#she needs to go sit by the newly discovered fire and think about her actions

[andy-clutterbuck]

5x07 | Crossed

#Rick Grimes #* #rg #S5 #are you even alive if feral wildman rick didn't speak to some nasty part of your brain #he is done™ #and im about to invest in those kneeling pads people who garden a lot use #more sweat and dirt than man #he could look at me like that once he's done with me #im not picky #A MAN™ #my inner primal cavewoman is trying to make an appearance again #she needs to go sit by the newly discovered fire and think about her actions #he needs a bath #i volunteer #excuse me but the nose™️

[not-neverland06]

Broken Machinery

Pt. 6 (completed series)

Series masterlist

Connor RK800 x fem!reader

A/N: I’ve just got this weakness for one love interest calling the other baby while they’re injured. I can't help myself 

Content Warnings: Cussing (duh), shots fired, asshole government agents, me not knowing what android parts are called (everything’s getting called a bio component idc), nothing too bad honestly just one near death experience and existential crisis

Word Count: 3.3K

Series Summary: You and your grumpy partner Anderson gain a new addition to the team. He’s supposed to be CyberLife’s best, but there’s something not quite right with his programming, and the problems seem to revolve around you.

“You know, you really scared me up there.”

“How do you think I felt?” 

You might have gone a little crazy, back there, you nearly broke a few toes beating the shit out of Connor.

It was like you were so blinded by your rage you just went into a trance. There was thirium eveywhere, Hank and Chris both had to grab you to get you off him. One of the deputies had to take him to CyberLife for repairs. 

Serves him right. 

Hank had immediately driven you to the hospital afterwards. Despite your incoherent garbling that you were ‘in tip-top shape.’

He was sitting in your room with you and for the last forty minutes since the doctor left, he had been staring into the coffee he got at the vending machine. Not talking, not looking at you, you had almost begun to believe he had passed out. 

He was still staring at his coffee as he spoke. “I’m not talking about the roof. I knew I’d catch you.” There was an absolute certainty to his words, like there was no other possible outcome he would have accepted except your survival. 

You wanted to be happy, wanted to feel like you had a dad that loved you and would risk falling off a roof with you, rather than let you go. 

But you knew that he saved you out of a feeling of duty. He saved you because he couldn’t lose two kids. Not for any other reason. Sometimes you felt like he was more of an android than Connor. 

“Back there, what you did to Connor,” your shoulders stiffened in defense. You didn’t need to hear that you look like a rabid badger when you’d gone after him. You already knew that you went a little insane. Hank raised his hands in defense before you could go on another rant. “Hey, I’m not saying the fucker didn’t deserve it, I’m just saying I was…. I was scared, okay?”  

He finally looked at you now, and you almost wished he hadn’t. For years all you’ve seen was a vacant look or drunken rage. 

Now, there was something there. Something real, and it hurt. It physically hurt to see the pain in his eyes. The raw grief and loss. 

He seemed to lose track of what he was saying, caught up in one rare moment of actually allowing himself to feel instead of masking it with rage or drinking it away. “I feel like I lost you both.”

You didn’t know what to say. There were no words of comfort you could offer him. No white lies he would accept. 

And there were none you were willing to give, because he was right. 

He had lost you both in that car crash. 

Amanda was waiting for Connor in a boat. It was clear he was expected to row her, his resistance at the unspoken order was surprising. 

“I love this place, it’s all so calm and peaceful. Far from the noise of the world. Tell me, what have you discovered?”

Connor felt the need to keep the development in his relationship with you to himself. Amanda wouldn’t understand why he was living with you. She surely wouldn’t approve of his newly prioritized mission. 

PROTECT Y/N

“I found two deviants at the Eden Club, I had hoped to learn something but…” There had to be a way to phrase this that she wouldn’t know the truth behind his actions. “They managed to escape.”

“That’s too bad,” she saw right through him. “You seemed so close to stopping them.” Connor chose to row rather than speak. “You seem… lost Connor. Lost and perturbed.”

Connor debated being sincere with her. If anyone had advice or could tell him what to do about what he’s been going through, it would be Amanda. 

“I thought I knew what I had to do, but now I realize it’s not that simple.”

“You had your gun trained on those deviants at the Eden Club.” There was a forced replay of the footage at the club. It felt so invasive that they could reach through him and rip out what they wanted. 

“Why didn’t you shoot?” 

He chose to tell the truth, “I don’t know, I don’t know.”

He knew he made the wrong choice immediately after. At least he hasn’t told her about you.

But, his doubt was concerning. His main concern should be the mission, now, he’s not so sure. 

“If your investigation doesn’t make progress soon, I may have to replace you, Connor.”

He wasn’t sure how to feel about the idea of being replaced. If it was for the sake of the mission then he should be willing to do anything. Yet, the idea of being deactivated made him feel… wrong, almost angry. 

“I understand.”

SOFTWARE INSTABILITY^

“Something’s happening, something serious. Hurry, Connor. Time is running out.” The ominous warning left Connor with a feeling of pressure on his chest. 

Hank kept tapping his foot and staring at Connor as he flipped his coin. You smiled at his irritation. “How do you do that?” 

Connor stopped toying with the coin to give you his full attention. It was a bit intimidating when he stared at you full force. He’d seemed irritated this morning when you left the house to come to the news tower. 

The stormy look on his face was still present and now directed at you. It was an effort not to pick at your nails. 

You’d been trying to stop, everytime Connor would catch you he’d shoot you a warning glare before slapping your hands apart and taking them in his own. Although, sometimes you did it because he would interlace your fingers together. As pathetic as it was, the feeling of his skin against yours was soothing. 

He blinked a lot before the look on his face lightened and he tilted his head, “The coin trick?” Connor demonstrated again for you, flipping it between his fingers. You nodded and he flicked it back and forth between both hands before Hank finally snapped. 

He yanked it out of the air, “You’re starting to piss me off that coin, Connor.” 

“Sorry, Lieutenant,” he put the coin back in his pocket. “I’ll show you later,” he paused before finally adding, “at home.” Your cheeks felt warm as a smile slowly crept along your face. He’d never referred to your house like that, it brought you joy knowing that you could provide somewhere comforting for him. 

“The fuck did you just say?” Hank turned towards you, “Is he staying with you?”

You reached forward and clicked the button for the floor a couple times. How slow was this freaking elevator? 

“Were you not aware of that, Lieutenant?”

“No I wasn’t.” Hank shot you a disbelieving look, you slunked your way behind Connor, avoiding both of their gazes. 

“I found her passed out on her couch in a distressing condition. I’ve opted to stay with her and help her take care of herself while she heals.” 

Hank looked around Connor at you, “You didn’t tell me you needed help.”

“You didn’t ask.”

You were the first out of the elevator. “Hey, Y/N.”

You took in the multitude of SWAT and CSI agents. “Shit, what’s going on here? Was there a party and nobody told me?”

Chris scoffed, “That’s an understatement. It’s all over the news, so everybody’s been butting their nose in. Even the FBI wants a piece of the action.”

“Fuck me, that’s the last thing we need. Some FBI prick trying to take over.”

Hank walked up to the two of you, “Now we got the Feds on our back, I knew this was gonna be a shitty day. So what do we got?”

“A group of four androids. They knew the building, and they were all very well organized.”

You glanced back at Connor and gave him a narrowed eyed look. “Well if I know anything about androids,” you turned around again. “It’s that their real good at getting their hands on things they shouldn’t have. They probably managed to download the building schematics.”

“Building plans or not, I’m still trying to figure out how they got this far without being noticed.”

“Maybe they had some help,” Chris seemed a little surprised at your words. 

“What are you saying, they had someone on the inside?” You nodded absently at Hank's question as you took a look around the hallway where the deviants ambushed two guards. 

It’s definitely the least violent, hostile takeover you’ve ever seen. No casualties, only a few woozy guards and one technician in shock. 

Hank examined some bullet holes in the wall. “How many people were working here?”

“Just two employees and three androids.” You let Hank take over the rest of the briefing while you examined the evidence around the room. “The deviants took the humans hostage and broadcast their message live. They made their getaway from the roof.”

“The roof?”

“Yeah, they jumped with parachutes. We’re still trying to figure out where they landed,” do they know anything? “But the weather’s not helping. If you want to take a look at the video broadcast by the deviants, it’s on that screen over there.” 

You made your way over to the broadcasting room. Someone in a trench coat was standing in the middle of the room, blocking you from looking around. 

“Lieutenant, detective, this is Special Agent Perkins from the FBI. Lieutenant Anderson and Detective Y/L/N are in charge of investigating for Detroit Police.” Connor walked over the the group of you. 

SA Perkins nodded towards him, “What’s that?” You got immediate douchebag vibes from him. 

“My name is Connor. I’m the android sent by CyberLife.”

You wanted to face palm, did they not program him with any other greetings?

“Androids investigating androids, huh? You sure you want an android hanging around?” The irony wasn’t lost on you, but he didn’t have to be a dick and act like Connor wasn’t standing right in front of him. Hank scoffed, seemingly prepared to dismiss him, but SA Perkins wasn’t done yet. 

“After everything that happened…” The insinuation had your hands curling into fists. He didn’t even know the two of you, yet he thought he had the right to speak about something he knew jack shit about. You had taken a half a step forward before someone’s hand was on your wrist, stopping you. 

You looked down expecting to see Connor, instead Hank was gently holding your arm. He didn’t look at you, just kept staring at Perkins until the agent had made himself uncomfortable. You got a sickening amount of satisfaction at the way he crumpled under Hank's stare. 

“Whatever, soon the FBI will take over and you’ll be on another case.”

“Pleasure meeting you.” Hank was clearly done entertaining the rat faced asshole. 

“Have a nice day,” you gave him the fakest smile you could muster until he just scoffed

“Don’t fuck up my crime scene.” 

You watched him walk away, “I really wish you had let me just knock him down a peg.”

Hank gave you a long suffering look, “He would have had your badge faster than you could blink. God, what a fuckin’ prick.”

“I’d kill to see that asshole humbled.”

“Let’s have a look around,” Hank started towards the broadcasting desk. 

You made your way to the stairs, “I’ll check out the roof,” your foot was almost on the step, but then Connor appeared in front you out of nowhere. So close. 

“I think that’s unwise. You should stay somewhere both Hank and I can keep a watch over you, you’re still injured.” He made a pointed look towards your sling. You huffed out in frustration, his coddling was getting out of hand. 

“I’m a big girl, Connor, and you’re a detective bot. Not a caretaker, act like it.”

Connors head tilted and he squared his shoulders. Oh, this was about to be an argument. “You told me to prioritize my partners safety.”

Damn, that was really biting you in the ass. “Oh, well depriotize it.” Connor crossed his arms and stared you down, you really didn’t need him making a scene but shutting down on the stairwell to make a point. 

You threw your one good hand up in surrender, “Fine! Whatever,” you stood by the desk and sulked. He seemed way too smug as he walked off. 

“I’ve identified its model and serial number.”

Hank continued to stare at Connor, “Anything else I should know?”

“No. Nothing.” He didn’t know why he lied, but for some reason Connor didn’t want Hank or Y/N to know that the android leading the revolution was from the same line of androids he was. 

He was confused, he was RK800, a prototype and supposed to be the only one of his kind. Yet he was staring up at an RK200. He’s never thought about why he was 800, there was no reason to. But If he had, he would have assumed that his predecessors were just failed versions of himself  that couldn’t pass the Turing test. 

He would be wrong, because here in front of him was something completely different from himself.

What was CyberLife hiding? 

“You okay, Connor?” He was brought out of his stupor by the sound of your voice. He looked towards you, your arm was still in its sling, your hair still in the braids he had done for you and the jacket and jeans he had helped you dress in. Focusing on all these little things about you was helping him remember what he had to do. What he came to the tower for in the first place. 

He observed the slight tilt to your head and the suspicion on your face, “I’m fine. You?” 

Your eyes held the same untrusting gaze before you just nodded your head and moved to the other side of the room. Connor examined each piece of evidence, reconstructing the scene of the crime. SWAT came in through the hallway, shooting at the group of deviants and managing to hit one. They then made their escape towards the roof. 

He debated between the roof and investigating the androids in the break room. One of them was in charge of monitoring security, they would have seen the deviants making their way through the building and not have informed anyone. A deviant was somewhere in there. 

He knew that if he went up to the roof, inevitably you would follow, he didn’t want to run the risk of you getting further damaged. Connor made his way towards the break room. You lifted your head from the security footage you were examining to briefly glance at him as he passed by, before going back to reviewing the video. 

Three androids were lined up along the wall of the break room. One of them was deviant. 

LOOK FOR A REACTION TO SPOT THE DEVIANT

He turned towards the one on the far left, “What is your function?”

“I am a broadcast operator.” Connor’s eyes narrowed, its eyes were blinking continuously while answering. Connor didn’t recognize that behavior in any of the other androids standing before him. He continued questioning the one on the far left. 

“State your model.”

“Model JB300. Serial number 336 445 581.”

Connor turned to the android in the middle, still keeping one eye on the other one. “Were you present when the deviants broke in?”

“I do not remember.” The one on the left turned its head to face Connor before quickly looking away. 

He’d found the deviant.  

“Has anybody accessed your memory recently?”

“Not to my knowledge.” Deviants could lie, he wasn’t going to get any information out of it this way. He needed to switch to more aggressive tactics. 

“One of you saw the attack on the surveillance cameras and said nothing. Which means there is a deviant in this room… and I’m going to find out which one it is.” He hovered over the one on the left. 

“You’re going to be switched off. We’re gonna search your memory and tear you apart piece by piece for analysis. You’re going to be destroyed! Do you hear me? Destroyed!” It wouldn’t budge. 

Deviants could feel, perhaps if he used empathy against it, it would be more willing to provide information. 

“Why should all of you be destroyed, if only one is deviant? Turn yourself in, or two innocent androids will be shut down because of you. If you give yourself up, maybe I can convince my humans not to destroy you.” 

He switched tactics again, “The deviants have just been caught. They gave you up.” The one on the left’s LED was fully red now. “There’s no point in lying. We know everything.”

He was successful in revealing the deviant, but not in the way he wanted to. It lunged at him, taking him by the throat and slamming him into the counter. Connor struggled fighting off the androids hands and trying to shove him off. The android reach down and ripped Connors core component out, stabbing him in the hand with a knife and nailing him down to the counter. 

Connor had two minutes to shutdown, he kicked a chair nearby across the room, “Y/N, help! I need help…”

Connors optic units were failing, everything around him was going in and out of focus. He barely managed to tug the knife out of his hand before collapsing on the floor. 

He crawled as close as he could towards the component, instructing each arm to move one at a time, they gave out nearly a foot away from the device. 

Just as you came barreling into the room. “Connor!” You rushed over to him and dropped down to your knees, your hands were shaking as you rolled him over. “Connor, oh my god, oh god it’s okay. You’re okay.” Your hands were hovering over him, unsure where to touch before finally landing on his face. “It’s alright, you’re gonna be fine baby.”

Your eyes left his and you looked around for something. You let out a shuddering breath and moved away from him. His arm grabbed yours without prompting. 

He didn’t want….

Didn’t want what?

He couldn’t want or desire he was an android, yet deep inside he knew… 

He didn’t want to die. 

He didn’t want to die alone.

“Connor, I’ll be right back, it’s gonna be okay,” but it wouldn’t be. Shutdown was imminent and Connor knew that whatever progress he made would be erased. And whoever replaced him would prioritize the mission, they wouldn’t care if you were going to die. Your life would mean nothing to them. 

