#fighter au

[jockw]

Choose your fighter!

Pluto; “Unlucky Chat Noir”

With big sized paws, he'll knock his opponent and stun him momentarily for 5 seconds! Never mess with this kitty cat, he'll surely scratch you up and down.

Attack: Scratch

Alt: Power Claws

Annabel Lee; “Death Bride”

(ignore the paw)

As she floats above the souls, she seeks for her partner for life. Having no desire in anything else, she'll freeze everything to death.

Attack: Flower Rush

Alt: Death's Kiss

Montresor: “Hell's Lagoon”

From the depths of Hell itself, he was banished from the lands of life, causing chaos. Even Lucifer himself couldn't handle it. Without his golden chains around him, his status is lowered.

Attack: Hooves

Alt: Devil's Tango

#nevermore webtoon #nevermore #nevermore webcomic #annabel lee nevermore #annabel lee webtoon #annabel lee whitlock #pluto le chat #pluto #pluto nevermore #montresor webtoon #montresor nevermore #montresor #pluto webtoon #annabel lee webcomic #fighter au

[elliesmainhoe]

Motivation

Boxer!Ellie Williams x Fem!Reader

Summary: You have a day off work and go visit Ellie at training.

Contents: Fluff, kissing, use of 'baby, angel, doll, good girl and sugar', Ellie is handsy.

My Masterlist

You woke up at ten, laid around untill eleven. And you found yourself extremely bored. You didn't like work. Because well, no one likes work.

You only tolerated it due to you having something to occupy your time with. Ironically, you were a physical therapist, you rehabilitated athletes who had injured themselves.

The pros of your job: you met interesting people, heard interesting stories and did your duty to put some good back into the world.

Cons however, was that you were overworked and you barely got to spend time with your girlfriend.

Ellie made enough money, that if you wanted, you could never work another day again. However you hated the idea of being dependant on someone so you chose to keep tirelessly working.

But regardless, you had a day free of any obligations and could do whatever you wanted for 24 blissful hours.

You finally dragged yourself out of bed, shuffling towards the large floor to ceiling window in yours and Ellie's shared penthouse apartment. You drew the material to one side, squinting as bright light flickers into the room.

You threw on a simple outfit, a cozy, cream coloured sweater, flared blue jeans and simple black converse. You rubbed in various serums and products into your skin until you deemed yourself presentable enough and walked downstairs.

You reached the large, modern open plan kitchen, grabbing various ingredients you knew Ellie would enjoy. A spiced aroma drifted throughout the large space as your meal slowly came together. You put it in an insulated lunch box to keep the food warm, put it in your bag and left yours and Ellie's home.

You arrived at the large gym at exactly 12:25, 5 minutes until Ellie's lunch break. You entered the large 3 story building the first floor was a basic public gym, weights, cardio and other various machines.

The second floor was filled with punching bags, and a large flighting ring stood in the floors centre. This floor was for novice to advanced training.

The third floor was private. Ellie rented the top floor, using it as a private studio. Only her people (coaches, spar partners, specialists) had access, well plus you of course.

Having ridden the elevator to the top, you entered a small foyer. A large blacked out door that was locked stood tall. You rustled through your bag fishing out the key card and swiping it against the pad. The red light switched to green with a beep and the doors slid open.

You looked at the familiar room, glancing around trying to locate your girlfriend. You spotted her holding a plank on the floor. Beads of sweat dripped down her flexed arms. Her hair was tied up out of her face, a few strands loose and dangling.

You slowly approached her, trying to be stealthy.

"Baby, I know your there." She says before looking up at you.

"Damn, caught red handed, huh?"

"uhuh." She agrees, "I know the rhythm of your footsteps doll, I am impossible to speak up on." She says breaking her plank.

"You do know that justs makes me want to sneak up on you more, right?" She doesn't reply, only smirking at you while she got up from the floor.

Ellie leans towards you and kisses your forehead. "What has caused you to grace me with your presence?" She quips, walking towards a bench and picking up a small towel and wiping down her forehead.

"I cooked you homemade lunch..." You reply, taking out the insulated lunch box, still warm to the touch.

"oh my sweet, selfless, angel" she cooes sarcastically. "Oh shut up" you roll your eyes. "Not completely selfless, I want some too."

She chuckles "yeah of course baby," she says "c'mere" she winks at you and pats next to her on the bench. You shuffle over, handing her the warm meal.

You two banter and laugh, sharing food and kissing.

"Wish you could be here all the time with me, doll." She mutters through a bite of pasta. "Y'know, you could just work for me, be my personal nurse and all that."

"I don't know, I'll have to think about it Ells."

"Yeah, course sugar. Can't just ask you to quit your job and expect you to immediately say yes." She hummed, finishing off her last bite of pasta.

She closed the lunchbox lid, grabbing your bag and slipping it back in. "Hey, wanna help me work out?"

"I don't know Ells, I don't really think I can help with that. Your workouts are... intense."

She laughs "Don't worry doll, you don't have to do anything, just need you for a bit of motivation"

"okayyy... What do you want me to do?"

"Right lay down on the floor" You send her a look and she laughs in return "just do it baby, yeah good girl, okay, yeah flat on the floor."

She slowly climbs on top of you her arms on either side of your head, palms facing the floor. She moves her self into a plank position again.

She begins to do a push up, halfway her face meets yours. She collides her lips with yours briefly, but she pushes back up before you could fully enjoy it.

"Now. that. is. rude" you laugh at her, words between kisses.

"count for me" she asks, you can only nod in reply

She continues to do this, over and over again, it's torture.

"100" you finally say. She pushes down again but this time her lips linger for longer, her tongue entwining with yours. Her hands behind to wander, grabbing and pinching at your skin under your sweater. You could feel her smile when you gasped at the feeling.

"Hey." She says, her voice low and gravely. "I think I can scrap training this afternoon... Let's go home" she whispers into your ear. You could only muster a nod in reply.

----------

My first proper request!!!! I genuinely have no idea if you get what I mean about the press up kisses. It's so difficult to explain it 😭.

PT 2

NOT PROOFREAD

#ellie williams #ellie williams fic #ellie williams x fem!reader #ellie williams x female reader #ellie williams x reader #lesbian #lesbian fic #the last of us #the last of us fic #wlw #ellie tlou #ellie x fem reader #ellie x reader #ellie x y/n #ellie x you #boxer!ellie #pro boxer! ellie #fighter au #boxer au #ellie williams hbo #tlou hbo #hbo max #ellie headcanons #ellie williams headcanons #ellie williams fluff #elliesmainhoe

[moxiepoxart]

Erza Fighter AU 2/?

#my art #Fighter AU #fanart #anime #fairy tail #erza fairy tail #ft erza #erza scarlet #erza titania #jellal x erza #jerza #jellal fernandes #ft jellal #fairy tail jellal #au

[mythicalmisery]

Fighter/Artist AU : GhostxSoap

Soap quickly made his way from his last lecture to his motorcycle sitting in the parking lot. Knocking over anyone who stood in his way, earning him a few choice words as he practically sprinted down the halls. He had three midterms that week and was fucking exhausted. One would think that being an art major would be less stressful, but that was wishful thinking. 

He slid his helmet over his slightly grown-out mohawk, lifting the kickstand and setting off on that familiar drive to the other side of town he took every week. Soap had a particular affinity for sketching real-world objects and people. He believed that capturing the human form, with all its complexities and intricacies, was one of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of his craft. To hone his skills, he sought out places where he could observe people in their most natural states and one of his favorite places for this purpose was Price's MMA boxing gym.

