soon came to realize how strained your eyes felt to any sort of brightness. So, you opted for closing your eyes entirely as Levi worked out the tender knots and muscles that have built up over the past week. It felt so good to finally relax like this.

"Damn, you're tense. All 'cause of that fucking laptop.."

You groaned in response while he continued his ministrations on your back and neck, to which he softly smiled to himself – You deserved to rest.

"I want to pass though, Levi..."

At that, it caused him to raise a brow at you questionably, wondering why you put so much pressure on yourself when you've been doing the most these past few months to achieve your goal. "You are passing. I don't understand why you're so fixated on your grades when you're not even failing."

You took a breath, "You don't get it. I want to get better grades than last semester. Or else.."

He paused for a moment, turning you back around to face him directly and his hands continued to rest on your shoulders as he waited patiently for you to finish.

"Or else what?"

"I'll be a failure..."

Oh that did it for him.

Immediately, your face met the hardened surface of his chest while his arms wrapped around you tightly – safe, warm and secure. It's what you've craved for a really long time.

"Listen to me closely, yeah?" He feels you nod against him which gave him the cue to continue, "You're not a failure, you hear me? No matter what those shitty grades come out to be, it doesn't and will never define who you are. Your hard work has already proven how determined you are and you're not giving yourself as much credit as you should be. You're too hard on yourself. Let me take care of you for now, okay doll? You can rest for a while, you've done more than enough and I'm so damn proud of you."

It was rare for Levi to ever console someone like this, but only for you would he ever keep you safe within the home of his arms whenever things get rough or even when it had been a long day for the both of you. You missed this and every word that he spoke, rang through your ears with nothing but the truth.

You felt bitter tears prick at the corners of your eyes as he only embraced you tighter, not daring to let go in the slightest. Your own arms finally lifted from your sides, coming to wrap around his waist to further secure you into him. Soft sobs were muffled into the fabric of his shirt, but he made no move to let you cry anywhere else.

"I'm sorry.. I just got too carried away and I haven't been communicating with you and-"

He pulls away to cradle your face in the calloused, but gentle palms of his hands, wiping away the streams of tears that trailed down your face, "Shh shh, it's okay doll. You're okay, just take deep breaths for me. In and out.."

Everything was always going to be okay with him.

Wordlessly, he tugged you along into the living room where the two fo you shared many movie nights and midnight talks – a space of comfort that felt familiar. Levi laid down first, then opened his arms as an invitation for you to finally settle down on him.

You wasted no time in making yourself comfortable on his chest, finding a spot on the crook of his neck to rest your head. His hands met the small of your back with his fingers threading through the delicate strands of your hair. While you felt your eyes come to a close, Levi's lips brushed against your forehead and his hand reached up to smooth your hair back as he quietly whispered, "I've got you. I always will."

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my-head-is-an-animal · 4 months

Text

Just A Crush?

Director Keller x Reader

Chapter 2

You did your best to remain professional, but honestly it was difficult. Keller was in great shape and pushed himself to be better every day. He was elegant and classy, but you could tell he was also a fierce and protective man, his presence alone screamed a man in command. It was everything you liked in a man.

You weren’t exactly looking to develop feelings for anyone, especially not your boss and especially not the Director of SHIELD. You felt so much shame over the way you admired him, any small slip in normality, any crack in your polite and professional front and you were certain he would find out. At that point, you were sure things would only be harder, surely that meant a new career?

Fury had gotten you this job because of your outstanding record with the CIA, you needed a change, things had gone south a few many times and it had become exhausting. You just needed new people around you, new experiences and more importantly, something that gave you new purpose.

You were grateful to your friend for helping out, Fury told you he owed you one anyway, but you’d stopped keeping track a long time ago.

If you’d been any other person you would have probably slept with Keller the day you’d met him, but you were trying to change your ways. All your relationships had moved way too fast to ever be successful, if you were ever going to make it work with anyone, you needed to slow down.

In a way, you thought this a good test for your resolve. There was no way you could ever bed Keller, not in a million years for any reason, so keeping your distance and trying to halt even low level flirting was a good thing.

Of course, the one-on-one sessions you’d scheduled in were torture in themselves. The way his lean body moved, his strength to push for more and his stamina, were all mouth-watering.

He was funny as well, sweet in a way and kind, despite being a generally intimidating figure to most, you found a few moments you shared to be endearing and soft. You watched his eyes close while you worked on his knee, thinking it was probably an uncomfortable position for him to be in and you tried to work quickly. His skin was warm and his muscles tested your focus.

You’d decided to have your own session after you’d finished your work for the day, anything to try and quiet some of the energy you felt building. You put your earphones in and began running on the treadmill, letting the music do it’s job and trying hard not to think of Director Keller in anything other than a professional manner.

After almost half an hour, you thought it worked. Light pooled out of the corner of your eye and you wondered who would still be around at this time of night.

You felt whoever it was wander close to you, clearly trying to delicately get your attention.

‘Director?’ You said, surprised that he would have stayed so late and that he would have come to see you. You pulled your earphones out and slowed your pace to a brisk walk.

‘Sorry to disturb you.’ His voice was hoarse like he’d been shouting, or maybe he was just tired.

‘It’s okay.’ You smiled, really not minding his presence one bit. ‘Not all of us are fighting fit, like you, some of us have to work at it.’

You immediately hated the words that left your mouth. Why did you have to flirt? His torn away gaze told you everything you needed to know, he found it uncomfortable as well.

‘We need to talk.’ You suddenly noticed his serious tone and dread began to flood your limbs. He knew.

There was no other explanation. Why would the Director of SHIELD want to talk to you in the privacy of his office? More than likely to discuss a personal matter where you wouldn’t be interrupted or overheard. He was going to ask you to pack your things and leave the agency.

You took a quick shower, tied your hair back and shoved on a standard SHIELD hoodie, there was no point in even trying to impress Keller.

When you arrived at his office, you could hear voices inside, you wondered briefly if you should have waited, but honestly you just wanted to get the humiliation over and done with.

‘Come in.’ You heard Keller call after you knocked gently on the door.

You inhaled deep, composed yourself and entered. You were surprised to see Fury, you expected someone from HR.

‘Sir?’ You said, clearing your throat and trying not to look like you were expecting anything different.