That was more terrifying than the thought of dying. 

You finally managed to rip your arm free and then you were shoving something in his hands. “Here!” When he made no move to look at what it was, you ripped it back out. “Fuck, Connor!” 

His body shot forward and you caught him by the shoulders before he could fall over. You had slammed the component back into his core. 

DIAGNOSTIC 

Memory…. 100%

Optics…. 100%

Auditory…. 100%

He dismissed the rest of the diagnostic check and rushed out of the room. He slipped and slammed into a wall on the way out, his body still calibrating. He ignored your shouts and continued after the deviant. 

It was nearly to the elevator by the time he caught up, “It’s a deviant stop it!” The android grabbed the rifle from the SWAT agent's hand. Connor processed the quickest possible options for him to take. 

BANG

The deviant was on the ground, deactivated by the gun Connor had swiped from the police officer next to him. 

“Nice shot, Connor,” Hank helped Chris back to his feet. He gave Connor an appreciative look just as you ran into the room. 

“I heard gunshots, are you okay?” You were looking at Connor, waiting for an answer, a frantic look about you. 

Was he okay?

He didn’t know anymore?  

SOFTWARE INSTABILITY^

“You saved human lives, you saved my life,” it was the warmest he’d ever seen Hank. 

Yet the only response he could give was, “I wanted it alive.”

end. — I do not own the characters or the game Detroit: Become Human, but this writing is my own all rights reserved © not-neverland06 2023. do not copy, repost, translate & recommend elsewhere.

#Broken Machinery #connor rk800 x reader #Connor rk800 x fem!readr #connor rk800 #Dbh #dbh x reaer #detroit become human #Detroit become human x reader

[mobagehelllocal]

"huling sayaw"

twst oc week - day seven: free day or alternate universe

*arknights au

“hold my hand, before we have to give each other up everything, I will give to you. everything.”

She had been on the run for days.

Raina gritted her teeth as she tugged her hood lower across her face to shield herself from the heat of the sun. She turned around, her eyes squinted as she glanced at her fellow travellers. Most of them (just like her) bore the mark of the Infection—Oripathy. Dark, crystal shapes that emerge from the skin.

“... We shouldn’t be too far away now.” She kept her voice calm and in control—even if she wanted to scream and cry about how unfair their situation was.

“Where exactly are we going, Raina-nee?” Her eyes met that of a child, clutching onto her older sister. Both had contracted Oripathy the most common way: being exposed to a dead body with the disease. Her heart broke—their futures, stolen from them. Not by the disease, but by the treatment they received from their homeland—Laterano.

It was the Laterano decree, that those who became Infected were forbidden from staying or entering Laterano territory.

“... We’re going to Rhodes Island.” Her smile trembled—and she was sure it was more of a grimace. “I am friends with the Doctor there—we exchanged research quite a bit before...” her voice trailed off. “... If there is a place who will accept us... I’m sure Rhodes Island will.” She looked up, and hoped that there was nothing but determination on her face. “So just a bit more everyone..! We can do this.” She helped guide everyone across the sandy terrains they were crossing before—

She raised her head again and peered into the distance. The sun had just begun to set, dragging its brilliant colours of red and yellow past the horizons. In its wake, the sky began to darken purple and blue--like a bruise.

“We’ll need to set up camp soon...” Her hand reached up, and clamped tight on a small, diamond shape charm that hung around her neck. She felt her heart twist as she traced the shape with a finger—her eyes watered, and the smile she had been desperately holding up—immediately curled downward.

‘I miss them, gods I miss them. I don’t know how to live without them.’

After all, It was the first time, since she was born, that she was separated from them.

--

“Sankta Raina. You are accused of harbouring Infected when it was clearly against Laterano Law. Do you deny it?”

“I do not—but do you not have any humanity in you? These people are still Laterano citizens and are owed help by our government, on our lands—”

“Silence, Sankta Raina. You were not asked to speak.”

“That’s—”

“Sankta Raina. You are also accused of being Infected yourself… and hiding it from Laterano Authorities. Do you deny it?”

“… I do not.”

“Then you and your harboured Infected will be banished and stripped of your Laterano Citizenship and Privileges…”

“Are you serious? Now of all times, we should be united in understanding Oripathy and healing it…! Banishing me—us—it will not cure or help anything—You are just delaying something inevitable—!”

“Out there, you are no longer our concern or our problem. You are on your own, Sankta Raina. You will be stripped of your firearms on your way out of Laterano. Do you have any last-minute requests to make of us?”

“Oh, so now you ask!?”

“Speak it. And perhaps we will permit it.”

“… You won’t tell the twins.”

“Naturally. The two of them are core members of Laterano’s Apostolic Gun-Knights. Their very reputation… their future would be tarnished by your actions… No, the two of them will be kept far away from the trouble you have caused, Sankta Raina.”

“… I’m glad we can agree on one thing.”

--

‘Jade, Floyd... I hope you two are okay. I hope you are not kicking up too much of a ruckus...’ she couldn’t help but desperately pray to any god or higher being that could be listening.

The twins were well loved in Laterano due to their effectiveness as Apostolic Gun-Knights and enforcers of the Laterano law. Their future in Laterano was brilliant—and not one she wanted to mar with her selfish actions.

“Perhaps… I can meet them again one day…” she raised a hand to trace the scars of Oripathy on her cheek. ‘But who am I kidding…’ It would be impossible to cross paths with them again—knowing that Laterano was likely going to send them as far away from her as possible.

‘So until I discover a cure… I can’t see them… and even then, with what I’ve done… Laterano will not make it easy.’ She gritted her teeth, the tears started to gather at the edge of her lashes and she started breathing heavily in an attempt to not let the tears fall.

‘I can’t cry..! If they were here—! They would tell me not to cry—!’

Her thoughts are cut off by a sharp scream behind her. She turned immediately, and what she saw made her eyes widen.

‘Laterano’s Apostolic Gun-Knights!?’

She rushed over to her group as she rubbed fiercely at her eyes to ensure there were no tears before she confronted the Gun-Knights. She slid to a stop and spread her arms out in a protective stance over her group.

“We were peacefully allowed to leave Laterano territory.” Her eyes narrowed and she bared her teeth. “So why are you here? Threatening my companions?”

The Gun-Knight peered at her.

“Are you Sankta Raina?”

“Y—yes. Why do you need to know—!?” Before she could finish her sentence, the Head Gun-Knight gestured with his fingers and two of his accomplices quickly manoeuvred themselves to hold her down on either side. “What are you—?”

“We have reasons to believe that the criminals we are chasing down are looking to meet up with you.” The Head Gun-Knight said. “So we are using you as bait.”

“Criminals?” She questioned, stunned. “What—who would—? I’ve never—!” The Knight looked almost bored as he stared at her.

“Who else but—”

‘No they wouldn’t—’

“J—”

BANG BANG.

The Knight slumped down, dead—and her companions all shrieked in surprise. Raina flinched as she felt blood splatter across her cheeks before she craned her neck to see—

The Twins.

Just as she remembered them. Aquamarine halos and diamond shaped wings shimmered under the light of the daybreak sky. They were beautiful—so beautiful. Raina’s heart skipped a beat at how handsome they were—standing before her, protecting her, as they always did since they were children.

Except...

“Awww, we wanted to keep it a secret a little longer~ Ne, Jade?” Floyd had a tail. Diamond tipped—like his wings. It twisted and flicked around, as if expressing his excitement.

“Ee, Floyd. Oh well, we can’t deny that this slight hiccup in our plans isn’t fun at all.” Jade had horns. Tall and curved wickedly—beautiful and grotesque on an angel...

“Ehehe. You’re right~! Let’s… have some fun…!” Floyd’s horns were identical to Jade’s—if not somehow pointed outward.

“Fufufu….” While Jade’s tail was identical to his brother in appearance, he moved his lazily by swinging it from side to side.

‘The Law is absolute. From the moment a Sankta aimed their gun at another of their kind, their fates were decided.’

Raina could only stare in horror as she watched the twins decimate the entire squadron of Apostolic Gun-Knights—with eyes glowing gleefully and mouths spread into wide, sharp grins. The other Gun-Knights stood no chance—the twins were considered their best agents in decades. Once they had finished, they turned back around, their eyes immediately fixated onto her. Floyd moved toward her eagerly before Jade raised his hand and stopped his brother. Floyd frowned and opened his mouth to protest but he was interrupted by Raina.

“... Why…?” She felt her throat dry. She was caught between sheer happiness at being able to see them, sorrow upon knowing what must’ve happened and—anger. Anger because she did not want this future for them. “Why!? Why are you here—I made sure—!”

“As if they could hide something so important from us.” Jade cut in, calmly. His gold and olive eyes peered down at her, before it flickered off to the terrified group behind her. His smile turned cordial. “Well, it’s quite late in the day. We should set up camp. Don’t you agree d—Raina?”

She turned around at that, to see that her group was staring at the twins in pure fear… as they would any Sankta who had fallen from grace. “Yes… Do… do not worry.” She stood up shakily, “They’re my friends… They’ll keep us safe.”

She smiled—and she wondered again, how reassuring could it even look—when she herself was terrified.

‘What have you two done…?’

--

The whole group skittered around when the twins had rejoined them after disposing of… the bodies. She had only approached them once—to offer them dinner, before she slipped away from their grasp to look after her companions. She could feel the heavy weight of their gaze on her shoulders—down the black crystals that formed on her arms… But she ignored them for as long as she could as she dressed or reworked any of her companions’ injuries.

She did this—going around the hot fire at the center of their camp, until there was no one left to distract herself with and—

“You’ve kept us waiting long enough!” Floyd pouted as he yanked her down to sit in between him and Jade. The other twin stared at her, as collected as ever, as he poked a stick into the fire.

“I have to take care of everyone.” She bit out. “They’re my responsibility now.” Floyd only huffed in response before he nuzzled into the curve of her neck, lips dangerously close to—

“Don’t—!” She flinched back, briefly hitting Jade as her hand went up to cover the crystals that had formed across her skin.

“Haah? You’ve never resisted squeezes before!” His expression twisted. “Is it because of these?” He gestured to his newly acquired demon horns and tail.

“No--of course not—it’s… I’m… an Infected now… I just thought...” The twins snorted in unison.

“You must be a unique kind of stupid, doll. If you think your infection will make us stay away from you.” Jade said dryly, as his hand snaked around her waist and pulled her tight against his side. Before she could protest, Floyd moved, and pressed up against her—which squeezed her in between them both.

“You…” She felt her eyes water and she blinked rapidly—in an attempt to not let her tears fall. “Nothing’s changed…?” her voice cracked.

“Absolutely nothing.” They said vehemently, once more in unison.

“Your future…” She raised a shaky hand to trace her fingers up the length of their dark horns. Both twins bent down, their eyes fluttered shut at the sensation of her hand against their new appendages. “... You shouldn’t have fallen… not for me.”

“On the contrary.” Jade purred as he nuzzled against her shoulder, lips pressed against the crystals there. “How could we picture a future without you?”

“Besides, it was getting boring in Laterano!” Floyd smiled, goofily as he nuzzled his nose against the curve of her shoulder. “It’s more fun with you!” She gritted her teeth, her hands fell away from their horns—and cupped her own face. She started to cry. She had thought she had lost everything but…

'But she hadn’t lost anything. Not anything of value anyways.

“T—thank you… I’m sorry…!” She began to sob, “I’m sorry I kept it a secret…! I should’ve… told you guys… I…” her whole body began to shake, and the twins only drew closer.

They had been together every day and knew they would see each other every tomorrow. It had simply become impossible to imagine a future without each other.

“That’s right! Say your sorry! To think you were going to have fun without us!” Floyd pouted.

“Cry for now, dear doll. Let it all out.” Jade said smoothly. “And don’t forget, from here on out. We have already fallen… it doesn’t matter how much farther we fall.”

--

“let’s say goodbye after our last dance who knew we could fall from the heavens? so together, let’s give each other up— after we dance one more time”

--

*huling sayaw - 'last dance'

#twisted wonderland #twst #twst oc #jade leech #twst jade #floyd leech #twst floyd #twstocweek #ai tries twstocweek #aiwrites #a/n: im glad... i finished... sob!

[nyx-aira]

When two worlds collide (part 2)

A/N: After some reconsideration I decided to make this a series. I'm not entirely sure where I'm heading with this but I got some ideas. The story won't follow canon, at least not 100% so yeah. Also you might look out for some clues because there might be a surprise coming your way. Also huge thank you to @ynscrazylife for suggesting part 2. I guess this can be your gift for hitting 500 followers:)

"In the beginning, when the universe was created there was nothing. No planets, no galaxies, no nothing. This changed with the big bang when six elemental crystals where formed, representing the powers of the universe. Soul, Mind, Power, Time, Space and Reality. You know them but you don't know their story.

These stones created the first inhabitants of the newly born universe.

Magic.

You see magic wasn't always like it is today, a force to aid sorcerers and other magic users, something invisible that's there but also isn't. It wasn't just an energy that allowed the miracles of the universe to happen. Magic, in the beginning, were immortal beings, spirits and entities that ruled over the cosmos. Always in correspondence with the stones, existing together in harmony. They were the guardians of the gifts of the stones, making sure that the rules of the universe were adhered to.

They had free reign over the cosmos. Creating stars and the planets that orbited them. Ice planets, fire planets, planets that were completely covered in water and so many more. They could do whatever they wanted, having been granted unlimited power by the stones to fill the empty universe. They roamed through the cosmos, not bound by any laws or rules, going where they pleased, doing what they wanted. It was chaos, beautiful, horrible chaos. Creation and destruction, beauty and horror, magnificent and terrifying at the same time.

These were the early stages of the universe. It was madness.

As the millenia ticked by the universe evolved and settled down and slowly but surely other life started to develop. As the universe grew and grew and a new era of life dawned, the inhabitants of the old universe started to change.

They adapted to life, changing their purpose from being all powerful entities wandering the cosmos to settling down in a corner of the universe to help aid and adapt the new inhabitants of the new era of life.

But not all of them were happy with this development, settling down, becoming mere shadows of what they were once capable of, so they rebelled.

They did everything they could to make life as difficult as possible, creating black holes, ripping appart planets, torturing the mortal beings that came close to them in any way possible. Wiping out whole civilizations in their rage and anger. Blindly tearing through the universe, creating destruction and death in their wake, furious that some of their siblings would bow to these lesser creatures.

The stones knew they couldn't get rid of them because they were everywhere, the universe was full of magic. In every star, in every planet, in every fibre of the universe there was a spark of magic, of their energy, they were what kept the cosmos intact, alive. They had created these entities to help them control the cosmos but they realised that was not their purpose, had never been their purpose.

It was to bring balance, because when there was light there was always darkness. This clash was destined to happen, finally bringing balance to the universe, in a way that was so tragic that it was almost poetic.

As the stones realised that they talked to the guardians, light and dark, to give them a final task.

Go out, find your purpose, aid those in need or bring chaos to the world, teach your knowledge to the new inhabitants of the world but hold the balance of the cosmos intact. The world has changed, we cannot continue like we did before, we focused so much on the light that we forgot the rising shadows. Go out and create mayhem if that is your calling but be prepared to face off against your siblings who chose another path.

You see how they didn't use the words good and evil? Because nothing per se was good or bad, there was only light and darkness, even in all powerful and immortal beings. The creatures who used their powers made that decision, good or evil. How they perceived the world determined what outcome their actions would bring.

Now what has that to do with anything that happened?

