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isthisthingeven0n · 4 years

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protective : a.h

you’re still the newest member to the BAU eventhough you’ve been there a year, but that doesn’t mean hotch isn’t always looking out for you (2.2K)

* also i have an etsy shop where i sell some criminal minds tote bags and prints. if you wanna check it out i’ll leave the link here

“Reid, go left with JJ. Rossi, Morgan, take the right entrance. Y/L/N, with me.” Hotch orders and everyone nods, knowing it was a time-sensitive situation.

Following behind Hotch, you could already hear the screams and cries of agony from Alisia Hartnell, the unsubs latest victim whom he kidnapped three days ago.

You’d all been following the case since the first and second victims were found in the local park tied to trees. Both were prostitutes and still alive due to their organs being held in place by pieces of rope wrapped around the tree. You all knew they would either die slowly if you leave them, delirious and without any relief or someone would try and help them.

None of the unsub’s victims had lived long enough to be saved or help your case until you had a breakthrough hours prior with Garcia’s help.

“You alright?” Hotch quietly asks as you trail behind him, gun at the ready.

Despite the fact you had been with the BAU for just under a year now, you were still the newest member of the team and treated as so by some members. You clicked with Spencer immediately, partly due to your enthusiasm towards Doctor Who and the similarity in age. Garcia warmed to you once she had done her background check on you, only to find the last videos in your search history being ‘cute animals being clumsy for five minutes straight.’

And well, there is your section chief, your boss; Hotch. You knew he was looking out for you, as all the team as you’re all one big family.

Hotch warmed to you but didn’t always show it. He was firm, rarely smiled but was considerate to all of you. If there was any problem, he wanted to know and took the time to listen, even if it were after hours and he had a mountain of paperwork to complete.

What you didn’t know was that Hotch liked you, more than a member of the BAU.

“I’m fine, just want to get this son of a bitch.” You mutter in response, unaware of the smile glimpsing on Hotch’s face before his stoic expression returns as you both turn the corner, the echoed screams becoming more prominent.

Glancing over his shoulder, Hotch ensures you’re behind him as he gives you the signal.

You take the left side of the door whilst he covers the right, entering swiftly as you cover all bases of the room. “It’s clear.” You tell Hotch as you lower your gun momentarily, looking at the photos of the victims on the walls, smeared with blood. “God,” You sigh as Hotch moves closer.

Lining the walls are photographs containing the victims prior to the mutilation and torture to them that resulted in being tied to those trees. “He’s been watching us.” Hotch reaffirms his suspicion, knowing the unsub was a sadist and narcissist who got off seeing his work being seen and in a twisted sense, admired.

“That’s not all,” You speak up as you turn around, seeing jars kept on display filled with various organs. “so that’s why they couldn’t find the right kidney.” You lift your flashlight up, the unsub is keeping treasures from his victims, he’s as sadistic as you thought. “He must be here somewhere.”

“We’re clear, do any of you have eyes on him?” Hotch speaks into his earpiece whilst you look around the room further.

Whilst Hotch awaits a response, you hear a muffled cry beneath you. “Hotch?” You whisper before bending down to the floor with your gun in position.

Turning around, Hotch keeps his gun aimed on the floor as you tap the plank of wood. “It’s hollow.” You mouth and Hotch nods as you stand back up whilst Hotch moves the rug concealing the next plank of wood, revealing a hinge.

“Stay alert.” Hotch sternly tells you as he lifts the three connected planks of wood, hitting the shelving of jars as they smash to the ground.

There’s no time to react as you follow Hotch down the steps into the concealed basement. You survey the room as does Hotch with your flashlights, seeing glimpses of weapons and surgical equipment, but no sign of Alisia.

“Hotch, is that-” Before you can finish your sentence, a pair of arms wrap around you. One is secured over your mouth as your gun falls to the ground whilst the other holds a gun to your head.

“Don’t do anything stupid,” Hotch states as he holds his gun up to the unsubs head, trying not to focus on your wide eyes as you struggle in the unsub’s grip.

“Why, you want this one safe, huh? Well, this city wanted the other girls safe, look where that lead them.” He spits out with a short laugh causing your stomach to turn.

“There’s no way out of this, so let her go.” Hotch remains calm as you lower your gaze, trying to hold back tears knowing your likelihood out of this is close to 60/40; Hotch has a precise aim, but there’s a gun against your head and the trigger could be pulled before Hotch has a chance to shoot.

If Reid were here, he could give you the exact statistic of you making it out. He’d be able to time it all out, but you didn’t want to focus on that as the gun was pressed further against your temple and the unsub’s breathing was getting heavier against your skin.

“I could go many ways,” The unsub taunts as he drags you backwards, a muffled whimper leaving your lips as Hotch tries to remain focused on the unsub, ignoring the tears forming in your eyes. “a full shoot out, but then you’d never find the last girl.” He tutted, quickly followed by a short laugh that sent a shiver through your body.

“No one has to die, we can talk about this.” Hotch seethes through his teeth, glancing down for a split second to see you pointing down to the unsub’s foot as you move your own away, hoping Hotch would get the message.

Shaking his head, the unsub looks back to you. Moving his hand off of your mouth, you gasp for breath as he begins to stroke your hair. “You’re prettier than the others,” He chuckles as you try to move from his hold, but he grips your hair, pulling your head back. “just think what I can do with you.” He whispers, and at that moment whilst the unsub’s focus is on you, Hotch fires directly to the unsub’s leg.

A loud scream follows as the unsub releases you, giving you time to grab your gun as you shoot at his arm.

But you’re not fast enough as a shot is fired by the unsub, hitting you in the arm. You bite back a cry, knowing the unsub is not done and won’t go down easy.

Hotch then fires one more time, shooting the unsub in his other leg which sends him to the ground, dropping his gun aside.

Resting his foot on the unsub’s back, Hotch looks over to you as he holds the handcuffs. “Do you want to do the honours?” He tries to disguise the humour in his tone as you smile, but Hotch can tell it’s insincere.

You can’t help but look down at the unsub who is laughing at you. “Go ahead,” You tell Hotch as you step aside, allowing him to lead the cuffed unsub up the stairs of the basement where the rest of the team is awaiting the three of you.

Once you’re all outside, you cross your arms over your chest to cradle your left arm as you watch the police car with the unsub drive away whilst Alisia is sitting in the back of an ambulance, badly injured, but alive nonetheless.

“So, Hotch shot the unsub three times?” Reid speaks up, and your focus shifts to Spencer as Hotch nods. “But I heard four shots.” Spencer states.

Now Hotch tenses as he turns to face you, noticing your lack of engagement despite how eager you were to find Alisia alive, yet you’ve barely spoken two words since you got out of the basement.

“Y/n?” Hotch moves aside as you follow him, hearing mutters from the team teasing you about being in trouble.

Placing his hand on your left arm, he sadly doesn’t miss the wince that leaves your lips or the split second your eyes widen.

“What’s wrong?” Hotch’s tone becomes quieter, but more pressing, nonetheless.

A small sigh sounds from you as Hotch looks down to his fingertips, seeing they’re coated in crimson.

“He shot me, but it’s nothing serious, Hotch, the bullet isn’t lodged.” You explain, trying to shrug it off, but Hotch’s expression tells you that isn’t happening.

Without saying anything else, Hotch rests his hand on your right arm, guiding you to the nearest ambulance, not giving you the chance to protest. “She’s been shot in the arm.” He states, like you’re a student being punished and having to face the consequences.

Sitting down in the ambulance, you hold back the cry in your throat as the medic cuts away the fabric covering your arm whilst Hotch walks away, back to the team.

You can make out him saying something, and Reid’s eyes widen as he looks over to you, resulting in you giving them all a weak wave that causes Rossi to chuckle.

“Head on back to the station, I’ll wait here until Y/n has been cleared.” Hotch states, and the team disperse into cars, all except Rossi.

“You’re more smitten than a kitten who got the cream, Aaron.” Rossi jokes, glancing over Hotch’s shoulder to see you with your head down, your right hand gripping the edge of the stretcher that you’re sat on as the medic stitches your arm.

Hotch shakes his head. “It’s not like that, Dave.” Hotch insists, but Rossi is one of the best profiler’s he knows, so it doesn’t take more than a second to detect the lie. “I can’t say or do anything, I’m her superior and you know how Erin would react.”

“Leave Erin to me,” Rossi comments before patting Hotch on the shoulder. “don’t let her slip through your grasp.”

Walking away, Hotch turns around to see you now beginning to stand up as the medic nods to you.

“All clear?” Hotch questions as you snap your head up, ignoring your vision blurring as three stern faces greet you, slowly morphing back into one.

Blinking rapidly, you nod. “Medic stitched me up, just gotta take it easy for a week or so.” You smile, but the frown on Hotch’s face refuses to soften. “Do you want to lecture me now or when we’re back in Quantico?” You ask as you rock back and forth on your heels.

A slither of a smile crosses Hotch’s face before he clears his throat. “Y/n, you have to remember we’re a team here. You getting injured in the field does matter, and you can’t always shrug it off. What if things went differently? You could’ve died in that basement, and I would’ve had to live with that. I’d be the one to tell your family, I’d be the mourning you and regret everyday never telling you the truth.” Hotch explains as you nod along and then pausing at the end of his explanation.

“I know I acted out of line, Hotch. But I just don’t know or like showing weakness.” You admit as you fiddle with the hem of your shirt, your vest now put to one side. “Especially around you.” You mutter before lifting your gaze up to meet his as Hotch shuffles his weight from one foot to the other.

Raising a brow, Hotch takes a step closer towards you. “What’re you trying to say, Y/L/N?”

“You’re going to make me say it?” You feign annoyance as a grin spreads across your face, unaware of the frost around Hotch’s heart beginning to melt at the sight.

Hotch shakes his head. “Only when you’re ready,” He tells you. “come on, we should get going.” He motions towards one SUV remaining whilst the police department carry on with their assessment.

Unsure of himself, Hotch swallows his fears as he rests his arm around you. He keeps his eyes fixated on the car but internally warms as you move closer into his embrace.

“Does this mean I won’t be allowed on the field for a while?” You ask as you slide into the back seat next to Hotch who chuckles, something that’ll take some getting used to seeing.

As he fastens his seatbelt, he reaches to help you with yours, only to see you have done it already despite the sling on your arm.

“We’ll talk about that when we’re back in Quantico, Y/n.” He tells you quietly, seeing your eyes beginning to droop. “Take a nap, I’ll let you know when we’re almost there.” Hotch mutters as you try to fight the tiredness as the adrenaline rush is leaving your system.

A small yawn leaves your lips as you rest your head on Hotch’s shoulder. “Thanks, Hotch.” You glance up to him.

“Aaron,” Hotch mutters. “call me Aaron.”

“Okay,” You whisper as your hand reaches for his, squeezing it ever so gently. “thank you, Aaron.” You add before closing your eyes, missing the sight of a bright smile you’ll soon see plenty of.

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bugabash · 3 years

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Hold me while we Fall

Miraculous x Attack on Titan au

Fear was a complex that almost everyone within the walls grew to have as second nature. No one had seen a titan besides the scouts since the walls were erected, and the schools taught the children about the monsters beyond the wall in few details. But to Marinette it wasn’t the creatures that fascinated her, it was the world beyond. She had studied books on the wonders outside. But they never taught it in school, and she was chastised for bringing it up. So, the young girl kept it to herself, only sharing it with her sister. She feared the titans beyond the walls, everyone did, it was drilled into them from birth that they were the cattle to the wolves outside, but her family always made sure it was the furthest thing from her mind.

But that was before, and now everything has changed.

AO3

Chapter 1: Marinette Dupain-Cheng

The year was 845 withing the walls of the Shiganshina district. Marinette Dupain-Cheng stood in her room that resided in her home above her father’s small bakery. She was eleven and a half, the half especially important to her when she defended her size to others. She was small, always hiding under her long dark hair that fell to her waist. But despite this her personality always shone through, making her extremely well liked with her peers. And with this came a very protective nature from them over her, feeling the need to shield her from everything, even from some of the stories of the Titans. But no one protected her more than her older sister, Tikki.

Tikki was fifteen, tall, beautiful, her long dark hair constantly in perfectly placed high pigtails, never a strand out of place, reaching down to her waist. She had bluebell eyes just like Marinette, freckles decorating her nose like an artist had painted them on her. She carried their mother’s feature more prominently than Marinette did which she embraced with pride. She was the definition of beauty. She was loved by all, known for her cheerful spirit and, well, being good at almost everything really. She was smart, charitable and all together a good person. She protected her sister from everything, determined to let Marinette grow up without the fear she had grown up with.

Marinette stood in front of her small homemade mannequin with her mauve dress she had been working on for a month now resting on it. Tikki was draped on her bed across their shared room, chattering away about her latest teachings from one of their father’s friends. Marinette was so used to it now, she just focused on her fingers as they threaded the needle through the fabric, counting the last few stitches in her head.

Four, three, two, one.

“It’s done!” She squeaked, interrupting her sister and causing her to jump and sit up, staring at Marinette with a confused expression. “It’s done! It’s d4one! It’s done!” She pulled it off the mannequin and spun around, her hair fanning out around her. Tikki laughed and stood up, jumping around excitedly and ran over. Marinette held it up to show it off to her big sister proudly, this was her first dress she did completely by herself.

“Wow! That’s so pretty, Nettie!” Tikki complimented, smiling proudly at her, “wanna try it on? You can show it off while we go to the market later!”

Marinette gasped and nodded, wriggling out of her current dress and threw it aside, standing in just her thin, white petty coat. Tikki helped her and soon she was in her dress. It was knee length, the red stitches standing out delicately against the mauve fabric. It was long sleeve with white ruffled at the cuffs, a lace like pattern around the neck and a tied up back. She spun around and squeaked with joy, it wasn’t perfect, but it was hers.

“Oh, Miss Marinette, you are the most beautiful ladybug in the land!” Tikki exclaimed with a playful curtsey, using her pet name for Marinette with a cheeky smile.

“I’m the prettiest Ladybug in the world!” Marinette giggled, jumping up and down, “let’s go show Papa!” She grabbed her sister’s hand and pulled her along, running downstairs into their home, she knew he would be downstairs in the bakery. She opened the door leading to the bakery and skipped down.

“Papa!” She called out excitedly, her father turning and smiling at her, “I finished my dress!” She spun around showing it off before running and jumping into her fathers strong arms. He laughed and picked her up with ease, hugging her tight.

“You look exquisite my little love bug!” Her father praised, beaming happily at both of them, “it looks amazing! Did Tikki help at all?”

“Nope, she did it all by herself!” Tikki replied with a smile, “little Ladybug, I need to go into the market, do you want to show off your new dress around town?” Marinette smiled broadly and jumped out of her father’s arms. “Ok good, go put on your boots and a coat.”

“Okay, now you be careful girls, okay? Please be home before the sun starts to set.” Their father warned as he turned back to his work. “You know the rules.”

“Yes Papa, we will be back soon, promise.” Tikki nodded, walking over and kissing his cheek before putting her own coat on.

“Papa, can we have the special bread with dinner? To celebrate my dress?” Marinette asked as she hopped around, trying to put her one boot on.

Their father chuckled heartedly, “of course, anything for my main girls. Now, could you please pick up this today.” He handed Tikki a small list and some money, giving her the same look he did whenever they went out, Marinette never knew what it was but it looked like a serious look. She was still too young to be told much, which she hated. She felt old enough.

“Yes Papa, we will be back soon.” Tikki smiled and pocketed the note in her thin fabric bag slung over her shoulder.

“Bye papa!” Marinette yelled and hugged him tight, kissing his cheek too before letting go.

He waved them off, laughing at how Marinette did one last twirl around a customer before leaving. They stepped out of the bakery and Marinette smiled, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the warmth on her face, the wind blowing through her hair and the sound of the birds chirping around them. She opened her eyes and looked around at the world around her. Everyone was busy, children playing with others, mothers working with their babes on their backs, men working hard for their families. Life was hard, but it was happy, simple, peaceful. She loved her town, loved her life really. She had amazing friends and an amazing family. She looked up at her chatting sister, smiling.

As they walked Marinette looked out at the huge walls that protected them. She wondered if the monsters would ever get in, or if one day she could go beyond the wall. She knew it wasn’t possible for humans to live outside, but she still wondered. As her father and Tikki liked to tell her she was destined to meet someone and raise a family. Contribute to the town and survive. She wasn’t too sure on it all, but she did as she was told.

They reached the market soon enough, and something caught their eye, Tikki grabbing Marinette and pulling her off the road into the crowds. Marinette gasped, eyes wide.

The scouts, she had seen them many times before, saw their wounded and saw the families that grieved. Their neighbour lost three sons just last month. She remembered the blood curdling scream, her father had told her that the sons were most likely eaten by the Titans, explaining that that was why she must stay within the walls and stay away from the military.

Today they looked exhausted, almost defeated, the blood standing out on their clothes. Tikki gripped her tight, pulling Marinette against her body.

“Those poor men and women,” She whispered, Marinette looking up at her then back at the soldiers, “Marinette, always respect anyone who wears that uniform. They have given up everything to protect us. Do you understand?” Marinette nodded, looking back at them.

She caught the eye of one young man who was on horseback. His hair was pure black, the top of his hair long and in a bun, shorter pieced falling out here and there, while the underside was shaved to a fade with what seemed to be a haphazardly shaved pawprint on the side. He looked over at them, he must have spotted Tikki, she always caught peoples’ eye. He had green eyes with small pupils, he was handsome but looked young to be in the scouts. His jaw was covered in blood, his cape missing and his uniform stained, though it didn’t stand out much against his black t-shirt. He raised a brow, and tilted his head curiously, examining them. Marinette blinked before she waved, smiling pleasantly. This caught him by surprise, blinking a few times before he smiled and waved back. He had a peculiar smile, his canines looked almost catlike with the small extra length of them and it made her smile more. He was different, just like her and her sister were. Not to the extend but still. He seemed to find it amusing and winked at Marinette, laughing to himself before he turned his attention back to the front.

They watched them leave, the crowds whispering between themselves, Tikki’s grip never letting go of Marinette. Tikki quickly herded Marinette away, “let’s go.” She whispered.

“Did you see that scout?” Marinette asked as she walked, looking down at the stone she had started kicking. “He looked different, like us.”

“What?” Tikki asked, taken aback with a raised brow.

“His smile, I think he looks like he has teeth like a cat.”

“A cat?”

“Yeah, didn’t you see? I like his smile, its unique like us.”

Tikki stayed silent and eyed Marinette before looking forward again, “you know why we are unique, don’t you? Papa said he discussed it with you.”

“Yeah, because we are half Chinese, or oriental as he said.” She answered honestly, “he said we are rare and that there aren’t many of us left. That’s what makes us so special.”

“Well yes, but that is also why we must be extra careful and why we must not be out after sunset.” Tikki explained, her brows furrowed. “You know about the people that could harm us?”

“Yeah, I know, but I don’t think everyone is bad.” Marinette replied with a shrug, she hated these conversations, she didn’t like to think about all of that… of mama…

“I know, but there are bad people out there.” Tikki said before stopping and looking around. The world had almost gone quiet, the wind dropped, and the birds stopped singing. Marinette blinked and looked around too.

“Marinette…” Tikki whispered, grabbing her sister’s shoulder.

Marinette bit her lip and looked around, “what is it?”

Tikki looked like she was starting to panic and pulled Marientte aside. She crouched in front of her and held her shoulders, looking her in the eye. “Okay, I need you to listen to me. Never put yourself in danger, got it?” Tikki stopped and held onto Marinette’s shoulders tighter. Tikki’s blue eyes looked scared. “There are more scary things than the people who could take us. I have done everything to protect you from the reality of this life, but please, if anything happens, ever, you run, you hide, and you do whatever you can to survive.”

“Tikki… What- what are you talking about?” Marinette asked in confusion. She may not know much but she wasn’t an idiot, she knew there were dangers beyond and within the wall. But what was she talking about?

“Trust me, okay? Just listen to my words.” Tikki cupped Marinette’s face, “you are the most important thing to me, and I promised mama and papa that I would protect you from everything, let you grow up but something… something about those soldiers. I can’t lie to you anymore.” She sighed, Marinette felt tears in her eyes at the mention of her mama, “listen to me, if ever something goes wrong, you look after yourself before anyone else, okay? I know it sounds awful, but I need you to survive.” Marinette shook her head, that was an awful thing to say. “Life is survival, it’s not survival of the fittest anymore, its survival of the smartest. You are small, but strong, you’re smart, you use that big brain of yours, and you survive.”

“I-I don’t understand.” Marinette said with a frown, “why are you telling me this? Why can’t I help people if there is danger?”

“I…I….” Tikki looked away, biting her lip, Marinette felt her pulse through the hands on her cheeks. “I just… Promise me!” Tikki looked more serious than she ever had.

Marinette looked at her in confusion, where had this come from? This was so out of the blue, it was like Tikki knew something she didn’t. But what? “Tikki, I don’t understand.”

Tikki opened her mouth but she was interrupted when a crack of thunder echoed, a yellow strike of lightning appearing just beyond the wall. Everyone froze and watched, she had never heard silence like that. Tikki stood up and grabbed Marinette.

What was happening? She saw the huge hand on the wall and gasped. No… It couldn’t be… The wall was over fifty metres tall, no titan was ever that big.

“Oh god… no…” Tikki gasped, Marinette looked around, everyone was still, eyes on the wall. She turned her eyes to the wall and covered her mouth, her blood ran cold. A sweat overtook her body and she started shaking. That was when she saw the face appear. It was all muscle, even from this distance she could make out the eyes and teeth. “Marinette, run!” She heard her sister scream before a gust of hot wind overtook them, rubble flying everywhere then a loud bang. They were flung back into the air, her grip on Tikki gone as she screamed. She didn’t know how long they were in the air but when they landed it was hard and Marinette landed on someone who wrapped their arms around her. She had hit her head, she knew that much from the pain and the wetness trickling down her face.

She had the wind knocked out of her, her vision going white and a pain in her side stifled her scream. She heard screaming around her, and when her vision returned, she was on her back lying on another person who had their arms tightly around her. Dust was everywhere, people running around them and she could hear someone screaming her name. Wait, she wasn’t on Tikki?

“Hey, are you okay?” She heard a young boy’s voice ask under her in a yell, “Hey, can you hear me? Listen to me!” She coughed and struggled against the arms, he let go of her and she rolled off. She rolled onto her knees, her dress was torn slightly over her left side from their impact and blood was dripping onto the white lace around her neck She felt hands on her face and looked up, meeting green eyes. Time stood still and she stared at him in silence. He looked around her age, big green eyes, a cut under his left eye and short blonde hair. He looked so groomed he could be from the inner walls. He looked her over before grabbing her under her arms and pulled her up to standing, grasping her hand and pulling her away from the chaos towards who was screaming her name.

She let him pull her along, her body moving on its own as she stared back from where they came from. Boulders lay on top of people, blood everywhere, limbs lying across the road. Marinette gasped and her eyes widened. She felt her innocence shatter, felt everything of her being shatter. She had been so sheltered, and now…

“Hey, come on, you need to run, I cant carry you, please!” She heard the raspy voice yell in a panic, turning her attention to him with wide eyes. He saw them and gasped, looking past her and saw what she had just seen, pulling her behind a wall and hiding her against the cold stone. Realisation had hit him on what she had just seen, and so he pulled his cloak off and wrapped it around her, pulling up the hood. “Don’t look, I have you, I promise!” He grabbed her hand again and they were running again. Marinette gripped onto the boy for dear life, tears streaming down her face.

They’re dead… The titans, they were in. She didn’t know what was going to happen! Where was Tikki?

“Where are we going? Where is my sister?” Marinette screamed, she was half running half being dragged, but then she tripped up on her skirt with a scream and caused them both to fall, scraping her knee in the process as they rolled away, hitting a wall and stopped. The boy had his arms around her again as he kept her close to his chest as them stampede of people flew past, panting heavily.

“Are you okay? Can you still run?” He asked softly as he looked down at her, blinking when he saw her wide, terrified eyes. He frowned and tilted his head back, looking to where she was looking and froze, 50 feet away from them stood… a titan.

“No… How is that possible.” The boy whispered, sitting them up and pulling her back against his chest, being held close to him as she sobbed quietly. They were frozen, his grip on her tight around her, ruffling her dress between his fists. “A Titan…” Before them stood a huge humanoid creature, his grin ear from ear filled with large teeth, his hair long and black, his tall body muscled. Marinette started kicking her legs, trying to get away and grabbed at the arms around her, screaming for help. “I got you!” He cried as she struggled in his arm before lifting her up with a grunt, shifting her onto his back and began running as Marinette wrapped her arms around his neck, gripping onto his shirt for dear life as he hooked his hands under her knees.

Marinette looked ahead and saw Tikki between the terrified crowds, she was with the scout from earlier, he had Tikki over his shoulder and was looking around as if he was looking for someone. She was kicking and screaming, eyes falling on Marinette and she stopped struggling, screaming for her with her hand outreached, causing the scout to look back, his eyes widening.

Marinette screamed out, “Tikki!” She gripped onto the boy tighter who had a determined look on his face, his eyes focused on the scout. “Tikki! Help-” before she could finish her sentence a titan grabbed them out of no where, causing them both to scream and grab onto each other, the boy twisting and pulling her against his chest. The boy started punching the giant fingers around them, his other arm holding her tight against him, Marinette never let her eyes look away from the toothy grinned giant staring at them in hunger. “Tikki!” Marinette screamed.

“Marinette! NO!” Tikki screamed, Marinette looked over at her to see her fighting the scout who was yelling something at her. He didn’t have his gear, Marinette noticed, her heart sinking as she turned her attention back to the monster in front of them. He was raising them up, the grip getting stronger, the air being squeezed from them. The boy yelped and looked at her in fear. She looked back, tears streaming down her face. They stared at each other before he smiled at her small, lacing their fingers together and keeping their eyes locked.

“Just keep looking at me, okay?” He said softly, she nodded and gripped onto his hand, sniffing and wiping her nose on her arm as she cried. “It’ll be okay, what’s your name by the way?”

