Tumgik
#just... i miss when things were easy like
i4oba · 3 days
Text
nct dream as… !%# types of dates .. 🥣⋆☄︎. *. ⋆
[non-idol ver.! just so you know eheh]
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
✰ MARK — drive-in theater
it honestly came to mind pretty randomly, as you two got back from your last exam of the semester, driving mindlessly for about two hours — not because you didn’t know what you want to do, but because you two simply just enjoyed doing nothing??? but so many things at the same???
just listening to the mixtape you made for mark, singing so loud everyone could hear since the windows were rolled down too… you felt a sense of freedom? some kind of… relief from the burdens??? it was a pretty hectic exam season you two had to endure and since it was finally over.. you couldn’t keep your excitement low
looking at each other with love and adoration, exhaustion vanishing in the company of the other one — it honestly should be studied? how easy it is for you two to affect the other???
you stumbled upon the drive-in theater by accident, it wasn’t planned or anything, you just wanted to simply spend your night at mark’s place and call it a day, watch a movie on his laptop while cuddling and stuff
but when you spotted the sign you couldn’t help but exclaim, getting all excited over it, even slapping mark’s upper arm… poor boy winced and just said “hey, no need to kill the driver”
you didn’t even need to convince him honestly, he immediately agreed and there you were… not knowing what was actually screening, blindly finding a good spot you two can park and enjoy the movie
it would’ve slapped if it was some kind of slasher horror from the 80s… but it was casablanca
WHICH IS SO CLICHÉ I KNOW BUT it makes So much sense and honestly, it’s such a big game changer to see it like that. it’s like an opportunity you shouldn’t miss
mark got some popcorn and something to drink, to make the whole atmosphere even more “vibey”, as he said, and you two just.. turned off your minds and watch the movie
discussing it and everything, like FELLAS, that’s the right experience! that’s how you watch a movie!!! YOU GOTTA ANALYZE THE SHIT OUT OF IT!!!!!!! ahah
in the end, when almost everyome drove away from the theater, leaving you two here with like.. only 3 other cars, mark gave a kiss on your lips, as a way of celebrating it all. it was for a fleeting moment only, yet it was so sweet and full of emotions
it was a reward, of some sort.
✰ RENJUN — museum date
there was this new exhibition at the local fine arts museum so… it wasn’t even a question that you two would literally RUN (and get a good use of the student discount ahah, it’s a lifesaver!)
casually choosing some elegant clothes which, of course, had to be matching to a certain extent – people HAVE TO see that you guys are together, plus it would look so good on the pictures
you expected lot more of people since it was the first week of the grand opening but it wasn’t that crowded. Which is a good thing honestly, you hate it when it’s sooo full you cannot even move properly
it was an exhibition of some impressionist works by some of the most renowed painters, it was a must to not only look the best, but to prepare yourself for a long day of strolling around
you usually spend tons of time in museums anyways, but this also as part of a date??? the security would have to kick you out asap.. ahah
renjun immediately reached for your hands to hold, while walking around, looking at the beautiful paintings, talking about whatever came to mind – not just about art itself, topics changed so fast you couldn’t even realize it by the time it did
being in art school meant that renjun can sometimes tell you little fun facts and tips&tricks he had learnt in uni
sometimes it amazes how well informed he is and how he knows so many know-hows.. not like you weren’t aware, you absolutely knew he’s smart AND TALENTED, but still ahah
after a good… 3 hours or so? you two decided to end the date with a quick stop at the museum shop :DDD it’s a must honestly, you gotta buy every magnet and postcard you can… especially of such beautiful paintings???!!! you would be stupid if you left without Anything
so you two bought tons of stuff… even some things you can exchange, as if they were gifts for one another :,) ahhh…
you just have to print out that picture of you two, taken in front of that big painting of mesmerizing flowers: renjun kissing you softly, hands on your waist, eyes closed
✰ JENO — stargazing
you had been planning this for literal days before… you know, getting everything together, like those cool ass lamps in a jar bottle with the led stuff, blankets you bought from a nearby art shop?? which sold basically everything??? ahah
drinks and snacks too… you were honestly So Ready to go stargazing! :D
you were supposed to go to that rather tiny park of the town which is mostly empty. that’s why you decided on going there, avoid people and stuff, just the two of you, looking at the constellations >:( honestly it’s so romantic it makes me Cringe (i crave it)
but in the end, you two decided to stay at yours instead, since your parents left for the weekend anyways, which is just a bonus: it’s the two of you in the backyard with the vast sky full of stars
idyllic??? romantic??? adorable and unforgettable??????
All of the above
at first, you two just sat down on the swing bed your father recently bought at a random flea market he religiously visited every weekend :,)
but then, to use the blanket you brought outside (what a tiresome task ahah), you two laid down on the ground instead
the first constellation you spotted was the big dipper, exclaiming when you noticed it on the sky, gently shoving jeno’s shoulder, who was rather nonchalant at first
he then, of course matched your energy, and got super super excited, especially after noticing the ursa major :D he felt like he accomplished his life goal or something ahah (hes so stupid but in a cute way)
what the cherry on top was is his hands, reaching for yours, fingers intertwining, as your heart warmed up – you looked at him, his beautiful face, and noticed that adorable eyesmile of his
life felt good. you felt at home
✰ HAECHAN — restaurant hop
he fucking hates cooking lmfao he’s all like “yo girl i don’t think we should let Me get near that oven… we might burn up the whole house IJBOL” (he would definitely use ijbol irl)
so you were like…
hyuck, you literally don’t even have to come to kitchen bro, i will cook… which happens most of the times when you decide to stay at home for dates
but this day!!! to spare you from the tiring task of cooking!!!!!!!! he said that you guys should try out restaurant hopping
you were confused as hell honestly, like wdym you want that, aren’t you a picky mf lmfao
but he said that he’s feeling adventurous and is pretty much lazy to go hiking or anything that a sane person would go for
and he felt hungry so it was like the best choice in his eyes – you were sick of spending most of your nights at his (shared…) apartment so you agreed after like… 5 secs of persuading
you wanted to plan out where you should go and maybe book a table at some restaurant but he was all like “honey, we should be spontaneous, go with the flow…”, so you did???? Ahah
the first restaurant was not even a restaurant, it was just the first street food stall you two stumbled upon, getting something for the both of you
you didn’t want to feel full so early so you chose something light (unlike hyuck who was sure he was “alright” but after like the second stop, he was dying because his stomach was hurting “So Badly”)
you ended the restaurant hop with a donut at one of the bakeries you usually go to – you know, to finish it off with something familiar??? now lemme just say, it was chaotic, because haechan could BARELY finish it and made it your problem, whining like a little girl after every bite
like you told him not to get the biggest, sweetest and greasiest one but he was sooo sure in himself, he said he’s got an extra stomach for desserts
well… was he wrong…….
you spent 1.5 hours there!!!!!! he took so much time LMFAOXJAJX they were closing already and he still hadn’t finished
so you tried to rush him and stuff but he turned his princess mode on ahah
but at least, on the way back to his place, he bought you tulips :) it was such a sweet gesture <3
not as sweet as his donut was…… (he almost threw up the next day cause he was feeling nauseous from the food)
✰ JAEMIN — picnic date
jaemin was so excited :( he literally couldn’t stop talking about it like.. that’s right dude!!!!!! we’re going on a date!!!!!! A PICNIC DATE!!!!!
he would literally live in the kitchen before the occasion so that he can cook&bake tons of things for you to eat :) he’s so… he’s so malewife
all you’re left to deal with is bringing the basket and checkered blanket, every other things are settled! they are in his hands, under his control :D
you two went to the park which is right next to the lake – you wanted to see swans while talking about anything and everything that came to mind (he literally compared your beauty to that of a swan… which made you almost tear up like BOY YOU DID NOT… argghhh)
it was a must to start it off with the most basic and cliché thing of everything: the chocolate covered strawberries, feeding each other all lovey-dovey, tooth rottingly sweet and stuff
everyone was possibly like “okay lemme just kms” when they spotted you two, all up on each other, legs all tangled together, stealing kisses from the other, while giggling so loudly
it was SOO so idyllic, almost like you two escaped from a romance movie, or a painting. it felt… perfect, in a way?
birds singing, the sun shining gently on your skin, while you could hear the laughter of the children running around, clouds in animal shapes
then the sun slowly setting, pinkish hues taking up the sky above, everything becoming quiet as time passes by
he hugs you tightly. tighter than ever, perhaps
✰ CHENLE — karaoke
if two weeks pass by without you and chenle going to a karaoke… Most probably it’s because you broke up or something
like girl ain’t no way you WON’T go to karaoke dates… nuh huh, impossible to even think of that ??? CHENLE, out of all people
that’s the least believable thing like i promise you!
like saturday night are for the gir- KARAOKE!!!!! :P that’s how it always goes, getting ready, putting on some casual clothes, maybe eating something quick before that, and then spending the entire time singing your lungs out
you don’t even have energy by the end of it, like it… seems impossible to even crawl back home :,)
but honestly it’s all worth it, comparing your score and stuff, seeing which one of you sings better
sometimes you just open instagram and do lives too, so that your followers can pick who they liked more
(it’s always chenle’s acc though like SO MANY people follows him, he’s like a celebrity… ahah!)
haechan always comes to watch and roasts the both of you, especially when it can be seen that chenle kisses you here and there
he types “EWWWW GET A ROOM FREAKS” and thinks he’s hilarious lmfao
you always start the date with a quick and energetic song, one that boost your energy up easily and then… honestly it depends on your mood
sometimes you gotta be in your moods and sing romantic ballads to each other, as if it’s a serenade
but then again, moods swing so quickly and you can end up in a rap battle too
you would totally eat him up tbh… and he knows it so well
he finishes the date off with the most cheesiest, lovely romantic song ever… like a confession said yet again, for the hundreth time
✰ JISUNG — amusement park
it wasn’t his idea honestly
it was all you coming up with it, because there was that one roller coaster you’d always been scared to go on
and since you haven’t visited ever since you had jisung… you thought MAYBEEEE (just maybe) it would be better with him
you can at least hold onto him and stuff
he wanted to eat before the ride though… you did not let him, of course, since you didn’t want him to throw up on you AHAH
but like, why did he came there RAVENOUS? duh … you’re gonna say goodbye to your guts on the ride girl what did you expect
but you know, the ride wasn’t even the part you enjoyed the most – it was good, of course, just not that… outstanding? i guess? it was alright… especially because you could hold jisung’s hand so tightly :,) it was honestly so adorable
they should’ve taken pictures of you like you’re sure you would’ve put it on the fridge or something
but after that, you went to the gift shop, to get those silly headbands!!!!! you got one that resembled a cat, and jisung got one with a hamster >:( it was adorbs
you two looked like those IT couples that you can always see in instagram, you know, holding hands, taking silly candid pictures and then eating sooo much food
FINALLY!!! thought jisung probably ahah you got so many sweets it was like you could feel your tooth decaying lmfao
at the end of the day, you two decided to try out the freshly opened photo booth which had been going viral for weeks
it was… an experience to say the least :,) but the pictures came out prettier than ever!!!! except for the one where jisung sneezed and you got all scared because he was Loud loud ahah
but the compensation was a fleeting kiss on your cheek! which was also captured on one of the pictures :)
187 notes · View notes
yellowharrington · 2 days
Text
all i really want (is you) -- carmy berzatto x reader
Tumblr media
pairing + fandom: carmen "carmy" berzatto x reader, the bear fx
word count: 3k
warnings: smut! 18+, minors pls dni. afab!reader with pullable hair, no use of y/n. light daddy kink and dom/sub undertones. spanking, exhibitionism, oral (m + f receiving), unprotected piv + creampie, reader and carmy both drink alcohol. please let me know if i missed anything :)
a/n: this is depraved. thanks @wtfsteveharrington for reigniting my need to write about carmy lmao. title is from "all i really want is you" by the marias. please leave comments or reblogs if you liked it <3
divider by @cafekitsune
summary: carmy secretly books a lake-front hotel room in chicago for your anniversary.
Tumblr media
Carmy would be the first to admit he’s not very good at being romantic.
He forgets, lets things slip through the cracks, time and time again. He makes up for it, and you understand of course, but he’s working on it.
When your anniversary is approaching, he knows he has to make a plan. Busy with the restaurant, the menu, the money - all of it was overwhelming, but your not-so-subtle reminder of the date gave him the idea.
“So…” you had joined him in your shared kitchen, hand brushing through his curls as he slaved over a pan sauce he’d been perfecting.
“Yes?” He wasn’t annoyed - never annoyed, by you - but in the thralls of cooking, nonetheless.
“It’s our anniversary next weekend and I was thinking we’d try out that new restaurant you were talking about. You know… the one that’s suuuuuper hard to get a reservation at?” You smiled coyly as he held out the spoon with the hot liquid on it, wordlessly asking you for a taste-test. 
“Sounds good,” he had remarked, pressing a soft kiss to your cheek and returning to the task at hand. “I’ll make a call.”
“Thank you, Carm,” you let your hands roam his clothed back as you feel the sauce between your lips and on your tongue. “That’s delicious.”
He hummed in response, as your hands drifted down to his sides and played at the hem of his t-shirt. “After our anniversary dinner I have a little… present for you.”
Before he could respond, you had slipped away to the bedroom, only flashing him a smirk before closing the door.
The weekend of your anniversary had approached quickly, and Carmy had actually managed to get everything in place. The reservation for dinner was set, his gift burning a hole in his pocket, and thoughts of what your gift to him may entail swirling around in his head. 
You walked out of your shared bedroom, adorning a black dress that hugged your body perfectly. Jewelry to match - done up just right, effortlessly perfect for the occasion. His hand came up to his mouth as he took you in, thanking whatever God above that brought you to him.
“Too much?” You asked, toying with your hair in the mirror and correcting the edge of your lipstick. 
“No,” Carmy answered, coming up behind you in the mirror and admiring your form. “Perfect.”
You felt yourself blush as he took your hand and held it to his lips, kissing your knuckles and pulling you into him. “Ready?” 
~
Dinner came and passed, shared glasses of wine between the two of you as you reminisced about past times together. Carmy had always been shy, but easy to talk to, especially when he had some time to open up. You gave him space to do that - he’d never felt more comfortable with anybody before, somebody he trusted with everything. You listened, told him what he needed to hear when he needed to hear it, and kept him in check all while supporting him from the sidelines and meshing perfectly into his insane life. He was eternally grateful for finding you.
He slides a small box across the table at dinner, and when you open it up, you gasp at what’s inside. A dainty necklace, a glossy “C” hanging on the end of it, where it would sit against your chest. 
You let his deft fingers close the tiny clasp behind your neck, the pendant hanging perfectly, glimmering in the amber candlelight of the restaurant. “You’re gonna make me cry,” you laugh through a watery smile, Carmy’s hand crossing the table to slide into yours. Warm skin against warm skin, you smile at his small display of affection, tilting your glass towards him as he clinked it with yours. 
You notice something might be up when you get back into his car, and he doesn’t take the turn off back to your shared apartment. Instead, he veers off into another lane, holding onto your thigh and giving it a gentle squeeze for encouragement. 
You’re down by the water now, making a confused expression at your surroundings. City lights around you, the bustling of other people on dates or nights out, as Carmy pulls into the parking lot of a hotel. 
“What are we doing here?” You look at the people stepping into the hotel lobby, some dressed in clothing that was probably more than your rent. He wordlessly turns off his car and exits through the driver’s side, saying something to the valet before grabbing a bag out of the back seat and rounding back to your side. He opens the door for you and takes your hand, before leading you through the doors and into the grand front lobby.
Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling above as he took your hand and lead you to the front desk, a confused scowl still across your features. The person at the front desk waved you two over, typing something into the computer. “Good evening. Checking in?”
Carmy nods, handing over his ID and credit card before smiling down at you.
“We’re checking in?”
“Happy Anniversary.”
You have to make sure your mouth isn’t hanging open, as Carmy’s coy smile plays along his lips. 
“You didn’t have to do all of this,” you whisper to him, feeling heat spread across your cheeks as you take in your surroundings. Your hand slips into his as you press your cheek to his jacketed shoulder. “Let me show you to your room.”
An elevator ride to the top floor has you antsy, as the attendant opens the door for you to your room. She reveals a lake-front room, with views of the harbour, twinkling lights in the distance reflecting onto the massive floor-to-ceiling window. “Is it to your liking, Mr. and Mrs. Berzatto?”
A blush runs up your cheeks as the insinuation. Carmy didn’t correct her, just slipped her a tip and assured her the room was perfect. The door clicked politely behind you as you stepped into the room and kicked off your shoes. You turned around to meet Carmy’s eyes as his expression softened, your hands coming up to cup his face.
“I can’t believe you did this.” You’re breathless, still taking in this grand gesture he’d somehow planned completely behind your back.
“You deserve it,” he said simply, tongue darting between his lips as a strong hand came to overlap yours. 
~
The sun had gone down now, navy sky further illuminating the lights below. Rain slacked against the window, simultaneously hard and soft, the glow of the bedside lamps casting shadows on the walls as you got yourself settled. Carmy had abandoned his jacket and tie, leaving him in a crisp white button-up shirt and black slacks. He was laid back on the bed, one hand behind his head, taking some time to relax.
You dipped into the bathroom, smoothing out your hair and checking your makeup in the mirror. You undid the back of your dress and let it slip down your body into a pool on the tile, revealing the gift you’d picked out for Carmy. A black lace set - cupping your breasts perfectly. Lace panties to match, connected to stockings that came high up on your thighs. 
You stepped out, stocking-clad feet soft against the carpet. Carmy immediately notices, eyes blown wide as he sits up to take you in. 
“Thought you might want your gift now,” you sauntered towards him and met him at the end of the bed, his thighs spread for you to fit between them. His hands immediately came up to touch - to confirm you were real, mostly - because his brain was telling him you weren’t.
You looked down at him, cupping his chin with your hand and the other coming down to his shoulder. Pushing down on him gently, his back hit the mattress, wild eyes not moving off of you for even a second. 
You move to straddle his lap, fingers coming down to start unfurling the buttons on his shirt, revealing the soft skin of his chest. Carmy’s rough, calloused fingertips pressed into the plush skin of your hips, eyes wanting to flutter closed but being too entranced by the sight before him to look away. 
His fiery eyes fell to the swell of your breasts, hands coming up to press and squeeze at the skin there, thumbs ghosting over your hard nipples. You felt your back arch, pressing against his palms, wanting more, as much of him as you could get. 
Carmy’s hands slid down your body to find your clothed core, eliciting a small moan from your lips. You rutted into his hand slightly, feeling his skilful fingers start to work at you over the lace.
You weren’t expecting to give him the upper hand, but it was hard not to submit to his touch - wholly his, looking down at him but still feeling as though he had all the power.
He was sitting up now, pushing your panties to the side and feeling the slick between your folds, maintaining eye contact with you through it all. “Carm,” you panted, strained, embarrassed to be coming apart for him already.
As if he knew, he pulled away, wordlessly bringing his fingers up to your lips. You wrapped your mouth around them, letting your tongue dart between the digits as he wet them with your spit.
“Pretty girl,” he muttered, only loud enough for you to hear, earnest eyes looking up at you, fuzzy around the edges with lust. “My pretty slut, aren’t you?”
“Just for you,” you replied, a smirk on the corner of your lip as he swiftly grabbed your hips and flipped you to have your back on the soft hotel comforter.
He stood before you, giving you a chance to unbutton the rest of his shirt and undo his dress pants, his hand now cradling your chin. You pushed his slacks to the floor, rubbing his thick cock over the fabric of his black boxers. His hand came down to pet your hair, taking a fistful of it at the nape and pulling it back to reveal your shiny lips and eager eyes to him. The pendant he purchased for you glinted in the light.
“Tell me how bad you want it.”
His firm hand on the back of your neck was enough to make your cunt weep, even without his touch. “Please, I need your cock. Please.”
“Good girl. Sit up, all fours.”
You quickly found yourself on your knees on the soft bed, as he let his cock free. He pumped it a few times, angling your mouth with his grip to allow it to drop open. He pressed forward, slipping in between your wet lips and eliciting a carnal groan from his throat. You let yourself submit to his face-fucking, using your mouth to get himself off, leaking tip pressing against the back of your throat. You gagged around him, throat constricting, which only emboldened him to continue. Spit escaped the corners of your lips as you took him in, swallowing him down, all while looking up and batting your long lashes at him. 
“Taking it so good,” he remarked, with a particularly long thrust into your throat. Leaning forward, his broad hand found a fistful of your ass, squeezing it before planting a firm spank. A yelp escaped your lips, as tears pricked at the corners of your eyes from the force of him in your throat.  
He pulled you off, cock bobbing between his legs before he smeared the spit that had collected all over your plush lips. “So fucking good for me, baby.”
You smiled triumphantly as he leaned down to kiss you sloppily, mixing your spit with his and taking the time to undo your bra and throw it to the ground. 
You didn’t even mind when he pushed you back onto the bed, pulling the stockings and panties off to meet your bra on the floor, surely ripping them. His hands pushed your thighs apart, wet pussy on full display as he dove right in, not giving you even a second to catch your breath.
“Fu-uck,” your voice was hoarse and jagged, his warm tongue feeling like it was everywhere. You squirmed beneath his strong squeeze, forcing your back off the mattress as he licked a broad stripe up your centre and flashed his eyes up at you.
Your eyes were trained on his movements, knowing better than to close them. Your hand came down to his sandy curls, feeling your breath quicken as he suckled on your clit, moving his jaw in such a way that was sending an electrifying pulse up your spine.
He moved one hand from your thigh to circle your entrance with his middle finger, enjoying the way you shuddered at the feeling. “Please,” you begged, watching as he detached his tongue from your clit to simply play with your hole. “Please, I need you inside of me.”
His lips pursed as he waited for you to understand why he wasn’t proceeding. A knowing glance, a sob from you as he teased you. “Are you talking to me? I don’t think I heard you correctly.”
“Please, daddy. Please fuck me with your fingers.”
