#i think i get carried away when i talk about food symbolism | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

nicole-alt-delete · 1 year

Text

Part 2 of Black Bandana!

Just as Robin is about to open the door and return to the hovel she and Steve consider a job, the door bursts open in front of her and Eddie Munson blazes past. She barely has time to process his greeting, let alone how red he looks.

"What was that about?" She questions, just briefly looking back at him as she makes her way to the counter, only to find Steve standing there looking shell shocked.

And quite possibly redder than Eddie was.

Robin might not be able to figure out what's going on in the Munson brain, but one look at Steve has her dropping their lunch on the counter in a hurry as her eyebrows shoot up and she leans in to whisper dramatically.

"Did something happen? You didn't tell him-?"

Despite still looking beyond flustered, Steve manages to snap out of it just so he can push her shoulder. "What? God, no- Rob, are you kidding- no, no.... He just uh. I.... I'm not sure what just happened, actually."

He takes a deep breath and runs his hand through that signature hair of his, and as Robin rolls her eyes and rounds the counter he's already got his hands on his hips as he enters his 'thinking mode'.

She takes a seat on another of the counters and reaches for her food, eager to find out just want transpired while she was out.

"Okay then dingus, you know the drill- from the top,"

Steve does a little head shake and starts pacing, taking a moment to go through it in his head, trying to figure out where exactly the top of the situation was. After a few moments of scrunched eyebrows and more head shaking, he finally looks around the store, making sure it's empty again.

"Okay, well... I guess... I mean I guess Eddie came out to me?"

Robin throws her hands up, the fries she was about to shove into her mouth forgotten in her excitement.

"What?! Well that's- that's perfect then right? I mean I told you so, first of all, but then. What's with all the...?" as she gestures to him, pointing out how tense and confused he looks.

Steve rolls his eyes, "No Robs, it's not perfect- it was a shitshow! It was totally an accident, it was like I forced him to say it- and he looked so terrified, I really didn't know those eyes of his could get any bigger. Someone came into the store and he ran away before I could even respond, I don't think he thinks..."

Another sigh as his voice drops a little to mumble, "He probably thinks I'm gonna punch him or some stupid shit,"

Robin frowns. "An accident... he came out to you on accident." Nodding a little like she gets it. She immediately shakes her head and squints, definitely not getting it at all.

"How did that happen, exactly?"

Steve leans against the opposite counter, the red returning to his face as he crosses his arms. "I guess... you know that bandana he always carries?"

She nods, "The one you stole to get a reaction from him, yeah. I assume he came to get it back like you wanted- so what went wrong?"

"Well- that's just it- you know how I had it in my pocket this morning? Just like he always does? I guess when he came in he saw, and he absolutely freaked the hell out. Jumped over the counter and nearly gave me a heart attack over it,"

Robin laughs, “Over the bandana?”

“Because it was in my pocket,”

She stares at him blankly.

"Because.... it was in your pocket."

He nods.

They blink at each other in silence for a moment, before finally Robin pulls her head back and makes this confused little sneer, setting aside her lunch altogether.

"What the fuck?"

Steve throws his arms up in exasperation, "I know! He freaked out and started talking about how it was some 'symbol' or something and then when I asked what it symbolized he said- he said it means he's gay. Which, okay, cool! We knew that Robs- but now what?!"

He sighs again and slinks down the side of the counter until he hits the floor. Robin doesn't even wait until his butt lands before she's on the ground with him, cross legged and resting her head in her hands.

"Okay, well... first off, forget the bandana thing. Your local lesbian's never heard of it so it can't really be that big of a deal, right? And what, so you wore it like that too. Not technically wrong..."

He rolls his eyes, "Eddie doesn't know-"

"So tell him, dingus! Like I've been telling you to! But no, Harrington has to 'put the moves on him' instead of just using his big boy words,"

She huffs softly and punches him in the shoulder lovingly, which Steve whines about.

"Ow, Robs- okay, I get it, I get it- he's not going to want to talk to me though,"

"Doesn't matter, if you don't do it then I'm making you do the closing clean for the next week, you hear me?"

Steve groans even louder this time, putting his head in his hands before running them through his hair, the classic Steve Reset Button(tm).

He nods, "Alright I'll go. You're worse than Dustin sometimes, you know that?"

She smirks and stands up, offering him a hand and yanking him back up too. "If Dustin was the one helping you with this you would have killed him by now, so we both know that's not true,"

Eddie jumped back in his van and sped back home just as fast as he legally could. Actually- that was a lie, he was definitely speeding. By a lot.

He had to get as far as he possibly could from Steve Harrington, and he had to do it yesterday.

After screeching into the trailer park and turning the ignition off as fast as humanly possible, he bolted inside and ran to his room, debating just how many things he really *needed* if he were to run away on the spot.

He’s seen what happens to gay kids in Hawkins, knows it’ll only be worse for him. The last thing he needed was to be both the falsely accused murderer AND the faggot. Not to mention the heartbreak of having Steve be the start of it…

Part of Eddie knows Steve wouldn’t. He really does try to believe it. But his instincts take over.

He grabs an old duffel bag and starts scrambling to put clothes in it, not bothering to check whether they're clean or dirty, just moving on anxious, paranoid instinct.

Thoughts race through his head about what Wayne will say, and how far away he should be before he calls. His heart aches at the idea of leaving behind Hellfire and his band, but he doesn't think he could stand to let either of them see him after Steve finds him and throws the first punch, or whether the kids would even care once he inevitably told them too.

He starts a pile at the foot of his bed, debating how much he can fit in the van, planning to leave during the night, figuring he has at least enough for gas to the next major city. He gets so caught up in his silly little escape plan that he doesn't realize how long it's actually taking him to "pack".

There's a knock on the door and Eddie nearly has a heart attack, jumping from the sound and immediately kicking his dresser, all thoughts completely gone from his head as he curses at the pain.

"Son of a FUCKING bitch, shitting stick- mother fucker- I'll be there in a damn second!" he huffs as there's a second, more timid knock.

Without thinking about any of the things he had just a moment ago been panicking over, he limps to the door and swings it open, ready to berate whoever bothered him, only to stop dead when he sees...

Steve. Of course it's Steve. He's not even taken off his stupid work vest yet and the little bottlecap button Eddie had made him last week was staring right at him from his chest.

Steve waves shyly at Eddie and starts to say something, but Eddie can't hear it, already backing away and starting to blabber, "Listen man- I was- I was joking earlier! I wouldn't- there's nothing to- you really don't have to hurt me or anything, I swear-"

Steve stays on the porch, looking a little stunned. No, not stunned... hurt. Or- maybe worried? He looks kind of like if you kicked a puppy and then threw it in the pool, except sadder.

Not actually, probably, but as far as Eddie's concerned, the look on Steve's face hurts him about a hundred times worse than a sad puppy could.

Steve puts a hand on the back of his neck, the other held up to show he means no harm, sighing, "I'm not gonna hurt you Eds, I'd never... I just wanted to talk, I um. I thought..."

He stammers for a second, unsure what else to say, caught in between thoughts and clearly unprepared for how Eddie had reacted.

Eddie can't help but relax a little. No matter how worried he was, being around Steve always made him relax, but seeing him like this? How was he supposed to be scared anymore?

Eddie groans a little, "Just- get in here Harrington, you're killing me- if there's some mob on their way you better get your shit together before they get here,"

Eek, here it is, part 2! Sorry for making y'all wait, I am famously bad at working on things so thank you all for your patience 🙏 There WILL absolutely be a part 3, (maybe a part 4 if I want to get spicy), so I'll try to tag as many people for that one as well. And thank you all so so much for your sweet comments! I've been in such an art block lately, so writing something for a change and getting all this positive feedback is so encouraging 💜

Tag list! I tried to get everyone, but tumblr was weird with some of them, so I hope you're seeing this if you asked <3

@goodolefashionedloverboi @newtstabber @plutoshelm @jestyzesty @bisexualdisastersworld @sofadofax @bornonthesavage @awkwardgravity1 @trikigirl271 @thegayestpersonever @precursprandthedragon@mightbeasleep

@cherixxx69 @baron-zemo-trash @ilikechocolatemilkh @justforthedead89 @alienace @4nemo1egend @lifeisnotsobadonceyoustopcaring @breealtair @shinekocreator @sleepdeprivedflower @justanothergirlwithobsessions

@bxlthazar @thegingervulcan @questionablequeeries @my2amgaythoughts @doilooklikebees @gobbledy-gluk-gluk @luthienstormblessed @joruni @drinkingforthesociallyanxious @largechaos @dangdirtydemons @faery-god

@satan-is-obsessed @vi-an-te @beckkthewreck @kori-dearest @the-s-is-silent @hellomynameismoo @commonxsenss @blues-tunes @lizard-dyk3 @the-long-gone-souls @paddington22017 @imeverycliche @tungledotfuck @inmoonywetrust @dreammetheworld08 @dazedandinked @escapingthereality

#Nico's writing #Ficlet #Steddie #steve harrington #eddie munson #stranger things #st4 #stranger things fic #steddie fic #thank you to my bestie val for beta reading this one #cw f slur #y'know the standard 80s homophobia #it's only imagined though #nothing actually happens to them <3 #also fuck it im posting this at 3am #enjoy the breakfast y'all

544 notes · View notes

foodandfolklore · 6 months

Text

Easy Ways to Kitchen Witch

If you're new to the craft, or if your path is recently at a cross roads where you're feeling more drawn to kitchen witchcraft, you might be looking for some easy ways to start. So often when you picture Kitchen Witchcraft, you think of elaborate meals of baked goods beautifully decorated. And sure, that can be part of it; but if you try to make Instagram worthy food for every meal, you'll burn out real quick. So how can you Be a Kitchen Witch without braking bank or burning out?

Stirring your intentions

This is going to be brought up any time talking about Witchcraft and Food, so I figured I'd get it out of the way first. The idea being if you want to add energy or personal intention to food, so that when it's consumed the magic activates. A lot of witches swear by: Stir Clock Wise to Add, Stir Counter Clockwise to banish (Get rid of bad stuff in food). I've mentioned this before, I personally don't feel like this makes a difference. Instead, what makes a difference is stirring towards you to add Energy and intentions. Stir away from you to Banish or remove. Which direction is Towards/Away? Whatever way feels right to you.

The neat thing about stirring is you can do it with any food or drink. You don't need to be actively cooking to do some stirring. You can use a straw, a fork, a spatula; whatever. And if you have something that can't be stirred, like a slice of pizza, try turning the plate.

Candle to Raise Power

Any time you're cooking in the kitchen, or doing anything in the kitchen, consider lighting a candle. I have a round candle holder with a lid that I wash and reuse. Just plop a tea light or votive candle in there. Candles are great at heightening the energy in a room, and as someone who's struggled with depression and motivation, I've found this little ritual/routine helps gets me going.

A few tips, first you wanna make sure the candle is in a place where you can see it but not in a place where it may get in the way. I keep mine on the back of my prep counter. Next, avoid strong scented candles. Scented candles can be great for a lot of occasions, but the smell of the candle can muddle or mute the smell of the food. Finally, as with any time you use candles, please practice good fire safety.

Spell Ingredient Correlations can Carry Over to Food

Have you done extensive research on Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme? Well I got good news! All of that research was not for nothing! Herbs and Spices used in Witchcraft and Spells are commonly used in food. If you use cinnamon in a lot of your spell work for prosperity and success, try throwing some in your food with similar intentions and see how it goes.

Granted, this is not going to apply to every spell ingredient as many plants used in witchcraft are toxic. Or at the very lest can be problematic when consumed in large amounts or if pregnant. So please use some caution and common sense. A little research can take you a long way.

Simmer Pots

These are great ways to elevate your home's energy. Also a good way to use up some dried ingredients that's been laying around. A simmer pot is not anything special. You can take any small pot you got, fill it about halfway with water, add dried or fresh herbs, and leave it on the lowest heat setting on your stove, uncovered. Everything will simmer and release amazing aromas and energy. The properties of the ingredients in your pot can release into the air of your home. This can be good to do in colder months when cleaning. Just warms up everything.

Saucy Symbols and Sigils

If your oils and sauces are in easy pour bottles, consider getting a little creative when you use it. Gunna put some Ketchup or Siracha on that? Why not draw a pentacle. Oiling a pan? Maybe cook your food in a symbol of infinity or life. Or create your own symbols and meanings. Add them to your food to help elevate their magic. You may feel limited by the pour spout, but remember it comes down to intention. But if it makes you feel better, you can always transfer your sauces to bottles with more precise pour.

Make a Magic Potion

If you are not a huge fan of Cooking or Baking, remember there's still options for Kitchen Witchcraft. Magic Drinks. You can infuse your magic into syrups, juices, teas, cocktails, mocktails, smoothies, and more. There are options for people who can't consume alcohol, caffeine, dairy, sugar, any dietary restriction. I think I a lot of people write this option off because they think it focuses too much on alcohol or they don't like tea/coffee. But there's a lot of options when it comes of conjuring drinks.

Cook with Sun and Moon Water

If you're not familiar with Moon water, it's fairly easy to make. You fill a glass jar and leave it out in moonlight to charge with moon energy. Same idea for Sun Water. I find Sun Water is better for general Cooking and Moon Water is better for Teas as the energy from moon water is more mellow.

Adding some Solar Energy with Sun water to soups or to cook your rice and pasta in can help infuse your food with some Solar energy. It ups the overall energy and power of the magic in the food, as well as adds success and thus increases the chance of things working. There's also many other benefits, but listing them all might be worth their own post.

Kitchen Witchcraft is more than Cooking

I think the most important thing to remember is that Kitchen Witchcraft is not just food. Kitchens are often the heart of a home, and many things will go on and get done in a kitchen. Family meetings or get togethers may happen in the kitchen, people may do their reading or web surfing there. Or maybe it's where they do their homework or paperwork. They may do their hobbies at the table or counter. There's more than just food going on in the Kitchen.

So, feel free to expand out. Do some crafts with kitchen supplies or for your kitchen. Protective charms and garlands made out of cinnamon sticks and other items. Or just try other kinds of Magic. Maybe you like the idea of knot magic and want to try knitting a protective scarf. Or you like plants and want to get into garden magic. You don't need to stay in some box; try some stuff out!

#Kitchen witch #kitchen witchcraft #kitchen magic #magic tips #pagan #witch #witch tips #magick #spells #kitchen tips #klickwitch #food and folklore #sun water #moon water #food magic #drink magic

144 notes · View notes

wandabear · 11 months

Text

WISH YOU WERE HERE - WANDA MAXIMOFF X FEMALE READER

ㅤㅤ Summary: 17 years ago, a New Jersey high school girls’ soccer team travels to Seattle for a national tournament. While flying over Canada, their plane crashes deep in the wilderness, and the surviving team members are left stranded for nineteen months.

Jules is portrayed by Adelaide Kane. Here.

chapter warnings: smut, angst, mentions of drug abuse and death.

CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER TWO CHAPTER THREE CHAPTER FOUR CHAPTER FIVE CHAPTER SIX CHAPTER SEVEN FINALE ㅤㅤ

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤCHAPTER FIVE

ㅤㅤBEFORE

ㅤㅤ

Two weeks passed since the accident and since they found the cabin with the dead man inside, and nothing changed. No plane or rescue team had arrived for them, which meant that hope was dying and supplies were scarce.

ㅤㅤ

“So, do you think the guy shot himself?” One of the girls whispered. “He left some kind of note?”

ㅤㅤ

“Just that weird symbol.” Carol frowned at her somewhat disturbed. Ever since they found this man, they all had questions to ask that no one answered.

ㅤㅤ

“Maybe he couldn't stand loneliness and shot himself.” Pietro shrugged and looked at the rifle that was standing against the wall of the cabin. “We should take the rifle and try to get something to eat.”

ㅤㅤ

“Maybe it didn't want him to leave.” Jules murmured thoughtfully, looking at a fixed point among the trees. Since they arrived, she Jules had not stopped feeling a little uncomfortable there.

ㅤㅤ

“Shut the fuck up you and your ominous crap. You're going to scare everyone just because you're a little hysterical.” Grant groaned, completely sick of listing to that girl muttering weird stuff.

The man was barely holding on to a wooden crutch made from branches, but it wasn't enough to stay upright for long.

ㅤㅤ

Far from answering that with any sarcastic comment, Jules just looked away and crossed her arms a bit embarrassed.

ㅤㅤ

“Hey, don't talk to her like that again.” Natasha defended her, getting ahead of Y/N.

ㅤㅤ

“Hey, HEY! I think we should talk about the huge problem instead.” Wanda cleared her throat, trying to change the subject. “We're out of food. We're all feeling it.”

ㅤㅤ

Everyone was silent, the hunger they felt was beginning to make everything worse. Any small fight ended in shouting or bad mood.

ㅤㅤ

“Now, the good news is my father used to take me deer hunting every year as a kid.” Grant grunted and slowly, awkwardly reached for the rifle and held it up. “The bad news... yeah, I am down to one fucking leg.”

ㅤㅤ

The man clenched his jaw, trying to stay strong and keep feel that superiority, but it was more difficult when they looked at him with pity. “Which means that if we want to eat, one of you is gonna have to learn how to use this thing.”

ㅤㅤ

They all nodded, Natasha raised her hand saying that her father taught her to shoot and she was willing to teach Y/N or Pietro to do it. Maybe it took a while, but they managed to group up to go out and hunt. ㅤㅤ

That morning, Y/N, Pietro and Natasha left the cabin ready to find something to hunt. Even though neither of them seemed happy with hurting an animal, eating nothing but mushroom soup for days was starting to weigh on them.

ㅤㅤ

Many hours later, the sun was going down and Wanda began to feel anxious. She tried to convince herself that it was just because of Pietro, but deep down she knew that she also cared about Y/N. She came back with some 'clean' blankets in her arms, they had left several clothes drying outside.

ㅤㅤ

The cabin was a bit more cleaner, enough for them to stop breathing dust. As long as they all helped keep it that way. Some cheering made Wanda come out of the cabin, she finally smiled widely.