Price's MMA gym held a special place in Soap's heart. It wasn't just a place for fighters to train and beat the shit out of each other. Soap had practically grown up within the confines of that gym, having spent his high school days cleaning it after hours in exchange for some pocket change. It was during that time that he earned the nickname "Soap" because of the way he scrubbed the floors and equipment spotless.

One of the main reasons Soap loved the gym was the owner, an old family friend, retired military captain John Price. Price had been a mentor to him, teaching him valuable life lessons and discipline. Soap considered him a father figure, especially after his own father had passed away when he was just a child.

Soap’s best friend, Gaz, was among the gym’s most dedicated fighters. Gaz had dreams of making it big in the world of UFC, and he trained tirelessly, leaving no room for distractions. Despite their different paths in life, Soap and Gaz remained close friends even as his career started to take off. Soap often joined in on his training sessions and sketched Gaz as he practiced his punches and kicks, capturing the intensity of the man's movements. 

Every week, Soap would visit the gym, finding a comfortable spot in the corner, sketchbook in hand, and losing himself in the world around him. He sketched the fighters as they sparred and practiced. Each line and shadow made with his pencils captured their movements and forms on paper forever. The clanging of weights and the thudding of punches in the background became a form of comfort for Soap over the years. Easy to get lost in the symphony of noise. 

This particular day, he noticed something was off as soon as he stepped foot in the gym. It was uncharacteristically quiet. Everyone standing around was talking in hushed voices and whispers. As Soap sat down in his usual corner, he instantly noticed the subject of everyone's attention. A newcomer, and a striking one at that. Blond hair, tall, and with a physique that could only be described as imposing. Soap recognized him from one of the hundreds of fights he was forced to watch every week with Gaz. His name was Simon “The Ghost” Riley and he was quickly becoming a rising star in his weight division. Sports networks raved about him and were labeling him the next big thing in the world of mixed martial arts. He was talking with Price in the corner of the ring, Gaz also joining them off to the side. If he remembered correctly, the man was from Manchester. Price had mentioned wanting to bring in more talent, guess it finally happened. 

For three whole weeks, Soap couldn't tear his eyes away from Simon Riley. There was something captivating about him, something that drew Soap in like a moth to a flame. Simon's powerful physique and the way he moved in the ring were a sight to behold. He quickly became Soap's favorite subject to draw, and he couldn't help but blush every time he caught himself focusing too hard on the details of Simon's impressive figure. Gaz certainly never let him forget it after casually flipping through his drawings one day and noticing a recurring theme. He had offered to introduce Soap to the man but he swiftly denied the invitation, painfully aware that the fighter was well out of his league. 

It was during the fourth week of his new infatuation that shit hit the fan quickly. Soap had been lost in his sketches like normal when he felt a sudden tug on his sketchbook. It happened so suddenly he was powerless to stop it. Startled, he looked up to find the one and only Simon Riley holding his sketchbook with an unreadable expression on his face. Flipping through the multiple pages filled with sketches of himself. 

"Seems like I have a stalker," Simon teased, his lips quirking up into a playful smile.

Soap's cheeks flushed crimson as he stammered, "I-I'm not a stalker. I just... I’m an art student, I come here to practice, I swear”

Simon chuckled, his brown eyes twinkling with amusement. "Well, you're quite talented,” he admitted, still studying the sketches. “These sketches are impressive.”

Soap was still furiously blushing as the man handed him back his sketchbook. Soap couldn’t believe he was having a conversation with Riley, he was even more intimidating up close. 

“Thank you, and I’m sorry” he managed to say, his voice a tad shaky. 

Simon’s teasing grin softened into a warm smile. “No need to apologize. I’m flattered, actually. Not every day I meet an artist who appreciates my…assets.” He winked, making the man's blush deepened even more. How cute. He mercifully decided to let Soap off the hook and started to back away. 

“The name's Simon, Simon Riley, by the way.”

“I know who you are,” the man stated, causing that lopsided grin to reappear on his face. 

“And does the artist have a name?”

“You can call me Soap.”

“Soap? What the hell kind of name is that?” Simon chuckled.

“It’s a nickname, you haven’t earned the real one quite just yet.”

“I’ll hold you to that, Soap,” the Brit said as he turned to head back to the training mats. 

From that day forward, whenever Soap visited the gym, he couldn't help but steal glances at the fighter whenever he could. And it seemed that Simon was just as intrigued by Soap. He began to pay more attention to the artist in the corner, watching him sketch with a keen interest. He would often strike up a conversation with Soap between training sessions, asking about his art and life outside the gym. Soap found himself drawn not only to Simon's physical presence but also to his genuine interest in getting to know him. One day, after finishing his training session, Simon decided to take their interactions a step further.

He leaned up against the ropes of the ring, that stupid smile plastered on his face. “Hey, Soap,” he called out, beckoning him towards the mats with a toss of his head. 

Soap blinked in surprise. “Me? In the ring?” He asked, his voice wavering slightly with a mix of excitement and nervousness. 

Simon just grinned and nodded his head back at him. “Yeah, why not? Just some light sparring. It will be fun.”

Soap hesitated, but the prospect of getting into the ring with his crush was too enticing to resist. To be that up close and personal with the man. He slowly shook his head and made his way to the ring. Rolling under the ropes and hopping up to face Simon who had that beaming smile aimed at him. It took everything in him not to melt right through the mat. 

“If I pin you, you tell me your real name. Deal?”

“Yeah cause that’s bloody fair coming from the professional fighter,” Soap scoffed back.

“Ah, don’t sell yourself short Soap, you seem like you know your way around the ring” Simon embellished with a wink. Cheeky bastard.

Soap watched countless sparring sessions, but had never imagined himself as one of the participants. To his surprise, he held his own quite well, showcasing a natural talent for the sport. Maybe spending years in the gym watching fighters had taught him more than he realized. Simon seemed impressed by his movements and techniques. His usual playful demeanor was giving way to genuine respect, even though he was going easy on the artist. They exchanged blows, both men sweating and grinning as they moved around the ring. 

As they sparred, Soap couldn’t help but stare at the man's body before him. The taught muscles shifting under his tight black athletic wear. Yeah, this was a bad idea. He glanced up at Simon's face, noticing the mischievous glint in Simon’s eye. Fuck. He definitely had been caught ogling the man's body. 

Suddenly, without warning, Simon hooked his left leg around Soap's ankle, sending him sprawling to the mat. Before he could even register what happened, Simon was on top of him and pushing down all his weight. He was trapped. 

Soap struggled beneath Simon’s crushing bulk, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “You… you did that on purpose. I was distracted,” he accused, though he couldn’t hide the hint of a smile on his face. 

Simon laughed above him, his eyes locking onto Soap’s with an intensity that sent shivers down his spine. “Maybe I did,” he admitted, leaning in closer until their faces were mere inches apart. “But I have to say, I like seeing you blush.”

Soap’s heart raced as he realized the proximity between them. Simon leaned in, his lips hovering just above Soap’s, leaving no room to wonder about his intentions. When Soap didn’t pull away, Simon closed the gap, capturing Soap's mouth in his. The kiss was electrifying, sending a rush of desire through Soap's body. It was a moment Soap had only ever dreamed of, and he responded eagerly, their lips moving in sync as the world around them faded away. 