“That’s better.” He plunged into you, thick finger curling inside as you let out a choked sob, your cunt pulsing around him as he moved in and out. His lips attached to your clit once again, sucking and grinding his tongue into you, other hand coming up along your stomach to grab your tit and pinch your nipple.
You rasped his name, throat raw from his previous fucking, letting it pour out of your lips over and over. He lapped at you - feeling every quiver from your pussy and shake of your legs as he continued at a bruising pace, not letting up no matter how much you squirmed beneath him. Still pushing you into the mattress, his own cock rutting against the sheets and growing harder every second that his mouth is on you.
A white-hot feeling spread across the back of your thighs, back arched as you tugged on his hair and met his gaze. He rode out your high with you, letting you gush around his fingers and feeling waves of pleasure rise and fall as your breath steadied. Your chest heaving, sticky with sweat, mascara smeared at the edges as you laid back, feeling Carmy’s fingers pull out and his mouth detach from you.
He found himself between your thighs once more, rock-hard cock sliding between your slick folds to tease your overly sensitive clit. He kissed you, a hunger within him, arms coming up under you to hold you as close as possible. Bare skin against bare skin, his mouth sucking in your bottom lip and biting down slightly, eliciting a smile from you and a depraved moan from your lips.
You reached down between your two bodies and slipped his cock into your ready pussy, swallowing him inside of you and hearing his gasp against your lips at the friction. A shameless grunt as his hips drove into you relentlessly, his curls falling into your face as your head tipped back, letting his mouth attach to the side of your throat and suck a bruise into the soft skin beneath your ear. Your hands found the strong muscles of his back, digging them into his skin and finding your legs wrapping around his middle.
An assaulting pace, languidly in and out of you as you met his eyes, pure lust and fire behind them. You could see the idea flash across his eyes.
He pulled out of you gingerly, as you winced at the loss of contact. He pulled you up with him, towards the windows of the hotel room.
He lightly pushed you against the cold glass, earning a sinful moan from your lips as he took your hands hostage behind your back. The rain still pelted down outside, a symphony against your hard and fast breath.
“Why don’t you show all those people how you like to get fucked, huh? Show them what a slut you are?”
A devilish smile on your lips was met with your cheek against the glass, a broad palm on the opposite side of your face, as his cock slid back into your pussy with ease. Your ass was pushed out for him to land a firm slap on it once again, picking up his pace. His hand came around to push your legs apart, playing with your clit and drawing you close once again, as he released your hands to leave prints on the glass.
“Fill me up, please daddy,” you moaned, letting your head fall slack. “I want you to cum so fucking deep inside of me, fuck,” — another spank, paired with jagged thrusts as Carmy got closer to finishing — “fuck me like you own me, baby.”
“I do own you,” he growled, forehead pressed against your shoulder blades as he felt your pussy clench around him. “Cum baby, cum with all those people fucking watching you.” 
“You own me Carmen, I’m yours.” you chanted, turning around to meet his eyes. You watched his eyes glaze over and jaw hang open as his thrusts slowed, making a mess of your pussy as he came deep inside of you.
Your second orgasm followed soon after, cock twitching inside of you as you clenched around him. He pressed a kiss to your shoulder as you stepped away from the glass, legs unstable as a furious warmth came up over your cheeks.
After getting cleaned up together in the bathroom, he flicked off the light as you turned towards the window. His body pressed up against yours, arm secured around your waist as he peppered kisses along your neck and shoulders, musing about how beautiful you are.
“Best thing that’s ever happened to me,” he whispered, another kiss to the outer shell of your ear that made a shiver go up your spine. “I love you more than anything.”
You curled into him and listened to the relaxing rain, his steadying breath and strong arm lulling you safely to sleep.
152 notes · View notes
tiredfox64 · 2 days
Note
May i make a request? So pretty much fem reader is a a kill for hire, (with morals) no innocents etc) and liu kang sand either bi han kuai and smoke, or kung lao and raiden, to recruit her, they watch,as she asks all bubbly and sweet to lure in her tagret only to kill them easily, posion or something?. They ofc fall in love XD
She Would Hurt A Fly
Prior notes: You not one of my opps trying to convict me of something, right? FBI already trying to get me after my constant research on Datura. Don’t put me in jail for making a murder scene 👁️👁️.
Pairing: Lin Kuei Bros x Afab reader
Warnings‼️: Violence but you will learn something about pigs.
Tumblr media
“You want us to fetch…her?” Bi-Han asked with uncertainty.
All the brothers looked down at a picture of you that was given to them by Liu Kang. No offense but you seem like some ordinary person. But according to Liu Kang you are a tricky woman who is a fierce killer. That can’t be right.
“She looks so sweet though.” Tomas said.
“Do not judge, lest ye be judged.” Liu Kang replied.
“You said she was an assassin that can be hired? If you have the Lin Kuei at your side, why would you need someone else like her that you have to pay for?” Kuai Liang had a point.
“Though true that I have your clan by my side, she can do something none of you were trained to do. I don’t question the Lin Kuei’s abilities but I need someone with her unique expertise.”
Liu Kang’s words only fueled their curiosity even more. Bi-Han was somewhat upset with the god for thinking that he needs someone else other than his clan. But if his words are true he wants to see it for himself. So they’ll accept this quest to get you. They won’t act immediately however. They need to see if you are truly needed. What can you do that is so different?
══💤══╡°˖✧🦊✧˖°╞══💤══
Target acquired. Your target: a lowlife scum who is somehow let free after committing his heinous crime. People talk, and they all think he somehow paid the judge for his freedom. Some even think he had the justice system by the balls way earlier than when he committed the crime. And you were hired to kill him in any way you see fit. You would have done this job for free but your clients insisted that you deserve the pay. Work your magic girl! You have an audience with you now that you don’t even know about.
Bi-Han, Kuai Liang, and Tomas hide in the bushes and behind trees to keep an eye on you. It looked they were just stalking a poor woman who was having some car problems in front of her farm home. You could have fooled anyone.
“Should we help her?” Tomas asked.
“Do we look like mechanics, Tomas? Do us a favor and keep your mouth shut.” Bi-Han berated him.
“Settle down, brother. You are only irritated because she has not done anything yet. How about we approach her now and-“ Kuai Liang was cut off when he heard you yell out to someone. All their heads turned to see what you were going on about. Time for action.
You were waving over your target and started asking for help. You acted like a clueless damsel in distress. A poor woman who can’t get her truck to start working.
“Please sir, I need your help. My car is acting all strange. Please sir, I’d really appreciate it.” You gave him your sweetest voice while looking up at him with puppy dog eyes.
Who could say no to a face like yours. He accepted which made you jump for joy and clap your hands. That wasn’t fake you were just happy that he accepted in the first place, already making the job go smoothly. Your target had no idea what he was walking into. Hell, he even thought the same thing that you were making this too easy for him. It would be him who will fall victim to you.
You kept your act going. You asked dumb questions about the car and acted all sweet when he corrected you about something. Yet you were only pissing Bi-Han off even more. He wanted to yell at you to do something else. Kill him already. The brothers were all missing the point that this was how you do your. The fact is you lure your targets in. Give them a false sense of security before striking them down. They only know how to sneak up and strike when the opportunity opens up. You just have more patience than them. They don’t have to wait any longer because now you are striking.
You offered to get the man a drink for being so kind to you. He accepted of course. You were quick with getting him a cup and you passed it to him. He looked at you strangely as he looked down into the cup with blue liquid inside of it. He asked you what was inside. You reassured him it was just Calypso lemonade, nothing bad. Well, he trusted you. You built his trust up before, why would a sweet and bubbly lady like you mess with a man’s drink?
He gulped it down quickly and immediately he started reacting. The brothers turned their full attention onto him. Alright, so maybe you weren’t so truthful. Maybe you put in some drain cleaner that was a similar color to the lemonade. Maybe, just maybe. They watched him stubble away from you while holding his throat.
“What’s happening? Did she do something?” Tomas asked, convinced he blinked and missed what you did.
“I don’t know. He just started coughing.” Kuai Liang might not know but Bi-Han suspected there was something else they weren’t thinking of.
Of course you won’t stab a man in broad daylight. You’re a professional. And then it clicked.
“Poison”
“What was that?” Both brothers asked Bi-Han.
“She has clearly poisoned him. The fool was too stupid to realize she was luring him in.” Bi-Han wants to act like he wasn’t doubting you just a few moments ago.
“I’m a no-rust-build-up woman, myself.” You declared to the guy as you watched him crawl away from you, still keeping up that sweet voice.
And just like that he was gone. No blood left over or screams to already anyone else. A quick yet painful death for him and a job well done. Now to dispose of the body.
You left quite an impression on the boys. Kuai Liang finds your tactic to be effective. You fooled them all and he find that incredible. Tomas thinks you would be amazing as a huntress. You have the patience and the sneakiness to be one. He wouldn’t mind learning a thing or two from you. And Bi-Han…what the fuck is he doing.
“Brother, are you…smiling?” Kuai Liang looks confused and Tomas seems horrified.
Bi-Han doesn’t say a word, only hums in response. He’s smiling as he watches you drag the body over the pig pen. This isn’t like a smile one does when they are day dreaming about their crush. No, this is a smile that says he likes you but not in the right ways. A closed-mouth smile that shows no warmth but a devilish desire.
You are a deceitful woman who has tricked all. You trap your victims by giving them a false sense of security. You leave no evidence and do it silently so no one would know. You are leaving that man’s family clueless of his demise. You are wicked and he likes that a lot.
Again he’s not alone in that. Tomas would like to get close to you just to learn your tricks as well. Maybe see if that persona is actually you or just some trick. Either way he wants to get to know you. Kuai Liang is awed by intellect and you have sure shown that by your well constructed plan. He can see why you are even worthy of hiring. You do it so effortlessly it makes your beauty pop out more. We got some bachelors over here.
“Should we go up to her now and tell her Lord Liu Kang’s proposal?” Tomas stepped in front of Bi-Han when asking that question. The only response he got was Bi-Han’s hand in his face, pushing him away so Bi-Han could keep looking at you.
They’ll wait this out a bit. At least it will give you enough time to dump the body into the pig pen and feed your poor, hungry pigs. They can stomach it.
══💤══╡°˖✧🦊✧˖°╞══💤══
You were brought before Lord Liu Kang who told you he would like to have you around. It was a big shock to you. A god wants to hire you? Slap that on your resume immediately.
You accepted the offer quickly. You thanking him for seeing that you are a good person at heart and only try to kill those who deserve such a fate. An antihero if you will. And hey, you have the chance to meet some new people now. Bi-Han, Kuai Liang, and Tomas seem to be really interested in getting to know you.
Liu Kang was very suspicious of their intentions though. Mostly Bi-Han since he still had that devilish smirk on his face as he stared at you. He hasn’t even talked he just keeps giving off that low hum. Something is off. Maybe he won’t have you train with the Lin Kuei.
“Perhaps I shall send you to the Wu Shi Academy. They might be a better fit for you.” Liu Kang said in perfect earshot of the brothers.
A collective ‘no’ rang out from them which told you and him everything. They like you, they like your skills. They just won’t have any drink you give them. Especially not a Calypso.
After notes: Heathers is free on YouTube. It’s really important you know that. Might give a hint on how I thought of this. Might also be craving a Calypso badly. That Southern Peach gets me.
153 notes · View notes
yourfatherlucifer · 3 days
Text
Our Aurora : Chapter 2
Tumblr media
Poly!Ot8!Ateez x Afab/Female!Reader
Summary: Attending university with your eight boyfriends wasn’t easy, neither was sharing a mansion with them.
Warnings: MDNI, this mini series includes tons of smut, slight violence, protective ateez, poly relationship, established relationship, mentions of mxm, choking, other smut themes.
bullying and violence for this chapter.
WC: 1.5k
AU: University
Genre: Smut/fluff
Nets: @newworldnet
Tags: @deltamoon666 @watermelon2319 @justconniez @a-teez-4-exo @mingtinysworld @certifiedmoa @kittkat44 @sanhwalvr @spenceatiny18 @vtyb23 @sousydive @haebaragisworld @yourallaround-simp @therealcuppicake @ja3hwa (please make sure I can tag you in your settings)
SERIES MASTERLIST
Tumblr media
The morning sun beamed in your eyes, you tried to move away from the direct sunlight but strong arms held you back from moving. When you opened your eyes you saw that it was Mingi holding you.
Right, he fell asleep with you after your bath last night. You turned your head to look at his sleeping face. He was at peace.
He was happier these days, happier than ever. More than he was when he had met you. Mingi was at his lowest then, his heart was aching. His brain was telling him horrible things. He was the epitome of depression and anxiety.
High school was hard, but to him, it was pure hell. Even as a big guy, he was still bullied, he was in pain. He had no one. He had no friends. You’d see him in the halls, he was cute to you. Very cute. Mingi had always worn headphones to block out the other kids.
You never liked your friend group, they were the other rich kids that sort of pulled you with them everywhere just because you were richer. However, they participated in harassing the poor boy. You wanted to stop them but didn’t know what to do.
Until one day, you were trapped in a thunderstorm outside because your ride got caught in the weather. Mingi had been rushing through the storm, clearly crying. He wasn’t watching where he was going and had slipped near you, taking you to the ground with him.
He gasped and scrambled to get off of you, his clothes were sticking to yours because of the rain. You could see the pain in his face, the panic as well. But what you noticed was the black eye. The huge swelling. It angered you. Your so-called friends went too far.
“I’m sorry!” He yelled out over the storm.
You shook your head, “Mingi, please, don’t apologize.”
He froze in his movements, “H..how do you know my name?” He felt the happiness bubbling within him. Someone knew him.
Your ride had finally pulled up, “It doesn’t matter, for now, I’m giving you a ride home,” you crawled from beneath him and pulled him up, which was hard, “Get in, please.”
He stammered over his words but followed you into the backseat, “Thank you..”
-
When you had pulled up to his home, he had realized his family wasn’t home. Typical. They always left him alone, by himself.
“Oh, um..”
You shook your head, “Doesn’t matter, I’ll just take you to my home, my parents are on vacation so I’ll take care of you, okay?”
Mingi’s heart fluttered, however he was terrified. He didn’t know if you were being genuine or if you were gonna trick him.
He sat in silence, fiddling with his ruined headphones, they looked like they were purposely ripped and broken.
“Mingi, did..did they do this to you?” Your eyebrows furrowed in concern. You just knew you’d teach those kids a lesson. They weren’t your friends. How dare they harm someone as sweet as Song Mingi? He never hurt anyone.
His head snapped to face you, “What? No. I-“
“Don’t lie to me.”
“Yeah..they did this. They always do. This is my third pair of headphones this month.” You could see the pure sorrow in his eyes.
Your fingers clenched in anger, “I see.”
When the car pulled into the mansion's front lawn, your driver stepped out of his seat and opened your door for you, “Miss, welcome home. I’ve already let the household staff know about your companion, they have fresh clothes for him.”
“Thank you, Hyunwoo.” You smiled, taking Mingi’s hand to bring him inside. He was so glad his eyes were still puffy from crying, else you would’ve seen his red face.
Never has he had someone care about him so much. He couldn’t help but fall in love. It didn’t help that he already had a crush on you.
Your staff greeted you inside, rushing to help you out of your wet clothes, “Guys, I’ve got it.” You laughed, “Just bring the fresh clothes to my room, I’m gonna get him comfortable.”
You trudged up the stairs, taking the large man with you, “Don’t worry about my staff, my parents like to spoil me too much, they have staff to take care of me when I’m alone. I’m almost 18, you’d think they know I can take care of myself.”
Mingi gave you a small smile, “It’s okay..I may not be used to this, but it’s alright.”
As you pulled him into your room with a smile, “The bathroom is over there, go ahead and get undressed, I’ll bring you fresh clothes. My staff will wash and dry those for you.”
He shyly pulled away from your hand and entered the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He stood there in confusion. Just how did he get here? With the prettiest girl in his school. He didn’t know she’d be this nice and caring, how could she hang out with such horrible people? He wondered.
You went through your closet and changed into warm pajamas, you’d had to wait to blow dry your hair since Mingi was in the bathroom.
One of your maids knocked on the door and came in, “Here you go, Miss. your companions clothes. Henry was the only one who seemed to have clothes that would possibly fit that boy.” She passed off the clothes to you.
“Thank you. You can go now.” You smiled as she left.
You knocked on the door and Mingi slowly opened the door, peeking his head out, “Thank you.” He took the clothes from you.
You could see a bit of his chest and it looked bad, there were new bruises and healing bruises.
You sighed, they must’ve pushed him over and kicked him. They were gonna pay for this. You didn’t care if Mingi would hate you for taking this into your hands. You just couldn’t stand by while they hurt someone. What if they took it too far and killed him? No, you couldn’t allow it.
He closed the door and put on his new clothes. Just a plain shirt and sweatpants.
“Would you like to stay the night, Mingi? I have several guest rooms if you’d like. I’m sure you don’t want to be alone.” You suggested with a smile from the other side of the door.
Mingi opened the door with a puppy-like smile, he was beginning to feel safe around you.
“Thank you, for everything, Y/N. You’ve been nothing but nice to me and I don’t know how to thank you.” Mingi stared down at his feet.
You stepped up to him, reaching out for his large hand, “It’s okay, there’s no need to thank me. You don’t deserve any of this.
You brought him to your bed and sat down, “Why don’t you get some rest, I’ll go make you something to eat, okay?”
He nodded with a small smile, “Okay.”
-
As days passed, the two of you got closer. He was becoming your one and only friend and you didn’t mind. He managed to avoid his bullies with you around, but one day you weren’t.
You had hurt shouts in the school's courtyard and found a crowd.
Oh no.
You could hear Mingi’s cries for help as no one did anything, they only recorded and laughed.
You were pissed. You threw your bag down and rushed into the crowd. Finding his group of bullies. All you could see was red. Your fist collided with someone’s jaw. This person was kicking Mingi.
“Fuck off of him!” You shouted.
The crowd went silent as your fist repeatedly bashed into the kids face, his nose was bleeding bad but you didn’t care. He hurt Mingi.
“Y/N, please.” Mingi cried out for you, the bullies already leaving his side to take care of you. But you weren’t having it.
You fought them off with everything you had.
Your fists were hurting, they were covered in blood but you didn’t care whose it was.
From that day forward, no one fucked with you or Mingi. The school didn’t even bother doing anything because your parents were their biggest sponsor.
On the day of your graduation, you had asked Mingi out and he was ecstatic. He was becoming a man. He vowed from the day you saved him that he wouldn’t stop at nothing to protect you.
You had kissed him on the stage and flicked everyone off, a final fuck off to the horrible school you two were leaving.
As the memory faded from your brain, you turned to look at the sleeping Mingi.
You were so glad for the day you met him. He called you his princess yet he was yours. He was the true princess.
“Y/N?” He stirred awake.
“Yes, Mingi?”
“I’m hungry, princess.” His stomach grumbled just right after his words and you both laughed.
“Then let’s go get something to eat, I’m sure the others are home and would like to eat as well.” You just knew Wooyoung would want to cook for you, especially since you were sure they all knew what happened with Hongjoong fucking you so hard.
Together, you left to go downstairs, happily and in love.
167 notes · View notes
tyx003-alt · 3 days
Text
Tumblr media
Now playing: Pinkpantheress - pain ( slowed + reverb ), https://youtu.be/eMOKD-RUfIg?si=A_LVdfr_LkN47D6S
●━━━━━━─────── ⇆◁ㅤ❚❚ㅤ▷ㅤ↻
Teacher / Y/N X Miss Circle X Miss Grace ———————— [Cash out, Jump start, Kick start.]
Note ; [Who should i make next?]
✏ < You were at home, laying in the dark by yourself. You lay in a starfish position on the old wreaked-up mattress, pondering if you should hit up your Co-workers for some late night food. You've done it before with Mister Demi, though he got scared in the dark ar night near the shops, Miss Sasha was fine but you couldn't call her over now, she's probably sleeping from the hard time with the kindergartners.
✏ < Miss Emily was perfect but she always said next time, you know she was busy and was honest, Zip, Oliver and Edward gave her a hard time for the past couple of weeks of trashing her class room, taking some advantage that she was patient and sweet. And of course you and Miss Circle always stayed back to help, even if Miss Circle only did it because you were there and didn't care for anything else. She mostly leaned against the door frame as she seemed annoyed.
✏ < Oh, right you never really dialled her unless it was important or you needed to get something from her. Miss Circle didn't seem to yell at you, only stay calm and layed back. She liked to turn off her brain for a minute when sitting next to you on the Gray lined couch in the break room while Miss Grace sat polietly next to you too. They both seemed more chilled down but kept their seemed normal expressions.
✏ < But now you lazily wrap three fingers around your phone, tapping away at a group chat with the teachers. Kicking up Miss Circles contact, you send ; "Wanna go get a snack at the mall ..?" No one answers but after a few milliseconds, she texts ; "No." You had to get her to come, who doesn't want someone to go out to a mall with them, especially at night. "I'll get you a Mcflurry with extra oreos." Immediately she aggressively sent ; "Who wouldn't wanna come." And that was it, easy, right? Not exactly. Your message was seen on read by every teacher except Emily and Sasha. You said too meet up at the closet mall since it was open 24/7.
✏ < You were half surprised that Miss Circle dragged Miss Grace around, but its only a little bit surprising only because all three of you guys talked silently in the break rooms once in a blue moon. Making this whole thing not the brightest but it suits,
✏ < You walked too the mall but it seemed as Miss Circle had other plans ..she bringed Miss Grace as you all cashed out money and went inside the mall. Sprinting into the mini Cafe on one of the sides, they walked behind you while chatting slowly. You slip in and order a drink or maybe just a cake or little treat, Miss Grace ordered coffee and Miss Circle was already coming back with her Mcflurry. All three of you stayed their for a few hours just hanging out, you even got too know Miss Grace more about her life and so Miss Circles.
✏ < And after everything, you take a ride home from them in a uber, you fell asleep. You waked up in your bed, seeing a little drawing with a triangle with two lines across the top. It reads ; "I miss you more then anything.." well, atleast you know that one person seems to care ... [Maybe even two.]