Well, billions of years ago a little planet formed in one corner of the universe. Some would call it a death planet, always changing, it's brutal nature making life impossible for millions of years. It was uninviting, cold, unpredictable. But it was exactly these conditions that attracted the attention of one of our ancient spirits. Settling on the death planet after the big clash, it began to create chaos and in the process created death, destruction and life.

Yes you heard me right, in the process of chaos and madness a new species was created. Not aware of the magic surrounding it for a long, long time they survived just on their instincts and lived unknowingly of the wonders of the cosmos.

The inhabitants of the nearby planets didn't pay them any attention, these death worlders not being deemed worthy enough of their time.

But as time went on some of them discovered the powers of the entity that settled here millenia ago, starting to use it's powers, working not against but with the powerful spirit. Legend even says there was one person who became the personification of the being itself, making a deal to be granted immortality in exchange of fulfilling the beings purpose. They called it the aether, which is ironic if you take into account that's also the name of the reality stone, working with the entity to ensure the balance of the cosmos, the safety of their planet.

And if you're still wondering what these creatures of chaos have to do with anything, you might know them under a different name.

Humanity. "

Looking around the room you looked into the shocked faces of your colleagues, still processing the information they had been told.

After Wanda's breakdown you, Wanda, Monica, Jimmy and Darcy fled the base. Driving for a couple of hours to one of Monica's safehouses you settled down for the time being, going into hiding from S.W.O.R.D, trying to figure out what's next.

Wanda slept the whole drive, being exhausted from the fight and everything that had happened before. Jimmy and Darcy fell asleep in the second hour, fighting sleep but failing. You and Monica were the only ones that stayed awake. Monica driving the car and you, not being able to even think about sleep, your mind racing with what happened the last couple of hours. The bubble around Westview hadn't collapsed, the energy field stayed the same, confirming your theory that someone else was at play here. You just couldn't figure out who and it drove you crazy. Maybe you need some help?

You hadn't talked much on your escape but you knew you owed them an explanation.

That's why you were sitting cramped together in the living room of Monica's safehouse, your friends looking at you as if you had grown a second head.

"Woah." Darcy broke the silence, akwardly shuffling on her chair, still shocked from what you told them.

"That's one way to put it." Was Monica's reaction, more calm than you thought she would be. Jimmy was still comprehending the new information and Wanda was fast asleep on the couch, not having woken up since she fell asleep in the car. You were starting to get worried about her but a voice in your head told you she was fine. Deciding to trust your instinct, which had saved your lives a couple hours ago, you let her sleep.

Getting up from your place one the couch you walked over to Monica who was putting all the equipment you could save on the kitchen table, Darcy powering up the computers and Jimmy sorting the files you managed to steal.

Knowing none of you would get any sleep soon you moved to the kitchen to make some coffee, going through the pantry to get some snacks as well. This was going to be a long night.

#wandavision #wanda maximoff #monica rambeau #darcy lewis #jimmy woo #wanda maximoff & reader #when two worlds collide

[twilightofthe]

Ohhhhh Nonny do I have an IDEA for this one, thank you so much. I’m going off of your Separatists idea, thanks!

(You also sent me that second Obikin prompt which I shall also answer boy howdy!)

(OTP prompts list found here)

Obianidala 4 - Enemies to lovers AU: Which one switches sides?

In this universe, Dooku tries to catch more flies with honey than vinegar at first. When Padmé Amidala starts stirring up a fuss in the Senate about things that could interfere with Sidious’s plans, Dooku sees an opportunity arise. That formidable personality Amidala uses to command attention to her cause, something like that could be useful to him, to have on his side. His Master will certainly disagree, but Dooku knows that his Master cannot be his Master forever. At some point, Sidious will have to be dealt with; why not have the girl who took down the last Chancellor as an ally?

Count Dooku arranges a meeting with Senator Amidala. He tells her the truth about Sheev Palpatine. He shows her the datapad painstakingly compiled with over a decade of evidence of the Chancellor’s high treason. The entire sordid affair that was invasion of Naboo and Palpatine’s role in it is displayed in full. The truth is undeniable.

Padmé has never been so furious in her life. If what is in these documents is true, everything up to and including her own election as Queen, what she prided herself on for achieving through her own success and talent and by the grace of a democratic society, all of it, was his doing. He chose her. He groomed her. Eight fucking years of her life as a civil servant unknowingly dancing on his strings like a puppet, enacting his will, causing her planet and the galaxy irreparable damage. Gods, he chose her because she was weak-minded enough to hand him the Chancellorship on a silver platter.

Dooku tells her of Palpatine’s plan, of the war he’s been cultivating— too late in the proceedings now for Padmé to do anything to stop it, gods, he’s thought of everything, and his ultimate goal of complete galactic domination. He believes Dooku is his servant, on his side, but, Dooku says, he does not plan to follow him forever. He wants to take Palpatine down, and he thinks Padmé could help him.

She learned all of her political prowess from the man who betrayed her. She knows he has left nothing to chance and that there is no way civil law and political action could knock him off his throne, no matter what evidence she gathers. She doesn’t trust Dooku, thinks he’s just as bad.

But Padmé was a tool in Palpatine’s rise. Anything bad that happens because of him is now blood on her hands by proxy.

Padmé Amidala commits herself to an alliance with Count Dooku.

A slightly less detailed version of the evidence shown to Queen Jamillia is enough to commit Naboo as well.

They can’t tell Palpatine yet, don’t want to alert him to their plan, so for a year they plan in private. Dooku is certain his Master is unaware. During that year, Padmé is told of what Darth Sidious really is, how the Sith factor into everything. She really didn’t sign up for this. This is Jedi-level danger that she has no experience in handling and gods, the Jedi don’t even know about any of this, and while Sidious is awful and Padmé Will bring that bastard down, she doesn’t like or trust Dooku in the slightest. Does not want his ideas of how the galaxy should be run.

But what should she do?

The answer comes when Dooku tells her that he is being ordered by his Master to make attempts on her life due to her rabble rousing in the Senate. He won’t actually kill her, he promises, and she knows he needs her enough that she believes him.

And then the sack of utter shit kills Cordé accompanied by a completely unrepentant message to her saying that it was necessary, and Padmé despises him too and maybe that’s why she’s so eager to lightly push him into the fire when Palpatine pulls her into a meeting with the Jedi about it. Maybe the Jedi can help her, do something, maybe—

The Jedi is the same one who was sent to protect her a decade ago, the one Dooku’s mentioned by name from time to time when he’s humored her questions on the Sith and Jedi, his former grand-apprentice Padmé swears he might still be fond of.

And that apprentice’s current apprentice, and damn, Little Ani has certainly grown up...

Obi Wan is truly brilliant, Padmé didn’t appreciate that enough the first time they met. She’d appreciate it more now, if not for the light suspicion she starts picking up from him near the moment the investigation into her attackers starts. She supposes it could just be dislike of how his apprentice is blatantly, adorably enamored with her— which, doesn’t quite bother Padmé like it should, and no, she is not going down that road right now, nope —and it’s easy enough to tell Obi Wan cares very deeply for Anakin, but she suspects it’s more, that he’s caught on that there’s something she might not be telling them.

Having his intense focus on her though? Not entirely bad. His eyes staring into hers and his smooth voice as he asks her questions? Padmé can accept that. She can accept Anakin tripping over himself, being genuine and kind and so eager to help her. Even if she doesn’t want to tell herself why.

After the second assassin attempt— bugs, Dooku, really? —she can tell Obi Wan definitely knows something is up and says so to Dooku, who had promised her he’d handle it.

Her and Anakin are sent off to Naboo and she knows that bothers Obi Wan— though again, is that more his suspicions about her or his worry over Anakin —and she dearly hopes Dooku doesn’t kill him

During the time on Naboo, she learns much more about Anakin Skywalker, his humor, his brightness, his complication, his anger. He’s mad at the government too, and he feels pressure and upset at who he answers to. He’s ridiculously gone on his own Master even if he doesn’t know it, and Padmé has seen Obi Wan with her own eyes so she understands that completely. He’s beautiful and she’s unable to look away from him, especially not when he’s looking right back at her, kisses her, and no, this is a problem, a Major problem because the crux of the entire issue is that he is far, far too close to Palpatine.

Padmé has spent enough time reflecting back on just how exactly Palpatine groomed her, she recognizes it now in Anakin. He, wine flushed over dinner, tells her of the supposed prophecy he doesn’t quite believe in, how he is very powerful in the Force. She remembers all Dooku told her of the Sith, and while she’s sure he didn’t tell her close to all of it, she knows far more than enough to know that Anakin Skywalker is in grave danger

She sees even more of it when Tatooine and his mother come into play

She needs to pull away from this.

The updates Dooku’s sending on Obi Wan, how he’s being lured, her concern, no, none of this is good.

These are good men, bright men, people who just want to help, and she can’t have them around her because they’ll mess up the purpose she’s gambled her entire life for

So when Anakin gets a distress call from Obi Wan on Geonosis, Padmé grits her jaw, shoves down her feelings, and leads Anakin straight into Dooku’s trap.

The look of utter heartbreak and betrayal on his face once they arrive and are captured, when the droids let Padmé go and she walks away from him, the pain in his voice as he says her name, only her name, nothing else, it breaks her.

But this is it, Obi Wan discovered the clones and the game is put in motion, and Padmé can no longer hide in the shadows, has to sit and watch as the two Jedi are put in the arena to die, looks at Dooku who’s watching them with a troubled expression— she knows he made Obi Wan an offer and was turned down, knows he too sees something in Obi Wan like he did in her, and Padmé has an idea because she sensed a likeness in Obi Wan that resides in herself, that he wouldn’t listen to a shady figure like Dooku, but if she could make him see her view, tell him what was controlling them— controlling Anakin...

Anakin, she thinks, would come too. For his Master, if anything, but she knew they had something and if she hadn’t managed to completely kill it by betraying him.

She tells Dooku she might be able to convince the Jedi one more time to see things their way, and he narrows his eyes suspiciously but keeps the other newly-Separatist leaders from going after her when she tosses two blasters into the arena for the unarmed Jedi.

Obi Wan’s glare at her is pure acid and no, that one will not be easy, she very well might fail, and something in her both winces at the disdain but also ignites at the challenge, he is a challenge and she is good at challenges, but she catches Anakin’s eyes and sees confusion, remnants of that awful pain that makes her faint with guilt, and hope, hope in those eyes as he handles the blaster with the ease of a lightsaber— Obi Wan’s even better at it, Padmé notes with amusement, remembering him expressing distaste for them —she feels her heart jump. Maybe she hasn’t destroyed what she and Anakin had, maybe she hasn’t lost him, maybe there’s a chance to explain—

The Jedi show up and they bring the clones, and now it’s a full out battle, the other leaders are fleeing, but Padmé can’t go, not yet, though she is shameless enough to duck behind Jango Fett and let him handle things when she sees Mace Windu headed in her direction with a look like death on his face, which, fair, very fair, Padmé does kind of deserve it, she did lie to everyone

She’s trying to follow Obi Wan and Anakin, catches a swoopbike and gets a small cluster of droids to follow her when she sees them headed on carrier ships.

This time, when one ship is struck, Obi Wan and Anakin are in different transports, so it is Obi Wan who is knocked out of it and tumbles into a sand dune, and Anakin on his way to get Dooku without even noticing his Master fell.

Padmé is ready to use her droid squad to capture him again so she can explain, but now clones are headed his way too, and her droids and the clones engage in a firefight across the sands, so it is Padmé alone who goes across the sand to offer him a hand up

Her getting flipped onto her back and a lightsaber at her chest reminds her that right, he’s a bit peeved with her at the moment

Wait, she tells him, raising her hands complacently. Listen to her, she says, Anakin is in danger.

His hair is unkempt and there’s dirt on his face and his stare seems more intense than ever. His voice is icy as he replies, and who’s fault is that?

She winces. He is mad that she hurt Anakin on top of everything else, which is also fair, she’s mad at herself too. Not from her, she explains, from the Sith Lord, the one Dooku told you about, did he tell you their name?

His eyes narrow, says Dooku said the Sith controls the Senate

Padmé tells him she’s met the Sith, Dooku is right, and that the Sith not only controls the Senate, they control Anakin, have had their eye on him for a very long time

And there’s that flash of protective fire in his eyes, she has his attention, though he’s trying to act like she doesn’t. She likes his attention, is glad he cares for Anakin as much as she does. He asks her, tone dangerous, what the hell she’s talking about.

Padmé takes a breath. You’re in danger of losing him to the Dark Side.

He reels back ever so slightly, snarls, you don’t know what you’re talking about.

Ask him what we did on Tatooine, she counters, watches as he takes that entirely the wrong way, the flush of cheeks, the second once-over of her, and she can’t help but be amused.

No, she stresses though, because they don’t have the time, not like that. Ask him what he did. He did something awful and if you don’t help him with that, it will get worse and he will deliver himself right into the Sith’s hands

She can see him paling. He knows she’s not lying. What did he do? Who is this Sith?

She shakes her head, tells him that he will not believe her, and that Anakin must tell him himself, and he must still be there for him. You are what’s keeping him where he is. Don’t drive him away. You can’t lose him.

His eyes narrow, he wants to argue with her and the lightsaber is still at her chest and he’s staring at her just as intensely and her heart is tight, but he’s getting a report on his commlink, and she hears something about Anakin about to engage Dooku, and he swears sharply and is pulling out the blaster she gave him and she doesn’t have time to move before he shoots her with it—

And he stunned her, thank the gods, she wakes up handcuffed in a transport ship with a few clones still milling around, she sees the entrance to the cave system Dooku was using off at a distance, she knows exactly where he would be and knows in her heart that Obi Wan and Anakin are fighting him.

The clones, bless them, are still a little new, and her cuffs are in the front and aren’t exactly chained to anything, and she’s in white just like them so it doesn’t take much to pull her wrap cowl up over her head, wait until one isn’t looking, and take off out of the ship at a run, somehow avoiding getting shot until she’s deep in the cave and has time to pull a pick out of her boot and undo the cuffs with her mouth. She can hear fighting in the distance and she may be unarmed, but she feels she was finally breaking through to Obi Wan and she needs something she can control, not Dooku, not Sidious, her, and she bursts out—

And there’s Dooku, fighting what looks like Master Yoda, and there are both of her men, collapsed on the floor, and obviously there is history between Dooku and his old master so neither of them even pay her any mind as she darts across the ground to where Obi Wan is laying slightly over Anakin— who, gods, is missing an entire arm, Dooku you bastard —and is surprisingly, still awake.

She meets Anakin’s bleary, pain-filled eyes, runs a hand soothingly over his forehead and croons softly at him, melts at how quickly he leans in to her touch despite what she’s done, what side she’s on. It’s okay, shhh, it’s okay, rest.

Did you mean it? he asks her, and her heart shatters. Any of it, did you mean-?

I didn’t want to lie, she tells him, completely honest. You weren’t part of the plan, you never were, hurting you wasn’t—

He makes a confused, sad little noise as she leans closer and oh, she can’t help it, she leans down and she kisses him and he presses into it eagerly, she can taste blood in his mouth, before slumping back to the floor, asleep.

What are you doing? She turns to see Obi Wan struggling to wake, glare back on his face, and oh, these two need to have a serious conversation, but that’s not the now. She wipes Anakin’s blood off her lip.

She tells him she is gaining an ally, and when he flares up, adds that she does truly care for him, and wants him safe, and the only way she can do that is if she takes out the Sith who is after him

Why side with Dooku then, Obi Wan challenges, and she smiles, tells him that Dooku too is a threat, and in this position she can try to bring down the both of them—

With help, she emphasizes. I don’t know the Force, there are things they don’t tell me and I am far from strong enough. If you were to help me...