‘Agent L/N.’ Keller stood up behind his desk while Fury remained seated on the grey fabric sofa to the side. Why did he still look so pristine in his suit? It was doing nothing to put you off. ‘We have a situation. We need your help to resolve it.’

You frowned. ‘What kind of situation?’

‘There is an event that is being hosted tomorrow evening and we have had difficulty in securing entrance.’ Keller explained, but he seemed hesitant to give all the information. He looked to Fury to help him out.

‘Look, we need eyes inside that hall,’ Fury sat forward leaning on his knees. ‘We’re going to have to send two people inside to pose as guests and relay the information back to my team.’

‘This is a field operation by nature.’ Keller used a much lower tone, making his voice almost a growl. ‘I know that it’s something you would have preferred not to get involved in considering your last employment, but we don’t have a lot of options left. You can say no.’

You felt a pang of anger that your previous employment would be brought up. You’d had it bad in the last mission you were on and nearly died. You didn’t want a repeat, but something in the way Keller was asking had you wanting to say yes.

‘Why me?’ You cleared your throat again.

‘Not just you.’ Keller interrupted before Fury could get there with one of his speeches. ‘I will also be going in.’

You frowned. Aside from the appealing notion of going on a mission with Keller, you didn’t quite understand why he wouldn’t send another agent.

Fury opened up the file at the edge of Keller’s desk and showed you a photograph. If you didn’t know any better, you would have said it was a photo of you and Keller dressed in black tie, holding hands and looking very in love. But that just wasn’t possible, except in your imagination.

‘Oh my God.’ You said, quietly looking over the image.

‘Spitting image.’ Fury half laughed. ‘That is Dr Julian Richmond and his wife Dr Sophie Richmond, both plastic surgeons and in attendance tomorrow night. Now we can remove them from the picture quietly and without fuss, but we need you and the Director to take their place. It’s the only way we’ll get the info we need.’

You were quiet for a moment. On the one hand, a night spent on the Director’s arm was an appealing thought, especially when trying to make the relationship look realistic. On the other, you really did not want to go back into the field again.

You heard Keller shift where he still stood. ‘Fury, give us a moment.’ He said, and Fury almost immediately did as he was asked. You didn’t dare look up just yet.

The air felt thick somehow, tense and… electric.

Keller stepped around his desk, shoving his hands in his pockets and cleared his throat.

‘Look, you don’t have to do this.’ He spoke low again, making you take a deep breath to cool yourself. ‘We can find another way to get what we need.’

‘How?’ You almost croaked, finally handing the photo back to Keller, who took it tentatively. ‘How else can you find out what’s going on in there if you don’t have people on the inside?’

‘We’ll figure it out.’ Keller frowned, his crystal blue gaze hovering on the photograph for a moment. He put it on his desk and took his own uncomfortable breath. ‘The point I’m making is you don’t need to put yourself in any danger if you don’t want to.’

You looked up the man you’d come to like a lot more than you should have, everything telling you not to go on another mission, but somehow your inner values telling you that you needed to do this. This seemed to be the easiest and most secure way to get what Fury needed, there was no reason to deny the request.

‘I think we both know that the other way would only get people hurt.’ You said, but your courage hadn’t quite caught up to you. ‘I understand that this may not be a comfortable situation for you, sir, but it seems like you wouldn’t have asked me if there was a more preferable choice.’

Keller held your gaze for a moment. He swallowed and you loved to see him so close to you, you just wished he wasn’t so uncomfortable around you.

‘I will look after you,’ he nodded, more to himself. ‘It’s a field operation, but that doesn’t mean it has to be dangerous. I need you to trust me as your partner.’

It was your turn to swallow. ‘I trust you.’ You almost whispered.

You could easily have gotten lost in his stare, he was incredibly handsome and it suddenly occurred to you that the reason for his discomfort may have been because he was already taken. Your heart shattered.

If you liked this, please consider supporting me ☕ thanks for reading!

Story

#director keller x reader #director keller #marvel #talos #ben mendelsohn

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ghostussy · 11 months

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Copia x Reader

Copia comforts a young reader who has been diagnosed with anxiety, PTSD and depression. Don't @ me yes I'm projecting. It's 5.30 am and I have to get up soon and I've slept three hours, been up since 2 😭😭😭👍 I need something to keep me going ig aufh

not beta read, written on mobile adnanssnd

TW: Depictions of mental illness. Trauma mentions. Medication/pills mention.

Sitting on the edge of your bed looking at the white sheet of paper, you tried not to cry. The words stared back at you, the looming threat of a diagnosis you'd chased for years crawling down your throat. The shame of seeing your birth name, being marked as the wrong gender on your medical documents.

Main st. Resource Center

Patient: [name], aged 19, female

Diagnosis: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)

Appointment notes: Return in one month to discuss labs and new medication.

You sigh deeply, looking at the prescription bottle in your other hand. Lexapro, 10 mg., it read.

It takes all the self control in your body not to hurl the medication across the room, to watch the lid pop off with force, sending pills scattering across the room.

Your hands shake as you set the paper down on your nightstand, the medication bottle with it. You bury your face in your hands, tears threatening to spill; but you resist the urge. You have no tears left to cry. There is nothing left to mourn.

You felt so irreparably broken.

You'd spent years dreaming about this day. The day you finally got help. The day you finally felt safe. You should feel relieved, overjoyed, something. But you weren't.

You don't remember the drive home. You'd been on autopilot, taking roads you knew well, playing your favorite songs quietly on the radio. But you didn't sing along. How could you?

You were scared. Still are. What nineteen year old gets diagnosed with so many mental illnesses? Barely old enough to vote, too young to drink; and still, completely and totally fucked from the start.

It was frustrating. All the shit you went through- the deaths, the funerals, the accidents, the trauma- but you were traumatized long before any of that even occurred. No, your PTSD was caused by the only people sworn to protect you; your very own parents.

Years of emotional and physical abuse left you scarred. Afraid. Panic attacks constantly crawling up your back, a looming threat that never seemed to leave. Flashbacks that would leave you frozen in place, a cruel reminder of what happened. Nightmares that have you waking in a panic, the dream fading quickly but the pain lingering for long after.

You don't know what to do.

You flinch when your bedroom door is thrown open without so much as a knock, Copia walking in. "Ah, sorella, there you are. How- oh, dolcezza... what is the matter?" The bed dips next to you as he takes a seat, his voice soft and gentle. "Did the appointment not go as you'd hoped?"