ㅤㅤ

“They did it!” Kate exclaimed happily seeing how Pietro, Y/N and Nat were carrying a deer. It didn't seem very big but enough to have food for a few days.

ㅤㅤ

Everyone came closer to see it, they seemed a little tired but definitely happy for what they had achieved.

ㅤㅤ

“Nice work, you guys.” Wanda put her hands on her hips, looking at the deer. She felt a bit sorry but she also understood that they were about to starve.

ㅤㅤ

“Yeah.” Pietro smiled broadly and placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. “It was all Y/N.”

ㅤㅤ

“She did great.” Nat smiled too, they all started screaming excited to understand that it was the first sign that they could survive in that place, without knowing what awaited them next.

ㅤㅤ

Night came and they were grateful that the beginning of autumn treated them well for now. They were all surrounding the campfire, Kate and Jennifer were in charge of roast it and distributing the pieces of meat to the girls who looked starving.

ㅤㅤ

“Are you okay?”

ㅤㅤ

Pietro's voice took Wanda from her thoughts, while she slowly ate.

ㅤㅤ

“Yeah, better now.”

ㅤㅤ

“I was so hungry.” Pietro sighed then finished his first piece of meat, reaching out for another.

ㅤㅤ

“Yeah, me too.” Wanda said as she wiped her lips. She noticed how the boy devoured the meat, so hungry, Wanda felt so guilty.

ㅤㅤ

“I'm sorry I brought you here.” She lowered her gaze. “I know you came just for me.”

ㅤㅤ

Quickly, Pietro looked up and frowned, genuinely concerned. “No, sestra. Don’t be sorry.” He put his hand on Wanda's shoulder, who kept looking at the ground. “I would never leave you alone, you know that. This is not your fault, this was an accident.”

ㅤㅤ

“Okay?” Pietro held his gaze until Wanda nodded.

ㅤㅤ

“This is good, not as good as mom’s Chicken Paprikash but good.” He pointed at the food, making her sister smile. It was all he wanted, to take a great weight off the girl's heart.

ㅤㅤ

Wanda looked up and noticed that Y/N was chatting and smiling with Jennifer. She wondered what she was talking about, what was it that made her so excited?

ㅤㅤ

“You’re close to Y/N lately.” Pietro teased, trying not to smile.

ㅤㅤ

“Yeah, is it bad?” Wanda turned to see him, she sounded a bit worried.

ㅤㅤ

“No, not at all.” The boy took a bite. “She’s nice, all these crazy women, Y/n is who I like best.”

ㅤㅤ

Wanda said nothing, just smiled tenderly and then fell silent.

The connection between the two had always been so strong, both twins were so close and although sometimes it was the object of mocks, they considered that connection something incredible.

ㅤㅤ

“Do you think they will rescue us?” Wanda asked a little more seriously this time, she needed her brother's sincerity now.

ㅤㅤ

“I don't know, Wanda. What Y/N is right about is… if they wanted to, they would already be here.” Pietro sighed, didn't want to talk about what he felt cause he didn't want to make her feel worse, but that was the truth, more than a week and they hadn’t received any kind of signal that people were looking for them.

ㅤㅤ

Not planes. No rescue helicopters. Nothing.

ㅤㅤ

“Did you apologize to Jules?” Wanda raised an eyebrow.

ㅤㅤ

“I did it.” Pietro smiled and nodded. “I think I saved her from stepping in a bear trap two days ago, and apparently, we're even.”

ㅤㅤ

“That’s good.” She smiled at the boy and squeezed his cheek, noticing how grown his beard was. “Look at you, your beard has already grown.”

ㅤㅤ

“Oh, fuck off!” He pushed her hand away and they both laughed.

ㅤㅤ

“I love you, Piet.”

ㅤㅤ

“I love you, sestra.”

ㅤㅤ

Nodding, Pietro got up so he could go check that everything was alright with the Coach Ward, who seemed to be a bit distant from the girls. Recently, Pietro was the only one Ward let near or talk to.

ㅤㅤ

Seeing that now Wanda was alone, Y/N approached, sitting next to her on that log.

ㅤㅤ

“Hi.” Wanda smiled trying to hide that strange 'joy' inside. Why was her heart beating so fast?

ㅤㅤ

“How are you doing?” Y/N asked looking at her, noticing how beautiful she looked when the fire lit those green eyes. Maybe it was because almost two weeks ago they were in that place and everything seemed to get more intense but, wow, Wanda was so beautiful.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I’m good, how about you? I didn't see you today.”

ㅤㅤ

“Yeah. Killed a deer today so…” Y/N sighed and lowered her gaze somewhat embarrassed. More sad than embarrassed though.

ㅤㅤ

Wanda hesitated for a moment but ended up gently squeezing the girl's hand. “I’m sorry.”

ㅤㅤ

“It’s okay, at least we have to eat. We needed this.”

ㅤㅤ The relationship with Wanda improved so much after the accident. After the fight at the party, both of them made up and improved their friendship. And Y/N was very grateful for this, although her best friends were there, the connection with Wanda was completely different.

ㅤㅤ

“Hey, you two.” Carol walked ahead of them making smooch noises, winking at Y/N.

ㅤㅤ

Y/N shook her head and noticed how Wanda quickly removed her hand, not out of embarrassment but out of fear that Y/N would be mocked because of her.

ㅤㅤ

“Hey. Do you want to go walk near the lake?” Y/N got up and stretched out her hand towards her, waiting for her to take it. “I can take the rifle if it makes you feel safer.”

ㅤㅤ

“Won't we get lost?” Wanda asked a bit worried but also an excited shine could be seen in her eyes. As if it was something forbidden and interesting, what more could they lose?

ㅤㅤ

“I know the way, Natasha owes me one so maybe she'll let us go. I found a nice place that nobody else knows about.” She turned to see how some girls kept laughing and chatting about boys now. “If you want to get away from all this mess, sure.”

ㅤㅤ

Biting her bottom lip, Wanda didn't have to think too hard. She took her hand and ended getting up. “Yeah, I would like to.”

ㅤㅤ

They managed to escape from the place without anyone seeing them, but not before telling Natasha because otherwise she would start lecturing them and that was not the idea.

ㅤㅤ Y/N took the rifle and one of the gas lamps, both walked through the trees, following a path that only Y/N seemed to know.

ㅤㅤ

“Are you sure about this” Wanda asked worriedly as they walked down the path towards the lake.

ㅤㅤ

“Every day I walk through the same place. Nat asked me to start drawing some things to make a map.” Y/N reached into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper, handing it over.

ㅤㅤ

Wanda opened it but couldn't see much, just some lines and the cabin drawn in the middle. Y/N moved the lamp closer so she could see better.

ㅤㅤ

“I found this place when I was drawing the path to the lake and the place where the edible mushrooms grew.” Y/N kept walking and took a path to the left, behind some huge boulders. She helped Wanda so that she could climb them carefully, and after a few minutes, they both found themselves with a beautiful view of the lake and the huge starry sky above them. The moonlight made the lake look beautiful.

The trees and the boulders covered them, making it a perfect private place.

ㅤㅤ

“Y/N, this is good.” Wanda smiled widely, looking around.

ㅤㅤ

Y/N just smiled happy, both lay back on the grass watching the sky, enjoying the sound of the forest. After so many days, far from seeming creepy, they began to find some comfort in those sounds that they now recognized.

The hooting, the sound of crickets, the fluttering of birds.

ㅤㅤ

“Look at all those stars.” Wanda whispered completely gawking. “I never thought there were so many above us.”

ㅤㅤ

“Without light pollution it looks so beautiful.” Y/N sighed heavily, arms crossed behind her head. She didn't know how long it had been since they left the cabin, maybe a few minutes or an hour, she didn't know. Didn't care either.

ㅤㅤ

“Pretty.” The sokovian whispered.

ㅤㅤ

Pretty. 'That's what you are' Y/N thought when she turned to see the girl beside her.

ㅤㅤ

Wanda was so damn beautiful. Just look at those eyes, so pretty and big, curious to know everything life had to offer her. That adorable nose, she loved when Wanda scrunched it. Those lips, surely they were soft and sweet.

ㅤㅤ

“Wanda, I'd like to talk to you.” Y/N finally took courage, betting her whole heart on a single play.

ㅤㅤ

“You know you can tell me anything. What's going on?” Wanda turned to see her, worried. Y/N seemed a bit nervous, without a doubt it must be quite important.

ㅤㅤ

“I like you.” The girl released without waiting another second, leaving her heart open. But far from seeming like a confession of love, it seemed more like a release. Y/N sighed and sat up. “I'm sorry. I know you have a boyfriend, but even though it's obvious... and everyone knows it.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Wanda said nothing. She was surprised and not at the same time, she always knew it and she knew it right now. Every kind smile when others teased her, every laugh they shared, every word of support.

ㅤㅤ

She knew that Y/N had a crush on her, why fake it? What she didn't understand is why.

ㅤㅤ

“I thought it would be nice to tell you myself.” Y/N smiled shily, playing with her fingers. “We're lost in the woods waiting to be rescued, and I don't have the time or the strength to hide my feelings. It's so fucking tiring… so that’s it. If that makes you uncomfortable, we'll have to deal with it."

ㅤㅤ

“I'm in love with you.” Y/N breathed out deeply and closed her eyes, the secret finally out and it felt so much better.

ㅤㅤ

Silence reigned for a moment until Wanda reached out her hand, taking hers.

ㅤㅤ

“Y/N? Please, open your pretty eyes.” Wanda asked with a soft voice and a loving look. And when she finally did, the brunette asked: “Y/N, what’s my favorite song?”

ㅤㅤ

Y/N frowned, not understanding what she meant by knowing that, but the sokovian insisted.

ㅤㅤ “Umh... I've noticed that you like 'Fade Into You', I've seen you rewind your cassette twice until you get to that song.” Y/N said sincerely but then she realized that maybe it sounded like she was keeping an eye on her or something, maybe Wanda would think it's weird. She quickly added, “It's not like I see you too much.”

ㅤㅤ

But Wanda nodded slowly. “What are my favorite candies?”

ㅤㅤ

“Twizzlers. You always eat them when you get all anxious in our matches.” Y/N answered again, feeling how her heart kept beating fast but the tension faded slowly.

ㅤㅤ

Wanda finally smiled, her eyes showing the tenderness and excitement she felt.

ㅤㅤ

The times she had asked Vision that, well, the boy didn't know what to say. First he answered any popular song, and then he said 'had no idea what kind of sweets you ate because who looks at those things? I can buy you anything you want, just tell me.'

ㅤㅤ

“You really know me.” Wanda felt her eyes fill with tears, but she didn't shed any.

ㅤㅤ

“Well, yeah, that's why I like you. I do and… I wanna know more, if you let me.”

ㅤㅤ

“I like you too.” The sokovian blurted out, not caring about anything other than that moment. What else did it matter? They were in the middle of the forest, lost, trying to survive.

ㅤㅤ

And her heart just asked to be close to her, it always did, from the moment Y/N defended her from Sharon Carter.

Well, that was something Y/N didn't expect at all. With a dumbfounded face, unable to believe it, all she could say was: “R-Really?”

ㅤㅤ

“I do.” Wanda bit her lower lip, as a signal which Y/N caught perfectly. She kissed Wanda's lips in a soft first kiss, enjoying that exquisite sensation. Hearts intertwining, two teenagers completely in love.

ㅤㅤ

“Is it wrong?” The sokovian whispered against her lips, barely breaking away. She felt completely enraptured in that feeling, so different from her when she kissed Vision.

ㅤㅤ

The truth is that Vision and Wanda had never gone far, just a few little kisses and caresses. The boy tried a few times to go further but Wanda always said that she wanted to wait. Now, she felt that self-control with y/n didn't exist.

ㅤㅤ

Y/N quickly shook her head, touching softly the brunette's cheek. “I don't think liking or loving someone is wrong.” She sighed, still sharing that closeness. “So, can I keep kissing you?”

ㅤㅤ

Wanda smirked, shortening the distance to kiss again. “Good, because your kisses are so damn good.”

ㅤㅤ

Both giggled before kissing again, only the stars being the witnesses of that youthful love that was born.

ㅤㅤ

ㅤㅤNOW

ㅤㅤ

The days passed and there was no news of the blackmailer. Maybe because money cooled things down, but not the concern of all of them knowing that they were outsmarted.

ㅤㅤ

Y/N was at the hotel, visited Jules some times, especially when Natasha was working. The doctor told them that the baby was in no danger yet, that no bleeding was positive, even when Jules told that she suffered a pretty bad blow.

ㅤㅤ

Doctor Cho said that they should be more careful and that so far everything seemed fine, but later they would know better with the ultrasound at the next week.

And the secrets cooled the relationship with Nat so much that, the redhead began to suspect that perhaps her beloved wasn’t happy. The silence at night became unbearable, and sadness weighed on their hearts.

ㅤㅤ

“Jules…” Nat said as she saw the brown-eyed woman come out of the bathroom with her huge T-shirt. She no longer slept in her panties, trying to provoke her. Sex had always been a big deal to them, the passion was increased by the unconditional love they felt. “Are you going to talk to me?”

ㅤㅤ

Jules just curled up on the bed, trying to hide her face. “Everything is fine, I'm a little tired.”

ㅤㅤ

“Okay, just tell me, what the hell is going on?” Nat sat up in bed, so done with this game. She was sick of all this strange tension that had been around them for a while. “I know you're hiding something, I know you since we were eleven. You've been so stealthy with Y/N, as if you were hiding a secret... and I am not worthy of your trust.”

ㅤㅤ

“We have never been like this, Julia.” Those green eyes express the sadness and restlessness she felt. “Don't you love me anymore?”

ㅤㅤ

Jules kept her back to her, trying not to cry when she heard the pain in Natasha's raspy voice.

ㅤㅤ

“Because if that's it, we can… we can try to go to those… You know? Couples therapy or whatever to get your love back. Or- or we can... I don't know, I don't want to let you go but, if you're not happy with me...” Natasha swallowed, the angst in her throat not letting her continue.

ㅤ

That was all Jules could bear. She turned quickly so she could see her, and that image completely destroyed her.

ㅤㅤ

“No, no, no.” Jules took her hand and hastened to erase any kind of doubt, she couldn't allow Natasha to doubt herself when she had always been wonderful. “Nat, that's not it, honey.”

ㅤ

“So what is it?” they entwined their fingers.

ㅤ

Jules hesitated for a moment, didn't know how to start. Just felt her eyes fill with tears.

ㅤ

“I don't want you to hate me.” The dark-haired girl sniffled. That worried Natasha even more, what was it that bothered her so much? So sad, that she couldn't even tell her.

ㅤ

“Moya lyubov, I would never hate you.” The redhead cooed softly, genuinely concerned about her, the love of her life.

ㅤ

“I’m pregnant.” Finally she let go, exhaling slowly.

ㅤㅤ

Couldn't take it anymore, soon her belly would start to show, what was the point of lying or keeping it as a secret? Lying to the person she loved the most in the world.

Natasha wasn't the type of woman to leave her just because she was pregnant, was she? No, she had always been an incredible, faithful, kind, loving, passionate woman. Maybe she was a little afraid of commitment at first but, once Natasha got over that fear, she was always there for Jules.

ㅤ “You… what?” The redhead blinked fast, it took her a few seconds to understand. Oh.

ㅤㅤㅤ

“I’m pregnant, the IUI worked but we didn't notice.” Jules swallowed hard and wiped away the tears falling down her cheeks. Was so pale that those lovely cheeks turned red, as did her nose and lips from crying. “I found out about a week ago... or more.”

ㅤㅤ

A huge smile, a hug, endless kisses. That was all Jules hoped for, but what she got was Natasha getting out of bed, completely shocked and a bit pissed off.

ㅤㅤ

“What the fuck, Julia?!” The russian exclaimed in disbelief. Quickly, Jules covered her face out of embarrassment. “Really?”

ㅤㅤ

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I didn't want you to be mad at me and hate me!” She whimpered, completely devastated.

ㅤㅤ

“Of course I’m mad at you!” Natasha exclaimed. How could her wife hide something like that from her? “You went to the meeting with the blackmailer and you are pregnant!”

ㅤㅤ

But far from seeming bothered by the idea that they were having a baby, or terrified by it, Natasha was completely mad because her wife put her and their child's lives at risk by going with them.

ㅤㅤ

“You were punched in the stomach, for God's sake!” Nat hurried over to put a hand on Jules belly, extremely concerned. “Don’t fucking do that again!”

ㅤㅤ

Surprised by that, noticing the concern on her lover's face, Jules just sighed. Her eyes swollen from crying. “I’m fine. We’re fine.”

ㅤㅤ

“How are you so sure?” Natasha insisted, looking at her and then at her belly. She caressed it gently, those green eyes brimming with tears of emotion.

ㅤㅤ

Of course, she would never be upset by the idea of bringing a child into the world, perhaps a little scared because all this would bring consequences and she was afraid that exactly what happened, would happen. That they were in danger.

ㅤㅤ

“Dr. Cho said she didn't think there was any danger because there was no bleeding, but we would find out better on the ultrasound next week.”

ㅤㅤ

Natasha sighed with relief upon hearing those words, all she wanted is for the baby and her wife to be okay. Jules nodded slowly, carefully watching all the gestures and looks of Nat. She felt so dumb, so stupid, how could she have thought that Natasha would be mad at her? Although her words had made it seem like she was glad the IUI wasn't working, Nat would never turn her back on her kid.

ㅤㅤ

“You’re pregnant.” Nat whispered, then allowed herself to smile. She was finally beginning to realize what that meant. “Oh my god, we're having a baby!”

ㅤㅤ

“We are!” Jules smiled wiping away her tears.

ㅤㅤ

“We’re going to be moms!” Natasha exclaimed excitedly, taking her wife's hands and then hugging her tightly. “We must take good care of the baby, okay? We have to. Promise me.”

ㅤㅤ

“I promise… Are you really happy about this?” Jules giggled through her tears, completely happy to see her redhead so excited about the pregnancy.