✏ THIS PICTURE WAS NOT MADE BY ME. ✎
Credits to: hanaki_edit
90 notes · View notes
laurrrelise · 2 days
Text
the hutcherson multiverse™ has a horror movie night
WC: 2.1k
Tags: just a fun little blurb (i guess it’s a sort of big blurb) (also would this be considered fluff? i have no clue), slight spoilers for Scream , Toy Story 3, and La La Land (can’t believe i’m actually saying this LMAO), mentions of sexual fantasies, Derek is a freak, alcohol, cursing, horror movie mentions etc.
idk why i wrote this to be honest i guess i just love the hutcherson multiverse / jhutchverse LMAO
—————————————————————————
Josh opens his front door, a beaming smile on his face. “Hey! You guys made it!”
Derek leans against the wall outside the door. “Fuck are you surprised for? We told you we were coming.”
Mike’s overwhelming admiration for horror movies is hidden beneath his typically scruffy demeanor. “What movie are we watching?”
“I don’t know, we have to decide. Peeta and Billy are already here, we’re just waiting on Clapton.” Josh steps to the side, allowing them to walk in. Derek pushes past without hesitation, Mike politely following behind.
Derek collapses onto the sofa, flinging his legs onto Peeta’s lap. “Hey, bread boy.” Peeta gives him a half-smile while Mike takes a seat next to Billy on the other side of the couch.
Josh gets the door as Clapton arrives. “Hey, party people! We got beer?”
Mike gives him a look of confusion. “No. And even if we did, you wouldn’t get any.”
“You know what we do have?” Josh excitedly walks in front of the TV, grinning ear to ear. “Tons of food! Wolf hooked us up.”
“Who the hell is Wolf?”
Peeta sits up straight, mouth agape. “You have a pet wolf? Katniss told me she saw one of those before.”
Josh shakes his head at him. “What? No. Wolf is a retired demolitions expert who’s also a genius in the kitchen. He made us a popcorn bar and virgin cocktails, since, y’know.” He looks at Clapton and Peeta.
“Dude, you’re such a buzzkill.”
Derek pulls a bottle of whiskey out of his jacket. “That’s fine. Can’t fucking catch me unprepared.”
Josh ignores him, continuing, “Just… try not to bother Wolf when he’s cooking. He gets really… focused. And violent, if interrupted.”
They all nod, and Josh grabs the TV remote to start deciding on a movie. “Alright, what are we watching?”
Derek smiles. “You guys ever seen The Poughkeepsie Tapes? Or Megan is Missing?”
“Hell no. We are not watching those,” Billy says firmly.
Clapton stirs. “What are they?”
“Too fuckin’ scary for you, that’s what they are.”
Clapton furrows his brows. “I don’t get scared easy, asshole. I’ve watched, like, every horror movie ever. With a straight face… except for those.”
“Hereditary?” Derek grins evilly.
Mike and Josh both look at him. “Absolutely not.”
“I hope you guys realize I’ll watch these as soon as I get home.”
“Whatever, as long as we don’t have to sit through your disgusted reaction.”
Clapton looks at him, slightly offended. “They can’t be that bad! I seriously never get scared. Have you seen Cinderhella? I didn’t bat an eye.”
Josh changes the subject. “Any other ideas? Ooh, what about Toy Story 3!”
Everyone stares at him, bewildered.
“What? That movie’s scary.”
“You mean the one with the big ass purple fucking bear? That one?” Derek asks, a laugh falling out with the question.
Billy and Mike practically fall over cracking up at his genuine fear of the children’s movie.
Josh frowns as he whines, “Yeah… Lotzo.”
“You’re fucking scared of Lotzo?” Billy can barely breathe between his laughing.
“That’s not fair! The scene where they’re falling toward that big fire pit thing is terrifying!”
Clapton snickers at him. “Dude, you’re such a dumbass.” Derek fist-bumps him in agreement.
“And you guys are all bullies. Peeta, can’t you back me up?”
Peeta just stares at him, wide-eyed. “I’ve never seen it. It sounds scary.”
Josh whines at him. “It is!”
Peeta shrugs as everyone else continues to laugh at him.
“Alright, then someone else recommend something.”
Derek smiles. “How about-”
Billy cuts him off. “Derek, shut the fuck up.”
“How about we just watch some stupid 80’s slasher?”
“Like what?”
Clapton drums on his legs, clearly bored with the lengthy decision process. “I don’t know, Child’s Play.”
Peeta looks at him. “What’s that about?”
Clapton turns to him, giving him a puzzled look. “Have you never seen a movie? Like ever?”
Peeta shrugs nonchalantly and Clapton turns back to the TV. “Nightmare on Elm Street?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Dreams are important. Shouldn’t be mocked.”
Clapton rolls his eyes. “Friday the 13th?”
Derek shakes his head. “That one’s just boring. Absolutely not.”
“… and why is it boring?”
“Because I said so.”
Josh continues to scroll through a page of endless horror movies. “What’s this one?” He clicks on one titled Tragedy Girls and watches the trailer.
“Hey, dude, that guy totally looks like you.” Billy points at a man on the TV screen, then at Josh.
“He does no- actually he kinda does.”
There’s a moment of silence. “He kinda looks like you, too.”
“You think so?”
“Wait, he looks just like Derek, too!”
“Yeah, like a clearance version.”
Josh finds the coincidence too weird and clicks off of the movie. He continues scrolling.
“Is that Vantage Point? Why is that in the horror section?”
Derek’s eyes go wide. “It uh… sounds pretty scary to me.”
“Wait, is that the one where the president gets assassinated?” Josh looks back at Mike curiously.
“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure it’s action, not hor-”
Derek cuts him off. “We’re not watching it.”
Mike senses the sudden discomfort and changes the subject. “Blair Witch Project?”
Everyone unanimously groans in agreement.
“I give up. You guys pick.”
“Wait, I got one!”
Everyone looks at Peeta. “It’s called La La Land.”
Josh furrows his brows at him. “That’s not a horror movie, that’s just a sad romcom.”
“But they lose each other in the end. I mean, could you imagine? I wouldn’t be able to sleep at night.”
Billy and Clapton give him a sad look. “It doesn’t count as a horror movie.”
“Man, you’re so fuckin’ lame.”
“Detention?”
“No.”
“Five Nights at Freddy’s?”
“Nope.”
“For the love of god… Scream?”
Everyone exchanges glances before they all shrug.
“Alright, we’re watching Scream then.”
—————————————————————————
A few minutes into the movie and Mike speaks up. “Hey, that guy kinda looks familiar.”
“Who? Stu Macher?”
“Yeah, I can’t really place why, though.”
“Maybe Matthew Lillard just has one of those faces, y’know?”
“Maybe…”
Josh lights up suddenly. “We knew a guy named Stu a little while back, he was seriously crazy.”
“Who the fuck is we?”
“Oh! Me, Wolf, and Tiger. Tiger actually fell in love with Stu for a little whi-”
“Tiger?”
“Yeah. Tiger.”
Billy looks at Derek, who rolls his eyes before they both decide to drop it.
“Yeah, Stu was crazy though.”
“Well, Stu Macher is pretty crazy too, right?”
“Hey! Don’t spoil it! Peeta’s never seen this movie before.”
“It’s an obvious twist. He’ll be fine.”
“I don’t even know what’s going on so far.” Peeta looks at the TV, clearly confused by the plot.
“I think all guys named Stu must be at least a little insane.”
“Yeah, I agree,” Josh lays back on the floor in front of the TV.
—————————————————————————
A few more minutes pass. Billy stirs, readjusting himself on the couch.
A few more minutes. Billy once again readjusts.
Finally, “Alright, I’m fuckin’ bored. Let’s do shots.”
Derek fist bumps him. “Oh, hell yeah. I’m in.”
“Um, what about the two children?”
“Children?” Peeta furrows his brows at Mike.
Clapton sits up, gaping at Josh with an offended look on his face. “I’m 19!”
“Yeah, so am I.”
“You guys are the youngest. You’re going to be kids to us no matter what.”
“Fireball good with everyone?”
“Works for me.
“I got work tonight… but sure.”
Josh looks up. “Hey, how are you guys all getting home? I don’t want anyone driving under the influence.”
“It’s one shot dude.”
Derek smiles. “It’ll turn into seven. I’ll call my driver.”
“This is so unfair.”
Derek rolls his eyes. “It’s nothing personal, kid. You can drink all you fuckin’ want in a few years. Be patient.”
“Oh, like none of you drank before you turned 21.”
Billy shakes his head, standing up to make his way to the kitchen. He returns a few minutes later with a small tray and 6 shot glasses filled with amber-colored liquid, plus a few beers.
Clapton lights up when he gets handed one. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Peeta cringes but reluctantly takes it.
Derek, Josh, and Mike take theirs before Billy grabs the last one and they all huddle around the coffee table.
“On three, alright?”
Everyone nods. “Three… t-”
“One, bottoms up.” Derek throws his back, not even flinching.
Everyone else takes theirs, and Mike and Josh wince with the strength in the taste of the liquor. “How can you do that without even making a face?”
Derek chuckles. “Are we just fucking meeting for the first time, Mike?”
Billy watches Clapton’s face as he realizes that his shot was actually apple juice. Peeta lights up, smiling with excitement. “Dude!”
“Is that juice? We only got this stuff in the Capitol. Can I have another?”
“You’re an ass, you know that?”
Billy ignores Clapton and grabs the bottle of apple juice from the kitchen.
Peet’s takes it, sort of confused. “… where’s the… cup?”
Billy waves him off, twisting the cap off of a beer. “Knock yourself out, kid.”
Peeta smiles and throws the cap off of the bottle, chugging it eagerly. Everyone else takes their reserved spots again and continue watching the movie.
Derek squints at the screen. “’m gonna get one of those masks after this.”
Josh gives him a confused look. “…Why?”
“You planning on going on a murder spree? I can add some names to your list.”
Derek looks at Billy. “No, I’m just imagining, like, bringing someone to my room while I’m wearing all black and one of those and then sneaking up behind them and ripping-”
“Dude!”
Derek pauses. “Don’t fuckin’ interrupt me, that was a good idea.”
“There are two kids sitting next to you.”
“I’m 19! Stop calling me a kid!”
Peeta shrugs. “Y’know what? I actually don’t mind. It would be nice to be a kid again.”
“They’re not kids. They know what sex is.”
Clapton sinks into the ground slightly. “Yeah, obviously I know what it is.”
“Katniss and I are taking it slow.”
Derek looks at Mike. “See?”
“It doesn’t matter. No one wants to hear about your weird sexual fantasies.”
“I didn’t think it was weird. That sounds hot.”
Derek looks at him excitedly. “Right?”
Billy nods, taking a sip of his beer. “For sure.”
“Alright, you two talk about that stuff later. The rest of us don’t want to hear about any of that.”
“I don’t mind. I need all the tips I can get.”
Clapton furrows his eyebrows at Peeta. “I don’t think Katniss would want you to seduce her in a horror movie mask.”
“Why not?”
“Because that isn’t a normal sexual interaction. Derek is just… uh… very experienced.”
“Damn right I am.”
“Well… what is a normal sexual interaction?”
Derek smiles, sitting up and crossing his snakeskin boots in Peeta’s lap. “I’ve got so much to teach you. Alright, first, be aggressive. Girls like that. You want to alway-”
“How about we just watch the movie?”
Derek scoffs, rolling his eyes and melting back down against the couch. “How about we take another shot?”
—————————————————————————
They eventually finish the movie, but Derek and Billy are fairly intoxicated by the end of it. Derek calls a car to drive them all home.
Billy tends to forget about personal space when he’s drunk. “Thanks for having me, buddy,” he practically yells as he leans against Josh, his mouth brushing his ear.
Josh pats him on the back, clearly uncomfortable. “Yeah… no problem, man.”
“See- mph. See you tomorrow, Joosh.” Derek stumbles slightly as he walks out of the house.
“What? To- tomorrow?”
Derek nods, not turning back as he walks down the driveway. “Yeah, we’ll be back tomorrow.” He gets into the dark limousine, Billy following behind him.
Peeta and Clapton stand in the doorway, Mike still putting on his boots.
“We get to ride in a limo?” Clapton grins.
“Actually, I’ll uh… I’ll call you guys an uber. There’s no way in hell that they aren’t about to go to a bar.”
“Goddamn it,” Mike appears behind them, watching as Derek’s head hangs out the window like a dog as the car drives off.
“Tomorrow, Futturman!”
Josh signs. “Goddamn it is right.”
—————————————————————————
thanks for reading! this was so stupid but it’s just fun to create the jhutchverse so let me self indulge please :)
(this is a late update but i just remembered @xcherryerim wanted to be tagged in jhutchverse stuff, here you go monica, ly <3)
also i know this is barely about the actual movie and more about the banter but that’s the fun part so i don’t care 💀 sorry if you wanted to hear me talk about scream (i’ve actually never seen it but i know the general plot don’t kill me)
have a good day babes <3
99 notes · View notes
kennarose1108 · 3 days
Text
Anthony Bridgerton x Reader !CHILDHOOD ENIMES! !PART 2!
Tumblr media
ANTHONY'S POV
Anthony's life had never been easy. His father's death and the pressure of being the man of the house so young were hard on him. But one thing was always easy...
Getting under her skin.
He loved teasing her, he loved the way she pouted, hell... He loved her.
But he knew it would never last. She hated him and she was his sister's best friend. So he buried his feelings for her and moved on with his life. The last two years it was easy since she wasn't around... He even got a fiancé... But the second he saw her... Everything came flooding back.
He was at Lady Danbury's ball when she entered. The crowd went silent and his gaze fell on what they were looking at... Her.
All the men wanted her, all the women wanted to be her.
She looked absolutely and utterly stunning. Breathtaking... Beautiful... He couldn't even name every word of how she looked in that stunning blue dress.
But then he saw the look of panic on her face and the way her body trembled... Clearly being in the spotlight was getting to her.
He was just about to go to her to save her from the torture she was going through when Lady Danbury did it before him.
His eyes never left her... While she talked and laughed with Lady Danbury... God... That smile... He wanted her, he needed her... But something snapped him back into reality. Well, more like someone.
"Anthony," Kate spoke with a smile. "Is everything alright?" She asks while wrapping her hands around his arm. He was flustered and startled at first at her sudden presence but he quickly regained composure.
"I'm fine." He murmured with a small smile. He and Kate spoke for awhile and he did his best to keep his gaze on the woman before him and not the woman across the room. But the feeling of someone staring at him caught his attention and he looked away from Kate and his eyes met yours. He felt his heart skip a beat as you two made eye contact. But quickly your gaze fell and you looked away.
But Anthony couldn't lose this chance. He looked at Kate, excused himself and explained why (not the whole truth), and walked over to her and Daphne.
He smiled widely and threw open his arms, "Sweetheart!" He called out. He chuckled softly as he saw her hiding behind his sister, Daphne. He pulls her from behind Daphne and hugs her tightly. He took in her scent, she smelled like roses...
Damn... Now every time he smelled or saw roses he was going to think of her.
She didn't hug him back, as expected, and he could hear his sister snorting behind him. Anthony pulled away and pinched her cheek like he always did, "Nice to see you again sweetheart. You look stunning. Did your mother doll you up?" He asks and she smacked his hand away.
She glared at him, "Aww. Don't pretend you didn't miss me, sweetie." He says while nudging her slightly. "Goodbye Anthony." She says before turning away. God... His name sounded so good in her mouth...
He wondered what else would be good in her mouth...
But she stopped. Her mother was coming with a creepy old man that he could tell her mother wanted to marry her off to... Yeah, there's no way he was going to let that happen.
He inched closer to her, maybe even too close for her comfort, before whispering in her ear, "Y'know... I can save you... You'll just have to accept my offer for a dance."
He heard her sigh and she turned around to him with a glare on her face, "I'm doing this to get away. Don't think you're saving me." She says while pointing at him. He chuckles, "Of course not sweetheart."
"And stop calling me that!" She says angrily and he lets out a small laugh as she takes his hand. Her hand felt so good in his, even though he couldn't feel her skin, her hand still being in his felt really good.
He pulled her along to the dance floor before shifting her off into a dance. They danced smoothly and effortlessly. It was silent for the first minute and she avoided his gaze.
"Your mother trying to sell you to that old man?" Anthony asks and she finally looks at him. "Sadly yes. But I'm not interested. I'm not interested in anyone really." She says, managing a shrug through their dancing. Before he could question her further on that she spoke again, "But I see you are. Engaged huh? I never thought I'd see the day." She says with a chuckle.
"And why's that? Thought I'd always be a bachelor for the rest of my life?" He teases, and she rolls her eyes. "No, I just never thought there would be a woman on this planet who could tolerate you long enough." He laughs a genuine laugh.
"Speaking of which, would your bride-to-be, be upset you're dancing with another woman?" She asks with a smirk, he chuckles. "No... She knows I'm hers."
That was a lie. He thought. Well, maybe not the part of Kate thinking he was hers... But in truth, his heart did not belong to Kate... It belongs to Y/N. For years, it was always hers.
"Good. I don't feel like getting into a fight tonight... Although it would make this boring evening even better." She says and the dance ends. They both stop and stare at one another, the tension palpable between the two. He saw her neck shift as she swallowed the lump in her throat before she gave him a curtsy and he gave her a bow...
"Thank you Mr Bridgerton..." She murmured while pulling herself back up and adjusting her dress. "But I can't avoid my mother any longer." She says softly and before he could say a word she brushes past him and towards her mother.
Oh... She felt it. That strange feeling. The one that he felt so many years ago that blossomed into love...
But it could never happen. Not in a million years. He knew that.
But why does his heart still yearn for her?
PART 3?
70 notes · View notes
tsunami-of-tears · 10 hours
Text
Iris
Azriel x Rhys’s Sister Reader
Summary: Reader has been struggling with her inner demons ever since her brother went Under The Mountain.
A/N: This is really dark. Please, please read the warnings before clicking read more.
To preface: I’m okay, just tired and was pre-menstrual when I started this. I haven’t been in this dark of a place in a very long time, but I wanted to write this for 15-year-old Shelby who thought no one saw her. I haven’t talked about my history of self-harm much and it’s hard to reopen those wounds, but it’s therapeutic. 
If anyone is struggling, my inbox is always open. I’ve also included a few resources at the end of this fic.
Wordcount: 1.2K
Warnings: ANGST!!; major depression; disordered eating (binging); graphic self-harm; Rhys UTM
✧・゚: *✧・゚:*✧・゚: *✧・゚:*✧・゚: *✧・゚:*✧・゚: *✧
Reader
Things were bad. 
Really bad.
You had completely withdrawn from your family in the months since Rhys had gone Under The Mountain. 
Rhys - your idiot older brother - had sacrificed himself to protect you and your people; leaving you in charge of his court. 
Ruling had always come easy to him, he was born to do it whereas you struggled to switch between the required masks.
These days, the only mask you wore was one of cold indifference. 
As the shield fell into place around Velaris, trapping you inside, a wall of adamant rose around you, keeping everyone around from seeing the war raging inside your mind. 
Most of your time was spent in your bedroom with the curtains drawn, unable to look at the sleeping city below your window. 
Velaris, the city of Starlight, had lost its sparkle. 
The first week after Rhys left, not a single light could be seen. The once lustrous city had gone into mourning. The Sidra, usually glimmering like liquid night, now reflected only the deepest black. 
You only dared to leave your room during the night when you were less likely to be spotted, not wanting anyone to see the ghost you’d become.
You float down the stone hallway, robes billowing as you walk to the kitchen. 
You’d taken to eating late at night. Food, usually sweets, was the only comfort you could find.
You’re rummaging in the larder when you feel a familiar sensation around your bare ankles, the cold shadow wisping over your skin.
“Y/N,” you hear a deep voice say behind you. 
You turn, blocks of chocolate in hand, to face the one person you love more than your brother. 
“Azriel,” you reply, taking in his appearance. 
He looked terrible.
His hair was dishevelled, his jet-black curls in dire need of a comb, and his once warm hazel eyes were dull and bloodshot. Beneath them were deep violet bruises, clearly he wasn’t sleeping much. 
You can feel his gaze on you, and wonder what he thought of the shadow of life you’d become. 
You watch his nostrils flare. “Y/N, are you hurt? I can smell blood.”
You feign a laugh, “I’m on my cycle.” You hold up the chocolate as evidence. “Cravings.” 
Azriel narrows his eyes but doesn’t push you. “I… We miss you,” he says.
You turn away from him, unable to voice how broken you feel. 
“Please, I can’t lose you too,” he pleads. 
“Goodnight Azriel,” you whisper, slipping out the door into the dark hallway. 
Neither Azriel nor his shadows follow you. 
————
You step out of the shower and stand in front of the bathroom mirror, scrutinising your reflection. 
You pinch at the skin on your hips and stomach, scowling at the growing curves, before turning to the side to inspect your full breasts and butt. 
Facing forward again, your eyes fall upon the ladders of scars across your thighs and forearms. 
Angry red and purple lines jutting between faint silver. 
You started again after losing Rhys. You hadn’t done it since losing your mother. It was the only way you knew to reflect your inner turmoil. 
The day your mother was killed, you were meant to be with her. You should’ve been taken too. 
Rhys had helped you out of the pit of despair that time, but he was no longer here. Once again, you were saved while your loved ones were not. 
You towel off your skin before sitting down at your vanity. You pull out an ornate jewellery box and retrieve the ash dagger stashed inside. 
You weren’t sure why you harmed yourself. There was a part of you that felt you deserved it, that thought you were a wretch for allowing your brother to endure all that torment for you. Then there was a part that just wanted to feel something other than the numbness that ached to your core. 
You press the dagger against your skin. Not even the sting of the blade made you cry anymore. Your tears had long since dried up. 
With each slice, your self-hatred rings in your ears. 
Stupid – cut. 
Useless – cut. 
Waste of space – cut. 
You set the bloodied dagger down on the counter, feeling nothing but apathy. 
Morning starts to creep in when you finally make it to bed. As you lay there, staring at the ceiling, the little voice inside your head sneers at you. 
This was the life your brother sacrificed his for? Pathetic. 