“M-Marinette.” She whispered in reply, shaking and stifling a scream as a big hand started to reach for them, the boy squeezing her hand more, the other arm around her tightening, pulling her so her face was against his chest, resting his head on hers.

“I’m Adrien.” He replied, he was shaking as well, tears falling. “I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.” She shook her head, eyes starting to turn towards the hand that was so close now she could feel the warmth, her eyes widening. But Adrien wasn’t having it, tightening his arm again and making her look back up at him. “Keep looking at me or hide, just don’t look. I got you.” He whispered.

The grip on them tightened and her eyes shot open as fingers grabbed the cloak fastened around her, lifting her out of the hand, she screamed for dear life as Adrien tried desperately to keep his strong grip on her. “Adrien!” She screeched, gripping his hands for dear life. He was screaming for her, desperate to get her back. “NO! NO! ADRIEN! TIKKI! PAPA!!!” She screamed at the top of her lungs, her grip being pulled from Adrien’s her heart stopping and her eyes widening. She locked eyes with the terrified boy, he looked like he was about to be sick.

She wasn’t sure if it was because he had lost her, or because he was next but the boy started screaming and hitting at the hand again. She looked at the titan as it held her up to his face, staring at her with empty, dead, hungry eyes. She was hanging from the cloak, it was slowly pressing against her neck, making it harder and harder to breath. She was sure she had wet herself, feeling warmth go down her legs. This was it; this was the end. She watched as he opened his mouth, the stench was rancid, making her gag and cover her mouth with her trembling hands. She started screaming for help again, kicking at the Titan, she didn’t want to die.

She felt time move in slow motion as she was lifted up higher, closing her eyes and hugging herself. She heard Adrien screaming for her desperately, but her hearing left her, a soft hum taking over. Was her body getting her ready to die? She had read something about it, a fight or flight within the body, protects you from the trauma or the pain to come so to speak. Adrenaline, was it? But she wasn’t sure it was true until now.

Then suddenly she wasn’t being held up as air filled her lung from the loss of pressure on her neck, feeling the air from falling overwhelming her. It’s over… It’s over… But instead of being bitten in half or feeling the wetness of a tongue, she was hit by another body, eyes flying open to see the ends of blonde hair as she was suddenly going another direction. Reality set in and the haze faded quickly, she wrapped her arms and legs around him as he did to her, burying her head in his neck as she braced for impact. And boy was it a hard one.

They hit a corner of a wall, spinning in the air and slamming into the floor, both gasping and coughing for air. She opened her eyes wide as she took a deep breath and gripped the boy that lay on top of her, covering her from danger. She looked back at the Titan to see it was missing his hands, swiping at the soldier who had appeared. She saw the roses and knew exactly why they were there. She didn’t have much time to think after that as the boy got up and pulled her up, grabbing her and flinging her on his back, running as fast as he could. He was limping as he ran, his groans while he panted telling her that he was injured just like she was.

By the time Marinette could register what was going on fully she was pulled off his back despite her screams of protest to be met by a tight hug. She blinked and looked up, “Marinette!” Tikki… She found her! Marinette broke down and hugged her tight, her sister hitched her up and held her close to her body, and they were running again, Marinette clung on for dear life. She opened her eyes and saw the dark-haired scout behind her, the boy draped over his back. He looked exhausted but still clung to the young man, Adrien’s head hung over his shoulder.

They ran in the screaming crowds, avoiding the many titans that were eating everyone they could. But Marinette kept her eyes on the boy, he had risked his life for her, a stranger. Why did he do that? After what her sister had said to her earlier, she was confused to why he had risked his life to save her?

After what seemed like ages they suddenly stopped, the older teens panting heavily. Tikki shifted Marinette with a grunt and she could feel that Tikki was wet from sweat. “Marinette, I need you to run, okay?” She whispered, placing the girl down who stood on shaking legs, nodding and looking back at the scout who didn’t look like he was struggling as much, but the boy on his back fought against him and jumped to his feet, running to Marinette and took her hand, eyes fixed on her and full of something Marinette had never seen before. She gulped and looked at their clasped hands before she looked around fearfully.

The scout didn’t look pleased but grunted, Tikki looked at the scout who just frowned and started running. The boy pulled Marinette with him, Tikki running behind them. Marinette looked around as she was pulled along, people were being eaten, trampled, crushed, there was nothing but death and despair. How could they survive this?

After not too long they were approaching the main gate in wall Maria, Marinette looked around desperately for her father, but never saw him. They all slowed down, gaining their breath back slowly. They joined the crowd, heading slowly towards the arch. The one flaw of the districts that lay outside the wall was there was only one exit. She remembered her father complaining about it constantly. She looked back at her sister, seeing Tikki was next to the scout who Marinette had figured out his name was Plagg. They were arguing in hushed voices, she wanted to ask Adrien what was going on but she didn’t know if she could speak yet.

Did they know each other? The way they were arguing and their body language spoke a thousand words. But she had never seen this man until today. But then again here she was clinging to the boy next to her, their fingers interlocked and her other hand gripping onto his arm for dear life. He didn’t seem to mind, looking up at him and saw he was looking around with a serious expression. Now that things had slowed down, she got a proper look at him.

He was taller than her by maybe a few inches, his face young and his green eyes bright. The right side of his face was covered in blood, his cut dirty and deep under his eye, another cut on his forehead. She didn’t think she looked any better, feeling the dried blood on her face and the pain from her cuts. She looked down at his dark green shirt and saw red over the side they had hit the corner of the wall on, her brows furrowing. He was injured, and he still managed to carry her out of there.

“He’s my brother.” Adrien spoke softly, turning her gaze back up to his face, he was looking down at her now, smiling small, “Plagg, the one talking with your sister, Tikki was it?” Marinette nodded, looking at the two arguing teens, “he’s a scout, the only reason he’s in Shiganshina is because of me.” He looked down darkly, his eyes looked sad for some reason. “But, hey, that meant I was there to catch you.” He looked at her and smiled sadly.

She blinked up at him, she didn’t know what to say, her whole mind felt shattered. She opened her mouth but nothing came out. Why couldn’t she speak? Was she really that weak?

He seemed to understand and nodded, “hey, it’s okay. We have been through a lot today, you don’t have to talk. I’m just glad I could help even one person.” She again blinked, he was so kind, probably the kindest person she had ever met. Why save her?

They both looked up when Tikki turned to them, “stay close, we need to get onto the boats, but there are a lot of people in front of us. You stay by us no matter what, okay?” They both nodded and she sighed, eyeing their clasped hands before turning back, Plagg whispered a comment that caused Tikki to hit his arm, telling him off again.

“Plagg, we need to get them away from here.” Marinette heard her sister say, eyeing her curiously. Tikki’s hair was ruffled, her pigtails messed and some hair had fallen out, framing her face. She had a small cut on her cheek. But what stood out the most was that she looked terrified.

“Yeah, yeah, I know that, sugarcube.” The scout replied with a scowl, “what do you think I’m doing exactly?”

“Well, so far my sister was almost eaten, let snot even bring up the state of them, and my dad is probably dead!” Tikki yelled back at him, pouting as she glared.

Suddenly they heard the footsteps, freezing and spinning around. Their eyes wide. Adrien gasped and pulled Marinette close, his eyes wide and his jaw clenched. In the distance they saw a huge titan sprinting towards them, his arms flinging around him, his jaw slack. Marinette screamed and was suddenly pulled to running by Adrien, turning her gaze forward the saw Tikki being pulled along by Plagg.

They had got out! How were they in danger again! This couldn’t be happening! She looked back just as the titan hit the ground, gasping as she saw the rubble heading towards them she looked at Adrien and saw he hadn’t seen it, his eyes focused on the road ahead. HE had saved her all this time, and if that debris hit them he would be hurt or possibly die. She looked back and gasped, she had to do something! She let go of his hand, causing him to gasp and look at her. She didn’t hesitate and shoved him hard, causing him to yell her name and fall to the side just as the debris hit her. She was hit hard, being smacked back, tumbling until she skidded to a halt, her body limp.

All she felt was pain, her vision went white, and she felt her dress suddenly getting wet. She tried breathing but it was laboured, and she heard gargling a bit. Her body was shaking, the pain coming from her left side of her face down to her shoulder. What was wrong with her? Was she dead? Was she dying? What about Adrien?

Suddenly she felt hands on her neck, she heard her sister far in the distance and then strong arms were carrying her and she was bouncing in them, the wind blowing over her. She heard others yelling and the whiteness started to fade. She was staring up at the sky, her mouth hanging open slightly, gasping for breath. Why did it feel like she was drowning? Was she drowning? No that was silly, she was in someone’s arms.

She felt someone had her hand, a soft voice speaking to her until they finally stopped. She felt hardness under her and suddenly her sister’s face was above her and she felt pressure on her neck, cheek and shoulder. She looked around without moving her head, Tikki’s tears catching her attention. Tikki? Why was she crying? What was wrong with her?

“Marinette? Oh god, oh shit, please, don’t die, no, please don’t die!” Tikki was saying, crying softly. “Plagg, do something!”

“Do what exactly? Do I look like a doctor? I’m doing everything I can!” The young man hissed back, he tore the bottom of Tikki’s skirt and started wrapping it around Marinette’s neck. “Just keep pressure! She’s lucky she’s even fucking alive!”

“Why did she do that?” She heard Adrien, he sounded distressed.

“She was saving you, if she didn’t do that you would be just as bad, possibly worse. She has some guts, I will give her that.” Plagg replied, leaning over her and looking into her eyes. She looked back, examining the dark green eyes, his small pupils getting even smaller as he frowned. “Just shut up and keep her calm!” She must have looked like she was panicking because suddenly Adrien’s face appeared as Plagg’s disappeared and looked down at her.

Marinette tried to speak but it sounded gargled, she felt him take her hand and her eyes darted toward him, seeing the dark faced boy. She should have spoken up earlier, now she can’t speak. She can’t thank this boy. A complete stranger who risked his life, who was covered in both his and her blood, banged up from protecting her. And she couldn’t even thank him. Adrien… He saw her panic and smiled sweetly, kissing her knuckles. She suddenly felt tired, darkness taking over quickly. “It’s okay, we got you, we are on the boat heading to Wall Rose, we are-“ Before he could finish his sentence there was an explosion and Plagg dove over Marinette, shielding her.

“Fuck!” He cursed and sat back up as Adrien took over his place, shielding Marinette, turning towards the wall and they all stared in silence. Marinette wanted to see but the pain was too bad so she gripped onto Adrien’s shirt. He looked down at her with an expression that scared her. She felt her eyelids flutter and darkness slowly took over, the last thing she see was Adrien’s face, his hands suddenly flying to her neck as he started yelling something. And then… nothing.

oOo

When Marinette first awoke she felt groggy and sore, her eyes barely opening. She groaned, lifting her hand and felt the rough bandaging from below her nose down to her breasts. Her mouth was covered so she couldn’t speak. She blinked a few times and looked up, expecting her sister or even Adrien’s face, but she was met by golden eyes under big, framed glasses. She blinked in surprise and stared at the dark-skinned girl standing over her, she had a heart shaped face and had fiery, long hair in a high pony, pieces framing her face. She was in a nurses uniform, but she looked the same age as Marinette.

“Hey girl.” The girl spoke chipperly, “you’re okay, don’t try to speak though. You’re in Troste district. You got badly banged up, but you’re safe now!” She smiled at her and picked up a clip board examining the paper.

Marinette felt the sheets under her hands, they were rough and they smelt funny. She realised she wasn’t on a bed but the floor, a sheet between her and the hard wood. What happened with the titans? Why was she in Troste?

“Marinette, is it?” She hummed and walked around Marinette, Marinette watched her with a raised brow. “You have internal damage, a big nasty cut from your cheek to your shoulder, some cuts on your face and torso, and some bruising. You really fought for your life, didn’t you?” She looked at Marinette with… admiration? “You’re like those scouts, you’re a superhero!” She dropped to her knees and grabbed Marinette’s hand, Marinette’s eyes widening. “That’s so cool!”

Cool? Marinette didn’t think it was cool. She had just experienced the worst day of her life and she couldn’t do anything right, needing others to save her. She felt like a fool, she felt like a dumb child. Why did no one ever tell her how bad they really were? She felt so naive. She looked away from Alya and pulled her hand away. Alya blinked and looked at her with a concerned look, her smile falling. Marinette didn’t have the energy to help the girl with her feelings, she was dealing with her own. Her eyes were empty, the sparkle gone, her innocence gone. Hell, everything she thought she was now seemed pathetic. She noticed she wasn’t in that stupid dress she had spent a month or so on, how frivolous it seemed now. She was glad she wasn’t in it, she didn’t want any reminders. Reminders of them, of the death, of how she was useless.

She couldn’t even protect herself, she had to have others save her, protect her, carry her. She was weak. She was worthless. She needed to get stronger, she had to. She would never let anyone suffer because of her again. The only good thing she did today was push that boy out of the way.

“Hey,” Alya dragged her from her thoughts, looking back at the girl. She looked concerned, “you’re safe now. I promise.” She placed her hand on Marinette’s. Marinette wanted to believe her, but she didn’t know what the truth was anymore. “I’m going to stay here with you tonight, okay? Your sister isn’t far, she will be here soon. But I promise, I will stay with you.”

Marinette blinked up and her, tears filling her eyes. She realised then she had been trying so hard to keep it together. Alya smiled and did a quick examination on Marinette, chatting away about how she was helping her mom who was the head nurse here. After she was done, she shuffled under the sheet with Marinette, lying on her back and staring up at the roof. Marinette felt comfort in it. She couldn’t speak but that didn’t matter right now.

Alya stayed with her that night, describing her childhood, telling her everything about herself. Marinette hung on every word, by the time she passed out from exhaustion and pain she felt like she had known Alya since she was a child. She felt at peace in a way, but she felt different. She felt like she was changed forever, the girl she was the day before was gone now.

---

It took Marinette a long time to heal, Tikki hardly leaving her side and eventually becoming a nurse herself so that she was close to Marinette. Alya spent every night with Marinette, making sure Marinette felt alone and comforted her whenever she was sad. The worst night was when she climbed into the sheets and hugged her friend while she sobbed after finding out her father was dead, and soon every night she slept next to Marinette. She didn’t care that they slept on the floor, she refused to sleep anywhere else without Marinette. They were inseparable.

It was a few months before Marinette was asked to speak, the bandages finally removed and the deep sensitive scar standing red and angry against her pale skin. She was used to the dull pain in her jaw, the now scar didn’t hurt as much as when it was a cut, but the pain was still there.

“Okay Marinette, we need you to try to speak.” Tikki said softly, Alya was next to her, she had stolen a mattress from her home and had made herself comfortable next to Marinette, concerned eyes on her best friend.

Marinette gulped, it felt weird not having her mouth covered, She had only had her mouth uncovered to eat or drink, so it felt weird to be completely exposed. So she felt naked sitting there without the bandage, in the baggy green shirt she had found at the bottom of her bed months ago, a small cut on the side. It was Adrien’s, he had washed it and brought it for her. She knew it was, no one knew for sure but she knew in her heart it was his. She chewed her lip and looked at her sister. It took some time but finally the words left her mouth, “where is Adrien?”

Tikki blinked in surprised and furrowed her brows, “Who?” She asked, “wait, the boy?” Marinette nodded, Alya watched her in confusion, “He’s okay, he isn’t here anymore, he’s with his brother with the survey corps, I think. He’s okay.”

Marinette nodded and looked down at her hands in her lap, she had thought of him almost every night but even now his face was blurry. She tried so hard but she couldn’t make out his face clearly. All she saw was the blood, the titan ready to eat her, felt the warmth down her leg as she pissed herself, the chaffing after as she ran for her life. She was destroyed by the experience, but maybe she could do some good from it. She lay back down, rolling over, pulling the blanket over her mouth as comfort. The others looked at her sadly, knowing she needed space. Alya sighed and lay down next to her, hugging her tight.

"Marinette, I promise he is okay. He was here for a little while and he visited you a few times when you were asleep." Tikki said softly, stroking her sister's face. Marinette hid her face, Tikki knew this side of Marinette too well now. She sighed and got up, "okay... I will come back later."

Alya stayed silent as Tikki left before she whispered, "Marinette?"

Marinette looked back at Alya, "yeah?" She replied in a whisper, it felt amazing to be able to speak again.

"Who's Adrien?" Marinette realised her best friend had no clue about what happened to her, she had been silent for months and now it was her turn to use her voice to let Alya know her.

"He's a boy that... He saved me." She croaked, rolling over so they were facing each other. "He gave me this shirt, I know it. He was wearing it." She covered her mouth with the neck of her shirt, looking down. "Do you want to hear about what happened?" And with that Marinette spoke about the worst day of her life for the first time since it happened. The words fell from her lips and a pressure lifted off her chest. By the end she was sobbing, Alya's eyes were wide in horror, her mouth open in shock. That night they fell asleep holding onto each other, Marinette having her first night without any nightmares, and she could make out Adrien's eyes. So she focused on them, holding onto the image for dear life.

---

More months passed and Marinette was now fully healed, or as healed as she was going to get. It had been over a year since the break of wall Maria, Tikki and Marinette were now living with Alya and her family. Marinette’s wounds had healed but she now wore a pale pink, jagged scar from the far left of her cheek down her neck all the way to her collar bone. Because of this she was stared at constantly and they whispered about how she was a survivor. Her hair had grown longer since the fall of Shiganshina so she used her hair to her advantage, hiding under it yet again, and rarely speaking. Tikki constantly told her she was worried about Marinette, but Marinette ignored her. She didn’t want to talk about this stuff with Tikki, she knew she had her own problems and Marinette didn't want to put more on her.

The person she was, the cheerful, talkative girl was completely erased, as if she never existed. She now was quiet, subdued and emotionless. Alya was the only one who got anything out of Marinette, she even managed to make Marinette laugh, a sound Tikki hadn’t heard since the day of the attack. It wasn't that she had no personality anymore or anything, she just didn't have a reason to be cheerful or talk much anymore. Especially with her giant, ugly scar that she hated. Her scar was like a giant sign that read 'I survived the fall of Shiganshina, stare at me please'. She hated the stares but she was used to it now.

The only person she spoke to was Alya, they lay in bed together at night and whispered to each other. Marinette told her of her plans to join the military the coming weeks. Alya argued with her, saying that it was suicide, stating Marinette has only just recovered from her last experience with the titans. Alya wasn’t impressed but eventually promised to come with her to Marinette’s surprise, stating they were in it forever now.

“Alya, we could die.” Marinette whispered, lying on her side looking at her best friend who mimicked her, a frown on her face.

“I don’t care, look at you, I am not letting you go anywhere without me.” Alya retorted.

Marinette frowned, “I don’t need protection. Don't join the military just to keep an eye out for me, you could die!"

“I’m not coming to protect you, I’m coming to support you.” Alya sighed.

“I can do it alone.” Marinette frowned, looking away. She didn’t need anyone else getting hurt for her. "I don't want you to get hurt or end up like me."

“I know that, girl.” Alya replied softly, “but there is nothing wrong with others helping you. And we are in this till death, right?”

Marinette looked at Alya and sighed at their promise, linking their pinky fingers, “Till we die.”

“Till we die.” Alya repeated, grinning. “So when are you going to tell your sister?”

Marinette sighed and played with the string of her shirt, her mind drifting to Adrien again. “I don’t know, but she isn’t going to be exactly happy.”

“That’s the biggest understatement of the year.” Alya snorted, taking her glasses off and placed them aside. “All I will say is good luck, girl.”

Marinette sighed, watching as Alya blew out the candle, she knew she was right, telling Tikki was going to be hell. "You say that but you're the crazy woman following me to our deaths."

"Nah, it's only being crazy if I thought we would die." Alya replied, "which we wont, we are gonna be badasses."

Marinette chuckled and shook her head, "sure."

“Don’t worry about it tonight though, okay? Let’s just focus on getting some sleep tonight.” Alya smiled and got comfy, Marinette smiled, feeling the tug of her scar. She never smiled now because of it, but she never felt shy or like she had to hide from Alya. She could be herself.

"Yeah... Let's see what happens." She said before closing her eyes and drifting off to sleep.

---

Tikki stared at Marinette like she had grown two more heads, her blue eyes wide with fear. “You… no, I… You WHAT!?” She screamed. They were sitting at the dining table in Alya’s house, the two girls sat on one side while Tikki and Mrs Césaire were on the other side. Tikki was standing up, her hands in fists. She looked like she could jump across the table and bundle Marinette up and hide her forever. She was in her nurse’s uniform, they had chosen to tell them now before their shift happened so that they could pack their bags. “You are barely twelve years old!”

“I’m thirteen soon, I am old enough, I’m joining.” Marinette said calmly. She watched her seventeen year old sister look shocked at her words. Marinette looked at her emotionlessly, being stuck in a bed for months not being able to speak and being stuck inside your own head makes you extremely good at handling emotions and stay in control.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Tikki slammed her fists on the table, “it’s a suicide mission joining the military! Do you want to die?”

“No, I don’t. I want to make a difference. I almost died because I was weak, I don’t want to be weak anymore.” Marinette didn’t flinch as Tikki slammed her fist down again, her eyes fixed on Tikki.

“You can’t even comprehend or understand enough to join the military!” Alya gulped next to her, chewing her lip, her own mother staring her down but not saying a word. Tikki wasn’t staying silent.

“Respect anyone who wears that uniform, Marinette.” Marinette said softly, “Remember you said that to me?” Tikki blinked in surprise, stepping back. “I remember you said that minutes before we ran for our lives,” Tikki’s eyes widened and she gasped, “before I was almost eaten by a titan, before I got this.” She pointed at her scar, her brows furrowing. “So don’t tell me that I don’t understand or that I cannot comprehend death or what being a soldier means. I am well aware. I have the scar as a souvenir.” Her eyes darkened, leaning back and crossing her arms over her chest.

Tikki stared at her in shock, holding the same look she always had when looking at Marinette recently. The look of not knowing who Marinette was anymore. Tikki turned to Mrs Césaire, “Marlena!” She cried, “say something! I can’t be the only one who doesn’t want this to happen!”

Mrs Césaire sighed and dropped the hand that was covering her mouth. “Alya, have you thought this through?”

“Yes mom,” Alya replied, straightening her back with confidence.

“You aren’t doing this to follow Marinette?”

“No ma’am.” Alya insisted, shaking her head, “I want to bring honour and pride to our family. I want to help with the war on the titans and get our world back.”

Mrs Césaire nodded, thinking for a minute before she stood up, wiping her eyes and walking over to Alya, pulling her to standing and engulfed her in a huge hug. She hugged her back, burying her face in her mothers chest. “We are already so proud of you, and you have already brought us honour by joining. I know you will be amazing.”

“What!?” Tikki was shocked, Marinette looked back at her with a raised brow, Tikki looked bewildered. “You are allowing this? They’re children!”

Mrs Césaire let go of Alya and frowned at Tikki, “they have experienced more than most adults. Especially Marinette.” She replied calmly, “if they want to join the military to make a difference we should be proud of them and their sacrifice! The men and women who are fighting this war against the titans are giving up their lives for us!”

“Exactly, giving up their lives!” Tikki yelled back, “I don’t want my sister dying at the ripe old age of 17 when she graduates!”

“I won’t die, and if I do it would be for the greater good!” Marinette stood up and yelled back.

“No it wont! You will die with your guts hanging out, piss down your leg and you will be crying out for a loved one begging not to die! I forbid this!” Tikki walked over and grabbed Marinette’s shoulders. “You are too weak!” Marinette gasped and stared at her sister in shock. “You will die!”

“Marinette isn’t weak!” Alya yelled, she looked ready to attack. “She is the strongest person I know!”

“The last time you saw a titan you almost died! You are too small, you won’t make it!” Tikki shook her shoulders angrily. Marinette frowned and pushed her sister off her, glaring at her.

“You can’t tell me what to do! You aren’t my mother and you aren’t my guardian.” She growled, “I can do whatever I like, and if anything Mrs Césaire is in charge of me.” Tikki looked surprised. “And I am not weak. If you don’t like it that’s not my problem. You can either support me or you can stay out of my business.”

Tikki glared at her sister before she grabbed her head scarf off the table and stormed out, slamming the door behind her. Marinette sighed and sat down, dropping her head on the table with a grunt.

You are too weak… you will die…

Her sister’s words echoed in her head, she was expecting the words to hurt her but they didn’t, they made her more determined. She was going to make it, she just needed to prove everyone wrong.

“Ignore her, Marinette. She doesn’t know who you are, who you really are. You will prove her wrong.” Alya reassured her, resting a hand on Marinette’s back.

Marinette sighed and stood up, pushing the chair back and walked through to their bedroom, walking to the window and looked out. She saw the garrison soldiers on the wall, they were running drills today, she watched them swinging across the wall and felt a pang in her chest. She wanted to be up there, she needed to be up there.

She sighed and turned away, leaning against the wall and slid down to the floor, dropping her head against the wall. Her mind went to Adrien again, looking over at the green shirt draped on the bed. It was a year and a half since the fall of the walls, and his face was almost all but blurred. She remembers how he held her like she was the only thing that mattered. She remembered his voice, and all she could see were those green eyes. She felt her scar with her fingers, drawing her knees to her chest, staring at the crinkles in her skirt.

Where was he? Was he safe? Did he get badly injured? She had so many questions that were most likely never going to be answered. And that sucked. He was the reason she was joining the military, she was spared and he saved her life, a stranger’s life. She had a debt to pay, and she wanted to be good. Not just a good person but a good soldier. But that wasn’t the important thing now. In a few weeks she will be a recruit and will start her training. She needed to focus on that and get through. Her eyes travelled to the shirt again, sadness taking over and the tears came. She had been through so much, yet these moments came very rarely, and when they did she embraced them with open arms. Just happy to feel something.

---

“Tikki I will be fine.” Marinette stared at the uniform in front of her. The cadet badge standing out against the tanned jacket. Her last conversation with her sister the night before echoing in her head. “Just… don’t die, okay?” Tikki had helped her cut her hair and gave Marinette her red ribbons much to her surprise. Now they were tied in her short, low pigtails, the ribbons floating down her back. Something of her sister to keep her safe.