ㅤㅤ

“You’re kidding? I’m ecstatic!” Nat leaned down to kiss her lips over and over again until she crouched down, facing Jules belly. “Hello there, Зайчик… I’m your mama Natasha. Your other mom in fact, because you have two, and that means you're going to be very, very loved!” Nat kissed her belly and leaned her forehead against it, smiling widely. Oh, it felt so good. “We love you.”

ㅤㅤ

The redhead spent a while 'chatting' with her baby and Jules watched everything with a look of pure love, until they both decided to jump on the bed with happiness, celebrating that beautiful news.

ㅤㅤ

Since the meeting with the blackmailer that night, Wanda was more nervous than ever. She was grateful that her little ones were visiting their grandparents that weekend, allowing her to have a bit of peace for at least two days.

ㅤㅤ

The brunette walked around the house, taking some things that the twins left lying around and putting them in its place. She didn't mind having to do it anyway, it was just throwing the clothes in the washing machine and at least it kept her busy with something.

ㅤㅤ

“Fuck.” The brunette muttered under her breath when she saw a sock under the furniture, those kids left their stuff all over the place. Wanda end up sighing and bent down to take it but something shiny caught her eye. As if from the dark depths of that piece of furniture, something shamelessly winked at her.

A black t-shirt, but the most important thing was that when she took it, her hands were stained with glitter.

ㅤㅤ

Hands that began to tremble just by seeing the shirt; the blackmailer's son of a bitch was none other than her husband.

ㅤㅤ

"VISION!” She exclaimed aloud, rushing out of the room to head to the garage, where he had his office. She entered without further ado, breaking in that 'sanctuary'.

ㅤㅤ

"Wanda, what's going on?" the blond growled, clearly annoyed by the sudden invasion.

ㅤㅤ

“What is this?" She held up that black shirt, completely covered in glitter. It didn't take an answer, Vision's surprised and terrified look said it all.

ㅤㅤ

“Wanda, I-” He exhales. “Okay. I can explain this.”

ㅤㅤ

Of course he doesn't know how to do it, especially when Wanda's eyes widened. Oh, she was mad. “Oh, my God, Vision. What did you do?”

ㅤㅤ

“Okay, just-just…” He got up from his seat and tried to get closer but the brunette moved away, looking at him with a truly terrifying fury and disappointment.

ㅤㅤ

“What did you do?” Wanda hissed.

ㅤㅤ

“Just listen to me.” Vision closed the door. “You were never supposed to get involved in this.”

ㅤㅤ

Wanda remained still, waiting for a convincing answer.

ㅤㅤ

“It just... It got out of control.” The english man sighed and placed a hand across his face. “Listen, that damn store...”

ㅤㅤ

“Our store?” Wanda frowned and crossed her arms. Everything seemed to get worse and worse.

ㅤㅤ

“Yeah, but this new one... Bloody ElectronicsFam.com” He growled angrily. “They are running me out of business. They got virtually no overhead. They mass-produce all their own inventory. What the hell am I supposed to do?”

ㅤㅤ

The expression on the man's face only made Wanda want to slap him more and more. They had bought that store with the money the insurance gave her for the plane accident. She understood that Vision felt guilty but this was too much. “So you… you blackmailed us?”

ㅤㅤ

“Not you. I thought I had to...” Vision sighs, so defeated. “I thought... Jennifer, she's a lawyer and you know… maybe Y/N had the cash.”

ㅤㅤ

Wanda closed her eyes, trying not to explode. She obviously murmured some sokovian insults that the man couldn't even understand. He wasn't a bad man, but he was a complete jerk sometimes.

ㅤㅤ

“I mean, I was going to lose the store, Wanda. First, I took out a loan. I just... I-I got a loan from these people, all right?” As Vision spoke and explained the whole situation, Wanda began to think that the decision that was on her mind lokg time ago was the right one. “And it turns out that they were... they were bad.”

ㅤㅤ

Wanda inhales deeply. “Like... like loan sharks?”

ㅤㅤ

Vision just shook his head.

ㅤㅤ

“Like fucking mobsters, Vision?” The sokovian yelled furiously but Vision shooed her away. “Are they gonna kill us? Our kids? you didn't think of them! My god, Vision!”

ㅤㅤ

Of course she was terrified for her children.

ㅤㅤ

"Be quiet, Wanda!"

ㅤㅤ

"Don't tell me to shup up!" She snapped wildly, pointing at him. "Are they gonna do something to us?"

ㅤㅤ

“No, no! No! I paid 'em back. It's all good. No one is gonna die.”

ㅤㅤ

"My God, Vision." Wanda shook her head. “You have to pay Y/N.”

ㅤㅤ

"Wanda, you can't tell them it was me-" Horror flashed across the man's face. What if he went to jail?

ㅤㅤ

"You have to take responsibility for your actions, Vision. For fuck's sake, you just- they almost shoot you!"

ㅤㅤ

“What if they send me to jail? Natasha could do it.”

ㅤㅤ

“No one will do that. Just… get the damn money and you're going to pay it back, you hear me?” the brunette told him seriously, there was no way he could refuse that face of hers. She was adorable but a lot of times, she could scare you. "You're going to pay to Y/N, I'll apologize to them."

ㅤㅤ

Vision nodded quickly. "I'll do it, I swear for our children."

ㅤㅤ

Wanda sighed and walked towards the door, but not before giving a final stab. "And Vision? I want the divorce."

ㅤㅤ

"What?" He frowned, surprised and maybe a bit hurt.

ㅤㅤ

"Oh, come on Vis. Don't you think that's enough?" Wanda sighed deeply tired. "You don't love me, I don't love you. We are here for our kids and they know very well what is happening between us.”

ㅤㅤ

"I know you have a lover." She smiled sadly, because even though he was doing it behind her back, she was glad to know that he found someone. Besides, didn't feel so guilty that she didn't love him.

ㅤㅤ

"I'm sorry, Wanda." the blonde whispered, he took off his glasses so that he could clean them and avoid showing how ashamed he felt.

ㅤㅤ

"We've been friends for all these years, but we can't pretend we love each other. Let's just not make it difficult for the kids. They will understand."

ㅤㅤ

"They are lucky that we made that decision now."

ㅤㅤ

They both smiled kindly, like two old friends saying goodbye, a necessary goodbye in order to move on.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I will spend the weekend in a hotel, I'll go pack my things.”

About five minutes, that's how long it took Y/N to get to that woman's house, after Wanda sent her that message.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

‘Come to my house, we need to talk.’

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Y/N sighed deeply and took courage, if Wanda needed to talk, perhaps it would be to yell at her some more things that she kept for a long time.

ㅤㅤ

“Hi.” Wanda waved when she opened the door, letting her into the house.

ㅤㅤ

“Hey.” Y/N came into the place, looking around with curiosity. She had never been there, but it looked like a rather… ordinary home? Normal? Pretty good, very cozy.

ㅤ

Noticed some family photos, mostly of two adorable little ones. Billy and Tommy.

ㅤ

She followed Wanda to the kitchen without saying anything, expecting to know what she had to say, but the brunette just kept silent.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Will the girls be coming soon?” Y/N asked in a low voice, as if she was about to break the moment and detonate the bomb. Kept her hands in the pockets, watching Wanda's every move.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“It’s just us.” Wanda whispered as she took out some bread, jelly, and peanut butter.

Just them? That made Y/N frown.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“So... why did you call me?” Y/N leaned on the doorway, watching as Wanda cut small sandwiches. “You're supposed to hate me.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I don’t hate you.” Wanda grunted under her breath. “I'm just mad at you.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I know its because of what I did-” Y/N tried, a tired sigh, but Wanda turned to finally attack.

So done.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“You broke my heart, TWICE.” She snapped. Wanda spat out those words like poison that she had kept for a long, long time . “Not only when we came back from the forest and you abandoned me, but then you came back years later. You filled me with false hope and illusions saying that you loved me, that I should leave Vision and we should go together.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Y/N swallowed; it was time to take care of all the things she did.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I did it! For you, because I loved you so much, I was madly in love with you! And when I came back to the hotel where we made love all night and you were waiting for me to do this together, YOU WERE HAVING SEIZURES.” She said with a shaky voice, those green eyes showing not only anger but also fear and sadness at that horrible memory. The scariest moment of her life.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

I’m sorry-”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“When I got back to the hotel, smiling, ready to face the world with you… you were choking on your own blood because you overdosed. AGAIN.” The brunette wiped away a tear that fell down her cheek. “You died, I saw you die that day.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Y/N was silent, couldn't say anything because she knew perfectly well that Wanda was right. How much she had hurt that woman was unforgivable, but love was always there.

Maybe love wasn't enough.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“And the paramedics brought you back to life.” Wanda turned her gaze to the sandwiches, taking a deep breath to calm down and put the tiny sandwiches in the fridge. “You stole those drugs from the hospital, and you could have gotten Jules fired or jailed.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I know.” Y/N swallowed, looking down. “I did terrible things.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Yes, you did and everyone thinks I'm the bad guy, and i’m cruel or- or impatient, but I'm not! Don't tell me I hate you, because I don't.” The sokovian whispered so hurt. “I'm not the bad guy here. You broke me first, twice.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

But even though Y/N could have turned and left and not take all those words anymore, she came closer and put a hand on Wanda’s shoulder. And despite the fact that the sokovian refused at first, slowly she allowed herself to be hugged tightly for a while.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Wanna tell me what’s going on?” Y/N sighed, knowing something else was wrong. “I know you're mad at me, but I also know there's more.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Wanda looked up, Y/N knew her too well. The brunette moved away from the embrace, leaning against the kitchen counter next to Y/N. Like two old friends.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Vision is cheating on me.” Wanda started. “I've known for a while now.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Y/N just nodded and then exhaled furiously, like a rampaging, raging bull. How could he do that to Wanda? Just like that? To that woman? “’Kay… I’m gonna kick his ass. He is in the store right now?”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“No, that’s not-” Wanda interceded, getting in the way.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I'm not going to let him treat you like this.” Y/N growled.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Stop.” She put her hands on Y/N and slowly pushed her back onto the counter, returning to where they were. “That's not what got me like this!”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“So what is it?”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Vision is cheating on me, yeah… but I don’t even care.” The brunette shrugged lightly. “It is as if we both know that we don’t love each other, but… the kids. You know? Anyway, that's not the worst or the most important thing.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Y/N kept silent, hoping that Wanda would dare to say it, especially when the sokovian seemed to start walking in circles, trying to get up the courage to tell her the truth.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Vision is the one who's been blackmailing us.” Finally, Wanda released it as if it were nothing.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

And Y/N's reaction was exactly what she expected. The dark-haired woman just opened her eyes wide, her jaw tensed, making her look perhaps quite attractive, or at least that's what Wanda thought for a moment.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“What?” Y/N exploded angrily. “The fuck?! I’m gonna kill him.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“No, you won’t.” Wanda pointed at her, trying to calm her down but Y/N frowned even more annoyed. Was she going to defend him now?

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“H-he needed the money, apparently the store was not paying off.” Wanda pinched the bridge of her nose, even more frustrated than before. “Because of this… online store or something.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ Y/N noticed that she didn't seem too happy with that news either. Surely Wanda was also upset when she found out.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“The business began to fall apart, he was asking for loans but it was dirty money.” Wanda sighed.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Y/N nodded slowly, at least this meant something good and that was that no one else knew what they did in the forest. That was good.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“So you both owe me 50 grand.” Y/N teased, trying to make her feel better or smile.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“HE does.” Wanda clarified, finally smiling. A genuine smile. Y/N won and her heart knew it.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I'm going to break his fucking legs, man.” Y/N exhaled deeply and shook her head. “At least we don't have to worry about our past getting out of here. Right?”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Wanda just nodded.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Does he know EVERYTHING that happened there? Did he read all your diaries?” she narrowed her eyes.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“No, he just saw the drawing and thought it was important. He doesn't know what truly happened.” Wanda began to play with her rings, so embarrassed, everything that happened was her fault. “I promise I'll pay you back.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“No, he will.” Y/N smirked. “We'd better tell the others. They'll be glad to know there's no danger.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I don't know, I don't want them to be mad at me.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Y/N kept watching her, she was seventeen years later and she still looked so beautiful. Now she looked more mature, those green eyes showed how much she had matured but that made her more beautiful and sensual. And that body? Wow, she really was a mommy.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“You have to tell them the truth, that's what it's all about.” Noticing how worried Wanda looked, Y/N placed a hand on her shoulder. “They love you, believe me they won't care as long as you're fine. Besides that you had nothing to do with this.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Do you think they won't hate me?” Wanda's voice melted Y/N's heart, who only quickly denied.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“They have hearts too big, look why I'm here.” The taller one shrugged. “Plus, I think they have bigger fish to fry between them.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“What do you mean?” The brunette asked worriedly.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Jules is pregnant.” Y/N smiled happily, but after a few seconds she realized the huge mistake she made. “I mean, fuck, I wasn't supposed to say anything! You can't say anything! I promised not to say it!”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Y/N panicked, opening her eyes wide, but Wanda only opened her big eyes in surprise and couldn't help but smile widely. That was much more important than all this, her best friends were going to be moms. That joy cast out any fear she might have.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Oh my god, Y/N!” Wanda squealed. “That’s good news, right? We must celebrate!”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“So good, right?! But remember, don't say anything.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

They both looked like two excited kids, laughing over that beautiful news as if it were themselves.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“But wait, Nat doesn’t now that and Jules doesn't know how she's going to take it.” y/n pursed her lips watching as Wanda took out a bottle of wine from the cabinet and two glasses.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Damn.” Wanda said worriedly. “Oh, god, she was hit the other day! Is she okay?”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“She is. I went with her to the doc, she's fine for now.” she nodded and took the glass, somewhat doubtful.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Oh, thank god. Thank you for telling me this.” She was going to take the bottle to open it but Y/N touched her arm gently, getting her attention. “I was so worried that-”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Wait, Wanda?”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Yeah?” she frowned.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I don't drink anymore. I'm still recovering.” Y/N wrinkled her nose. “Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you but…" She swallowed and shrugged a bit shy.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“…OH! I’m so sorry!” The sokovian exclaimed in embarrassment, quickly setting the bottle aside. She didn't know what to say, feeling so ashamed that she was so inconsiderate. “I’m sorry, Y/N.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“It’s okay, I’m trying my best. It's not like I'm desperate to drink anyway.” Y/N smiled kindly.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

And for a moment, Wanda felt that she was seeing that eighteen-year-old girl again, so kind, attentive and considerate. That Y/N that completely stolen her heart years ago.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Please, don’t look at me like that.” Wanda shook her head and turned to leave the kitchen and arrange some things in the living room, some thrown cushions and joysticks.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Like that?”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Like a fucking sad but loving puppy.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Why?”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Because I can't deal with your ‘unrequited love victim’ look right now.” Wanda shook her head. Y/N followed Wanda around the place, helping her to pick up some cushions. “Stop that.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

"But I love you.” Y/N smirked, wasn't going to stop, not anymore.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Please, stop.” Wanda pointed her finger at her and ended up taking the cushion out of her hands.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I can’t.” She was willing to do everything to make it better, to have Wanda by her side, in any way. “It kills me not being able to have you, not being able to be with you. I love to see you happy, I love to see you smile, but don't think that it doesn't hurt me not to have you.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Well, you seemed fine when-”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I know!” Y/N stepped forward. She perfectly knew everything she did, and despite the fact that she has changed, Y/N knew that she would have to endure those comments forever. “I know, and it wasn't right or fair. I was sick and I was sunk deep into the abyss and I started to sink you too.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

She sighed heavily, taking over all her actions. As many times as necessary.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“And I’m sorry, but i'm done apologizing.” At Wanda's surprised look, Y/N stepped forward to take her hand. “I can't keep sinking anymore, that's why I'm here. Because I love you, because I love my friends, and because I want to love myself a little more. No one deserves what I did to you all, and I want to make it right. I have to do it, okay?”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Y/N sighed deeply. Would fight whatever it took to keep the people she loved close. Time to mourn was over, now she just had to build and take care of the future.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“I am taking responsibility for it. We all screwed up in one way or another. I’m sober, I’m better and I’m trying my fucking best.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Wanda just nodded, completely fascinated by that image. With a different Y/N, mature and much more responsible. She looked so attractive… It was too much, so tired of fighting the tension between the two; Wanda ended the distance and kissed her lips with a passion that surprised them both.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Y/N was quick to kiss her back, pushing the brunette against the wall. The warmth of her body and her lips wrapped around her in such an exquisite way, she felt like coming home.

Her heart beat again after so long, the reason why she was still alive was right there.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

It wasn't a cute and tender kiss, it was a kiss full of passion and need. From two people who missed each other too much and had been away for a long, long time.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“Wanda, we're at your house.” Y/N cursed herself for being the voice of reason, but even so, she didn't stop and kept devouring the sokovian's neck. “Vision or the kids could come.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

When was the last time Wanda felt wanted? Needed and desired. A long time ago, she hadn't had sex with Vision in a long time and right now, her legs were shaking like she was that same needy young self again.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

“He’s not coming... the kids won't be around for the whole weekend.” Wanda could barely whisper, feeling how her legs were so weak. “Oh god.”

ㅤㅤㅤㅤ

Between kisses and caresses, both ended up in Wanda's room, tangled between the sheets. Their naked bodies complemented each other once more; Wanda's hands ran over Y/N's bare back over and over again.

ㅤㅤㅤ

“Fuck me.” She whispered against Y/N’s lips between kisses and bites. “Now. Please.”

ㅤㅤㅤ

Feeling that paradise existed in the hands of Y/N, she got carried away. Legs that trembled, lips that ran over the skin over and over again. Wanda bit her skin as if she wanted to mark that woman as hers once more.

Because she was always hers.

The moans, the screams of pleasure, the biting.

The way in which Wanda sought to take Y/N's hands for her to cling to before reaching orgasm, or how her tongue ran through that wet sex with a unique devotion.

The way their breasts swayed with each movement, how their muscles contracted and then released at the peak of pleasure. How Y/N's hands gently squeezed the brunette's neck, how she licked her thumb, teasing her. Needing more.