Obi Wan snaps that he is loyal to the Republic, and Padmé counters, is he to Anakin? Padmé catches the break in his façade for but a second as he glances at his broken apprentice still curled up beside him, and she knows she isn’t wrong.

She dares to reach out, brush a loose strand of shiny auburn hair out of his face while he’s incapacitated, tells him, she is willing to help them. They should consider helping her. He stays still while she brushes his hair, watching her hand. Maybe she hasn’t misjudged him either.

Obi Wan is once more cut off by louder noises and the sound of clones approaching, and Padmé sees Dooku getting ready to flee, so she pats both men on the head once more, tells Obi Wan, commands him, keep him safe. We will meet again.

And she’s off, dodging Yoda who’s running back for the Jedi, catching a swoopbike of her own and tearing off after Dooku to escape the planet.

Naboo has a declaration of secession to make, and a war is starting, and for the first time, Padmé feels like she has options.

#like ok yea they're still enemies by the end of this but c'mon y'all know where this is going i tried to leave it open ended #anon tbh this is a GOLDEN idea for a full on Clone Wars through ROTS au thanks so much for this #asks #anon #morai's fic #ot3 to save the galaxy #queen of my heart #our only ho #one (1) hot mess #obianidala

[nukagalreacts]

Fallout 4 companions react to a SoSu with advanced tech part 2!

 y’all here it finally is part two!!!! thanks again for following me, and the reblogs and just general support! I hope I can take everyone’s mind off things on here and help you get lost for a little bit! as always thanks to the person for this request and I hope everyone enjoys it! much love-Ashley!

Piper: She was one of those people who had zero interest in any of the fancy new armor or weapons Sole was carrying around and creating, that is until it came up that some of this shit was stronger than what the Institute was capable of creating. After that Sole couldn’t get Piper to stop hounding her every ten seconds constantly following them around and asking a million questions a mile a minute. Piper was trying to convince Sole that sharing the blueprints for these weapons and armor with other settlements could be the key to solving so many problems if people could actually defend themselves against raiders, mutants, feral ghouls and other hazards of the wasteland and it would mean less of a strain for groups like the Minutemen! Sole could see the good in this idea but also if they weren’t sure how safe this would be especially if the Institute or other horrible people managed to get their hands on these if anything it could just make the problem worse. It was an idea they would go back and forth on for months before coming to a compromise, Sole would slowly introduce the weapons and armor to the settlements and would make sure they were there personally to train them.   

MacCready: He was pretty well rounded when it came to the different kinds of guns that people used around the wasteland, of course, he preferred his trusty sniper rifle, it's what he was known for but that didn’t diminish his enthusiasm and appreciation for other weapons. When Sole came cruising around with what looked like a newly made gun at their side, a rifle to be exact and it was one he had never seen before which piqued his interest even more. When he finally got a chance he begged Sole to come with him to a shooting range so he could see this rifle in action, dare he admit he actually felt giddy and excited over this. Once they reached the shooting range Sole told him it was a M392 Marksman rifle, he stared in awe at how smoothly the rifle fired off and how easily Sole was able to headshot all the practice targets. He all but ripped the rifle from Sole’s hands when they offered him to try it out, he was definitely having Sole build another one of these for him after they were done here.        

Preston: He knew there was an armory in the old Minutemen castle but he had no idea about all the other weapons and high tech stuff laying even farther below in the tunnels just waiting to be discovered. After Sole discovered it he had so many questions like how long had this all been sitting down here, who put it here? Not even the oldest members of the group were aware this had all been here. He couldn’t stop thanking Sole for finding all of this and since they were the leader of the Minutemen he left the decision up to them about the best thing to do with the newfound weapons, he had complete faith they would do what was best for everyone. It didn’t take long for Sole to start upgrading the Minutemen and training them on the weapons and making sure they were ready to take on anything that came their way, including the Institute. It made Preston proud to see their new leader bring the Minutemen back to their full strength and show the wasteland and its settlers they could always count on them for help and protection no matter what the threat was.   

Valentine: Nick is confused as Hell as to where Sole got all of this, One day Sole literally just strolls into the detective agency in all this fancy new gear and a gun that looks like it could decimate someone in a second. He has to do a double-take when they walk in thinking his eyes are malfunctioning when he realizes there is not he kinda just stares at Sole in disbelief. Sole knows the look because they’ve been getting it all day long with people begging Sole to hook them up, but Nick was the lucky dog who was going to get the full story. Sole didn’t spare a single detail about all the crazy shit they found in the tunnels beneath the Minutemen castle, and how the place turned out to be a goldmine of untapped advanced weapons. He could see Sole shaking with excitement and anticipation as they spoke about how much this could help them in the fight against the Institute, and how they could help and save more people against other threats. It was a course of action Nick could get behind and it made him happy to see Sole with this much hope in their hearts, after months of grief and despair and feeling lost in the Wasteland, he promised to help them anyway he could.   

X6-88: X6 is the first one Sole told about the weapons and armor they came across even though they should have told “Father” first as X6 sternly reminds them of this. X6 does admit though he is eager to see Sole’s findings for himself and he goes with them along with a few other courser’s to collect all found technology and secure the location from any unwanted outsiders, the last thing they need is any of these filthy wastelanders getting their hands on anything. When Sole takes them all inside the hidden location he can’t believe how lucky they’ve just gotten it was unlike anything he had ever seen before! Coursers are known for being expressionless and serious at all times but it’s hard not to notice just how eager he is to get his hands on all the weapons to test them out. The Institute was already a strong force to be reckoned with and few stood to oppose them, and with this new source of power who would truly be able to stand in their way, the possibilities of what they could do seemed endless to him.

#fallout 4 companions react #Fallout 4 reactions blog #sosu #maccready #x6-88 #Piper #Nick Valentine #preston #I dont pretend to know shit about guns lol #Fallout 4 #part 2

[bellemorte180]

Wanderlust Chapter Fourteen

The Lockwood Manor was just as uninspiring as Klaus remembered. Perhaps it was the quiet disbelief that settled over the small town of Mystic Falls after the arrest and the murder of Matthew Donovan but he found that nothing seemed particularly special about the manor at all. At first chaos broke out, news reports scrambling to get a shot of the body of the newly discovered serial killer. Hundreds upon hundreds of questions were fired out on who exactly Matthew Donovan was.

Who was he and what drove him to commit such heinous murders? Everyone wanted answers to a thousand questions that would be posed in the coming months. A reporter got a glimpse of Caroline and suddenly, she found that she couldn’t even go to the simplest places, like her mother’s home without being bombarded by reporters. Klaus was stuck at the police station, cleaning up a mess that would leave an everlasting stain.

Once the chaos subsided and sun set; an eerily clam engulfed the town. Klaus sat in Liz’s office the entire night with a hot cup of coffee in his hand. He had planned to spend the night with Caroline; one last night with her before he headed towards New Orleans. However, he was listening to the director of the FBI ream Vincent and him out on the handling of this case. It turned out to be a bureaucratic nightmare. A part of Klaus felt guilty for leaving Vincent to deal with the fallout, but Klaus meant what he said, once this was solved, he was done with the FBI.

One more task and he was no longer an agent of the bureau; almost one more task.

Klaus left the police station as the sun was just peaking over the trees. He escaped before the vultures descended; in search of a story. The town looked peaceful and idealic; that serene look that TV shows and movies like to portray small towns to be. For a moment, Klaus could look at this town and think that nothing bad could happen in Mystic Falls. He understood why someone would want to settle down here, get married and have children. Then he thought on Matt and how that opinion got warped and twisted and suddenly Mystic Falls held little appeal for him.

Except for Caroline.

Klaus passed her house, knowing that she would not be there. After Matt was killed and Caroline ushered out of the police station, she found that she was not able to go to her home (not that she wanted to) or even her mother’s for the simple fact that some reporter would be waiting for her. Even though her monster was dead and had a long road ahead of her in the healing process, its infuriated Klaus that she could not even let her guard down without someone demanding her opinion.

It was why Klaus found himself standing in the middle of a grand living room watching Tyler copy all the tapes he made a of himself having sex with various women onto flash drives that Klaus brought with him. It became clear, just by the setting of the bedroom on the tapes, that Hayley was not the only woman he cheated on Caroline with. The thought was disgusting to Klaus. If in the future their relationship gets to the point that he hoped it would, he would have no need to have other women in his bed.

Fidelity was something very important to Klaus; both giving and receiving it.

“Ensure that the videos with Caroline are on one of the drives alone. Put the rest on the other.” Klaus told him and Tyler wisely did not comment. “I’m turning the videos over to the Mystic Falls police. They will distribute them to the women who are on them. If it is discovered you have more tapes of women who do not realize that they are on camera when they slept with you, trust me that Liz Forbes will ensure that you go down for them as well.”

“What does it matter? I’m facing jail time already.” Tyler told Klaus in a broken tone. Klaus gazed at him and saw the stress, worry and fear lingering in each line of his face. Two metal splints were sitting across is nose, attempting to heal the nasal fracture that Klaus caused him when he slammed his face against the interrogation table. Seeing them gave Klaus a delighted sort of pleasure.

“Yes. You are.” Klaus told him and it was hard to keep the glee out of his tone. “You are being charged with aiding and abetting in the murder of a federal agent. Don’t worry though. I’m sure mommy will hire you a good lawyer and after a decade behind bars, less if you’re on your very best behavior, you’ll be out. Living back in the manor probably. You’ll never find a good job but then again you don’t work anyway. I’m sure your girlfriend will be here to welcome you with open arms. How is that going anyway? What was her name? Ah yes, Ms. Parker.”

“She dumped me.”

“Good for her.”

“Do you have to be such a dick about this?” Tyler snapped and narrowed his eyes at Klaus. It was clear that Tyler did not think highly on the agent; but seeing Tyler squirm brought a certain level of enjoyment to Klaus. “I’m doing what you ask. I’m going to give you the videos and doing everything my attorney tells me. Why are you being such an asshole?”

“When I leave Mystic Falls, I’m going to New Orleans. There is a woman by the name of Celeste Dubois who lives there. She is an older woman in her seventies, and she is Marcel’s grandmother. She raised Marcel when his mother abandoned him. She didn’t have much. In fact, I think her entire house could fit in your living room and dining room combined.” Klaus told him, seeing how Tyler’s eyes scanned the room for its size. “The one thing she did have was a loving grandson. You helped take that from her. I will sit with her and listen to her cry. I will hold her hand as she buries the remarkable young man she raised. So, yes. I do have to be a dick about it.”

Tyler said nothing in return, instead focusing on the remaining videos. Klaus watched him and could see the guilt passing through his mind. It was true that Tyler did not know exactly Matt’s plans the night he told Tyler to throw the rock through Caroline’s window and that would be factored into his sentence, but Tyler was going to jail.

“Here. This is all of them.” Tyler handed Klaus the two black flash drives that he had brought with him. Klaus put the flash drives in his bag and walked over to Tyler and looked over his shoulder. Klaus reached down, unplugged the laptop and snapped it shut. “Hey! What are you doing?!”

“Do you honestly believe that we would let you keep this? Oh no. This is property of Mystic Falls police now. Once they go through and ensure that everything is off it, it will be returned to Mayor Lockwood.” Klaus smirked at him and shoved the laptop in his bag. He walked towards the front of the house, calling at Tyler over his shoulder. “Have a good day, Tyler. I hope to never have to speak to you again.”

“Wait!?” Tyler called and Klaus paused. “What is going to happen to Jeremy and Elena?”

“Elena will get off easy compared to the rest of you. She is looking at probation and probably will never be able to practice medicine, ever. The hospital she worked at is under investigation for taking Damon Salvatore’s bribe. He is also facing a few charges for that but with everything going on, he’ll get a slap on the wrist.” Klaus paused looking at Tyler. “Jeremy is looking at a similar sentence to yourself, about five or so years of jail time.”

“I was just trying to protect myself. Okay? Matt was blackmailing me and I didn’t….I didn’t want to be sitting in this exact position.”

“Let me put something in prospective for you. Jeremy did what he did, because he loved Anna. He was convinced that she was going to be next. Its actions were wrong, and he should never have supplied Matt with the Dilaudid nor should he have continued to help bury the bodies; but I can at least understand why he did it. People do crazy things for the ones they love.” Klaus thought and his mind immediately flashed to Caroline. “You on the other hand, did everything because you’re selfish.”

“I was just trying to protect myself. Anyone else would have done the same. Jeremy did”

“There is no excuse Mr. Lockwood. None. Because if Matt never started killing those women, you still would have been making those sex tapes. One day it would have caught up with you and you still would have lost everything. Jeremy on the other hand, would have still gotten clean, lived his life and probably married that woman he loves so much. Think on that while you sleep in jail cell.”

“One more thing.”

“What?”

“Is it true? What they found in Matt’s storage unit yesterday?” Klaus looked at Tyler. He shouldn’t have been surprised. It was all over the news that the FBI stormed Matt’s home and storage units, even after he had died. It was no secret and it would have been all over town by now what was found.

“Yeah. It is.” Klaus turned around and left, hoping that it was the last time he would ever have to gaze upon Tyler’s face again. He walked back out into the sunlight and scowled at the sight. Reporters were starting to pull up to the Lockwood property, hoping to see Tyler; knowledge that the Mayor’s son was involved in the murder of four women was bound to be newsworthy. In his honest opinion, it was the least Tyler deserved to have his name plastered all over the country and in the most negative light possible.

Klaus walked briskly to his SUV, hoping to avoid being cornered. He heard a reporter or two shout the word ‘agent’, calling him in hopes of getting a word. Klaus ignored them. Within the hour, he knew the manor would be swarming with reporters. The thought made him smile; it was petty, but he could not help but enjoy the fall out.

Klaus drove through town again, sending a quick text before leaving. The town seemed more alive; people milling about on the sidewalks and more cars seemed to be on their way to work. Klaus could see remains of a structure that used to hold this town up; but it was drowning in the memory that was Matthew Donovan. Mystic Falls would survive but it would forever follow that dark cloud that would never really go away.

He pulled up outside of Bonnie’s bakery, seeing Vincent sitting out front with a coffee in hand and what appeared to be a donut. Klaus was sure that Bonnie saw him and provided him with anything he wanted while he waited. He looked tired and Klaus could not blame him; they both had a very long night. Vincent wanted nothing more than to go back to D.C and put this town behind him.

Taking a long deep breath, Klaus climbed out of his SUV and strolled over to the bench Vincent was sitting on; bag from the Lockwood Manor in hand. He sat down beside his former boss, who picked up a disposable cut beside him and handed it to Klaus. Coffee. Klaus smirked at Vincent and took the cup happily. It was good to see that even though Vincent would probably curse the remainder of Klaus’s existence, he didn’t hate him completely.

“Thank you.” Klaus told him but Vincent didn’t reply. Klaus handed him the bag with the laptop and one of the flash drives. “Here is Tyler Lockwood’s laptop. There is a flash drive with copies of all the videos on there. I had him separate the videos of Caroline and I’ll ensure she gets it.”

“Good.” Vincent told him with a nod. “I’ll give the laptop to the DA and she will decide what charges to press. I told Slater that he was going to go through these videos and identify the women. We will ensure that each are made aware of the videos and that they get a copy. They can decide what to do with them. Keep them or burn them.”