She gulped and started to strip, pulling her new uniform on proudly. She wore her dark green top underneath her jacket, her dark brown sash around her waist fit perfectly and then her white trousers. Everything was custom made for her she figured, because it fit perfectly. She sat down and pulled on her knee-high boots, determination filling her.

Soon they were on the courtyard, in their formation at attention. Marinette looked around, she hadn’t met anyone yet, Alya standing next to her. She finally made it, she was finally here. She clenched her fists and looking to the side at her friend, smiling small at her before her face went hard. She was going to prove everyone wrong; she was going to join the survey regiment and she was going to make a difference. She looked forward, the horrors she saw flashing in front of her eyes, taking a deep breath and relaxed her fists. She had made it, now she had to actually do it.

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gwoongi · 4 years

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wordless pt.2

jeon jeongguk / reader genre: hitman (john wick au), sugar daddy au, angst rating: mature words: 4.4k warnings: violence mention, toxic relationships, mentioned deaths a/n: oh fyi jeongguk isnt part of the mafias included in these drabbles, he’s a solo hitman who works closely with taehyung nd other mentioned men. he has his own little business/group of hitmen (like the continental kinda style thing) where he’s sort of the big man who people look up to, but he’s not rly mafia :) hope that helps explain stuff hehehe. Also this one is sad heheheh x2

Sometimes, saying “I love you” is inappropriate, and given your circumstances, you think it might send Jeongguk over the edge if he hears them again.

Parts: One, Two, Three, Four, Five

(11) Telling them a dumb joke just to see them smile.

“I’m really sorry, baby. I really am.”

Next to you on the couch, Jeongguk reaches for your hands that are clamped in your lap. The clock ticks hauntingly slowly, and everything feels dark, and cold, and empty. The front room that is usually vibrant with life and energy is now devoid of emotion, besides the sniffles on the couch that are hidden in shadows.

“It’s okay,” you reply quietly, sniffing once again. “Not your fault.”

“I know,” Jeongguk says, “but I’m still sorry.”

There was nothing that could have been done. Not really, even though Jeongguk repents at the thought that he could have done something. It was an accident, a car that pushed into another one and sent your parents off the bridge and into the Han River. It seemed impossible, but as of late, the impossible became possible. Jeongguk had heard the news several hours after you, contemplating in the silence of your responses over the phone. Eventually, he asked Taehyung and got more than what he bargained for.

“Is there anybody left?” he asks.

“Like my family?”

“Yeah,” he softly answers.

You sniff once more, wiping at your eyes with your sleeve. “My aunt, she, uh, she lives in Finland, I think. I don’t know, everybody cut ties after you. Well. After, you know.”

Jeongguk gulps sourly, “yeah. After your brother.”

Somewhere in the city, police sirens blare. From in the kitchen, the small radio still reads out a report of the accident, and if Jeongguk were to rise and look out of the window, he might see the flashing lights from the bridge. When the room goes silent, Jeongguk’s just afraid you’ll hear the report and start crying again.

“Can you, um,” you start, swallowing the lump in your throat, “I don’t know, tell me about your day or something.”

“Yeah, sure,” Jeongguk mutters, rubbing his thumb across your hand. “Wore that badge to work today. You know the Dad one?” You nod and he continues, “Got a stir out of my guys. You were right, Taehyung got salty about it.”

You manage a laugh, little puffs of air from your nose. “I should have got him one. Maybe a brother one, I didn’t see uncles.”

“Fuck him,” Jeongguk says, “My gift, my badge.”

“Don’t wanna upset him,” you shrug pathetically, along with a tight sniff that burns your left nostril.

Jeongguk rubs your arm, “He’s not gonna be upset. Seeing you upset makes me upset, though,” he says quietly, and you peer around your hair at him, “what kind of Dad would I be if I let my little girl be upset, hmmm?”

He raises his eyebrows like he’s feigning an innocence and the sight makes you laugh slightly, not enough to distract you but enough to leave Jeongguk satisfied. He smiles and leans over, dropping his head against yours with a little sigh that blows your hair. It wasn’t enough to distract you from the devastation that is losing your family, but if it’s something to make you feel less alone, then he’ll try.

(12) Following their family traditions that they enjoy.

“I can’t imagine your brother doing this,” Jeongguk says, holding a ribbon of tinsel in his hands with an unconvincing stare thrown in your direction. He does this whilst standing near the doorway, just behind your couch, like he’s ready at any moment to leave or come inside.

As he does this, you’re across the living room, waltzing with a tree that stands on an angle, lopsided and skinny and naked with no decorations. The lights sit in a snake-like swirl on the floor, flickering on one setting and in resignation, you sigh loudly and turn to face him.

“Well, the last time he helped me decorate a tree, I was five,” you reason. “It’s been a long time, but my parents always did this with me, and-”

“Yeah, I know,” Jeongguk frowns. Since the bridge, he’s always walked on eggshells around the subject of parents and traditions. Before he knew it, Christmas was two weeks away, and around his tight schedule and endless demand for his presence at work, he figured he had to make up for the lost time by being with you.

Jeongguk never imagined that he’d rely on you to absolve him of his own boredom and self pity, but here he is, on a Wednesday afternoon in your apartment that he unwillingly thinks of as a retreat, a home away from home when things get too claustrophobic back at his own place. Things are messy and complicated and cold there. He likes being here, because of how it feels being here.

But maybe he’s here out of guilt, and you stare at him for a few seconds, recognising this unfamiliar distance in his eyes that screams guilt and discomfort. You don’t want to mention it, scared of what might be underneath the mask he’s wearing tonight.

“If you’re not gonna do anything, can you at least hold the tree so I can put the lights on it?” you ask. “You can just go, if you want.”

“I don’t,” he insists, moving around the couch. “I just. I never did this as a kid.”

“Really?”

“Yeah,” he admits, grabbing the tree as you crouch for the lights, “so this feels a little childish.”

You shrug, “nothing childish about Christmas.”

“Everything about Christmas is childish when you have never really celebrated it,” Jeongguk theorises. Now that he’s holding the tree, it’s a lot easier to decorate.

“We can celebrate it if you’d like,” you suggest. He says nothing, “not like all the gifts and stuff, but just in general.”

Jeongguk smiles to himself and moves so you can weave the lights around the branches. “Alright, sounds like it’ll kill my time this Christmas?”

You scoff, laughing lightly. “Well, isn’t that what I’m here for? To kill your time?”

Jeongguk takes a step back once the lights are wrapped around, and throws an arm over your shoulder, bringing you closer to his body. “Something like that.”

(13) Playing your fingers through their hair while sitting next to them on the couch.

Jeongguk had asked you to meet him at his place when he got off from work, and thankfully the guard on the gate had let you up early with the promise of cookies the next time you came to visit. You let yourself up to his suite and waited on the couch, a cup of tea steaming on the coffee table and nothing to do but stare at the ceiling, lit up blue with the city outside.

About half an hour later, Jeongguk comes through the front door and drops his shit by the shoe rack. His keys rattle and drop on the counter and a few moments later, he’s moving across the room to the couch where he drops, knees first, setting his head in your lap as he falls.

“Hey,” you say unenthusiastically, stifling a yawn as he groans and stuffs his face closer into your body. He doesn’t say anything, just lies there, and you gently lock your fingers into his hair that seems messy and almost curly and begin to play.

“Tired?” you ask, and this time he moans in reply, a yes, and nothing else is said.

(14) Singing and dancing to their favourite song.

“Remind me again- it’s definitely okay that I’m here as your guest?”

Jeongguk’s hand on your lower back never disappears as he tours you around the room, gently smiling at people around him with a slender glass of wine in the other free hand. It is on this Saturday evening that Jeongguk finds himself in attendance of the Somber-Rain Ball. Unlike any other time where Jeongguk came solo, or with his colleagues from work, tonight he is joined by you, tailored in a beautiful black dress that sweeps the floor behind you, still somehow modest enough to keep you out of the glazed eyes of the other attendees.

“Yes, it is absolutely fine,” he sighs, steering you out of the self-collected gallery that surely belongs in this large and maze-like mansion. “I wouldn’t have brought you with me if it wasn’t allowed, Y/N.”

“I know, but lately you’ve been doing all sorts of things that you probably shouldn’t,” you remind him, curling into his armpit as you cross the dancefloor towards the bar, that slopes to a side and is scarcely populated. A man who stands there bows his head to Jeongguk but ignores him straight afterwards.

Jeongguk laughs, “Isn’t that my thing?”

“I don’t want to get myself into trouble,” you shrug. Jeongguk smiles and kisses the crown of your head.

“Getting into trouble is my job, dear, not yours.” He faces the bartender and slides the drink, “A round of bourbon after the dance, please.”

“What kind, sir?”

Jeongguk hums, then clicks his tongue, “Try the Brothers’ Bond, I heard you just had it imported.”

The bartender nods, “Certainly, sir.”

Jeongguk nods and turns his attention back towards you, right as the young bartender hurries to find clean glasses for the happy couple. Jeongguk turns to your eyes and smiles at the raised eyebrows he sees, and pulls you further towards him as the orchestra finishes their latest piece.

“Isn’t that the bourbon that the Salvatore brothers made?” Jeongguk asks, feigning an innocence and a forgetfulness for the time you brought it up to his face a few weeks ago. You say nothing besides shaking your head, turning towards the crowd as it slightly thins, just as the orchestra calls it for a few seconds, and a song on the speakers takes its place.

It’s just the first few opening chords but Jeongguk clearly is familiar. He sighs loudly, audibly with an “ah” and then tucks himself closer to you.

“Love this song,” he states. “Miss L/N, care to dance with me?”

You look towards the floor, and then back at him: “Yeah, sure. Is this Doris Day?”

Jeongguk seems pleased as he leads you. He takes a center position, caring little about the potential attention he may attract by taking your waist. It doesn’t stop him from doing so, a smile in your hair as he begins the dance.

“Glad you know it,” Jeongguk replies. “I spent a lot of time with my Aunt when I was younger. She loved this song.”

You hum quietly, “She has good taste. I think this song is in that one Tonya Harding movie.”

“Probably,” he scoffs, kissing your hair again and curling an arm tighter around your middle. He is certainly attracting unwanted eyes. In a metaphorical perspective, this is your first dance. Might be your only dance, but Jeongguk’s not trying to wish away the moment, not just yet.

(15) Calming them down when they have a bad dream.

Bad dream. Not you. Tonight, Jeongguk is a victim.

He shoots himself awake before you have a time to sit up on your elbows, and he pants loudly, searching around the mattress for a weapon but instead, he finds your hands. Jeongguk jumps.

“It’s just me,” you tell him breathlessly, staring at his wide and wild eyes. He gasps, like he forgot you were even there, but calms when he scurries to take your hand in his own.

Jeongguk hates to feel like he needs help, but tonight, he seeks you first. He slides his hands around yours and finds his grip, remembering where and who and presses a kiss to your hand as you lift it to his face.

“Sorry,” he apologises, “bad dream. I’m gonna-”

“It’s okay,” you assure him quietly, now sitting upright. “You never have to say sorry, okay? It’s okay.”

“Mhm,” he agrees half-heartedly. “I’m gonna….get a drink, or something.”

He rises from the bed and quite literally stumbles to the door, coughing the dryness from his throat as he makes his way to the kitchen. From the bed you sit and watch him leave, knowing from routine that when he comes back, he’ll lie awake, stoney, and won’t rest until the morning. He won’t sleep for the remainder of the night, and he’ll sleep in the office.

Jeongguk never talks of his nightmares. He never tells you about the recurring dreams of his past, his past lovers or friends or family. You know that the dreams must be so bad that he pretends to sleep to keep you from worrying.

He never tells you that he gets them most when you sleep over, because the more aware he is of you beside him, the more he dreams of losing you.

(16) Having a tickle fight until you’re breathless.

There was no contract for your arrangement with Jeongguk. You were part of a very complicated sugar daddy/sugar baby relationship, and there were never really any rules to it. You could fall in love with him all you wanted, but all Jeongguk had made clear from the first date was that he didn’t fall easily, and wasn’t seeing you to fall in love. If you fell for him, he didn’t really care. He’d never fall back. (Right?)

Despite there being no rules, you still always felt like taking photos with Jeongguk often felt like a breach of contract, like breaking the rules. Jeongguk had already shown you off to the world of Mafia and crime at the Somber-Rain Ball, but yet you were afraid to take a photo for your own gallery.

There was one, however, that Jeongguk had taken himself and sent to you when he was on a trip in Athens. It was a slightly dark and blurry photograph, from early when you two had met and Jeongguk felt like he had to get you to stay sometimes by playing the role of a lover. In the photo, his fingers are ghosting at your sides, his face is scrunched and in a smile and you’re rolling around on the covers. It’s a live photo, so it moves for a few seconds.

Jeongguk had made you laugh almost to the point of tears, and you can probably still remember the feeling of knots in your stomach, your voice threatening to pee on his bed if he didn’t pack it in. He stopped, reluctantly. He didn’t want to see you pee. He didn’t want you to cry, either.

Back then, he had been generous to avoid tears. (What changed?)

(17) Folding their clean laundry and putting it away.

It’s been a long day. That was obvious by the way Jeongguk called you at two, and didn’t even want to do anything once you got here. Just got home. Are you free, maybe? Like an idiot, you came.

His place was a sight for sore eyes; by the front door, he hadn’t even taken off his shoes, and a pile of cluster and mess led a trail to his bedroom. You stood awkwardly in the doorway, staring at the way he lay with his face down on the covers, feet hanging off the bed stiffly, the curtains drawn, city blaring, TV on a quite volume relaying the emergency call made to the police this morning about the death of Cho Minsu, one of Seoul’s most controversial politicians.

For a few minutes, you remain in the doorway and he remains unmoved.

“...and, although the call made to the police department this morning was made anonymously, the leader of the police department, Choi Seungkwan, seems to believe that the call was made by at least one of the rumoured underground organisations within this city. Just last week, the Twin Tiger Mafia were making headlines after a fire was caused in the center of Seoul, but there have been no confirmations from the police at this time, nor has a statement been issued by the President. One witness said it was the work of one man, which leads the authorities to believe that this is the involvement of a third party.”

Jeongguk appears glum by the news but doesn’t switch it off. As he wallows in his own self despair, you turn back towards the main section of his home and take in the mess. There’s a smashed frame on the floor, and the kitchen is disgustingly overcrowded with dishes, and ashtrays that are like mountains. The living room is cold and empty and clothes hang over the back of his couch. Here, you find not only his clothes from the night before but also the suit from the ball, as well as underwear you know isn’t yours.

Quietly, and without a fuss, you reach for the unknown underwear and with your hand tucked underneath one of his clothes, you scoop them up and toss them into the washer in the kitchen. The ashtray is cleaned, the dishes are put in the dishwasher, and the curtains are drawn. Jeongguk must be asleep by the time you come into his bedroom, carrying the clothes you folded for him to set away in his cupboards.

This will be the second time you have cried in his bedroom while he was sleeping, and as he sleeps, peaceful and perhaps even remorseful, you return back to the front door and slip into your shoes.

(18) Sharing a soft smile across a crowded room.

You dream of him.

It’s the night of the ball. As you’re in the arms of Taehyung, stuck in a dance that will make you look less like a trophy wife for Jeongguk, the man himself is stuck in a conversation near the bar. Probably halfway through the waltz, you manage to lock his gaze. It’s like a movie, where the characters meet in slow motion, and everything seems to be slower and more passionate. All he does is smile, so gently and softly that it doesn’t even look like him.

It’s gone and he’s back to a straight face in conversation before you know it, but it’s enough for you to dream about it. Maybe this time, you’ll add a little bit to it, and create a new story to replace the original. One where the circumstances might be different, or the song, or the man you’re with.

(19) Bringing them a plate of their favourite sliced fruit.

“...what the fuck is a ‘BARB’, again? Surely not the Barbs, right? Right?”

Slowly but surely, you may be going insane behind this computer screen. You woke up in a cold sweat to the assumption your paper was due today, only by happy surprise to figure out it’s due next week, on a totally different day. It was eight, the sun was shining, and all Jeongguk can hear as he wakes up is keys tapping away relentlessly.

He stretches his arms and moves from the bed, swinging his feet to the floor and as if he owns the place (although if he’s being technical, he does) he heads to the shower and gets himself cleaned for the day he has planned ahead. Jeongguk showers, brushes his teeth and jumps into the clothes he came here in. By the time he’s out, he has time to poke his head into your makeshift study, which used to be a laundry room before the bastard thing broke and you had it moved to the bathroom instead. You’re still working, one leg up folded and a string of swear words leaving your mouth as you stare at the blinking word document.

Jeongguk frowns, nonetheless unsurprised by your antics. Ever since you went back to school, he’s been seeing less of you. Truthfully, it’s fine; Jeongguk is more than used to being alone and he doesn’t like to spend too much time with you. Not because he doesn’t like to, but quite actually for the opposite reason. Jeongguk likes you too much that he’s afraid he’ll give more than he wants to get back. Why fall in love when he can’t afford to?

Jeongguk moves to the kitchen, opening the fridge and getting a bottle of water. Sucking his teeth, he closes the fridge and grabs two apples from the bowl near the kettle. He twists the little device he found from your drawer and removes the stalk for both, cutting shapes out of the fruit into a bowl. He tosses the utensils into the washing up bowl for you to tackle later when you inevitably procrastinate, and before he leaves to go to work, Jeongguk heads back towards where you sit and brings the bowl just in between your hands, in front of the keyboard.

You look up with alarm as he does this, frightened because he came in so silently. He smiles quickly, innocent, and leans forward to kiss you. He tastes like toothpaste.

“Morning, gotta go, though,” he says in a hurry.

Before he moves back, you lean up and steal a second kiss, “so early?”

“Mm, I have to go to work,” Jeongguk replies.

You glance at the fruit. “Did you cut this?”

“Yep. I know it’s so hard to chop fruit, but I did it all by myself,” he jokes. He kisses you a third time, “Really gotta go. Don’t call me ‘til you finish this fucking paper.”

“Like that’s ever gonna happen,” you grumble, turning to the screen with a frown. Jeongguk smiles to himself and ruffles your hair, just before he steps out of the office and leaves you in the silence, collecting his things and leaving before Taehyung threatens to put a bounty on his head for being late to work again.

(20) Washing their back/hair in the shower.

“Fuck, shower sex sucks ass.”

You turn around, almost offended. “What?”

Jeongguk laughs loudly in the comforts of his own bathroom, leaning for a shampoo off the shelf. “I’m not saying you’re bad, I’m just saying it sucks. It’s so...slippery and hard.”

“I thought you liked it,” you reply.

He shrugs.

“Then why the fuck do you insist on it,” you sigh, spinning and leaning for the bottle. He moves it away, “Don’t be stingy.”

“I’m gonna wash your hair for you,” Jeongguk explains, squirting a generous amount into his hands. “Turn back around, love when your ass is against my dick like that.”

You roll your eyes and do as he says. He’s a kidder after he fucks you. Probably a pride thing because he knows he’s done a good job. Jeongguk massages the shampoo into your hair and inhales the scent, because it’s a new seasalt fragrance he saw on Youtube when he was looking at interviews for this one super secret guy he’s after, and apparently Adblock for Safari is shitty and never blocks ads on videos.

“Smells good,” you compliment. “Buy this for your other bitches, or just for me?”

Jeongguk smirks. “Nah, they got the banana one.”

“I thought you hated that fragrance.”

“That’s why they have it and not you,” he says simply. You don’t know whether or not the reply satisfies you. For one, it tells you that you’re his favourite, but it also tells you that he is indeed fucking other girls, which is something you were never totally thrilled to accept or believe. It conflicts you, to the point where you’re silent as he washes your hair.

“What?” Jeongguk asks finally, pulling at your head and half forcing your face to him. “You mad?”

“No,” you reply. “You done with my hair?”

He lets go, “Yeah. Just rinse it out.”

You do that, staring at the little drops of water on the shower door. Jeongguk sighs and switches positions with you, staring at your shoulders as you wash the shampoo out.

“Are you really mad?” he asks.

You sigh, “I’m not mad, Jeongguk.” You peer at him, “promise.”

“Bullshit,” he exclaims, like he’s tired. “I thought you knew I saw other people.”

“I did,” you lie. “It’s fine, really. I’m not, like, judging you for it.”

“Why’s it feel like you kind of are?” Jeongguk asks in response.

You shrug, “You tell me.”

The bathroom’s cold as the shower switches off and Jeongguk leaves first, stepping into the living room with the towel around his waist as you get dressed into a gown in the bathroom.

He looks over his shoulder at you as you exit, turning off the light and looking for your clothes around the room. He tugs, sick and frowning, and so he slowly moves for you across the bedroom. As you’re looking down at your clothes curled up on the chair by his drawers, Jeongguk snakes his arms around your waist from behind and slowly brings you up against him.

You close your eyes, as if to prevent yourself from saying something, and he kisses behind your ear. “I didn’t mean to make you unhappy, baby.”

“You didn’t,” you tell him.

“You know you’re a bad liar,” he mutters. “That’s why you’ll be a good journalist, you’re too good at telling the truth.” You resign, knowing he’s said this speech before. “You can be honest with me.”

You turn in his arms. “Look. I’m not mad. Mad’s not the word. Disappointed, maybe, but life is full of disappointments, you know? I mean. I don’t know...I moved across the city just to live next to you because you asked me to, I thought it could be easier for us to both get what we want out of each other and so it just...kind of sucks that you need other people? It’s like, am I not filling the gaps enough? I thought sugar daddies only had one baby at a time, I thought they were lonely old men.”

“Do I look old to you?” Jeongguk asks, missing the point. Only he knows the point. “And, look. You bring out the best in me. Just look at me.”

“I am looking at you, Guk,” you lament, “but I just see you, and this guy who wants more than he has. It’s sucky, for me, I guess.”

He thinks on that for a second. “You’re not just a baby for me, you know that, I know that, everybody knows that. I don’t even pay you when we see each other anymore, you can’t tell me that’s the same thing we expected to have a few months ago, right?”

“Right, but-”

“But, what?” he questions. “I’m here right now because I chose to be, and because being with you just feels...natural, I guess. I don’t like just calling you to fuck for five minutes because I got stressed out at work. You’re more than that to me.”

It struggles to settle in your stomach, and he stares down at you almost pleadingly. “You know that. You do, come on.”

“Baby...Look. If I was natural, and if I was more to you than a baby, then you wouldn’t need to be calling other people when you’re stressed. If you really needed me, you’d need me. It’s that simple.”

Jeongguk shakes his head, letting go, “It’s not that simple.”

“No, Guk, it is that simple,” you murmur. You smile at him, because you don’t want him to feel too bad about it. He simply stares at you, saying nothing as you look back at your clothes. “I have class tomorrow, so I’m gonna head home.”

He says nothing.

“Good night, Guk,” you call from the front door a few minutes later. He doesn’t reply, and the silence does it for him.

#took too long im sowwy #jungkook scenario #bts scenario #jeongguk scenario #jungkook x reader #bts #bangtan #bts imagine #jungkook imagine #bts jungkook #bts jungkook imagine #jeongguk x reader #jeon jeongguk #jeon jungkook #jjk #bts mafia au #sugar daddy au #wordless

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literary-spirit · 3 years

Text

Chapter 5

The next day after first meal Bjorn, Torvi, and Bonnie cleaned out Rollo's old keep. The place was filthy. Rats the size of small puppies had made the place home and she wasn't entirely sure they weren't leaving without a knock down drag out. Aside from the rats, cobwebs and huge furry spiders dominated every crack and crevice in the structure. The situation was so dismal, she'd begun to have second thoughts. By the smug expression on Bjorn's face, she could tell he already knew she was about two seconds away from begging him to stay. Yet, she wouldn't give him the satisfaction. Not even if she had to accept canine inspired rodents

and tarantula like spiders as her new housemates.

Once they removed most of the dry rotted furniture and she'd thoroughly scrubbed the wooden plank floors with the same lard soap they actually used to bathe with, Bjorn said they were done for the time being. Since several hours of sunlight still remained in the day, Bjorn opted to go fishing at the harbor, while Torvi went off to train with the keep's other shield maidens. Bonnie decided to remain behind to work on a spell that would transform the ingredients she gathered the day before into things needed for her hygienic care.

From the first incantation, she could tell something was off. To say something was different with her magic would've been an understatement. Kind of like calling the sun sort of hot. Yeah, she'd always been powerful, thanks to her lineage, but there was altogether a new level of potency to her sorcery. Even the aftereffect of her spell presented in a way it had never done before. This new development caused simple enchantments that had become second nature to her, to get all twisted. And after about an hour of dealing with the same results over and over again, the frustration was fucking real! She slapped some of the ingredients off the stone table.

Damn it! She hadn't had a bath in almost four days. Pretty soon, she would be looking and smelling like who did it and why the hell you let it happen. "Shit, I wish I had my L'Occitane Almond Shower Scrub Duo from home in my hands right now!"

A tingling sizzle tickled the palms before the body scrub duo materialized in her hands. Shock nearly drove her to drop the containers, but she recovered in time and placed them on the table. Holy hell? What is happening? She stared at the half-used bottles from her and Niklaus' master bathroom. How the hell did she conjure these? She wasn't a conjurer. But then again, did she really conjure them or wish for them? Wait! Then did that mean she'd somehow fucked over the immortal witch spell and now she was a got damn Jinn?! She didn't wanna be a Jinn!

Shit! Stay calm. She shouldn't panic and since Jinns couldn't make wishes themselves there's no way she could be one. Hell, she could prove she wasn't a Jinn and correct one of their latest fuck ups in the process.

She closed her eyes and whispered, "I wish I was home." Slowly, her lids lifted to reveal the same hovel she stood in before she closed her eyes. An ache cracked her chest wide, "I don't understand. Why am I here?"

"To save my sons," an imperious, but deferential voice said from behind her.

She spun around to find the Queen of Kattegat, standing in her little hole in the wall. "Queen Aslaug." Her head dipped in a bow.