It was an incredible night for both of them, who ended up sweaty, sore and happy hugging in that bed.

So... 👀🐝 Now do you understand Wanda's anger better? And you haven't read it yet.

Hope you enjoyed, this is turning interesting and good. I'm already working on the finale and... it might make you smile, cry, or both. Some intense stuff is coming so, I just want to let you know that. Clearly many didn't survive the forest.

the cutest and lovely people tags ✨ @kaiidth-wandika @yourfavunsub @pawiie @fanboy7794 @sunsol-22 @scarlettbitchx @arcturusseer @imnotasuperhero @chtte @lesbians-in-outer-space @starry-night17 @cristin-rjd @kenlymar @chtte @marvelogic @druggedduck @aliherreraaa @widowwaddles @gingiesworld

ㅤ

#wanda maximoff x reader #wanda maximoff x female reader

171 notes · View notes

justwearthegoddamncardigan · 1 year

Note

Can you write platonic gladers x child reader (8 - 10), like when their in the scorch trials

AHHH I've been thinking about writing a platonic fic for so long but I wasn’t sure if anyone would read!!!! This request is so good thank you so much

The Heart

Gladers x child! gender neutral! reader (platonic)

Set during scorch trials (movieverse)

Notes: I decided to format this as headcanons to make it easier. Where Teresa is 'The Traitor', Newt is 'The Glue', etc, reader is tattooed with 'The Heart'. This isn't really in the story, just a note for the title and a general headcanon

Warnings: everything that happened in the movie, i.e. violence, Cranks, Winston shooting himself, and one instance of bad language cause apparently I don't have other vocab

Aris

You meet Aris when you've all escaped from WCKD

He's a nice guy

When you're gathering supplies in that abandoned building he picks out a bunch of little sweaters for you

Idk I get a sweater vibe from him

You wear the sweaters when it's night time in the Scorch, and freezing cold

In the days when it's too hot to wear them Aris carries them in his backpack for you

But that's really the extent of your interactions

You've just had more time to build up trust with the people of your own Glade, so it's easier with them, but you're still chill with Aris

Winston

You didn't really know Winston back in the Glade

But it still hurts when the Cranks get him

He shields you away, not letting you see his wound when he shows the others

The Gladers help him do the same, hiding you from him when he starts looking worse

It's like there's some silent pact between everyone to protect you from seeing as many bad things

Your age seems to make them want to preserve your innocence, or something

Anyway, he always looks after you, until the end

RIP Winston :(

Frypan

He always had a soft spot for you back in the Glade

(everyone did)

That kindness doesn't stop when you're out in the Scorch

He always makes sure you've eaten, and he even offers you some of his food, even though he probably needs more than you

Frypan does his best to keep the mood light for you, cracking little jokes and pulling faces to make you smile

Teresa

For Teresa, you're actually a reminder of what the world was like

Look, we all know Teresa betrayed the group, and that was really shitty

But we can get her motivations sometimes

She looks at you and sees the people she should be saving, the people she wants to protect

You're actually a symbol of hope in her mind

She wants to make a cure so that people like you can live in a world without the Flare

Of course, you would rather she just not betray all your friends, but that's just how her mind works

For you, she's kinda like an older sister... or a mother (lol)

You always sleep beside her at night, and she'll hold your hand while sleeping so you don't have nightmares

Thomas

Thomas is actually kind of a role model to you

You admire his relentless no-one-left-behind mindset, and his bravery

He doesn't really have time to look after you like the others, but you always fuel his spirit with your unfailing optimism

He makes the most time with you at the end of the day, when you're resting

He comforts you when you're scared at night, staying awake to talk to you about simple things, or to tell you a story to take your mind off your fears

You cuddle up to sleep between him and Teresa, giving both of them some calm and peace, since you can tell his mind is always moving a million miles a minute

He's kinda like Teresa with you, actually

They both look at you as a hopeful future, something they have to work towards to protect you

But the difference is that Thomas works to get you and the rest of the group to a safe place, while Teresa... you know, gives you all up

Newt

You trigger some strange memories in Newt

He doesn't really remember, but he had a sister before

You remind him of what it's like to be an older brother

He protects you like his own sibling, making sure you get your sweaters from Aris' bag when it gets cold

He also defends you first when you end up at Jorge's warehouse

When the guard people are closing in on you, he shoves you behind him and threatens to kill anyone who touches you

Obviously they have guns and are stronger than the lot of you, so all you end up getting strung up by your feet

But hey, he tried his best, and it was all fine in the end

Minho

Minho is your favourite

(you're his favourite too)

He's snarky and to-the-point with everyone else, but he's always soft with you

Back in the Glade he'd always let you sit in the Runners' hut and chill out, just drawing pictures or messing around with sticks from the Map

Some days when it gets late, you get tired from walking and Minho will give you a piggyback ride

Usually you'll fall asleep on Minho's back like that, and he'll have to gently put you down, trying not to wake you

Minho's actually always carrying you

Like, in the hard situations - it becomes a regular thing

Some bad shit going down? Get on my back

He's carrying you when you're running in to the warehouse, and you almost get struck by lightning with him

Back when you were escaping the Maze, he was carrying you there too

Hope you enjoyed these :)))

Thank you for reading, and requests are open as always ❤

#the maze runner #god do I just tag everyone #maze runner headcanons #platonic gladers x reader #minho x reader #newt x reader #thomas x reader #aris x reader #teresa x reader #frypan x reader #winston x reader #my writing

188 notes · View notes

stevenbasic · 1 year

Text

GITJ Post 322: A Date with Her Chest, p2

“Thank youuuu..!!” she called after the delivery guy, waving as he turned once more to catch one last glimpse of the holy shit galactic-level babe that had answered the door and taken the food from his awestruck hands. She watched him stumble over the stone steps that led out to the circular drive, and found herself giggling. Men were funny. But: she needed to get back to Jay! So, in a twirl, Melissa was back inside the house, kicking the heavy front door closed and sealing the two of them back off again from the rest of the world.

“Be there in a sec!” she called out to where he waited on the couch in the great room. She’d come in to set the bag on the counter, right aside the haha miserable failure of lasagna that still sat, now growing cold in all its charred glory on the countertop. Boy had she burnt that thing to a crisp! She’d started it late and learned that doubling the temperature doesn’t necessarily just halve the cooking time. But, she knew enough to order take-out so she could get him fed.

Opening the delivery bag, she pulled out the contents: a tin tray with a dozen dumplings and three lidded, plastic containers full of what she hoped he’d find delicious. She pulled a fancy bamboo tray from below the counter, set everything up along with the now-chilled bottle of wine, two goblets and - after a moment of thought - a single spoon alongside the chopsticks. She tossed a pile of napkins from the delivery bag onto the tray, too, in case things got messy.

“Here we are..!” she sang, coming back into the great room from the kitchen, “I hope you’re hungry!” Though she put a nice swing in her hips, carrying the tray towards him, she felt like he’d been a little too focused on her butt this evening. She’d felt his eyes on her anytime she’d turned away, like watching her as she’d left the room to answer the doorbell, just as she’d gotten him settled on the couch a couple minutes ago. What could she expect, wearing these little booty-shorts. Not that she minded the attention! But, the evening was supposed to be about her boobs; she’d talked about this with Abby. Yes, she’d spent countless hours at the gym making her legs and butt look bigger, stronger, shapelier, more powerful. She wanted him to notice and to think she had the best legs in the world. But, her breasts were the more purely natural demonstration of her womanliness, were an organic symbol of how good a source of comfort and pleasure she could be for him, and were supposed to be the focus for tonight. So when she finally came to stand in front of him at the couch, across the low coffee table, she made sure to lean over slow enough, just right to give him a nice view of her cleavage.

“Nice and warm still, I’m so happy,” she clucked, as she popped the tops off the three quart-sized containers and the tray of dumplings. She fought back a smile as she felt him alternately watching her set up their dinner and occasionally lose his fight with the urge to just gape at her chest. She opened up a single set up chopsticks and scooted around the table to sit aside him on the white leather couch.

Melissa sank to the couch slowly but making certain her weight hit with enough force to be heard and felt while curling her legs underneath herself so that her thigh muscles were on clear display. Pivoting at waist, she posed her enormous chest and trim shoulders. Watching the movement of his gaze was a true delight as the man aside her struggled to find somewhere to let it land. Her smile had shifted so that her face didn’t seem entirely appropriate to focus on, and his eyes dropped to her legs. Despite the fact that it was her legs again, she soaked in the attention he was lauding onto her body; forget the Chinese take-out, this was nourishment enough for her. Feed me, she thought.

But enough was enough, as much as she loved it. She briskly slapped her thighs <slap slap> to grab his attention, break his engrossed leg-trance. “Ugh, my thighs feel so thhhick,” she said with a faux lisp, “might have to call in thick tomorrow.”

That shook him from his oblivious dwam. “t-tomorrow’s Saturday…” he responded. Was that his lame attempt at a joke haha?

“Oh yeah!” she laughed blithely, eyes sparkling in mischief, ”Now, let’s get you fed.” Pivoting again, she reached back to the table with her chopsticks and picked up her first morsel from the tin tray. “How about a dumpling…Dumpling?” she giggled, bringing the warm little steamed pocket of pork, ginger and shredded cabbage towards his mouth. She knew he’d balk, at first, but all it took was a couple clucks and a reminder of just how much he liked it when she fed him and he was taking his first bite. “Yummy?” she asked, watching him chew. It warmed her heart.

He nodded, swallowing, and she watched him. She knew how little he’d been eating these days, how skinny he’d been getting. He opened for another bite, taking the rest of the dumpling, and finally asked about the other three containers when he’d swallowed again. Egg-drop, Tom-Yum, and something with some noodles.

“That’s…a lot of soup,” he commented, noticing that the dumplings were really the only solid food she’d ordered for them.

“Yeah,” Melissa agreed, tossing her hair and reaching again for another dumpling. This one she took for herself: all in one bite. “Itssf…” she began, but then stopped, giggling, her mouth still full. She chewed for a moment with a hand shyly to her mouth and rolling her eyes, swallowed, and began again. “It’s for your tummy,” she said, “I know how you’ve been having trouble these days. I figured soup would be easier for you. But these ginger dumplings are supposed to be good for the stomach, too.”

With a furrowed brow he nodded, grateful for her concern but sheepishly shrinking in his seat as one of his many recent fragilities were pointed out. He watched her choose another dumpling for him. Yes, something was up with his stomach and his constitution in general. He knew he should get it all checked out, when things calmed down a little. It was emasculating, how weak he’d been these days, but none of it seemed to bother Melissa. In fact, she seemed to embrace it, love it, and really leaned in to helping him be comfortable in his meagerness. So, he allowed himself to be pampered, a bit. “Thank you,” he simply acknowledged, and opened wide for another bite.

Melissa’s heart was fluttering, she was almost shivering in seeing - even after a tough week in which she hadn’t been able to pay him much attention - how easily he was falling into this docile, submissive role tonight. She was feeding him like a mama bird and he wasn’t complaining at all! She’d spoken to Abby about how important it was to show him how gentle she could be, how loving and nurturing. She thought she’d have a little fight but this is fucking easy, she thought to herself, and the warmth she felt for him in her chest grew. Eventually, after feeding him three of the dumplings, she could sense how he maybe needed a break, to let that tummy settle. Chopsticks were back on the table, and she reached for the now-opened bottle of wine, poured him a glass. She handed it to him and then sat back, moving to tuck her knees under herself on the couch. That raised her up a bit, brought her chest right up to about his eye level. She smiled down at him, and watched him take his first sip of fancy French white wine.

“So, I wanted to apologize for something,” she began, knowing she had to be careful with how much she told him, “I’m sorry for not asking you to help me move. Lakshmi said you felt a little bad about it.”

“I, uh,” he started, struggling with how he was going to express himself here without just making himself sound petulant. He began by explaining how he thought boyfriends were supposed to help girlfriends move their stuff, right? Heavy boxes and all? Just because he was, like, half a wimp didn’t mean he couldn’t have helped in some way, right? He tried to sound casual, in good humor as much as he could about it, but she saw through it and it brought a chorus of apologies from her. In the end, he went on to tell her, it wasn’t a big deal. It was just one of the many little emasculations he was now weathering on a daily basis. That brought another wave of apologies and coos from her, and she scooted closer to him. She just wanted to hug him so bad!

“I know, I know, I know!” she whined, laughing a little to herself, “You were just, y’know, you're so busy, and not feeling great…” She was gushing with half-truths, here, fully aware that she couldn’t tell him the real reason she couldn’t have had him help her move, see her old place. That would have been too much to try to explain haha. And getting him clearance would have been impossible.

“I wasn’t that busy,” he said, “for you, I would have made time.”

Ohmigod.

In a sudden burst of affection, she reached out to grab his head again and began to cover his face with apology kisses: <Muah Muah Muah!> they came, rapid, all over his forehead and cheeks, nose and eyelids. After more than a dozen she sat back and the lipstick marks she’d left made her giggle. “Omigod you are so sweet,” she cooed, licking her finger to clean him up. He had awkwardly started moving his hands onto her; she felt them on her hips.

She had given him some space, after the elections, after being a little physically aggressive with him, and she began to tell him as much. But she now knew that he’d taken it as being too unfeeling and distant. Yes, maybe he had been a little emotionally needy, but she loved it! She, though, should have responded with reassurance and affection, and she knows now she was too casual about it. She had to remember to be better about his feelings in the future. It wasn’t just his weak little male bones that were fragile…his heart was, too.

He tried to protest, defending himself, but really just sounded sort of silly. He knew it, too.

In the meantime, Melissa realized that with her emotions her pheromones had begun pouring off her body and had begun to really affect him, as they sat here. His hands were on her hips, and his gaze had once more lowered to study the hourglass of her body. His eyes had dropped to her lap, again, to her big bulging thighs, smoothly bare and throbbing with muscle as her feet stayed tucked beneath her. They were huge and perfect and haha someday soon might each weigh nearly as much as he did, but she had to remind herself again why she’d brought him here tonight.

Sitting up, above him on the couch, Melissa casually lowered her stretchy top a bit more off her shoulders. A big breath pulled the neckline down a bit, exposing more of the upper swells of her firm, giant breasts and a bit more cleavage. Aha, she thought, that worked. Now she had him looking where she wanted...

“Jay, I never, never, ever want to make you feel bad, or ignored, or that you’re on your own,” she began again, “I want to make life easy on you. I want to protect you.”

“P-protect me?” he queried, and she could see the protest again beginning to build behind his brow.

“The world’s been changing, and it’s about to change even faster,” she continued, making sure her voice was strong but gentle and soothing, “I know what happened in clinic, with that girl. There’s going to be more of that, everywhere. Women are becoming different. So me and the girls think you need protecting - not just with the clinic patients. But, like, all the time.”

Now she saw him start to really bristle, but then she began to list the recent news stories they’d all heard, the female-on-male violence, the gangs, what had happened at some of the rallies. Unconsciously, her body had begun to flex her musculature while she was talking. Was it already rising to defend him, swelling, or was the idea of women breaking men into little pieces secretly exciting her?

He seemed to be in denial, like so many men were. He didn’t see the reality that things might actually get dangerous on so many levels for him in the coming months. He assured her that the world would settle down, like they always did. She tried to be patient, knowing this was hard for him, but knew she needed her point taken.

“Here, let me show you this thing I recorded,” she said, reaching back to the table to grab the remote. With a single button, a big-screen TV rose out of the floor, bringing a nod of admiration from him.

“That’s cool…” he commented.

Nonplussed by the technology - much of what she’d been surrounded with since her childhood would put this fancy television setup to shame - Melissa pressed another button or two and brought up the news clip she’d wanted to show him. Abby had suggested it and she’d had it all queued up, prepared.

It was a piece from one of the late-night shows, from one of the news channels, an interview by a blonde anchor. She was speaking via satellite feed to a woman who he immediately pegged as a leader of one of these “fringe” groups, one of the extreme female-empowerment outfits that were being given more and more of a voice in the media: “It used to be that we sat back and watched as men in society were slowly becoming infantalized, doing it to themselves. The video games, the laziness, the dwindling education,” the woman - a pretty, but somewhat severe looking redhead in glasses - was saying, “It upset us, a little. As wives, mothers, partners. Now, though, we have it figured out - hey, let’s encourage it. Let’s encourage these people to sit back, to give up their responsibilities so we can take them ourselves.” The woman was obviously excited, energized, and something about her tone certainly did have the effect Melissa wanted: it was making him nervous, as he sat there on the couch. She also noted - with a quick, furtive glance down - it was also making him hard. “Now...now we have the opportunity to FORCE it,” she continued, “Forced infantalization, forced physical infantalization. Make them smaller, make them weaker. Make them dependent on us for our minds, for our physical strength. We have the ability to make them physically dependent on our bodies for the very nutrition their bodies need.”

“W-wait,” he said, as he still watched, obviously confused, “what is this woman talking about?” They’d maybe missed the first part of the interview but his tone was plain: this chick is crazy. There were, he knew, all sorts of kookie conspiracy theorists out there and he was half in disbelief that this one had been allowed on CNN. The other half of him, though, began to get even more nervous.

To his question Melissa said nothing, but had turned to watch him and how he was reacting, handling what this lady was saying.

She was still talking. “We can start the process. We can start to physically turn them into the infants they’ve been for nearly a generation now,” she ranted. The anchor lady had to stop her, at some point, but instead of cutting away like they normally would when a guest went wacky, she presented some follow up questions.

“Sure, there will be a place for men,” the bespectacled redhead answered, “physical labor, landscaping, package delivery. It just may take two of them to do one job, and we’ll have to be patient. But with our surplus of undereducated men we do have to find a use for th-.”

Melissa clicked off the TV. Smoothly, it sank back into the floor, and she turned back to him.

The big house was suddenly, eerily silent. “Th-this is scary,” he admitted in disbelief, obviously struck but what he’d just heard. I mean…it was ridiculous, wasn’t it? That lady’s a crazy lady, right?