————
Azriel
If Velaris has become a ghost town, the House of Wind was its crypt – haunted by devastation and grief.
Azriel leaned against the balcony railing, looking out on the once-shining city. 
How did it all go so wrong?
Not a day had gone by where he didn’t blame himself for everything. For Rhys. For Y/N.
Y/N. He could see the pain in her eyes. She tried to hide it, but Azriel knew better. He’d always been the one who could see through her masks. 
Azriel is pulled from his thoughts by his shadows, swarming around him in distress. 
“Y/N. Kitchen. Now.”
“She doesn’t want to see me,” Azriel tells them. 
“She’s hurt.”
Azriel winnows into the hallway, allowing his footsteps to be heard outside the door. He turns into the room and spots Y/N searching through the freezer. 
She slams it shut, jumping as she turns towards Azriel. 
“Oh, I didn’t realise you were here,” she says. “We’re out of ice cream.” Y/N tries to step around Azriel but he blocks her path with his wing. He looks her over, not able to see anything visibly wrong. 
“I’ll get you some more, just please come to dinner,” Azriel pleads. “Or we can go flying together, anything you want. I can’t bear to see you like this.”
Y/N shakes her head, looking at the floor.  
“He wouldn’t want you hiding away like this,” Azriel says.
“I don’t care what he would want. He obviously can’t think clearly or else he wouldn’t have left,” she seethes, pushing past Azriel. 
Azriel grabs her by the wrist, stopping her in her tracks. “Please Y/N, you’ve…” he trails off, feeling something lumpy under her sleeve. “What is that?” 
Y/N tries to yank her arm back but Azriel’s grip is firm. 
“Let me see,” Azriel says quietly. Tears start to fall from her eyes as he gently lifts her sleeve, revealing the bloodied bandages. “Oh darling, what happened?” 
Y/N just shakes her head.
“Can I have a look?” he asks.
She bites down on her trembling lip, tears flowing freely
Azriel carefully unwinds the bandages revealing the stark, straight lines. His chest aches for her; as if the scars were etched into his heart.
Azriel always cared deeply for Y/N, offering her a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on whenever she needed it. A small part of him felt hurt that she hadn’t confided in him. 
He swallowed his pain, it didn’t matter. He was here now.
“Come here,” Azriel wraps his arms around her, stroking Y/N’s hair softly as she sobs in his arms. 
Azriel knew she was struggling, everyone could see it. But no one realised just how much losing Rhys broke her.
Azriel curses himself. 
He should’ve known. After her parents, Rhys was all she had. 
No that’s not true - she had Cassian. And Mor. And Amren… 
And him. 
And he wasn’t letting her go.
✧・゚: *✧・゚:*✧・゚: *✧・゚:*✧・゚
Mental Health Resources*:  If you’re in immediate danger please call your country’s emergency number. Australia: Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ Mental Health Hotline: 1800 011 511 Lifeline: 13 11 14 USA:  Crisis Line (call or text): 988 UK:  Lifeline: 0808 808 8000 *If I have gotten anything wrong or if you have other resources to add, please let me know ❤️
56 notes · View notes
cevansbaby-dove · 2 days
Text
My lover JS
Pairing:Jake "hangman" Seresin X Reader
Warnings: None, this will be fluffy.
Summary: You decide to surprise Jake while he is on a mission.
Tumblr media
You were nervous and also happy at the same time, Jake left for the Hard Deck three months ago and man you missed him so you wanted to surprise him.
You booked a flight to San Diego and then get to your room in the hotel and change into a simple shorts and t shirt.
Tumblr media
You slip your shoes on and text Jake.
y/n-Hi baby how's it going?
jake saw your text and smiles.
Jake-bored out of my mind baby I miss you.
You smile at his text back.
Y/n-I miss you too! We will be in each other's arms soon.
Jake-i hope so. I love you.
Y/n-I love you too 😘
You smile and walk out of your hotel room and hail a cab and one stops and you get in and say. "hard Deck please" "Sure thing" you smile as you look out the window the sun was shining and it was a nice 80s outside.
Soon you arrive at the hard deck and you pay the cab then walk into the bar and see Natasha sipping on a beer.
You sit by her. "hey girl" She looks at you and almost chokes on her drink. "y/n!" She gives you a hug and says. "omg what are you doing here?? I mean hi but.." You giggle. "I'm surprising Jake"
"Oh nice!! he is out right now but he and the crew should be here in a few hours"
Tumblr media
You nod with a smile. "Well I can stay here till they show up" She smiles. "Your always welcome here Y/n firefly"
"Firefly?" you asked in a questioning tone. "Where did the name come from?"
She smiles. "Jake gave you that name when he came here he kept saying firefly is back home or, I miss my firefly..he really loves you girl"
You blink away tears. "I didn't know he gave me a callsign." Nat nods. "he loves you so of course he's giving you a callsign"
Pete walks in and says. "Lieutenant trace! your up!" She stands up. "Talk later firefly" She rushes out and Pete looks at you. "So you the famous Girlfriend of Jake hangman uh?"
You blink feeling intimated by him. "Yes...sir"
Tumblr media
"well it's nice to meet you I'm Captain Pete Mitchell" You shake his hand and he smirks. "Jake is one hell of a lucky man, you very easy on the eyes."
You smile. 'Thank you Captain" he smiles. "So what brings you here?" "I'm surprising Jake when he comes back" He nods and says. "well he'll be surprised for sure"
You sit down at the bar and wait.
Pete stay with you and asks you about how you and Jake came to be a couple and you smile as you tell him the story of running into him at a store when you were shopping.
Jake seemed cocky at first but then you two started talking and hit it off even his brother in arms Javy who kept teasing Jake about you on missions.
"ohhh Jake is in love!!" You laughed when Javy said that around Jake when you and him first met Javy.
You smile thinking back to that night, you and Jake were in La when he was a break and javy called up asking to meet you and Jake was very happy to have you meet his crew.
Pete smiles. "He loves you very much Y/N" You look at Pete and smile. "So I have heard"
Just then Pete gets a text. "the boys will back in five" You look around and penny walks to you. "Finding a place to hide?" You nod. "I want to surprise him from behind"
"behind that booth is where he always sits...might help" You smile. 'thank you miss?"
"Penny" You nod. "I'm Y/N" She shakes your hand. "Oh I have heard about you too honey"
"Well then I guess I am no secret around here" Pete smiles. "Your like a star here" You chuckle. "I don't know about that Pete" he smiles. "i'm not joking firefly"
You smile then walk to the booth and sit behind it. "Can you guys see me?" Pete says looking around/ did you hear something Penny?" She laughs. "nope" I chuckle and hear the door fly open. "Captain" Your heart beats faster hearing jake's voice man you loved the Texan's voice.
"Yes Lieutenant?" Jake and Javy walk to the booth. "Man it was crazy out there" Pete smiles as the boys sit down. you slowly stand up to make sure Jake has his back to you. You reach over and cover his eyes. "Lieutenant Seresin...why didn't you tell your girlfriend about her call sign?"
Jake laughs. "um..I was going to tell her ma'am I swear" you smile and kiss his cheek. "Hey hangman" you drop your hands and he turns in the booth. "Y/N!?" he gets up and picks you up swinging you around. "Oh my God...how" You sets you on your feet. "What...where did you?" You kiss his lips then say. "Firefly doesn't spill her secrets" he hugs you again. "baby"
Pete says. "She enjoys the bar too" Jake turns and looks at Pete. 'good to hear sir" He looks back at you. "Hi" You giggle. "Hey!"
Jake holds your hand in his as he introduces you to the team. "So that is firefly?" you hear someone say. "Yes Rooster! This is Firefly"
"Oh I thought she was a ghost because I never met her" Jake shoots a glare at him. "Oh?" You look at the man and walk up to him and say. "You seem big and tough don't ya Rooster?"
Tumblr media
"you don't scare me L/N" You tilt your head and Jake says. "Baby please don't"
"You know I heard you fucking hate my man because he is a better pilot then you..ever will be"
"that's all you got Firebitch?" You lean close to his face. "oh I have loads more Cockblocker!" He clenches his hands into fits and Jake steps up. "if you touch her i'll kill you!"
You smile lightly. "I have this handled Jake" He looks at you and then glares at Bradley.
"what if she hurts me?" he asked Jake as he turns and walks away. "she doesn't bite...hard" You smirk then look at the man in front of you. "Try...me"
He holds his hands up stepping back. "Not this time"
"Then don't be an ass to Jake when I leave...understood Lieutenant?!" Jake smiles. "Damn Sargent Firefly" Rooster Nods. "Yes Ma'am"
You walk back to Jake and enjoy your time with him and his crew. Jake has you on his lap as the bar fills up and he kisses your neck. "My firefly is home."
You smile. "Home is wherever you are hangman"
Tumblr media
I hope everyone likes this!
Tags:@angelbabyyy99 @jessicab1991 @roostersforevergirl @cutedisneygrl @bookishtheaterlover7
47 notes · View notes
lanitalay · 23 hours
Text
Supernatural
Azriel Supernatural AU x reader
Summary: In which you encounter a couple of hunters during a case. 
A/N: I've been rewatching supernatural and i just love it. This is based on the early seasons. Hopefully the ACOTAR and Supernatural fandoms overlap.
Warnings: mentions of blood and death, nothing descriptive.
wordcount: 1.7k
Masterlist
“It’s totally vampires, Az. Remember that nest we took out in Idaho? They did the same thing with their victims.” Azriel bites his lip recalling that hunt, it was in the top ten worst moments of his life. “I know you’re right but those things give me the creeps. The way their fangs just-” he gags thinking about the extra set of teeth. 
“You big baby, it's just teeth. What gets me is the decapitation. Ghosts are easy. Salt. Fire. But these suckers are a nasty job.” You look over your notes before asking “do you think Cass and Rhys could give us a hand? I think we’ll be outnumbered.” 
He shakes his head “we could call but last time we talked they were up to their necks on a vengeful spirit case. Get this, the bones are scattered in different places because the deceased couldn’t decide where to be buried.” You chuckle. “Those two always get caught up in something like that. What about Mor? Or Amren? I’ll call them just in case.” 
Two phone calls later and no back up to show for it. “That was a bust.” Azriel nudges your arm. “Hey, we can do this. We can figure out a way to take them out one at a time.” You sigh and lean your head against the window. Watching as endless fields blur into one another. “You’re right, wake me up when we get there will you?” Before he can say yes you’ve dozed off. 
The road to Texas was long and lonely for Azriel. You slept the whole way and he was forced to keep himself company with mindless humming and singing lyrics from songs he probably misremembers. You’re usually the dj, but he knows if he messes with your tapes he’s in deep shit. You arrive at the usual dingy motel at around midnight. 
“Hey, sleepy head, we’re here.” Az is careful not to startle you, slightly shaking your arm with a scarred hand to rouse you from sleep without setting off your hunter instincts. “I’m awake.” You mumble but don’t move to get out of the truck. “I’ll go get us a room, while you wake up.” A hum is the only response he gets. 
When he returns he sees you unloading the truck with a pep in your step. “We’re in 9.” Once you’ve settled in, it dawns on you that you took a six hour nap on the ride here. There’s no way you’ll be able to fall asleep now. “Az, you want something to eat?” He yawns “no thanks, I’m going to turn in for the night.” 
“Well I’m not tired. I’ll grab a bite at that bar across the street and come back.” You put on your jacket and make the short walk to the hole in the wall establishment that always seems to accompany the motels you frequent. “One beer and a burger, please.” It 's quiet. You assume that it’s because it’s Tuesday. Until you overhear the conversation from two guys at the bar. “Six people went missing and all of them were last seen here, Sammy, something’s up.” 
“I know, Dean, but we’ve been here a week and no one can point us in the right direction. Maybe they left.” Hunters, and by the sounds of it, they are on the same case.  The bartender sets a pint in front of you, when it’s in your hand you walk over. “Are you two looking for a vampire nest?” They seem to have a language of their own, exchanging a few glances before the one with blondish hair says “depends, who’s asking?”
“Y/n, my partner and I just got into town after hearing about six disappearances. Looks like you two got a head start.” You sit with them in a shadowy corner of the bar as they tell you about the roadblocks they’ve encountered. “Most of them came here without telling anybody they knew, they weren’t regulars.” The taller one with brown hair finishes. 
“So they were lured.” They nod. “It’s been quiet since we got here.” You finish the burger and wipe your fingers with the thinnest napkin you’ve ever seen. “They got six people in two weeks, that’s enough blood to keep a nest alive for a month.” But something’s off and you can tell they feel it too. “What were your names again?” 
“I’m Sam.” “I’m Dean.” No way.
 “Winchester?” They nod. 
“That’s crazy! I knew your father! It’s sort of how I got started in all of this actually-” you stop yourself, John is dead now and these were his sons “I’m sorry for your loss, he helped a lot of people.” Az is going to freak when you tell him. Dean swigs his beer and says “yeah well, that’s what happens when you make deals with devils.” 
It’s tense for a bit while you finish your beer “well, if you don’t mind it, my partner and I could help on the case. Four machetes are better than two. We’re staying right across the street. Room 9. See ya, boys.” 
The next morning you tell Azriel about your encounter. “I’m telling you Az, they seem nice enough. If we team up it will be safer.” He’s unsure, always wary of strangers. “I don’t know, y/n-” just then, a knock at the door. You check the peephole before opening it. “Hi guys, this is my partner Azriel. Az, this is Sam and that's Dean.” The brothers brought coffee, by the looks of it it’s from the prehistoric machine in the lobby. “We talked about it and we agreed, working together will speed things along.” 
“Az?” He sighs. “Fine.” 
“He’s chipper,” Dean quips. “He’s not a morning person,” you quickly defend. You were the only one allowed to comment on his crankiness. 
After a day of following dead ends, you sit with Dean at the same bar. Sam and Az are still trying to find something in the archives. “So what’s the deal with you and your partner?” 
“Why? Are you interested?” He chuckles. “Just curious, your room had two beds. Are you two not involved?” Maybe it was the whisky, but you said “not romantically.” 
“So he won’t be upset if I buy you another drink with the intention of getting in your pants?” You roll your eyes. “Your reputation precedes you, Winchester.” 
“My reputation as a hunter or a ladies’ man?”
“Your reputation as a shameless flirt.” He leans closer to you “is it working?” You laugh and push him off. “No.” 
“So there is something between you and Azriel. I bet he’s clueless. I’ve seen it time and again.” You keep nursing your glass. “I wouldn’t say he’s clueless. But you know how this job is. One second you’re here and the next… I think we both agree that it’s better if we don’t cross that line with each other.” 
“But you could cross that line with me.” He winks. “No, Dean. I don’t think I could.”
 He straightens away from you and sips his beer. “You said you met my dad?” 
“Oh, yes. It was years ago, I was a freshman in college and a vengeful spirit was wreaking havoc on the campus. John showed up right before the son of a bitch gutted me. After that it was hard to go back to classes, you know?” 
“And how did you meet Azriel?” 
“Az and I met in a bar like this one, he had been hunting with his friends for a while and I hustled them for gas money.” 
“You play pool?” You shake your head and try to keep a straight face as you say “I play fools, Dean.” 
When Azriel and Sam returned, he did not like what he saw. In truth, he was glad to see you were having fun but he hated seeing you having fun with someone else. It's not like he could complain. You both refused to cross that line. Sleeping next to each other every night, on different beds was not the whirlwind romance he wanted to give you. It wasn’t the life you deserved. But he stuck by your side because everytime he wanted to slow down, to stop, maybe go back to school, you refused. “There are monsters, Az and we save people. I can’t go back to sitting in a classroom only to end up working in an office.” He wanted domesticity. He wanted a routine. He wanted a lawn to mow and to barbecue on weekends. But more than that he wanted you. 
“She’s a keeper, Az.” Dean joked as you sunk the last ball in the socket. Azriel clenched his jaw, not liking the familiarity with which Dean nudged your shoulder. It had only been a day since you met and you were acting like you’d known each other for years. 
“You don’t have to sleep here if you don’t want to.” Your face scrunches in confusion at his tone. “What’s that supposed to mean?” 
“I’m sure you'd rather be with Dean right now.” 
“Azriel, don't be like that.” He shrugs “just saying, you two were making eyes at each other all day.” 
“We were not.” He doesn’t say anything else but there’s a tension that lingers. “I hate when you do this.” 
“I’m not doing anything.” 
“You’re picking a fight. You know I would never be with anyone else.” 
“You could.” 
“I don’t want to.” 
“Y/n-”
“I know Az, “the life’s too dangerous,” “we’d be more vulnerable,” “it just gives the bad guys ammunition.” I know the whole song and dance of why we can’t… I get it. But it makes me feel stupid when I could be out with someone who actually shows interest in me but I stay with you.” 
“I’m not holding you hostage, you can go if you want.” 
“You’re an idiot.” With a huff you storm out of the room. Not entirely sure where you’re going, you wander around the motel grounds for a while. Knocking on Dean’s door was an option, but you wanted to be alone. He was infuriating. Azriel knows which buttons to push and when. He does this every so often, picks a fight to create iciness between you. It makes temptation easier if you’re too mad at each other to give in, you suppose. 
It's past midnight, and the lights in room 9 are off. In your haste you forgot a key. You go to the lobby and are surprised to see an attendant. “Hi, I locked myself out of my room and my partner is asleep. Do you have a spare key by any chance?” 
“Of course, name and room number?” 
A click sounds from behind and you turn to see a man, turning the Open sign to Closed.  His neck is covered in scruff and bite marks. You look back at the attendant. The ledger, that weighs at least ten pounds, slams across your face. 
You wake up tied up and breathless in a windowless room. Six bloodied bodies surrounding you.
46 notes · View notes
sulfuric-deity · 18 hours
Text
Hermitcraft Pokemon AU thoughts!
(If using this as reference please tag as 'Hc poke au' so I can see, also feel free to tag me :))
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This has been haunting me for a while so I figured I would throw them here for some people to enjoy
Basically this region would have a gym for each type, and the order is pre determined so each gym holds pokemon of a certain level. Once you get through all of them four are randomized to be your big trail at the end, with their real Pokemon.
The pokemon trial is a BIG DEAL needing to be signed up for and then selected as it is so intensive.
The main antagonist is an organization researching 'Sculk' who got infected :)
As well as an unusual myth that seems to be interested in a few of the members. The Watcher.
Now onto hermits and the rough order of gyms!
OTHER ROLES:
Rendog-
He is the host for the trails, the charming man who will guide you along your journey. However, somethings seems a little off about him...were his eyes always red? He is not infected with Sculk like the others think, instead The Watcher is using his eyes to gain information about its victims.
Xisuma-
Head pokemon professor, oversees all other branches of research as well as the trail. Elusive to the public, who has never seen his face, but close with the gym leaders as he is the one who calculates pokemon level for that year. Absolutely distraught at the appearance of Sculk, and values the safety of his friends over himself.
Cubfan-
An odd pokemon professor, researching the effects of pokemon moves on humans. He is considered odd, and many protest actually using people for his trails, but he is very careful and ensures consent. Was chosen to go and supervise the Sculk trials alongside the company to see if its harmful to people. (wink wink nudge nudge)
Mumbo-
The youngest pokemon professor, he focuses mostly on the evolution of pokemon and how and when it occurs. He is likely the professor you would see the most, interacting with gym leaders and Ren. When Xisuma begins to evacuate things, and Cub goes missing he is forced to run everything himself. On top of that, his close friend Grian goes missing. Absolutely crumbling under the pressure of the many tasks.
DocM-
The head of the organization researching the Sculk, he seems unaffected by the possession. (Until too late hehe) Cold on the outside, friendly on the inside he won favor of many gym leaders, even if the HEP and public are skeptical of his involvement. He is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.
Cleo-
She is the head of HEP (Human, Environment, Pokemon) who focus on the human treatment of pokemon and the protection against pokemon rampages. They were tasked with monitoring the Sculk situation. With their 'no bs' attitude, you'd think they would have no friends with all the goofballs around, but its actually just a front for their pure sarcasm.
Joe Hills-
A member of HEP who came from distant lands, wont tell you exactly how or why but will spin fanciful tales of adventure. Actually under arrest for breaking pokemon out 'illegally' in his original region. Protected by HEP now, at least for a while.
XbCrafted-
A field expert HEP member, usually taking care of water based missions. He is close friends with Keralis and beef, often teasing that he could defeat their regular teams easy. During a mission to investigate Sculk along a beachfront, he goes MIA. He is eventually found stranded on an island with all his pokemon fainted, talking to a volleyball with Keralis's face on it. He is fearful of the man after being haunted by the small volleyball child.
Zedaph-
The last member of HEP, hard to spot and even harder to understand in a conversation. Smart enough to be offered a spot as a professor but denied it as he 'doesn't want his creativity limited.' Takes care of the technical aspects.
Etho-
Former Champion, held the title for many years before willingly giving it over to his apprentice. He is many peoples spark for wanting to be a trainer, and he is still incredibly talented. (Despite Gem's boasting.) Now he wanders across the land to revisit friends and watch the youngsters train.
Gem-
Current Champion! Rumored to be Etho's sibling or otherwise related she takes great pride in her title. Known as GeminiSlay, her pokemon are ruthless, mostly tanks and quick attackers. She often worries about how the public compares her to Etho despite their obvious differences. She takes care of her gym leaders, but always looks for opportunities to drop in for surprise battles, especially with Pearl and Joel.
Grian-
Very close with Pearl, former water gym leader but retired the position to her after she defeated him. Now he takes joy in annoying the other gyms and assisting Mumbo is his research. Still an expectedly powerful trainer. Snail, marine biologist man, surprisingly smart. Goes mysteriously missing during the Sculk breakout, and is found stolen by one of the legendaries of the region (the Watcher.)
GYM LEADERS:
BdoubleO- Grass
Disgruntled about being the first gym leader faced, but takes great pride in wowing the trail-goers and being a difficult first challenge. He takes excellent care of his gym, and enjoys his trail. He claims to be the only Gym leader who defeated Etho. One of the longest standing leaders. During the Sculk infection, he helps to maintain a safe area and contact Etho for help.