"Please, do not bow to me. It is I who should bow to you," she swept down in a graceful bow. "The sorcery within demands that I must. The mystical energy that surrounds you overwhelms and amazes."

Not knowing what the hell else to say, Bonnie focused on the Queen's prior admission. "Why'd you say I'm here to save your sons?"

"Because it is the truth. I dreamt of you, before you arrived," Queen Aslaug moved around the stone table, eyeing the shower scrub duo as she went. Once in front of her she stopped and clasped hands with her. "Your presence balances the scales against the many calamities waiting to wreak havoc on us all. I've foreseen it."

"Queen Aslaug-," she began.

"Let us not provoke the gods by further talks of this nature," she squeezed Bonnie's hands before releasing them. "You should go sit by the water in the cove before second meal."

Bonnie grabbed her shower duo from the stone table and placed them in the now empty basket. "Well, I did wanna wash." She gathered her last day dress, which was stiff, rough, brown, and barely grazed her ankles. It, however, was clean.

"Then wash you must," Queen Aslaug cosigned. Her gaze darted around the keep, "Bjorn, informed me you'll be residing here." She turned back to face Bonnie. "I'd offer for you a bench in the great hall, but I believe you to prefer privacy over comfort."

Bonnie gripped the handle of the basket with both hands. "That's true."

Queen Aslaug nodded. "While you're gone, I'll have thralls come finish putting your keep to rights."

"Thank you," Bonnie said.

"It is the very least I can do," Queen Aslaug said before turning to leave.

****

After her shower under the waterfall Bonnie felt more like herself. Though she was still confused by all that had transpired since she fell backwards in time at least she'd gained some stability. Now she'd be able to start gathering the pieces and putting things together. Once she finished oiling her body she redressed and headed back into the woods. Not long into her trek she realized she was being stalked. The sun had begun to make its descent. She didn't have long before darkness fell and whatever stalked her attempted to turn her cakes into a meal.

She thought about making a run for it but every show she'd ever seen on animal planet cautioned to never willingly offer chase to a predator. Yet, she was a melanin gifted woman in a melanin challenged land, slasher flick rule numero uno demanded that she haul ass. Decisions. Decisions. Decisions.

Bonnie released a harassed sigh. She neither wanted to get sweaty or bloody, "Look, you and I both know you're there so come on out. If you're gonna try and kill me you can at least face me before you carry out the deed."

A collection of seconds turned into a minute before she finally saw movement in the multiplying shadows. Moments later a shit ton of wolves varying in sizes and color inched forth on their bellies into the fading light of day.

Each kept their heads resting on their front paws and their eyes downcast. A wolf the size of a small pony covered in golden white fur with a pair of crystal blue eyes

continued to creep forward until his snout practically touched the toe of her shoe. Werewolves? In the Viking era? Of course, there are because no matter what the weird and freaky better known as the supernatural always seemed to know exactly where to find her! She was a fucking beacon for the strange and unexplained.

Bonnie squatted to trail her finger through the tufts of fur between his ears. "How are you all in your wolf forms when there hasn't been a full moon since I arrived. Either you're hybrid or cursed and since it'll be over another hundred years before the first hybrid is made, then you must be cursed." She trailed her hands over the length of the wolf's body. Though she sensed wild but potent magic, she didn't sense any dark energy it would take to invoke a curse. "Yet, I don't sense any dark magic." She stared into the wolf's eyes, "You fur babies must be something else altogether."

The wolf shimmered from canine to man, and then stood. One minute a gorgeous animal sat facing Bonnie, and the next all she saw was a slab of meat wearing a turtleneck of golden hair. She glanced up into a face that was cloaked in shadows by the light of the sun. For a moment, her next heartbeat refused to pound.

"Klaus?" She whispered.

A hand reached down to help her up. "I'm known as Ansel, Goddess."

"Ansel..." Wait, could he be..., "Why did you call me goddess?"

He laughed and the corners of his eyes crinkled the way Klaus' did when something genuinely amused him. "Because that is what you are, the Goddess of Twilight."

Her eyes popped. What in the Stephanie Meyer madness was he talking about? "E-excuse me who?"

"The prophecy foretold your arrival," Ansel said, still clasping her hand in his. "It was divined, your appearance would relink the descendants of Fenrir with their witchery lineage thereby affording us control over our shift."

This sounded like some sun and moon curse mumbo jumbo. Disregarding his nudity, she stepped closer. "Who spoke of this prophecy to you?" Maybe this person was a millennial throwback as well.

"We've always known of this foretelling," Ansel said, punching holes through the hope she'd managed to gather, "but the one who came before you did confirm the prophecy would come to past."

"The one who came before me?" She questioned, practically dripping desperation.

"Yes, the dark woman," Ansel answered, his eyes searching hers. "She lives deeper in the forest. Not many non-shifters venture that far into the woods. For those who have a mind to try, there are spells and curses in place to ensure no one unwanted reaches her."

"Ansel, I have to speak with her," she dropped her basket and covered both of their hands with her other, "Can you take me to her?"

His head bobbed. "Come," he knelt and picked up her basket, "it'll be quicker if you hoist yourself on my back."

****

By the time they made it to the tiny shack deep in the forest, night had fallen. Yet, the zillion twinkling stars in the black velvet sky were able to pierce the canopy of leaves and provide an adequate amount of light for Bonnie to see. Ansel placed her on the ground a foot or so away from the door of the shack. The familiar energy wafting from the keep embraced her. She knew this magic. This was the magic of her ancestors. It was Bennett magic. Her magic.

The cloth barrier to the dwelling shifted and out stepped Ayanna Bennett.

She appeared to be in her mid-twenties, but she could've been older. Bonnie had come to know her well during her brief afterlife on the other side. "You have the look of my mother. I don't even have to sense it to know you're my own."

For the first time since she'd been dropped in the middle of time Bonnie broke. She tumbled into Ayanna's arms and fell to pieces.

"Help me," she whispered.

"You're the answer to all of our cries," Ayanna whispered next to her ear. "The Goddess of All would not have sent you to us lacking. Whatever is needed you already carry with you. Come, we have much to discuss."

Once inside, Bonnie sat on a wooden bench next to a stone alter.

Ayanna handed her a smoldering cup of tan liquid. "Drink, it's an herbal concoction meant to ease fits. It also aids in uncluttering your third sight." Without further urging, she sipped the tea. "Now, tell me all."

"It all started with this ancient evil and an immortal man willing to sacrifice his eternity to save his child," she began, "and the sacrifice his lover made so he wouldn't have to." For the next several hours Bonnie recounted the entire twisted tale of her and Klaus. By the time she was finished, she could barely keep her eyes open.

"So, why do you believe this Niklaus is the Viking to which the prophecy refers?" Ayanna questioned.

Bonnie laughed like Ayanna had out joked Kevin Hart. "Who else is of Viking descent and stronger than Klaus?"

"Who else indeed! Seems to me, all you have to do is march back to Kattegat and tap one of the many Vikings there on the shoulder. I wager any number of them is stronger than this Niklaus," she said, waving a hand as if she was waving off the very thought of Klaus. "And why would you want to form a mate bond with him? The same disrespectful dolt who places other witches over you in his regard. As if anyone other than a witch of our familial line could shoulder the burden of being the eternal witch."

Bonnie's eyes closed and remained so. "Did I mention Ansel's his father?"

"Ansel?"

Klaus' fathers name is the last thing Bonnie heard Ayanna speak before sleep claimed her.

****

"We have to get her back. The sons of Ragnar Lothbrok is ripping away the forest looking for her," Ansel's voice penetrated the thick fog of sleep that held her captive.

She heard a clucking sound, then Ayanna. "Calm yourself. They'll never make it past the first line of magic."

"That is what I'm trying to tell you, woman," Ansel bellowed. Frustration clear and plain in his tone, "they already have."

"What? How is that..." Ayanna's voice trailed off. "It's her. Her magic shields them. Why is this so?" A moment past, and then she felt Ayanna's lips at her ear. "You've learned many things on your spiritual voyage last eve. Things which must be considered. You have to return, Bonnie. For not only have you and your wolf achieved the goal you sought, but you've also attained so much more."

When next she opened her eyes, she was laying on a pile of fallen leaves and wildflowers. Her basket sat next to her head, while every last son of Ragnar stood staring down at her with varying expressions. Actually, everyone except Ivar who more or less leaned over her shooting her a unit inspired with nothing but ill intent.

"Um, good morning," she said, lacking anything of note to say.

****

"I thought you'd been raped and killed by Skogarmaors!" Bjorn yelled in her face as she drooped on a bench in the great hall.

Queen Aslaug's eyes rolled at Bjorn's antics,

while his brothers peered on in silence. Their faces giving nothing away.

She had a banging headache and Bjorn was nowhere close to easing her pain. "I'm sorry, Bjorn. It wasn't my intention to worry you are your family."

"Ack! Loki take your intentions," He threw up his hands and turned away from her, "I have no worries for your intentions. For all I know they're harried paving a path to Helheim."

"Where were you, hmm?" Ivar questioned. His stare unwavering as always. "Your appearance speaks of you being sheltered from the elements. So, who sheltered you?"

"On my way back from the Cove I met someone in the woods. He told me some things that lead me to believe he knew someone who could understand the reason I've come to be here," she said, attempting to be as honest as she could without placing Ansel or Ayanna in danger.

"You said, he told you," Bjorn turned around to face her.

She gave him a slow nod, "yes."

"Name this man," Bjorn demanded.

Reluctantly, she shook her head. "I'd rather not."

"I've heard sagas of a dark woman dwelling in the deep of the forest," Ivar said, while his steady gaze tracked each expression that crossed her face. "Many have spoken tales of her being a witch."

Queen Aslaug laughed. "Ivar, halt with your tales of spirits and witches. You're being distressing."

"Did you allow yourself to be plowed by this man?" Sigurd asked, straight facing the hell out of her.

"Sigurd!" Queen Aslaug released a heavy sigh before taking a sip from her cup.

"What? I'm sure that was Bjorn's next line of questioning," he defended.

"No," Bonnie snapped, chopping Sigurd up with a unit meant to leave him DOA, "There was absolutely no plowing going on between me and this man." To her surprise, Bjorn exhaled a sigh that appeared to be motivated by relief. She stood and walked over to Bjorn. Placing a hand on his arm, she gazed up at him, "the only reason I followed him is for answers. That's all, Bjorn. I swear it upon our oath."

She watched the anger and tension drain from his face as he reached up to cup her cheek. "Did you learn anything?"

"No," she emphasized with a sad dejected shake of the head, "I was given some kind of herbal concoction while there and I fell asleep before finding out anything. When I awakened, you guys were standing over me."

"I'm sure in time you'll have your answers," he allowed his thumb to trace the path of her cheek before returning his hand to his side.

She gazed out the great hall door toward the forest and prayed to the mother of all he was right.

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elisaphoenix13 · 4 years

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Mama Bear Drabble 35

Drabble prompt: Valerie's Birthday (June 7th).

By: @zoxiqwritesstuff (posted with permission).

Valerie sat up in her room at the lake house and colored at her tiny table in her room. She hummed softly, unaware of the semi-controlled chaos going on beneath her. In the living room, everyone was hanging up decorations and balloons as they scrambled last minute to set up Valerie's birthday surprise.

Of course the one time they wanted to do it outside at the lake house it rained, so now they were getting creative. Clint was using a slingshot with tacks to help hang the streams while Peter used a brand new web formula to hang balloons. Stephen and Cassie were putting the finishing touches on the cake for Valerie, which was her favorite chocolate with cream cheese frosting and extra, extra sprinkles.

"For once Harley, do you have your potato gun ready?" Tony asked as he watched his eldest loading confetti and tiny streamers into the dreaded device.

"Almost! Just a few more seconds, okay?" Harley beamed as he was about to put in the last set of confetti.

"Dia, can you go check on Val and see how much longer we have?" Cassie asked, wiping some frosting off her face.

"On it!!" Diana smiled as she ran upstairs and up to Valerie's room. She knocked softly before opening the door a crack. "Val? Whatcha doing?" She walked over and saw her sister focused completely on drawing her picture.

"Coloring." Valerie replied softly as she switched crayons. "Wanna see?"

The older girl walked over and looked over her sister's shoulder smiling. It was a picture of everyone on the team with the Stark-Strange family in the very front.

"I think it's really pretty." She said softly.

"It no done yet." Valerie explained.

Diana walked back out when Valerie resumed coloring and down the stairs, running over to Tony. "She's still coloring, so a while Daddy."

"Thank you piccola. Can you help Mommy set up all the presents?"

"Uh huh!"

The girl ran to help the sorcerer pulling presents out of a pocket dimension and stacked them up by the couch. After the last present was set out, everything was ready. Stephen stood up and went up to retrieve the birthday girl. He cracked open the door before smiling as his daughter had just set down her crayons. Valerie gets up with the picture and turns, smiling as she runs over to Stephen.

"Mama! Look at my picture!" The girl held up the finished drawing.

The man smiled as he took it carefully, looking at all the hard work she poured into it. He set it on her bed before carding trembling fingers through her hair.

"I think it's beautiful Val...but now I have a surprise for you." Stephen took her hand and started to lead her out of the room. "Close your eyes okay? I'll help you down the stairs."

Valerie nodded and closed her eyes when they exited the bedroom. The sorcerer guided her carefully down the stairs and to the dining room where the cake was set up. Tony lit the candles silently and everyone stood around the cake.

"OK. You can open them now." Steohen told her softly.

Valerie opened her eyes and looked up with a wide smile at the cake and all of her family. Everyone started singing a very soft "Happy Birthday" to the young girl. Tony picked her up and carried her over just in time to blow out the candles.

"Happy birthday topolina." Tony smiled as Cassie began cutting the cake.

Valerie got the first slice and once everyone had a piece, they all sat at the table to eat it. Once everyone was finished, the festivity moved to the living room. The birthday girl sat on the couch and each person brought up their gift to Valerie, saying a soft "thank you" each time.

Every gift the girl was given she already cherished and loved. After the last present was opened, which was a simple golden necklace with a single round cut alexandrite stone on it, she looked up and thanked everyone again. As everyone stood, getting up to move outside now that the rain had stopped, Valerie had a perplexed look on her face. There had to be a better way to thank everyone for their gifts than just with words.

Tony saw the look on his daughter's face, kneeling down to her height. "What's wrong Val?"

"Everyone gave me presents... but I no have anything to give them." Valerie answered softly with her adorable concentrated look.

"You thanked them. I'm sure everyone is just happy that you are happy and loved your gifts." The man explained as he pushed her hair back.

Then an idea came to Valerie and smiled widely as she ran back upstairs to her room. She grabbed her drawing before running back down to Tony. The girl held it up to her father, who took it gently.

"Can you help me make enough for everyone Daddy?" Valerie asked politely.

The billionaire smiled widely before nodding and leading his daughter to his home office. He set it on the holodesk.

"Friday. I need you to copy this masterpiece." He told the AI. "One for everyone at the party okay?"

"Yes, Boss." Friday replied as she made the copies.

"Thank you Friday." Valerie thanked the AI.

"You are most welcome Valerie."

Once all the copies were made, Tony helped the girl carry them out to the backyard. He had Quill call everyone over.

"Hey! Val needs our attention guys!" Quill called out.

Soon enough, the entire team stood before Tony and Valerie. The girl looked down nervously, not knowing if everyone would like the drawing.

"Um...thank you all for my presents." Valerie repeated. " I felt bad no one else got anything....Daddy help me make copies of a picture I drew."

Valerie handed the very first picture to Stephen, who took it with a smile before he kissed the top of her head. Tony followed Valerie as she handed everyone a copy of the picture. Each Avenger thanked her for their present. Even Loki and Thor got one each, even though they had just arrived.

"Thank you little Valkyrie. I shall hang this in my room with all my other artwork." Loki told the child.

"Really?" Valerie smiled.

"Yes...though I believe I never gave you my gift." The Asgardian circled her head with his hand, making a simple silver circlet appear on her head. "There we are."

"Thank you Uncle Loki." Valerie smiled brightly up at the raven haired sorcerer before running off to show Stephen her latest gift.

The rest of the day was spent playing outside as Clint cooked everyone hotdogs and hamburgers. After everyone had eaten their fill, William, Wanda, Loki, and Stephen preformed a small magic show at Valerie's request. The showed ended with Harley firing his potato gun full of confetti over everyone. By the time the show was over, all the younger children were starting to rub their eyes. Scott took the twins up to their room to lie down as Tony guided Diana up to bed.

Valerie held Stephen's hand as he helped her up to bed. Once she had brushed her teeth and changed into her pajamas, the sorcerer tucked her into bed. The girl pulled her newest stuff animal, a super soft Siamese cat plush she named Mewy, close.

"Did you have a good birthday cub?" Stephen asked softly.

"Yes Mama." Valerie smiled sleepily. "I love you Mama."

Stephen smiled as he leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I love you too cub. Good night."

The sorcerer stood up and turned off the lamp on her bedside table. The room filled with soft colors from the galaxy sphere Quill had made as a nightlight for Valerie. Soon enough the now four year old was fast asleep, happy she had a loving family that made her birthday better and better every year.

#ironstrange #stephen strange #tony stark #supremefamily #mama bear stephen strange #mama bear au #valerie stark strange (oc)#avengers #drabble

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egg2k16 · 4 years

Text

40 Fanfic Q’s Answered

the server wants answers, and they want them now!!! from this post

1. Describe your comfort zone—a typical you-fic.

Smut and pining all the way. Also, falling in love via laughing

2. Is there a trope you’ve yet to try your hand at, but really want to?

Eh...I don’t think so, I’m always 100% self-indulgent, so what u see is what I want

3. Is there a trope you wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole?

Anything that has to do w mega sadness, I just Don’t. I can’t write anything sad, and if I do, there’s certainly gonna be A Lot of comfort afterwards

4. How many fic ideas are you nurturing right now? Care to share one of them?

I have 91 wips, motherfuckers!!! My latest wip is a daddy month fic!

5. Share one of your strengths.

I think, since I’ve been trying to be sparser in my words, I’ve been able to better emphasize what isn’t being said

6. Share one of your weaknesses.

No action scenes from me are ever good, lmao

7. Share a snippet from one of your favorite pieces of prose you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

It was late at night, when he started to cry.

He didn't want to cry, but he did.

It's been years since he's last let himself feel, or was it since he was last allowed to feel?

He choked on his sobs, uncomfortable with his tears. He's forgotten how to properly cry. His entire body is shaking, and the connections between flesh and wire hurts.

He stops crying. He starts crying again.

This continues for another few minutes, until he feels as if he can't possibly have any more tears.

He wipes his face, pulls the covers up to his chin, and falls asleep.

(from Twilight on the Sea) I really like this bcus I don’t think I’ve ever really typed out crying in this way, n I tried to make it feel like it was a lot

8. Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

Cass was quiet for a moment. “... you know what? Maybe I’ll just go up there and surprise you.”

“If you do, then you already ruined the surprise, haven’t you?”

“Eh, I dunno about that. Seeing my beautiful face is a shock for many people.”

“Oh, I’m sure of it.”

“Hey, Koda? I don’t know about you, but it’s really late here.”

“Really?” Koda asks, then remembers that time zones exist. “Oh crap, what time is it over there?”

“It’s midnight. What about you?”

“It’s eight o’clock. Only four hours difference?”

“Oh hey, that’s not so bad.”

“It reduces our time,” Koda said, a bit whining.

“Not if I have anything to say about it.”

“What are you going to do? Move here? Send for me?”

“You’ll see.”

(from Together) This was a gift for one my best friends on here, @suncatchr , and it’s about his ocs!!! I love this a lot bcus while it’s a soulmate au, it’s not ur average soulmate au, and I tried making it as original as possible! And this blurb, I just wanted them to effuse so much love w/o having to say love...cries

9. Which fic has been the hardest to write?

If this is by posted fics, then I remember writing Look What You’ve Done to Me was very very difficult, bcus, since it’s also a gift, for @daniel-bryan , I wanted to write it Good, n since my buddy usually wrote from the love interest’s pov, I felt a weird pressure to write Daniel Bryan’s pov as good as I could

10. Which fic has been the easiest to write?

2 of my fics in Spanish!!! My oc centric one, Rayos y Centellas, and my shyan one, oye cariño, solo pienso en ti ! Turns out writing in ur native tongue makes everything easier

11. Is writing your passion or just a fun hobby?

It’s a very passionate hobby!!! I just!!! try to pour all of my love into everything I write!!!

12. Is there an episode above all others that inspires you just a little bit more?

I’m not sure!!! I just watch movies n quietly scream to my gay lonesome bcus No One Ever Watches Movies ;-;

13. What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever come across?

To just keep writing n not stop for details or forgotten lore, bcus it’s important to write down what’s firing u up Right Now. Of course, it’s very difficult following that ;;-;;

14. What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever come across?

“No adverbs!” “No ‘said’!” “It has to make grammatical sense!” sometimes things Need those

15. If you could choose one of your fics to be filmed, which would you choose?

Was gonna say my rewrite of the end of The Rover, but actually, my SPN fic Ube . Shit was peak inspired

16. If you only could write one pairing for the rest of your life, which pairing would it be?

Eridirk (Eridan Ampora/Dirk Strider from Homestuck) all the way. The one otp that’s stayed thru thick n thin <3

17. Do you write your story from start to finish, or do you write the scenes out of order?

A little mix of both, and tbh it depends on the fic, but I tend to write chronologically

18. Do you use any tools, like worksheets or outlines?

I’ve started bullet pointing my ideas out before writing my fics, and so far, it’s been helping me be more streamlined n get my things written out faster n clearer!

19. Stephen King once said that his muse is a man who lives in the basement. Do you have a muse?

Is the need for representation in all the niche movies I keep watching a muse?

20. Describe your perfect writing conditions.

In my dark room, w music blasting from my laptop, the TV w a soft hum, I have the perfect playlist to get the mood right, curled up in my blankies, n my plushie Sweet Pea by my side

21. How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?

Zero, we rely on autocorrect & editing while typing and die like men

22. Choose a passage from one of your earlier fics and edit it into your current writing style. (Person sending the ask is free to make suggestions).

YOU DON’T SEEM SCARED.

Del Rio shrugs. “Working as a cop, it makes you numb to some things. It’s good, it lets you react to things as you should, and not how you’d want to.”

YOU SOUND SAD ABOUT THAT.

He makes a noncommittal noise. “It is what it is.” He eats another spoonful of his ice cream, then gets a thought.

“Can you show up?”

HOW SO?

“Can you,” he tries, waving his spoon around, “Manifest?”

I DON’T KNOW. I’LL TRY.

“I’m sure you’ll do just fine,” Del Rio assures, and he can feel the air around him smile. The...world, he thinks, around him shifts just slightly, and there seems to be a chink in the armor for a moment before it goes away, as if someone had wiped the glass clear. He realizes that this is her, trying to show up in a physical form, step out of the phone.

He doesn’t know where to look, but then his confusion wanes when a butterfly shows up, fluttering towards him. It lands near his phone, skitters a bit, flaps its wings.

“Lucy?” he asks, transfixed on the butterfly. Its orange wings are bright under the sunlight.

I THOUGHT I’D TRY SMALL, FOR MY FIRST TRIAL.

“Well, you certainly nailed it.” He smiled warmly at the butterfly, and he had the crazy notion that it smiled back at him.

(adapted from The Policeman , the first fic I posted!)

23. If you were to revise one of your older fics from start to finish, which would it be and why?

Yeah, probably The Policeman lmao, I remember it today n I cringe a little at the very obvious refs to other fandoms I made. Despite that, it continues being one of my best hits!

24. Have you ever deleted one of your published fics?

Never

25. What do you look for in a beta?

I’m just thankful to have gotten a beta in general in life at all

26. Do you beta yourself? If so, what kind of beta are you?

I beta’ed once, and since English is my 2nd language, I pointed out syntax confusion, typos, n continuity errors

27. How do you feel about collaborations?

Can be done, it’s just that I am frightened. Tried doing that, it fell thru, n the new thing that came up, I still have to hold up my end of the bargain ;;-;;

28. Share three of your favorite fic writers and why you like them so much.

cries omg ok so!!! Chancy_Lurking ( @lurkerviolin ) is one of my faves, n we’ve become friends, n their Felix+ Sense8 series is the reason for it all, and u know it’s good if it managed to make a friendship that’s last its good while, and also they’re so nice, and we vibe so well!!! thegoatz ( @daniel-bryan ) is also now one of my bestest friends ever, and I wuv him so much, he is such a good kid, n he’s so enthusiastic about writing, and I hope that spark never goes out!!! And adamwhatareyouevendoing ( @skatingthinandice ) bcus she’s doing a rewrite of The Last Kingdom where it’s all gay where it should be and vnjkdfsnvkd God, what a wonderful friend!!!

29. If you could write the sequel (or prequel) to any fic out there not written by yourself, which would you choose?

I actually technically am working on a sequel to @rettaroo ‘s A New Kind of Touch ! Another promise I have to hold up eventually ;;;-;;;

30. Do you accept prompts?

Sure!

31. Do you take liberties with canon or are you very strict about your fic being canon compliant?

I try to follow canon as much as I possibly can!

32. How do you feel about smut?

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

33. How do you feel about crack?

Eh, it’s alright. I don’t normally look for it, so I don’t really have a solid opinion on it

34. What are your thoughts on non-con and dub-con?

I don’t want to read it, but I have so far encountered it twice very amicably: once here in a ficlet, and another in a longer fic on AO3, and they were both very good

35. Would you ever kill off a canon character?

Probably not, I don’t like sad things!

36. Which is your favorite site to post fic?

AO3! I’m RedLlamas on it!

37. Talk about your current wips.

Lmao which one. The one I’m currently working on is an impregnation kink turned “oh no I actually do wanna have a family” feelings fic!

38. Talk about a review that made your day.

Gonna be real w u, the best comments I’ve gotten have mainly been from my friends, who either write a paragraph or two going into detail of the fic, or just send a one sentence comment that’s just “screams!” I’ve gotten very few paragraphs from other people, n they’re always so!!!