“Is it?” she asked, controlling as best she could the excitement in her voice, “Is it scary to you?”

“Y-yeah,” he answered, “a little.”

“When you say that,” Melissa spoke, inching herself on her knees a little closer to him, “It makes me feel extra protective of you. It so does…” He’d slumped back, now, against the back of the couch, while she still sat up straight aside him, facing him. She smiled warmly as he looked up at her; he looked so deliciously little. “Like, I feel like your big cuddly wolf mommy, and you’re my pup,” she continued with a little giggle, reaching out to stroke his hair, “My pup. My little pup, my puppy <giggle!>. I want to protect you from the big, mean world.”

He looked up at her, and was unquestionably aware of her greater size, her greater strength, her greater mass. Her immense beauty, her warmth. It was also not lost on him that he was here, in this magnificent mansion that was basically hers, while he was near homeless, dependent on the mercy of his bitterly angry ex-wife for the hovel where he lived. He was dependent on women, he knew he had been for years, and now his reckoning had come. They were not going to tolerate his kind any longer; they were sick of all the shit. Maybe he needed her, Melissa, now. She was offering to be his protector, and maybe he needed to latch on to a strong woman for the sake of his own safety. But, perhaps somewhat abstractedly, he knew inwardly what he’d be giving up if he put himself in her care.

He watched as she pivoted towards him, and smoothly raised her left leg to straddle him. She now faced him, sitting heavily on his lap, towering over him like a giant. He looked up at her, and tried to keep his jaw from falling open, or quivering. He could just barely see her face beyond the imposing swell of her enormous bosom.

“I can be your superhero…” she said with a glorious smile, sitting up straight and raising her arms into an impressive, double-biceps pose. She flexed, causing her muscles to explode in a display of her surprising, secret brawn. “…don’t you think I’m built like one?”

At that, Melissa giggled, and then threw her head back in a laugh. She couldn’t help it! It just felt so good, showing him how strong she was. She raised her arms up into the air, above herself, in a stretch that reached towards the heavens. She felt his eyes on her, gaping, in awe of what she was and what she was becoming. She was just so big! And below her, he felt very, very small.

“oh my god Melissa…” was all he could manage, in a weak little voice.

She looked down at him again. Good, she saw, allowing herself a crooked little smile, he’s staring at my tits. With her hands she gently cupped his face, held it in place, allowing him to look, forcing him to look. Slowly, then, she ran them down, down his neck in a caress, down to his chest, over to his shoulders. She palpated him, felt his smallness, how frail he felt under her big hands. He could feel it himself: she was examining him, sizing him up.

Finally, she couldn’t help but ask. “Hey…are you smaller?” she posited, cocking her head.

“Wh-what? I don’t…I don’t know.” He looked away, embarrassed, caught.

“Hmm…” she continued, running her hands down his thin upper arms, now, feeling them for their meager strength. He’d worn a white collared polo shirt for their date, with his khakis, and she pushed his short sleeves up a bit, revealing how weak he looked. “I think you are. You look thinner, smaller, shorter.”

Though his heart was racing, and his cock was throbbing under her, he said nothing. He couldn’t bring himself to tell her what he already knew.

“Haha, how shy, I like it,” she said, with a little laugh. She did love how flustered he got when they talked about the difference in their sizes. Knowing that he knew, and could feel, how much bigger she was than him was just so thrilling. She knew tonight was about making him feel safe and protected, but she really couldn’t help herself. Plus, it might make him understand how much he needed her protection if she did this…

“Let’s measure you,” she said dreamily, her strong hands having moved from his arms back to his shoulders, now grasping him behind his neck, kneading him in a gentle massage. The suggestion, the thought of him and her and a measuring tape, was turning her on.

“N-no, it’s okay…” he answered, remembering his morning, the moments of self-pity, “I did it myself, at home, this morning.”

Melissa’s eyes widened, and she tried to hide her excitement. Oooo…. “How tall are you now?” she asked, with prurient interest.

“I’m…just about five-one,” he said, face flushing in shame. How had it let it go this far?? Where was his self-respect?? Why wasn’t he doing anything about this, his health??

“‘Just about five-one’?” she asked, “you mean you're not actually even five-one?”

He saw how exited this was making her. “Well, I’m like…” he began, in answer, “just over five-feet even.”

“Like, five-foot, and a half inch?”

“More like…” he started, pulse throbbing in his face, cock ready to break through his khakis and press into her mighty thigh, “…five-foot and a quarter.”

“Oh god you are shorter,” she exhaled, overcome, with an enthusiasm that betrayed her excitement but just made him feel even weaker and more afraid. Like telling her this, speaking it aloud, had made it more real: he was shrinking, faster.

He was looking up at her, while she smiled down at him, and his lip was quivering, his eyes glassy and full. Her expression changed from one of animated exhilaration, though, to one of immediate concern when tears began coming out of his eyes. Then, he covered his crying face.

“Are you…crying?” she gasped, quickly putting her hands into action. “Aww, don´t cry, come here,” she cooed as she both leaned forward into him and pulled him up away from the couch into her. She felt it immediately: this did not have to be an act, or contrived in any way. Melissa’s maternal instincts were kicking in, plain as day, and she couldn't bear to see him crying. Thirty-five or forty or however many years-old he was, it didn’t matter; she wouldn’t have him crying without comforting him.

She had his face right on her boobs. Her bosom was huge, and his head sank into it like a child’s. She was about to comment on it but just as she was about to speak up, he started outright sobbing.

“Shh, shh, it´s okay, don´t cry, honey, don´t cry,” she cooed, wiggling herself closer to him to more adequatelyhold him, “Why are you crying? Hmmm? Did I say something wrong? What´s the matter?” He was obviously incapable of speaking, so distraught, so she just hugged him tighter to her chest. “It’s okay. Let it out, just let it all out for me,” came her voice, surrounding him and filling his ears, “Melissa’s here…”.

He went on like this for a couple minutes, and she just let him cry. She coooed and clllllucked and purrrrred to him, reassuring him, coddling him, feeling his hot, wet face against the soft skin of her big breasts. She was telling him it was alright, that everything would be okay as long as he had her. She wouldn’t let anything happen to him, no sir! Her voice, her tenderness seemed to calm him, but still he sobbed, more gently now. And, after a while, he stopped.

“Are you feeling better, dear?” came her sweet voice again, as she rubbed his back with one hand, the other gently releasing him from her chest so he could sit back a bit.

“I… I am…” he replied, and opened his tear-blurred eyes to look up at her. He saw how she was looking at him in a strange way. He felt suddenly ashamed, so he turned away.

“Aww, don´t be shy,” she cooed, immediately taking his chin and redirecting his face to look back up at her, “it´s natural for a man to cry. You shouldn´t hide your feelings, not from me. If you have a need to cry sometimes, it´s okay. I’m here.”

Melissa knew he had become overly aware, overly sensitive of his height, and hers. She knew how it made him feel, knowing she was growing larger and stronger while he for some reason kept dwindling away. His eyes, so many times over these past weeks, had been caught running up and down her body, checking her size, her height, how tall she was compared to him. And that didn´t changed with other people. She could also see it, out of the corner of her eye, when he was trying to talk with the other girls. She knew his shrinking had make him insecure, and now imposing herself and her growing size over him should be a last resort. A “power” she shouldn’t abuse.

But her boobs were a different story.

Seeing that he had stopped crying, for sure, she allowed her smile to change from one of pure matronly concern to one flavored with a bit more mischief.

“Did my chest make you feel better?” she asked, with as much girlish innocence as she could muster. The hand which cupped his chin, her right, left his face and came to rest lightly on her more-than-maidenly bosom. Her fingers began to play with the neckline of her top, and slowly started peeling it down, fraction by fraction, as her left hand slid up his back, behind his head. His gaze was redirected by her to her tits, and he was getting harder and harder. More and more of the huge upper swells of her breasts were being exposed, and his eyes became fixed and dilated.

She tried to keep from giggling. “I don’t know if you’ve been properly introduced, Jay,” she began, her voice gentle but full of good junior, “These are my breasts. Say hello…”

With that, Melissa drew in a great, filling breath and watched his eyes widen as her chest expanded, her already enormous tits seeming to double in size as her mighty lungs filled. The elastic fabric of her top stretched to its limit and god knows how she didn’t just pop right out of it. She felt her nipples harden and announce themselves through the spandex. He had begun to shake, and she felt his thin hips try to press up into her, as he struggled to keep himself from rutting.

“They’re excited to see you,” she began again, twisting at the waist just enough to pivot one hardened nipple right in front of his face, aggressively showing him its size, plain to see even through the aquamarine lycra of her too. She twisted again, to now show him the other one, equally swollen. “My breasts are just so ready to comfort you and make you feel good tonight, Jay,” she continued, as she slowly inched her massive breast closer to his face, his eyes staring and unblinking at its nipple, “They just want you to get to know them better.”

She knew, she knew for sure, just how breast-obsessed Jay was. All men, really, these days, had been becoming tit-men, had grown to be attracted to and fascinated by the big female breast. It gave women, especially women built like Melissa, a new power. It was a growing weakness in all men, something guys everywhere were developing. But Jay, she knew, and his weaknesses for tits, were really on another level.

She shimmied her shoulders, just the slightest bit, just enough to bring some movement to the massive monument of mammary she had right in front of his face. Below her top her whole breast shifted, and he let out a groan as he gaped at the jiggles and waves of movement that flowed through the flesh just under the skin of her upper tit.

“What’s your favorite word for them?” she asked, as she gathered her shoulders together a bit, squeezing her KK-cups together in a wedding-cake display of cleavage that nearly made him explode. He did, in fact, groan again, heedless of just how enthralled he was by her chest.

But, she’d asked him a question. “Boobs? Breasts? Tits?” she began again, “What’s your fave? Knockers? Mommy Milkers?” He had begun to pant, and she felt his hips press up into her again. He seemed to like that last one haha, she thought and in response she redoubled her display, squeezing her shoulders together some more, now pressing in on her mountainous boobs with her upper arms. It surprised even she herself how big she could look when she did this. “BIG Mommy Milkers?” she pressed on, “BIG, HUGE, MASSIVE Mommy Milkers <giggle!>? What do you want to call them?”

It was hard not to stare at the deep line of cleavage between her tits. Seeing him stare, she jiggled her monstrously burgeoned cleavage a little, right in front of his face. He, of course, had - aside from now the occasional whine - gone totally quiet. He was speechless. She knew she’d rob him of his voice by overwhelming him with her chest like this, but it was still fun to tease. “Can’t decide, huh?” she finally concluded for him, allowing him to stay quiet, “Well…why don’t you just call them ‘home’ for now…”

At that, Melissa used the hand still behind him to hug his face once more to her chest. If she thought she could fit his head inside them, probably make it disappear between them, she was right. With just a little wiggle, some readjustment of her torso and shoulders, she sunk his face and head fully between her breasts. She now then hugged herself around him, surrounding him completely. The feeling was divine, enveloping his whole head like this, and she could only imagine what his world felt like right now. Darkness, her warmth, her body’s sweet perfume: it would be all around him, enwombing him.

“I…” she heard his muffled little voice begin, “I d-d-don’t know if I can handle this…” Indeed, his body was tensing, trying to keep itself from just spasming into her.

She felt a new wave of maternal love flow over her. ““Get used to it, baby. You’re going to be spending a lot of time like this,” she purred, knowing her voice would carry through her chest to him, “if you want to relax, let the pleasure take you and just let go, you’re welcome to. Go ahead, I don’t mind.” She felt big, magnanimous. “Take as much pleasure as my breasts can give you. Use them how you want.”

He was still trying to keep himself, she could feel, from outright rutting up into her like a dog. He didn’t want to come this way, so soon, in his pants again. He wanted to save himself. She held him to her, and she understood. She just wanted him to be happy, but she knew he couldn’t last much longer. It was okay.

After allowing him another moment, but not wanting him to struggle too much more, Melissa slowly released his head. “I love getting closer with you, more intimate,” she said, gently, as his head and face slid out from between her breasts and she cupped his chin again to bring his gaze up to her. She wanted him to look her in the eyes. She was happy with how rapt he was, how mindlessly he paid attention to her. “And,” she continued, “I have some ideas on how we can…bond, together.”

With that she tilted his face down again, so he could watch as her hand had come once again to her chest, right above the nipple of her huge left breast. Her fingers took delicate hold of her neckline, the stretchy fabric that just barely now covered her grandly erect nipple. “Skin-to-skin contact helps, make two people closer connected,” she said, and began to peel down her top.

He noticed the faint hint of a tanline, still, separating the most intimate, creamiest skin of her breast from the rest of her chest. She pulled down her top, oh-so-slowly some more and he watched, with wide, unblinking eyes, as the darker skin of her areola now appeared. Already there were smaller bumps, engorged Montgomery glands, grown and ready to moisturize her nipple. Her flesh was otherwise smooth, perfect, and he could just barely see the fine hairs like down on her skin. He had begun to pant, and whine, and oh no just as she pulled down, a bit further, just as the big nub of her nipple played at the hem of her top, ready to pop above it and finally be revealed to his ravenous stare, he felt himself jolt. Oh no. Oh no oh no oh no…

“Ohhh…” she cooed, her fingers freezing in place, keeping her nipple just covered by the spandex of her top, “oh no…”

He groaned, in defeat, and felt his hips buck up again into her. A familiar shock ran through his hips, into his belly, tightened his torso and made his eyes clamp shut. The first burst of wetness he felt on his thigh.

“Oh, sweetie, it’s okay,” she cooed, feeling her lover be taken by premature climax under her, “let it out…”

He groaned, he whined again. Nooo…! But he couldn’t help himself. Still staring at her tit, at the promise of her big nipple under her top, he came in his pants. He rutted, weakly and with as much restraint as he could, up into her. This was…this was…

“Shhhhh, honey, shhhhh…” she purred to him, allowing him his moment and secretly satisfied she had him on his way to where she wanted to get him, “we have all night, baby. Mama’s just getting started…”

=============================================

stevebasic Patreon

#growing into the job

55 notes · View notes

is-the-owl-video-cute · 2 years

Note

lmao I used to have a binge eating disorder and ate like 7k calories a day. Crazily enough when I started eating a normal amount of food for my gender/height/activity level I lost weight and my sleep apnea went away, I can now walk up the stairs in my house without excruciating pain, and I have 500x the energy that I used to and my brain fog is 99% gone. But I'm sure being 190lbs overweight and eating until I felt like I was going to vomit was totally healthy and my pain was just a manifestation of my internalized fatphobia or w/e lmao

People must have somehow magically evolved to be morbidly obese in only a few decades, it can't possibly have anything to do with insane portion sizes, mass production and availability of unhealthy food, a food pyramid sponsored by companies wanting to sell you their trash and food now being full of sugar, corn syrup, artificial colors and other garbage. We're also so magical that being fat is totally fine for us unlike the thousands of other animal species in existance.

Keto and intermittent fasting literally saved my life. I was able to go down from 10 DIFFERENT MEDICATIONS to only needing 4 of them. I've literally talked to hundreds of people with the exact same story.

“I traded my BAD eating disorder for a GOOD eating disorder” is not the flex you think it is anon.

By your own admission your issue was having an eating disorder, not being fat, if you think every fat person also has an eating disorder you are projecting your own trauma and insecurities onto other people because you apparently think your experiences are universal. Most fat people do not eat until they puke actually.

The reason obesity is dangerous for a lot of animals is because, get this, animal physiology and adaptations vary greatly between species. Do you think you have the same needs as a flea? Bears, seals, whales, hippos, boars, and several other species have to carry a lot of fat to survive. Humans are bipedal and have fat stores that build up away from organs and joints. This keeps a lot of the strain off the back and prevents many of the issues you will see in quadrupeds and birds from emerging.

Ease and rate of storing fat in humans is largely due to genetics. People who were born by a starving mother naturally hold fat more easily because this is an adaptation to prevent starvation in famines. Increased fat stores is also hereditary so people who had ancestors that were starving will carry weight more often than those whose ancestors had an easy access of food for several generations. Because this was something humans adapted to over the course of millennia as nomadic groups who had to deal with inconsistent food availability due to different climates, flooding cycles, droughts, etc, humans did in fact evolve to have a fluid metabolism and hold stores of fat just fine. If you think fat people are a new invention, I have insane news for you about noble and royal families in Europe for hundreds of years. Being fat was a status symbol to show off how much money you had and that you had no need to toil in fields. This is documented very well.

Keto and [starving yourself] is not healthy. If your entire argument is that being some arbitrary level of “overweight” is unhealthy, you should consider not promoting a diet that causes you to have calcium absorption complications, chronic arterial diseases, kidney stones, and other serious issues long term. Anorexia is not a health trick either, once again, that is an eating disorder.

#ed mention #ed recovery

184 notes · View notes

keefechambers · 2 years

Text

One weird quality of internet media illiteracy (I can't think of a better way to phrase it) is this weird tendency to latch onto a thing a character says and carry it to an extreme end conclusion that doesn't necessarily make sense. it's like the non-cutesy version of "if a character mentions a food they love it will become the only food they ever talk about within fandom."

Like, on TVTropes and even here to some extent, you have people talking about the scene in Nope where Emerald is discussing the horse Jean Jacket, and somehow what they've taken from this scene is "Em never learned how to ride or train horses because she didn't get to train Jean Jacket (horse) when she was 9."

But that's...that's not what the conversation is about? Not on a literal OR symbolic level. There's literally no canon reason to think Em can't ride or train. She might not be into it and obviously she wants different things, but that isn't the same as saying she can't?

The attitude of "if they bring it up, it must be a fact up to the present moment of canon" is just strange.

Em tells OJ that story about Jean Jacket (horse) because it was a time where she felt like something belonged to her and it was taken away without explanation or apology. It's not that she never got another horse, it's that this was supposed to be her horse and then suddenly it wasn't, and her Pops wouldn't even acknowledge it. A lot of that is reflective of how a 9 year old would think of the world.

She reflects on this moment because OJ looked up at her. Because in moments where her dad didn't understand her and maybe inadvertantly made her feel invisible, her big brother always saw her. Not to tell the audience she didn't know how to ride a fucking horse.