Pearl- Water
Takes excellent care of her pokemon and it shows, they are fiercely loyal and in tune with her. Sometimes seeming to move as one entity. Admires Gem for her determination and skill, the pair have a joking rivalry. Also very close with Tango, she likes having the upper hand in battling. She pushes Tango to train his pokemon better against water types. She leads the search for Grian when he goes missing, facing off against the legendary by herself.
Tango- Fire
A bit hot-headed, he can sometimes gain a one track mind when it comes to his projects and forget about his responsibility as a gym leader. He created his own trail, and ensured it was as far from the scorching flames the trail-goers would expect (Decked out themed.) Close to Zedaph, and often helps in HEP contraptions. When his dungeon starts to gain a consciousness of its own, he is surprisingly delighted, even if it costs him possession.
Impulse- Rock
Stubborn, vengeful, and critical he relies on his combined Gym to help even out his flaws. Despite what he considers fatal flaws, he is intelligent, loyal, and protective of his friends which compliment his other half. Like earthquakes he is a powerhouse with his pokemon, often intimidating trail-goers. Although they are very quickly shown otherwise with his welcoming personality.
Skizz- Ground
Overly trusting, friendly, and slack he relies on his combined Gym to help even out his flaws. Impulse pushes him to grow and match his level, as well as not immediately giving up on a grudge. While he calms and grounds Impulse's intense energy. The pair make a deadly duo and are the trial-goers first introduction to the concept of double battles. Warm and welcoming he surprises a lot of people with his demeanor.
Scar- Normal
While normal types seem boring, Scar would adamantly disagree. They have very few weaknesses, and have the potential to learn to many moves outside of their type! A lover of all pokemon trail-goer expect scar to be easy, but are very wrong. His Persian, Jellie, is not as friendly as her trainer. Distraught by the loss of Grian he is incredibly frustrated he cant go to look for his friend due to his wheelchair.
Keralis- Bug
Wide eyed and not that competitive Keralis aims to just have a good time. He showers any trainer who makes it to his gym with compliments luring them into a false security. Despite not being competitive, he is ranked higher than the rest for a reason. Bug types are underrated. Keralis was terrified when XB goes missing, he completely closes his gym to go looking for his beloved princess.
Ijevin- Poison
Goopy spooky guy, takes great joy in being so relaxed and still absolutely destroying people. Stock up on poison heals and hope he's having a good day! He is also one of the original leaders, and has fallen into a comfortable groove and gained mad skills. Overall reliable, and sturdy.
Beef- Fighting
His bulky figure leads most people to believe he is a ruthless fighter, and while this is true, he also has a heart of gold. During XB's disappearance he too closes his gym, strong arming any authorities away as he searches for his friend. He is the one to first find XB, who is fearful of Keralis after being haunted by the ball man.
Hypno- Psychic
A slinking, cheeky figure. No one has ever seen his eyes, and it is rumored that he can brainwash people with his gaze. It is of course not entirely true, but he continues it as it tons of fun watching trial-goers squirm as he watches them. Close with Wels and Ijevin, who takes great pride in making fun of being super effective against his pokemon. One of the older gym leaders.
Welsknight- Steel
What better category for a knight? With speed and tactic he tears down those who get in his way. He takes pokemon battling very seriously, but only because the competitiveness brings him joy. If he wins or loses, he had an amazing time. Although it can be hard to tell, the glare he gives while focusing would make anyone nervous. He plays heavily into the knight bit, people are unsure if je truly believes it (he doesnt.) But...recently he seems a tad more aggressive. And was he always so fascinated with the colour red? The watcher has taken a particular interest in the knight, and is attempting to use him in much the same way as Ren.
(Joel) Smallishbeans-Dark
His sarcastic ease makes most trainers doubt his skills, and he takes great pleasure in watching their faces fall as they realize it is NOT an easy fight. He is not what you'd expect for the Dark element, and he enjoys using contrast to highlight the shadows rather than just cast everything into night. One of the newer Gym leaders, he insists Etho would not get past him in a pokemon battle, and has spent most of his carrer jokingly threatening the man, and trailing after him to beg for a battle.
Iskall- Dragon
With a cackle he unleashes literal dragons upon trainers, likely named something ridiculous (such as The Sweed). He is very close to Stress, and the object of her terror via adoration tiny pokemon. He is also close with Mumbo, yet they drift apart as Mumbo takes on more responsibilities, due to the secrecy of projects he starts to feel resentment towards Mumbo for ignoring him in favor of Grian and Scar. However that quickly changes as the Sculk is revealed and Grian goes missing. Still reminds Mumbo that he wont judge him and wants to help when things get to be too much.
Stress- Fairy
She finds it absolutely hilarious that fairy types are stronger than dragon, and often terrorizes Iskall. Using the 'pretty but deadly' motif she dances circles around her opponents. Her pokemon are absolutely gorgeous! :) She cares deeply for the other leaders, and helps to calm and care for their mental health as the Sculk attacks happen.
False- Flying
The strongest of the gyms she is known as the 'Queen of hearts', as she often destroyed the dreams of those who dared to face her. She is the last hurdle before the final stretch, trainers often get sloppy now and she takes advantage of it. The longest reigning leader, she doesn't seem to want to retire anytime soon. Very close with Ren, but too busy to immediately notice his changes.... She is vital in helping drive off the Sculk, her powerful team helping to clear infected Pokemon and trainers.
46 notes · View notes
vsyrworld · 1 day
Note
Serious question - who is more whipped for who: Charles for Carlos or Carlos for Charles?
interesting! Please don't get mad if I said both of them🤣 and this is going to be a long one.
I have to tell you that this ship is taking their time slowly to get close to each other. Their love bloomed like molasses on the ground after a dewy morning rain. Carlos -- he is an easygoing and humble person, who loves to tease, annoy, and banter. He said in an interview that Charles is easy to get along with too. With his humble personality, it would make sense to point out that Carlos would make a move first to introduce him, just like how Singapore 2018, he asked Charles first, not the other way around. It happens because Charles is a shy person but will open up and give all of his heart when he trusts the person. Remember post Seb Ferrari era? the mood was down and the team was split into two sides. Charles was stressed too, suffocated, he missed so many chances to be the world champion. Enter Carlos with his light personality, it gives Charles a fresh air.
I thought Carlos was bolder but somehow Charles also did his own games too. Once he gets comfortable with Carlos, he becomes playful too, he teases him, gives him pet names, asks him ridiculous unnecessary things, and so much more. Remember also that both C² boys are together facing the downfall of Ferrari, 2022-2023 was -I can say- the worst era. There are so many things behind the scenes that somehow they choose to keep it lowkey and not show it to the camera. They did sometimes, back in the day 2021 when they used a silly filter and posted on each other accounts. So bet, through the trial and tribulation as a Ferrari drivers they exchange many deep talks together, both of them are fights for each other, we never see them crash no? Unlike Seb with Charles, or Nico with Lewis, both respect each other, and both are not into mind games, yes Charles might be intimidating for Carlos since he is the golden boy, but somehow Carlos understands his burden to be il Predistinato, he is helping him through bad times. Carlos stated that he wish Charles become a wdc with Ferrari and he wants to help him. Carlos loves Ferrari and bleeds rosso corsa as much as Charles does. Watch Carlos 2023 press conference with the Estrella Galicia, where said his racing future plan A B C is drives for Ferrari, and he also pointed out how he annoyed by the fan who always make them hate each other. With that dedication Charles softens and trusts Carlos, he is having fun and he is down so bad for Carlos. The interview with Martin or the Singapore interview 2023 are the proves how close they are
With much aware, I do understand for whole this four year, fans always pitted them against each other. They beefing bcs there is no "dramatic" content between them. Yes they were used to dissing about strategies, but does it happen so great until it make the headline? No! Thats why fans are nosy about them and yet they are so undisturbed by that. Again, they keep everything so lowkey and yet from interviews, from instastory, articles, and even their personal project, they exchange everything. Charles doesn't like physical touch but did he avoids Carlos' touch? no i dont think so😬❤️‍🩹
32 notes · View notes
Text
the apple pie life for me (and you) // Dean Winchester x Castiel (SPN)
AVAILABLE ON AO3
Tumblr media
Inspiration: Cough Syrup - Glee Cast (Cover)
Summary: One minute, Castiel is confessing his love as he sacrifices himself, so Dean can live. The next, Dean is dead, and Castiel's avoiding him in Heaven. Or maybe Dean's avoiding him. Dean has probably never been more confused in his life, feelings for his best friend and all.
TWs: kinda angst, mentioned vomit, very slightly alluded child abuse (john winchester), a little bit of yelling, sort of suicidal thoughts (like yeah, but he's already dead), cursing, crying, low self-worth, mention of self-sacrifice, Dean is bad at feelings (and so is Cas), avoidance, mention of death, and confrontation.
[[A/N: This is a finale fix-it, but with the finale still canon, if you will. Except Dean doesn't like just drive until Sam dies. This actually ripped out my soul and shoved it back in. I felt possessed writing this. Also, let Dean say fuck. Anyway. This shit will fuck you up, but it's a happy ending !!! Anyway, enjoy :))) ]]
Tumblr media
Dean doesn't think he wanted to die.
But he's not really sure. And he kinda feels like that's something you should be sure about.
As he cruises along in Baby with no place to go, but also somehow having somewhere in mind, he just keeps thinking about it.
Lots of things, really. Chuck, everyone disappearing, Jack, Sammy back on Earth (he thinks he's always gonna worry about him), and... and Cas.
See that's... that's where his mind hitches.
Because otherwise, after Jack took over, Dean thought things were going pretty good. Great, even. Him and Sammy doing the same thing it all started with. (Sans the Dad thing, probably for the best, but still-)
But, the more he thinks about it now, where there is nothing but the road, Baby, and him... That life, that wasn't what he wanted. He wasn't living how he wanted to. Sure, he wanted Sammy in it, but to say he still wanted to be a hunter?
When he thought about it, it kinda felt like he was still playing the role that Chuck had carved out for him. He knows he had free will then, he knows Chuck wasn't in charge, but he just... That role was comfortable, familiar, and he thinks maybe... both him and Sam just fell right back into it.
And then, there's the just him and Sam thing. It started like that, yeah, and don't get him wrong, he loves Sammy. (It's probably in his bones now, it's so ingrained in his friggin' DNA.) But it wasn't just him and Sammy, not anymore.
So, how can everything be 'goin' good' when you're missing pieces, people?
Like Jody and the girls, Garth and his family, Eileen, Jack and... and Cas.
So, even though, Jack fixed it all, it was still kinda like him and Sam were the only ones on the planet. Alone.
He wasn't happy with what he was doing, he was missing people like hell, and his brain was in near-constant turmoil because... because his best friend was dead. And it wasn't like he tried to stop it, live like how Castiel wanted him to. What he died for.
But he just couldn't. How the hell was he supposed to live happily when Cas was dead? Because of him, of all things.
So, maybe... maybe he did want to die.
Dean doesn't think it's only the Cas... thing, he thinks it's a lot of things (probably). But, he thinks him not being there is really what makes it all so wrong.
He thinks back to when Cas was dead before, when... when all he needed was a "damn win" and he got him back. Everything was so much better, even though shit hadn't been done about Chuck or any of their other problems. He had a damn win.
He's just starting to think that maybe he didn't need a win, maybe he needed Cas.
And maybe that's why the life he lived wasn't what he wanted. Maybe that's why it was so easy to die when he'd been fighting all his life to live freely. Escape whatever goddamn prophecies plagued his life, and live how he wanted to.
Team Free Will, he remarked somewhere in his head.
And yet, the only one living freely was Cas. Sam and Dean, written like damn books, apparently, but Cas?
Chuck said he never followed him, said that he had a "crack in his chassis" (whatever the hell that meant). And he'd even... the turning point for him was Dean. Goddamn "gripping him tight and raising him from perdition".
That was when he'd veered off the path Chuck had built for him, and out of the damn countless universes, this... his Cas was the only one who broke the cycle.
And then, he'd think back to the moment he died for the... for the last time. What he said, and how he said it, and even when Dean tried to twist it to something that wasn't so goddamn scary. He couldn't. Because he had said it clear as day.
And just telling him gave him 'true happiness' (like a damn fairytale). He didn't expect a response, or anything, just telling him. Dean couldn't wrap his head around it at all. Hadn't since the day he said it.
Every time he thought about both of them, Cas's... confession and Chuck's words, he connected the dots. He'd never let himself think about it, but now he had all the time in the world to. It's all he could do.
So, he let himself think it, just this once.
Cas... loving him, that wasn't planned. That was all Cas. This Cas. His Cas.
He maybe even loved him so much that it broke god's will.
How was Dean supposed to handle that? Digest that? When seconds later, Cas was dead. Even now, he couldn't-
There was a house.
To his left, it had been miles of just meadows and fields, and now... now there was a house. A white house, that you sort of just pictured in your head when you imagined a 'family home'. It looked kind of oddly like his house when he was a kid, but also not at all.
It had a white picket fence and a big yard. It had all the works.
The apple pie life, his mind chimed.
Dean paused a moment, wondering if this was someone else's. His eyes peered around it, focusing on the long, empty driveway (the kind that was half dirt and half rocks). And he came up decidedly empty.
He took a breath, and mumbled low (maybe to make sure he could still talk), "'S worth a shot."
Flinching a little at Baby bumping along the rocks, Dean slowly crept up to the house. Eyeing it the whole time, as if it would change when he looked away. Or maybe like it wouldn't feel right halfway up the driveway.
But, he felt the same all the way through.
Dean pursed his lips, staring at the white shingles and the big porch with two rocking chairs -one on either side.
It was two stories, but still small. And it wasn't perfect either, not like out of one of those friggin' house magazines where everything seemed so clean, it was almost scary. There were scuffs and marks, and the grass grew too high right next to the steps.
He took a breath, and stepped out of Baby, throwing the keys around his fingers on instinct. The jingle was the only noise that filled the air then.
It was crazy how much the air smelt the same, felt the same. He could see the wind shift the blades of grass and the branches of the trees, it felt so much like... home.
Even though Dean had never seen this house before in his life, it felt like home.
That... That feeling was new.
He let his eyes surf over the land a second, before catching on a barn -rundown and hidden behind the house. And even though it was, Dean traced the driveway all the way back to it.
Letting himself take one last look at the house, he slowly trailed back to the barn. Feet crushing over rocks and twigs, he truly had never felt more alive. Ironically.
It wasn't the long stretch of road, the slick seats of Baby, or the low hum of the engine. It was the sound of birds, the smell of flowers, and the fresh air. Dean nearly almost bent down to get dirt on his hands just to feel it again, instead of the smooth steering wheel he knew so well.
He didn't though, and instead, approached the barn. Somewhere in his head, it rang familiar. He wasn't sure why or how, but as he walked through the door it just... he knew it.
And as his footsteps echoed through the air, it hit him.
Dean spun around on his feet and looked toward the door, almost on instinct.
He did know this barn. It was where he... where he first met Cas. He remembers it more with all the sigil and black paint everywhere, but looking back at the door, at the lights-
He laughed a little, the dramatic son of a bitch.
Dean cut himself short, watching the doors. Maybe he was expecting something, someone, but he'd never say it out loud. He couldn't, not now.
Cas had been right there.
And there was a part of him that wished he still was.
He took a deep breath through his nose, wondering what exactly he was going to do with it. Or if he was just gonna keep it empty. Because...
He had the spare thought to make it into a kinda garage, build some shelves maybe, fill the walls with parts. He could pull Baby in, shelter her from the rain. If it did rain here. Somehow Dean hoped so. He wanted stuff like rain, snow, the crunching leaves, and the smush of mud under his shoe.
It was weird to say he wanted to feel human in Heaven, but he did.
Because when had he ever felt human? Really?
He wanted that. He wanted a lot of things now that could never have imagined back then. Or didn't think to, he guessed.
Patting one of the wooden walls, Dean made his exit.
His eyes lingered on the backyard for a moment, where the expanse of grass seemed larger, and in the corner, there seemed to be a fenced-off patch of dirt. Maybe for a garden.
He had never thought about having a garden, but he wasn't really against it either.
He looked at for a second, before thinking to himself. Cas would probably like that.
He had that bee thing, and bees like flowers, right? So, maybe he'd offer it to him. Let him have the space. It would be nice having him there, a little piece of him around him every day.
Because he knew that he was tinkering around somewhere, supposedly with Jack. And maybe... maybe it would be nice for him to have a break, a garden.
Dean bit his lip, tapping his foot a moment.
Was that what it was? Was that why you wanted him here, Winchester? Really?
He kept moving forward, steady steps back to the front of the house. For once in his life, there was no rush. He could take his time.
By the time he swung around to the porch, the wind had died down and left only the shining sun in its wake. It felt just like when the sun touched his skin on Earth, maybe even a little better. He liked it the same reason he liked everything else, just being human.
Dean moved up the steps, stairs creaking with every move and his hand drifting across the railing. It was imperfect with bumps and peeling paint, and he had a thought that maybe he could fix it one day. Maybe that's why the house is the way it is, so he could fix it.
Like maybe it had been built like that because he'd always wanted to do it. Fix up a house. Did Cas know that?
His eyes roamed over to the second rocking chair thoughtfully. He kind of had an idea of who he wanted there.
He let his fingers drift over the chair a moment, like maybe if he thought hard enough, he'd be there. Here.
Dean didn't think that he could talk to him, or maybe that he would be comfortable doing so. But that didn't mean he didn't want to friggin' see him, talk to him.
And even though it was scary as hell, he would talk about it if Cas wanted to. He just thinks that the natural progression is his response, and Dean... Dean wasn't sure he had one. Or maybe he had one, but he wasn't sure he could say it.
He was a damn coward.
Pulling open the door, Dean's eyes slunk along the walls. The first thing he saw was a hallway, softly colored walls, and frames along it. Stepping inside, he pulled the door closed behind him (on instinct) and drew his attention to the pictures.
A lot of them, he recognized.
Old pictures of him and Sammy, pictures of his Mom and Dad. But some, he hadn't.
His fingers trailed over a frame. It was him and Cas laughing in the bunker, he'd had no idea it was taken at all. It must've been Sam, but he'd never found the need to show him, apparently.
He had that sort of crinkly smile that he'd get sometimes, and Dean was saying something but he was laughing halfway through it. And Cas was just looking at him like he always did.
Ever since Cas's goodbye, he'd been rethinking everything he knew. Everything.
From the first time he saw him to the last, he'd looked through everything -trying to find it. Trying to see how he'd missed it for so long. And when he did, it was right damn in front of him.
That was probably what he hated this most, that he'd never seen it. Dean had never even thought of the possibility, only once or twice when some dick would make an offhand remark. (Which, when he looked back on it, happened a lot.)
And it has seemed just so far away. Impossible.
Maybe that wasn't because he hadn't... but because he was a broken human (past damn repair) and he was an angel of the Lord.
How could he love me?
And then, there was all that he said. That he believed Dean was so much better than he did. At his very core was love of all things.
"The one thing I want, I know I can't have."
Knows he can't have, it kept ringing through his head. As he wandered up the stairs, maybe even before that, when he was driving, and maybe even before that when it was just him and Sammy ganking bitches.
He didn't tell Sam, and maybe that was the biggest thing. Maybe he felt some guilt, or maybe... maybe he just wanted to keep it to himself. He wasn't sure.
Dean wasn't sure about any goddamn thing at this point.
He took a breath and peeked into the rooms. He didn't want to go fully in them, he wasn't sure why. But one of them, he recognized to be a guest bedroom. It was empty, except for a bed and a dresser -impersonal.
Maybe for Sammy someday.
There was a bathroom on the other wall, he thinks he has two. One downstairs and one up. (Maybe even three, he hasn't looked at his master bedroom yet.) He paused a moment, maybe imagining things on the sink. Imagining a rug he buys one day (do they even buy things? Or does he just think it into existence?). It was domestic, and Dean couldn't tell if he liked it or not.
He trailed down the stairs again, and just to his right, he saw another bathroom -right by the front door. It was empty again, except for the essentials. Toilet, shower, and sink. He didn't waste anymore time.
Across from it was, he guessed, the living room. And he kinda expected the same, just the essentials, maybe some fuzzy throw pillows that Dean would inevitably throw out. Maybe a rug he'd say he didn't like, but he'd keep it anyway.
But it wasn't.
Instead, Dean found something a lot more personal.
It was a big TV with shelves surrounding it filled with movies. And the more he looked at it, the more at it -they were his favorites. And on the wall under the window, there was a cassette player (no cassettes, but they were probably out in Baby) and to its left a mini fridge. Dean chanced a look in it and found his favorite type of beer. And under it, on one of the shelves was an unused record player. Beside both of them, there was one of those containers for vinyls (Dean had friggin' clue what it was called), and it was filled. He didn't have to look to know it was all his favorites.
There were bean bags piled in the corner like he'd have too many visitors for the couch. Or maybe they'd expect him to. Cas would expect him to.
Dean felt like his breath was shot out of his chest. A little like he couldn't friggin' breath.
His Dean-cave.
It was a damn upgrade, yeah, not with concrete floors and stuffy walls. But in essence the very same. Probably the perfect version of it in his head.
God, had Cas remembered that?
Remembered all of it? His favorite fucking songs, favorite movies, favorite shows- Had Cas remembered everything?
It made him want to throw up, or maybe like his heart was squeezed so tight in his chest that he felt like he might die. Again, he guessed.
Wouldn't be the first time.
Dean stared at the room, hand coming to rest on the back of the couch. He swallowed back the bile that was rising in his chest, it felt like his stomach was waves in the damn ocean.
He didn't know whether to cry or throw his guts up. It felt just like after Cas was taken by the Empty.
Like his world was shifting and crumbling all at once.
Dean stepped back a few steps and came up against the wall. His eyes burned.
He ran a hand through his hair, a little frantically, and tried to school the sob that climbed up his throat.
He's alive, he repeated to himself, Cas is fucking alive.
Some other voice chimed back, little and weak, But he's not here, is he?
He took in a deep breath, shaky, and leaned his head back up against the wall. Looking up at the ceiling, Dean thought maybe he felt tears roll down his cheeks.