You pass him the paper, which he reads quickly. His face softens. "What did they prescribe for you?" You pass him the bottle, and he takes it gingerly in his hands. "Ah... Lexapro..." he murmurs softly. "Si, I am familiar with this one. I take it myself." Your eyes slicker upwards, and he meets your gaze as he returns the bottle to you. "You have nothing to fear. It will take some getting used to. You will struggle to rest for a little while, but do not worry. I will be here to lull you to sleep." He wraps an arm around your shoulders, pulling you against him as he kisses the top of your head.

"You will be okay, tesoro. This I can promise."

#drabbles #copia x reader #tw: depression #tw: anxiety #tw: ptsd

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adoracora-elizabeth · 5 months

Text

But Papa! Why? Chapter 22

A couple of weeks had gone by. Cora and Robert stayed in New York for the funeral. Robert made sure everything was arranged before he took her back to London.

Cora was settled in her new position and together with Baxter they worked on many new advertisements. Patrick gave her freedom in how she wanted to work. All the clients loved her work.

"Cora?" Robert popped his head around the corner.

She looked up and upon hearing his voice a big smile appeared on her face. "Yes?"

"What are your plans for this weekend?" He asked, stepping further inside. When he noticed Baxter was not in the office he walked over to Cora’s desk and planted a kiss on her lips.

Since they were back in London, they had gone on several dates and the relationship was getting more and more serious. They said, that in the office they would not show too much affection towards each other, but Robert loved these stolen kisses.

Cora raised her hand to Robert’s cheek. "Hi." She said with an even wider smile. She pulled Robert in for another kiss. "I do not have any plans besides doing laundry and vacuuming."

"Good." He said, his face close enough to press one more kiss on her inviting lips. He then walked back around the desk and sat down. "I want to take you up north to show you the estate and the house."

"The house my father's money will rebuild," Cora said.

Robert leaned over the desk and took her hand which was resting on the desk, in his hand. With his thumb, he brushed the back of her hand. "You showed me your family home and the home you grew up in. I want to show you mine."

Cora squeezed his hand. "I know, I am sorry. I would love to see it, when do you want to leave?"

"I was thinking, tonight."

"Tonight?" Cora exclaimed. "I have so much work left and need to pack. What time do you want to leave?"

"It is a two-hour drive, I thought to have an early dinner and then leave around 20.00 o'clock."

Cora looked at the clock, and felt the colour drain from her face. "I love you for your spontaneous idea, but I cannot be ready tonight. There is so much work left."

"You love me?" Robert teased. "What is the deadline of what you are working on?"

Cora raised her eyebrows. "Friday next week."

"Good." Robert got up. "I will pick you up around eight."

+++

Cora stepped outside, Robert could arrive any moment. She realised that she did not know what kind of car he drove. She had only been in the company cars, with John as their driver. But Robert said he would come with his car, without a driver.

A luxurious-looking car stopped and Robert got out. Cora had to force her mouth shut.

"What do you think?" Robert said with a beaming face.

Cora was not sure what to say. It was adorable how excited Robert was about the car. But she had no idea how special the car could be. She knew Rolls-Royce was a luxurious brand, but not if this was a special model or something. "Nice car." Was all she could say before Robert continued.

"It is the ghost Ékleipsis brand new. This will be the first trip with this car."

Cora smiled, Robert looked like a kid in a candy store.

"Welcome, Milady." He opened the car door for her, put her trolley in the trunk and got in on the driver's side. He leaned over and kissed her cheek. "Are you excited for this trip?"

Cora put her hand on Robert’s knee. "I am." Robert's excitement was enough for her to forget her worries. She had repacked her trolley several times. Did she bring the right nightwear? The right clothes? She did not know what they were going to do, so she packed nice clothes for a fancy restaurant, but also clothes to wear for a day outside.

It did not take long for Cora to dose off, Robert looked at her sleeping figure and he could not be more content. How did he get so lucky to have Cora in his life?

It was a shame they would arrive this late in the evening. It was not worth it to drive up to the house now. Robert drove to the pub where he reserved a room. It would be weird, he never slept somewhere with less than four stars, but it felt romantic.

Robert parked the car and gently woke Cora up. "We arrived."

Cora needed a minute to wake up. "I was far away. I am sorry."

"For what?"

"Well, I was not what you call an entertaining travel companion."

Robert leaned in for a kiss. "No, but you were a very cute one."

Cora scrunched her nose. "I bet I was snoring."

"Oh, but your snoring was cute." He brushed his nose against Cora’s. "Let us go inside, I could use some sleep too." He paused and suddenly looked scared, leaning back in his chair.

"What is wrong?" Cora asked worried.

"I booked one room, but I forgot to ask if that was what you wanted."

"Are you kidding me? I hate it when you sleep at home during the week. I sleep better with you next to me." He hand went to his knee.

"Good." Robert was relieved, he hoped to get closer to Cora this weekend. They still had not done anything else than kissing and cuddling.

Robert got out and walked around the car to open Cora’s door, he loved that she waited for him to open the door. She was not expecting it from him, but when she noticed his intention she waited for him. She let him be a gentleman to her, and he adored her for it.

Cora took his arm and they walked to the pub. "Do you think my Mama, will one day be happy for us?"

Robert stopped walking, her question surprised him. "Both our Mamas need to understand, that they started all of this. I am at the point where I do not care about their opinion. Your father was happy for us, and so is my father. Our mothers have to accept the fact that I love you." He turned towards Cora. "I mean it. I love you."

Cora got on her tiptoes and kissed Robert. "I love you too."

#cora crawley #downton abbey #robert crawley #downton #fanfiction #cobert

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trinrose3 · 7 months

Text

Little fic of James meeting and deciding he wants to adopt Amelia :}

little over 2k words

If you had asked James what he thought his life would amount to, he would have given a response along the lines of: something lonely, but fulfilling. For James was a man too scared of love and too scared of being loved. He was a man who was perfectly content with being alone for the rest of his life. Or so he would tell himself.