When they finally broke apart, Soap's face was flushed, and his breath was unsteady. Simon grinned down at him, his eyes filled with warmth and affection. “I’ve wanted to do that for a long time,” he admitted.

Soap’s voice quivered as he replied, “Me too.”

“I expect a real name to call you now since I won,” he cheekily stated.

“You bloody cheated ya wanker!” Soap shouted at the man. 

“Don’t be a sore loser now mate,” Simon punctuated with a kiss to the man’s nose.

Soap huffed as he finally accepted defeat, the man was impossible. “John. John MacTavish”

Simon beamed at the man beneath him, hands holding Soap’s face like a prized possession as he leaned back in for another kiss. 

“Nice to meet you, Johnny”

Epilogue

As weeks went by, Soap and Simon’s connection deepened. They spent more time together outside the gym, going for coffee and sharing meals. Soap found himself falling hard for the enigmatic fighter, and it seemed that Simon’s interest in him was just as strong. 

One evening, after a particularly intense sparring session that had ended with a playful wrestling match on the gym floor, Soap finally mustered the courage to ask Simon a burning question. “Why do they call you ‘The Ghost’?”

Simon’s expression grew somber, and he sighed. “It’s a nickname I got during my early fighting days. They said I moved like a ghost in the ring, that I was elusive and hard to predict or some shit like that.”

Soap nodded, but he could sense there was more to the story. “Is there a reason you chose to become a fighter?”

Simon hesitated for a moment before speaking. “I had a tough upbringing, Johnny. Fighting was a way for me to escape the fucking shit in my everyday life. What started as a necessity for survival turned into my salvation. It gave me purpose and a sense of control over my life. God, that sounds pathetic doesn’t it,” he scoffed. 

Soap could see the pain in Simon’s eyes. He reached out to place a hand on his arm and scooted towards the man where they were still sitting on the mats. “It’s not pathetic Si, I’m glad you found something that brought you solace,” he said softly. Eyes never leaving the others, making sure he knew he meant every word. 

Simon smiled, his gaze softening. For once in his life, he truly believed Johnny had meant what he said. He was so used to people lying and using him, causing him to always stay distant and closed off. Something about the little artist in the corner had knocked all those barriers down the first time he laid eyes on him. “And I’m glad I found you,” he admitted, leaning in to capture Soap’s lips in a passionate kiss. The man had sketched his way into his heart forever. 

#ghostsoap #ghostxsoap #simon ghost riley #john soap mactavish #call of duty #fluff #call of duty modern warfare #artist au #fighter au #my writing

[grandlovescheme]

Along with the new fighter chapter, 30th already (!!!) I present to you the second art I commissioned with the wonderful @monecelesart

It has our favorite couple with their first baby 🥹 and there's more coming, furry and otherwise ❤️ You can go give it some love on Twitter but also enjoy it here ❤️

#daemyra #daemyra fanart #fighter au #daemon x rhaenyra #my fic stuff #modern daemyra

[theprofessionalpromptmaker]

Person A: I killed them. Now what? How do you intend to go on when the very thing you were trying to protect is gone? Person B: I think you’re a fool for mistaking my love for them as my motivation to fight. I was born fighting and I will die fighting. But they were my sole reason for not destroying everyone and everything in my sight and burning this entire world to ash eons ago. So for your sake, I hope you’re lying.

#mod poss #dialogue prompts #dialogue prompt #writerblr #original writing #writing inspiration #story prompt #creative writing #writing ideas #fantasy au #war au #warrior au #fighter au #killer au

[rt-closetcryptic]

Silly work doodles!

#welcome home #possible au #wally darling #julie joyful #frank frankly #poppy partridge #barnaby b beagle #sally starlet #eddie dear #howdy pillar #rtcc draws #fighter au

[romkole]

fighter! Daemon/ ballet dancer! Rhaenyra

He was a punk, she did ballet.

@grandlovescheme

#daemyra #fighter au #ballet dancer au #daemyra aesthetic #daemon x rhaenyra #daemon targaryen #rhaenyra targaryen #modern daemyra #modern au #hotd #house of the dragon

[saltycryptid]

Ring Fighter AU Soap and Ghost!

#Roach's Choice #COD: Modern Warfare II #Fanart #Artists on Tumblr #John Soap Mactavish #Simon Ghost Riley #Fighter AU #i just LOVE soap so very much #he is my little guy my little blorbo #yes i DID think of this au for very specific reasons ty for asking :) #anyways some extra tidbits I imagined while drawing this bc why not #I believe that Soap would fight in underground rings #none of this is above board !! #ghost is also a semi-infamous retired fighter in more professional circuits #had to retire for injury bc <3 #might draw more when the urge to go a little feral strikes again #also shoutout to how i will never draw ghost w the same hair twice aklshdlkashd #incapable of making decisions lmfao

[gremlin-writes-angst]

Fighter names

I am currently working on a redacted ASMR/audio boxer au and I wanted to share what I have so far for the character's fighter names.

These are the names I have so far. If it is blank it is because I'm not sure yet and will gladly take suggestions.

Gabrial Shaw- The Alpha: In this au gabe was a renowned fighter who used the title 'the alpha' but after his death, they use his full name in a sense of respect

David Shaw- The wolf: David wanted to honor his father's name, but didn't want to take his father's old name. partly cause it seemed rude and because he wasn't sure he could live up to such a name

Asher- The Hyena: I wanted the three main wolf boys to share a dog aspect to their names, to connect back to being werewolves. I choose Hyena because of the laugh, in this AU, I like to think Asher in the ring is a chaotic mastermind, who obnoxiously taunts his opponent, similar to a Hyena

Milo Greer- The Dhole: I like this match for many reasons, The Dhole dog is on the smaller size. but they are also smart and adaptive pack animals. I also like the irony of the name which is pronounced almost like dull. To me out of these three boys, Milo's appearance and fighting style seem to be the most dull to his opponents and Milo loves to play on that and prove them wrong. I am also headcannoning that Milo has red hair... at least for this AU.

Darlin: Darlin has multiple names in this au. With Quinn, they are called scraps when in the ring. but when with David and his gym they are Tank.

Sweetheart: one of my favs. Sweetheart remains with the name Sweetheart thanks to the fact that they fight with a heart-shaped ring, leaving their opponents with heart indents

Sam-

vincent-( my first thought is Prince but I'm not sure.)

Quinn- The Viper: I wanted something that went with the vampire thing but didn't want it to be to obvious. So viper, cause quinn is a snake and snakes have fangs. And because the song "Pit of vipers" by Simon Curtis made me think of quinn (and darlin) - Dec 7th 2023

bright eyes-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Everything below this line is edited/ad ons

Cutie-The Seer: I know Cutie isn't a Seer in the actual story, but it makes sense for this. When Cutie was a fighter, they were very good at calculating their opponents' moves. They were honestly just very analytical , studied, and found every pattern that existed in their opponents. So people assumed that they could see the future and they got the neam the Seer. Cutie was world renowned because they were super good and loved to travel/ jump from place to place. Till they me geordi and basically quit fighting. Cutie then became a journalist, mostly for sports. It works well because they've gotten really good at reading a person before even meeting them. Geordi is their editor. The two travel the world and write about sports(geordi writes about sceneries and hospitality of where they stay) Oct-25-2023

#redacted asmr #redactedverse #fanfic #redacted darlin #redacted sam #redacted audio #redacted quinn #redacted au #boxer au #fighter au #redacted david #redacted asher #redacted fanfic #redacted milo #redacted vincent #redacted gabe #redacted sweetheart #redacted geordi #redacted cutie

[chrollo-lucilfers-chains]

Okay guys, hear me out.