He wanted to pray, bring him here. But what the hell would he even say?
"Hey buddy, confessing your love and fucking dying after wasn't very fun for me."
"What you did wasn't goddamn fair."
"I know you love me, but I don't understand it. I don't get it."
"How can you love me?"
"I think maybe I love you too."
His breath hitched in his chest.
He clenched his fist onto the wall, pounding it a few times. He heard the frames rattle in their places and felt the wood boards behind it under his hand.
Dean took a deep breath in and wiped at his eyes. Sniffling, he walked forward into the kitchen. Keep moving.
It was the cozy kind of kitchen, not the minimalist crap, with wooden cupboards and imperfect counters. The refrigerator had a few pictures stuck to it, held up by those damn alphabet magnets.
He just somehow knew that was Cas's idea.
And he laughed a little at it, taking one of them in his hands and rubbing his thumb over the shitty plastic.
His eyes smoothed over the space again, and he found something actually on the counter. He wasn't sure how he missed it the first time, but now, there was a slice of apple pie there. Probably the most picturesque one he'd ever seen. Heaven pie.
"Goddamn Heaven pie," he muttered, but he was smiling.
Before he could take a bite, of what he suspected might be the best pie in his life, he heard something.
A dog bark.
Dean nearly ran to the front door, leaving the pie stranded on the counter. Swinging the door open, he nearly stalled in place.
Miracle was there, yeah, and ran up to him a little like he was the only person in the world. It made his heart ache. But there was someone else.
"I've got a delivery," Charlie, his Charlie, smiled -grinned even.
"Charlie," he spoke, a little like it took everything in his chest to. She only smiled brighter.
Dean thought maybe he was crying, and he grabbed her in a hug. One that he thought may have been a little too tight but she didn't complain. She didn't say a word.
He put his chin on top of her head (just like he used to) and felt her hair (still short) under it. He used to do it to remember she was there, it felt like he was missing a fucking limb when he couldn't anymore. He never thought about the fact that maybe he could again one day.
It felt like everything in him was relieved, as if the tension had melted away. Somehow, someway, Charlie was exactly what he needed right now.
God, he hadn't even thought about her.
Well, he had. A lot. He thought about everybody he'd ever lost, that shit weights on your conscience. (Especially her.) But he'd never thought of her being up here, that he could see her again. Give her a goddamn hug-
He sniffled a little and dropped his mouth to kiss her on the forehead. She hugged him back just as tight, and he thought he might’ve heard her sniffle too.
Dean spoke before he could stop it, "I'm sorry."
"Dean, no," she pulled back, but didn't let go of his arms, "-you weren't- That wasn't your fault, you know that."
He was still crying, and maybe his voice was cracking, "I'm still sorry."
Charlie rubbed her hands down his arms for a minute, before changing the topic, "'Heard you took down God."
Dean laughed a little, wiping at his eyes, "Damn straight I did. Me, Sammy, and Jack."
"Would've loved to know him," she smiled -big and bright, "-but he's too busy for me now."
"Probably too busy to see me too," he offered, sniffling, "-if that helps you."
She shrugged, a little knowingly, "I think he'd make time if you asked."
He bit his lip a moment, thoughtfully, "Ya wanna come in?"
"Was waiting for that," she laughed, walking in -her eyes dipping over the walls, before waltzing into the Dean-cave, "-Look at your digs, Winchester! Not bad."
"It fit me?" He asked.
She turned to him then, grinning, "To a T."
He ran his tongue along his teeth, something heavy in his throat, "You know who made it?"
"I do," Charlie passively remarked, as Miracle ran up and jumped on the couch, "-We saw the house pop up a bit ago, not long, and we saw them out here, building it."
"Cas, yeah?" He asked like he didn't already know.
"Yup," she popped the 'p', running up to his shelves and seemingly skimming the titles, "-that and uh... Jack. But, mostly Cas."
She muttered something about 'shit, you have that one?', but Dean's mind was elsewhere.
"Do you," he started asking, swallowing kind of awkwardly, "-Do you see things on Earth? Like um... events, or conversations?"
"Only when we want to," she answered, still busy on the shelves (currently she was on her tippy-toes looking at the top one), "-I've been watching a few conventions over the years. Sometimes I peek in on you, or Sam, or Cas, for that matter. But I'm pretty content here."
Dean fell silent, fidgeting with his hands.
She turned to him, quirking a brow, "Why? Do you want to check in on Sam? It's pretty easy, actually-"
"Before," he started, and Charlie's lips snapped shut, "-Before the whole, uh, Chuck fight and Jack becoming... well, God. Cas died again."
"Shit," she spoke, "-how did he die?"
"Billie, ya know, Death, uh," he cleared as throat, and Charlie's eyes were on him (intently watching), "-she was after us. Me and Cas, and he... he sacrificed himself."
"Damn," she let out, "-have you seen him since Jack-"
"He didn't really... die," Dean kept going, maybe like he couldn't stop (he wanted to tell someone), "-There's this place where, uh, demons and angels go when they 'die'. From what I've heard, it's kinda like a void, an eternal sleep kinda deal."
Charlie pursed her lips a moment, maybe trying to decide if she should speak, "Yeah, I've heard rumors. Never been there of course, but um, yeah."
Dean bit his lip, and took a deep breath in.
"Dean," Charlie slowly stepped toward him, "-are you okay? Do you need to... sit down?"
"He made a deal," he continued, and maybe he wasn't looking at her but he really couldn't, "-Uh, the Empty, or the eternal sleep thing, um... would take him when he was the damn happiest he's ever been."
"And," she paused, laughing a little, "-how was he the happiest he's ever been when you were running from Death?"
Dean didn't say a word, and Charlie promptly cut her laughter short. The silence echoed a moment, and she stepped closer to him again (this was uncharted territory).
"Dean?"
He swallowed, his voice was a little scratchy now and his eyes burned, "He... He started this speech about- about me, and how good I was. That I wasn't just anger or... or hate like I thought. I was love, I raised Sammy for... for love, and do what I do, like stop the goddamn apocalypse, for love. That I was... the most selfless person he'd ever known-"
Charlie stayed quiet.
"-And he's lived millenniums," Dean laughed a little and it was wet (and maybe he was crying), "-I mean, how can that... how can that be true?"
"Dean," she leveled in a steady voice.
"And he just kept going," he laughed again, and he wiped at his eyes, "-and I couldn't say a goddamn word."
"Dean."
"And after all that," he felt a sob crawl up his throat, it shattered through his chest, "-after all that he told me he loved me. And just saying it, fucking telling me- That made him the happiest he's ever been."
Charlie's eyes were shiny, and she was looking at him a little like he would shatter at any second. But she didn't say a word.
"He said," he swallowed, his breaths shaky, "-He said that the one thing he wanted he couldn't have but I..."
He let himself say it, this once.
"Charlie, I-" he looked at her then, and she was frowning, her eyes were teary, "-I think he can have it. I think he-"
Dean took a breath, it shook through his lungs and laughed again -wiping at his eyes (like he wouldn't be crying if they didn't fall).
"-I think he's always damn had it."
There was silence then, and Dean didn't feel like he had anything else to say. Or maybe that he could say anything else. It felt like his soul had been ripped out of his chest-
Charlie seemed to take a minute to make sure, tediously stepping forward.
But when she realized he was, she pulled him into a hug again. This time though, she stood on her tippy-toes and pulled his head to her shoulder. Her hand cradling the back of his head, Dean followed her lead.
He took a breath in, that was just so Charlie, his Charlie, and it made his eyes fog up again.
She held him there a while, even though it couldn't have been comfortable. He knew that, but he couldn't be the one to pull away. Halfway because it was so long since he'd seen her, and halfway because he couldn't remember the last time he was held like this. Cared for like this.
"Did you," she started, slow and careful (gentle), "-Have you told anyone about this?"
"No, I... I died with it," he breathed out, "-I just... I couldn't tell Sammy-"
"Dean, hey," Charlie shooshed him, before joking lightly, "-that's okay. It just... It seemed like it was a little pent up."
Dean laughed a little, and she seemed to be happy about that.
"It was," he echoed out in the silence, "-I didn't... I didn't tell anyone."
"Well," she hummed, pushing her chin onto his shoulder, "-thank you for telling me."
Something in his chest softened.
"I think that's..." she spoke, gently, "-I think that's big for you. All of this is... is big for you."
There was a beat.
"You're doing your best, Dean," she soothed, squeezing him a little tighter, "-And maybe you didn't tell Sam, or tell Cas, but you did what you could. Everyone has their limits."
He let out a breath, less shaky this time, and dug himself further into her shoulder.
"That's nothing-" her hand rubbed against his back, "-That's nothing to be ashamed of."
He let the words sink into his skin.
"And quite frankly," Charlie quipped, "-your limit is way past mine. So, I can't judge."
Dean laughed again, and he could nearly feel her smile.
Thoughtfully keeping himself there for just a little longer, before pulling back. Sniffling and wiping at his eyes, Charlie stayed very close by, just in place for another hug.
"We good?" She questioned, a little playfully but on the same note, very serious.
"Yeah, yeah, we're uh-" he chuckled out, "-we're good."
"Can I..." she paused a moment, "-If you're not comfortable, don't answer it. But, is this your first... guy thing?"
Dean froze a little.
"You don't have to answer," she quickly added, "-at all. No pressure."
It's Charlie.
He ran his hand along his jaw, before rumbling out, "Kinda. I... When I was a kid, I knew, and maybe I even acted on it a little, but Dad..."
Charlie hummed in understanding, "He found out?"
"Yeah, uh," he spoke, suddenly awkward, "-I don't... I've never known how he figured it out. Or maybe he just... assumed, but he... yeah."
It was unspoken, and she seemed to understand.
"God," she asserted, maybe a little incredulously, "-he should really not be here."
Dean laughed a little, but something was heavy in his chest, "I don't know if I'd visit either of them anyway. Even without... this."
Charlie pursed her lips, "And you don't have to. It's your Heaven. If they... If they try to talk to you, let me know. I'll get a crew."
"A crew?"
"There's enough of us," she shrugged, "-He's an old man anyway, I'm sure I could take him."
He laughed a little again, "You'd be surprised."
She looked at him a moment like maybe that spoke louder than anything else he said. She squeezed his shoulder once, but gratefully, didn't say anything.
"And can I clarify something?"
Dean hummed.
"When Castiel..." she didn't say it, "-Did you not have time? Or were you just... scared?"
"A little bit of both," he answered, fingers tapping along the table by the couch, "-He said it, told me goodbye, and... and adios."
"But you wouldn't have told him? If you got the chance?" She asked, genuinely.
"I don't..." he sighed out, "-I don't know. I think, in the moment, I was just overwhelmed by it all. In-between how he talked about me, and how he... I barely processed a word before he was gone."
Charlie just looked at him.
"I sat there for a while before it-" he moved over to Miracle, petting him, "-it, uh, kicked in."
"And you-" she responded, a little slowly, "-you haven't seen him since then?"
"Well, I... I just got here," he explained, picking up Miracle's ear between his fingers, "-and I didn't even know he'd gotten out. Until... Until Bobby told me."
"Huh," she commented, sitting beside Miracle, "-Do you think he'd come? If you asked?"
Dean rolled the thought around in his mind, "I don't know, he kinda wanted me to live a lot longer than I did."
"How did you die?"
"On a hunt," he answered, simply.
"Shit," she muttered, "-What took you out?"
"Piece of rebar," he offered, wandering back around toward the shelf, "-Monster of the week threw me against a wall, right into it."
"That's..."
"Sammy was gonna call an ambulance, but I..." he echoed out, "-I told him no. I think- I think I wanted to die."
Charlie didn't speak for a moment, processing it, "Because of... Cas?"
"Yeah, mostly," Dean admitted, "-I, uh, realized it all when I got here. Drove Baby for a while and just... Just started thinking."
"About everything?"
"Yeah, uh," he hummed out, brushing his hand over Miracle's fur, "-everything. I wasn't happy there. Wasn't living the life I wanted, and I don't think I could have. Not without Cas."
She paused a second, "Do you think you'll be happy here?"
"It's Heaven," he laughed, not really looking at her, "-I kinda have to be, right?"
"Well," she countered, speaking a little carefully, "-Dean, you still don't have Cas."
Dean's hand froze in place.
"If you weren't happy without him then," she continued, thoughtfully, "-how are you going to be happy without him now?"
"He was dead," he spoke -defensively, "-He's alive now. I can... I can live with that."
"Dean," Charlie reiterated, low and gentle, "-will you be happy?"
"I've handled worse," he argued, but something in his chest was twisting.
She looked at him then, eyes steady on his, "But you don't have to."
He swallowed, repeating, "But I can."
She stood up then, coming right in front of him, and Dean nearly shrunk in place.
"Dean, he... he loves you," Charlie spoke, barely a whisper, "-and I think, somewhere in that thick skull of yours, you love him too."
He gnawed at his lip, "What's that gotta do with anything?"
"It's... everything, Dean," she laughed, a little in disbelief, "-It's got to do with everything. You deserve to be happy."
He took a deep breath through his nose.
"Isn't that what Castiel wanted?" she pointed out, "-For you to be happy?"
"Apparently not," he retorted, a little bitterly, "-how could I be happy when he's dead?"
"Maybe-" Charlie paused, cogs turning in her head, "-You said that he had to be the happiest he's ever been right?"
"Yeah," he replied, trying to follow.
"How could he be the happiest he's ever been if he knew he was causing you pain?"
Dean swallowed, his stomach twisting, "You think..."
"Dean, look I could be wrong," she clarified, "-but I don't think he thought you'd care. If... If he was the happiest he's ever been, and he loved you, he would never be able to cause you pain, or think he would, and still get taken."
He was speechless, something climbing up his throat.
"If he thought you weren't going to be happy," she finished like she'd had a major breakthrough, "-he... he couldn't have been taken."
"He..." Dean faltered to a stop, "-You really think he thought I wouldn't care?"
Charlie pursed her lips together, "I don't know how else it could've worked."
Dean felt like his whole body was on fire, like he was burning alive. Cas didn't know he cared? How the hell didn't he know that?
God, he cared so damn much, and he didn't even know?
He tried to think back to every time he'd lost Cas, all the grief. Dean realized he'd never seen that, he didn't see everytime he lost his goddamn mind because he was gone. For all he knew, everything was hunky-fucking-dory. He's just always thought he knew.
God, he didn't know?
She approached him then, holding his arms, "Dean, I know it's scary, believe me, I know-"
He just looked at her, words stuck in his throat. It felt like he could say everything and nothing at all. Like he was feeling everything and nothing at the same time.
"But he deserves to know," she finished.
Dean took a second, before saying, "Yeah, yeah, he does."
Charlie smiled at him, patting his arms, "You should talk to him, like... as soon as possible."
"Through what? Prayer?"
"Well, yeah," she laughed a little as if it was obvious.
"How do I know..." he exhaled, "-How do I know he'll come?"
"Dean," she assured, "-he loves you."
"Yeah, but what if he's-" he paused, "-what if he's avoiding me?"
"Dean," she repeated, "-he loves you."
"How does that-"
"That doesn't just stop," she interrupted him, "-It's not like if he gets uncomfortable, he'll just stop loving you. It's bigger than everything, if you ask him to, he'll come."
"But-" he tried.
"I know it," she continued, "-and when have I ever been wrong?"
Dean laughed a little.
"Actually, don't answer that," she laughed, "-Just, just trust me. He built this whole Heaven for you, didn't he?"
He responded, simply, "He did."
"He'll come," she repeated, "-You just have to ask, Winchester."
She'd left not long after that, with one solid hug (he didn't think he'd every stop hugging her, ever) and a promise to "tell me all the deets, including the juicy stuff".
Dean wasn't sure how to handle that.
He didn't do it immediately. He sat down and ate the pie first, which was the friggin' best one he'd ever had (he wondered if it always tasted like that up here). Then, he spent the next few hours going through his collection. He even popped in a cassette from Baby, had a few in-home concerts, and just sat with Miracle for a while (Dean thought that he might've known he wasn't doing something he was supposed to, he had a serious bitch face). And then it was night.
So, he went to bed.
He'll be honest, it happened a few times. Days happened (if that was a thing in Heaven).
It wasn't like he wasn't trying. He did, just every time he tried... He was just a damn coward. Kept saying, "I'll do it tomorrow." And it had very much already been tomorrow. A few of them, actually.
Part of him was kinda waiting to see if he'd just... show up like he used to. But, if he'd confessed his, what he believed to be, unrequited love to his best friend... he'd probably avoid him at all costs too. (He kinda already was.)
Today, though, was different.
Dean woke up, got his coffee, and instead of sitting down at the table and staring out the window (usually watching Miracle run around the yard), he went to the hallway. Couldn't tell you why, if you asked. But he just did.
And he stopped at the same picture, the one of him and Cas laughing. His eyes roamed over the crinkled smile, maybe a little differently now. An ache settled in his chest, like maybe he was missing a limb. Every morning he woke up, something was missing.
And sure, yeah, part of that was Sammy. But the other part...
His eyes smoothed over him again, and he just had the overwhelming urge for him to be there. And the thought ran through his mind again that he didn't know that he mattered. Cas was just living (relatively) with the knowledge that Dean didn't care, as if it was the truth.
With a breath, he decided today was the day.
He had given himself time, gotten dressed, sat out on the front porch (it was raining today, he found it kinda calming), and just readying himself.
Now, he was pacing in the kitchen.
"Cas, buddy," he tried like he was running through lines, "-No. Why would I call him buddy? That defeats the whole goddamn purpose."
He sighed, pinching his nose between his fingers, before trying again.
"Cas," he started, trying to think, "-that day. You knew I- Well, you thought you knew I-"
He dragged his palm down his face, groaning. How the hell was he going to do this?
"Fuck it," he decided, he was never going to get it right, "-let's wing it."
Dean let out a big long breath, shaking his hands as if to ready himself. And he really needed to do so.
He deserves to know, he deserves to know, he deserves to know-
"You can do this, Winchester," he mumbled to himself, "-You killed God, what's a damn love confession?"
Love, love, love, chimed through his head.
His stomach churned, but he stayed focused -eyes squeezed shut. Taking a few deep breaths, he stayed silent for a while. Maybe thinking a little too hard in his head, but at this point, there was no use in fighting it.
He deserves to know, he deserves to know, he deserves to know-
Dean let out a shaky breath, and opened his mouth -words slow and particular, "Cas, I don't know if you can hear me or if you're busy-"
Before he could finish another word, a voice called out from behind him.
"Dean," his voice was measured with a sort of lilt (maybe concern).
"Goddammit, Cas," he jumped, flinching, but turning to the angel on instinct, "-you gotta stop doing that."
He skimmed over him a second like he couldn't believe he was real. But he was, and he was standing right in front of him. Before he could say another word though, Cas started searching over him -quickly.
He lifted his arm (grabbing him by the wrist, Dean's brain froze a little), looking for an injury maybe, "Are you alright?"
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-
"What? Yeah," he blinked the haze out of his eyes, "-yeah, I'm fine, Cas. I'm in Heaven, what could hurt me?"
He furrowed his eyebrows in the way he always did and seemed to take him in a second. Blue eyes looked him over, maybe trying to tell if he was lying or not. (He probably could, if he was.) The way that he looked at him so intently always made him want to squirm, or run away, or make some odd comment.
It was a little relieving to see it now though.
"It's good to see you," Dean spoke without thinking about it. It was the first thing he thought of.
And it was, Cas being here felt like that missing piece was back in place. Perfectly slotted. It was kinda clouding his judgment.
Cas did the head tilt thing that he always did (and Dean let himself think for the first time that it was cute), eyebrows furrowing together. Even if Dean didn't know him well enough, he would've known he was confused.
"It's good to see you too, Dean," he finally spoke, cautiously but still so damn genuine, "-Although, I do wish we met in different circumstances."
Dean laughed a little, and the silence felt like he was being swallowed whole. But he just couldn't open his mouth.
"Dean?" He still said it exactly the same as he did the first day he met him. It made his head spin a little.
He looked at him, wordlessly.
"Why am I... here?"
Dean pushed his lips together, kind of deflecting, "When did you get out?"
Cas looked at him, maybe a little guiltily but still very sound, "Jack got me out... as soon as he had the power to."
"So, what-" he stated, trying to clarify, "-uh, right after Chuck was taken care of? When he snapped everybody back into existence?"
"Yes," Cas answered, "-After he left the two of you, he spoke to the Empty and got me out. It apparently wasn't easy, but..."
Dean but at his lip a little, looking to the ground a second, "So... So, all those weeks I was on Earth, you were out? Alive?"
Cas was just staring at him, mouth pressed into a thin line. Dean saw something shift through his eyes that couldn't really understand.
"And you-" he continued, now a little frustrated, "-you what, you didn't think to at least tell me that?"
"Dean-"
"No, no," he interrupted, "-I thought you were dead, Cas. Gone. And you just didn't want to tell me?"
"That's not," he let out a big long sigh, "-That's not the case, Dean."
"Sure as hell looks like it," he scoffed, and maybe he was frustrated but he couldn't find it in himself to be angry. Not anymore.
"I thought," Cas cleared his throat, maybe a little awkwardly, "-I thought you wouldn't want to see me."
"Why wouldn't I want to see you?" Dean asked, incredulously.
"The last..." he echoed out, like he didn't want to say the wrong thing, "-The last meeting we had wasn't preferable to you. I didn't want to make you uncomfortable."
He rolled around the thought in his head a second, and all he got was resounding defiance, but he couldn't quite say that yet. His head just kept pounding.
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-
"Did you-" he started again, searching for answers, "-After the Empty, did you think I was happy?"
Cas looked at him a second, before swinging his eyes to his sleeve almost instinctively (where the bloody handprint would've been), "Not happy necessarily."
"But your damn deal, or whatever," Dean waved his hand dismissively, "-you had to be happy. Completely happy."
"Yes," he answered, inquisitively, "-What is this about, Dean?"
"Cas," he responded, his voice a little shaky (he could see his eyes hitch on it), "-did you think I would care? That I wouldn’t give a damn if you died?"