However, he knew that life has a way of changing people. He knew that life’s unexpected curve balls could be good, but he had far more experience with them being bad, awful even. It was as if he had almost given up on the possibility that life could have kindness in store, especially for him. He could not predict the change that would soon come to him, let alone the happiness that it would bring to him…

James walked down the linoleum tiles of the pediatric wing of the hospital; watching as nurses and doctors hustle and bustle about. He had just finished giving some horrible news to a family and wanted nothing more than a break. Unfortunately, he knew that could barely take a breath without being moved down the medical care conveyor belt to his next patient. So here he was, approaching the nurses station, home base if you will, for his next assignment.

“Doctor Jackson!” A nurse called out to him holding a file for him to grab, “You have a new patient in room 4.”

Nodding in acknowledgement he said, “Thank you, I’ll head there straight away.” as he grabbed the folder from her grasp.

Name: Amelia [No Last Name].

Quickly scanning the documents he gathered that she was a small girl who had been found wandering near the entrance of the hospital, glassy eyed and delirious in the early morning hour of 3 am. Apparently, she was left with nothing but the clothes on her back which seemed to barely even fit her. Not even a note was left with her.

James frowned, he wished he could say that it was an uncommon occurrence to find children, some even as old as 17, left in front of the hospital by their guardians, but he would be lying. Not that he exactly minded lying, it was an easy way to avoid uncomfortable conversations with patients, their loved ones, and even bosses and coworkers. However, it would be a lie nonetheless.

Taking a sharp deep breath, he plastered an all too common fake smile on his face as he opened the door. He found himself wearing fake ones more than the real deal in recent years. He barely managed to get a ‘hello’ out of his mouth before the little one interrupted him.

“What happened to your leg?’ A small weak and little voice asked from the confined of the bed he was now approaching. He did gladly note that she seemed to be perky enough to ask; a good sign.

“Car crash when I was younger.” He said not even missing a beat, having done this little dance a million times now. He should have been a court jester.

“Did it hurt?” She said, tilting her head slightly, clearly more concerned for him despite her being the one in the hospital bed.

Curious little thing she was turning out to be.

“They tend to.” He said bluntly.

“Oh,” was the only girl's response. Her wide blue eyes darted to her hands which she was using to nervously grasp at the blanket of her bed. Clearly, she did not want to be there. Not that he could blame her; not many people actually want to be there, not even the doctors on occasion.

James sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. His bedside manner usually wasn’t so atrocious, but he slept a little worse than usual last night. Which is to say he didn’t sleep at all. He desperately wished he could have gotten even at least one of his usual 4 to 5 hours but that seemed to not be in the cards for him that day. Shame.

“My apologies, Miss…” James said, trailing off waiting for her to respond with a name. He knew her name of course, but he knew letting her answer would make her feel more comfortable.

“Amelia.” She said, her posture relaxing slightly.

“That’s a very lovely name, Amelia.”

The girl giggled, a little bit of color returning to her, warm brown skin, before quickly turning into a coughing fit. Taking the opportunity presented in front of him, he used his stethoscope to listen to her lungs.

James frowned. Crackling. Not good.

Quickly he began making note of what the next steps of the poor dear’s care should be with the nurse, all too aware of the curious, yet very confused eyes hardly ever shifting away from him.

He had a feeling that Amelia would be here a long time. He also couldn’t shake the feeling that he’d be by her side through it all as well. How odd.

It had been about a week since he was placed as Amelia’s (permanently) assigned doctor. Apparently, he was the only one that she didn’t get too scared or fussy with. Not that he minded, he hated to admit it but he began to grow quite fond of the girl. Perhaps he just recognized a part of himself within her; A scared lonely child. It was one of the main reasons he went into this field after all; do for others what was never done for him.

He wanted to protect and care.

Safely.

From a distance.

With no emotional attachments.

Which he was very, very clearly not succeeding at, if the giant pink stuffed rabbit in his hand was any indication.

Oh dear lord, help him.

Now, it wasn’t unusual to hear screams in the halls of the hospital; the damn things were practically echo chambers of suffering. Any person let alone doctor would have immediate concern for whoever was behind that scream, and James was certainly no exception. However, the fact that he had recognized it as Amelia’s is what stirred him into action and away from any potential second guessing about his choice in stuffed animal. It was times like these that he wished his leg wasn’t practically impossible to run with, even on a good day.

He all but slammed his way into Amelia’s room, not even pausing to take a breath as he barked, “what’s going on here?”

A disgruntled nurse who was clearly in the act of trying to placate the small thing turned to him and said, “I tried to give her a shot and she freaked.”

The guilty look on Amelia’s face along with blotchy red cheeks and a wobbly pout, as fat tears rolled down her eyes, was enough of an indication that that was the truth. Gently, he approached her, noting how she seemed to relax from her defensive posture, which was curled in and facing away from the nurse.

“You know,” he began softly as he sat next to her bed, “A lot of people are scared of shots. Unfortunately, that doesn’t remove the fact that they are a necessity to feeling better. You do want to feel better, yes?”

Amelia just sniffled and nodded in response.

“Well, that’s good to hear. Do you remember how I said that a lot of people are scared of shots?”

She just furrowed her eyebrows in confusion; she must have been worn out from that little fit of hers. She seemed to have a tendency to go nonverbal at times he had noted a while ago.

“You know, I just so happen to have a friend here with me who tends to get scared of them as well,” James said as he held out the stuffed animal for her to grab, “do you think you can hold on to him? It might make the both of you feel better.”

Amelia was quite obviously enamored by the pink rabbit if the widening of her eyes, and stimming was any indication. She seemed to hesitate to reach out for it, almost as if she was afraid it was a test. James just simply nodded for her to go ahead as he nudged the fluffy thing towards her. It barely took her a second to grab it and hold it tightly in a hug as she nuzzled into it.

He couldn’t help the warm fuzziness that filled his heart or the soft smile that melted onto his face...Did he want kids? He almost imperceptibly shook his head to get rid of the thought, only for him to end up all too aware of it in the back of his mind, like a piece of popcorn stuck in his gums.

He motioned to the nurse to hand over the needle, which she seemed all too eager to do.

“Amelia,” He said, watching her head pop up from the fuzz it was buried in, “Do you think you could let me give the shot to you? You can keep holding on to your new friend, it should only take a second.”

The girl seemed to be mulling it over, and he watched as her eyes darted between him, the rabbit, and the scary evil needle. After a minute or so of internal debate, she slowly nodded her head as scooted closer to him, giving him access to her arm.

“Now this will only hurt a pinch..”