My friends are the realest :’)

39. Do you ever get rude reviews and how do you deal with them?

The perks of being a rarepair writer is that the only people who read my fics are the ones actively looking for content!!! And they can’t complain about my work because No One Else Is Writing For It!!!!!!

40. Write an alternative ending to [insert fic title] (or just the summary of one).

All my fics are masterpieces, so I’ll do a summary change! For don’t you just know (exactly what they’re thinking?)

Dakota finds himself in unexpected heartbreak, and the universe decides to bring him in the direction of a night club with a dancer with stars on his skin.

#post #about #sbbookclub #writing be like

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journal-of-an-outlaw · 5 years

Text

Price to be Paid - Chapter 8

Friends in Low Places

Words: 3,826

The next day was the livestock con that John had been planning for weeks. He and Arthur rode off into the hills to steal the flock and bring it back into town to sell as their own.

Dutch watched his boys ride off while he smoked a cigar, and Hosea walked up to join him. “What a time we’ve had, eh Dutch?” Dutch claspsed Hosea on the shoulder, hanging on and reminiscing on their past adventures. “What a wild ride we have been through.”

“Hopefully, my friend, our running days will soon be over. Just one more big one with good money and we are free. Then we can get our people to a safe home, like they deserve.”

Lenny called you over to Pearson’s workstation. “YN! Teach me how to skin this rabbit, I know Arthur taught you so you oughta be good.” You laughed and rolled your sleeves up, “Thanks, Lenny. Alright. Let’s get to work. You want to know the first thing Arthur asked me when I wanted to learn how to do this?”

“What’s that?”

Acting grumpy with hunched shoulders you replied, “You sure you wanna get blood all over your dress?” Lenny bust up laughing while you impersonated the rugged man. “Damn fool didn’t see I was holding a knife five feet from him but still had the nerve to say it! Right after I shot a deer clean through the heart, too."

Lenny laughed again while you began to teach him the Arthur Morgan way of skinning a rabbit. Every once in awhile he would ask you a question by impersonating Arthur and the two of you fell apart on the wooden table. He was a bright kid, and really nineteen was a kid, with a good heart and an infectious laugh.

Jack came up just as the two of you were finishing and asked to pet your horse. Lenny ruffled the kids hair and left you to babysit, heading over to his tent to organize a few things. Jack grabbed your hand and dragged you to your mare.

“She’s pretty, YN! And tall. Not as tall as Uncle Arthur’s horsie, though. I wish I could have one, too.” His mind was everywhere, bouncing from place to place with no time to take a breath in between. Poor kid, four years old and stuck living the outlaw life. No wonder Abigail was so hellbent on getting out before something happened.

He bent down and grabbed a flower to pick, his sights on dainty yellow petals with a white center when Eclipse moved too close. You swung down and grabbed Jack before she could get spooked, and you saw Dutch and Strauss walking up.

They were deep in conversation and almost didn’t notice you.

“Now, Herr Strauss, we are to meet Arthur and John at the saloon after. There’s talk of some big man in town and I intent to get on his good side before we show him a reason to be on his bad, so maybe you just stay quiet then?”

“But Dutch, I still have three loans that need to be collected! That money -”

Dutch interrupted him, yelling in his face, “That money is the only thing keeping us alive! Now why in the hell have you not gone to collect it?”

Her Strauss replied meekly, “I asked Arthur but he never had the time.”

Dutch ran his hand down his face and noticed you there. “YN, it’s time to learn another skill, my dear. When Arthur gets back from town, go with him to collect those debts so generously given by Herr Strauss. The two of you should get on just fine.”

You nodded and moved Jack closer to your hip, afraid the loud voices would frighten the child. Herr Strauss handed you three loan sheets which you tucked away in your satchel for later. Jack simply continued to play with the colorful flower in his hands until he held it out to the approaching Abigail as a present for simply being there.

The tent you called home had built up a small collection of outfits, guns, and various other objects during your months at Horseshoe Creek. It was small but cozy. You even had a proper blanket now made from the skin of a cougar you hunted not too long ago.

After you flopped down to the small bedroll, you grabbed the book you had been devouring most recently after swapping with Hosea. He had gotten you invested in a crime series and had given you the latest last night after finishing it himself, of course, and was bursting to discuss it so you promised to be quick. The sunlight was still filtering in warmly and you left the flaps of the tent open for fresh air to accompany you on your journey to another life. Precious few things brought you the pleasure like reading did.

Later in the day, Hosea himself stuck his head in your tent. “How are you getting on, YN? Hiding from Grimshaw so you can get through more of that book?”

You jumped as the voice ripped you from the pages, but quickly laughed at how eager Hosea was for you to read. “I’m trying! Doesn’t help I can hear her scream every few minutes. But this book, Hosea...it’s so -”

The end of that sentence was never finished as Grimshaw had finally found you. “I should have known you would have something to do with this, Hosea! YN! Get that lazy Blackwater ass out here to help with the laundry."

Hosea looked sheepish at having given you away but you smiled and promised to read again later, then followed Grimshaw while she continued to chew you out.

Sadie Adler was finally cleaned up and dressed with the other girls who were doing the laundry in the middle of camp. Buckets of sudsy water sloshed around as item after item were dunked, scrubbed, and passed to the next. You joined in after Mary-Beth and before Sadie.

“Nice to see you out and about, Mrs. Adler! Feelin’ better?” She smiled back and her eyes were clear for the first time since you’d met her. “A bit, miss. Working to see what livin’ is about now. You fine people took me in, time to do my share. Although I ain’t choppin’ no vegetables no more with that man, about ready to chop him up too.”

The girls chattered as the laundry eventually finished up, and everything was hung up to dry. You grabbed the last few pieces to hang on the line when a hand snaked out to grab yours.

“You got anything special in there to show me, YN?"

Michah had found you again and hid behind the colorful array so no one could see him.

“Jesus, Michah. You got nothin’ better to do than stalk me doin’ laundry? Leave me alone, I ain’t got nothing to entertain with you.”

He smirked and moved closer, “Oh girly, I got some entertaining you could do. Just give me a few hours.” His hand rubbed the back of yours, mocking the memory you had of Arthur comforting you and you shook him off violently. Irritation and rage began to pump from your heart and spread across your chest.

“I don’t want anymore time with you than necessary, thank you.” He didn’t seem to mind the constant rejection, and in fact it seemed to make him pursue you more.

“‘Thank you?’ Always so kind,” he sneered at you. “YN. One of these days you’re gonna have to learn how to be a real outlaw and toughen up.”

“Only a damn fool mistakes kindness for weakness, Mr. Bell. Strength don’t come from the lack of love or compassion in a heart,” you snapped back.

He was unimpressed with your outburst. You were just hoping he had lost interest when he said, “You book folk are so boring. Always full of words. I prefer action. You know where to find me once you wisen up. And girl, I sure hope you do.” The clothing on the drying line parted as Michah smacked them out of his path. You rolled your eyes and picked up the empty basket to bring back to Grimshaw and prove your chores were done.

That afternoon was when true chaos began. The sound of horses thundering into camp made everyone stand to attention as Dutch, Arthur, John, and Strauss rode in looking extremely shaken from Valentine. All of them were dishevelled and covered in dirt. Abigail rushed over as John jumped from his horse and said something to her. She nodded and left for their shared tent to begin throwing things in their tent. Dutch grabbed Hosea and moved to his tent, retelling everyone what happened.

“Our time in Valentine has come to an untimely end! Leviticus Cornwall and his band of thugs met us outside the saloon and things did not end well for them. It’s time for us to pack up and leave this area, what with Pinkerton’s breathing down our necks and Cornwall comin’ to find us. Ms. Grimshaw, Mr. Pearson, if you please! Get this place packed up while we look for a new spot.” Everyone began to move, you rushed to your tent and began throwing everything into the few bags you had bought and rolled the bedding up to make it easier to carry.

Hosea sat with Dutch as Arthur approached, and was none too happy about the current situation. “So, we keep heading east. Is that the plan?”

“For now.”

“And when do we stop? When we reach Paris?” Hosea exclaimed sarcastically.

“Oh that’d be nice, and join the Commune? We stop when we find someplace sensible, shake them that’s following us and lie low.” Dutch countered. It felt like an age old argument, with Hosea thinking legit scams were the way to go, and Dutch wanting one last big score to blow the others out of the water.

Hosea put his face into his hands, “And this is lying low? We’ve turned into a bunch of killers, I mean it.”

Dutch sat up straighter. “Sometimes, survival means having only one choice. We have to take it, or lose everything we’ve worked towards.”

Hosea threw his hands up, fed up with not feeling safe in his own home and stormed out of Dutch’s tend. Arthur moved closer to the older man to get a better look at the map he was studying.

“Michah told me of a place we can lie low. Dewberry Creek, he said. Maybe you and Charles can go take a look, clear off anyone you find before the whole lot of us move in.” Dutch pointed at the spot and Arthur nodded.

“Looks like I’ve turned into the Goddamned errand boy,” while walking away.

Dutch stood as tall as you’ve seen him, chest puffed with pride. “You have turned into my son, you worry because I worry. We are just the same!” Before Arthur got too far, Dutch yelled again, “Arthur! And when you return you and Miss Moore have some debts to collect on behalf of Herr Strauss. We’ll see how things are when you’re back from scouting.”

Arthur and Charles left shortly after that, not expecting to be gone more than a few hours. While they were out riding free, Ms. Grimshaw saw that every single one of the girls was sweating away, cleaning and packing and washing and sorting. All these damn men and not a single one could pack the knives away correctly.

Abigail and John were struggling to get everything done with Jack running around, so you offered after your tent was packed to take care of him. The fighting didn’t stop, but at least the kid was out of the way and not there to see it.

Jack took your hand and wanted to go see the river one last time. You wondered if he really understood why you were moving so constantly, and the past few months you had two camps. To a four year old that’s a lot of life changes.

He found a blue flower and tried to braid it into your hair, making you both giggle. It matched the shirt that Mary-Beth finally got around to make for you. A light blue that played with your dark features beautifully, and she even made some lace designs to fancy it up. You loved that shirt and were ecstatic when she gave it to you a week ago.

“I want a flower too, YN,” Jack whined when you sat down for a moment. “Of course, Jack, what color you reckon?” He contemplated it, then decided on yellow. The two of you set off to wander the small field for a yellow flower.

“Here! Help me put it in my hair.” Jack loved flowers in hair and his own was no exception. This fascination with flowers was interesting to you, but when you asked he only shrugged and said something about Abigail loving them too.

A few hours later, Charles came riding down the slope. “YN! Arthur is waiting for you back at camp, or what’s left of it. Want me to give you two a ride up?”

Jack shook his head, so the two of you walked next to Tamia while Charles chatted about the new campsite he had found.

“The site Michah told us about already had people there, a dried up old creek bed. Would have been fine, but it’s hard to settle so many folks on uneven ground. Poor German lady and her two kids were there, hiding out under a wagon. While we went out riding to find her missing husband we found this perfect spot by a lake. Huge, even field hidden by trees. I can see us hiding there a long while.”

He looked calm about the whole ordeal and happy about the new site.

“What happened to him?” You asked suddenly.

“Who? Oh, the husband. Arthur took him back to his wife and we met up as we was coming back near Valentine. The family is alright,” he smiled down at you, the worry leaving your face.

“Just like to know they were safe is all!” You said a bit too defensively, but laughed at yourself.

Arthur was leaning against the last wagon as it was being packed up. Charles waved to you and carried Jack up to meet Abigail and John leading the wagon, then left to lead the caravan off to the new campsite.

“Guess it’s just you and me then, huh?” He took the last puff of a cigarette, then threw it out into the grass. “Guess so, Mr. Morgan.”

“How many damn times you gonna keep calling me that?” he growled.

“Sorry. Arthur,” he waved his hand, signalling his indifference. “Now, Her Strauss gave us three people to collect from, are we gonna be able to do that all in one afternoon?”

“Hope so. All locals, just need to get them talking quickly. Need be we can camp and head to the new site tomorrow.”

“With what? Most of my supplies just left,” you motioned to your things now rolling away in the last caravan and out of sight. The few supplies attached to Eclipse were nothing compared to what had just left you. Arthur swore and moved to get on his horse, “Then we best get this done fast. It’s already late and the first one’s an hour ride.”

Eclipse kept up with Zeus, Arthur’s dark bay stallion, well during the journey. She was a little headstrong and sometimes didn’t respond to you right away, causing Arthur to take the lead in case she decided to jump off a bridge or something like that.

Talking was infrequent. Arthur turned out to be more of a focused and quiet rider. You found out he also liked to read, though not like Hosea. He shared many qualities with the older man but was still inexplicably drawn more to Dutch. They were both hot headed with a sense of leadership, and Hosea was more about playing things safe. Arthur had a healthy dose of each and the influence was easy to see in just about everything he did.

The first stop was a man named Chick Matthews. As you rode up, one of the hands told you Chick was out around the barn tending to his horse. The moment he spotted the two of you riding up he jumped on and galloped away, which was a shocking sight.

“Arthur! I’ll head up over the ridge to his right, I think I see a bridge up ahead. You go right after him and let’s see who can get there first. Heya!” Without waiting for him to respond you kicked Eclipse into a full gallop after the little man. She ran fast and strong, but Chick had a good head start and it took a bit of corralling to catch up. In the distance you could hear him taunting Arthur for being too slow and old, and you can only imagine the rage boiling on his face. They came up to a train that you had bypassed by going up above when Arthur managed to lasso that fool straight to the ground.

Once knocked down he coughed and sputtered like an idiot.

“Look, look, I got the money...but it’s hidden. Untie me and I’ll tell you where it’s at.”

You rode up just as Arthur finished hog tying the man, throwing a punch or two for making you both chase him so far. This may be your fist debt collecting but you wouldn’t let him abuse the man. As he pulled back to hit him again you grabbed his arm.

“Arthur! Let the man talk, for heaven’s sake. He’s got the money.” Arthur looked at your concerned face incredulously. “Miss Moore, this country round here is full of idiots. Look at this one here,” he kicked his boot against Chicks lightly. “Now see, he doesn’t think we know about what’s in his pockets so why don’t you empty them out for me?”

Pick pocketing was better than beating, so you leaned down to see what he was hiding. An old carrot, a cigarette card, and a map leading you right to the money were all you found.

The map was incredibly simple. One bridge and a tree were all that were on it, and you looked down at Chick. “I may now want to hit you sir, for this is surely the dumbest map I have ever seen. Where the hell does it even start?”

He smiled a gap toothed grin up at you. “See Miss! That’s the best part. No one knows it but me.” At that Arthur delivered another kick to his stomach, hard and fast. “Tell me where the damn money is!”

“Fine! Okay, Jesus. Head north and turn left at the Old Creek Bridge, it’s the tree closest there.”

Arthur nodded and moved towards Zeus. “YN, you take that sack of shit back to the ranch and I’ll meet you once I have collected Mr. Matthews’ debt. You try any funny business with her, and you’ll wish all I’d done was break some ribs of yours,” and took off.

Chick starred up at Eclipse. “Gee, Miss, I ain’t never ridden behind on a horse before. And never with a woman!” You rolled your eyes and loaded him up behind you.

True to his word Chick Matthews put up no fuss heading back. He pointed out some of his favorite land features and asked you to walk into town more than once. You politely declined, but you knew he didn’t mean any harm. Arthur finally rode up with a bag, showing you the cash then tucking it safely away in his satchel. The two of you were off to victim number two, Mr. Wrobel.

The Polish man lived at a farm called Painted Sky, and didn’t speak a lick of English. You tried to be soft and comforting but that didn’t seem to go anywhere, so Arthur lumbered in and demanded the return of cash. Wrobel seemed to have nothing, but sadly motioned around his home and let the two of you take enough possessions to equal the amount of the debt. It broke your heart to watch his face, and leaving you could see it troubled Arthur too.

“Why do you do jobs like this if they don’t feel right?” You asked quietly as the two of you mounted your horses for the third and final destination.

Arthur scratched the back of his neck, thinking. “I honestly prefer when they try to run or put up a fight. Don’t feel so bad robbin’ folks who make a point to take advantage of the loan. But those like him? Who need it? Makes me think I’m only out here to grease the wheel so it keeps turning. Folks need money, we lend it, then take it back with interest.”

Finally arriving past dark at Emerald Ridge, the third debtor gave Arthur no hesitation in his approach of getting the money back. Lilly Millet’s boyfriend jumped up and attacked him with a swift uppercut to his jaw and the man drew no pity from you after you heard the way he was berating Lilly.

Lilly grabbed your arm while the two men brawled and made a fuss of it all. Truth be told, it was quite the sight. Both me tall and muscular in build it was an evenly matched fight. After a few quick hits the other man went down, and Arthur stood huffing above him. You definitely understood why he liked the ones who fought him, he looked damn fine doing it.

“Alright, alright! That’s enough. He has everything I gave him, please, just take what he has and go,” Lilly called out to Arthur. To you, she whispered, “You’re a lucky girl to be running with a man like that. Makes mine look like an old rag.” You both looked down to where her man lay unconscious, in the mud. She rolled her eyes and made her way over to get him cleaned up.

Chuckling, you walked over to Arthur. “What’s so funny now?” he asked while stuffing the last of the cash in his satchel.

“Lilly had more on her mind that just debts, I think,” you looked at him suggestively but were met with a blank stare. “Oh, come on Arthur don’t be dense. I think she likes you!” After a beat it clicked and he looked away embarrassed. “Want me to ask if she’s free Friday?” you moved slowly backwards but he grabbed your upper arm lightly. “No! Come on, woman. We best be moving. Probably have to camp halfway back now.” He started Zeus into a slow walk as you jumped up to Eclipse.

“Besides, she ain’t my type anyways. I like brunettes,” and with that he took off galloping, leaving you to watch and race after him.

26 notes · View notes

my-creative-hell · 4 years

Text

Sick (Actor au)

It wasn’t often that Grave and the rest of the large group would find enough time to do small things, let alone have full days to themselves to relax and not have to worry about work. But finally, all the filming was done, the new season written and being planned, and they had time to breath and do as they pleased for a while, like a well-earned holiday.

For Grave, this means spending full days inside her lab working on whatever was taking her fancy at that particular time. Normally she would be interrupted by any number of things, Hannah checking in to make sure she’d eaten, Jake curious about what she was doing or Jerry running in to ask where something was. But today, nothing seemed to interrupt her as she worked, leaving her in peace as she finishes her latest creation, stepping outside the lab to go and see the others, the clock reading around two in the afternoon as she wanders the halls.

Stepping into the kitchen, it seemed as if Hannah, Leena, Iden and Jake were on a different floor, or had maybe gone out to complete odd bits of work for the show. But for some reason, they had all decided to live together, along with the stunt double actors, meaning there was never no one in the house. To prove that point, Shaun sits at the counter in the kitchen, playing absentmindedly on his phone as Amelia attempts to make herself cereal without making a mess, Jerry cooking an actual meal for them in the kitchen, keeping an eye on them both simultaneously.

“Hi!” Grave keeps her voice quiet as she speaks, her hands covered in small pieces of dried paint and small scars from working in the lab as she waves at them happily.

“Hiya Grave!” Amelia grins brightly as she spills some milk on the counter, Shaun waving as he stares at his phone. Jerry turns from his cooking momentarily to flash Grave a smile before waving at Amelia to remind her to put the milk away, making her look sheepish as she cleans the spillage up.

“Where is the Rose gorl?” Grave enquires, wiggling her fingers happily as she watches Amelia scrunch her face in thought, nose wrinkling.

“I haven’t seen her at all today… maybe she’s still in her room?” Shaun offers his small amount of knowledge, looking up from his phone, rolling his eyes at the mess Amelia has made.

“Oh!” A small sliver of concern works its way through Grave at that knowledge, prompting her to leave the kitchen to find Rose. “Bye bye, hecc bois.” Grave smiles as she leaves the kitchen, Shaun getting up to help Amelia clean up her mess.

“Bye Grave!” Amelia waves as Shaun begins to assist her as Grave leaves, walking down the hallway to Rose’s room. As she reaches the outside of her room, there’s no noise coming from it, silence hanging in the air loosely around the door as Grave stands in front of it momentarily, listening.

Grave gently knocks on the door as quiet as possible, waiting patently for Rose to answer. It takes a moment before her voice can be heard by Grave through the door.

“…Hello?” Her voice sounds quiet even behind the door as she answers, clearly not speaking very loudly, the sound barely carrying over to Grave.

“Hi, Rose. It me.” Grave smiles as she keeps her own voice quiet, wanting to see her girlfriend after spending a whole day alone in the lab, where she would normally be interrupted by Rose wanting attention.

“Hi Grave, you can come in, it’s not locked…” Rose explains, her voice quiet as she allows Grave inside.

“Yay!” Grave feels happiness building inside her as she gently opens the door to the room. “I here!” She exclaims happily as she enters, Rose currently buried underneath a pile of sheets, though a hand emerges to wave at Grave.

“Hey! You’re here!” Rose’s slightly muffled voice comes from the sheets, sounding slightly happier now Grave was in the room. Grave approaches the pile of sheets, holding the expose hand in her own.

“Gay!” Grave jokes, making Rose laugh from underneath all the layers on top of her.

“I would hope so, otherwise you are dating the wrong person.” Rose returns the joke cheerily; staying hidden in her bed as Grave carefully lays her head down on Rose.

“Mmmm. You’re warm.” Grave comments as she leans on Rose, heat seeping into her from the bundle of sheets.

“I would hope so, I have like four blankets on…” Rose laughs as she pokes her face out from the pile, looking at Grave.

“I see you!” Grave plants a small kiss on Rose’s face, making her giggle as she comes out of the covers more, though she remains lying down.

“I have been spotted.” She smiles as she rubs at her face, closing her eyes for a moment as she does.

“Yes, and I’m gonna attack you!” Grave smiles as she plasters Rose’s face with kisses, Rose laughing as she squirms.

“Aaaa nooooo!” She giggles, smiling at Grave as she stops. “What have you been up to, anyway?” She changes the subject, looking interested.

“I was makin shit in my lab! What about you?” Grave watches as Rose scrunches her face in thought.

“Mmmm, what’s the time?” Rose looks up at Grave inquisitively as she tries to answer the question.

“Its 2PM exactly!” Grave smiles happily as Rose looks at her, sinking down into her covers more.

“I haven’t done anything… I’ve been in bed all day…” Rose admits, keeping her explanation vague and to the point.

“…You haven’t eaten anything, have you?” Grave questions softly, a slight bit of concern creeping in as she speaks.

“…No?” Rose smiles sheepishly. “I haven’t felt hungry or… right, I guess? So I’ve just stayed here, and I didn’t realise it was so late.” She explains as best she can, trying not to worry Grave.

“Mmmm you still need to eat tho. I can get you something?” Grave offers calmly, a smile resting on her face.

“I guess I can probably stomach something light…” Rose concedes, smiling warmly. “Think its just some annoying twenty four hour thing, I’ll probably be fine tomorrow.” She laughs gently as she watches Grave from the bed.

“I hope so!” Grave wiggles happily, though some concern lingers over her, making her hope Rose would be right.

“I’m sure it’ll be fine.” She reassures Grave, smiling. “But I am not getting out of this bed, so if you want attention, you gotta join me!” She giggles quietly.

“Warm time, babey!” Grave jumps into the bed, pulling herself in next to Rose, the covers now over both of them.

“Yay warm time!” Rose snuggles closer to Grave to sap her heat. “I’m still super tired…” She admits as she focuses on the warm presence beside her.

“Aaaa you wanna sleeb first and then have smol food or sleeb after food?” Grave questions as she turns to look at Rose.

“If I sleep I am not getting up again…” Rose explains, laughing gently as she looks at Grave with calm eyes.

“True. What would you like?” Grave asks in a soft voice, watching Rose as she thinks it over.

“Ummmm, I really don’t mind what I eat…” Rose confesses, trying to keep herself focused on Grave and her words.

“Mmmm… soup! What soup boi do you want?” Grave asks, wiggling gently in the bed as Rose considers it.

“I like chicken soup…” She smiles gently as she looks at Grave, feeling relaxed and calm.

“Liquid chicken it is!” Grave wiggles out of the covers, walking out of Rose’s room to head to the kitchen, Rose watching her leave as she snuggles back under the covers, trying her best to stay awake till she comes back.

“Liquid chicken!” Grave comes back into the room with a hot bowl of soup in her hand, Rose half awake as she lies in her bed.

“Thank you…” She fights against the comfortable warmth, smiling at Grave in appreciation.

“You’re welcome!” Grave carefully sets the soup on the nightstand, smiling as Rose sits up in her bed, daintily beginning to eat her soup as she motions for Grave to join her in the bed again, missing her warm presence beside her.

“Best gooorl.” Grave sits down next to her, her voice quiet and soft as Rose finishes her soup quickly, leaning against Grave when she’s done.

“You’re so cheesy…” Rose smiles gently as she envelops herself in the warmth provided by Grave.

“Mmm true, but I gotsa be!!! Its cute.” Grave giggles as Rose smiles back at her, eyes closing slightly.

“It is very cute…” Rose admits happily, her warm smile never leaving her face as she leans into Grave.

“I think you’re cuter tho.” Grave blushes slightly as she looks down at Rose, her voice quiet as Rose giggles.

“Nooo… don’t call me cute when I’m too tired to retaliate, that’s cheating…” Despite her attempts to sound stern, Rose’s smiling face give her true emotions away.

“But its true! You are very cute and I love you.” Grave explains, a smile on her face as she looks down at Rose.

“I love you too…” Rose returns the sentiment as she struggles to stay awake, feeling sleepy as Grave’s warmth seeps into her.

“You sleeby?” Grave places a gentle kiss on Rose’s face as she speaks, able to feel the slight flush in her skin.

“Mhmmmm…” Rose smiles at the kiss as she nods gently, trying and failing to keep her eyes open.

“Go sleeb!!!” Grave gently pushes Rose down into the bed so she lies down. “Sleeby time.” Rose whines gently as she’s pushed down, reaching out for Grave to join her.

“Okay, okay!” Grave giggles slightly at the image as she lies down, allowing Rose to snuggle into her for warmth, her eyes closing properly as she relaxes.