He pressed his lips together and didn't say a word. Dean thought it was the most telling thing in the world.
His lungs felt like they were tied with rope -he couldn't get a good breath in. Like he was suffocating-
"Really?"
"You looked-" Cas tried to defend himself, "-You looked happy, Dean."
"Yeah," he explained, as if it was obvious, "-because you wanted me to be. And I was trying. For you."
He didn't respond.
"Because what good was a damn sacrifice if I didn't try?"
Cas opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Even though it looked like he was trying, maybe even trying to understand what Dean was expressing. Like he couldn't see it, or didn't believe it.
God, he really doesn't know how much I care?
He posed another question, wringing his hands, "Do you know how I died, Cas?"
"Of course I do, Dean."
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-
"I've had a lot of time to do some thinking," Dean continued, walking a little in place, "-and I think... No, I know that I did it on purpose."
"Don't say that," Cas spoke, voice heavy with something.
"Sammy wanted to call an ambulance," he continued, looking down at his hands and still walking, "-and I didn't let him."
"And you think-" something smoothed over in his eyes, "-you think you could've survived?"
"Maybe," he offered, "-I guess I don't know, but I... Cas, I didn't try. I didn't fight it. I spent my whole life fighting it, and when it mattered most, I didn't damn fight it."
Cas's face fell a little, some sort of understanding in his eyes, agreement even. It rattled through Dean's bones, and made it a little hard to stand a moment.
"I never thought that I could leave Sammy alone," he continued, and one of his hands racked through his hair, "-I was scared shitless to. But it was so easy to just give up. I wasn't... I wasn't living, Cas. Despite whatever you think in that angel head of yours, I was not damn happy."
Cas just looked at him, eyes flicking between his, trying to understand. He took a second, before replying, "I'm sorry, Dean. I would never want to cause you so much pain."
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-
Dean's heart was pounding in his chest. He felt for a second that maybe it would burst through his ribcage like it did in cartoons. It felt damn powerful enough.
His breath caught in his throat, and he felt the urge for to say it. It was on the very tip of his tongue.
"I know, Cas," he deflected (something in his chests stung, coward), "-I know."
Cas just looked at him then, scanning over his face. He could tell there was something else, he looked right into his damn soul every time he looked at him, and there was something else. Dean waited a second, to see if he'd say anything, but he was hit with a resounding no.
Maybe he thought he'd already said enough. Too much maybe. Dean didn't know if he agreed with him or not.
"Cas, I-" he spoke, maybe a little quietly, "-I can't be happy without you. You gotta know that."
He was looking at him more intensely now, still trying to understand it all. Like maybe he couldn't imagine what Dean was trying to say. Or maybe like he couldn't even fathom it.
I love him, I love him, I love him-
"I know you didn't-" he cleared his throat, eyes flickering away (he couldn't look at him right now), "-I know you didn't see me. When you, uh, died, any of the times. But I- I gotta tell ya, I was far from happy."
Cas didn't interrupt him, he just kept looking. Staring. Like every word he said was important.
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-
He just kept talking, at this point he could stop (his eyes burned), "I kept your goddamn trenchcoat in Baby the whole time you were..."
He thought maybe for a second he was working himself up, but he couldn't stop now.
"And when Lucifer stabbed you," he pressed his lips together, and swallowed, "-I gave you a hunter's funeral and... and watched your body burn up into flames."
"Dean," Cas spoke, he could maybe see the edge he was teetering on. Maybe he could see that he was going to cry, and that was new. Maybe he was trying to soothe-
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-
"And then, when the Empty got you," Dean's voice shook a little, "-I stayed there, for a... a while and cried, probably the most I ever have in my life-"
Cas flinched, maybe a little guiltily, "Dean."
"-I couldn't even answer Sam's damn phone call."
He was holding out his hands now, a little like how cops did, in those shows, when the perpetrator had a weapon or was threatening his own life. Cautious, careful. A little like he'd explode. Voice careful and measured, "Dean, I didn't know-"
"I know that, Cas," he interrupted, maybe a little defensively but he couldn't help it, "-I've been beating myself up about it since I realized that I never made it goddamn clear to you that I cared."
"Don't," Cas replied, a little pained, "-There's no need for that, Dean."
"For what? The fact that I didn't- That you didn't-" his words stuttered in his chest, and he just couldn't speak.
"I know now," he tried to soothe, and Dean's head was pounding, "-I know now that you... care. I know."
Care, care, care.
Love, love, love.
I love him, I love him, I love him-
It felt like his heart was in his throat, like everything was waiting to be said. Like it was right there, and he was so close.
"Is that what you wanted to talk about, Dean?"
All he could hear was his heartbeat in his chest, pounding, pounding, pounding-
I love him, I love him, I love him-
God, he didn't want him to leave.
This house was his too, he could just feel it in the walls. There was something missing, there was always something missing. Even when he was alive-
"Dean?"
How long had he wanted this? Wanted more?
I love him, I love him, I love him-
"Dean."
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-
"Dean, are you alright?"
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-
I love him, I love him, I love him-
"Dean," his hands were on his shoulders now (just like before-), "-can you hear me?"
Pounding, pounding, pounding.
I love him, I love him, I love him-
Pounding, pounding, pounding.
I love him, I love him, I love him-
Pounding, pounding, pounding.
"Dean!"
I love him, I love him, I love him-
"Shit, Cas, you can have it!"
Cas looked startled for a moment, but he didn't step away, he didn't let go. Dean's stomach twisted. "What are you-"
"Back, back before the Empty... you said-"
Cas just stared at him, it made Dean want to stop but he couldn't stop-
"-you said, 'The one thing I want, I know I can't have'-"
He just kept talking, and Cas kept staring -something shining in his eyes. Dean thought he knew what.
"-and I'm pretty damn sure that thing was me-"
Cas was looking at him the way he always did, and Dean recognized it for what it was now.
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-
"-You can have it, Cas," he was speaking softer now, a little out of breath, "-You've... You've always had it. Had... Had me."
Cas was just staring a little in disbelief, dropping his hands, and stepping back a little (it made Dean's heart sting).
I love him, I love him, I love him-
"You don't-" he shook his head, not quite looking at him, "-You don't know what you're saying."
"I'm pretty damn sure I do," he responded, a little biting but there was just so much. It couldn't come out any other way.
Cas stared at him like he was trying to find the confusion, the lie, but he was coming up empty-handed. Wonder why the fuck that is.
"Goddammit, Cas," he pushed his palms into his eyes, "-are you gonna make me say it?"
"Say what?" He asked, like it wasn't obvious. Like he couldn't fathom it. It made Dean's hands shake, and his throat clog up.
He loves me, he loves me, he loves me-
"Damn it, I love you too!"
The silence that filled the room was suffocating, but Dean just needed to breathe-
"And I can't be happy without you," he spoke, eyes still behind his hands (he couldn't look), "-and I want you to goddamn stay for once."
There was another beat.
"With me," and he thought he may have sounded a little pathetic, but he was very much past that point already.
And there was no one here who would ever judge him. Cas would never judge him and he knew that. He knew that like he knew that the sun rises in the morning and falls at night. Cas would never.
Before he knew what was happening, he felt hands pulling back his own -calloused fingertips against his own. Dean's breath hitched in his chest.
He loves me? He loves me? He loves me?
Cas was close now, and before he fully let go, he kept his hands on his face -cradling. And at first Dean thought he might kiss him (which he wasn't sure how to feel about), but he just kept them there.
He was looking at him like he always does (with love) and holding him a little like he was precious maybe, to him. Dean still couldn't understand that, but he thought one day he might be able to. That Cas might help him to.
"Okay, Dean," he spoke, gentle after a long sort of silence, "-I'll stay."
I love him.
He loves me.
26 notes · View notes
dfortrafalgar · 4 hours
Text
I'm Losing You... (But We're Filling the Cracks)
Having a family isn't always as easy as fairy tales make it seem.
Warnings: read chapter 1 for warnings.
Taglist: @phsycochan | @mirillua | @augustanna | @chaixsherlock | @whore-of-many-hot-men
Tumblr media
Chapter 22
[Prev] [Next]
[RING RING]
[RING RING]
[RING RING]
[RING RING]
[Hi!  Sorry I can’t come to the phone right now.  Please leave a message after the beep, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can!]
[BEEP]
Law took a deep breath before speaking.  “Hi, baby, I just wanted to check in.  I know it’s really early there and you’re probably still sleeping, but good luck on your procedure today.  I… really wish I could be there.  I miss you a lot, I’m excited to come home in a few days.  Call me back when you get the chance, just so that I know you’re okay.  I love you.”
The solemn man tapped on the red disconnect button on his phone’s screen, hanging up on your voicemail box.  Beside him, Dr. Tony took a long sip of his beer, anxiously eyeing the expression of his superior.  Across the table from Law sat another older doctor from an institution a few cities away, one who had been a big fan of Law’s dissertation from medical school and insisted he treat the cardiac surgeon and his colleagues to a drink.  As soon as they began actually drinking, though, it became clear to Law that the large, scruffy looking doctor treating him to booze was a bit harder to deal with than he initially thought.  The more he drank, the more he ran his mouth.  
“Aw, come on, man!  You’ve been so uptight this whole week, I thought someone like you would be more than excited to attend this event and go drinking with some colleagues,” the man chided, his cheeks slightly flushed from his alcohol intake.
Law tossed a frustrated look at the man across from him, but it clearly didn’t land in the way he intended.  “Just a bit tired, I suppose.”
“Tired of calling your wife?” the man sneered.  “A man deserves to get away from the ole’ ball and chain every once in a while.  You might as well enjoy your freedom while you’re out of the country.”
Law’s jaw involuntarily clenched.  A million words of retaliation swirled through his head, but he didn’t have the gall to speak.  The last thing he wanted to do was make a scene, surrounded by esteemed colleagues who were all looking forward to a night out drinking after a successful conference day.  The black-haired man simply crossed his arms and uncomfortably eyed the barely-touched beer in front of him.
“That woman of your’s is probably sick of you calling her all the time, anyway.  Is she making you do that?” he asked.
Chopper reached a hand out, nervously trying to stop the man across from them from talking.  “Dr. Teach, let’s be civil, now.”
Another swig of beer slipped past the larger man’s chapped lips.  He slammed down his glass with another snide remark.  “Can’t be civil when you’ve got a man being held back by some woman at home.  You can’t let her control you like that, you’ve got to be a man.”
Law’s fists clenched the fabric of his shirt as he felt his face heating up with humiliation.  “I’m going to ask you one time to be quiet.”
The man, Dr. Marshall Teach, curled his lips in a sneer.  “Aw, you getting defensive?”
“If you wanted to treat myself and my colleague to a round of drinks, I would appreciate it if you could keep your unnecessary comments to a minimum,” Law affirmed.  He was inwardly impressed with how he managed to keep his voice so steady despite the rapid pounding of his heart.  He felt his hands grow clammy with discomfort.
Teach shrugged.  “Sorry that you’ve found yourself prey to a bitc–”
Law stood up with such ferocity that the sound of his chair scooting across the hard wooden floor alerted the tables around him, surprised and curious eyes darting in his direction.  With a scowl, he grabbed his bag, stepping around the table to make a quick exit.  Before he passed by Teach, however, he stopped dead in his tracks and leered down at the man.  “Don’t expect any more cordial behavior from me this week.  I never want to hear from you again.”
Before the rude older man was able to retort and get the last word, Law finally stepped away from the table and left the restaurant.  His legs were shaking as he rounded the corner of the building and stepped into a dimly lit alleyway, the setting sun casting a large shadow over the structure and making the corridor appear darker than the rest of the world.  A perfect shroud for Law to sink into a crouching position against the brick wall, his bag at his feet as he wrapped his hands around his knees.
Pathetic.
Law felt his stomach twist uncomfortably, his hands growing even more clammy as he fought with his heart rate to get it to settle.  His mind was reeling with thoughts, insecurities.  He felt like he was going to be sick.  How was a man as esteemed as him having a panic attack in a back alley behind a bar?
“Law?” a soft voice called from around the corner.
The black-haired man picked his head up in surprise, facing the voice.  A head of thick, bushy brown hair and gentle, black, doe-like eyes greeted him.
“Chopper… need something?” he asked, keeping his voice low to prevent it from trembling.
The younger doctor stepped closer, copying Law’s posture by crouching down himself so he could be at the same level as his superior.  “Just wanted to make sure you were okay… do you want to head back to the hotel?”
“Is anyone else going?” Law asked, mild skepticism in his eyes.
“Nope, just me,” the brunette man responded.  “I barely had anything to drink, anyway.  Bars aren’t really my scene.”
Law slowly stood up along with his younger colleague, grabbing his bag from the cold ground and following Chopper out of the alley, rounding the corner and proceeding down the street.  The two walked in silence for around 20 minutes before they finally reached their hotel, a very fine establishment that was selected by their employers for their week-long stay in the Flower Capital.  The place was far more lavish than anything Law had stayed in before, but frankly, the expensive decor and fancy lights were nothing if not unsettling for him in his upset state.  He followed Chopper into the elevator, the two ascending in silence to the 10th floor, watching as the numbers on the control panel slowly ticked upward.  Their walk through the hall was so silent you could hear their footsteps slightly echoing off of the plaster walls around them.  Chopper inserted his keycard into their room’s door, pushing the heavy entrance open and stepping inside, Law on his heels.
Once they were safely in their room, Law released the frustrated groan he had been holding in.  He quickly undid the buttons of his dress shirt, ripping it off of him and falling backwards onto the bed that he designated as his.  Chopper watched with concern on his soft features, sitting on his own mattress.
“I’m sorry about what Teach said to you,” the younger man said.
“Don’t be, it wasn’t your fault,” Law mumbled back, staring at the ceiling.  The air of their hotel room was quite chilly and made goosebumps appear on his inked skin, but it was far better than his anxious perspiration that was going on under the stifling fabric of his dress shirt.
“I know it wasn’t, but I’m still sorry,” Chopper responded, awkwardly hugging his knees.  “I think it’s sweet that you’re calling your wife so often.  I’m sure she really appreciates it.”
Law bit the inside of his cheek.  He had kept your infertility struggles a secret from the rest of his colleagues at the hospital, choosing instead to say that he was taking care of you through an acute illness whenever he used his personal time off.  No one had ever questioned it, perhaps being too afraid to provoke the steely, constantly-focused doctor, but whatever the reason, Law was relieved that he never had to explain himself.  His current behavior was far beyond the realm of what Chopper had ever seen of him, drastically out of character from the hard-working doctor the younger man was surely used to.
“Chopper, can I tell you something?” Law asked, feeling immensely awkward for divulging his problems to a colleague who seemed so much younger than him.
“Of course,” Chopper replied.
Law sat up on his elbows, gazing at his feet at the end of the bed.  “My wife has been struggling with infertility.  We’ve been trying for well over a year now to have a baby, with no success yet.  She’s had two miscarriages, the second one at 12 weeks.”  His voice was quiet as he spoke, clearly upset with reliving the memory of seeing you tied to the hospital bed in the emergency room, the way your face was scrunched up with agony, humiliation, and shame.
“I’m… I’m so sorry,” the younger man sympathized.  
Law took a deep breath.  “She’s been undergoing treatment to prepare for IVF, and today, back home anyway, is the day she gets her eggs harvested.  I’ve been so, so fucking nervous for her.  Excuse my language.”
“So that’s why you’ve been calling and texting her a bunch?” Chopper asked, slightly tilting his head as he listened to his older colleague.
“Yeah.  And unlike that prick Teach, I like to think I have a much healthier relationship with her.”  Law scoffed, relaying the words the older man had spoken to him over their drinks.  “Ball and chain, my ass.  The day I refer to my wife like that is the day I die by my own hand.”
Chopper sighed, wanting to apologize yet again for the older doctor’s behavior, but deciding against it.  Law’s words sparked a hint of curiosity in the younger man, however, as he gazed at the ink covering his coworker’s hands, arms, chest, and back.  “Law, do you mind if I ask you a question?”
“Not at all,” the black-haired surgeon responded.
“It always struck me as interesting that you have the word ‘DEATH’ tattooed on your fingers.  Have you ever been… told off for that?”
Chopper’s words prompted Law to gaze at the ink on his skin.  He huffed through his nose at the memory, his friends as an 18-year-old undergraduate adamantly insisting that he shouldn’t get morbid tattoos if he was going to pursue a career in life-saving medical care, but clearly their words didn’t stick.
“All the time,” he replied.  “I got my tattoos done over the course of a few years while I was an undergrad.  I was going through a lot at that time, and funneled my frustrations into getting ink.”
“Is there a reason you chose ‘DEATH’?”  Chopper had absolutely zero idea if he was crossing the line or not, but based on Law’s somewhat relaxed body language, he safely assumed that he was still in the clear with his questions.
Law pursed his lips.  “I lost my family in a house fire when I was around 10, and the man who took me in and raised me was killed by his older brother when I was 13, so for the duration of my teenage years, death was all I thought about.”
Chopper’s eyebrows creased with melancholy.  “I’m so sorry…”
Law relaxed his arms and fell back onto his mattress once more.  “I kept going for my parents, they were both doctors and I grew up wanting to follow in their footsteps.  And for most of my time in high school and then in college, I was convinced I was too hardened to be loved.”
The younger brunette felt a small smile tug on his lips.  “But then you met your wife.”
The words made the black-haired man grin.  “Yup… then I met my wife.  But I already had the tattoos when I met her, so it was a bit too late for that.”
“I’m sorry you can’t be home with her… but I’m sure she really does appreciate the fact that you’re constantly checking in on her.  If my husband was halfway across the world, I’d want to hear from him as often as I could, too,” Chopper stated, his voice light and airy.
Law stared at the ceiling.  Chopper was the kind of kid whose presence made you relax.  His openness and understanding of complex topics and issues was a quality that made Law gravitate towards taking him under his wing, endlessly impressed with the ease in which the boy sympathized and offered boundless support for patients, colleagues, and family who visited the hospital.  Even the most upset patients were treated with the utmost respect from the young doctor, his very existence making any tension or unease flow from the body in waves.
“Thanks, Chopper, I appreciate it,” Law stated.  “Sorry to spill all that on you.”
“It’s never a problem, Law, I’m always happy to talk about stuff that might be troubling you.  As a friend, rather than strictly a coworker.”  Chopper swung his legs off the side of his bed.  “I’m going to take a shower, try to get some shut-eye, alright?”  The younger colleague tossed a friendly smile to Law, who nodded graciously.
The bathroom door closed with a soft click, leaving Law alone on his bed in the warm light of the bedside lamp.  He reached toward his phone intent on checking his text messages, but as soon as he picked it up in his hand, the screen lit up with an incoming call.
Wifey
A grin tugged on Law’s lips.  “Hello?”
[Hi, baby!  I’m sorry I missed your call…]  Your voice was groggy with sleep, and some shuffling could be heard in the background.  You must have still been in bed.
“It’s alright, you were sleeping,” Law replied, his voice soft.  “I wouldn’t want you to wake up for me, especially not on such an important day.  You need all the rest you can get.”
A soft hum echoed through the speakers.  [You’re right… but I love hearing your voice.]  Your words were silky smooth, making your husband smile even wider as he imagined the sleepy look on your face, your eyes half-lidded with exhaustion as a beautiful, fatigued smile pulled on your lips.  He imagined curling closer to you, pulling your body into his own and inhaling the soft scent of your soap and moisturizer, wishing he could carry around your aroma in a bottle for whenever he wanted to think of you.
“How are you feeling about today?” he asked.
[Really, really nervous.  But we all have a plan.]  Your shaky response made Law’s heart clench, but he waited patiently for you to continue talking.  [I go in at 9 AM for the procedure.  Penguin is driving me, because I don’t trust Shachi’s car, but Shachi and Ikkaku are going to stay at the apartment with Bepo.  The procedure is going to take only, like, ten or so minutes, so I requested to have local anesthesia so I don’t have to be all groggy for the day.  So it’ll probably hurt a bit, but I’m tough.  I can deal.]
Law chuckled.  “You are tough.”  He wanted to say something else, perhaps sing your praises even more, but his insecurities from earlier flooded back into his head.  “Hey… can I ask you something?”
[Of course, baby.  Anything.]
“Are you…” he searched the crevices of his mind for the proper words.  “Are you annoyed with me when I call too often?”
The line was silent for a few moments too many.  [Why would I be annoyed?]
The man rubbed the bridge of his nose between his fingers.  “I don’t know… I had a weird conversation over drinks tonight and I’m overthinking it.”
He could hear you audibly sigh.  [I absolutely, one hundred percent, do NOT think you’re annoying.  I get so excited whenever you call.  When you called me yesterday when I was at Nami’s, she poked fun at me for lighting up when you called.  She said it looked like I was glowing.]
Law smiled at the thought.  Before he could continue speaking, though, you took a breath.
[I would never be annoyed with you, ever.  If anything, I wish you could call more, but I know you have your big important responsibilities while you’re over there.]  Your voice was uplifting, encouraging.  Law’s chest felt lighter simply by listening to you talk.  Oh, the power you held.  [When you come home, I’m going to smother you in so many kisses to make up for whatever asshole made you feel shitty.]
“I’d love that, baby,” Law sighed into the receiver.  “I miss you… I don’t think I’m cut out for long business trips.”
[You only have three more days, you can do it!]
Law had an image in his head of you excitedly pumping the air with your fist, your eyes bright and shining as you encouraged him to keep his head up and continue pushing forward with the incredible reward of returning home to your arms.
[And hey, when you come home, we’ll have a bunch of microscopic eggs in a petri dish at the fertility clinic hopefully being fertilized.]
Law’s heart swelled at the mere thought of tiny embryos growing to hopefully be successfully implanted into you.  The process of preparing for the procedure had been so long to him and he couldn’t even begin to comprehend how you must have felt in the weeks leading up, but the way you had managed to stay strong through the entire duration was profoundly inspirational to him.  You were truly one special woman.
[I’m going to get up and take Bepo out, but I’ll text you throughout the day to tell you how things went!  Oh, and Law?]
“Yes, baby?”