The thought had been keeping him up all night. It wasn’t the usual kind that he had. Those tended to be ones filled with terror and paranoia. The kind that despite being several states away and practically untraceable made him fear that he would be found by his parents. The kind that made him stay up all night, hardly blinking as he shakily held a knife in his hand. The kind that made him want to break down sobbing till his alarm buzzed in his ears.

He was happy it wasn’t one of those, but it was still a concerning one to him nonetheless.

Adoption.

Was that something he really wanted to do? Was it too soon? James had only known her for a few months at this point. Was that even appropriate? Was this just some kind of projection? Him wishing that someone had found him when he was young so he didn’t have to bite and claw his way out of his own cage of a home?

The little girl had wormed his way into his heart, that much was obvious.

Most parents, let alone people, seemed to even put that much thought into the notion of having children. So he supposed he was already ahead of the game in some aspects. He knows that Amelia’s caseworker(s) had been having a hard time finding a good foster home, let alone a family to adopt her. Not that he was surprised; she had a long and very expensive hospital bill; nobody in their right mind would want to be burdened with that. So it was a good thing that there was a decent amount of anonymous donations that just so happened to be eating any cost that she might have been building up so far.

What a coincidence.

Perhaps he should ask his neighbor August about it. He didn’t know the man very well, which was very much his own fault, but he did know that he had recently become a family based lawyer. He just hoped it wouldn’t be too much of an embarrassment or awkward conversation.

It’s not that James was antisocial or anything; he just had a hard time connecting to people. He found the act of socialization to be a tad…scary. He could hardly count the amount of friends he had growing up on one finger. Then again, being a twelve year old in high school made that quite difficult. His neighbors were good and friendly, as were their children, disruptive as they could occasionally be —not that he particularly minded; they were children after all.

He should invite August over. Yes, that seemed like a good start…

For the first time in a while, he felt oddly peaceful as he drifted off to sleep. It seems as if he had made up his mind on the matter.

He was going to adopt Amelia.

#oc: amelia #oc: james #my writing #story: the neighbors

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m-feline · 1 year

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To adapt, to survive, to live - ch 2

Summary: Silco x Freader

(Y/n) worked for Vander by looking after the kids, especially the girls. But everything changes when Vander dies, the boys die and Vi left her sister crying in the rain. Worrying how to look after Powder, (Y/n) has to now adapt to live with the new owner of the Last Drop.

Tags: breakfast with Powder and Silco, fluff, mention of death, angst;

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When I woke up, it took a while for me to remember why Powder was sleeping in my bed. When I got that clear, I also realized why had I woken up. At this time of the day, it was routine for me to get up and make breakfast for everyone. But now it was just me and Powder. Memories from yesterday began to crawl back up and tears crept to blur my eyes. I quickly buried my face in the pillow to not wake up the girl or let her see me cry. If only for her, I had to avoid crying. I was still scared but I wouldn’t let anyone harm this last child I had in my arms. Of all the kids Vander asked me to look after Powder was the only one left. Her and… Ekko? What had happened to him? He went with others to save Vander but I had not seen him anywhere. Did he die too? He wouldn’t be stupid enough to get into a fight and lose. No, Ekko was smart in many ways, he wouldn’t do something like that. But where was he? He didn’t come back here. He had to be somewhere. If only I could get out without someone following maybe I could go look for him. I had to stop my planning when I felt Powder stir in my arms and groan as she woke up.

“Morning sleepy head,” I said softly.

“Morning,” Powder said tiredly. “Am I late for breakfast?”

“I haven’t even gotten up, much less started to cook anything,” I said smiling. “What would you like to eat?”

“Omelet,” Powder smiled. “You know, the kind you make.”

“Ham and cheese?” I asked.

“Yeah, and no veggies,” Powder said.

“Why not? They aren’t that bad,” I said as I began to get up.

“Still,” Powder said also getting up of the bed.

“Fine. I make you an omelet, but you have to guess which one is yours,” I said teasingly.

We both walked downstairs and found the whole lounge empty. Chairs over tables and lights turned down. It seemed that the people who came here yesterday were either home or slept now somewhere else. Either way, there was no one at the bar. I walked behind the counter and gathered whatever I needed to make breakfast. The kitchen in the back of the bar was never used during the open hours. And only I used it. Well, once Vi had tried to cook herself but that simply earned her and others a ban to the kitchen. Vander later let only me use it to make food for everyone else.

I was happy that most of the stuff was where it should have been. There were some eggs left, a small bit of cheese, ham, and some veggies but nothing rotten or spoiled. Yet. When I had everything organized and the stove warming up, I heard steps coming from upstairs. I saw Powder look up at the comer. For a second I was worried but when I saw the girl smile, I had a good idea who it was.

“Morning,” Powder said smiling.

“Morning, little girl,” Silco said to the girl. “Aren’t you up early.”

I watched how he spoke very dearly with the girl as he sat next to her. Though neither of them had ever met each other before, it was as if they had known each other for a long time.

“Ah, shit,” I let out when I looked at the bowl.

“What is it?” Powder asked.

“I…” I sighed rubbing my forehead suppressing a frustrated sob. “I broke too many eggs for two persons.” I was too caught up in the moment and worked with a memory of making food for more people, that I broke too many eggs. Wasting food was taboo, especially in Undercity. It wasn’t that someone was starving but still throwing away food was a shameful thing.

“Would… you like an omelet?” I asked from Silco.

“Gladly,” He said with a small smile. I began to beat the eggs and chop ingredients for the food but I still kept an ear for Powder.

“(Y/n) makes the best omelets,” the girl said with pride.

“Is that so?” Silco asked.

I had to turn away from them and focus on the cooking. For me, that was the best way to calm down. Which is why I preferred to cook for many people. Before I realized it, I had three different omelets before me.

“All done,” I said as I brought the plates to the bar counter. I placed the three plates with omelets in front of them. I could tell that Powder was eager to dig in. But I wanted to cheer her up a bit more.

“Now, which one do you think is yours?” I asked Powder.

“Again this?” She fake groaned, I could tell. She pretended she didn’t like the game but many times she also enjoyed how others would pick either the wrong food or if they got the correct one.

“Come on now, you know how this works,” I said.

“You put veggies into one plate, didn’t you?” Powder whined.

“You are growing, a growing child needs to eat veggies,” I said.

“Ugh, what is in the third one?” Powder asked.

“Mushrooms,” I said.