“What about the copies that belong to the police and the FBI?” Klaus knew what he was asking, as did Vincent. He was not asking about the plethora of videos of Tyler having sex; he pitied Slater for having to watch those. The last thing Klaus would want to see is Tyler Lockwood thrusting into some woman who unknowingly was being filmed. Klaus was asking about the tapes of Caroline. He had a copy to give to her, but that did not mean they were gone forever.

“If Mr. Lockwood does not take the plea deal the DA, the video of him and Ms. Marshall will most likely be used in his trial.” Klaus nodded in understanding. “As for the rest, they will be under lock and key. No one will have access them to in order to protect the women. Including Ms. Forbes.”

“Good.” Klaus replied, a sickening thought in his stomach. The thought of Caroline on a video during an intimate moment made him feel ill. While it was one thing to take a video while have sex with both parties’ consent, it was a crime when one party was unaware of the fact that they were being filmed. “And what of the other one?”

“You mean the one of you and Ms. Forbes having sex in her bedroom that sent a serial killer with mommy issues on a downward spiral?” Vincent told him in a monotone that told Klaus that he was still bitter over it. Klaus rolled his eyes at him, showing him that he really did not care. “Trust me when I say the director wants that buried. The murder of Matthew Donovan already has made the FBI look like incompetent fools, the director does not want the public to know that the lead agent was screwing one of the victims.”

“It was more than that.” Klaus told him. The director of the FBI reamed Klaus a new one the previous night on his conduct with a witness. While Klaus had enough pride to know that he deserved the scolding, he did not like how his relationship with Caroline painted as something trivial and dirty; Caroline meant more than that to him. “It wasn’t just about sex with her. It was so much more than that.”

“I believe you but at the end of the day, your actions with her set off a chain of events that I now have to clean up.” There was no malice or anger in Vincent’s voice. Klaus was sure that he just did not have it in him to be angry anymore. “It is a good thing you quit. Don’t take this the wrong way, you’re a good agent and I’ll give a reference if you need one, but if you stayed with the FBI, you would be facing some serious disciplinary action.”

“Yup.” Klaus smirked at him, not caring about what action the director would have taken if Klaus stayed. He wasn’t. He was done and knowing that he no longer was going to chase monsters, he felt this weight lift off his shoulders that he did not realize that he was carrying. “Once I am done in New Orleans, I want no part of that life anymore.”

“Can you let me know when Marcel’s funeral will be? I’d like to attend.” Klaus nodded in agreement. It would be good for his grandmother to see that Marcel was a loved agent. “What are your plans once you’re done?”

“I’m not sure. I plan on staying in New Orleans for a bit. Help Marcel’s grandmother where I can but after that, I don’t know. Maybe I’ll go back to England or find some city in the States. Look for work. I haven’t really thought that far.” Vincent nodded. “You? How much trouble are you in?”

“I’ll be fine. As long as a case does not go sideways like this one, I will keep my position until I decide to retire. Although, honestly, this case has given me enough grey hairs that maybe I can pass for retirement age early.” Klaus snorted at that, giving Vincent a look of disbelief.

“You would lose your mind three days into retirement. No. You’ll never retire. In a few years, this mess will be forgotten, some new tragedy will emerge, and you’ll be offered a promotion. You’re on the fast track to becoming the director and you know it.” Klaus shook his head and drank from his coffee cup again. “Retirement. Please. You’ll probably die at your desk, found by the cleaning crew late one night.”

“You’re a pain in my ass. You that know, that right?” Vincent just looked at Klaus with a mixture of annoyance and amusement; but could not contradict Klaus’s prediction. “If you were still my agent, I’d throttle you.” Klaus snorted again, his amusement growing with Vincent’s comments. Vincent just rolled his eyes at him and picked up the bag with the laptop inside it. “I’ll make a pit stop at the District Attorney’s office before overseeing Mr. O’Connell’s transportation to the prison that will be his home for a while. It’s a shame. A man like that, throwing his life away for scum like Matt Donovan.”

“I’m not saying I would have done it, but I understand why he did.” Klaus told Vincent honestly, and his former boss nod; making Klaus wonder if he had any siblings. From everything Klaus knew, Vincent had an ex-wife and a daughter he saw six weeks each summer and on holidays. Other than that, he was married to his job and always would be. “I’ll see you at Marcel’s funeral.”

“I’ll see you then.” Vincent stood from the bench and grabbed the bag. He walked over to the trashcan and tossed his now empty coffee cup into the bin. Klaus watched as he climbed into a SUV and pulled out of the spot; driving off into town. Klaus took another long drink of his coffee and tossed it into the same bin that Vincent discarded his. He looked around and there were several people moving to and from places, Klaus figured he would have to get out of dodge before long if he did not want to be cornered by a stray reporter. Hopefully, the reports all swarmed the Lockwood Manor and left the rest of the town in peace.

Klaus walked over to the bakery door, seeing Bonnie moving around inside and knocked. The sign on the door indicated that the bakery was still closed, which Klaus found unusual. The bakery should be open at this time, eager for early morning customers. Bonnie looked up and moved around to let Klaus inside the bakery.

“Closed?”

“Yeah. I don’t plan on opening for a few days. Anna is taking some personal time and frankly, Caroline needs a hide out with reporters hounding her at every turn. We left Enzo at Liz, hoping the barking dog would chance them off.” Bonnie told him bitterly. “You would think that her status as ‘victim’ would garner some sympathy from reporters; but nope, it was chaos yesterday once we left the station.”

“I believe that. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to be here.” Bonnie waved her hand, ignoring his apology. Both Caroline and Bonnie knew why he was stuck at the police station. Sean O’Connell murdering Matt in the middle of a police station on top of a confession was a perfect excuse as to why he did not stay with Caroline has he had originally planned. “How is she?”

“Annoyed. I think her frustration with the reports masked her shock over Matt and what happened yesterday. She took a sleeping pill but was up and about when I came down here.” Klaus nodded, his eyes looking towards the ceiling. He had learned, via text message, that Caroline would be staying at Bonnie’s until the media hype died down and that Bonnie lived in the flat above her bakery. Liz was pretty much living out of her office; writing citations towards any reporter who came within five feet of Caroline. “Is it true? About what they found in Matt’s storage unit?”

“Yeah. It is.” He echoed the same words he had said to Tyler when he had asked that very same question. Klaus had not been with the agents who searched Matt’s house and units; having been already deep in a phone conference with Vincent and the director but what they had found came to no surprise to Klaus. “The body of Kelly Donovan was found locked in a freezer in Matt’s storage unit. She had been there, in freezer at least, for ten years? Matt had the storage unit for only a few years, so I have a suspicion he moved the freezer from his home at some point.”

“I remember in when we were in school that Kelly would up and leave all the time. When Vicki and Matt were little, she would take them with her. God knows what they saw. When they were older, she would come and go, always having some new boyfriend and Matt would be forced to care for Vicki. When she stopped showing up, no really questioned it. Especially since Vicki was going down the same path. God. All those times he slept on Caroline’s couch because Kelly never came home; it was because he killed her.”

“We have no definite proof that Matt killed his mother.” Bonnie shot Klaus a disbelieving look which made him smirk. “But it does look like it. He probably flew into a rage and killed her, but not knowing what to do, stuffed her in a spare freezer. When Vicki was going to abandon Matt, much like Kelly had done most of their lives, he lost it. Killing her triggered something in Matt. From there, he kept devolving. Then April threatening to leave, it created a pattern.”

“I just…. how is it that everything has changed?” Bonnie whispered, shaking her head. “None of us knew such evil existed right in front of our eyes. I just keep thinking about how this could have happened and how none of us saw it.”

“That is how it goes.” Klaus told her. He reached out and squeezed Bonnie’s shoulder. “Monsters like Matt know how to keep themselves hidden. After killing his mother, it makes sense that he would want to become a cop. Everything was derived from her continuously leaving him and Mystic Falls. Mystic Falls became a part of his identity and he wanted to protect this town because it was protecting himself. Seeing Vicki leave and then April threatening to leave him, it all unraveled from there. Pushing him further and further into his delusions.”

“It’s never going to be the same, is it?”

“No. It’s not.” Klaus replied in a soft tone. He thought on Matt and how his actions caused a domino effect to ripple through the town. His perversions touched each person differently; letting the town know that it was forever changed. Klaus knew that there would be psychologist over the years diving into Matt’s history to write theories on what exactly happened to him. Yet, it seemed obvious to Klaus. It all came down to abandonment and Matt’s desire to keep his mother and then Vicki as close to him as possible.

His victims left Mystic Falls and therefore, him. He wanted them close and was terrified of abandonment. Killing his victims, he was able to keep their bodies with him; visiting them whenever he pleased. These women had all left him and rejected him and Mystic Falls in some form, thus their death making it impossible for them to leave and the desire to be as close to them as possible in that moment. He feared their abandonment when they were living, having sex with them when they were dead was the ultimate connection for him.

“Right. Well, I guess we will have to take it day by day.” Bonnie muttered as she walked across the bakery. She picked up her purse and turned to look at Klaus. “Elena called. She wants to talk to me. I’m still insanely pissed at her, but I think she is actually going to try and make things right. The least I can do is hear her out. I know Caroline is far from ready for that and Elena said she understood. Whether or not she actually means it, we will see.”

“I’m never going to like Elena.”

“I wouldn’t expect you too.” Bonnie snorted. She searched Klaus’s face, looking for something; any sign that Klaus was in this for the long haul with Caroline. He gave nothing away; not without talking to Caroline first. “I’m going to be at the Boarding House. Caroline is upstairs, go through that door and up the stairs. She had mentioned that you were stopping by.” Klaus nodded, thanking her and Bonnie just smiled. “Oh, and if there is any funny business. Stay off my bed.”

Klaus laughed as Bonnie walked out the door, locking it behind her. Klaus turned and followed Bonnie’s instructions; finding the door that would lead him towards the upstairs apartment. The wooden stairs creaked as he made his way upstairs; not wanting to go quietly, in order to let Caroline, know that he was there; not wanting to scare her. He knocked on the only door at the top of the stairs and within seconds, Caroline opened the door.

She looked well rested and possibly the most at ease he had ever seen her. Her blonde hair was tied back in a ponytail. She wore comfortable looking jeans and one of her simple pink tank-tops and a white cardigan to accommodate Bonnie’s AC that was turned up to freezing temperatures. Caroline’s blue eyes lit up at the sight of Klaus and quickly pulled him into her arms. She buried her head into the crook of his neck.

He kissed the top of her head, breathing in the scent that was uniquely Caroline. She pulled away and stepped aside so he could enter the apartment. It was small but he expected that seeing that it was over the bakery. It was an open floor plan, with the kitchen overlooking the living room. It had hardwood flooring, peach colored walls and a tall bookshelf on the other side of the living room. There was no dining table but an island that had bar stools on the one said.

“Thank you for coming. I really wanted to see you before you left.” Caroline told him reaching for him again. Klaus pulled her into a light hug, Caroline wrapping her arms around his middle. “They swarmed mom’s house. It was suffocating. Like, why won’t they just leave me alone? Matt is dead. What else could they possibly want?”

“A story.” Klaus told her. “They want you to sit pretty for them and tell them in detail what happened to you.”

“Yeah, well, they can go fuck themselves.”

“I agree.” Klaus gave her a light chuckle and he kissed the top of her head again. Caroline pulled away and walked over to the counter where he saw freshly made bagels on the counter. She pointed and he nodded; watching as she popped a few into the toaster. Klaus sat down at the bar stool. “How are you holding up? Knowing that Matt is dead I mean?”

“I’m okay right now. It will catch up to me though. I think that I’m running on adrenaline or something because everything just seems so, surreal?” Klaus nodded understanding what she meant. “I just keep thinking about Matt. He was the sweet kid who would pick flowers for all the girls on the playground. In high school, he came and saw me in the hospital. He was just so kind and gentle.” Caroline pulled the cream cheese out of Bonnie’s fridge and sat it on the counter. “Then I think about how he was when I was in the cellar. He would rock me like he loved me, but he got so angry when he had me hostage at the house.”

“I think that when he had you down in that cell, he wasn’t seeing you.” Caroline looked at him in confusion. Klaus took a sigh and pulled out his phone, bringing up a photo of Kelly Donovan when she was young. She was tall, blonde hair with blue eyes. She bore a sticking resemblance to Vicki, only with softer coloring. “He was seeing his mother. Begging her to stay.”

“I don’t understand.”

“This is only a theory and with Matt dead, there is no real way to prove why he did this.” Caroline nodded, pulling the bagels from the toaster and handing Klaus half. “Kelly Donovan would often pack Matt and Vicki up, taking them all over the place as kids. It wasn’t until they were older that she would leave them behind. One day, we think he just snapped; not able to keep watching her walk away.” Klaus was right when he told Bonnie they had no proof that he killed Kelly Donovan, but the circumstantial evidence pointed to it. It was not unusual for serial killers to have large gaps between kills, especially early on. “Seeing Vicki follow down the same path, it was the trigger for him to start killing. April was going to leave him. Andi had already left him once. Cami, honestly looked like his mom and she refused to say in Mystic Falls. You resemble both Cami and Kelly, with the nature of your work taking you all over…”

“I was the perfect candidate.” Caroline paused. “But what about Elena? She broke up with him. Abandoned him just like the rest. Why not her?”

“Because she never really left Mystic Falls.” Klaus bit into the bagel, watching Caroline carefully. “She had no intentions on leaving this town. In Matt’s mind, Mystic Falls and himself became one identity. It was the place he felt safe and when someone, particularly a woman, left it, he felt as though she was abandoning him. Just like Kelly had done over and over again. I think that he replaced Kelly with Vicki a good bit, which is why he held you and the other women in the same manner that he did Vicki.”

Klaus thought on that small cell and the nightmares that they all had faced down there. He thought on how Matt abused their bodies. Logically he knew that necrophilia could stem from rejection and abandonment. Matt would want to be close to the women he kept in the most intimate way possible, but still feared their rejection. So, he killed them and sealed their permanency with him in the most intimate of acts. Sex.

The thought made his stomach roll.

“I really don’t want to discuss Matt anymore.” Caroline muttered and Klaus understood. For the foreseeable future, her life would be defined by the fact that she survived. She would try and go back to normal, but this would always linger in her life.

“We can discuss anything you want but there is one last thing I have to give you before we change topics.” Klaus reached into his pocket and slid the small flash drive across the counter. “On the drive are all the videos Tyler took of you and him. A copy will remain with the FBI, but no one will see them. Ever.” Caroline’s wide eyes flashed up to him and then down at the drive. “I didn’t watch them. I wouldn’t invade your privacy like that.”

“And what about the one with us? What about that one?”

“It is also property of the FBI, but Vincent assures me that it will never see the light of day.” Caroline nodded and looked at the flash drive again; scowling as though it had offended her. She crossed her arms and walked around the counter, leaving her bagel untouched. Klaus opened his arms and pulled her into an embrace. “I had no idea. If I would have known that we were being watched, I never would have made love to you that night.”

“No.” Caroline hissed. She looked up at him, her blue eyes staring at him as though a storm was echoing behind them. “I don’t regret it. That night, with you, I refuse to let Matt and Tyler take that from us. You’ve made me so happy. For a moment, I was just Caroline again and you made me feel something that wasn’t a pit of darkness. If they take that, if Matt ruins that moment, then he wins. He may be dead, but he wins in the end. I can’t let that happen.”

“You are remarkable.” Klaus leaned down and kissed her. It was gentle but held so much promise in it. He poured everything he had into that kiss, knowing that in a few hours he would be driving to New Orleans and Caroline would still be in this small apartment, waiting for the reports to leave and the chaos Matt created to die down. Klaus pulled away but still held her to him. “There is so much I have to do. I have to pay my respect to Marcel. I owe him that.”