“My sleeby gorl.” Grave affectionately litters Rose’s face with kisses as she hugs her, Rose almost asleep as she enveloped in warmth and happiness.

As they sit together, Rose eventually slips into sleep, Grave following behind her, falling into a peaceful and calm sleep, wrapped in a warm embrace.

Light shines into Rose’s room the next morning, stirring Grave from her sleep. As she looks around silently, she is able to see Rose still quietly sleeping beside her, curled up slightly in the covers. The clock reads nine, a time they would normally be up by so they could get as much done as possible

“Wake up!” Grave gently wiggles Rose to stir her, keeping her voice soft as she takes a moment before opening her eyes.

“Mmmm, what?” Rose looks at Grave with slightly tired eyes as she starts to wake up more.

“We gotta wake up, I think.” Grave explains as Rose starts to shift in the bed, bringing her hands up to rub gently at her eyes.

“Whats the time?” She questions as she brings her hands back down, yawning quietly.

“Its nine.” Grave clarifies, though she keeps her voice quiet as Rose huffs gently in response.

“Mmmmmm fine…” Rose attempts to make her voice sound annoyed, but the blooming smile on her face shows Grave otherwise. Slowly, Grave rolls off of the bed, landing on the floor.

“Am floor boi.” Grave smiles as Rose laughs quietly, looking down at her with a happy expression.

“Well, does floor boi wanna help me up?” She questions, cocking an eyebrow at Grave.

“Of course!” Grave pulls herself off of the floor, linking hands with Rose to pull her up gently. As Rose stands up, something changes, her head suddenly feeling as if she is underwater as ringing enters her ears loudly, drowning out all other noise. Her legs feel weak and tired and her chest feels tight, making it hard to breath as her vision goes in and out of focus, her skin feeling as if it was on fire as she tries to ground herself and understand what’s happening.

“You okay, Rose?” Grave looks at her in slight concern as Rose looks away from her, unable to make out what was being said, as her mind turns fuzzy, her legs following suit and giving out, making Rose fall down towards the floor.

Grave reacts quickly, managing to catch Rose before she hits the floor, concern flooding through her as she fails to come up with anything to say. Rose gently clings onto Grave as she struggles to comprehend what is going on, her skin flushed and hot.

Attempting to keep herself clam despite the rising panic inside of her, Grave gently places her healing kisses onto Rose, though for some reason the usually perfect treatment is having no effect. Rose’s mind begins to come back into itself as Grave tries to help her, allowing her to look at Grave with tired eyes as she slowly understands the situation.

Grave panics at the lack of effect, leading her to plant more soft kisses on Rose, which continue to have no effect as Rose looks more and more confused, her face flushed and tired as she watches Grave.

Her brain screaming at her in panic, Grave gently places Rose back onto the bed as she starts to look worried for Grave, ignoring her own state as she can sense the panic coming off of her.

“I-I-I’m okay…” Rose lies, trying to calm Grave down as she starts to feel worse, every muscle starting to ache and burn as she lies down, keeping her eyes focused on Grave.

“I’d love to believe that…” Grave cracks a small smile despite her worry as she looks down at Rose.

“I-I don’t know what happened…” Rose admits, frowning as everything in her body starts to feel worse. “My body just… gave up.” She looks at Grave, trying to stay calm as she struggles to think properly.

“Oh no…” Grave’s panic only rises as she looks at Rose, who reaches out, holding her hands gently.

“Hey, it’ll be okay…” Rose tries to reassure her softly, a small smile on her face, though it doesn’t touch it the same way as normal “It’ll get better eventually…” Rose continues, wanting Grave to calm down.

“… I hope so.” Grave mimics the smile, though the worry remains as Rose shivers gently, skin suddenly feeling cold despite its flush.

“Ugh, cold and tired… love it…” Rose tries to joke, laughing quietly, though her flushed and tired face shows how she truly feels. Grave gently climbs back in the bed to provide more warmth as Rose pulls the covers back over her.

“Is this any better?” Grave’s voice is gentle and quiet as she speaks, Rose smiling softly as her eyes close momentarily.

“Feels warmer at least…” She opens her eyes to look at Grave as she leans forward, pressing a soft kiss onto Rose’s lips.

“That’s good.” Grave speaks as quietly as she can, Rose smiling gently again as her eyes close out of tiredness.

“Mmmm…” Rose relaxes slightly as Grave wiggles carefully, still concerned, though some happiness bleeds through it as Rose falls asleep quickly beside her, whatever illness she currently had making her tired. The room is silent for a while as she sleeps, Grave lying beside her as a small noise sounds out from outside the house.

Grave frowns slightly, carefully getting out of bed , making sure Rose doesn’t wake up as she heads to the window of the room. A hooded figure resides outside, their face hidden from Grave as they silently raise a hand, beckoning for her to join them outside the house.

Grave groans quietly, wanting to stay with Rose and make sure she’s okay, though she needs to know what’s going on. She opens the window in front of her silently, climbing outside and dropping down flawlessly to talk to the hooded figure. But they seem to have other ideas, walking away from the house into the woods behind it for Grave to follow them, walking far enough into the woods that the house is no longer visible to either of them.

“So um… why did you bring me out here at 9 AM and looking like you’re about to kill somebody and feed it to a cryptid?” Grave questions, leaning against a tree as she watches the hooded figure in confusion. A sigh escapes the figure as the hoodie is pulled off of them and tied around their waste, revealing Siryn to Grave, one of the group’s biggest enemies. Her and her small group of bastards were a constant annoyance in the group’s life, constantly trying to ruin everything and hurt them. Grave’s small amount of surprise doesn’t register on her face as she looks at her, taking it in.

“Cool. Did you come here to fight me about something stupid or fight me about something that makes sense for once?” Grave questions, her voice emotionless as Siryn sighs quietly, rolling her eyes.

“I didn’t actually come here to fight at all…” Siryn explains, her voice equally dull. For once it looked like she might be telling the truth, instead of her usual get up, she is in casual clothing, jeans and a shirt with her hoodie tied at the waste, long brown hair tied up in a messy bun. Grave sighs happily at this news.

“Oh thank god. What did you come here for anyways?” She questions, Siryn crossing her arms gently as she leans against her own tree nonchalantly.

“I know what’s going on with Rose. She isn’t well, right? And your healing abilities aren’t working.” She explains, looking Grave in the eyes as she speaks, face neutral and unmoving.

“Oh really? Never noticed.” Grave’s sarcasm rolls off of her tongue, Siryn frowning as she struggles to not get annoyed by her as Grave fiddles with her hands.

“My point is, I know what’s going on.” Siryn attempts to clarify, trying to keep herself levelheaded and remain as polite as possible, despite it being so against her nature.

“Please tell me.” A small amount of excitement enters Grave at the prospect of getting this fixed, Siryn sighing gently.

“Well, it seems my ‘team mates’ found a way to cancel out your abilities, and slip sickness inducing drugs into one of your girlfriends drinks…” Siryn explains, looking away from Grave as she speaks.

“H m m m.” Grave’s blood involuntarily boils in anger, not believing all of what Siryn says, though she doesn’t show it on her face as she debates beating her right here and now, Siryn groaning slightly.

“Look, I know you probably don’t believe me, and frankly, I’m struggling to care right now. I just thought I’d mention it.” Siryn begins to get frustrated, her quick temper working against her as she talks, making her words harsh.

“I didn’t need to know that, but what I d o need to know is how to get my powers back so I can heal my girlfriend.” Grave explains, her only goal to get this fixed, Siryn looking away from her.

“You’re gonna have to find the team, they did it, its probably in the base somewhere…” She explains, a frown playing at her face.

“Cool, rad. Dunno why you said it like I know where the base is.” Grave groans loudly.

“I’m afraid that’s where the shitting part comes in. To get in there, you’re gonna have to trust me and let me take you there…” Siryn explains, looking at Grave with cold eyes, not looking forward to anything that was coming. Grave remains silent for a few seconds as she thinks it over.

“Alright. Sounds kinda sketchy but I’ll take it.” She agrees, Siryn watching her.

“Good, cause you’re kind of out of options if you want Rose to be okay.” Siryn shrugs, indifferent as she speaks to Grave.

“Okay, so are you gonna take me there oooorrr…?” Grave questions, losing her patience as she talks to Siryn, who spins on the heel of her foot, walking further into the woods as she gestures for Grave to follow.

“My car is this way…” She explains, her voice deadpan as she walks away, not checking to see if Grave follows.

“Oh, we’re doin cars. I loved that movie.” Grave jokes as she follows Siryn, walking fast to catch up with her as she nods silently, trying to remain calm as she walks to her car.

Grave walks with her silently, not bothering to open the car door when they get to it, opting instead to clip through the car into her seat, Siryn rolling her eyes as she opens the door, unphased as she gets inside. The car hums quietly to life as she turns the key, buckling herself in.

Grave waits patiently, wiggling slightly as Siryn gets ready, trying to not be annoyed by her, though every action was annoying to her. She huffs as she starts driving away form the woods, heading in the direction of the base.

Grave spaces out as she drives, not wanting to think about anything as Siryn tensely drives the car, hands gripping the wheel firmly as a million thoughts race through her mind, trying to figure it all out before they get to the base.

Grave leans down, putting her head on the front board of the car as her brain screams at her, Siryn looking over at her for a moment.

“Whats goin on?” She attempts to be nice, unused to it, unsure of what to say or do, especially since it was unlikely she was being believed, Grave shrugging.

“Just a little bit sleepy. What’s goin on with you?” Grave smiles, though Siryn doesn’t look convinced.

“You don’t gotta pretend to give a shit how I’m doin.” Siryn shrugs as she drives, keeping her eyes straight. “I’m aware the second this is fixed you’ll go back to beating the shit out of me, I’ve accepted it.” She speaks bluntly, Grave giggling.

“Nah, I actually care. I’m not gonna beat the shit outta you without a good reason either so… maybe I wont rearrange your guts if you don’t give me a reason to…” Grave explains, Siryn laughing, though its empty and without humour.

“You say that like I’ve not given plenty of reasons…” She trails off, never looking at Grave as she drives.

“I can like… give you a chance to not do that.” Grave offers, her voice hushed as she proposes her kind offer, the slightest hint of a smile on Siryn’s face.

“You don’t think it’s too late for me? Aren’t I a bit of a lost cause by now?” Siryn questions, her voice neutral despite the raging war of feelings inside of her.

“Nope, its not too late at all. Just because you’re an asshole doesn’t mean I’m not willing to give you a chance.” Grave explains, smiling sweetly. Siryn hides her own smile by turning her head away.

“You know, I guess I unknowingly used today as my chance to get away from this shit… guess that might have been a good idea, huh?” Siryn’s voice sounds slightly lighter as she speaks.

“Very good!” Grave wiggles happily in her seat as Siryn becomes more alert, looking ahead.

“Okay, we should be there in a minute or so. Just, be careful, keep your heads down and let me deal with this, okay? Last thing I want is a huge confrontation.” Siryn explains, looking at Grave briefly.

“Sounds good.” Grave keeps her voice quiet as her excitement builds, Siryn pulling the car over to park it at the side of the road.

“The base is down there, but we’re gonna go in on foot, don’t need the noise.” Siryn explains as she gets out of the car.

Grave clips through her own door, her feet making no noise as she follows Siryn, who enters an abandoned building at the end of the road, making her way down a flight of stairs, footsteps quiet and alert.

Grave follows her, no more wiggling or smiling, her serious face on as Siryn reaches a door at the bottom of the stairs, pressing her ear to it to check for noises, opening it silently once she decides its safe. Grave is quickly ushered through, Siryn leading her effortlessly through all the abandoned passages no one used within the base, only stopping once they reach a door.

“If I’m right, it should be through that door…” She explains, her voice slightly lower than a whisper.

“Thanks.” Grave whispers back, clipping through the door as Siryn rolls her eyes, opening the door to let herself in, silently scanning the room with her eyes.

“From what little they told me, it sounded like it was a small machine that was interrupting your abilities…” Siryn explains, looking around for such a machine.

“Ah, machines! I love those.” Grave smiles as she looks around, Siryn moving around the room quietly, keeping an eye out for the others.

“I know, shouldn’t be hard to find it…” She comments as she searches, keeping her voice low.

“This is f u n.” Grave fiddles with her fingers as the sarcastic comment comes out, making Siryn snort as she searches.

“I know, right… oh, I think that might be it…” She stops, pointing to a small but strange looking box sitting on one of the shelves.

“Hopefully.” Grave begins to go over to the box, though she stops. “This kinda feels like a trap…” She speaks quietly, the door to the room bursting open as the other two team members enter.

“Hiya Grave…” Inferno snarls, mouth pulled into an agitating grin as she waves to Grave.

“Hi! How are ya, Shitburn?” Grave waves at Inferno, a large smile plastered on her face.

“I’m great!” She smiles happily at Grave. “Did you really think Siryn was gonna help you fix your stupid little girlfriend?” She leans forward slightly as she speaks.

“I don friggin know!” Grave shrugs as Siryn walks over to her teammates, not speaking as she does.

“Well that turned out to be a mistake didn’t it?” Riptide smiles as Siryn joins them. “Cause now you’re a little fucked.” She explains, a grin present on her face.

“I am?” Grave pretends to be shocked, her sarcasm thick. “Oh wow!” She exclaims, Riptide rolling her eyes in response.

“Cute, real cute. But the reality is that maybe you’ll be fine, but Rose… not so much.” She grins as she speaks, watching Grave.

“Mhm, yes. How long is this talk gonna go for?” Grave questions, feeling tired and over this situation as she speaks.

“Well this talk can end if you just allow us to restrain you.” Inferno smiles. “Can’t have you running around after all.” She explains, trying not to get annoyed as Siryn stands silently beside them.

“Uh… sure, I guess.” Grave holds her hands out as Inferno comes closer to her, applying chains to both of her hands as well as her neck, limiting the amount of movement she is capable off. The chains seem to be applying a chemical, only increasing Grave’s tiredness as she stands there.

“So uh… you gonna play with my insides and kill me or do some other shit?” She questions as Inferno starts walking with her, leading her somewhere as the others follow behind them.

“Killing is too boring. Well, killing you at least. That’s what Rose is for.” She explains, a horrible smile etched into her skin. “Human bodies can only take poison for so long.”

“Cool, so you’re gonna kill my girlfriend for some…” Grave looks around her as she walks, thinking. “Dumb reason. Torture, right?” She enquires, looking at Inferno, Riptide shrugging behind them.

“Testing more so. Wanna see how well it works.” She smiles as she walks faster, catching up to them. “She seemed like a good candidate. Sides, needed some way to get you out of that house.” She continues, Grave no longer paying attention to them as she walks, spacing out.

She is walked into a room, being sat down by Inferno as the dosage on her chains is increased to pacify her, Inferno leading Riptide and Siryn outside to talk to them.

Grave ignores them, giving in and going to sleep for a while, wanting to be rid of the world around her. she doesn’t wake up for a while, only being stirred by some faint noises coming from outside the room as Grave closes her eyes again, not wanting to be here, only wanting to sleep and forget the world.

Some more noises sound out, though they are far away sounding as Grave squeezes her eyes closed, managing to slip back into sleep as she listens to them.

The next time she opens her eyes, she notices that she is no longer in the chair, instead lying down on the floor of the woods, alone currently. She doesn’t move, not wanting to put up with this, feeling tired of existing as she lies still.

The sound of a twig snapping as someone walks over it comes from behind Grave as someone approaches her.

“Can you please go away?” Grave questions politely, despite feeling tired and frustrated.

“Fraid not. Not right now at least.” Siryn explains as she sits in front of Grave, her hoodie back on and covering her face from view.

“Yeah no, seriously dude. Fuck off, I’m tired of your shit.” Grave keeps her tone level despite the exhaustion she feels inside of her.

“Nice way to talk to the person that got you out of that shithole… and took your chains off.” Siryn scoffs as she turns away from Grave, watching the woods.

“Ah, funny.” Grave doesn’t believe a single word coming from her mouth as she wishes for sleep to engulf her.

“Yup, cause I’ve always been one for jokes.” Siryn sighs, rubbing her hands over her face. “How’s the anaesthesia wearing off?” She questions, Grave shrugging.

“It’s leaving, I guess.” She answers, Siryn huffing as she listens to her, resisting the urge to get frustrated.

“Grave, the last thing I need right now is for you to get an attitude with me, please.” She explains as she sits quietly in front of her.

“Dude, can I be a little bit of a bitch every once in a while? Just a little bit?” Grave resists her urge to curl into a ball as she speaks.

“But why with me? I helped, didn’t I?” Siryn doesn’t look at Grave as she speaks, keeping her voice low and quiet.

“You did a bunch of other terrible shit, too. Also I’m very tired. Mentally, physically and emotionally, so I might be a bit of an asshole.” Grave sighs gently. “Sorry.” She apologises.

“Its fine… didn’t really expect you to trust me anyway.” Siryn laughs quietly. “Kinda fucked that small bit of trust up anyway.”

“Anyway, what are you gonna do now?” Grave questions, sounding annoyed, though a small amount of fear creeps into her.

“Well, considering how things went at the base…” Siryn sighs. “What do you think I’m gonna do?” She questions, not turning to look at Grave.

“Honestly dude, I don’t fuckin know anymore. You could be a decent fucking person and help me or trick me again, kill my girlfriend in front of me and film me breaking down.” Grave’s voice is calm as she speaks, Siryn snorting in response.

“Part of me wishes I wanted to be a shitty person. and the rest… well…” Siryn stands up. “Is telling me we should get out of here.” She explains.

“Alright, magic boi, what tricks have you got for me today?” Grave questions as she groans, holding her hand out, Siryn pulling her up.

“None unfortunately, just a whole lotta stubbornness.” She explains, looking away from Grave.

“Yaaaay.” Grave leans against a tree, sighing. “I’m so fuckin tired, man.” She huffs, Siryn pausing.

“I can always carry you, I have been for the past hour anyway, so…” She shrugs as she explains. ”No.” Grave pushes herself off of the tree and starts walking, limping slightly due to her tiredness as she does.

“Fair enough…” Siryn sighs as she continues walking, stuffing her hands into the pockets of her hoodie, hunching over. “I’m sorry by the way…” she apologises quietly.

“Uh… its fine.” Grave hardly listens to her, sounding unsure as she responds to her.

“You don’t sound convinced.” Siryn points out, groaning. “This is all so fucked…” She mumbles, Grave flopping onto the ground, beginning to crawl normally on her hands and knees.

“Okay, do you wanna stop for a while? Clearly you have no interest in walking.” Siryn points out as she stops walking, looking down at Grave, who just keeps crawling.

“You know we don’t have a car now right?” Siryn starts walking again. “Crawling will only slow us down.” She explains as she adjusts her hoodie, pausing for a moment as Grave clicks her bones in her arms and legs, adjusting her body into an inhuman position as she crawls faster, her bones sounding terrible. Siryn looks down at her, feeling done with this situation as she sits down on the forest floor.

“Fuck…” She mutters quietly, her head in her hands, Grave turning around mid crawl.

“What is it? Am I going the wrong way?” Grave asks as she looks at Siryn, who doesn’t bother looking up.

“Probably not, don’t really know. Had to get out of the base pretty fast once they found out I destroyed the machine…” Siryn explains, covering her face with her hands.

“Oh…” Grave stops her abnormal crawling, laying down next to Siryn as she sits.

“Yeah, had to just grab you and get out as fast as I could… kinda worked, I mean, you’re okay, right?” Siryn doesn’t look at Grave as she questions her.

“Uh… yeah. You can say that. What about you?” Grave’s voice is quiet and soft as she deflects the question to Siryn, who doesn’t answer straight away.

“Well, when you mess with someone that can throw fire at your face…” She pulls her hands away from her face, revealing a burn covering half of her skin. “You tend to get fire thrown at your face.” She smiles slightly as she speaks.

“Oh no…” Slight concern enters Grave as she looks at the burn, Siryn seemingly unphased.

“Its fine… kinda deserved that for makin you think I was gonna let Rose die…” Siryn frowns gently. “Which we still need to get back to prevent…” She mutters as Grave sits up, frowning as she gently plants a kiss on Siryn’s face, watching as the burn fades away, healing perfectly.

“Thanks… come on, we should go and see if we can find the house… already messed up enough shit for one day…” Siryn sighs as Grave grabs her hand gently, recognising the way as she begins to walk, pulling her along, Siryn allowing herself to be pulled.

“You know you can leave me behind, right? I’ll figure something out.” She offers, watching Grave.

“Hmm…” Grave pretends to think for a moment. “No.” She keeps going, a firm grip on Siryn’s hand as she pulls her along.

“…Why?” Siryn’s voice is quiet as she asks the question, Grave shrugging in response.

“I dunno, I feel like I should give you one more chance…” She explains, Siryn snorting.

“Ha…” She remains quiet. “Cause that worked so well last time…” She reminds Grave, voice sounding sad.

Grave sighs, turning on her heel as she encases Siryn in a soft hug. She freezes for a moment, unsure of the contact, shaky as she accepts the hug, uneven on her feet as Grave squeezes her gently. Siryn calms down quickly, leaning out of the hug and giving Grave a smile.

“Lets go fix this shit.” Siryn looks more confident and determined as she smiles, Grave returning the smile.

“Fuck yeah.” Grave leaves the hug, grabbing Siryn’s hand again as she walks, Siryn happier now as she walks, the house coming into view after a little while, making Grave excited.

“Yaaaaay.” A small amount of happiness flows through Grave as she see’s the house, walking faster, Siryn letting go when they get to the outside of the house.

“You go deal with Rose, I’m gonna wait out here… avoid the panic of anyone seeing me.” She explains, smiling.

“Okay.” Grave returns the smile. “Bye bye!” Grave exclaims, Siryn waving as she sits down, Grave clipping through the window into the room.

Rose is still asleep in her bed as Grave enters the room, looking paler and more sick, making Grave worried. She carefully checks her pulse, fearing the worst, though a pulse thrums against her fingers, Rose’s chest rising and falling as she takes shallow breaths.

Grave feels better as she see’s this, leaning down to press a soft kiss to Rose’s face, watching as the colour comes back into face quickly, her eyes opening slightly.

“Hi…” Grave contains her excitement, remaining quiet and calm, her voice hushed as Rose opens her eyes more.

“…Hey.” Rose smiles as she looks at Grave, her eyes warm as she looks well again, watching her intently.

“You feelin better?” Grave questions, a small squeak escaping her lips as she looks down at Rose, who sits up, rubbing at her eyes lightly.

“I think so… I don’t feel like death anymore.” She explains, smiling sweetly at Grave as she sits.

“That’s good!” Grave exclaims happily, giving Rose a kiss which is happily returned.

“Its very good…” Rose sounds happy as she speaks. “Where did you go by the way?” She questions softly.

“Lab room! I had to find out how to make you better.” Grave lies, deciding Rose wouldn’t like the entire truth.

“Well I’m just glad you figured it out…” Rose smiles gently, deciding not to press the matter as she gives Grave a soft kiss.

“So am I…” Grave blushes slightly as she smiles, Rose touching her cheeks lightly.

“Are you okay? You look tired…” Rose notices as she gently holds Grave’s face in her hands, frowning slightly.

“I’m fine, I just slept a little short is all.” Grave blushes more as she explains, feeling happy.

“You sure?” Rose runs her fingers over Grave’s cheeks lightly, stroking them softly.

“Y-Yeah…” Grave smiles, stuttering slightly as she blushes at Rose’s soft contact, Rose smiling.

“As long as you’re okay.” She speaks softly as she looks at Grave with warm eyes, Grave sighing happily.

“God, you’re so cheesy.” She giggles, Rose laughing quietly as she looks at Grave.

“I have earned my right!” She exclaims, trying to sound indignant as she laughs.

“My cheesy gooorl.” Grave sounds happy as she speaks, melting slightly under Rose’s touch.

“Yes, all yours.” Rose agrees, gently touching their heads together as she speaks, smiling.

“Aaaa I love you so much.” Grave blushes more and more as she looks at Rose, who has a soft blush scattered over her freckled face.

“I love you too.” Rose speaks softly, her face soft as she watches Grave, taking everything in.

“Gaaaay.” Grave gently boops her nose with her fingers, smiling as Rose laughs again.

“You said it first.” Rose clarifies as she giggles, both of them content as they sit with one another, not worrying about the rest of the world as they keep each other company, both recovering from the events that had happened together.

#writing with friends #writing #my writing #original writing #not my oc #others ocs #original characters #original story #actor au #alternate universe #tw burns #tw injury #sleepisafuckinglie #House of Hell

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brattywriters-anonymous · 5 years

Text

This Way..

Part V (and the Valentine’s Day special) of the “I’m Never Wrong” Series.

Erik x (Black!)Reader

Fic Playlist: Back in One Piece x DMX feat. Aaliyah, This Way x Khalid feat. H.E.R, Gonna Love Me x Teyana Taylor, You Got Me x The Roots feat. Erykah Badu

Warnings: ANGST, Violence, Erik done fucked up!

It had been over six months since your night off, and quite a bit has changed. You recently chose to work as the remote part time senior partner to spend more time with Leanna and JuJu, as you promised N’jadaka on your honeymoon. The two of you made a pact to be more involved in the family you were building. He vowed to transition from Wakandan Wardog to the Director of the Oakland Wakandan Outreach Center. In reality, N’jadaka was only home for about four months out of the year. One month for every season. When he left a month after your romantic night, he promised that it was his last mission and he’d only be gone for a month. One month turned into six. It was reminding you of the first year of your relationship when he returned from Wakanda. Except for now, you have paperwork and two children between you. Which fueled your anger on a different level.

Each day that passed after that promised month, Y/N’s resentment grew. It had been radio silence for five months, JuJu had learned to roll over, crawl, and even started standing on his own. N’jadaka missed all of those precious milestones. He and Y/N couldn’t even celebrate his birthday together the week prior to this one. This particular day, you cup runneth over. Leanna is on her worst behavior, talking back and being sassy. N’Juma was screaming all day at the top of his lungs due to his top two teeth coming in. You couldn’t even finish reviewing your junior partner’s briefings due to your children running amok in your house. You have had it. While Lee Lee was throwing all of her toys out of her bin, and JuJu was having a temper tantrum, you walked out on your porch.