“Mushrooms? What kind of idiot eats that?” Powder laughed.

“This idiot right in front of you,” I said and bopped her nose with my index finger. She laughed a bit more and turned to look at the plates.

“But one is still ham and cheese, right?” She asked.

“Yes, but you need to guess which one,” I said. “And remember, you take a bite, you finish it.” Powder looked at the plates carefully trying to find clues about which one was the food she wanted. Silco watched how her eyes narrowed as she studied each plate. Then he glanced at me to see if I gave any clues. I glanced at one plate on the right side, and he quickly understood what I meant.

“Well, this is obviously veggie omelet. I can see the bell peppers,” Powder said pointing the plate in the middle.

“Oh darn, you guessed it,” I pretended to be disappointed. Powder laughed a bit and now concentrated to choose between the two remaining plates.

“For me at least, this one looks appetizing,” Silco said and took one plate for himself, leaving Powder with one plate to choose from. The girl watched as Silco took one bite from the omelet to see which one had he chosen.

“You are right,” Silco said to the girl after finishing the bite. “(Y/n) does make the best omelet. Especially with mushrooms.”

“Yesss,” Powder said as she took the remaining plate which she now knew was her favorite.

“Oh, well,” I sighed. “I guess I’ll be the healthy one and eat my veggies.”

“You hate bell peppers,” Powder said between the bites.

“Thanks for reminding me,” I said and took a bite of the omelet. “I have to tell Vander to…” I realized too late what I had said. Since it was already out, it caused an awkward silence. I saw how Powder's face fell and she placed the fork back on the plate which still had half of an omelet left and got down from the chair.

“I'm not hungry anymore,” She said and walked away.

“Powder, I’m sorry,” I apologized.

“Don’t call me that,” She hissed.

“But Powd...” I tried.

“I said; Don’t call me that!” She shouted. That outburst made me freeze. I was stupid to think she was alright. It was stupid of me to slip like that. Again, an awkward silence fell but this time it was just me and Silco. He had watched after Powder as she stomped away. I had two guesses about where she went but in either case, I shouldn’t follow her. Not now.

I pulled the plate back with the half-eaten omelet. I would put it between two pieces of bread if I'd find any. I lost my appetite now too. It had to be bell peppers. If they were at least fresh then maybe. But…

I felt something touch my arm, and when I lifted my eyes I saw Silco offering the fork Powder had used before. His face showed a small understanding smile. It made things a bit better for some reason. I took the fork a placed it away. I decided to finish at least my plate, even if I disliked it. Silco finished his meal a bit before me. He thanked me for the food and rose up. He said he had to go to handle some things. I didn’t ask what it was but I was partly relieved when I heard that I would be alone for a while. When he left, and apparently two others who had bunked somewhere in the bar, I couldn’t help but cry a little. This will be hard for me. But I had to try my best to stay strong. For Powder’s sake.

----

It was an opening hour. I didn’t know what to do. Vander was not here. But not opening meant trouble. There were times when Vander left me in charge when he had to go meet Benzo or Grayson in private. But at the end of the day, he always came back. Now would be different.

I put the lights on and I had already cleaned the place. When I went to open the doors, there were already three customers waiting. In their point of view, everything was normal. But what will I do when they notice that Vander isn’t here? I could only wait for the inevitable.

It took several hours and over dozen of drinks when someone came to ask about Vander. And of course, it had to be Huck.

“(Y/n)? Do you know where Vander is? I need to speak with him,” He asked quietly. What should I say? Even I still haven’t gotten over what happened yesterday. How could I say that he is gone? But everyone will know it soon. And then, I will suffer for sure.

“V-Vander… he…” I stuttered quietly.

“(Y/n), what is it?” Huck asked worriedly. “What happened?”

I didn’t get to answer when the front door slammed open and four people walked in. Silco and three of his people. The big one carried a crate, while the others walked at his side. Everyone stopped what they were doing and looked at them. I felt fear creeping up my spine. What will Silco do? And what will I do? Should I run? No. I can’t leave Powder alone.

“Good, everyone is here,” Silco said after he scanned the room. “For all of those who don’t know, Vander is no more.”

“What the hell are talking about?” One customer asked.

“Vander is gone,” Silco said trying to make his point. Many eyes turned to me as if asking me if it was true. I was terrified. Vander always kept me safe from those eyes, and now they were all on me. Not in a way that I had feared but still, it made me scared. Since they waited for confirmation from me, I had no choice but to say something.

“V-Vander i-is dead,” I said almost choking with the words. But they all heard me. They all understood me. I feared they would ask more from me but Silco spoke and turned the attention to him.

“He died yesterday, apparently even the Hound of Undercity couldn’t handle everything,” He said. “I just came from the warehouse that burned in Yesterday’s battle and made sure he had a proper send-off.”

“And why would you do that?” One of the customers asked.

“Because he was my 'brother',” Silco said. “Though we had our differences I respected him. And as his 'brother', I shall now take over this establishment.”

“You're gonna take his woman too?” Another customer asked and glanced at me. I froze in my place. I feared something like this would happen. Whatever Silco had planned it would all be an end for me. One way or another. Every tough guy had kept their hands off of me since they believed I was “ Vander's woman”. But now all that was crushed. Vander was gone. And I was without protection. Silco had ignored what the man said and again addressed the whole crowd.

“The Last Drop will operate as normal, I have no interest to change too much this place. But I believe there was a topic that has kept many people in unrest in these past few days,” Silco said. By now getting the interest back to him, I felt myself let go of the tension a bit. But still, I felt something bad would happen.

“In the last couple of days the Enforcers have become bolder as they come to the Lanes and practically attack us for the smallest of excuses,” Silco said. “Vander tried to play it safe and somehow reason with them. That is what got him killed.”

I saw how more and more people paid more attention to him and his words. I recalled at the last meeting how many were too worked up by the Enforcers. And Sevika even left the Last Drop. It only occurred to me now that it was her I saw get hurt.

“We may not be able to beat them in number, but there are other ways,” Silco said and nodded to the big guy standing behind him. The man brought forward the crate and opened it. The crate contained a lot of vials with glowing purple liquid. Something about them made me uneasy.