#emerald haywood #nope spoilers #oj haywood #otis haywood sr #nope 2022

177 notes · View notes

shallowseeker · 4 months

Note

Hey Shal, I have a question about your family diner meta. Mad respect, but in the Leviathan arc Biggerson's is made out to be a bad thing. I was wondering if you have any thoughts on that, since in the Cas tablet meta where Naomi attacks Cas, you talk about Biggerson's being bigger sons -> better than their fathers because of their bigger hearts is a good thing? Anyway, I'm hoping this comes across as a friendly question!

I tend to shy away from writing about some stuff from that season, because a lot of it seems very era-attenuated. Example: how an average librarian is referred to as "Chubby" and her beau as "Chub-chaser" in Repo Man. In general some of the mean despair over "fat people" in this season comes off Hollywood-seedy and thoughtless, but it's soooo of the times.

For a little while era, the documentary SuperSize Me reigned supreme in every bit of small-talk and in every classroom. Jessica Simpson was a frequent target of weight-shaming, including this hugely publicized fiasco from 2009, when she looked like a walking dream BTW.

In this way, SPN is like a time capsule. (Like how, if you were alive at the time during post-"war on terror," Torture was the big topic in every current events class, verging on a buzz word.)

///

Yes, Biggerson's is a BIG motif in season 7, and with negative connotations. It's a nod to SuperSize Me. It's especially damning for the punching-down attitudes in Hollywood.

I want to point out that although the name is cheeky, Biggerson's wasn't even inherently bad in-world.

The Leviathan were a rotten supplier to this family chain industry, dosing their food with additives, which mirrors a lot of the real-world chatter that was going on about trans-fats, partially hydrogenated oil, etc. People were working really hard to get them banned!

When you get down to it, the people inside Biggerson's were being actively preyed upon.

///

What I think I want to carefully pivot to is the dark side of humanity and family, that of consumerism and exploitation.

I think overall that the family diner is still a positive motif, but as with every motif, there's a shadow side--the uncharitable side, a side that can be carried to extremes.

The "shadow self" of the family diner motif is excess and greed exploiting the family by ravaging its most basic requirement to survive: shelter and nourishment.

They are making humans into livestock. This was also a rampant idea in the 2000s: about selectively breeding farm animals so that they get dumber and dumber, until they're easy to subjugate for meat, assembly-line style. I think they briefly touch on this again in season 12...with the Moloch monster and family business of meat packaging.

Anyway, SPN was trying to loop this idea in, too.

///

So, yes. BIG erson's. Bigger Sons. Etc. Etc.

You want your kids to be better than you, with "bigger hearts" and more kindness. But bigger and stronger can have a heck of a downside, too.

But at its heart, the family diner also represents communion and community. It is, after all, the weak, vulnerable human family that Cas wants to protect in season 8.

It's both things at once.

(ASIDE//

And Cas becomes the ideal/idea/motif of the always-working dad/husband that wants to provide for you but doesn't indulge in happiness or nourishment for himself.)

///

ASIDE 2//

Flagrant consumerism is a big part of Nephilim concept, too, and that's a very ancient story. Theirs was an extensive appetite that so drained the world they had to be eradicated to save the world. In a very real symbolic sense, We are the Nephilim. (On the nose maybe, but we are empire: too tall, too strong, too wasteful, war-mongering, dominating etc. etc.)

And my point is, I think humans have always been aware of the tension and war that comes with the competition for finite resources. It's not just a modern, "American" concept.

In early days, our conceptualization of gods and demi-gods mimics the food chain. Ergo: If gods are above us, they're like other stronger animals...they want to eat us. Thus, sacrificing to them is a way to appease them.

Humanity and religion are historically oriented towards pooling resources to survive. Many religions, even the big ones imho, are a clever family-extension device, that's why it they’re so littered with parental components. (It's used to bind people “under one roof” and funnel the resources appropriately.

Certainly, that how Cults and Causes start; in meaningful ways they're all baby/early religions. And when enough time goes by, and the leaders die, etc etc...they devolve to myth and respectable religions proper. The ultimate difference is time.

If angels are royal families, ancient knights-and-tribalism, then Leviathan were supreme capitalism.

It worked well in theory, even when the execution was sometimes lacking to too campy to get the satire across. Especially coming from, you know, Hollywood. And Biggerson's is a warped shadow of that appetite symbol.

#asks #leviathan #symbol #the family diner #cw weight #fat shaming #tw weight #supersize me mention #nephilim #appetite #resource management #cool topics done badly etc etc #moral relativism #human centered locus of morality #family centered locus of morality #insiders and outsiders

2 notes · View notes

ittybluebell · 5 months

Text

Itty Bitty Brains - iZombie g/t fanfic (ao3) | Chapter 2

Prev | Next

The beans that worked here were fucking weird.

It'd been a day since Atom had moved in. He'd gotten good borrowings in the night - food, building supplies, etc - and alternated between working and sleeping during the day. He was constructing a lean-to out of cardboard and a Tupperware lid when the sounds of conversation had him pausing to listen in.

"... brain's made... into some kind of astrology nut... There's just... constantly in my head... understand the world better, but at the same time, it's the greatest mystery that I can't wait to solve."

"Right, well," said another voice, one Atom hadn't heard before, "why don't you focus on solving our mystery? You know, the murdered woman whose brain you turned into a hot pocket."

"It's called a calzone, Clive. And yeah, I got it - no pondering the meaning of life as we know it and how everything is somehow connected but not at the same time and- yes, I'm completely focused. I promise."

"Good," said 'Clive.' "Because we're going to interview the widow again. She gave us what she could, but her wife was just murdered - she was barely coherent. I'm hoping that today we can get some information about the break-in. Come on - let's go."

And they were gone, leaving Atom utterly flabbergasted with his jaw hanging and his eyes bulging. She ate... no. No way. Mm-mm. Atom was not living with cannibals. That human bean did not eat-

Oh, he was going to be sick. Just thinking about- nope. Nuh-uh. He was gonna puke. No more thinking about it. Just ignore it and move on. They were not talking about eating brains because that was- that was disgusting. Nobody did that. Nobody ate people and just casually brought it up like the weather. Atom remembered the sound of food being prepared and thrown in the toaster oven. He remembered the tantalizing smell when it came out, how it made his mouth water and his stomach growl something fierce. If that was brains-

Oh, good lord.

Atom made it a few paces away from his campsite before he emptied his guts onto the floor. He heaved and coughed, shuddering as saliva and the taste of bile filled his mouth. He spat and wiped his mouth, hoping that was the end of it, when his mind flashed back to the scent of bread and cheese and fle-

"HRGH."

Oh, yeah. That was gonna fuck him up for a few days.

Night came. Atom found himself several unopened packages of needles in a drawer that was cracked open enough for him to slip inside. He broke one out of its packaging and hefted its weight. It was perfect. The bright green end fit into his palm like it belonged there. He slid the metal into a loop on his pants and the needle sat on his hip like a knight's sword. There was a hop to his stride for the rest of the night, his pride and excitement leading him to nearly skip across the linoleum. He collected other bits and baubles, but nothing compared to the needle. The weight on his hip solidified his place there, giving him some sense of belonging. The dry pasta and staples came close, but they didn't have the same oomph. He had a sword; a symbol of his independence and self-sufficiency. How could he know fear when he wielded such a weapon?

The lights flicked on.

Evidently, Atom still knew fear.

He threw himself under the desk. The pasta shell he'd been carrying clattered to the floor. He swore under his breath, trying to catch a glimpse of the intruding human bean. Pasta didn't belong in an office. If he could just scooch a liiiittle closer...

Footsteps. A sigh from a man. The examiner? 'Clive'? Someone else? Who came into a morgue this late? Wasn't there bad juju around morgues? Fear of bodies coming to life? Ghosts? Just leave! Only the dead and things that go bump in the night belong in a morgue at this hour.

Massive legs swept into Atom's vision. Oh, of course the bean was coming into the office. Of course. Why not? Go make yourself a cup of tea, while you're at it! The human stomped closer. Atom shrunk in on himself, swallowing harshly. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it. The shoes stopped dead in front of him. Atom felt like breaking into tears.

Two giant fingers pinched the pasta shell and picked it up. There was another sigh from above. Atom held his breath. Something cold and paralyzing settled in the pit of his stomach. He couldn't move, could barely breathe.

"Liv," the bean said, annoyed. He rounded the desk and settled in the chair. The single piece of conchiglie made several bouncing clacks as it landed on the wood above. Atom slowly and shakily exhaled into his hand. He turned around, coming face-to-face with a pair of shoes crossed at the ankle and a chair wheel.

"Holy shit," Atom said, closer to a gust of air than words.

The bean muttered to himself as he typed on his keyboard and flipped through pages. The sounds of pen scratching paper and clothes rustling were too loud in Atom's ears, challenged only by the thud of his own heartbeat. Atom had to remind himself that no, the human bean could not possibly hear it.

Atom began to rise, only to freeze when the bean shifted. The shoes swapped places, crossing again at the ankle. Atom pushed himself the rest of the way up. He eyed the doorway. Should he risk it or stay here? The bean was doing paperwork. But he might notice something small moving in his peripherals. Beans were hunters, after all. Atom had a greater chance of going unseen if he stayed put, out of the way. Right under the giant man's nose.

"Cause of death," he heard the human bean mutter, "stab... wound... to left lung."

That gave Atom pause. Of course he was going over Jenny's medical report. There were no other recent bodies.

"Wife found her in the morning," the man said. "Window was jimmied open, money and phone were missing. Robbery gone murderous. Knife was a weapon of opportunity. Unfortunately, there were no cameras to capture the break-in. Which means it's going to be almost impossible to track the killer down without Liv's visions."

Visions? Did she have superpowers? From eat- nope, not going there.

But they were looking for the killer? Atom frowned. He remembered that evening very clearly. He could recall every detail as if watching it play out again. He'd peeked out from behind the painting, and then it happened. And he was horrified. He couldn't remain in that house, not after what he'd seen. He was near suffocating in its atmosphere. Leaving was the best option, which he still stood by. Kind of. Okay, so maybe not - the cannibalism and 'visions' bullshit was really making him regret that decision.

"But if the robber was wearing a mask, which they were unless they're an idiot..." The bean groaned and scrubbed his face. "We're back to square one."

Goddammit. Something inside of Atom ached. Something righteous that screamed 'You know! You can help!' and urged him to tell someone. He knew what happened. He saw the whole thing. But what could he do? He was a borrower. He couldn't reveal himself - purge the very idea! Could he leave a clue? But then they would wonder who and go looking for him. He couldn't help. He wouldn't risk his people, his family, his life for one measly bean and some 'righteous feeling.' He was frustrated, not suicidal.

"Get over yourself," Atom growled, combing through his hair and catching knots. He pulled at them, untangling untameable curls. He'd done it since he was a child and was unable to cull the habit. His mother discouraged it, so he learned not to do it in front of her. It was calming, in a way. It helped in the same way that playing with his sleeves or a tool cleared his head.

Atom sat. He would wait for the bean to finish up. There was no reason to put himself at unnecessary risk. He leaned against the metal leg and closed his eyes, listening to the mumbled ramblings of the human. He mostly spoke of the mystery around Jenny's death, but he did mention cures (for what?) and rats.

That gave Atom a start. There were rats here? Of course there were. Because there wasn't enough for Atom to worry about already - the universe just had to add rats.

Rats were borrowers' number one enemy. Rats killed indiscriminately, destroyed homes - families - and encouraged humans to hire exterminators. Then came the traps and poison and cages that forced borrowers to flee their homes or risk death, or worse, discovery. Atom had to move. Again. Any day now, the pest control van would roll in and they'd start spewing fumes and setting up their bone-breaking traps.

"Oh, shit, I forgot to feed you guys tonight," the bean said.

Atom watched the skyscraper of a man go off to the back room. And then he heard eager squeaking. Realization dawned on him. They're pet rats. Lab rats. Relief flooded his body. Well, that changed everything. He didn't have to move.

Atom's head shot up. I need to move. Now! While the bean was occupied. Atom scrambled to his feet and wasted no time sprinting out of the office. He craned his neck to see into the back room. The medical examiner wasn't visible, but the popping of a plastic lid was plenty enough to place him there.

Atom made it back to the safety of the walls without further issue. He melted into his sleeping bag, deflating with a massive sigh and an adrenaline-fueled laugh. That's enough excitement for tonight, he thought.

In the morning, Atom stood atop the very desk that saved his hide last night. Every instinct in his being told him this was a horrible idea and what was he thinking? But he couldn't take it. His own guilt, knowing he could help out but just stood by and did nothing, was overpowering. There was a thrill in being out in the open during the day. His nerves were shot and his hands trembled so badly that he missed his hook throw the first two times, but he couldn't deny the exhilaration that he felt. The forbidden nature gave him a rush like no other.

Atom struggled to hold the pen upright. He wrapped his arms around it in a tight embrace and used his whole body to guide the ink, dragging the pen across the page as he walked. Finished, he rolled the pen back to its original spot. He gave a satisfied nod and proceeded to climb down to the floor, but not before grabbing a paperclip and sticky note. With a sharp yank of his shoulder, the hook came loose and fell into his waiting hand. The sharp point was a hair shy of slicing open his arm. It was a serious risk, injuring yourself with your own hook - you had to know which angles were safe to catch it and which ones were best to just let it hit the floor, even at the risk of making noise. Atom didn't like to risk it, but today felt different. He felt different.

Atom wound up the rope as he jogged back to the kitchen. It was a quick in-and-out errand - go, leave the message, come back. He was riding a high, but he didn't expect it to last long. And his luck wasn't something to be tested. Not like this. He got away with too much lately - his luck was bound to come crashing down around him. And he didn't want to be out in the open when it did.

"Liv! I got the... coffees. Right, then. I'll just leave yours here! For when you get back."

Fuck.

Atom's heart dropped to his stomach. The doctor was here. Atom knew he shouldn't be out in the daytime and he went and did it anyway! What the hell did he do now? He was gonna be seen and captured and dissected and-

Hide! I need to hide. Atom whipped around, searching. Shit shit shit shit. He was stuck in the middle of the floor. But the fridge was right there. Would he make it?

He had to try.

Atom made a break for it. His breath came in great, terrified puffs. His heart pounded louder than the bean's footsteps, beating so much faster than own footfalls. His jaw clenched. Hard. Hard enough to make his teeth ache. His neck prickled furiously, instincts yelling at him to find cover. There were eyes looking for him. A human was too close. He wasn't safe.

Just a bit closer. He was almost there!

"What-" started the doctor's voice.

Atom dropped like a hot stone. He slid across the linoleum, leaving a trail in the dust under the fridge. His chest heaved, sweat damp on his face and back. He laid on his back for a few more moments, basking in the cool air that felt so good on his burning hot skin.

The bean didn't see him. He was alright. Everything was alright.

The bean was in his office. He got the note, if the phone call in the other room was any indication. Atom got away with it. But that was too close. He'd only been here for two days and already had two close encounters with the one human bean. He had to be far more careful from now on; a third save was asking too much. He needed tunnels and a proper home. With all the staples and thumbtacks and pins he'd collected, he felt confident in his ability to make a ladder to the ceiling.

After his heart stopped beating out of his chest, though. A couple more minutes here. 'Here' was nice and cool. Yeah. A nap couldn't hurt, either.

Hours later, Atom had himself a functional stairway up to the ceiling. It was precarious and he'd feel more comfortable with an elevator, but he didn't have those kinds of materials yet. There was an upstairs to this place that he wanted to explore. It was a police station, right? Who knew what sorts of goodies they kept up there. Rulers and snacks and tape and pencils... oh, it would be glorious, he could already tell. His only greater wish was for a craft store next door.

The beans knew about his note. The medical examiner told his friends about the tip that was mysteriously left in his office by someone "With just awful penmanship. I mean, it's like a six-year-old broke into my office and scribbled on my work."

Yeah, screw you, too, buddy. You try writing with a pen bigger than your body.

Liv and Clive were following up on Atom's tip. It probably wouldn't lead to anything without proof, but at least he tried. It satisfied his desire to share his knowledge and that's all that mattered. Not solving the actual murder. Why would he care about what happened to beans? He'd only lived in Jenny and Sara's home for... seven years.

Shit. Maybe he did care.

No. Humans were tyrants with no regard for others. They would kill or torture or sell borrowers if they got their giant hands on one. He couldn't be sympathetic. He couldn't afford sympathy for beans. Just like he couldn't afford sympathy for a rat or raccoon. No, he didn't care about Jenny or Sara. What a ridiculous notion. Atom shook his head as he pulled himself onto the final thumbtack, curly hair flopping around him. He climbed over a wood beam and examined the dark, dusty space that laid above the ceiling. There were cobwebs everywhere - all of them vacant and perfect for sewing and building. Atom rubbed his hands together. Yes, this would do nicely. He just needed that elevator and construction could begin.

Prev | Next

2 notes · View notes

sleepyowlwrites · 11 months

Text

FTWT CCCLXXVIII

this one is from @talesofsorrowandofruin and is probably as old as me in an alternate dimension

bother (I'll tell you again to make you believe, 2020)

Sizhui has laid his hand on Jingyi’s arm. “You are not trouble,” he says very firmly. Jingyi has always had a hard time arguing with that tone. He still tries, every time. “Sizhui, you’re very generous, but look at me. I’m all wet from falling on my face on the way to a place that I’ve been dozens of times before. I could walk here in my sleep or blindfolded. But today I just ignored that I felt dizzy when I woke up this morning because I didn’t want to bother anyone or have them thinking I was making excuses-” he coughs harshly into his elbow. Maybe he should stop talking. It’s making his throat sore. The coughing, too, that hurts. More than it did early in the morning. He had probably drank the wrong tea. Of course he wouldn’t remember which tea soothed a cough. He is twenty and still useless. Jingyi realizes that Sizhui is looking very concerned and that the hand on his arm has tightened its grip. “A-Yuan?” He asks, grimacing at the coarse grind on his words at this point. It’s his own fault, it’s all his own fault. “Anybody can get sick, Jingyi. You’re not useless.”

bark (forest secrets, 2020)

They headed north, further into the glade and up several short hills, turning sharply when the trees seemed to crowd them together. Mike saw Jayden taking careful notice of their surroundings, and he realized that the forest was only getting denser as they went on. Above their heads, the trees bent over a little, forming a green tunnel beneath their branches. It became clear that they weren’t just in some random glade, but that the trees themselves seemed to be creating a path forward. Faint symbols faded in and out of sight, blending in with the bark so he could only see them out of the corner of his eye. Mike got the feeling that this forest had been protected for a very long time.