...

Izuku and Katsuki BUT they're underground fighters.

Pretty sure somebody has had that idea before, especially with Bakugo but IZUKU?!? He'd be freaking unstoppable...

I'm just imagining the two of them being on their usual rival stuff and you cannot convince me IZUKU wouldn't get dragged into the world of fighting to make money for his mom or sth if it came down to it. This man who literally has never cared for getting hurt but does care a great deal about helping others? Yeah, he'd be a prime candidate...

And I would love to see it. I'm not gonna lie. He's one of the most terrifying opponents in the ring and grown men tremble at his feet. His fans call him the bunny because he's absolutely jacked and he's so light on his feet.

But the same man loves helping old ladies across the street and protects kids from playground bullies.

You learn he's deadly in both the ring and the sheets.

I want to write this... I'm gonna write this!!!

#izuku #izuku midoriya #midoriya headcanons #izuku midoriya x reader #fighter au #fighter!izuku #midoriya #midoriya x you #izuku midoryia x you #mine #my writing

[sopebubbles]

Chapter Five

Summary: How many men will it take to save you? To be honest, you've gotten pretty used to saving yourself. Even though you're far from a delicate thing, Los Angeles is a dangerous place you can't seem to escape no matter how hard you try. The top 7 members of Bangtan should never have crossed your path, but they soon find they'd do just about anything to help you escape your past and make it safe for you to stay. But will you?

Genre: mafia au, poly ot7, angst, some smut, honestly a lot more fluff than i expected, POC reader/oc

Warnings: HEAVY angst, mentions of human trafficking, violence, implied sexual assault, talking about past physical and emotional abuse, speaking about forced drug use, Taehyung (and Hoseok) being a dumb ass

Extra Warning:

There's implied sexual assault during this chapter as well as mentions of physical abuse--if anyone wants to skip this chapter, I'll give a summary of what happens later this week. If you do choose to read, please pay attention to the ❌ you will see. That's when the material of the story will be the most sensitive. When it is "safe" to read you will see ✅. Please note that a lot of this au involves Y/n understanding and dealing with her trauma. Please make your mental health a priority and engage with this media in a way that makes you feel most comfortable.

Word count: 6.7K

<-previous | master list | next->

Jungkook did as he was told, as usual. After catching a couple hours of shut eye, he rolled out of bed while it was still dark and drove over to your apartment. He'd been there once with Taehyung while you were at work and he was just able to find his way back, even in the dark. The eastern sky was just starting to lighten up when he parked in front of the building next to yours. He leaned his head back against the rest and fought the urge to close his eyes. 

Luckily, he didn't have to wait long before you came out. He couldn't help the small laugh that escaped his lips when he saw you walk right past him carrying a duffle bag that looked as if it weighed as much as you did. Still, you didn't seem to be struggling under it. He waited a minute to let you get ahead down the street, before he flipped his car around and followed your direction. Two blocks away he saw you standing at a bus stop, bag on the ground and hands in the pockets of your acid wash skinny jeans. He didn't see a bus in sight, so he hung a left turn and circled the block before parking once again far enough down the street that he could see you without you noticing him. The sky continued to lighten its hues as he watched you.

Jungkook could see why Taehyung was initially attracted to you. You were clearly pretty with your tan skin that was a bit darker than Taehyung's own shade of sun kissed California tan. You released your hair from its bun and it fell in soft, dark waves down your back. As you combed your fingers through the strands, he found himself wondering what it would be like to have his hands in your hair, and he felt himself twitch in his pants before he stopped himself from following that path. He had to focus. You held yourself differently now from how you did the times he'd seen you before last night. You couldn't have gotten much sleep if any, yet you looked entirely alert. Sure, you weren't aware of him, but you seemed entirely aware of your surroundings otherwise. Your posture was ready for anything, and it spoke of an untold strength that wasn't apparent at first glance. He was sure now that you were much stronger than you looked. That would explain how you took down that "fucking monster" —Hoseok's words—last night.

Ten minutes later, a bus came down the street from behind him and pulled to a stop up the block where you were waiting. Jungkook watched as you hoisted up your bag and stepped into the bus. When the bus moved on he let several cars pass between them before he pulled out to follow it. A bus wasn't hard to keep track of, but it would be suspicious to stay too close, so he tried to keep his distance. Eventually, you got off across the street from the greyhound station, and Jungkook parked the car once again. 

The sun had come up over the horizon by then and it was already starting to heat up. The station wasn't too busy this early in the morning. Jungkook watched you walk inside, hoping you'd pick a bus that would leave soon so he could go home and sleep. His hopes were satisfied when you came out on the terminal side a few minutes later. You dropped your bag to the ground at the last terminal closest to him and shifted anxiously on your feet, periodically looking around you or down at the ticket clutched tight in your hands.

Jungkook looked up the bus schedule on his phone to check the details and called Namjoon, who answered after two rings.

"Anything?"

"She's doing what you said. She's at the station waiting for a bus to Phoenix. Should be here any minute," Jungkook informed his boss.

There was an audible sigh on the other end and Jungkook thought it almost sounded like relief. "Good. Stay there until she goes, just to be sure."

"Why do you care so much that she goes?" Jungkook wondered.

"She said she would go, and I think it's for the best, for Taehyung, for us, and for her, too. She said some things last night…it's best if she's out of LA, trust me."

"Sure, Joon."

"Thanks, Jungkook."

"Yeah, I just do-"

"Jungkook?" Namjoon asked after the man on the other end went silent for too long.

"Something's happening," Jungkook mumbles.

"What is it?"

"A black escalade just pulled up to the terminal and some huge mother fucker got out. He's talking to Val."

"What is she doing?"

"She doesn't look happy to see him, that's for sure."

"Are they talking?"

Jungkook chuckled. "She's definitely mouthing off to him."

"So not a friend?"

"I'm pretty sure he just showed her his gun. Shut her up. And now she's walking to his car."

"Damn."

"What's going on, Joon?"

"Can you tell me anything about the guy?"

Jungkook squinted to try to catch any details as the man escorted you back to his vehicle. "Mexican, I think. Big as a fucking tank. Didn't know they made Armani suits that big."

"Damn,” Namjoon said again, harsher this time.

"You got any ideas?"

"Yeah. You think they looked friendly at all?" Namjoon wondered.

"Definitely not. Especially not how he just shoved her inside the car."

"I need you to follow them, Jungkook. You think you can do that?"

"Yeah I'm on it."

"Keep your distance, though. This could get dangerous."

Jungkook smirked. "Dangerous is my middle name."

"That's not encouraging, Kookie. Just keep track of them and call me in a bit."

Jungkook sighed as he started to follow the large SUV with dark tinted windows. As they traveled further west, he was glad he'd filled the tank up this morning before he went after you. It wasn't easy to follow them and remain inconspicuous while they wove through traffic at 90 miles an hour, but Jungkook managed to keep up. Just where the hell were they taking you? Finally, he called Namjoon after he'd followed the escalade off the I-10.

"Where are you?" The leader asked without a greeting. 

"I'm in fucking Malibu."

"Damn. Have they stopped?"

"No, but- god damn it!" Jungkook pulled over and stopped the car, smacking his hand against the steering wheel.