[Don’t lose sleep over me.  I can somehow see those eyebags through the phone.  I promise I’m going to be okay, so get some rest, alright?]
Law smirked.  You knew him far too well.  “No promises.”
[Law…]
He sighed, a chuckle escaping his lungs.  “Okay, I promise I’ll get some sleep.  My hotel roommate’s in the shower right now, but when he’s done I’m going to clean myself up and get some rest.  I’ll talk to you later, baby.”
He could hear the smile on your voice as you responded.  [I love you, Law.]
“I love you, too, beautiful.”
“Shachi and Penguin are pussies,” Ikkaku groaned, crossing her arms over her chest in the chair that sat across from your small pre-op bed.  “Afraid of some women’s health matters…”
You giggled at her frustration.  “Well, I’m really happy that you were able to take today off and help me out, I really appreciate it.”
“Of course!”  Ikkaku flashed you a charming, toothy grin.  “Anything for my bestie.  Besides, from what I read online, you’re gonna need some support to help deal with the pain.”
“It shouldn’t hurt that bad… they’re giving me local anesthesia, so I’ll only feel a little bit.  At least, I hope that’s the case,” you replied with a nervous shudder.  “You won’t have to deal with a loopy post-op me.  Last time I had a procedure done, Law told me I didn’t stop gushing over him for almost six hours.”  Your head fell into your hands, embarrassment painting your face.
Ikkaku laughed at your shameful state.  “You can still tell me how much you love me while completely sober, though, right?”
You flashed her a cheeky grin.  “Don’t test your luck.”
You struggled to admit it, but you were wildly anxious.  The last time you talked to Law was when you returned his call a few hours prior, and thinking about him halfway across the world, probably (hopefully) fast asleep in preparation for another day of conferences was reassuring, but you had a residual ache in your heart that yearned for him to be with you.  The weeks of synchronizing your cycle and taking hormone injections to mature your eggs was a long, boring, and tedious process, but it was all leading up to this very moment.  
Now you just had to hope that some of your eggs were mature enough to fertilize… if they would fertilize at all.
“Mrs. Trafalgar?”  A nurse stepped into your room with a clipboard, a few sheets of paper attached to the metal clamp.  “I just need to have you sign a few forms and then we’ll take you in!”
You took the board and the pen from her grasp, wiping your hands on your hospital gown to rid your palms of your nervous sweat.  You signed the release forms with a few quick strokes of your pen before handing the papers back to the nurse who happily took them from you.
“Alright, you’re all set!  The doctor will be in shortly to take you back,” she explained before cordially nodding towards you and exiting the room.
Your foot was bouncing off the mattress.  “Ahh… Ika… I’m so nervous.”
Ikkaku stood from her chair, crossing the room to be at your side.  She rubbed her hand over your shoulder, her expression sympathetic yet encouraging.  “You’re gonna do great, you’ll be in and out!  10 minutes, just like you said!”
“But what if my eggs aren’t mature?  I’ll hear if they are before we leave…”  You could feel your heart rate increase at the prospect of all your hard work in the past few weeks being for nothing.
“Hey, look at me,” Ikkaku demanded, her voice soft.  She took your cheeks in her hands, turning your head to face her.  “No negative thinking.  Your eggs are probably more mature than an elderly person!”
You snorted, making her pull her hands away quickly and wipe them on her shirt.  “That’s the comparison you make?”
“Geriatric eggs,” she confirmed, smirking at you.  “But seriously, you’re going to be fine.  I have a good feeling.  And after you’re back here and the anesthesia is wearing off and we find out that your eggs are nice and mature, we’ll go and celebrate with some ice cream.”
Your mouth began watering at the prospect.  “That does sound pretty good…”
“Exactly!  So keep your chin up!”  Ikkaku excitedly pumped her fists in the air, a sight that made your lips crack into a smile as you absorbed the excited, optimistic energy from your best friend.
“Knock, knock, Mrs. Trafalgar, are you ready?”  The doctor overseeing your egg extraction peeked his head in.
You swung your legs over the side of your bed, holding the back of your gown closed with one of your hands.  “As ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Good luck!”  Ikkaku called as you followed the doctor into the small outpatient operating room.  
You were starting to really dislike the feeling of paper and polyester clinic gowns, they way they were completely shapeless and stiff on your skin made you feel particularly vulnerable.  You would much rather be naked to the open air than don a hospital gown, but you also quite liked not being locked up in jail.  You bit down your discomfort and entered the small outpatient procedure room where you were instructed to lay back on the table and put your feet in the stirrups.  You stared emotionless at the tiled ceiling, the bright white LED lights making your pupils constrict.  You simply nodded through the nurses’ instructions and comments, quietly letting them insert an IV needle into your arm for fluids.
“We’re going to be using a local anesthetic that will be injected near the top of your vagina, and an ultrasound will be running to assist with locating your ovarian follicles,” the doctor explained, displaying the capped needle in his hand.  “This procedure will only be around 10 to 15 minutes, but throughout the duration we will be injecting additional small doses of a low-level narcotic pain reliever so make sure you don’t experience any discomfort.  Does that sound good?”
You gave a curt nod.  “Yes it does.”
“Perfect.  Please inform us if you feel any large amounts of pain, or any discomfort outside of your pelvic region.”  The doctor turned his back on you, and your eyes resumed staring at the ceiling, your hands over your chest resting directly above your heart.
You felt a small pinch near your core that made you wince, but you kept your body still and tried to focus on your breathing.  It didn’t take long for sensation in your hips and pelvis to dull, a strange, numb tingling sensation replacing any contact from the hospital gown pushed up around your waist.  It certainly felt… strange.  An additional small pinch was felt in the junction of your inner thigh, and a technician spread a generous amount of the familiar, cold ultrasound gel over your lower abdomen before placing the wand firmly against your belly and locating your ovaries through your layers of skin and muscle.
“We’re inserting the speculum now,” the doctor explained, making sure to keep you in the know of what exactly they were doing to you.
You kept quiet.  A tugging sensation was felt in your lower body as the cold, metal speculum spread you open, but the anesthesia and pain relievers made it much more tolerable than any pap smear you had ever received.  You kept your hands placed over your chest, linking your fingers together as if to secure yourself to the table.
“You might feel a sharper pain, we’re inserting the suction cannula and needle into your vagina.”
“Alright,” you replied, feeling too awkward to stay silent.
Sure enough, a much sharper yet still manageable cramping pain was felt as the suction tube and needle were inserted.  You cringed as you felt them press sharply against the wall of your vagina, a sudden, stinging sensation radiating through your body as the needle punctured your inner walls and located your ovarian follicles with the help of the ultrasound machine.  You sucked in a sharp breath, alerting one of the nurses.
“Doing alright, hun?” she asked, approaching your side.  She was a much older woman, clearly a seasoned nurse, with a few small decorative enamel pins around the collar of her cotton uniform scrubs.  She had a soft, motherly face as she gazed at you, her eyes assessing your condition.
“Y-Yeah… just a bit painful,” you replied, your voice barely above a whisper.
“We’ll give you another small dose of pain medication,” she confirmed, tossing you a sweet smile that melted any insecurity in your heart.  “You’re doing amazing, sweetheart.”
You couldn’t help but smile back.  Something about her seemed to fill the room with a sense of comfort despite having only known her for a mere few seconds.  You barely felt the second injection of painkillers in your other thigh, your body slowly growing numb to the sensation of the cannula pressing harshly against your vaginal walls.  The nurse came around the table again and rubbed your shoulder reassuringly.
“Still hanging in there, dear?”
“Yes, I am,” you nodded, speaking in a tired tone.  “Thank you.”
Her response to your gratuity was another pat on your shoulder.  You closed your eyes and tried to focus on your breathing to distract from the dull cramping that radiated throughout your lower body.  It felt eerily similar to your miscarriages, with the only comfort in the thought being that you were in a supervised medical environment.  Your thoughts shifted to your husband across the world from you.  It was an understatement to say that you couldn’t wait for him to get home.  You two had barely been without each other since you started dating, and while some have said that your shared lifestyle is only a recipe for relationship burnout, the two of you would adamantly disagree with that sentiment.  Law was a rock, a stable sanctuary for your deepest and darkest fears, whereas you were a shining light in his life, bringing him hope when his days seemed to be at their bleakest.  What some would call extreme codependency, you would simply call a healthy and mutually respectful relationship with your beloved husband.
God, you missed him.
“And we’re all done!” the doctor announced, ripping you from your thoughts.
“Already?” you asked, picking your head up as the nurse helped your partially numb feet down from your stirrups.
“Yup!  We’re sending your samples to the lab to count how many eggs we were able to harvest, so while you wait for a bit in recovery we’ll get to counting,” he explained, taking off his gloves and washing his hands in the sink placed across the room.
The friendly nurse from earlier gave you a gentle pat on your shoulder once more.  “You did so well, dear!”  She assisted with helping you stand from the table.  A pair of disposable panties were handed to you, lined with a thick pad.  “You’re probably going to have some light spotting for a few days, you can take these off and replace them with your normal underwear and pads when you get home.  Don’t use tampons for about two weeks while your vagina recovers, alright?”
You graciously accepted her help with stepping into the uncomfortable clothing.  “Understood.”
You were more than wobbly on your feet, the localized anesthesia making you somewhat dizzy, so you were helped into a foldable wheelchair to push you back to the small outpatient recovery room where Ikkaku was still waiting for you.  She stood enthusiastically from her seat when you and the nurse approached, a look of sheer anticipation in her eyes.
“How did it go?” she asked, helping you stand to lay down on the small, stiff mattress.
“I think it went pretty well,” you replied, finally getting to rest your head on a pillow with a content sigh.
The nurse turned toward your friend.  “I take it, you're her ride?”
“Yes, ma’am!” the curly-haired brunette nodded.  “Is there anything I should be aware of for home?”
“Make sure she’s drinking plenty of water and getting as much rest as she can.  It might take a few hours for the feeling to come back in her legs.”  She turned to you.  “You’ll probably experience a few days of cramping, ibuprofen is more than enough to get you through it!  If you experience any significant complications or issues, though, please call us back right away.”
You gave her a polite smile.  “Thank you for everything.”
“Of course, sweetheart, it's my pleasure.  The doctor will come back when your eggs are counted, and you should be good to leave then, but he’ll give you the discharge paperwork himself when he feels you’re ready.”  With a friendly nod, she exited the room and closed the door slightly behind her, leaving it cracked open enough to give you and Ikkaku privacy until the doctor came back.
“So…” she asked.  “Did it hurt?”
You laughed at her willingness to know the details.  “A little, they stuck this suction tube up inside of me and a needle was pushed through that tube into my vaginal wall.”
Ikkaku held her hand out, a grimace on her face making her eyebrows crease in discomfort.  “Alright, that’s enough talking from you.”
You shared a giggle at her weary expression.  Once your conversation had simmered, you asked her for your phone so you could send a text to Law and let him know that you were in the recovery room waiting for your eggs to be counted.  You tapped the send button and put your phone to sleep mode, knowing that he most likely wouldn’t respond to you for another few hours while he was sleeping.  But the thought of him waking up to a positive text from you made your heart flutter.  You knew he probably needed it, his voice sounded so tired when you called him back earlier that morning.  An entire week of medical conferences and meetings with high-ranking colleagues from across the world would be enough to send anyone into an exhaustion coma, and the first thing you wanted to do when he arrived home was run him a nice bath, maybe light a nice candle, and cuddle him until he suffocated.  With love, of course.
Almost 30 minutes of you and Ikkaku sitting in silence on your phones passed by before the doctor came back into your room with your discharge papers and a smile on his face.  “Mrs. Trafalgar, we successfully extracted 12 eggs.  7 of them are mature enough for fertilization, which will begin as soon as we get your samples to the lab.”
Ikkaku beamed at you.  “That’s amazing!”
You stood from your bed, your legs still fairly wobbly from the anesthesia, and signed the discharge papers that the doctor held.  You gave him a fond smile.  “Thank you so much.”
“Never a problem, I wish you all the best.  Remember to call your usual clinic or us if you have any issues in recovery.  Have an amazing day, ladies!”  He held the clipboard with your papers firmly under his arm before nodding his head and leaving, keeping the door held open so you could leave whenever.
You took one step forward and almost immediately stumbled to the ground, Ikkaku scrambling for your arms to hold you upright.  She looked panicked.
“Are you alright?” she asked, helping you lean against the end of the table.
You laughed under your breath.  “I think my legs are still weak from the numbing stuff they gave me… might need to bring me to your car in a wheelchair.”
She gave you a mock salute and ran to a nurse’s station, returning with a small foldable wheelchair similar to the one you were put in immediately after your procedure.  She wheeled you out to her car to take you home, cracking ‘grandma’ jokes along the way as if you were a nursing home patient being wheeled to the park.
For the first time in what felt like a millennia, your chest felt light.
A dozen eggs in a basket… or in your case, a petri dish.
21 notes · View notes
fanficshiddles · 22 hours
Text
The Redbridge Hunts, Chapter 47
Tumblr media
It was Saturday evening and Claire was ready for the Halloween party, she was dressed up as a vampire. She had picked up a corset type of dress that was also like a large cape all in one, it was mainly black with red through it. She had fake fangs in and had a few drops of blood on her chin.
She went into the living room to wait for Loki. When Bat spotted Claire, she zoomed over towards her, stopped on front of her in a playful bow stance and then did a little leap before racing around the living room, leaping onto the sofa and down the back. Then she ran back round over to Claire and skidded to a stop at her feet with a meow.
‘Are you alright, Bat?’ Claire laughed and crouched down to scoop the cat up.
Bat chirped and began purring loudly as Claire cuddled her. ‘You’re such a funny cat.’
Claire heard Loki walk into the room behind her. She turned around and let out a laugh. He was dressed as the grim reaper, so was wearing a large black cloak that shielded him completely. He had a skull mask on and of course he had a scythe in hand.
‘You look brilliant!’ Claire grinned at him.
Loki pulled the hood of the cloak down and flipped the mask up, his eyes were a bit darker as he eyed Claire up and down. ‘Wow, you are one damn sexy vampire.’ He purred.
The costume Claire had on did push her breasts up a bit and showed the figure of her waist nicely.
‘Glad you think so.’ Claire giggled. ‘It’s my turn tonight to be the one biting.’ She teased.
‘You can bite me any day.’ Loki growled and slid his arm around her to tug her in close to him.
Bat let out an annoyed meow at being squashed between them, since she was still in Claire’s arms. Loki laughed as Bat jumped down from Claire’s hold, letting Loki pull Claire in flush against him. He dipped his head down and kissed Claire deeply, moaning into her mouth.
‘Maybe we should just stay in and have our own Halloween party.’ He whispered over her lips.
‘And miss out on seeing David and Matt dressed as Ken and Barbie? Sorry, vampy. No amount of orgasms would make me want to miss that.’
During lunch the other day, David was looking for ideas for what to dress as for the party. Hannibal had said jokingly about doing a couple’s costume with Matt, since he was struggling for an idea too. Then Jessica dared them to go as Barbie and Ken. David wasn’t one to turn down a dare, so after some convincing, he managed to get Matt to agree. On the condition that Matt could be Ken, at least.
‘That’s very true.’ Loki laughed.
After feeding Bat, Claire and Loki headed to the school for the party. Claire was in awe, Jessica, Spencer and Hannibal did a brilliant job of decorating the hall for it. It was covered in Halloween decorations, there was a large table filled with various drinks and some snacks.
There was already a good amount of people there, plus they’d organised for a DJ to handle the music. Of course, playing as much spooky songs as possible.
Jessica and Spencer were already there, so Claire and Loki joined them after pouring themselves a drink.
‘Love your outfits!’ Loki chuckled. They were dressed as Gomez and Morticia Addams.
‘Thanks! You guys look great too.’ Jessica grinned widely.
‘It’s nice being the vampire for a change.’ Claire said teasingly.
The party started to get busier as more people arrived, because of everyone wearing masks it was obviously not easy to tell who everyone was. Though the vampires could tell, mostly by scent.
‘Do you think Chris will show up?’ Jessica asked Claire while they were dancing around.
‘I don’t know. If he does, might not be a bad thing since there’s so many people here. Though at the same time, I want Loki to enjoy himself tonight. So if he stays away, it might be for the better.’ Claire shrugged.
‘Makes sense.’ Jessica nodded.
Not far into the night, everyone began whistling, cheering and clapping as heads turned to see who had just entered. Claire almost doubled over with laughter when she saw David and Matt walk in.
David was kitted out like Barbie, wearing a pink dress with pink heels and he had a long blonde wig on. The bright pink lipstick was the icing on the cake. Matt wore a pink suit and also had a blonde wig, though short, he had some make-up on too, to try and make his cheekbones look sharp.
‘Nice legs, Barbie. Though could do with a shave.’ Loki teased David.
David just pulled a pose in response with his leg sticking out to the side.
‘I still don’t know how I got dragged into this.’ Matt sighed.
‘You’re looking great, Ken.’ Claire grinned at him.
‘I need a drink.’ He said in response.
‘Get me one too please, babes.’ David called to him in a girly tone. Matt looked over his shoulder and pinched the bridge of his nose when David made a kissy face at him.
‘Tonight is going to be a hoot.’ Claire said to Loki with a laugh.
She couldn’t tell what Loki’s face was like because of the mask and hood, but she knew he would be grinning.
Later into the night, Loki noticed some of the students that were there were whispering in groups and looking at their phones, but he didn’t take too much notice of it. There was also a point where people seemed to disappear, as the party wasn’t near as busy as it had been at the start.
Though he soon overheard one of the students speaking with another by the snack table.
‘Yeah, Chris told me not long ago.’ The student said.
Loki turned to said student. ‘You’ve seen Chris lately?’ He asked after flipping his mask up, so the student could see who it was.
‘Yeah, he was just outside about half an hour ago. He didn’t hang around for long though, went to get’ He wasn’t able to finish his story as Loki rushed off.
Loki was concerned, so went to look for Claire. He hadn’t seen her in a little while, but needed her to know that Chris was about and to be on alert.
‘David, Matt. Have any of you seen Claire?’ He asked them.
‘No, not since she was dancing with Jessica earlier.’ Matt responded.
‘Where’s Jessica?’ Loki asked.
‘Coming this way.’ David commented and nodded his head behind Loki.
Loki spun around and could tell by the look on her face that something was wrong. ‘Where’s Claire?’
Jessica frowned. ‘I don’t know. I thought she was with you.’
Loki was about to storm away to continue looking, but Jessica called to him. ‘Loki… wait.’ Though he kept walking until she continued. ‘There’s a hunt on tonight. Chris is back.’
Loki stopped dead, he felt his stomach sink as he turned around to face her. ‘What? A hunt?’
Jessica nodded. ‘The event is all over social media. It’s happening right now. The students are talking about it, a bunch of them have gone along. That’s why it’s gotten quieter here.’
Loki’s face turned pale white.
'What's wrong?' Jessica frowned.
‘Claire's missing.'
21 notes · View notes
fierceawakening · 1 day
Text
I feel a bit afraid to even post this, for fear of someone else lashing out at me for questioning received wisdom but I still kind of feel like people are so invested in explaining their point of view (which I’m already saying is valid) that they’re missing part of mine
And that is that for me, part of my trauma is that I was both physically violated AND physically altered. And also I’m afab, and very often girls and women bear the brunt of purity culture in ways men and boys… definitely can but I’m not sure they always do.
And what purity culture says to little girls is that their worth is in their… well purity. Their innocence. That’s what’s beautiful and lovable about them.
So what happened to me… at least as I experienced it, I felt it stole my innocence. Destroyed my purity. I was still a virgin, but I’d kept a tight lid on any interest in anything dark or sinister or anything like that (and it turned out there was a lot to keep a lid on.)
After my trauma I was so angry and disillusioned I couldn’t do that any more. I got angry. I got cynical. I got bitter.
Which is all understandable. But here’s the kicker: I felt bad about it. Like a monster. Damaged and broken.
I kept getting diagnoses of situational depression. I’d get talk therapy until I felt a little better and then it would end and I’d need it again, later, like clockwork. It didn’t dawn on me that this indicated a chronic problem, not clearly enough for me to say “let’s look at diagnoses that include recurrence.”
In grad school, I read the book Trauma and Recovery which is an in depth look at PTSD, mostly as suffered by women who were raped or sexually abused.
In it, the women described my deep feelings of having been defiled so well it was eerie. They talked about feeling like there was dirt or oil or mud or sludge way down in their soul, where they couldn’t remove it.
That it made them fundamentally unclean in ways other people weren’t. Dirtied deep down, in ways that would forever separate them from other people who hadn’t been polluted.
Which is how I felt and still feel when things get bad, and what makes me feel suicidal. I can never be clean again, so I’m fundamentally unworthy, so I need to die and get it over with already.
Trying to frame it as that I’m still clean, or that the dirty one is the perpetrator(s), may work for other people, and I wish them the best. But trying to reframe it that way has never worked for me personally. As I said my body is literally altered surgically. I can’t avoid that something changed.
So what has worked to help me feel less like I don’t deserve to live?
Seeing the new thing that was created as worthwhile rather than poisoned.
Because of that, I get a lot of reassurance out of monster stories, especially ones where the monster isn’t fundamentally evil, just threatened and lashing out, or confused, or a child that doesn’t know its own strength or the like.
Which overlaps A LOT with “what doesn’t kill me makes me stronger.”
It’s not quite the same but it’s a cousin concept, a sibling. “You tried to kill me. You really should have finished the job.”
So when I see people say “don’t tell me I’m stronger now, I get to be the judge of that thank you very much,” that version I get.
But when I see “the idea that I’m stronger now is bullshit, all I did was break,” that one twigs me.
Because it pulls me back to the broken doll oozing ichor. Nothing new came out of this. Nothing brave. That’s just a demon trying to justify continuing to exist, when deep down it knows all it is is pollution.
I make these posts not to tell people that they need to see themselves as stronger. I don’t know how they should heal. They know that.
I make them to remind people that there are a lot of different ways to reconstruct a self, and that it’s easy to overstep if you generalize too much.
22 notes · View notes