“There!” Emily exclaimed, starting to run. “Wait! We just want to talk!”

Mike couldn’t see who she could be yelling at, but he trusted Emily if she thought she’d seen someone. He and the others started to run to keep up with her.

bring (the name was: family, 2020)

Miller came running up and reported the deaths of the beast and the boy. Sage could feel his eyes roaming over her. She shifted in place and bit back a groan, her right hand grappling at Bellamy's jacket to keep herself standing.

"We need to bring back that animal; we can't waste food. Drag or carry it back on a tarp. I'll get Sage back to the camp."

Miller nodded and sprinted off to yell at whoever else had come out with them. Sage forcefully inhaled to stave off a wave of dizziness. The forest floor dipped and rose as Bellamy somehow managed to get them walking again.

"How the hell did you manage to kill it?" Bellamy's voice was quiet but it still sounded loud in her ears, chasing away the urge to just pass out.

"If that guy didn't have another knife, I'd be dead," she ground out with an effort.

bite (meta-portal, 2021)

So when everybody is sitting down and about to ask Changmin how he’s doing, there’s a commotion upstairs. Eric and Jisung scramble out of their chairs to go and check it out. Yeonjun swallows his bite of roast chicken and takes a deep breath, then lets Kevin drag him away by the wrist, because they are friends now by virtue of bonding over “what even is our life now” moments. And portal hopping.

Haknyeon looks over the table at Jacob. “Never a moment’s peace, huh?”

Jacob bursts into tears.

so this wound up being fanfic edition.

allow, beside, calm, dry. BONUS: alleviate, destroy. @memento-morri-writes @avrablake @sarahlizziewrites @etjwrites OR ANYBODY

#find the word tag

6 notes · View notes

pvrkacciosan · 1 year

Text

The Heart of the Lioness: ☽⋆12⋆☾

Protection of the Pride

The Heart of the Lioness Masterlist

Previous Part

☽ - Assassin's Blade Years - ☾

Celeana Sardothien owned her reputation to Arobynn Hamel, but she sure as shit hated him for some of the punishments he ruled out to her. Though sitting in a warm room eating hot food and talking with Ansel Briarcliff meant it wasn't all bad.

The night was warm and sky dark in the Red Desert. The air quiet in the den of Silent Assassins, well until Ansel leaned back and laughed, Celeana also giggling behind her hand at the table which they sat. Comparing stories was always a good way to make friends, finding things in common.

"So, you've stabbed another Assassin from your guild before?" Ansel asked, her voice weak from laughter.

Celeana nodded, "If one is to survive in the Guild in Rifthold you need to let them know not to mess with you, unfortunately for me, or well them, being Arobynn's prodigy apparently wasn't enough to get me left alone"

"We get punished if we harm one another, jobs like ours don't work without trust" Ansel suggested turning back to fork around the food in her bowl. "Can't have us accidently killing each other, won't do good for or numbers, especially after the last few months"

Celeana frowned when she spooned some food into her mouth, Ansel swallowed quickly and began to explain.

"About a week before you showed up, we had some...visitors, they were coming to escort some of our people away so they could live in Wendlyn" Ansel shrugged and went back to eating.

Celeana froze, her hand suspended in the air the spoon held up. Something about the situation seemed familiar, thinking back Celeana thought of Ilan from the Guild.

"Were these visitors Fae?"

Ansel's mahogany eyes snapped up to meet her own. Her mouth slowly dropped open and her cutlery clanked back down into her plate.

"How did you..."

"Because the same thing happened to someone I knew." Ilan had been at the guild as long as Celeana had, they often trained together, a vague familiarity in the way his instinct kicked in from his Fae nature.

"Three strangers, all Fae came to the guild, I helped them get past our master"

Ansel was smiling, a knowing smile, "Good riddance, some Assassins here say they are better off"

Celeana placed her spoon down gently, crossing her hands against the table, head tilted slightly. It was a strange occurrence how swapping stories often meant the come about of similarities.

"The word is that they are now under the Protection of the Pride" Ansel stabbed the food in the bowl, "No safer place if you ask me"

"The Pride?"

Ansel froze, her red hair falling from its messy braid which she had pulled tight at the back of her head. Eyes narrowing in slight shock, growing up she heard whispers of the Pride, the name coming to the surface of society a couple years ago.

"Ghosts, shadows in the mist, original protectors for the folk of Terrasen after it fell, apparently for years they have been getting Fae and Magic wielders out of Erilea, offering them an escape and putting them under their protection"

Celeana's fist clamped tight rested atop her thigh, "Who are they?"

Ansel shrugged, "Beats me, heard some of them broke out a bunch of slaves from the salt mines a couple years ago— for fun. Whoever they are I would certainly want them with me, they have never been caught"

"What nation do they fight for?" this information could have done Terrasen a great deal of help if another nation were to stand with them when Adarlan had invaded all those years ago.

"Not with any," Ansel spoke simply, shrugging once more "the only symbol they ever leave behind is a Lion's paw, "

"The Pride..." Celeana trailed off, finishing the conclusion for Ansel. The red headed Assassin nodded.

Celeana could understand why Ansel did not worry for her former partners, for the weight the group's name carried in itself was enough to put them both into silence and continue with their meals in peace. She supposed she shouldn't worry forIlan safety at all then.

When Ilan left the guild, she had pondered whether she would have ever seen him again, she still doubted she ever would but the knowledge he may still be alive soothed some unknown worry in her chest. Arobynn would have gone after Ilan for not finishing or paying off his contract, but did Arobynn have knowledge of who guarded Ilan now? Celeana smirked, if she knew anything about her master it was that even he wasn't stupid enough to challenge a group known as The Pride.

And that fact alone had amused her.

☽ - Empire of Storms (present)- ☾

Fenrys watched at Aelin continued to stare at the same spot on the map laid across Rolfe's desk, her gaze was fixated on the words Briarcliff, he frowned at the words. Confused by the young queen's fascination with the it.

She was deep in thought, but it didn't take her long before her stare rose to look at Rolfe.

"You're going to give me your armada. You're going to arm it with those fire lances I know you're ordered and you will ship any extra to the Mycenian fleet when they arrive"

Rolfe sat up and barked back a laugh that rooted from the back of his throat, "Like hell I am." he waved his hands around.

"This just shows how utterly outmatched you are" he all but spat "The Mycenian fleet is little more than a myth. A bedtime tale."

Aelin's gaze was calm, eyes amused. "You are the heir of the Mycenian people" she said, "And I have come to claim the debt you owe my bloodline on that account, too" she glared at him, the amusement still dancing at the back of her eyes, "Or were all the sea dragon references for some personal fetish"

"The Mycenian are gone" Rolfe repeated, tone going on the defense as Aelin continued to smirk, the deceptive Heir of fire had no problem playing with it, she didn't care to seem if she got burnt.

"I don't think so. I think they have been hiding here, in the Dead Islands, for a long time. And you somehow managed to claw your way back to power. "

Fenrys watched, smiling as his eyes flicked between Aelin and Rolfe, the two locking head like two rowdy stags, their antlers impossibly stuck together in a lock of dominance.

"I have liberated Ilium from Adarlan. I took back the city– your ancient home– for you. For the Mycenian. It is yours, if you dare to claim your people's inheritance"

Rolfe huffs and his knuckles clench and unclench a couple times, the tattooed skin stretching with each flex.

The room begins to warm, in waves stemming from Aelin. Her whole being seems to glow, something so inheritably Fae taking root in her expression, she closed her eyes and Fenrys felt his spine snap uncomfortably straighter when she released a shock of her magic.

It rippled and warmed the air, in the distance Fenrys heard the chimes of a bell as her power smacked into it, like a strong wind of a storm it barrelled through that harbour, glimpsing out the window Fenrys could see how it rocked the ships.

There was a second of silence before Rolfe spoke up "What the rutting hell was that?" his tone demanding

The intricate contour lines of the map suddenly became a huge fascination, the inked lines meandering across the parchment like rivers bleeding through the land.

"Milady has to release bits of her power daily or it can consume her" Rowan said

Fenrys could sense how Whitethorns word affected Aelin, her shoulders stiffened, and she shifted on her feet watching Rowan, her eyes glassy from lost thoughts. Rowan began to press Rolfe for more information, using the map for reference of Erawan's armies.

When the door creeks open two figure strolled in. Gavriel's son held the door for the female shifter. The pair moving around one another. Fenrys could see Gavriel watching his son with bated breath awaiting, longing for any sort of interaction, all he received was a quick glance before Aedion moved and positioned at Rolfe desk, furthest away from his father.

Rowan filled him in on their gathered information and in turn Aedion began detailing plans for soldiers, weaponry and battle strategies. Gavriel didn't seemed to be paying much mind to the information coming from his son's lips, but rather his son himself to the set of his tone and presence in the room. To the living legend that his son had grown up to be, the leader and commander he had made himself into, birthed from the child he had once been, before everything.

The shifter had moved, positing herself by the window, overlooking the bay. To the mast of the ships which lay to rest in the harbour.

The King of Adarlan was the next to enter into the slowly crowding office. His gaze immediately went for Aelin and he stalked to her side after he shot Rolfe a quick, acknowledging nod, he rested there, ankles hooked onto the other knee while they briefed him just as they had with Aedion.

"We will have to find enough armour to supply the soldiers with" Fenrys leant back into the chair he sat, the wood creaking. "We can't have them walking into this without some sort of protection"

Gavriel had finally shaken from his stupor as he nodded, he rested both elbows onto the desk, crossing his forearms. "It would work to give them hope for what is to come"

He glanced to Aelin, her stare was unblinking, so Gavriel looked to his son. Eyes pleading, for forgiveness or praise Fenrys couldn't quite tell.

Fenrys shifted so he was now facing the pirate lord who rested into his desk, fisted hands pushing onto the map.

"If you might invest in the ore supply, we could kick-start the demand" he leaned across to point at a couple locations on the southern coastline of Erilea which he had heard of ore mines, then to a couple in Wendlyn.

"That could work till we get on our feet; you do have the funds to make this work," Rowan added,

"It couldn't be a permanent solution but if we could hold out long enough, with that supply we might just about manage"

The clock in the corner of Rolfe's office chimed, Fenrys shifted to continue talking when Aelin stood up from her place. The words fell shot from Fenrys' mouth,

"Thank you for your hospitality" she turned to look at her companions, readying them all with just a look.

Aelin took a step for the door, prompting a response from Rolfe.

"That's it?" Fenrys could see the flicker of confusion that danced across Rolfe's expression. Why had the Queen of Fire put so much effort into coming here if she was going to abandon it all just like that.

Aelin lithe body stopped at the door, head tilted to look across her shoulder, Rowan moved to her side, his fist clenched at his side. Fenrys recognised the feeling that gripped the other male's body so tightly, Rowan was resisting the urge to reach out to Aelin. To hold her, if only to remind himself she was still there.

"Yes, if you will not give me an armada, if you will not unite what is left of the Mycenian and return to Terrasen, Then I'll find someone else who will"

"There is no one else"

Fenrys looked back to where Rolfe stood, the Pirate lord's voice was smug, expression amused. He was toying with her. Playing the flame that was her spirit. There behind the desk stood a man who wholly believed he was essential. By the expression on the young Queen's face, she knew he wasn't. He smirked at her; Rolfe knew she needed him. Fenrys bite back a smirk at the realisation that was surely to smack into the Pirate lord any second.

"You once said I would pay for my arrogance. And I did. Many times. But Sam and I took on your entire city and fleet and destroyed it. All for two hundred lives you deemed less then human, so perhaps I've been underestimating myself. Perhaps I don't need you after all"

There it was.

Rolfe's face contorted and unhinged anger replaced his shock, "Did Sam die still pining after you, or did you finally stop treating him like filth?"

Fenrys sighed and closed his eyes as there was a clatter of objects and a resounding thump. Peeling eyes open to look, Rowan had crossed the room and slammed Rolfe into the desk, tight hand wrapped around his throat. Rolfe's eyes had bulged in panic, fear clouding his view of the Fae male caging him into his office desk. The map and object now scattered across the room.

"I told you to choose your words carefully, Rolfe"

Fenrys didn't even try to hide his amusement when he shared a look with Gavriel, the pair of them recognising the feral tenseness to Whitethorn's shoulders.

"Nice to meet you" Gavriel's son spoke softly, nodding to Rolfe's form which was still trapped to the desk, leaving Rolfe on that side of the room by himself with Whitethorn. The panic returned to his expression at that notion.

The room watches as Rowan leans in, teeth bared as he whispers something to Rolfe. The captain's face paled and Fenrys didn't think it was due to the lack of Oxygen reaching his head.

Rowan released Rolfe with a final hard shove into the surface, before he backed off, stalking back to Aelin's side, she smiled at him.

Rolfe shakes himself off, leaning into the desk for support as his body swayed. Fenrys noticed the moment he ceased all movement, eyes catching onto the ink as it seeped right across his whole hands. The tattoo becoming no more than... darkness itself.

Rolfe's face had paled even more then before when his head snapped up to look out the window as a chaos of bells begun to ring out from the watch towers, the cities early warning signals screaming into the air around the bay.

"We leave. Now" Aelin's voice rung into the tense air, her voice somehow more prevalent than the bells chiming.

Rolfe wasn't paying mind to her as he raced around to the door, when he threw it open two men came running up to him, His First mate and quartermaster. Aelin caught the door where it swung, shutting it behind Rolfe as he exited the room, his voice muffled when he spoke hurriedly to his men.

Finally, Fenrys rose, looking to the window, mindlessly he spoke while he watched the rushed people in the bay below, "Remind me never to get on your bad side" — The Heir of Fire smiled.

The Young King of Adarlan moved, shifting his feet to look out the window, "If that force reaches this town, These people—"

"It won't" Came Aelin's quick reply, she didn't look at her friend however, Rowan held her gaze, they stayed like that for a few seconds, unblinking. Fenrys was about to break the silence when Rowan spoke.

"Let's go"

"Go," Fenrys waved his hand around before pointing out the window, towards the bay and the force barreling towards it, "Where?"

"There's a boat" Aedion seemed to instruct to no one in particular, "Anchored on the other side of the island." this time Aedion looks across to the female shifter stood at his side, he smiles at her. Fenrys could feel Gavriel shift beside him, leaning in as though he was still getting used to hearing the sound of his son's voice. Aedion smiles, the expression so similar to that of the man stood across from him, "You'd think they'd notice a skiff being tugged out to sea by a shark last night, but—"

The door to the office slammed open and Rolfe, expression enraged, "You."

He pointed at Aelin, he was met with her notorious smirk as she held her own hand over her chest, "Me?"

"You sent that magic out there; you summoned them"

The heir to the throne in Terrasen laughed, the sound a bellyaching sound that Fenrys smirked at.

"If I ever learn such a useful talent, I'd use it for summoning my allies, I think. Or the Mycenians, since you seem so adamant they don't exist."

Aelin's calm eyes assessed Rolfe before she looked out the window, eyeing the horizon line, "Good luck" she side stepped him.

"What?" Dorian blurts out, taking a small step towards her, Aelin gave a soft look to the young king, one reprised from sorrow, from a girl who once would have and had been in his current place.

"This isn't our battle. And I won't sacrifice my kingdoms fate over a skirmish with the Valg. If you have any sense, you won't, either" Fenrys sucked in breath, those were not the words of a young princess who had loads to learn about the world. Those were the words of a Queen willing to do the dirty work to save her loved one, and who had already sacrificed so much to gain her wisdom.

Rolfe's face contorts as though he had just realised the same thing.

"I suppose the Cadre will be coming with me, too. Since they're now my allies" As though they were one, Fenrys moved to Aelin's side of the room, Gavriel close behind. "I meant what I said Rolfe. I can do fine without you, Armanda or no, Mycenian or no. And this island has now become dangerous to my cause"— "I'll offer a prayer to Mala for you"

Aelin pats the hilt of Goldryn, "A bit of advice, from one professional criminal to the other: cut off their heads. It's the only way to kill them. Unless you burn them alive, but I bet most would jump ship and swim to shore before your flaming arrows can do much damage"

Fenrys watched as Rolfe looked hopeless at her words, he glanced to his own sword hung at his side. Adams's apple bobbing as he gulped.

"And what of your idealism— What of the child who stole two hundred slaves from me? You'd leave the people of this island to perish?"

There was a moment of silence before Aelin answered "Yes"—" I told you Rolfe, that Endovier taught me some things"

The blood in Fenrys' veins seemed to freeze at her words. She was willing to leave these people to fend for themselves. Did that make her any better to those leaders who left Terrasen standing alone all those years ago? Or was as this perhaps the payback the world deserved?

Fenrys couldn't help but wish Brielle was stood at his side right now, she would know where exactly to stand in this situation. And he would follow her no matter what her decision would be.

"Do you think Sam would stand for this?" Rolfe was turning desperate now, his voice cracking when he swore.

"Sam is dead," her reply was straight for the bone, "Because men like you and Arobynn have power. But Arobynn's reign is now over" she pauses to peer outside once more, a ghosted smile on her lips. "Seems like yours might end rather soon as well"

"You Bitch"

There was a resounding snarl from Rowan that made the skin on Rolfe's bones flinch.

The sound of pounding footsteps fled down the hallway outside, a body falling into the door frame. The figure stopped and Rolfe's quartermaster gazed in at them all before his panic eyes caught Rolfe's, "We are knee-deep in shit"

"How bad?"