"What happened?" 

"They just drove into a gated community. Where the fuck are they taking her?" Jungkook could see the big mansions beyond the wall, but there was no way to get to them, and it caused a sinking feeling in his stomach. 

"Alright. Come home, babe. I don't wanna risk you out there."

"What do you mean, hyung? What's going on? Who has her?"

Namjoon sighed tiredly on the other end. "It's La familia, and I think they're taking her to Joaquin Moreno's house."

"What the fuck? Why? And how do you know?" 

"She told me last night that she…was familiar with them, in the past. That's why she was running, but she didn't run fast enough."

Jungkook didn't know why anxiety was bubbling in his chest for a girl he didn't even know, but he couldn't keep it down and it showed in his voice when he spoke. "That guy's a fucking psycho, hyung. We can't leave her there."

"Look, I know. But there's nothing we can do right now. Just come home."

"Has Taehyung come back yet?"

Namjoon sighed again. "He just pulled up."

"He's gonna be fucking pissed."

"That's an understatement. Look, I'm not telling him anything right now."

Jungkook nodded to himself. "Good call. I'm gonna go back to her place and see if she makes it home tonight."

"Jungkook, you don't have to do that."

"Yeah, but you kinda want me to, don't you?"

There was a pause as the leader hesitated on the other end. "Yeah. Yeah, go ahead. Thanks."

Jungkook couldn't help a smirk. "There's something about her, huh?"

Namjoon breathed a laugh. "Yeah. I'm glad you see it too."

"Yeah. We're all totally fucked now," Jungkook chuckled. 

"Be careful out there," Namjoon warned, his words heavy with affection. 

"Dont worry about me, Joonie. Good luck with Tae." 

Jungkook hung up the call and shifted the car into gear. If he was going to spend all day waiting for you, he was going to need some food. 

The front door of the mansion slammed shut, rattling some of the fixtures on the walls. 

"She fucking left, hyung! Can you believe that? She just fucking left me sleeping. Not even a goodbye!" Taehyung shouted, walking straight into Namjoon's office just as he was hanging up his phone call with Jungkook. 

"What's that?" Seokjin looked pointedly at the teddy bear hanging from Taehyung's left hand.

"A goddamn parting gift, I guess." The younger man tossed the stuffed toy to the floor like he didn't care, but his eyes lingered on it. He looked back up at the other two men, who looked between him and the plushie. After an awkward moment he bent down to pick it up again. "If I could get her back, I'd fucking kill her for leaving me," Taehyung muttered as he brushed it off.

Namjoon put his hands in his pockets with an annoyed sigh, "I'm sure she had a good reason for leaving."

"Why? Why are you taking her side?" Taehyung held back. 

"I'm not. But I saw her last night and she was scared. Maybe she had no other choice."

"No other choice? She had me. I can protect her. Now that she knows everything, I can do anything to protect her." He raked a shaking hand through his disheveled hair. He looked like shit after his clothes spent all night on your floor and after getting barely any sleep. His red eyes shot up to stare at his leader, the man he knew as his own brother since they'd been raised together after the death of Taehyung's parents. "Do you know where she went? You talked to her last night. Did she tell you where she's going?"

"She didn't say. She just said she had to go, and that you shouldn't stop her." It wasn't easy to lie to Taehyung, but Namjoon didn't want to find out what he would do if he knew where you were now.

"So you knew she was going to leave me and you didn't even tell me?" Taehyung's tired features twisted with betrayal.

"Tae, what was I supposed to do? If she wants to leave, that's her choice. You'll have to accept it."

"It's alright, Taehyung-ah. More fish in the sea, right?" Seokjin tried to calm him down.

"I'll find her." Taehyung turned, determined, even if he knew he'd already lost too much time. He dug his hand in his pockets for his keys.

"No. You won't. Go upstairs and take a shower. Spend the day in. Get some rest. I don't need you out on the streets getting reckless right now." Namjoon's voice was firm, but it only fueled his rage. 

"You may be in charge of this organization, hyung-nim, but you don't control me," Taehyung answered through gritted teeth. 

Namjoon leveled the younger man with a stare that had helped him gain his reputation as a fearsome ganglord. "I told you to tell her what was going on weeks ago, especially with all this going on with the triads, so that you could keep her safe. You didn't, and she got caught in the middle. And now Zhang and his men are dead too. So right now, Seokjin and I have to go do some damage control. And I need you to keep your ass in this house and not cause anymore fucking problems right now. Got it?"

Taehyung couldn't think of anything to say that wouldn't get him into trouble, so he just grumbled under his breath and walked away to his room. 

It had still been pretty early in the morning when Jungkook left Malibu with a pit in his stomach. Around 2pm he started to regret his decision to wait at your place to see if they'd bring you back. What if they kept you? What if they'd already killed you? He should have stayed. He was lost in thought when a car pulled up next to him and the door opened to let someone out, so he was surprised when he saw it was Hoseok knocking on the glass of the passenger side door. He quickly got in after Jungkook unlocked it. Whoever had dropped him off was already gone. 

"What are you doing here?" Jungkook mumbled. 

"I was with the boss and Seokjin for a meeting, but I wanted to keep you company." Hoseok slipped an energy drink into the cup holder. "Nothing yet?"

"Nada," Jungkook replied with an ironic smile before he cracked the can open with a satisfying pop. 

"Can you believe this? We've managed to avoid La familia for all these years and now we're getting wrapped up, all because of Taehyung."

"We're not wrapped up." Jungkook didn't look at his hyung while he talked, eyes scanning the streets. 

"Yeah, then what are you doing here?" Hoseok gave him a suspicious look, but the younger man ignored it. 

"I just wanna see if she comes back alive, that's all."

"And if she doesn't?" 

"I don't know."

"And if she does?" 

"I don't know, man! But Namjoon is suspicious and-"

"And you just wanna see her again," Hoseok smirked. 

Jungkook pushed his head back against the rest. "It's not like that!"

"No, I get it. Really. Val's fucking nuts and that's hot. Crazy girls always have the best sex. But they're nothing but trouble and we've got enough of that." Hoseok helped himself to some of Jungkook's chips he'd been munching on to keep himself awake. "But you know, if she comes back, she's still Taehyung's girl."

"Shut up."

"I'm just saying, man! Don't set your eyes on her, cause-"

"No. Shut up. That's their escalade," Jungkook informed him, nodding to the large vehicle that had stopped in front of Yn's apartment building. 

For a moment nothing happened. Then quickly the car door opened and Val tumbled out. A second later her duffle bag was thrown in the ground at her feet. Then the door closed again and idled there.  She gave her middle finger to whoever was inside and then scooped up her bag before going toward the gate. Once she made it past the entrance, the driver of the SUV floored it and sped down the road, tires screeching. 

"Well, she's alive. You ready to go home or you wanna shoot your shot?" Hoseok asked around a mouthful of chips.

Jungkook glared at his hyung from the corner of his eye. "Did you really come here just to bust my balls?"

"Pretty much." Hoseok grinned childishly. 

"Where did she go?" Jungkook looked frantically around. There was no way you could be inside already, but you were nowhere to be seen. His pulse quickened as Hoseok began looking closely, too. Both men jumped, simultaneously reaching for their weapons when you opened the rear door behind Hoseok and threw your bag inside. You climbed in after it and shut the door loudly, both men looking at you with wide eyes and raised guns.

"Take me to Kim Namjoon."