“Of course, Klaus. You should go. If the places were reversed, Marcel would have done the same for you.” Caroline told him; her voice hitched at the thought of Klaus’s body lying in the same way as Marcel. “I don’t want to hold you back in anyway.”

“You wouldn’t be holding me back.” Klaus kissed her forehead. “And I think I’m going to take your advice. Once I am done in New Orleans, I want to go and see my family. Maybe hold my brother’s daughter in my arms. I think I’ve avoided England for too long.” Klaus met Caroline’s eyes and there were tears pooling in them. Klaus reached up and wiped the stray tear away. “What you are thinking?”

“That you’re proof that there are still good people in the world.” Caroline kissed his cheek, letting her lips linger against his skin for a moment. “This isn’t goodbye you know. You going to New Orleans and then England, it isn’t a goodbye. We have so much to figure out in our lives. Where do we go from here? So much healing to do. I think it is time for you to go home and face your demons. Just like I have to face mine.”

“I don’t want to let you go Caroline.” She smiled at him and took his hands, kissing them. “I want to be in your life in any way that you let me.”

With that, her one uninjured hand gripped his Henley and pulled him down into a deep kiss; this time more passionate than before. Their lips mingled together, fighting for dominance. Caroline poured everything she had into that kiss, telling Klaus exactly how she wanted him in her life. Klaus’s eyes fluttered shut, allowing himself to feel her arms wrap around his shoulders and her body press against his.

“I want you Klaus. Here. Now. Let us have another moment just the two of us. Untainted and pure before you leave.” Klaus stood from the bar stool and pulled Caroline into his arms, kissing her harder. His hands traced the light pink top she wore before slipping his hands under the hem to feel her soft skin. Caroline broke the kiss, placing her finger on his lips. “And when we are together again, we can have more. Because Klaus, I don’t want to let you go either.”

Caroline pulled out of his arms and grabbed his hand. Just like the other night when Caroline led him to her bedroom, she pulled him towards a wooden door on the other side of the room. The spare bedroom in Bonnie’s apartment was small but had enough room for a double bed, a dresser and a small chair in the corner that Klaus saw Caroline’s pink suitcase resting on it. Caroline led him to the edge of the bed and pushed his chest lightly; telling him to sit on the bed.

Klaus obeyed her direction and watched as she walked over to her suitcase. He saw her pull out a small foil packet and he could not help but smirk. She walked over to the bed and tossed the packet on the bed; ignoring the rise of his eyebrow in question.

“Planning this, were we?” Klaus teased her and Caroline flushed slightly. She bit her lip and pulled her tank-top over her head, tossing it on the ground. All teasing left his face as his eyes took in her bra covered breasts and skin that was now exposed.

“And if I was? Complaining?” Klaus shook his head and Caroline gave him a slight giggle. She straddled his lap, pressing her covered core against his now bulging pants. They both hissed at the contact; their lips mingling together gently. Klaus’s hands roamed her back; tracing her spine before unclasping her bra. Klaus pulled her bra from her chest, revealing her breasts and tossing the piece of clothing aside. He took in the sight of her erect nipples and mounds; groaning as she grinded down onto his lap. “Good.”

“You’re so beautiful.” He leaned forward, taking a nipple into his mouth; sucking and nipping at them lightly. Caroline moaned at the feeling of his lips on her skin. She gripped at his hair with her hand; pressing his face against her breasts.

“Klaus.” Caroline whimpered his name as he continued to kiss and suck her breasts. They both knew that there would be marks and bruises on her skin from where his lips had been; neither minded much. Caroline began grinding down on him harder, trying to create some friction between them, while Klaus gripped her hips; helping her create a rhythm. “Stop. I need you.”

She yanked on his hair and pulled his lips up to hers; pulling him into another bruising kiss. Klaus moved his hands from her hips and pulled his Henley over his shoulders; throwing it with the other forgotten clothing; breaking the kiss as he did so. Caroline pulled his lips back to hers again, dragging her nails down his chest.

Caroline pulled her lips from his and gently pushed him to lie back against the bed. Caroline traced kisses down his jawbone and sucked on his neck. She sucked at his pulse point; her teeth grazing his skin. She made a trail with her lips down his collar bone, across the tattoo of birds on his shoulder and down his stomach. When she reached the top of his jeans, Caroline’s eyes flickered upward; catching his. Klaus groaned at the mischief in her eyes.

“Caroline. You don’t have to.”

“I know. I want to.” She reached up and pulled at his belt. Klaus helped her undo his pants; sliding them down his hips enough that his erection was able to spring free. She gripped it gently, moving her hand up and down; causing Klaus to groan as she did so. Smirking, Caroline leaned forward and took a long lick of his shaft.

“Christ, Sweetheart.” Caroline took him completely into her mouth, causing Klaus’s eyes to roll. He reached down and moved Caroline’s hair out of her face. She watched as she sucked on his shaft, bobbing her head up and down so his erection slid in and out of her mouth. Her free hand massaged his balls as her tongue swirled around the base of him. He knew that if she continued to do this, he would not last long. “Stop. Caroline, you need to stop. Please. I want you.”

Caroline pulled her lips from his erection, sliding out of her mouth with a pop; sucking him one last time before she stood up straight. She undid the button on her jeans, pushing them down her legs along with her panties. She stepped out of them and stood before Klaus completely naked. His greedy eyes took in every inch of her, the morning sun illuminating her skin. He could see the red blush grace her skin; slight embarrassment as he took in her body.

“Enjoying the sight?”

“Immensely.”

“Then maybe you should take off your pants.” Caroline told him coyly and Klaus moved into action, sliding his jeans down his hips the rest of the way. He picked up the small foil packet and ripped it open; knowing that Caroline still would not be able to open it herself. He pulled the condom out and slid it over his erection, before lying back down against the bed. Caroline climbed onto his lap and aligned his erection with her entrance.

Slowly, Caroline sunk down onto him; both of them groaning at the sensation. Klaus filled her until their pelvises met. Klaus gazed up at the sight of Caroline straddling him as he was deep inside of her; the feeling of her warmth surrounding him. She reached out and grabbed one of his hands; their eyes locking onto one another. Caroline routed her hips in an achingly slow manner before moving upward; Klaus slipping out of her only slightly.

Caroline rode him at a leisurely pace, neither of them needing more than that connection. Klaus gripped her hand tightly, not wanting to let go, while his free hand reached between them and touched her clit. Caroline hissed at the contact; Klaus’s finger rubbing her bundle of nerves. Caroline’s eyes fluttered shut, her head tossing back as she began to ride him harder.

Klaus sat up, changing the angle and causing Caroline to cry out his name again. Klaus continued to rub her clit, letting go of her hand and pulled her body to his chest; her breast pressing against his naked skin. He kissed her passionately; refusing to be a passive partner in their love making any longer. His hips started to match the rhythm Caroline set.

“Klaus! I need you. Please.” She cried out as they broke the kiss. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders, wanting him as close to her as possible. Klaus rested one of his hands on her hips, helping her keep the pace of her thrusts.

“I’m here Sweetheart.” Klaus breathed in her ear. “I want this Caroline. I want you. I want to feel you again. I want to wake up in the morning and make love to you. I want to hear you laugh and see that bright smile that lights up your face.” Caroline whimpered at the sweet nothings he whispered to her. “This isn’t goodbye. I can’t let this be goodbye. Because I want this. All of this. I want all of you.”

“Klaus.” Caroline looked down at him and he could see the question in her eyes. She was terrified that he would leave and never return. He wanted to tell her that he was in this for the long haul; that he was going to be with her for as long as she would let him. The words could not form on her lips, so she kissed his instead; hoping that the emotion she felt reflected in the kiss.

Klaus felt Caroline’s muscles clench around him and her body still. She arched her back and cried out his name. Watching her come apart with his name on her lips was enough for him to spill himself into the condom.

Klaus fell backwards, landing on the bed with a soft thud; Caroline landing on top of him. She giggled lightly before pressing a kiss to his chest. She shifted, his penis slipping out of her; Caroline moaning at the feeling her sensitive skin gave. Klaus pulled the condom off him and wrapped it in the foil packet; making a note to toss it away later.

Caroline curled up in his arms, her head resting against his chest. Absent mindedly, Klaus began to play with her hair as his listened to the sound of her breathing. He leaned down and kissed the top of her head while she drew small circles on his chest. Perhaps it was the knowledge that Caroline was safe and, in his arms, or the feel of her fingertips on his skin, Klaus found himself falling into a deep sleep.

Something he had not experienced in a very long time.

Hours later after he was awake, showered and dressed, Klaus shared a small dinner with Caroline, Bonnie and Liz at Bonnie’s apartment. The four of the tried their best to ignore the chaos that was echoing through the town; whispers of Matt’s deviance and reporters trying to gather any semblance of a story they could find. Enzo, who Liz had brought with her from her house, sat at the foot of the table, begging for scraps. Klaus held Caroline close, knowing that their time was coming to a close. When the sun finally set and the they deemed it safe to leave the apartment for a few moments, Caroline walked Klaus to his car; kissing him goodbye.

As Klaus drove south down the interstate, he knew he meant every word he whispered to Caroline. In many ways this was a closing; an ending to a chapter in his life that he realized had become far too long; but it wasn’t a goodbye. Not to her. From the moment her picture hung on that board in the middle of bullpen of the FBI, Klaus knew that Caroline Forbes would always stick with him for the rest of his life.

A/N: I know this chapter feels like an ending....and it is. But remember we till have the epilogue that will be posted next week. This gives a hint at what will happen to some characters. Announcement: Next Thursday, August 6, I will be doing a Q&A about Wanderlust.

I'll answer any questions, from clarifications on clues to what happens in the future with the characters.

#klaroline #Wanderlust

[thadelightfulone]

The Firm - Chapter 9

Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8

Summary: Erik has been hired to find an embezzler for an old friend. The investigation is underway but who is after Green and LaNyah.

Pairing: Erik x Black!OC

Genre: Suspense

Words: 5K+

--- 3 Weeks Ago ---

Matt sits in the seat just vacated by Mrs. Williams, and Laura sits across from him. He is wringing his fingers, opening and closing his mouth. Where does he start this conversation? How does he fill in the details about what he has been up to for the last three years? And that he is living on borrowed time? Hell, how does he tell her she was just face to face with his boss? A bitch who is clearly capable of doing anything at any time based on what he has witnessed. Inhaling deeply, he starts. “I don’t know where to begin.”

“You better say something to me. You made me look stupid in front of Mrs. Williams.” He didn’t have the heart to tell her that Mrs. Williams feels that way about everyone below her stature anyway.

“So, you know how I brought you up here to get you away in case my boss tries something?”

She rolls her eyes, “Oh, you mean the illegal job?”

“You know I didn’t hear you complaining when the money was coming in regularly. In fact, we still see all that money every month. You are so ungrateful.” He puffs out in frustration, “I did this for you. I knew then that it was a long term job. I knew that you wanted kids, a great big house, a grand wedding, and all that shit. With Mr. Green, not paying me any mind, I thought I was stuck until this opportunity came along." He stands up, "So, do not look at me like I am some grand fuck up."

“You are Matthew. You needed help to get here. And clearly, for someone this shady to find you, I bet they have some dirt on you." She slowly rises to her feet. "How many women did you get caught with, Matt?" She pokes him, "No, how many women filed complaints with HR about you? What is your boss holding against you that you can't just leave and take the money that you have already earned, huh?" She walks over to the railing. "Why do you have to finish it? You did all the hard work getting them access in the first place. They have that chick you mentioned, Mariah, or whatever her name is to take the fall for all the shit you have done. Why are you not out?"

Lowly, he responds to her, "Because it is a death sentence." She whirls around on him; confusion marks her face, "As soon as I am no longer needed," he sniffs to prevent the tears from falling, "I. Am. A. Dead. Man."

She walks over to him and grabs both of his hands in hers. "I'm sorry, babe.” She leans against his shoulder. “There’s gotta be something you can do?”

Shaking his head, "Nope. If I come clean to Green, I'll be fired and arrested for everything I did. That's federal time. If my boss even thinks I'm about to squeal or fuck up the grand plan in any little way, she’ll have me killed.”

"She?" Matt turns to Laura, grabbing her into a bear hug, inhaling her scent, and just holding her and the baby tightly until he stops crying.

--- Three Weeks Later ---

LaNyah only comes to the top floor to report her findings in the weekly meetings with Erik, or any tasks that he has requested of her. She no longer works out of the conference room. Conversations are kept to a minimum unless Stacey joins them. She has integrated herself into their meetings without either party fighting her on it. LaNyah doesn't look at Erik, only the computer screens and conference monitors. Erik acts like he appears, a solid brick wall. Even with Stacey engaging both of them, they speak to and through her but never towards one another.

Stacey starts to spend more time downstairs with LaNyah as well, sometimes working out of her office. They have lunch together daily, and she is helping LaNyah work on her crafting skills. Stacey has even gotten her to accept invitations with Cynthia and Sandi for local Paint & Sip nights and after-work drinks with the rest of the team. LaNyah is happy to have another woman friend besides Ashley, who is more like a mother figure anyway.  

Erik started keeping irregular hours in the office, only really there for his meetings with LaNyah and Stacey. Otherwise, he is focused on trying to figure out who Matt has been in communication with since his in-house investigation is over. He has followed him to some hole-in-the-wall spot down the street on various occasions, and every so often, there is a bunch of men surrounding a well-dressed woman who sneaks in and out through the back. He can never get a good enough look at her to run her face through his software.

He stays back so Matt won’t see him, but it is getting frustrating after tracking his movements for weeks. Erik even saw Matt invite LaNyah out for drinks with the team. And she actually joined them, after inviting her new bestie, Stacey along. Those two were growing closer as each week passed, and LaNyah won’t even look at him. As far as she is concerned, he is another pain in the ass man for her to avoid unless it is absolutely necessary to engage.

Erik knows they think the worst of him, and even though he never wanted that to happen. He knew that it needed to be done for him and LaNyah. And the one person that he should be able to talk that out with won't talk to him either. Stacey does her job, but the jokes and playful banter he was used to between them is gone as well. Erik closes his eyes, mentally preparing himself for another day at GBI.

---

Alex taps his desk in frustration; the map and dots on the screen are flashing faster than they were less than 24 hours ago. He glances at the screen on the left and notices the numbers declining across several account lines. Shaking his head, he yells out, "Ashley! We gotta get back. Pack up our things now!”

Looking at the time, he picks up the phone and makes a call. He knows it is a long shot that someone will answer, but he needs to try.

Erik lifts his head from the desk when the phone rings, “Stevens.”

“I figured you might be in today.” Alex rushes out before continuing, “Erik, they picked up activity.” Erik pulls up the database screens and watches the same flurry of activity that Alex is watching.

“Why now?” He counts in a low whisper as he adds up the amounts. “They dropped the pattern and are increasing it in lumps sums.”

“They are about to make their move, E.” Alex blurts. “Ashley and I are coming back. I will be in the office tomorrow, can you meet me there? We need all hands on deck for this part. You, Stacey, and LaNyah.”

Closing his eyes, he starts rubbing his temples, “Yeah, I can be here to meet you. I don’t know if I can get LaNyah here on such short notice, but I’ll try.” He removes his gold-rimmed glasses, placing them beside the stack of papers on his desk.

“Do that. I will see you soon.” Alex hangs up, and Erik places a call before he stands up to look out the window.

The other line picks up, “Stacey, I need you to come in tomorrow.” Erik hears the sucking of teeth. “Alex is coming, and he needs us all here. Can you relay that message to Miss Cole?”