“This is not a lasting solution, but it will serve to relay a message to the Enforcers,” Silco said as he picked one vial out of the crate to show it to the people. “It will take time to make more but I shall give some of this stash for those who want to… make them fear. When you are about to face the Enforcers, simply drink it. You’ll see the effect immediately. It will last for a short while but just enough to remind the Enforces just how unsafe the Lanes are.”

I glanced at people in the bar. Some didn’t seem to believe, some were simply uninterested, while others were curious. After a moment of silence, one guy walked to Silco and extended his hand toward him.

“The first try will be free of charge.” Silco said giving the man the vial. “The next one, requires a payment.”

I thought that the man would drink it right away. But then he simply put it in his pocket. A couple of more people also took vials with them. After that Silco told me to get back to work and serve the drinks. The rest of my shift was uneventful. Some people came to ask if it was true that Vander was gone while others came to offer condolences. It was when I was switching with the backup bartender that things got a bit out of hand.

“So, what happened to those kids?” One customer asked. I could already tell by the tone that he was going to say something unpleasant.

“They are gone,” Silco answered on my behalf. He had stayed at the bar observing customers and time to time asked how things worked here.

“All of them?” The customer asked. This time, Silco didn’t answer. Instead, he eyed the man in question. The man turned to me as I removed the apron.

“Since you aren’t a nanny anymore, how about you dump this place?” He asked me. “And finally live a little. I could show you some good time.”

I was about to say no, and maybe something nasty back at him. But my attention went to the second floor. Powder was sitting at the edge of the stairs looking down at the bar. Instead of answering the man, I began to head away from the bar and to the second floor. Apparently, someone wasn’t happy to be ignored.

“Hey, I’m talking to you,” The man said as he grabbed my arm.

“Let go of me,” I said and I could swear I sounded anything else except threatening.

“Come on, Vander is gone, surely you could…” He didn’t finish the sentence when Silco punched him in the face and made him fall. I didn’t expect Silco to be that strong despite his slim looks.

“Go up,” Silco said to me. I did just that and rushed to pick Powder on the way from the ground and took her to my room. Before I left I heard Silco ask someone to show the man out or something like that.

When I closed the door and set the bed for me and Powder, I realized that my hand was shaking. I quickly pulled it away but doing so made Powder worried.

“I’m sorry,” She said quietly.

“Why are you apologizing?” I asked as I settled with her on the bed.

“For shouting at you in the morning,” Powder sobbed. “I didn’t mean to.”

“It’s okay. It’s okay,” I said shushing the little girl and pulled her into a hug under the cover.

“Please don’t hate me,” Powder sobbed.

“What? No. No, I would never hate you,” I said and hugged her tighter.

“But… it… It was my fault that they died,” Powder said.

“No, it wasn’t. You didn’t know. No one couldn’t have known,” I said with a trembling voice. “You and I aren’t meant to fight. Not with our fists. You can build cool gadgets and… I make sure you are all fed and that your injuries go away. Someday you make something big and only you have control of the things that happen.

“You think so?” Powder asked.

“You are good at building stuff, we just need to make them work,” I said. We both heard noises from downstairs and once again I was scared of what was outside my room. To my embarrassment Powder wasn’t so worried.

“Don’t worry, it will okay,” Powder consoled me. A moment ago it was me trying to make her feel better, now it was her turn. We both fell sleep holding each other in the safety of my bed.

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#silco #silco fanfic #silco league of legends #silco arcane #silco x reader #jinx powder #arcane

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secretwhumplair · 2 years

Text

Bad day

1,609 words | No Warrior (sequel to Shame)

Content | Angst, low self-worth, referenced past torture, so much angst

Notes | A large juicy chunk of angst for you. The good news is, Yves is no longer just scared! The bad news is... oof.

Taglist | @just-a-whumping-racoon-with-wifi @castielamigos-whump-side-blog @whump-me-all-night-long @whumpadump1939 @thingsthatgo-whump-inthenight @whumpzone @angel-stars @kixngiggles @whumpsy-daisies @briars7 @yet-another-heathen @rosesareviolentlyread @cupcakes-and-pain @hollowtreesinhollowwoods @pleasancies @much-ado-about-whumping @nine-tailed-whump @whump-em @itsleighlove @newbornwhumperfly @tears-and-lilies @deluxewhump @whump-cravings @wolfeyedwitch @melancholy-in-the-morning @neverthelass @whumpsday

It took all of Yves’ strength to go back to work, leave the house again, go outside where he might meet a warrior only waiting for an opportunity to hurt him. He hated it - hated how much it took out of him when he had so little left.

But he did. He couldn’t just stop. Runar already looked at him with so much pity, and the weavers would wonder - and gossip.

So he continued, even if it meant crying to himself many nights after Runar had fallen asleep.

With time, it became easier, but he couldn’t shake the feeling Brandr had, with malicious ease, ripped away something he had already thought to be firmly in his hands.

It wasn’t fair.

He couldn’t decide whether he was a fool for ever believing he might be safe, or whether the spark of anger - dangerous anger he buried deep inside, because he knew in his soul he would be punished if he allowed it to show - that burned even through his hurt was right, but it wasn’t fair.

That morning, he felt Runar’s eyes on himself more keenly than usual. His own were burning with tiredness; he had barely slept, nightmares haunting him, and maybe Runar saw. He felt another tiny, irrational spark of anger at being scrutinized like that, all the time. It startled him. It wasn’t his place to be angry. And Runar had been so kind, all the time.

»Hey, Yves? I thought I’d take a little walk up the shore today in the daylight hours, do you want to come? It’s so easy to get stuck inside around this season…«

»Okay,« Yves muttered without looking up from his porridge. He barely thought about it. Disagreeing with Runar still felt unwise, even if nothing had ever happened. He didn’t fear him anymore, but it seemed that wasn’t quite unconditional.

Maybe it would never be.

He was so tired of it.

»Yeah? I’ll pick you up at the weaving house then, s̴̴̡̢͜ẃ̧̨͜͞è̸̷͜͠é̸̕͢͜t҉̵̶̀͢h̶̨̧͢͠é̴̡͘͢a̕҉̴̴͢r̶̷̛͢͝t̡͏̢͢͝. Unless… unless you want to go catch a bit more sleep. You look tired.«

»I’m fine.« The words came out with more force than Yves had intended, and his heart skipped a beat.