"What happened? Is she-" Namjoon stopped short when he caught sight of you walking into his living room once again. 

"I'm alive, for now," you grumbled, coming to a stop a few feet from him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Val?" Taehyung's voice cut through to you, and you couldn't stop yourself from turning to him, as much as you didn't want to. Whatever had happened since you left him in the morning, your feelings toward him hadn't changed. If anything you felt farther from him than ever. Less capable of loving him. Nevertheless, he wrapped you up in his arms and whispered into your hair. "You came back."

You sighed and pushed gently against his chest to get him to let you go. "Tae, this isn't why I came back." You turned back to the leader, who rephrased his question. 

"Why are you here?" 

"Great question. I should be pulling into Phoenix right about now, but instead I'm still in Los Angeles because of that hijo de puta, Joaquin."

Jungkook and Hoseok chuckled behind you. They couldn't seem to get enough of your ranting and cursing in Spanish. "What happened?" 

"Every time I try to leave this goddamn city he finds out and pulls some shit to keep me here. Like my freedom is some kind of sick game to him."

"Who the fuck is Joaquin?" Taehyung interjected suspiciously. 

"Joaquin Moreno," Namjoon replied. 

"The Joaquin Moreno?" Taehyung's jaw dropped to the floor before he closed it and swallowed hard.

"Yeah. So I'm going to need Bangtan's protection, because this time, he's not going to let me go."

Taehyung raised his eyebrows at you. "What do you mean 'this time'?"

But you ignored him for the moment and focused on Namjoon. "Joaquin's new mission is to come after your organization. But he's only doing it to control me. So I say, we team up and get rid of him instead."

Namjoon put his hands in his pockets and looked you up and down. "How can I know this isn't a trick?"

"I told you," you gritted out quietly.

"You suggested. But you also didn't follow through on what you said you would do and you spent the day with your supposed enemy, so how can I trust you?"

You hadn't seen them come in, but all the members of the inner circle of Bangtan were in the room now, and while they watched on with confused eyes they had you surrounded and you could feel their defenses tightening. You held up your hands in surrender.

"You wanna check me for a wire, boss daddy?" You smirked.

Namjoon returned a tilted smile before he nodded. "Taehyung."

His subordinate made a meal of patting down your body, and you tried your best not to let the way you cringed show through. When he was done, he smacked your ass and you threw him a glare.

"She's clean."

"Look, I have nothing to prove that I'm on your side except for the fact that I hate him more than anyone on the planet and all I want is to see him dead."

"What do you have against the leader of La Familia?" Jimin asked from behind you. You turned to glance at him and sighed. 

"Can someone get a girl a drink?" You asked as you walked over to one of the dark leather arm chairs and sat down. 

Jungkook snorted. "Have you even had anything to eat today?" 

You shot him a sharp look as well. "Mind your own business, stalker." The youngest rolled his eyes. Jimin handed you a glass of brown liquid and sat beside you with his body facing you, cheek against his palm in rapt attention. You took a drink, swallowing the burn before you looked up at the seven sets of curious eyes. 

"My name is Y/N Y/L/N. My father worked for a cartel in Veracruz. As gangsters go, he was pretty much as bad as they come. He was the guy you called when you wanted someone to disappear. When I was fifteen, there was a job that he refused to complete, some kid he was supposed to kill and for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to do it. Even when the cartel came for me and threatened to take my life, he wouldn't follow through. In the end, my father was killed and the cartel sold me to a man who worked for La Familia. He was just the first in a long chain of men who moved people, mostly women, from central America into the port of Los Angeles. And that was where I first met Joaquin and his father."

❌ ❌ ❌

The shipping container allowed in just enough light to tell the difference between night and day. The wreaking air was stifling, until finally the door opened. 

"Twenty-five women, as promised," the loathsome man who had brought you here informed the boss. "Was almost twenty-four," he mumbled.

"Why?" You couldn't see the man's face, but his voice was one of a man who always got answers to his questions. You didn't need to see him to know he was in charge. 

"This one's a runner," the first man replied, and you knew he was clearly pointing at you. You stood at the head of the pack, the rest of the terrified women standing behind you. It wasn't that you weren't terrified. You were just unwilling to give up until you got away. 

You survive, no matter what, your fathers words echoed in your head.

"Bring her here."

The large man who had so enjoyed beating you each time you attempted to escape came forward to grab you by the arm. You struggled against his grip, but back then you weren't so strong and he dragged you out of the container to throw you on the ground in front of the boss. You scrambled to your feet and moved away from him. Now in the lights of the dock you could see the man and all his subordinates standing with guns. There was nowhere for you to go but back in the container. The boss approached you and grabbed you by the jaw. 

"Huh. She could be pretty, if she wasn't so filthy," a man behind him commented. 

You turned your hate-filled eyes on the one who spoke. He was tall and fit, and truthfully quite handsome, but even from where you stood, you could see the madness in his eyes. You began to wriggle free, jerking your face away from the older man, only for him to grab you by the throat. 

"You see that? The will to live? You can't teach that. And you can't destroy it, either. You can only train it. Channel it." The man pulled you closer to him. 

"She won't do for the whorehouse," the younger man said. 

The elder looked over his shoulder. "You want her, mijo?"

The younger shrugged nonchalantly, but it was clear he was already obsessed with you. "Might be able to do something with her."

"The only thing this one will ever do is fight," the boss told him. 

"Perfect."

"Hm." The boss grunted and pushed you toward his son as if you were nothing. "Get the rest out of here."

Joaquin—you would soon learn his name—caught you by your arms and held you up. His hands went to your face. There was an already fading bruise over your left eye from a beating you received a week earlier, and he hummed as he traced his thumb over it. "Let's see what fun we can have, princesa."

"The night I arrived on the docks Joaquin took me home to his mansion and made me his personal plaything. For three months, I did nothing but try to escape, only to be dragged before him each time and punished. One night he beat me nearly to death, and I knew I'd never get free if I wasted my energy like that. I needed to be stronger, not half dead. And so when he decided to groom me to be a fighter, I let him."

"The scars," Taehyung said quietly. He sat across the room, directly in front of you, and you met his eyes for a second before you looked away.

"Joaquin had me take steroids. I trained half the day until I was ready to fight. Among their many illegal businesses, La familia runs an underground boxing ring, and for nearly four years I ruled it."

Jungkook scoffed. "Are we supposed to believe this?" You glared at him, but Namjoon stepped in. 

"Let her finish." You took another drink and continued. 

"For five years, I was Joaquin's property. I was his fighter, his whore, his thief. All I could do was bide my time until I could escape, but I was watched constantly. When his father died, I knew things would change. Joaquin's a psychopath, and I didn't want to stick around anymore to see how far he would take things as a leader. I asked him if I could fight for my freedom, and he reluctantly agreed. He got the biggest guy you can imagine to beat the shit out of me in a prize fight. I almost died, but I was the one who survived, and he had no choice but to let me leave." You drained your cup and looked down at the empty glass. "It was a lie though. He's had his eyes on me for the last two years, and anytime I've tried to leave LA he had his men catch me and put me right back in my place. And the only way I'll ever be truly free is if he dies."

"And why should this have anything to do with us?" Namjoon finally asked, sitting back in his chair and brushing imaginary dust off his slacks.