“Yes sir. Is there anything else?”

Rolling his shoulders, he turns to the phone, “No. I will see you in the morning. Have a good day.” He returns to his seat, picking up two documents and runs his fingers along the colored notes LaNyah made on them. “What am I going to do about this girl?”

---

It’s a beautiful Saturday morning as LaNyah approaches her first stop of the day. It was her favorite time of the week, her weekly shopping, and she has her lists ready. There are a few new recipes that she wants to try out as the weather gets cooler. Her weekend meal prepping for the week is both calming and relaxing. Most may find it monotonous, but she enjoys the routine, especially since she has been going out with Stacey a lot more lately.

Her best friend and the one who has been keeping her grounded, Stacey. LaNyah smiles, thinking about having a best friend. She's even helped her become more of a team player, so Matt doesn't bother her as much. She ignores him like the rest of the team does, and who would have thought that. They all share their dislike of him after he leaves whenever they go for drinks. She just keeps her distance from him like with Erik.

LaNyah stalls while putting her lists in her bag and just sits in her car, thinking about her boss. The handsome boss with the calming voice, who she thought wanted to help her. She has thought about his actions over the last few weeks and still cannot make sense regarding his about-face when it came to her and the real culprit behind the embezzlement. She really did start to think of him as a friend and even a protector, so it hurt to see him switch up on her. It was like he said what he needed to get her guard down enough for her to be comfortable with him and then turned on her, right when she needed him to fight for her.

No matter how he made her feel and her attraction to him, she was not going to let it hinder her progress. This whole situation and Stacey have helped her become someone she recognizes, someone who wants to live and have experiences without crippling fear preventing it. She has done a lot more living and growing in these last few weeks than ever before, and she has the two of them to thank for that. LaNyah takes a deep breath and releases all those thoughts that just flooded her. Time for shopping. She collects herself and gets out of the car.

LaNyah walks in, smiling and waving to all the employees she knows before grabbing a basket. Swinging her handbasket, she collects some of her usuals – popcorn, flavored almonds, Oreos, and newly added a wine she discovered at one of the Paint & Sip nights with the girls. Scrolling through her list, she makes her way down each aisle, grabbing all necessary items for crockpot soups, various pasta dishes, and her favorite roasted chicken salad.

Leaving the store, she puts all her items into her trunk. She checks off that store’s list and places it in her purse. LaNyah goes to put her cart back at the return.

“Oh, damn.” LaNyah turns to see an older lady who was one register over from her, having trouble putting her items away on the other aisle.

She puts her cart away and walks over to her. "Can I help you, ma'am?"

"Thank you, sugar. I would appreciate it.” She points to a bag that LaNyah helps her lift up and into the back seat. They work together and make short work of getting the rest of her bags into the car. “You are such a sweetheart. Thank you.”

"You're welcome, ma'am. Have a lovely day!" LaNyah walks away as her cell starts to ring. She stops to look at it and see Stacey’s name. “Hey girl, what’s up?”

“We have to work tomorrow.”

“Really? Why would Erik need us on a Sun-”

Stacey cuts her off, “Alex wants us there.” She hears LaNyah inhale deeply. “Yeah, I guess he is flying back today and wants all of us in tomorrow.”

“Well, they are just gonna have to see me on Monday. I need more than 12 hours notice for this.” Stacey huffs. “No Stace, if we all have to actively work together and be cooped up in the same space,” she rubs her temple, “then I need the time to adjust. I mean, unless you want to spend the day babysitting me."

“Alright, alright, alright. I get it. I’ll cover for you.”

“Thank you.”

“Just make sure you are there first thing Monday morning, ok.”

"I will. I promise. See you Monday." Stacey hangs up, and LaNyah gets back to her car, but her driver’s side is blocked by a car that just parked. “Seriously.” She walks to her trunk and stands there.

"Oh my bad, did I block you in?" She nods at the man who walks around the black Range Rover and spots her. "Hold on; I got it." While LaNyah focuses on him going back to the driver’s side. She is knocked to the ground hard from her left, and before she can scream, a hand covers her mouth with a cloth. LaNyah’s unconscious body is lifted off the ground and put into the back of the Range Rover.

“Did you get her?” The voice coming from an earbud that the driver is wearing. They are looking at jumping lights on a laptop screen. “Beautiful work Matthew.”

“Yes, we got her. Are we taking her to the safe house?”

“Correct. I will see you guys down there later tonight.” Gina pulls her wig off, shaking out her hair and sits back in her seat as she watches the Range Rover drive off from her rearview mirror. “Bye bye Miss Cole.”

---

It has been a long morning, and both Erik and Stacey are on edge waiting for Alex. He was supposed to be gone for another week, at least. Erik figures Alex thinks that the person behind all of this is about to run off with all the money before they can trace it back to them. Once those funneling transactions stop, there will be no way to trace them anymore. All roads will lead to an inactive IP address and probably a closed bank account.

Alex and Ashley walked into the office a little after 10. He has his laptop out of his briefcase before he greets anyone in the conference room. They all exchange pleasantries over coffee, tea, and bagels as everyone finds their bearings. Erik and Stacey have their notes and pads ready for whatever Alex is about to tell them.

Looking around the room, Alex asks, “Where’s LaNyah?” Ashley looks at Stacey and Erik. Erik turns to Stacey. He didn’t bother to ask when LaNyah did not come in with her.

“Uhhh, she decided not to come in today.” Stacey shrugs. “She said that this is her time to relax and reboot for the upcoming week.” Ashley nods before facing towards Alex.

“Makes sense. Well, I’m sure you both can catch her up when she comes in tomorrow.” He pulls up multiple screens on the wall behind him. "These are all the accounts that we have been tracing the missing money to and from." Alex points to one screen on his left, "This shows the pattern that the money was removed from the account. It goes back three years, increasing in amount every 6 months. I am here because 48 hours ago, the amount jumped by over 1 million dollars in one fell swoop.”

“Damn,” Stacey hisses. “So, what does this mean for us?”

“It means we need to hurry up and figure out who is doing it and stop them. I have frozen any other activity, but it was done after this last move.” Alex stands back as they watch the numbers on the account lines increase and decrease. Huffing out, he continues, "Ash and I were overseas tracing the locations of these accounts. We were chasing the money itself while I had you here finding our inside man and possibly connecting them to the outside man.” Erik and Stacey nod as Alex sits down, and Ashley stands up.  

"Well, we know who the inside man is, but we have no clue as to who hired him in the first place," Erik announces to the room.

Alex taps Erik’s shoulder. “Hold that thought. We may have that part figured out.”

“The funds are bouncing between 10 different accounts after being siphoned from the initial accounts here at GBI. They figured keeping the money spread across different accounts would make it harder to trace because they do not all start from the same location nor stay there for long. From here to San Francisco and Boston, before going overseas to London and finally Australia.” Ashley points to the flashing on the screens. “The final resting place for the money are three accounts in Australia. We had to meet with the officials to get access to the owner of the accounts.” Ashley brings up a new screen with a picture of an older white male.

“Owner? So, only one person is tied to the accounts.” Erik inquires.

“Yes, one sole owner of 4 accounts.” Erik looks closely at the screen and the name of the man. Greg Williams, 57, heir of Williams’ steel mills.

“You just said there were 10 accounts?” Stacey questions.

“Yes, Greg only owned 4 accounts. They were split apart not too long after he died. Then two more accounts were opened at that time.” Alex speaks up from his seat. “He died three years ago, right around the time the embezzlement started.”

“His wife inherited everything and made those changes after he died. One of the original accounts and the two new accounts hold the complete $1.3 billion that she has managed to steal over the last three years.” A new picture pops up on the screen, “This is Gina Williams, maiden name McCoy.”

“FUCK NO!” Erik jumps up from his seat. “Say it ain’t so.” Alex drops his head, avoiding Erik’s hard stare.

Lowly, “His twin sister, man.” Erik bends over the table with a death grip on the edges. Stacey watches all three of them. Erik looks like he has seen a ghost, and his face is full of rage while Alex starts wringing his hands and mumbling softly to himself, head bowed. Ashley is standing strong but has a deep frown on her face as she looks over the two men in the room.

“Am I missing something here?” Ashley walks over to Stacey.

Pulling her up from her chair, “I’ll explain it all tomorrow when LaNyah comes in. It is best if I tell you two what is going on, ok.” Stacey nods and gathers her things.

All is quiet in the conference room once Stacey leaves. The silence permeates the space for the next 5 minutes. Ashley sits down near Alex, grabbing his hand as Erik starts pacing the room.

“It’s been almost 20 fucking years. Why the fuck is she coming after you now?” He looks at Ashley. “In fact, how the fuck was she able to find out about you?”

“I don’t know everything yet. We only found out it was her two days ago. I know that being married to Greg gave her the resources she needed for her search. His family business had government contracts, so she may have found some help searching military records, including any complaints filed against officers." Erik runs his hands over his face. "She would have gotten my name from there. I have no idea how much information she has just yet or her real objective besides trying to get to me.”

“Erik, now that we know this is personal. I need you to be super vigilant of LaNyah.” Erik stops pacing and turns towards Ashley and Alex. "If she chose her as the fall guy, she might know of her connection to us." Alex finishes.

“Fuck me!” Erik slowly lowers himself into the nearest chair. “So, you don’t think it was a coincidence that the money started disappearing not too long after she started working for you?”

“We’re saying we do not know, but we would rather be safe than sorry. If she looked into LaNyah’s background, her most recent history is going to tie her to both of us directly." Ashley interjects.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get that.” He looks at them both, standing up and tapping on the table. “You have the investigation under control again, so I’ll step back and focus on keeping LaNyah safe.” He tries to keep a straight face when looking at Ashley, who smiles softly at him. “Who wants to tell her?”

"I am going to share the details with Stacey and LaNyah if that is ok with you two?" Alex squeezes her hand, and Erik waves it off, “Fine, then I will break it to her that you are her bodyguard in the morning. You can start then.”

Groaning, Erik grabs his notes and stuff and walks to the inner door leading to the office. Ashley and Alex follow. He starts cramming his things into his briefcase. “I need to get out of here and clear my head.” He looks between the two, “I need time to switch from investigator to personal bodyguard.” I need time to figure out how to deal with LaNyah since she won't talk to me, and I have to watch over her now.  

“Oh yeah.”

“Sure, we get it.” Ashley and Alex blurt at the same time. Erik picks up the briefcase and his jacket. Walking to the door, his hand is on the knob when Ashley’s voice stops him. “She is me, and I am her, Erik.”

Erik opens the door, "Yeah, I know." He says out loud to himself but only bobs his head in acknowledgment of her statement before heading to the elevators.

--- Monday Morning ---

Erik walks into the office dressed in a black turtleneck, black leather jacket, and grey slacks. Half of his dreads are in a ponytail on top of his head, with the rest hanging to the side. He has on all gold accessories – his rimmed glasses, a thick chain, watch and a couple of rings. Erik turns to the front desk when he hears sputtering. He rushes over to Stacey and pats her on the back. "You good?"

She thanks him and gathers herself together, "Who are you, and what have you done with Mr. Erik Stevens?" She stands up to look at him.

"Like what you see?" He smiles big, and she spots his deep dimples and catches a glimpse of gold on his lower teeth.

"Nigga, is that a grill?" Erik starts to laugh, and Stacey is stuck. "Who told you to come in looking like a fake Superfly?” She pushes at his chest.

“No one is reporting to me anymore. I am officially shifting to my main role.” He leans over her desk. “Can you make me some coffee for the last time?”

“Oh, you have been activated?” She laughs, “Yeah, I can do that for you because you are gonna need it.” She walks to the coffee maker.

"Why do you say that?" He follows behind her while she laughs.

"She hasn't spoken one word to you in weeks. Now, you have to protect her while the rest of us try to figure out how to catch this fucking Gina chick." She drops the cup under the spout. "What was the last thing I said to you that night?"

“That I was a dick.” She rolls her eyes at him. “Ok, you said that she doesn’t trust me and that I will have a hard time trying to ‘play’ bodyguard if she doesn’t.” 

Stacey fixes his coffee and shoves the cup in his hands, “Exactly, so how do you plan to fix this shit?”

“Ashley is gonna break it to her after she talks to you both.” He stares at the coffee cup in his hand. “Even if she doesn’t talk to me directly, as long as she at least lets me protect her, I can deal with that.”

Shaking her head, Stacey stares at him, “Oh sure, let Ashley smooth things over when it really should be you.”

“You don’t think I haven’t tried to that?” Erik raises his voice, “She won’t even look at me or respond to anything I say. She doesn’t answer any of my calls or emails. She doesn’t stay after the meetings long enough for me to pull her to the side." He sets his cup down. "So, yes, I am going to use Ashley to break the ice for me again. I am back at square one with her, and I have no idea how to get back in her good graces.”

"Back in whose good graces?" Ashley walks up to the desk with Alex. They stare between Stacey and Erik, and the distressed looks on their faces.

“Good morning Stacey,” nodding towards him, “Erik.”

"Good morning Mr. Green and Ashley," Stacey responds.

“Morning Green,” Erik looks at Ashley, “Ashley.” He picks his coffee back up, “I’m gonna head downstairs to wait for LaNyah to arrive.”

"Have her come up as soon as she does, thanks." He two-finger salutes everyone before heading to the elevators.

---

Erik has been waiting by her office door for two hours, and LaNyah has not appeared. He called Stacey half an hour ago, and she said LaNyah never came upstairs either. No one has seen her yet today. He decides to try his luck and call her cell phone. It goes straight to voicemail.

“Hey LaNyah, it’s Erik. Where are you? It's 11 am, and no one has heard from you today. Please just give Stacey or Ashley a call to let us know you are ok. Thanks.”

He texts Stacey letting her know to call LaNyah and see if she gets an answer. He gets up and tosses his cold coffee out on his way to the elevators.

The elevator dings, and Erik walks out to see everyone looking his way. “No response?”

Stacey shakes her head, "It went straight to voicemail for me," pointing to her, "and Ashley, too."

“Do you think she turned off her phone?” Alex asks.

“NO!” They all blurt out.

“It’s her only form of communication. She doesn’t have a landline anymore.” Ashley answers.

“Well, let’s just give her the day. Maybe she is dealing with something and needed to take some time to herself. What is it you guys say, a self-care day?” Stacey stiffly smiles as Ashley runs her hands over her curls.

Erik looks around at them, “It’s me.” All eyes are back on him. “Let’s go to the conference room, and I'll explain.”

After everyone is seated, Erik opens up about his investigation into LaNyah’s whole team and how he came down hard on her during her interview. During his talk, he kept looking over at Stacey, who was paying attention to the wall. Ashley follows his eyes to Stacey and her attempt at avoiding his intense stare.  

Ashley jumps up, “OMG, you two fucked!” Alex grabs her hand to calm her down. “I want you both to look me in the face and tell me that you two did not hook up while we were gone.”

Erik looks at Ashley, "You know me." Ashley crosses her arms over her chest. "Ok, fine, Ashley. I did not sleep with Stacey." Rolling her eyes, he continues, "When I am on a job, I do not mix company with anyone I will have to work with regularly. I am not the same guy you remember Bridges."

“It’s true. We did not hook up. He's not my type, and he definitely is not checking for me." Stacey looks away.

“Ok, so what is with all the secret stares and sad faces I see right now?” Alex interjects.

Stacey looks at Erik, who nods her way, “Well, LaNyah has a crush on Erik.”