He must have made a movement, too, because Runar quickly reassured him, »That’s alright, s̕̕͢͞͠w̷̧͘͞͞é̵̡̕͜ę̵̀͟͞t̵̢̡̕͘h̴̀͘͢͡ę̵̷̢͠á̧̛͝͝r̸̵͜͜͞ţ͠͞҉́.«

Yves didn’t have it in him to repeat himself. A part of him wanted to scream and cry, but he was too tired, and he didn’t want to be a bother.

As promised, Runar picked him up soon after sunrise, so uncannily close to midday. Yves still hadn’t gotten used to it, and the days only kept getting shorter.

But right now, he was feeling better. Sitting with the other weavers, doing useful work, had soothed him a little, and he managed a small smile for Runar, to make up for his mood in the morning.

As usual, Runar beamed back at him, clearly happy with the little sign of comfort Yves was half-forcing.

Runar led the way down to the sea. A path was already trudged through the snow, up the cliffs, as if people had taken this walk before.

For a while, they walked silently. Yves knew Runar was going slow for the sake of his useless short legs, but he tried to focus on the sound of the sea, the soft cries of the birds soaring above them.

Eventually, Runar said, »You haven’t been talking much.« Before Yves could figure out how the simple statement made him feel - too much -, he added, »Less than usual, I mean. I - don’t want to push you, s̸̶̢͘͟͠w͏̵̢̡͟͡ę̛͟҉͢҉é̷̷̸̢͢t̷̨̧̨̕͝h҉̴̴̵̨͝e̡̧͘͟͢͝a̷̢͟͝҉̶r̸҉̵̀̀̕t̷̨̛̕͢͡. But I thought… maybe you’ve been holding back something? You can talk to me, no matter what.«

»I know,« Yves whispered. Not only that, Runar was the only person he could talk to. Well, there were the weavers. But with them, their probably not being interested piled on top of him not wanting to be a bother.

He felt Runar’s eyes on him, and he knew he wouldn’t be satisfied until Yves gave him something. »I’m just so tired. I - I haven’t been sleeping well.« It felt like a confession.

It also felt like a lie, being such a small part of the truth.

Runar stayed quiet. It hadn’t been enough.

Yves shouldn’t feel upset about it. Runar was trying to help. But he did, and for the first time in many weeks, he asked, »What do you want?« He regretted it the moment the words left his mouth, sounding much snappier than he had intended.

Runar paused and looked at him, not angry, never angry, just concerned. Yves looked away. At least being up here gave him ample opportunity to let his gaze wander across the sea. He was tired of being looked at this way.

»I want you to be happy,« Runar answered finally, his voice quiet. Yves couldn’t hold back an ugly, desperate laugh. »I mean - I know that’s a bit much to ask, for now. But I want you to feel better.«

Yves felt tears burning in his eyes and made sure to keep them averted. »I don’t - I don’t want to be like this! I’m s-so weak. I’m pathetic.« His throat constricted over the word, and the tears fell. He fought the truth of it for so long, even as it tunnelled into his mind, one repetition after another. But it was true, wasn’t it? He was safe, and cared for, and all his soul could respond with was unfounded fear and powerless anger. Was there anything more pathetic than that?

»You’re not. That’s not true, Yves.«

Yves turned to face him, and again, that awful, insolent, pointless spark of anger flared. He didn’t want to be babied. He didn’t want white lies.

It dissolved when he looked into Runar’s face. For once, it wasn’t carefully soft and oh-so-understanding; there was a hardness in his eyes Yves had rarely seen, underlining the familiar earnest look.

Yves broke down into sobs, hugging himself. »Maybe that’s - this is just what I deserve. I should - have known better-« He hadn’t quite realized how close they were to each other, but suddenly, he found himself collapsed into Runar’s arms.

Runar held him until his sobs quieted down. The sun on its too-short trajectory was already setting by the time he pulled himself together. He wasn’t even sure whether he felt better or worse for having caved into the hug.

He stood and pulled back from Runar’s arms, which easily let him go.

Runar would never hold him against his will.

He wiped his eyes, looking away again; trying to look collected. It was so hard. Why did everything always have to be so hard?

»Let’s go home, shall we?« Runar gently proposed, and Yves just nodded.

As they turned to slowly make their way back into the village, Runar continued, »You deserve to be happy and free and live the life you want. That’s what I believe.« More quietly, he added, »I’ll believe it for you, if you can’t.«

Yves hugged himself. He didn’t want to argue - he couldn’t. And maybe… but he was being silly, again.

Runar paused, waiting for the response that didn’t come before he went on. »What kind of life do you want? I never asked.«

Yves hesitated, his throat closing up as he thought about the question. He was silent long enough for Runar to add, »I mean, you don’t have to tell me, that’s not what I-«

»I wanted to be a« - was there a word for knight? - »a warrior. Like them.« He laughed at himself before Runar could; he shouldn’t have said that. He had heard it from Ergis and the other knights often enough, he didn’t have to hear it from Runar, he shouldn’t have said that-

»You have the heart for it,« Runar said warmly, and when Yves stared at him, he had a smile on his lips.

»Don’t mock me!« Yves didn’t know what got into him to give him the sheer nerve to shout at the warrior, but he couldn’t stand this, not now, couldn’t endure it when it came with such mock friendliness. This was ridiculous, and there was no way Runar didn’t know it.

He backed away from Runar, only to stumble into the snow. Up here on the cliffs, the wind had cleared it to a layer just deep enough to hit him right in the back of the knees when he reached the side of the path, and he fell backwards, landing in the middle of it with a soft crunch. More tears welled up with the humiliation, overlaid with the vivid memory of snowy days with them.

He struggled to get back up before Runar, all concerned, reached out for him. He didn’t succeed. For a moment, he considered just ignoring the hand helpfully extended toward him - »Yves! Here, let me help you« - but then he took it anyway.

He couldn’t look at Runar. Melting snow wormed its way under his scarf, and the sensation brought a stark dread with it for which there was no longer a reason.

If there was any way to underline how false Runar’s words had been, this was it.

»Are you okay?«

Yves wordlessly started back on the way to the village. He was still crying - why was he always crying? There was no more reason to. He was pathetic.

He heard Runar follow him hurriedly, as if he were worried to let him out of his sight. »I didn’t mean to - startle you or - I didn’t mean to mock you. I meant what I said.«

Yves didn’t know how to answer. There was no way he could believe it.

#whump #whump writing #my writing #no warrior #yves #runar

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