✅✅✅

You sighed and set your empty glass on the end table. "This morning his goons picked me up at the bus station and took me to his mansion." Your eyes traveled over Jungkook and he shifted uncomfortably. "Among lots of other gross things, he said if I helped him cut into your counterfeit operations then he would finally let me leave LA, and if I don't help him then he's going to make me his prisoner again."

"So why are you here? Why ask for our help instead of helping him?" Seokjin wondered. 

"Because he's a fucking liar, and as I said, he'll never let me go. So I want you to help me kill him instead, and then we can go our separate ways."

Namjoon shook his head. "We can't just kill a rival gang leader, especially not one as well connected as Moreno. It would be the end of Bangtan when they retaliate."

"I know that. But I don't need you to kill him. I just need you to help me to get in a position to do it myself."

"You were with him today. You were alone with him? Why not try then? How could we even help?" Jungkook asked. 

"It's not that simple. I need time. I'm not strong enough right now," your voice weakened with your admission, feeling disgusted by all the ways he had proved that to you earlier. 

"I thought you said I couldn't protect you. So why are you asking now?" Taehyung interjected, throwing your words back at you. 

"Because you can't. Once he's dead I'll be on the run for the rest of my life," you responded as if it were obvious.

"Then what's the point of killing him?" Hoseok asked, analyzing you with arms crossed over his chest.

"Because someone needs to kill that bastard."

"Surely lots of people have tried. What makes you think you can succeed?" Namjoon pushed. "You're just a little girl."

"Because he deserves to rot in hell for what he's done to me! I won't let him have me again!" You exploded at him, and the room fell completely silent as their eyes stayed fixed on you. The only movement was the agitated rise and fall of your chest as you tried and failed to breathe steadily.

"We'll do it," Namjoon agreed, breaking the tense silence. "We'll protect you until Moreno is dead."

You sighed, letting yourself deflate and pushing aside the embarrassment you felt for your outburst. Normally, you tried so hard to hold on to your emotions, to keep them simmering beneath the surface. Fighting with Taehyung was different. An activity. True anger and heartbreak were things you only let out when you were alone because letting anyone see them would reveal your weakness, but that had seemed to be the thing that convinced Namjoon of your sincerity. Now that he agreed, you put the wall back up. 

"Thank you," you said coldly. 

"Do you have a plan?" The leader got to his feet and you followed suit. 

"Not yet. It's been…a hectic day. But we should find a way to turn his plans against him. I think his ultimate goal is to hurt the Chinese by exploiting your fued with them."

"Why does he care about the triads?" Jungkook wondered. 

"The Mexicans and the Chinese have been fighting over pieces of California for over a century. It's just what they do," you shrugged. 

"We can work it out later," Namjoon interrupted. "We should be smart with our plans. For now though, as you said, it's been a hectic day, and you should rest." The leader looked down at you and you almost thought there was genuine concern in his eyes. You glimpsed a similar look in them the night before when you first revealed your past to him. "Doc."

"Yes, sir?" Yoongi responded, suddenly becoming alert.

"See if you can find her something to eat."

The pale man nodded. "Cmon," he invited as he started toward the kitchen but stopped when he saw you weren't moving. 

"It's okay. Jungkook can take me home. I have work tonight, since I'm staying." You looked hesitantly at Jungkook. 

"No." The short word left Namjoon's lips with authority that even you couldn't question. "You'll stay here from now on. If we're going to protect you, we're going to do it right. Otherwise Moreno could grab you at any moment." There's a pause while he gives you another of his appraising looks. "There's a spare bedroom upstairs you can stay in."

"She can stay with me," Taehyung offered instead. You turned your eyes on him harshly. 

"The spare room will be fine." You could see the anger bubbling in your ex boyfriend immediately. He was about to open his mouth but Yoongi stepped in. 

"Fight about it later. You should eat something now, Y/N."

You flinched at the name and it didn't go unnoticed by the others. You cleared your throat. "If you could keep calling me Val, I'd appreciate it. Y/N is…someone else."

Yoongi nodded understandingly. "Cmon, Val."

After you ate the sandwich Yoongi made, he showed you to the room Namjoon said could be yours. Jungkook had already taken your bag from the car and left it there for you. And for the rest of the evening you were left to your own devices. Without venturing out from the suite that was larger than your whole apartment, you could sense that the house was mostly empty. The members of Bangtan must be out for the night, participating in various nefarious activities. You tried to make yourself comfortable in the new space, but the events of the day kept you ill at ease, so you decided to draw yourself a hot bath in the gigantic tub in the ensuite bathroom.

❌ 8am, Malibu ❌

You knew if you didn't want to end up a dead girl at the greyhound station then you'd better get in the car with that big mother fucker. Neither he, nor the driver,  nor the third man in the car said much as you sped down the I-10 toward Malibu, but you didn't need them to tell you where you were going. You wondered if Jungkook was still following you, but you weren't dumb enough to look behind you to see.

You were led into Joaquin's modern style mansion. Most of the exterior walls that faced the ocean were entirely glass. An odd choice for someone who knowingly conducted illegal business at home, but the beach down below was private and he clearly wasn't bothered. It was quiet in the large open living room and it would have been nice to enjoy the view of the ocean, but you were taken straight to his office.

"The place hasn't changed at all," you remarked as you stood in the familiar room.

"Did you miss it here?" Joaquin asked with a smug smile that made your stomach turn. 

"Like one misses a leech."

"Don't lie, Y/N. You must miss me a little, miss what we had together, since you called me last night," he slowly walked closer to you, "when you were in distress."

"I was angry, not distressed," you corrected.

"Yes, and you accused me of putting you in danger, when you know I would never." He stopped in front of you and looked down his nose at you. "But you've learned the truth now, haven't you? About your new lover?"

You tensed, and of course he noticed, but he switched tracks. "You know, I've been wanting to tell you for months that I love your body now." As he spoke he placed his hands on your hips and reached down to grope your ass. Instantly you raised your hands to his chest to push him off of you, but he pulled you closer and purred in your ear. "You aren't strong enough to fight me off anymore, princesa. And I used to love your strong, firm body. You know that. But this curvier, softer body of yours, well I've been wanting to feel it for a long time."

Your blood ran cold and you could feel yourself become paralyzed, but you fought it off and with it you gave him one last push.

"Still the fighter, I see." Joaquin grinned with satisfaction as he caught himself. 

"I will always fight you. You know that," you growled at him. 

"Not always,” Joaquin corrected. “But lately it seems it’s your favorite game."

"Is that what this is? A game to you? My life, my freedom is just sport?" 

Joaquin laughed. "Yes, Y/N! Exactly that! You get exactly as much freedom as I give you. I let you out of your cage, but you remain in my city, and you cannot leave without my permission."

You groaned. "I'm sick of this, Joaquin. Why must we do this? Why don't you just let me go."

Joaquin tisked at you. "Because you belong to me, princesa. Just as you always have and you know it." His words turned your stomach to lead. "But this time, I have a way for you to earn your freedom for real. If you help me with this one thing, I will let you leave LA and never return."

You looked him up and down suspiciously. You knew better than to trust a word he said. He would never let you go free, not really. Still you played his game. "What is it?"

Joaquin smiled and walked around his desk. "Do you know how the Koreans make their fortune?"

You had a sense of deja vu. Except this time you genuinely had no idea. "Of course not. I only found out about them last night and I didn't exactly ask for the rundown."

"But you did meet their leader, Kim Namjoon, did you not?" He sat down in his chair and waved someone in to bring him a drink. 