"Eight warships, teeming with soldiers— at least a hundred on each, more on the lower levels I couldn't see. They're flanked by two sea-Wyverns. All moving so fast that it's like storm winds carry them"

At the mention of the of the aquatic beasts the air in the office stills, the creatures known globally for their aggression and natural instincts to hunt in packs. Wildy territorial and protective of their young. Much like the aerial beasts they too could sack a city, like Skulls Bay of its people within minutes, with the right motivation.

"How quickly can we get to that boat?" Aelin asked Rowan specifically

Fenrys followed Rolfe's gaze as he looked out at the few ships docked in at the harbour. The people living here wouldn't last long if the soldiers got onto land. Families, brother, sister, children— generations of bloodlines wiped within seconds. For years at Maeve's side, blocking out morals was the only way to survive, unless you were someone like Lorcan who seemed to have switched off all emotion entirely. Fenrys had quickly learned to do the same, until he met Brielle. Then everything changed, he changed.

"Those Sea-Wyverns will snap that chain. Get your people off this island. Use every skiff and sloop you have and get them out." Fenrys hadn't meant for his words to sound angry, but somehow without his willingness they had.

His anger suddenly didn't seem misplaced as Rolfe seemed to ignore him and spun back around to face Aelin.

"Is this your attempt to call my bluff?"

Aelin toyed with the hair hanging down her neck, "No. It's convenient timing, but no."

At that Rolfe fell silent, expression stoic as he looked around the room, taking a second per person. Aelin, Rowan, the young king, the two Fae warrior, the general with a reputation strong enough to shake a nation, and a woman with a deadly affinity. The power of each individual unique enough to be talked about for centuries later. But here they stood, Together.

"I want to be admiral. I want this entire archipelago. I want Ilium. And when this war is over, I want Lord in front of my name, as it was before my ancestors' names long ago, What of my payments?"

Aelin's distinct-able excitement flashed in her eyes with every word he spoke, "For every Morath ship you sack, you can keep whatever gold and treasure is aboard it. But weapons and ammunition go to the front, I'll give you land but no royal title beyond those of Lord of Ilium and King of the Archipelago. If you bear any offspring, I will recognise them as you heir— as I would any children Dorian might bear"

The young King is quick to agree, "Adarlan will recognise you and your heirs, and this land as your"

Rolfe shifts as he takes in their words with criminal concentration, " You send those bastards down to the inky blacks, and my fleet is yours. I cannot guarantee the Mycenian will rise. Only a small number live here, and they will not rise, though without proper... motivation"

The heir of fire smiles and extends her slender pale hand out to the captain, "Leave that to me"

Fenrys couldn't help but glance to Rowan, at the vacant expression and lines of his face, if Rowan had any inclination on Aelin's plans, he did well to hide it.

Rolfe reaches across the air to clasp Aelin's hand, the veins coming to the surface when he forcefully shook her hand, Aelin returned the gesture. Rolfe let a small hiss slip from his lips, widened eyes looking down to his hand.

"Welcome to her Majesty's army, Privateer Rolfe."

"Shall we?" A gesture to the exit

They all begin to make way for the door as Fenrys slips up beside Whitethorn, "Gods help you Rowan, that women is..."

Rowan is quick to pass a look to him over his shoulder, an eyebrow quipped upwards towards his stark white hair, "Speak for yourself Fenrys"

They had all dealt with Brielle for years, but for some reason this interaction with Aelin had Fenrys worries setting alight once more. If they did not get along when Brielle arrived, which he had no doubt she would. God's help them all...

Fenrys falls back a step, into line with Gavriel who is walking slowly, watching his son. A silent step behind him and the dark haired female shifter.

"Every ship that can bear men sails Now" Rolfe began to rattle off command after command to his men that had gathered. His crew faces' going deathly paler as they bore witness to the unhinged panic in Rolfe's voice, the wind ripping around them carrying the sound.

Aelin watched hand rested to her hips,. Rowan once more at her side. When Rolfe finally dispersed the group off to a different task he turned back, Aelin already voicing her awaiting question.

"What's your fastest ship?"

Rolfe looks her head to toe once more before he doesn't hesitate to point at a boat in the harbour, finger a line with his own boat, sat swaying in the waves. Aelin is on them once again, "Rowan, Lysandra, Fenrys and Gavriel you're with me Aedion, you get on the northern watchtower"

Gavriel's gaze finally tore from his son, moving to look at Rowan, then Fenrys. His usual placid and soft smile was replaced with something far far older. An expression they had all borne one time or another whilst serving Maeve.

Fenrys could taste it on the tip of his tongue, the air in the room shifting with Aelin's words. Like sparks of electricity or embers from a fire flung into the air. Igniting the oxygen. Stuffing his head with a fuzzy feeling.

This feeling is all too familiar, the killing calm before a war. The calm before the storm.

Aelin finished addressing them, turning to Dorian the young king already had protests in his eyes when she finally spoke to him, her voice more serious then commanding.

"This battle is no place for a king"

"And it is for a queen?" his response was angry and demanding from her, rooted clearly from fear and worry then anything else.

Aelin brought forth a sword, Fenrys hadn't realized she'd been holding it, holding it up to Dorian. He hesitated at first before reaching to take it from her. Aelin's own sword still strapped to her, "One of us has to live, Dorian. You take the southern watchtower, and get your magic ready. Any forces that try to cross the chain, you take them out"

His acceptance of the task was shown when he shifted and strapped the scabbard to his side. "And what are you going to do?"

At that moment she looks to Rowan, "Rolfe get whatever iron chains you have left from your slave-mongering. We're going to need them."

The skin across his bones shifted and skittered at her words, at the power she was readying to let loose on the world. And suddenly Dorian's words from before came whizzing back to him.

One does not deal with Celeana Sardothian, one survives her. Fenrys watched the queen from where she stood, Whitethorn at her side, both preparing for their power to be unleashed. He smirked. The same could not be said about this queen. One would have been lucky to survive her altogether.

The world seemed to cleave in two when Aelin's hand slowly began to lower towards the unaware city. Her slender fingers extended out ready to unleash the moon fire upon the unwilling people in the townways watching from on shore.

Rowan leapt in front of her so quickly Fenrys almost didn't track the movement in time as Aelin stumbled and quickly jerked her entire body in effort. A battle raging beneath the surface.

Her power cleaved into the side of the boat below everyone's feet. The world falling away from beneath them.

Fenrys didn't have any other time to register what was happening. The whole vison of it all a blur, a cloud of smoke.

The voices of Rowan and Rolfe had yelled out as the ship rocked and people were sent flying to either sides of the ship, desperately grabbing to one another.

The screams of men resounding and pounded in his head when Fenrys, Gavriel and Rowan leapt from the ships splintering deck. Aelin's body no where in sight.

Rowan had been frantic and had practically ripped Fenrys' throat out when he grabbed the older male by the scruff of the neck, Gavriel holding onto Fenrys forearm, as though he knew what was about to happen.

Whatever his power was deep inside of him Fenrys dove into it, driving it to the surface. One second they were in the choas of debris, burning along the surface of the water, the next solid ground was below them.

Rowan had collapsed to his knees, and only caught a glimpse of Fenrys before he alone vanished once more. His form a solitary splash in the water metres off the shore where he had left his two oldest companions.

Aelin's body had been hot when Fenrys grabbed hold of her despite the waters frigid bit, ripping the chains from her body with feral efficiency. Gripping her under the arm with his elbow braced across her chest, Fenrys willed every part of his muscles to hurry when the water shifted below them.

The darkness of his power shifted across him as he delved into it once more.

Adjusting his grip against her soaking body he kept pulling up more and more.

The magic in his blood tugged right back, aching every part of him as he felt his grip loosen around Aelin slightly.

"I've got you," he repeated more to himself them Aelin. He wasn't even sure she was fully conscious yet.

"Majesty" his throat was sharp against the cold of the water, words a question and command in themselves.

The screaming continued around them when Aelin shifted. The magic was scratching his skin now.

" Hold on" she shifted. " Don't let go" was all he could manage as he teleported them once more, the air pushing them together.

Aelin seemed a little more awake when they landed back in the water. She whimpered something that faintly sounded like 'Rowan' the sound more akin to a sob then anything.

Fenrys was panting when he rasped out, "He's on the reef— He's fine"

Fenrys didn't have the strength to fight her when she thrashed from his grip, her head dipped below the surface before coming back up. Her gasp for air so violent it shot Fenrys into motion once more.

"You have to swim," she didn't move, " Right now, As fast as you can!"

Aelin had turned around to take in the screaming around her, the utter carnage which Deanna had released through her hand.

"Swim now," Fenrys snapped, voice a bark of a command, grabbing Aelin by her collar and shoving her in front of her Fenrys relaxed when she finally started kicking and pushing her body through the waves.

"Faster!"

They were nearing the shore now, Rowan had sheathed his sword and was composed enough to enter the water. He swam for them, Aelin seemed eager to grab for him but he didn't let her, pushing past and urging her forward, less forcefully then Fenrys had second before.

They were both behind her now. Guarding in the way Fae males instinctively knew how.

Gavriel was at the edge of the coral, hand extended, Aelin reached and was hauled from the water in front of them a second after.

She crashed to her knees and the two of them in the water raced out, Rowan landed to face her, grabbing to looking her in the eyes.

"I'm fine" her breathes we uneven and ragged, the words without meaning as thought she didn't quite believe them. "I'm me"

Fenrys was struggling to hear her words altogether now, her voice muffled like his head was stuck underwater. His total depletion of magic sapping his senses to their dregs. His skin was rigid, lungs tight. Leaning forward with both hands clasped to his knees was the only way for him to keep himself conscious as his magic, or lack there of left him lightheaded.

For years he had gotten mad at Brielle when she would push herself to a burnout, he couldn't imagine the row he might have received if she was here with them now. The warmth of Gavriel's body neared him, his heart beat pounding in his ears so loud he couldn't even hear the other males approach.

Aelin had looked in his direction now, his loose strands of hair clung around his neck when he tilted his head back to look towards Rowan.

Rowan's eyes flickered with a residue of worry as he looked at the awkward uncomfortable looking arch of Fenrys' body.

"I'm out— We'll have to either wait for it to replenish or swim to shore" his words rippled across them, when each of them looked to the water. To what lurked beneath the surface of the waves that rolled and crash a few paces from where they all stood, not totally unaware to what might happen to them if they stepped into the water once more.

There was a sharp whip of wind that had Fenrys straightening up slightly, like a phantom touch one second it was there the next gone, the familiar scent. His heart stopped beating for what felt like a minute before the wind died down, as though it had run out of air to throw at them.

Lysandra's jade green lithe body shot through the water directly infront of them, the noise of men yelling out as the sea dragon sailed them across the water, gliding with effortless grace.

Rolfe, and his crew among the men, Lysandra snapped them towards the shore with a gently nudge from her body before she turned with a new purpose.

The surface of the water broke as men screams, and disappeared below the waves, the noise drove Lysandra as she dove back down. The ripples of water the only indication as to where she was beneath the waves. Heading straight for Morath. The highly attuned body gliding through the water,

Fenrys had fully managed to straighten himself up now, his magic no loner a crippling feeling roiling within him, he felt the tide respond when a resounding boom burst through the air, as the first ship fell victim to the female shifter.

Aelin had now pressed herself to Rowan, connected by the hands as they watched Lysandra race for the second ship. There was a splash of water and the slap of a fin against the surface.

The Sea Dragon and Wyvern had finally clashed.

The two beasts thrashing at one another, Aelin made a noise Fenrys hadn't expected, The whole bay watching on as blood bloomed from the water, the cold spray being spat up heavenwards, the two beasts seeming content to even notify the gods of the war they now raged against one another.

He didn't know if he would have been able to hear it without his Fae hearing, but his magic riled the moment Lysandra snapped the sea-wyvern's neck. The scent of blood tang against his tongue.

Only one aquatic beasts came away from that encounter. The jade green a quick flash before she dove back down once more.

Gavriel shifted beside Fenrys, reaching for his sword, eyes alert while he scanned the water. It seemed the sea Dragon realised it the same time they all did as the second Wyvern raced towards where they stood.

With what little stregth he did have, Fenrys reached for the blades at his side, taking a step infront of Aelin, Gavriel tight to his side.

The jade raced through the water, like a flash of lightening, but even as she swam Fenrys could sense the weakeness coursing through her body, she was injured. Her strength would go next before her will did.

Lysandra smashed her body into the Wyverns before it could get within twenty meters of them, the two bodies cracking into the coral, the ground under their feet shaking in response.

A flash of motion whipped from behind Fenrys, looking over his shoulder he saw the image of Rowan grapping for Aelin when she darted for the water, to go and aid her friend.

There was a splash behind them that seemed to drive Aelin forwards, despite the tiredness being evident in her muscles, she manged to evade Whitethorn, arching her body downwards past him, only to launch herself right into Gavriel's awaiting grip. He grunted with effort as she writhed to be let go, yelling out as Lysandra dragged the Wyvern through the water, driving and drawing it towards the second ship she had been yet to destroy.

Rowan calmed Aelin down within seconds, and only after Rowan looked to Gavriel did he let her go. She still looked like she was going to bolt, but her eyes were trained against the water. She watched on silently while Lysandra laid waste against the Wyvern, smashing it into the ship, annihilating both beasts and ship when she snapped them in two.

There was an eruption of cheer from the crew gathering on the shore line of skulls bay. Their Sea dragon had saved them. Aelin had a content smile on her face when Fenrys glanced back to check she was still there.

It was then he saw the utter paleness atoning her face, Gavriel and Rowan bearing the same expression.

Aelin face broke as she screamed out to her friend, whipping back to the vast waters before them Fenrys felt his magic hault inside him.

Three adult sea wyverns and a warship now sailed right into the harbor, straight for the jade Sea Dragon which held the line between Morath and all those she had fought so fiercely to defend until now.

Fenrys tracked the movement of Gavriel's son, still atop the northern watchtower as he leapt from the seat of the harpoon, his face an ashen color, far to similar to Aelin's and Gavriel's. He too screamed out when Lysandra made no move to swim away to save herself. No the jade Sea dragon, despite being run ragged with exhaustion launched herself forwards once more, the warning and yells of even Rolfe's crew far behind as she swam straight for Morath. Taking them head on.

Aelin had mounted herself atop of Whitethorn's shoulder when he looked back once more, tears streaked her face as she watched her friends dragon form fly through the water with deadly efficiency.

The first Wyvern raced through, cutting off when Lysandra made a last second shift in the water, her wings propelling her on faster, her movement slower then before, Fenrys tracked the sight of her head a second before she burst from the water.

Water rained down from her scales as she soared over the warship, the Bull following her lead, using her tail like a whip, Lysandra raked it down into the ship, the masts splintering and falling. The Wyverns body was skewered second later, crashing down on top of the ship, cleaving it in two.

Frantic signalling from Dorian, still at the base of the southern watchtower caught Fenrys' attention the same time it caught Lysandra's. As soon as she landed back in the water the second Bull was upon her, she snapped side ways, evading its jaws when it snapped for her.

Her whole body slunk downwards as she raced for Dorian, Fenrys could only watch with the others as Dorian braced himself against the rocks, hand held high when Lysandra approached faster and faster, she banked hard at the last second, allowing Dorian to unleash the full might of his power against the Wyvern. The ice raced through the water, trapping the beasts in place, it managed to crack through the first wave, but Dorian pushed harder and harder until the ice fully encased the bull. He let loose a shiver inducing war cry as a catapult was hurled from behind him, shattering the bull entirely.

People cheer across the bay, a chill runs down Fenrys' spine, the noise froze the air as the Sea dragons head popped up from under the waves, blood bloomed from multiple cuts but Lysandra began looking. She had lost the final bull.

It was Gavriel that yelled, hands cupping his lips, Fenrys felt the brush of the other males magic "YOUR LEFT!"

Lysandra ducked beneath the waves once more when the final bull raced after her, Aelin's voice was one amongst many that screamed out across the bay. Urging the dragon to just swim faster.

"Shit!" Aelin hissed, the three males looked to her, she met their gazes, her eyes panicked, tears stained her cheeks as her head snapped back up and she pointed to the harbour, to where a new, much bigger and darker Sea Wyvern now swam. Straight for the bull and Lysandra.

A sob cracked through Aelin, she screamed until her voice broke, the sound stopping, her voice now silent.

Lysandra raced across the bay towards the northern watchtower and Aedion, the snap of the bull inches from her tail, its claws extended outwards towards her, reaching to grab — the new darker Wyvern slammed into its side, wide eyes glowing with the hunt, its threw the Bull from the water, Lysandra didn't stop her swimming until she was a distance away enough to watch as the new Sea Wyvern clawed and bit the bull, its blood staining the water.

A mass noise of shock and confusion cracked through Skulls Bay.

Fenrys wasn't sure Aelin or anyone else was breathing until it happened.

As though a veil of power was ripped off from around his senses, it smacked Fenrys square in the chest, heart pounding. The sheer presence of them knocked him back a few paces into Gavriel, both him and Rowan now gaping outwards towards the city,

Those scents, so familiar, Fenrys' words clogged in his throat, but Gavriel smirked, that ancient expression coming to the surface once more.

"The Pride has arrived"

☽⋆❈⋆☾

Aedion's heart stopped when the second Wyvern collided into the side of the bull, a wave of shock rippled through skulls bay. Lysandra continued towards him, his breath hitched as the two wyverns now violently fought, in no way did it look anything but... easy for the newcomer.

Aedion spied a new figure approaching Dorian at the southern watchtower a second before he heard a near feral female voice drawl

"Why hello Nephew."

. . .

A/N: I'm sorry it took me this long to update, but hope you enjoy ;)

Taglist: @dreamiezpsycho @lunaralaraspace @mis-lil-red @mali22

Next Part

#throne of glass #fenrys moonbeam #fenrys x o.c #empire of storms #tower of dawn #kingdom of ash #aelin #gavriel #rowan #sarah j mass #throne of glass fanfic #throne of glass fanfiction

13 notes · View notes