You let out a scream and broke down. You were out of steam, out of options. Your ears pick up the sound of tires rolling up to your house. Since your home is the only one in the col du sac, whoever it is is either turning around or they’re parking. When you hear the engine die you lift your head to find a blacked out Suburban. Nakia emerges from the passenger seat, Ayo from the drivers side. You hold your breath, thinking the worst when you don’t see N’jadaka. You see the rear passenger door crack open, you let out a short sigh; still panicking because you can’t see who’s behind the tented windows. Those muddy steel toe boots hit the pavement your breathing find it’s normal pattern, then your eyes turn more red than they already are from your tears.

Erik gets out of the car, all smiles. That’s until he sees your bloodshot eyes and mean mug. His smiles disappear into a look of concern. You charge straight for him with your fists balled. You huff as you swing and your fist connect with his cheekbone. He reaches for your arm but your anger adds to your speed. Your other fist bangs against his nose. His head twists to the opposite side of your abuse as blood flies across your front yard. He gains control of your arms, ignoring his injuries. “Y/N, Y/N! Dammit! Calm down, woman!” You grunt at his demand, trying to free yourself from his hold. He grips your wrists tighter, “Our kids in there alone!? Ayo, Nakia, can y’all check on them please?”

The pair stand among you two in shock. Nakia taps Ayo’s side and they fall into the house. “I’ve been taking care of them day in and day out for over six months so excuse me for needing to take a fucking breather, N’Jadaka! Why didn’t you call? Why haven’t I heard from you!? I was starting to think you--” “You was starting to think I was dead?” “I was starting to think yo ass left! You’re so fucking selfish! I can’t even believe you right now. Hopping out of the car like you were gonna be met with kisses and hugs. Nigga fuck you!” You shove him with your shoulder, he surrenders and lets you go. You push the front door open, it slams against the wall; attention from your children, Ayo, and Nakia turns to you.

You make a beeline to your bedroom and you start stuffing clothes, toiletries, and shoes into your oversized backpack you fill it to the brim and grab your car key. You brush past your estranged husband to close your laptop and put that in its respective bag. “Where do you think you going?” “Away from you.” And with that, you turn you back and trail to your car. You hear N’jadaka’s heavy footsteps follow you, “Babe, can we talk about this? I’m so--” “Yeah I know, You’re sorry. You’re sorry as fuck. You let half a fucking year go by! You haven’t seen or heard from me. Let alone your daughter and son. You missed Leanna’s birthday! You’ve missed so fucking much with not even so much as a bullshit filled excuse as to why!” As he intends on interrupting you, you slap him clean across his cheek. “You had six months to talk and you didn’t. I’m about to say my peace before I peel out. I’ve highhandedly taken Leanna to and from school, battled her chicken pox and three colds she’s gotten, and put her in ballet in the six and a half months of your absence. I’ve watched N’Juma flourish. He went from babbling and slobbering to teething, crawling, and standing. The boy is damn near walking and you were nowhere to be found! You left me here with little to no help and support. I needed you! You neglected your responsibilities and didn’t make good on your promise which left me to pick up your slack!”

N’jadaka swipes his thumbs across your cheeks to wipe your tears but you push him away, “You ain’t shit for this ‘Ja. You really not. I’m out. I’ll be back whenever. Like you.” You push start your car and peel off with your tires screeching.

Erik’s POV

Lee Lee and JuJu were both screaming and crying at Y/N’s dramatic exit. I knew I had some explaining to do when I got home but, shit! I didn’t know I was gon come back to a couple of blows to my face(PAUSE). Now I’m in the middle of my living room, with two crying kids on my hip with my sore ass face.

I finally get my kids asleep and I start my search for my wife. I call up Shuri, “Hey cuzzo, are Y/N’s Kimoyo beads activated?” Shuri types some figures into her database before answering, “Yes. She’s traveling pretty fast. She may be on a flight.” “A flight!? Where?” Shuri gets to typing again, “Let’s cross check the San Fran International flights.. track the flight plans with her location.. Cousin?” “Yeah?” She pauses before continuing, “She’s coming here.” “Here, meaning, Wakanda?” “Yes.”

T’challa has allowed flights to come into our home country, exclusively for natives and their families. So Y/N actually going is a pleasant surprise. “Alright, bet. Tell ‘Cha I need the jet.” “N’Jadaka, maybe you should give her some time, eh?” “Shuri, maybe you shoooould mind your business, eh? Look I’ve gone six months without my wife. I need her to come home. Plus, it’s not gon be just me coming. The kiddos are tagging along too.” Shuri smiles at the suggestion, “Great! Mother has been dying to meet them!”

Y/N’s POV

“Good Morning ladies and gentlemen! We are now landing. Welcome to Wakanda!” The flight attendant graciously announces my arrival to N’jadaka’s home country. I haven’t been back here since the wedding. Since Leanna was too young to travel, she’s never been here and of course JuJu hasn’t either. I miss my babies, don’t get me wrong. But being with those two, caring for them day in and day out for that long, alone, took it’s toll on me. Mentally and physically. I need this vacation. This is the best place I thought about going in the midst of my rage. The clear port is next to the Golden city. I find my way to the center of the city to Shuri’s lab where it seems like she’s waiting.

“About time, Y/N!” She hugs me tight, “How are you?” “Uh, Shuri, how did you know I was coming?” She gives me a childish chuckle, “My cousin asked me to track you down. I knew you were coming about an hour after you took off.” I roll my eyes, “So he’s coming?” Her eyes wonder off as she turns back into her lab, “I do not know Y/N! But uhm, come on in. I wanna show you what I’ve been working on. And I’ll take those while I’m at it..” She rolls my Kimoyo beads off of my wrist, “Why? They work just fine.” “Ugh! You sound like T’challa! Just as I tell him. Just because something is working, doesn’t mean it can’t be improved.” Some contraption standing before us piques my interest, she begins explaining what it is. “This is what I’ve been working on. It’s a collection of vibranium bots. I got the Idea from that Disney movie, Big Hero 6. Leanna showed it to me! They’re about 300,000 microbots that can help improve the construction and infrastructure in major cities all over the world.” The microbots built a replica of T’Challa’s panther suit, a car, and finished off with a replica of the outside of Shuri’s lab. “Wow Ri, this is awesome!”

Shuri turns off the remote which controlled the bots in the form of a glove. “Thank you Y/N. It’s only in prototype stage right now. But.. once it’s ready for mass production, I’ll introduce it after opening the latest Outreach center in Brooklyn, New York City!” I’m truly impressed. Shuri is a kid genius. I surely hope Leanna takes after her since they are quite fond of one another.

“Cool! I’m sure you’ll be in the Forbes magazine, once again, on that invention alone. Anywho, how’s Queen Mother?” “Queen Mother is doing quite well, Y/N.” T’challa and Shuri’s mother appears from the front entrance. “Queen Mother.” I bow, she takes my hand to pull me upright, “Y/N, we are family. There’s no need to bow.” Ramonda gives me the warmest hug. I truly feel at home here. The people are beautiful, it’s like the colors are more vibrant. The sun rises and sets in a brighter tone. Maybe I should’ve made it here a long time ago.

I pursue Ramonda to the throne room as she asks, “Now child, what brings you to Wakanda? I know that American holiday for lovers is tomorrow. Where’s my nephew?” I’m trying to think of how to tell her what happened in a respectful manner. Even though we are technically family, I still want to reply in a courteous manner. “Well.. Er-- I mean, N’jadaka.. He said he was only gonna be gone for a month. A month was more like half a year. Plus, to be honest, I haven’t even thought about Valentine’s day.” Ramonda’s face furrows into one of amusement. “Maybe you should think about that Y/N, it may remind you and him why you fell in love to begin with. I am not sure why he would tell you when he would return. War dog missions have no set duration.” I stare out to the panoramic view of the Golden City, “He wasn’t supposed to be doing this forever either.” Ramonda hums in agreement, “Mhm. He’s spoken to T’challa about that mission being his last. He will be accepting the director position for Director of your home town’s Outreach center, yes?”

“I mean, yeah. I guess. He never told me any of that.” I let out a sigh “You never gave me the chance to explain, love.” Swinging around toward the door, I find N’jadaka standing in his typical at ease stance, force of habit from bring in the Navy. My mouth twitches to form a smile, but my thoughts correct me. “What are you doing here ‘Ja?” He plasters a smirk and shrugs, “I came to get my wife. What is my wife doing here?” “She came here to relax, to reflect. We can do that.” N’jadaka turns his lip up and nods, “Okay Y/N. As far as I can tell, you do need that. You damn sure deserve it.” I cross my arms, deeply amused at his response, “Ha! Ha! Oh, We, huh? What part of me leaving you with the kids you didn’t understand? What part of anything I told you has you misconstrued that got you to come here?”

He mirrors my movement, crossing his arms, “I don’t have anything misconstrued, Y/N. I get everything you said to me. I apologize for making you feel neglected, baby. I just didn’t wanna start anything by telling you it was gonna take a lot longer than I thought before I completed the mission. Next thing I knew, we had to go under the radar, and I couldn’t tell you.” “N’jadaka Erik Stevens-Udaku. How dare you! You left me to think whatever!” He grips me by my waist and pulls me to him, looking at me face to face, “I’m sorry for that. I’m sorry for it all. I think you should be here right now. You need some R&R, I get that. So, we’ll be spending Valentine’s Day here this year.”

“Ugh. Here you go with this we shit again!” Ramonda clears her throat, “I apologize..” ‘Ja whispers in my ear, “I don’t just mean me in the we..” I hear tiny footsteps close in, “Mommy! This place is so prettyyyy!” Leanna exclaims this to me while reaching her tiny arms as far as they can stretch to hug my legs. I bend down to meet the love that is my first born, “It is isn’t it?” She enthusiastically nods, “Yes! Baba said this is where he’s from, why don’t we live here?” He intercepts, “Le, we don’t live her because daddy and mommy have responsibilities to home.” I pick her up and nod, “Yeah, we both have jobs to do, lovebug. We’re always welcome to visit though.” Leanna jolts for joy and chants, “I wanna hang out with cousin RiRi! Where she at?!” Ramonda chimes in, “I’ll take you to her, she’s in her lab! Give mommy and daddy some time alone, eh?”

Erik leads me to the west wing of the palace where the Dora placed my bags at the door, “This is your room Y/N. Leanna, N’Juma, and I are gonna be on the other side of the palace.” “Okay, so are we gonna be separate the entire time?” He shushes me, “Damn, woman! No. But You did say you needed time to yourself. I’m giving you that! Tomorrow is Valentines day, I got a few things lined up for us to do with the kids and I got something special for you.. Just let me, okay?”

I open the door to my suite, my back to him I rebut, “Let’s just see how the day goes with the kids. Then I’ll tell you if I’ll let you or not.”

With that, I roll my belongings in with me and shut the door. Retiring to the room for the remainder of the evening.

I spent the ladder part of the night prior completing the brief reviews I had left before my huge blowup. I fell asleep after I completed my last one. It’s eerily quiet on this side of the palace. Yet, I am grateful for it. I woke up around seven AM with the strangest crook in my neck. I wince in agony, holding my neck where the source of pain resides. Shit! I must have slept wrong. I guess I can try to ease the pain with a hot bath. I plug my phone up to my beats pill and turn on my r&b playlist. Apple sure knows how to channel my mood because This Way by Khalid and H.E.R. begins playing, channeling all of yesterday’s energy into my morning.

You say I'm trippin', bullshit You're the one to make me do shit You're the one to make me feel it The feeling of stupid I was in your corner When you were putting me through shit Now you wanna leave No, you leaving me was foolish

I sink lower the more my comfy bath as the song continues, my mind flashes back to N’jadaka’s abrubt return back home..

“You’re sorry as fuck. You let half a fucking year go by! You haven’t seen or heard from me. Let alone your daughter and son. You missed Leanna’s birthday! You’ve missed so fucking much with not even so much as a bullshit filled excuse as to why!”

Yeah, all of these excuses Say I'm the one that made you ruthless Well you're the reason I'm crazy And with you, I feel useless I let you have it You took me for granted Always wanna play the victim When they don't know the truth is...

You left me this scar on my heart When I'd never take it that far (oh) Why would you say that it was true love If true love is absolute, what more can I say?

My Kimoyo beads go off on my left wrist, I answer it. N’jadaka is on the other end, “Good morning baby.” “Good morning ‘Ja, how are you?” “He releases a heavy sigh, “Our kids are a handful, ma. N’Juma is still on west coast time so he’s sleep now. But he was up until the past hour. Leanna is a total diva. She doesn’t wanna get up, at all!” Poor Erik. He looks so defeated. He only got a night compared to my one hundred eighty-some odd nights of that. “Bribe her with breakfast ‘Ja. JuJu can only be sleep for the next hour or else you’ll have a repeat of last night so you may wanna get her breakfast like, ten minutes ago.” Something flies by his face when he shakes Leanna to wake her up, “Lil girl did you--Get up Leanna! It’s time for breakfast!”

“What’s the plan for today Stevens?” He goes away from the camera view, you hear him tell your eldest child to brush her teeth and wash her face before he comes back, “We’re gonna take the kids to meet W’kabi, Okoye, and the boarder tribe so they can see the rhinos, then we’ll make the trip up to Jabari land so they can play in the sn--” he looks in what I assumed to be where his bathroom was located to see if Leanna was being nosey. I guess the answer was yes because he spells out the next word, “S-N-O-W.”

They’ve never been in the snow with us living in California and all, so it’s really thoughtful that he wants the kids to have that experience in Wakanda. I just hope he takes my advice or we’ll be in for a long and trying day. “Sounds good ba..” The words of adornment almost slips through my teeth, his eyebrows hit the top of his forehead waiting for the rest of the word to drop, “--Sounds good N’jadaka. The kids should enjoy it. I’ll be out for breakfast in a bit.”

I stumble through the corridors in my robe and slippers, searching for the dining room. I feel like I’m walking in circles at this point. I hadn’t bumped into anyone and I haven’t seen anything resembling a kitchen or a dining room. I finally found some stairs so I descend to what looks like a foyer next to two huge ass doors, then I hear my daughter yelling, “Where’s mommy? You said she was gonna be down here!” I follow the bossy little voice to the dining room, “I’m sorry LeeLee. Mommy got lost in here it’s so big!” Ramonda and Shuri laugh, “Sorry cousin, I told N’jadaka I should’ve retrieved you.” Speak of the Devil, he comes into the area with a large plate of pancakes in one hand, and a pitcher of OJ in the other, “And I told you she would find her way. How you doing baby?”

I cradle my neck again, “I’m good, except for my neck. I think I slept wrong last night.” N’jadaka huffs, “You slept sitting up, working?” My eyes squint as I purse my lips, “Yes--” I mouth, ‘smartass’, then continue, “I did.” He leaves that where it is as Leanna goes on to talk about her lab time with Shuri, “We’re syncing her gloves to surge an--E--M--P?” She looks over at Shuri for agreement of her termenology, Shuri nods, “Yes, LeeLee. Which stands for?” Leanna looks up, deep in her thoughts, then she snaps, “Eeee--Electromagnetic Pulse.” My four year old is truly on her way to becoming a genius. I’m so proud, “Look at my little scientist!” Leanna glows at the praise, “Baba says I can help with cousin RiRi’s project at home at the center, right?” N’jadaka pops a strawberry in his mouth and nods at his baby girl’s query, “Absolutely. I just got the news, T’challa will offically name me as the director of the Oakland Wakandan Outreach Center before we leave. I start work the week after next.”

Ramonda embraces her nephew and congratulates him. Their relationship had come a long way since he left Wakanda seven years ago. They resented one another. She disliked him because of his quarrel with T’challa, he disliked the entire side of the family that neglected him after his Uncle killed his father, and she wasn’t excluded. Now, he’s closer with her than he is with T’challa or Shuri. She’s like a surrogate mother to him that he needs in his life to keep him balanced. He’s become a better man since reconciling his differences with her. “Congratulations N’jadaka. I’m happy for you.” He turns his attention to me, “I’m happy for us. This is what we’ve wanted since we’ve gotten married. It’s taken me longer than expected..but now I’m able to be closer to our family.” I look down, poking my fork at my piece of watermelon, “Yeah, you are.”

Part Two is dropping later tonight. Stay tuned!!!

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fanficimagery · 6 years

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Imagine being the step-sister to Pepper Potts. When the rest of your family decided to take their anger out on you and put you down every chance they got, she and Tony Stark decided to take you in. There were rules to living with them, obviously, but you didn't mind. Especially since Tony granted you an entire floor of Stark (Avengers) Tower in the underground basement levels when you expressed not wanting to be anywhere near his explosions.

Bucky X Reader (Gen Fic)

Living in the basement levels of Stark (Avengers) Tower was... not quite what you expected. Pepper had first set you up in the upper levels of the Tower in a rather swanky apartment, but it just wasn't you. Sure having superheros as next door neighbors was pretty legit, but never knowing when Doctor Banner would go green or when one of Tony's experiments would explode left you in a constant state of anxiety. And just when you thought no one was paying you any attention and saw how uncomfortable you were with everything, Tony swooped in and escorted you to the lower levels of the Tower.

Your new apartment ended up being an entire floor of said tower, it being an open floor plan. That said, the only doors your apartment consisted of where that of a few closets, the bathroom, a pantry and the kitchen cabinets. Everything else- your bedroom, the kitchen, a small art and crafts area, and the sitting area- is accessible without having to go through doors or walk around a wall. It left room for no privacy, but it was absolutely perfect in your eyes.

Finding a job, which was part of the rules to being taken under Pepper's wing, was harder than expected. Fortunately for you, Tony Stark had come through yet again. The job wasn't something usually sought after since being a barista didn't have the benefits one needed to stay afloat as an adult, but being a barista in the coffee shop located one floor above ground level inside Stark Tower came with a lot of pay and surprising benefits. The hours were from six in the morning to three in the afternoon and you've never had it any easier.

And though the other Tower occupants knew of your existence- you had nothing but friendly encounters with the entire team in passing- they opted to leave you be unless you sought them out.

After nearly a year, however, things were bound to change up. So it's no wonder that one day after work, you walk into your apartment and find one lost super soldier standing beyond the elevator and glancing around in confusion.

"Uhh... Sergeant Barnes?"

Bucky Barnes turns around, sparing you a long look before facing your apartment once more. "There are no windows," he mutters. You huff a laugh and walk around him, heading for your coffee table to set down your phone and wallet. "Why don't you live upstairs with everyone else?"

Shrugging, you plop down in the armchair and keep your eyes on him. "I know pretty well what the outside looks like. As for my living arrangements, I'm just more comfortable this way. I adore the team, but living up there with them would be constant noise and that's draining to me."

Bucky hums and you gulp as he heads over to your art center, his gaze trailing over the various canvases you have hanging around. "You paint all these?"

"Yeah. I get bored very easily and teenagers will surprisingly pay money for something painted from one of their favorite fandoms. It's easy money."

"Ever paint the team?"

You snort and stand up, cautiously walking towards the super soldier. "Thor is the most popular right now. He's the first to sell out when I post pics of what I'm selling." Then walking further into the art center, you pull free a folder that has various rough sketches in pencil and hand them over to Bucky. "When I run out of inspiration, I ask people what they would like to see. They'll describe what they want and I sketch it out. If it's to their liking and are willing to pay, I'll put it on a canvas for them. Tony and Bruce have a few of my things in their rooms. Natasha, too, if I remember correctly."

"Your Miss Pott's sister. Right?" He asks while thumbing through the sketches, stopping on a sketch of himself and Steve from the first war they fought together- the both of them dirtied and laughing. "I think I've heard about you."

"Mhm. Pleasure to finally meet you, Sergeant. I'm Y/N."

"Bucky. All my friends call me Bucky."

"Well then, Bucky, since we're friends and all... if you want that sketch you got there you can keep it." His lips faintly twitch and you can't help but smile. "Or if you want me to paint it, put the sketch on top of the pile and I'll start on it after I get my new batch of canvases in."

"What does a painting of yours usually run for?"

"For you? Free." He sharply looks up at you, expression blank. You shake your head at him. "I didn't charge Tony or Bruce or Nat. I'm not going to charge you."

Bucky frowns, but eventually nods. "Okay. When you have the time, I think I'd like a painting of this."

As he moves the sketch of his choosing to the top of the papers in his hand, you grin at him. "You got it."

The next time you see Bucky is two weeks later while you're at work. He walks in with Steve and the both of them place their order, you then making their drinks for them. As you're bagging their treats, you smile kindly at them while handing everything over.

"Miss Y/L/N," Steve greets.

"Y/N." Bucky nods in greeting.

"Gentlemen," you grin. "How's your day going so far?" Bucky shrugs as he accepts his drink, carefully sipping it as Steve tells you of the boring day they've had so far. Then as they're leaving, you remember you have something to tell Bucky. "Hey, Barnes! If you want, you can drop by tonight and pick up your painting. It's finished."

Steve's eyebrows raise in surprise as he glances between you and his best friend, the darker haired of the two faintly grinning. "Already?"

"Yep. Didn't have any plans, so I got a lot of work done."

"Okay. I'll be by later."

"I get off at three!" You shout after them. "Any time after four is good though."

Outside as the two super soldiers make their way down a short hallway and stop before the elevator, Steve clears his throat. "So Y/N... I didn't know you two knew each other."

"Drop it, punk."

"What? I'm just saying."

"Mhm." Bucky then sighs, knowing full well Steve won't leave it alone. "I noticed people talking about Miss Potts' sister, but realized she didn't live on the floors higher up. I got curious and found her place."

"And she painted you something?"

"...yeah. I think you'll like it. We can hang it in our living room."

Over the next few weeks, Bucky becomes a constant visitor to your apartment. If he's not watching you mix colors to get the perfect shades of blue, purple and greens for a galaxy piece you got inspired to paint, then he's either playing the video game console or muttering remarks about your terrible taste in movies.

"Are you planning a party?" He wonders one day as he eats a bowl of cereal at the kitchen bar. "I've noticed there's more food than usual in your fridge."

Glancing up from carefully packaging your latest painting for a tumblr follower, you nod. "Sort of. The Super Bowl is in a couple of days and my favorite team is playing."

He quirks an eyebrow at you. "You like football?"

"Duh. I'm from Texas. I spent my entire junior high and high school careers attending football games every Friday night, Barnes. It's in my blood to get hyped over football, but especially this Super Bowl since the Dallas Cowboys are playing."

"Who else is coming?"

You open your mouth to answer, but realizing you hadn't actually invited anyone you let your mouth snap shut and sheepishly smile. "No one. Wanna join me? I'm making some snack foods to eat throughout the game."

Huffing a laugh, Bucky shrugs. "Sure. Should I bring anything?"

"If you want. I'm making some wings, loaded cheddar and bacon potato skins, and some sandwiches."

"So drinks and chips? I can do that."

"Okay. And if you come over wearing even a hint of orange, I will punch you in the throat and kick you out."

"Then what colors am I allowed to wear?" He smirks.

"Navy blue. The Cowboys are blue and silver, but your arm's got the silver down so you're good on that front."

"Whatever you say, doll." As Bucky stands to rinse his bowl off in the sink, he looks over his shoulder at you. "Can I invite Stevie? I'll make sure he wears orange so you can punch him."

"You're hilarious, Buck. Now if you don't mind, can you please mail this for me?" You ask while sliding the large box over towards him. "I have to start picking up around here and get a start on the laundry."

"Mhm. Whatever you need." Before he takes his leave, you can't help but grin as he gives you a side hug, he then subconsciously pressing a kiss to your temple. "I'll be back later." He actually pauses as he picks up your package, his actions registering in his mind. Various emotions seem to pass over his features and you laugh while pushing him towards the elevator.

The affection given by Bucky is fairly new, but it's not exactly romantic. However, it is a huge improvement since what you've heard of him before you got to know him painted him as a sulking shadow to the Captain, and you're glad he's opened up to you and offered his friendship. He threw a wrench into your plans to just exist without surrounding yourself by anyone other than Tony and Pepper, but you wouldn't have it any other way.

#imagine #bucky barnes #marvel imagine #bucky x reader #bucky barnes imagine #marvel gen fic x reader #steve rogers #fanficimagery

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tonguetiedmag · 5 years

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interview: as it is

Wrapping up The Great Depression Tour with only a handful of shows left , I caught up with Patty Walters from As It Is just before the group rocked out a set at The Hi-Dive in Denver to learn more about his favorite vegan eateries, rare studio-moments during the recording of the band’s latest release, and what it’s been like welcoming in a new permanent member.

What’s been your favorite part about this tour apart from other tours you’ve done?

“I think the camaraderie. We love the bands we brought out as bands, and as people. We didn’t know Point North or Hold Close as human beings before this tour, but we were fans of their music and their art, and we’ve gotten to know everybody over the course of however long it’s been, probably about a month now-- it’s bittersweet. Sharptooth were some of my closest friends on warped tour of last year, we’ve seen them on pretty much every day off as well. It’s just been one big happy family honestly this tour; I think that’s the bittersweet part, is you have such a good time when everyone’s here and that just makes saying goodbye a little more difficult. It’s been one of my favorite tours we’ve ever done over 6 or 7 years now.”

What’s been your favorite song from The Great Depression to play live?

“The Wounded World i s always going to be a standout because of the relentless energy of it--I’m just a big fan of songs that really go 100 miles an hour throughout the whole thing, it’s absolutely one of those songs. Equally, opening with The Reaper has been so much fun, and The Question, The Answer has been a nice intimate moment. We weren’t sure if we were going to be playing it out here; it’s been such a fun part of the set, it makes it so much more dynamic and intimate. So there’s a couple standouts, but I think The Wounded World is probably my favorite moment of the set, which is why it’s last in the set and it’s the biggest climax and finale that we possibly could have created.”

Is there any song you wanted to put on the setlist that didn’t make the cut?