You swallowed without knowing exactly why he was making you so nervous simply by mentioning the man's name. "Yes, I did."

Joaquin clasped his hands together and sucked in a breath. "I've never met the man, but I imagine he must be a superior son of a bitch, no?"

You shrugged. That hadn't been your impression but you weren't really thinking about it at the time.

"Anyway, the Koreans think they're something else. They deal in drugs, as we all do. But more importantly, they deal mostly in counterfeit goods and stolen goods on the antiquities market. They compete mostly with the Chinese, but I would like to push them out of LA."

You furrowed your brow at him. "Why? Why do the Chinese a favor? It doesn't seem like the Koreans are interfering with you in any way."

"Does it matter to you why? All you have to do is help me take over their counterfeit operations and when it's done you can escape to whichever corner of the world you choose." He gestured widely with a flutter of his fingers. 

"Why do you need me? How can I help? I'm not involved with them." Hell, you were trying to run as fast and as far as you could. 

"Yes, but you will be. You can do it perfectly. All you have to do is run back to your little boyfriend and ask for his protection. Get close to them, learn about their business and report back to me. You know the routine." 

"But I've broken up with Taehyung. I can't go back now," you explained. 

"Nonsense. From what Mariana has told me, he's crazy about you." He gave you a dark and conspiratorial look. "I'm sure he'll be glad to take you back into his bed. He seemed to enjoy it so much before." The lecherous tone in his voice made your skin crawl. 

"You've had my roommate watching me," you surmised. 

"All along, princesa. I know everything." He walked around the desk to stand in front of you once more. "Including how much you want to be free," he mocked. 

"And if I won't whore myself out for your mission?"

"Then you'll stay here with me, baby." He locked eyes with you and you stared each other down for a long moment. It wasn't a hard choice to make, though. Anything was better than staying with him. 

"I'll do it."

"Of course you will!" He cheered. "Now, someone, bring me some champaign, and then leave us alone. My princesa and I need to celebrate our reunion like old times." He came ever closer to you, stroking your cheek with his hand. 

"Joaquin, no. Send me back!" You pleaded more than you would have liked. 

"I will. Don't worry. But not until you remember exactly who it is you belong to." He grabbed you by your throat and pulled you closer. "Now, didn't you miss me?"

"Let me go!" You tried to break his hold but you couldn't. 

"Oh, I never did like it when you begged," he sneered as he squeezed and started to cut off your oxygen. 

✅ Beverly hills, 7pm ✅

The bath had gone cold while you suffered in your memories. You splashed your face with water to clear away the silent tears you'd cried. Then you got out and wrapped yourself in the softest towel in existence. Quickly, you dried off and got into a warm set of sweats for pajamas. The a/c in the mansion was strong and you were cold in spite of the August heat, not like in your sweltering little apartment. Or maybe it was just the shock of the day. You tried to close your eyes and push aside all thoughts, and you'd almost fallen asleep when you felt the bed dip beside you. Instantly you shot up, but someone dragged you back down.

"It's just me, Val." Taehyung spoke to you in the dark. With your mind suddenly awake you could smell the alcohol on his breath, but you could tell by his speech that he wasn't drunk yet. You knew what that sounded like on him. "I'm sorry if I woke you. But I don't know how you expect me to stand sleeping down the hall from you and not with you. I need you, baby." He pulled your body close to him and kissed your temple. 

"Taehyung, you can't do this. I need some space," you whispered back, trying to push him off of you. "Please," you whimpered. 

To your relief he backed off a bit. "I don't understand why you came back if you don't want to be with me," he moaned pathetically.

"I'm not the person you think I am, Taehyung," you replied coldly.

"You keep saying that. I heard your story today. I understand that you have a dark past but-"

"No, Tae. You weren't listening. I came back because I'll do anything to survive. Anything to escape. I didn't come back because I love you. I came because I had to. And if you don't start accepting that I'm only going to have to keep hurting you. I can't love you. I don't have that luxury."

A whimper caught in his throat and he stayed very still for a moment. "Let me stay. Just for tonight," he begged.

"No. I told you, I need space. I've had an awful day and the thought of your hands on me makes my skin crawl. Leave." Your words were harsh. And perhaps he didn't deserve them. But it got him to leave in a huff, slamming the door to your room on the way out.

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My apologies for people I wasn't able to tag!!

#bts ot7 #bts fanfic #bts x reader #bts angst #bts heavy angst #tae angst #taehyung x reader #jungkook x reader #namjoon x reader #bts mafia au #jin x reader #ot7 x reader #hoseok x reader #jimin x reader #yoongi x reader #bts reader insert #reader is Mexican #bts hurt/comfort #beastie 🐾 #fighter au #I'll post the summary on Wednesday #please heed the warnings #take care of yourselves my friends 🥺💕

[moxiepoxart]

TW minor blood: Entering the She Devil Mirajane!

Fighter AU 4/?

#my art #fanart #anime #fairy tail #fighter au #mirajane strauss #fairy tail mirajane #ft mirajane #erza scarlet #ft erza #fairy tail erza #fairy tail manga #erzajane #erza titania #mirajane she-devil

[moonkissedart]

It supposed to be just a movement study, but I have a soft spot for MDM. 🫣

@inussunflower 💕

#inuyasha #fanart #illustration #fanart for fanfic #kouga #fighter au #doodle #my art

[grandlovescheme]

So guys. I commissioned two art pieces for fighter AU, and one of them is coming later, for the end of the fic... but the first one is HERE and it's fucking gorgeous!! Look at it! 😭🥰😭🥰😭

Check out the original post and the amazing artist, @monecelesart on Twitter if you can, but for those who don't have it, ENJOY ❤️🖤

The hug from the last chapter! The top Rhaenyra adored, Daemon's tattoo, him cupping her face - look at him, he's so in love!!! 😭

Stay tuned for the second commission, it's gonna be... 🫠🥰🥺

#daemyra #daemyra art #artwork #daemyra fanart #art commisions #daemon × rhaenyra #modern daemyra #modern au #fighter au

[theprofessionalpromptmaker]

Person A was a foster kid who, when they aged out of the system, avoided homelessness by hooking up with a wealthy but abusive partner. Their partner, in an effort to keep tabs on Person A, brings them to the underground fight clubs where they make bets on who will win. One of the fighters, Person B, is a consistent winner and Person A is attracted to seeing Person B fight, so Person A lets their controlling partner keep bringing them to the fights for the sake of seeing Person B. Eventually, Person A has to leave their partner for the safety of the child the two had together, and is living in a cheap apartment, but still attends the fights to make some extra cash betting on Person B. But one day, they run into none other than Person B in the elevator at their apartment when they’re coming back from grocery shopping with their child. Person B doesn’t recognize Person A, since they never paid attention to the crowds watching them, and is sweet and friendly to Person A’s child and offers to help Person A carry the groceries they’re struggling with. Person A is reminded of their strong attraction to Person B, but is afraid to bring someone who they’ve seen be immensely violent into their life with their child after already escaping one abusive partner. As more run ins around the apartment complex happen, Person A starts to learn more about Person B’s everyday life and starts to develop romantic feelings for them alongside their continually growing attraction to Person B since they first saw them in the ring.

#mod poss #creative writing #writing prompt #writing #prompt #fanfic prompt #fanfiction prompt #story prompt #creative writing prompt #ficinsp #alternate universe #plots and prompts #domestic abuse tw #abuse tw #neighbor au #fighter au #single parent au #romance au