“Yes-- and part of the nature and the reason behind is that Ronnie [Ish, lead guitar] is a very new member and only knows so many of our songs right now, so we were limited to songs that we were playing on our most recent EU and UK headline run, which is why this setlist bears so much similarity to that one. But equally, we put so much time and effort and thought into this set so that it does feel theatrical and ... special-- It’s a set that we have all crafted and believed in. Adding “Such Great Heights” [The Postal Service] t o the equation out here has been really fun, so there were a couple that we did manage to sneak in. I think we’re getting Ronnie there maybe one or two songs per tour, just learning the entire As It Is discography slowly.”

When did you guys know you wanted Ronnie to become a permanent member?

“For a while, it’s been a long time coming. Ron was in the studio when we were writing and recording The Great Depression, but Ronnie has been family for a long time--we met Ronnie in 2015 on the Vans Warped Tour, he was living on our bus. He, in the interim period, served as every different touring crew member...you could imagine, as tour manager, guitar tech, driver, and merch. The thing about it--and I think it’s often a thing that gets viewed from one perspective-- is it’s not only ‘Did we want Ronnie to join?’ (which of course we did), it’s ‘Does Ronnie want to commit to these four people, this lifestyle where he doesn’t get to see his friends and family very often, where he doesn’t get paid as much as he probably could back home. For that reason I think we’re really flattered and humbled that he wants to commit the next however many years of his life to this band and us as people. The first real trial period of tour was warped tour of last year. That was Ronnie’s first time playing onstage with us, but we just kind of knew it in the back of our minds, and the back of his, that this was what we were meant to do together.”

Has the dynamic changed at all?

“Oh massively. Ronnie has the biggest personality of anyone I’ve ever met, for better or for worse; some days you’re not in the mood to be surrounded by such a loud presence. He’s one of a kind and he brings so much more energy and sincerity to what we do to our live performance, and engaging and interacting with our fans on and off stage, before and after the set.”

What’s a favorite memory you’ve made with another band on this tour?

“That’s a great question! Doing Disney world with every band on this tour was really fun, that was a really nice moment. We did an escape room with Sharptooth and Doll Skin in Arizona, that was really fun-- I had never done an escape room before, I don’t think most of us had. We were divided into four, which became two teams due to the nature of the escape room-- it was tons of fun.”

With the stark difference sound-wise between Okay and The Great Depression, how have you seen the dynamic of your fanbase change, if at all?

“Well, that’s one of the most interesting, kind of humbling things is that, we were uncertain as to who was still going to relate to this sound, enjoy this sound. One of the most humbling things is that so many fans from all around the world, that have been with us for upwards of five years since we’ve been touring internationally are still coming out to shows-- and it’s like nothing has changed, even though so much has changed. I think it speaks to the authenticity of the art that people can totally really love what we do and really believe in what we do. Yes, we’ve embraced a much more aggressive, darker sound, but it was the only natural evolution for our sound as a band for sure.”

Whatever you guys release next, are you gonna take it slow? Do you have ideas?

“I have ideas. Although, it was a conscious decision to be more present and engaged during the release of The Great Depression. We started writing The Great Depression three weeks before Okay was released, so when everyone got to really appreciate and consume okay, we were busy creatively, consciously invested in this next album. We didn’t get to live in the moment of Okay as much, and I was very aware that it would be a mistake to do that again. We all have ideas for the next record, but we haven’t started writing just yet. Equally, there are exciting expansions of The Great Depression that people are gonna get to enjoy pretty soon--we’re really making this one last.”

What motivates you to get up and keep going every day?

“Honestly, I’ve just made more of a conscious effort to live every day for me, as selfish as that sounds. Being as painfully introverted as I am, the most minute interaction often claims a big piece of myself and my energy. So I very selfishly at times hide myself away in my bunk, or in a cafe or something like that. We’re just working on so many exciting things right now that I don’t really have the time or the opportunity to slow down-- speeding away on a million different As It Is related projects, that’s pretty exciting.”

With you spending a lot of time in cafe’s and such, what’s your favorite place when you’re traveling to stop and eat, a place you look forward to?

“I wasn’t familiar with, but loved Arlo’s in Austin, Texas. Although, the thing about seeking out vegan restaurants on tour is that they’re not always healthy, and I’ve made a more conscious, mature decision to be healthier on tour for everyone’s well being, because I feel like trash if I just eat fake meat and cheese all day. Some of my favorites... I wanna say it’s called ‘Blackbird’s Cafe’ o r something, but it’s in Philadelphia. They do an amazing vegan philly cheesesteak, vegan wings-- they have these root beer barbecue wings. That was a rare, indulgent, ‘eat the trash, feel like trash’ moment, but it was worth it.”

How do you personally fight against writers block?

“Something that I’ve found only more recently--over the last year or so-- is that I hold some of my biggest influences to such a high standard, I put them on the tallest of pedestals. Some of my favorite writers/lyricists are Adam Young from Owl City, Lights, Motion City Soundtrack, Death Cab For Cutie, The Postal Service. Something I’ve done more recently is--yes, these artists have written some of my favorite songs--some of which I believe to be the greatest songs ever written-they have also written songs that I just don’t enjoy. I seek out those songs to remind myself that everybody is human, everybody falls shorts at least in my standards [when it comes to] music that I enjoy, and remind myself that just because these people are my biggest influences in the world, doesn’t mean that they write perfect songs every time. I love starting songs, and hate finishing songs. I start a lot more projects than I finish; partly because the potential of an idea becomes very romanticized in my head, and a lot of the time the actuality of finishing that idea isn’t as great as the potential that I see in it-- and that is a very difficult battle to win some days. What I do is remind myself that every great songwriter is human, and falls short, and doesn’t write 10/10 songs every day of every year.”

Who did you guys pull inspiration from when writing The Great Depression?

“So, we very consciously paid homage to post hardcore and emo bands, such as Armor for Sleep, Underoath..But equally, being a band from the UK, and having lived in the UK since i was five years old, I listened to so many british post hardcore bands that never got the international recognition that this band is fortunate enough to have recieved. We paid homage to bands like Hero for a Friend, Hell is for Heroes, Hundred Reasons-- the third track on The Great Depression, The Fire, The Dark is co-written with Larry Hibbitt of Hundred Reasons. If you’re from the UK, and you grew up in the 90s and 2000s there was no way to not know about this band. They were on mainstream radio, playing festival mainstages, a giant in UK rock music--but I guarantee none of our fans ever hear of that band, and getting to write one of our songs alongside one of the acts that we were paying tribute to was very cool, very surreal.”

The Great Depression also features a lot of smooth, instrumental transitions between sings--what was your favorite one of those to create?

“I think my favorite to create was the transition between The Reaper and The Two Tongues (Screaming Salvation). I don’t know if anyone knows this, I don’t know if I’ve ever said this, and I don’t know if you can even tell--but in the buildup into The Two Tongues there’s a sample of a song called The Prisoner’s Song, and I don’t even remember who its by, but it was written in like 1925. There’s all this guitar feedback and eerie soundscapes, and our mad scientist of a producer, Machine, had the idea of screaming into the guitar pickups-- because screaming “salvation”, it made sense. [There’s] this never seen, never released video of Machine screaming “salvation” into the guitar. You probably can’t hear it- I can hear it ‘cause I was there: right before the song kicks in , there’s this very distorted sound. It’s a guitar, but you can hear that Machine is screaming “sal-va-tion” into the guitar, and maybe if you really listen closely you’ll hear it now. It’s one of my favorite moments, because i feel like modern music--not even just modern rock music--modern music isn’t as indulgent as it used to be. I used to read about all these incredibly indulgent studio stories that I just feel like don’t exist anymore, ‘cause no one has the time nor the budget to be as indulgent as some of the greats used to be. Getting to play around with silly things that ultimately don’t matter, but equally fulfill you; that’s why they matter.”

If you could spend one day jamming with a favorite musician dead or alive who would it be, and why?

“For me it would be Adam Young in Owl City. Just my biggest influence of all time, somebody that I just respect so endlessly. I think he’s just an expert in sound just as much as he is in songwriting, I just love everything he’s ever done.”

What’s a song--either on the setlist or not--just a song of yours that you hold a lot of personal meaning to?

“Hey Rachel. Just hearing audiences from every end and hemisphere of the world sing your sisters’ name is always going to be hugely sentimental and personal, and it’s a very personal moment of every set we play.”

What is a song you can rage to no matter what, something that gets you hype every time?

“Clever Girl by Sharptooth. Anytime [when] we were on warped tour of last year I would seek out the Sharptooth set and just get a little more fired up, and a little bit more pissed off at the state of the world, and get a little more inspired-- it’s something that I’ve tried to catch as many times as I could on this tour, cause it makes me so much more excited for my set--it’s such a great song.”

If you had to describe your music to someone who doesn’t hear, how would you describe it?

“Where optimism and pessimism come to kick the shit out of each other.”

If you want to catch the group on their upcoming “The Intimate Depression” run, or see when they’ll be playing near you next Check them out Online:

https://asitisofficial.com/

https://www.facebook.com/asitisofficial/

http://www.fearlessrecords.com/artists/as-it-is/

https://twitter.com/ASITISofficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Interview by: Liz Holland

#music #as it is #liz holland #interview #patty walters #patty walters interview #as it is interview #live music #denver #colorado #hi dive

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a-bookish-witch · 5 years

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Destiel Highschool AU

i started writing this in 2012 but dropped it, but i figured i can try finishing it.

Just to let you all know, i haven't watched Supernatural since mid season 8, so if certain characters don’t show up, its cause i don’t know they exist.

alright lets get this rolling i guess

Chapter 1

Dean stood outside of the small house beside the Singer Auto shop, his latest Progress report in his hand. The grades had gotten were…well they were far from passing grades and the teen knew that he'd get an ear full when Bobby saw them. He could have just thrown it out and lied, but Dean knew that lying to Bobby Singer was like trying to lick your own elbow, not impossible but not many people can do it, and Dean was defiantly not one of them. Stealing himself Dean opened the door and called out to his Adoptive father, letting the middle aged man know he was home from Football Practice. After receiving a short "Yeah yeah" from the man, he made his way into the kitchen. Bobby was seated at the dinner table, reading the paper with a cup of what dean assumed was coffee; halfway between the man's mouth and the table. The teen cleared his throat to grab the man's attention, when he looked up from his paper and raised one brow at Dean waiting for the boy to speak.

"So um….Bobby… Here’s my progress report…." Setting the piece of paper on the table, he started to shift his weight from foot to foot, waiting as Bobby took the paper and stared at the four marks on the page. Science-30% English-40% Math-20% and Social-35%. When he heard a heavy sigh come from the older man, Dean looked up and gave him a weak smile. "What can I say, never been very bright, that's Sammy's thing". Bobby shook his head and placed the paper back onto the table and motioned for Dean to have a seat. After he was seated Dean waited for him to start yelling, to call him an Idgit but all he was met with was silence. When he looked up from the table top and at Bobby he saw the scruffy man running his fingers through his beard thoughtfully. Finally Bobby began to speak.

"Alright boy, so far you have been doing ok with your school work. Not great but…passing, and I know that with you helping out with my Shop and with your Football you don't have much time for studying, but if you wanna keep playing Football and Graduate you have to get your grades back up to at least fifty percent" Standing up, Bobby crossed the room and picked up his laptop "I'm going to find you a tutor and when I do, for the next month or two you won't have to help out with the shop as much" Dean smiled and got up to leave but was stopped when Bobby spoke again. "Whoa hold up Princess, I can't let you get away with marks like these scoot free. I got some new parts in earlier today, move them to the shop and put them where they are supposed to go, and when you're done that clean your room, it's filthy" With that said, the scruffy man sat back down and opened his laptop .Giving a heavy sigh Dean went to do as he was told.

(The next Day)

Sam laughed as he and Dean got out of their car and started heading to the front doors of the school. "You study, Yeah right!" The younger Winchester bent over and slapped his thigh as he continued to laugh. Dean punched him in the arm and started walking faster. "Sorry dude but I feel really bad for whoever Bobby got to tutor you" Called the taller boy as he caught up with Dean "oh yeah, who IS it going to be?"

"I don't know…some kid named Castell Nova or something" said Dean as they entered the school. Sam thought for a moment before responding.

"Oh do you mean Castiel Novak?" Dean nodded "well then at least I know you're going to actually learn something, that guy's in three of my classes, and he's pretty damn smart"

Dean smirked as they came to his locker "So he's a nerd is he?" Sam frowned at his brother and shook his head.

"Dean, don't tease the poor guy, he may be really smart but he's sort of like a lost kitten when it comes to anything that isn't school work" Dean just scoffed at Sam as he pulled out his Binder and textbook for his first class. "I'm serious Dean don't be a dick to him, you need him to help you, and picking on him isn't going to make this whole 'Tutor' thing any more fun for you" Finally Dean agreed he wouldn't be "A Dick" to the kid and split away from his little brother to join his team mates as they waited for the morning bell to ring.

~~~

After the bell rang signaling that lunch was almost over and that they should get their books ready, Sam grabbed his Backpack from under the table and waved goodbye to his friends and made his way to his next class. As he walked into his classroom he found Castiel sitting quietly in his desk, books laid out and ready for when the second bell. Smiling, Sam put his backpack onto his own desk and headed over to the quiet boy. "Hey there Castiel!" beamed the taller teen as he squatted in front of his desk. Castiel jumped and let out a small gasp. Looking wide eyed and panicked, the smaller male looked around the empty room before looking at the younger Winchester.

"Hello Sam…." Castiel almost whispered as he lowered his gaze to his books.

Sam chuckled. "So I hear that you're going to be tutoring my big Brother from now on, just thought that since you're going to be coming over a lot now I should get to know you a little more, talk and all that" standing up and patting Castiels shoulder he continued "Also thought I should warn you, my brother is kind of stubborn and snappy, so if he says or does something stupid don't take it personally, that's just him being an idiot, oh and after school you can catch a ride with us back to our place since you start today" When Sam looked back at Castiel, the brunette nodded slowly in reply to his statement, with that the bell rang and people started to file in and take their seats. Not long after the bell rang the Teacher walked in and began class.

~~~

When the final bell rang Dean was up and out of his desk and in the hall before anyone had even started putting their things away. He quickly made his way to his locker and packed his things away and headed for front doors to wait for Sam and Castiel. Sam had texted him during their five minute break between class and told him that he invited the kid to ride home with them after school. He couldn't wait to see what this "Nerd" that Bobby had found looked like. 'He probably has glasses and acne' Dean thought to himself with a chuckle. Dean didn't have to wait long, he saw Sam coming from down the hall. His baby brother towering over everyone as he brusquely walked through the hall. Looking for his tutor Dean caught a head of short dark brown hair walking right behind Sam, he couldn't see the guys face but judging from how close he was to Sam, he was most likely Castiel. When they finally reached Dean, Castiel was pretty much just hiding behind Sam. Dean raised a brow at his brother. Sam sighed and pulled the smaller male out from behind himself. "Dean, this is Castiel " when Dean saw the boy his eyes widened. He looked nothing like what he thought he would. No glasses, Big Blue eyes, pretty much flawless skin and dark brown, slightly messy hair. Dean was brought out of his staring by a cough from his brother.

"Alright then, Nice to meet ya Castiel, now let's get this show on the road" chimed Dean as he turned on his heal and headed out the door. When the three of them were in the car and on their way back to Bobby's place, Castiel quietly spoke.

"Thank you for giving me a ride, I appreciate it" Dean smiled and shook his head, making eye contact with the younger boy in the rear-view mirror.

"Hey, not a problem Cas you were going to be coming over later anyway, may as well save your parents some gas right?" Sam raised an eyebrow at his brother but stayed quiet. Dean usually hated giving other people rides, even if it was in the same direction they were going.

Bobby was just walking out of the Shop when the boys pulled into the driveway. The older man made his way towards the car as the three got out and called out a greeting. Bobby and Castiel shook hands "Hello sir, thank you for asking me to help your son with his studies" Bobby laughed and patted the teens shoulder.

"No need to be so formal boy, Call me Bobby, and thank you for agreeing to help this Idgit with his schoolwork" with that Bobby turned to the other two boys. "Sam you go and start filing the paperwork in the shop, and you" he paused to poke Dean in the chest, "Forgot clean your room like I asked yesterday" Castiel squinted his eyes slightly and tilted his head to the side as he watched the scene. After Dean and Bobby finished arguing Dean lead the younger boy to the house and into the living room.

Dean cleared his throat as they sat cross legged on the floor and spread out their textbooks. "So Cas...where do we start?"

Castiel tilted his head to the side and thought for a moment. "What is the subject you have the lowest mark in?"

Dean sighed. Castiel sat waiting for an answer. "Math...i'm really bad at math" replied Dean as he pulled his Math Textbook out.

Castiel held his hand out, silently asking for the book. "Alright Dean lets get started then"

#supernatural #destiel #highschool au #nerd castiel #jock dean #fanfiction #disaster bi #bisexual dean

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motherlifesucher-archives · 6 years

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Doomed from the start l Shawn Mendes Imagines.

(a/n): I’M SAD SO HERE GOES A SAD PIECE OF WRITING FOR YOU <3.

prompt: Heartbreak is hard, especially when you have to deal with it in front of the cameras and your ex makes an appearance with his new girlfriend.

For the first time on your entire career, you wanted to tell your fans to back off and leave you the hell alone.

You didn’t want to see comments saying things were going to be alright, that he wasn’t worth your time, that they were supporting you.

You didn’t want to face the world after deleting every evidence of you and him together, even if you knew it was stupid because there were hundreds of fan accounts creating theories to try to understand why their favorite couple wasn’t together anymore, and there were even more pictures of you holding hands with him on every continent.

At first, you didn’t leave your house for a week, posting stupid Instagram stories of a movie so it wouldn’t look like you were drowning, but you were…

The first time you left your house it was to go to the gym, but immediately regretted it as paparazzi yelled the obvious questions as you tried to block your eyes from the blinding lights.

Did Shawn cheat on you?

Are you gonna write about him on your next album?

Is it just PR?

Shielding yourself with your bag, you forcefully opened the door of your car and ran away from the harsh words and flashes.

On the other hand, Shawn was standing of a crowd, singing songs that reminded him of you.

Long nights missing each other’s touch because of the distance, only to be rewarded with a week enjoying each other’s company.

He couldn’t stop directing his eyes to the side of the stage, picturing you with your arms crossed and a smile on your face, making him feel like there was only one person that mattered between the thousands that were singing along his songs.

Funnily enough, he was the one who decided it was time to call it quits.

It was 10 PM in LA, where you were recording the new album, trying to find the perfect note to finish a very cheesy love song dedicated to him.

Meanwhile, Shawn was in Rio, performing on a very important stage when he decided to make the call.

He had just discovered there was so much more to discover, things he wanted to try and he couldn’t do that with you.

He didn’t use those exact words, but it was what he implied as he admired the beach just across the street from his hotel.

You didn’t cry.

You didn’t yell at him.

You just cut the call and said the song could wait, locking yourself in a room with a notebook and a pen.

He didn’t know what he expected, but it certainly wasn’t that.

He expected yelling, not silence.

It suddenly felt too real; he could go to the beach and find a pretty girl to spend the night with.

It was fine for the first week, until he noticed you weren’t following on Instagram anymore, and his latest post was filled with people asking why you had deleted every evidence that you had ever been together, and suddenly, he didn’t want random girls, he wanted you to tell him about your day.

It was the first time he allowed himself to break down, trying to understand the reason why he had taken such a stupid decision.

He tried to call you, but you just weren’t having any of it.

After two weeks, you decided to go back to the studio, with new songs that reflected how you were feeling.

And a good friend had contacted you to do something together, and it couldn’t have been better.

In a matter of two days you were flying to Amsterdam, to meet Martin Garrix who had the perfect song and only needed the perfect voice, which was you.

Paparazzi captured your way in and out Martin’s apartment, where he had his studio, and of course words traveled fast as you excused yourself and finally answered Shawn’s call.

You took a deep breath before answering: “Hey”

The only thing heard was Shawn’s breathing.

You sighed, “I’m busy, I don’t have time for games.”

“You can’t move on.” he said with a broken voice.

“I’m sorry?”

“We broke up two weeks ago, you can’t be with someone new! What was I to you?” He asked and you almost laughed.

“You can’t tell me that. You honestly can’t be telling me this because I thought we were fine, I thought we had overcome every fucking thing this world had thrown to us but it just meant nothing, to you it meant nothing! So I don’t owe you explanations, I just want you to stay the hell out of my life.”

“You are being dramatic, how…” he was going to continue but you didn’t want to hear it.

“I think I earned the right to be freaking dramatic if I want to, and I mean it, stay the hell away from me.”

The call ended just like that, leaving a frustrated Shawn, not only because you didn’t wanna talk to him, but because, in his eyes, you were with someone else.

After taking deep breath, you found Martin and his team again, only this time you had your emotions running high, giving Martin your phone and asking him to take a picture of you behind the mic.

Some stories aren’t worth telling 📸 : @martingarrix.

Shawn had to delete the app so he could stop thinking about you for a little bit.

Months went by and you didn’t hear about Shawn.

You didn’t want to see how he was doing, but you still checked your camera roll every now and then, holding onto the memories just in case you never got to do that again with him.

Because, yes, a part of you still hated him, but the other kind of assumed this was temporary and it wasn’t going to last because you were meant to be.

Behind every memory, there was a wish.

Behind the photo of you and Shawn on Splash Mountain, was the wish of some day taking your kids to Disney World.

But instead, your album was full of angry songs, trying to tell the story of every feeling burning inside of you.

Now, you were promoting the album at Capital FM, with Roman Kemp, who you felt a little too comfortable with.

“So, (y/n)! I’m loving the new album, it’s amazing.” He said and you smiled.

“Thank you so much!”

“The collaboration with Niall is so good, it really got me. You both sound spectacular, I can't wait to hear it live.”

“I’m so happy that you liked it! We worked very hard on that one so it’s super rewarding to hear that.”

Roman kept asking about the album, until he looked at you and sighed,

“I know you know what I'm going to ask now.” He told you with a playful tone.

“Are you gonna start playing ‘Shout Out to My Ex’?” you joked and Roman laughed.

“This is why I like you so much!” he chuckled, “This sucks, cause I know you both and it really saddens me to ask this.”

“Just bring it on, I’m ready.” you playfully rolled your eyes, making Roman put his hands in the air.

“Why? You two had been together for years and it all seemed so sudden.”

You wanted to laugh and answer you still didn’t know why, but decided against it, “I think we had too much going on and kind of forgot of our relationship, but we’re still very good friends.” Lie.

“Do you see yourself getting back together in the future?” You hesitated, “Not really.”

“Sounds harsh.” Roman joked.

“We’re both in good places now, I’d like it to stay that way.”

After that, Roman changed the subject to your song with Martin, the new tour and played a game.

When you weren’t on air anymore, he asked for a picture and if you were free to grab some drinks.

Your head was a mess, you weren’t over Shawn and had declined every offer to go out with someone.

Until Roman.

You were nominated for four EMA’s, and Shawn had six nominations.

After three months of not seeing each other, tonight was the night.

He was performing, you were performing.

But he had a date.

Hailey Baldwin.

They didn’t appear together on the red carpet, but everyone knew thy were together.

You prayed to not be seen by his Nana, some of the first persons Shawn had introduced you to when you started dating almost three years ago.

Your team, and you were sure Andrew too, had talked to the producers to avoid any contact between the two of you, but for some reason, you hadn’t been able to stand up and go to the bathroom when Shawn performed.

You had him meters away from you, and you could hear how tired he was, but the passion on his voice was just the same you remembered from his concerts, where you could feel every word was directed to you as he looked for your eyes.

Not holding back anymore, you stood up as soon as he was done and walked to the backstage area.

Just as you were reaching the bathroom, someone grabbed your arm and pulled you inside a dimly lit room.

His eyes found yours and you didn’t know what to say.

His cheeks were flushed due to the performance, but his breathing was uneven because he felt everything with just one touch.

You could hear people running and screaming down the busy hallway, but it didn’t seem to matter as you bit your lip.

“I’ve done everything to stay the hell away from you, but I’m so sorry.” Shawn said, finally letting go go your arm.

“Why are you sorry?” you said on a thin voice.

“I didn’t now what I was doing, and I screwed up. I screwed us up.” He confessed, and he felt free of the weight he had been carrying on his shoulders for months now.

“I wasn’t ready to find you. I didn’t want to find you.”

“I know, I’m sorry.”

“I’m so sorry... For whatever I did to make you take that decision, I’m so sorry.” You swiftly wiped away the tear that made its way down your cheek.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen.” Shawn whispered.

“This wasn’t supposed to happen.” you repeated, not daring to look at him.

The tension was palpable, regret filled your eyes as he placed his hand on your wrist and brought you closer to his body.

You wanted to whisper his name, but nothing came out as his soft lips made contact with yours.

You didn’t move, you only savored the moment as he separated his lips, only to crash them again with more strength, gripping your waist through your dress as you knotted your fingers on his hair, trying to get a reaction from him, trying to prove to yourself this wasn’t another dream, but his lips were the same shape you remembered, his breathing get the same way against your face, and the way he squeezed your waist was too familiar.

The moment was interrupted by your mind screaming that he wasn't alone.

There was someone else.

Someone on the very same arena you were making out; she could be outside the room for all you knew.

“Shawn...” you whispered against his lips, “you already have someone.”

“I don’t care, I don’t care...” he repeated.

“This is wrong.” you placed your hands on his cheeks.

“I know, that’s why it feels so right.” he tried to lock your lips with his again.

“I’m leaving London tomorrow, same hotel. You let me know if this is worth fighting for.”

With those words, you detached your body and looked for a mirror to fix your make up.

“She seems like a good girl.” you said before closing the door behind you.

Five seconds passed until someone tapped your shoulder, indicating it was your turn to present an award.

Now, you had to stand in front of the crowd, thinking of how his lips felt against yours, and if he was going to make the right choice.

But deep inside, you knew he wasn’t going to skip the after party to go find you.

#shawn mendes #shawn mendes imagine #shawn mendes blurb #shawn mendes fanfic

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