"Yeah, and?" Erik and Stacey look between Alex and Ashley, neither know who said it, but it wasn't them. "We already knew that." Ashley waves her on, "Go ahead."

“Well, Erik likes LaNyah too.”

Ashley gasps, and Alex chuckles. "Well, I'll be damned."

Irritated by being interrupted again, Stacey resumes, “I confronted Erik about it the morning he went in to question LaNyah. His actions during the interview –“

“Is how he protects himself and separates the personal from the professional." Alex stands and goes to Stacey, "I've known him a while; he's not that hard to read." He leads Stacey to a chair, walks over to Ashley, and holds his hand out to her. "Now, is as good a time as any."

Ashley takes his hand and stands, walking forward where they all can see her. “Stacey, I am about to share some things with you that cannot leave this room or be repeated anywhere. Do you understand?” Stacey looks around the room.

“Yes, I understand.”

Ashley shares the story from when she first met McCoy as her first commanding officer after she completed boot camp up to when he requested her for his special ops team on an overseas mission. She spoke about meeting both Green and Stevens and how they were her big brothers on the team, always watching out for her. Ashley discusses all instances of harassment at McCoy’s hands and then finally, the assault that ended her military career. Stacey is sitting next to Erik, who grabs her hands as she tears up listening to Ashley talk about that afternoon while everyone was out testing the communication buds.  

Alex stands at Ashley's side, holding her in his arms, wiping her tears as she continues telling Stacey about how Stevens and Green investigated McCoy and found out his history of harassment to any woman under his command. When she breaks completely, Alex finishes up. He reveals that he was out one night when he ran into Stevens, who had just killed McCoy for what he did to Ashley. They made a pact, and Green helped Stevens cover the murder to look like their enemy ambushed him

The other commanding officers never looked further into his case, and it was closed quickly. By then, everyone parted ways, and Green kept in touch with Ashley, who later disclosed to him that she told the investigating officers that it was McCoy who attacked her. She filed a formal complaint, and no one was supposed to know anything. While they were dating, she told him that she knows that he and Stevens had something to do with his death. He came clean and told her what they did.

Stacey grabs some tissue and wipes her eyes. “When was the last time you all saw one another?”

“Five years.”

“15 years.”

“Seven years.

Stacey laughs at all the different answers that came out. They all look at each other and laugh along with her.

“Erik, I told you that you weren’t the only one keeping tabs on everyone.” Alex smiles at him.

"Ashley, I was at your graduation for your Masters," Erik says. "I wouldn't miss that for the world. It was a proud moment to watch my friend walk across the stage, looking like herself again."

“Why didn’t you say something?” He walks over to give her a big hug.

“I was between other jobs and could only fit in the time for your ceremony and then leave. I am shocked that Green didn’t say anything to you. He spotted me when I came in.”

“Yeah, the starter dreads did nothing to cover up that build,” everyone laughs at Alex’s comment.

"Stacey, if we are being completely honest. We were never supposed to see one another again, except for Alex and me since I married him."

“Our pact included a one-time favor, and Alex called it in when he brought me on to investigate this case.”

“Protecting LaNyah from whatever you found during the investigation?” Erik nods at her. “You gotta make this right.”

"I know, I know." Erik walks towards the windows, looking over the city. "I can care for someone I protect as part of the job. But this is different and has been from the moment Alex called me.”

“You were attracted to her before I told you she was the favor.” Alex sighs, “I never in a million years would have thought you or LaNyah would like one another.”

"I tried to warn you about LaNyah's feelings, and you laughed." Ashley pushed him.

“Well, all I know is that I need to focus on protecting her before McCoy’s sister tries to go after her.” Erik turns back towards them, “I’ll work on getting back on her good side once this is all over." He looks at Stacey, who smiles at him.

Alex claps his hands, “Sounds good. So, let’s give her the day and if no one has heard from her by tomorrow-”

"I'm on it," Erik replies. "Now, let's figure out how much this Gina chick knows about all of us."

"I think that is a great place to start," Ashley says.

“I’ll get some menus and order lunch while you all set up the conference room as our war room.” Stacey laughs to herself but stops when she notices the three sets of eyes on her. “Sorry.” She scurries out of the room.

--- Tuesday Morning ---

“When does LaNyah get in today?” Ashley asks Stacey as she prepares her tea.

Checking her calendar, “It’s Tuesday, so we usually see her after her team meeting around 11.”

“Ok,” Ashley takes a seat at Stacey’s desk. “How bad was it?”

"Was what?" She flinches at the look Ashley gives her, "She called me, but I was at lunch. As soon as I got back, I went to check on her, and she told me what happened. We colored, and I listened to her talk about how his turnabout made her feel. She feels like he betrayed her, got her to get comfortable only for him to make it seem like this was somehow her fault."

“She really shared all of that with you?” Stacey nods, “Wow, she is growing into her own.”

“Ashley, you have done great work with her.” Grabbing her hands, "I hang out with her often now, and she is my friend. We go out with her team and have movie nights." She smiles, thinking of how she has watched her grow over this last month. "She has been living, and even though Erik hurt her, she has not let that stop her from growing. She just chooses to ignore him as she does with Matt."

“Speaking of that ass. Is he the inside guy?”

“Yup, it was easy to trace all changes to him since LaNyah doesn’t know how to use all the access Green gave to her," Erik answers as he approaches them. "Good morning."

"Morning, Erik." Stacey responds, "Mr. Green is waiting for you in his office. Have fun." He mushes her in the head as he makes his way towards Alex.

Ashley giggles into her tea as Stacey mean mugs her, “Those big brother tendencies die hard, huh?”

“He is so annoying.” Stacey turns to her monitors to watch the accounts while she and Ashley wait for LaNyah to arrive.

Chapter 10

A/N: I wanted to get more of this story out before the end of the year. Thank you for all the support. I appreciate all of you and look forward to more with this crew in the new year.

Taglist: @killmongersaidheyauntie @dacosmicdame @muse-of-mbaku @panthergoddessbast @youreadthatright @princessstevens @eye-raq @stark-red19 @kreolemami @bidibidibombaclaat @iamrheaspeaks @missumuch1918 @simplyyamberr @cheychey10142 @ajspencer1892 @chrismarcs @loosewindmill @sydneebleu @semianta @eyeknowmywrites @alexundefined @itsjustmezari @goddessofthundathighs @purple-apricots @kissmyafropuff @gimmeface @fd-writes @jozigrrl @soufcakmistress @scrumptiouslytenaciouscrusade @shaekingshitup @localtrapgod @post-woke  @theesotericqueen

#erik killmonger #erik killmonger x oc #black panther fanfiction #the firm #thadelightfulone

[andy-clutterbuck]

4x16 | A

#R I C H A R D #Rick Grimes #* #rg #S4 #you know how i feel about those little snarls and twitches #...... #*air raid sirens* #*cash register noise* *breaking glass* *car horn* #welp there's the primal cavewoman again #thinking about being taken against cave walls #she needs to go sit by the newly discovered fire and think about her actions #it's me hi i'm the problem it's me

[yodawgiherd]

Mindfuck

>>>Read on AO3<<<

Rating: M Setting: Post-canon, inspired by the current manga chapter (121) Obviously, spoilers below, proceed at your own risk.

Prompt: some fluff/smut Eremika with no angst plz

Hey I did my best :D

The meeting was boring.

And who could have predicted that winning a war, facing and surviving an invasion, and least but not last literally stopping the end of the world would have such incredibly dull consequences. One day there is fire and death everywhere, bombs are raining from the sky, and the next morning there’s suddenly a pressing need for new tax policy. It’s been months since the battle, yet there was always something else to discuss. Damn politics.

Adjusting his position on the chair, Eren did his best not to look too out of it, as he certainly should not. It was a privilege that he was even allowed on these meetings, a courtesy of now speaking queen Historia, who was one of the very few people who still believed in him, even after everything that he’s done. And Eren understood it. He understood the looks, the gossips, the way people avoided him, if they could, he did betray them after all. Sure, he had ulterior motives that saved them all in the end, but people needed someone to blame for the suffering and deaths that happened in a direct consequence of his actions, and he was the logical target of their scorn. In a way he welcomed it. He was used to it, the hate, and putting up with it was a small price to pay when the people he really cared about understood his motives and found it in their hearts to forgive him. That’s what mattered.

In an effort to prevent himself from falling asleep, which would be very, very inappropriate, Eren let his eyes wander over his fellow council members, trying to decipher what kind of trick they were using to manage to look this focused. Armin, sitting next to Eren, didn’t let his gaze falter from intently hanging on every word the queen said, most likely already making plans in his head. He was like that. Jean, the newly promoted leader of survey corps after Hange’s voluntarily resignation, was also watching the queen, to Eren’s slight surprise. He changed so much in the last years, matured, in a way Eren would never predict. The only one who was not completely taken by the speech seemed to be Levi, with his explosion-scarred face and permanently closed one eye, who had his remaining one trained on the tabletop, frowning at a patch of dirt that somehow found a way into the otherwise pristine room. Eren didn’t know who oversaw the cleaning of the meeting room, but whoever it was, he was about to get it. Finishing his little inspection circle, Eren’s vision finally came to rest on the person sitting next to him. His best friend, and recently also something more, albeit only in secret.

Mikasa was dutiful as ever, her face focused while listening to Historia, the only sign of her slightly wandering mind being the one hand that was playing with the end of her scarf. The old thing looked even more ragged than before, in contrast to the pristine new uniform with the flashy badges, the symbols of her recent promotion. She was a captain now, taking Levi’s old place, as the old soldier was no longer in any condition to fight. It was a miracle that he was still alive, Hange told Eren, the injuries he sustained should have killed him on the spot, yet he somehow survived. When the dust settled, Eren found the scarf back in the now half-demolished building sitting on the table, untouched by the explosions. Not surprised in the least that Mikasa had left it behind because if their places had been reversed, he would most likely burn it on the spot, Eren gave it back to her with a heartfelt apology after the battle, hoping that she would forgive him. She accepted both the scarf and his words, warily, a notion which he understood, and they both went on with their lives, separately. For a time at least.

After everything that happened Eren really did his best to give Mikasa space. To think about what happened. To decide if she even wants to be friends with him anymore. Immersing himself in the work given to him by Historia, who came back after giving birth to her son somehow rejuvenated by the whole ordeal, Eren had his hands full most of the time. But in those rare moments when he didn’t, he found himself thinking about her. Dreading the possibility that she would perhaps decide that he was not worth her time anymore. That the whole secret plan thing was cool and all, but he still hurt her too much to go on. And most of all, fearing that he would just wake up one day to discover that she’s gone, taking Kiyomi’s offer to return with her to Hizuru and leave everything and everyone, Eren included, behind. Thankfully, that didn’t happen. And slowly, carefully, in measured steps and small gestures, Eren and Mikasa found their way back to each other. As the city and nation around them slowly rebuilt itself from the ground, so did the two of them worked on their relationship, laying new foundations, creating the very thing that burned to the ground, same, but somehow different. They were different people now, both of them, changed by the war, their experiences, the pain, and suffering they endured, but even those two new individuals found themselves drawn to each other. The childish fondness was gone, replaced by something else, something that made Eren question what it was, unable to truly name it, until one evening when one thing led to another and he found himself spending the night in Mikasa’s room. In her bed, to be specific, with her, doing things of questionable morals but feeling so incredibly good that neither of them cared.  They didn’t really talk about it after, the subject rather difficult to discuss, but as actions speak louder than words, more and more often Eren would spend the night in the newly promoted captain’s quarters, as her bed was much more comfortable than his, a perk of her rank, no doubt.

Between his day-work on rebuilding the city and the night shifts of relationship rebuilding, Eren did his best to explore and understand his new abilities. Ymir was gone, meaning that the full potential of the founding titan was his, and the possibilities seemed endless. There was so much more to it then any other of the titans, the deep connection to the whole Eldian race, Paths and everything about those, Eren didn’t understand almost any of it. But he was trying. Hard enough to get at least some measure of control over them, allowing him to remove that stupid time limit from shifters lives, that made him sleep easier at night. Another thing he practices was entering the Paths at will, and right now, to escape this meeting, that was just the thing he needed. Casually, Eren leaned forward, slowly creeping his left hand closer and closer to Mikasa’s, as he needed a direct skin to skin contact for his plan to work. Checking to see if no one was watching him, he was pleased to notice that everyone, save for Levi, was still paying their full attention to the queen, so proceeding with his desired intention, Eren continued. Mikasa finally seemed to notice the way he reached for her, turning her head slightly to raise an eyebrow at him, but luckily she didn’t move away, and he was finally able to reach her, pressing one fingertip against the warm skin of her wrist. That was enough.

Entering the Paths was always an experience of its own, the way reality disappeared around you and was replaced with an endless plain of sand, with a massive glowing crystal tree in the middle of it all, so titanic that the branches disappeared into the sky. It was not a scenery that one could forget, and it must have been even more impressive for Mikasa since she was here for the first time. And rudely abducted without any warning, mind you.

“Eren? Where are we?”, grey eyes darting left and right, she was taking the whole thing in at once, and he could only guess what was going on behind those orbs.

“Don’t panic.”, reaching out, Eren put a hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her, “We are in the…”

“Paths.”, she finished for him, “I see. Impressive.”

“How did you know?”

“A guess. You described it pretty well when you were being interrogated.”, Mikasa moved, slowly coming over to the tree, eyes full of its magnificent light. “It’s beautiful here.”

As she was out of his grasp now, Eren put his hands in his pocket, following her at a leisurely pace, feeling a bit as a kid showing off his new toy to a friend. She was the first one he took here, and maybe even the only one because there was something intimate about this as if the Paths were a part of him now, and Eren wasn’t sure if he was ready to share it with anyone else but her.

“So the founder was here?”, she asked, eyes still trained on the shining column.

“Ymir? Yes.”

“And where is she now?”

“Gone. After I took her power her body simply…dissolved into the sand.”, Eren sighed, remembering the moment, “It wasn’t her anyway, not really, the girl’s mind was long gone, what was left behind was the body and power, fueled by will. Nothing more.”

By will and Zeke’s commands, he could add, but it wasn’t easy to talk about his brother. When his plan failed, Zeke just sort of shut down, became crestfallen and wouldn’t talk to anyone. He was detained right now, somewhere below ground, and Eren was not allowed to see him, a ban that made perfect sense.

“Since the founder is here no longer, does that mean that all this is yours?”, Mikasa asked, finally tearing her gaze away from the tree to look at him.

Eren shrugged.

“I guess. No one else has come to claim it.”

“And what can you do?”

“Honestly, I have no idea.”, coming to stand next to her, he put a hand on the tree, feeling the warm rush of energy inside it, “I can travel through memories, but that’s not all. When I’m here, touching the crystal like this, I can alter things, things about us, Eldians.”

“Like removing the titan time limit?”, she suggested.

“Yes, but that’s not all. When Zeke was here, he wanted the founder to take away our ability to have children. Now when I have the power, does that mean that I can do things like that too? Make us immortal? Immune to disease? Make everyone sprout wings?”, with a laugh, Eren shook his head, taking a step back away from the crystal tree and its temptations, “I’d never guess that those would be the questions I’d be asking myself in the future. Those are things that god is supposed to be solving not me.”

Looking away from the lights, he focused his eyes on Mikasa.

“I’m no god, I’m just Eren.”

Smiling, she mirrored him, coming to stand next to him in front of the giant structure.

“So, just Eren, why did you bring me here in the first place?”

“I…uh… wanted to talk?”

“Talk?”, it was kind of obvious that she didn’t buy that, the smile that curved her lips rather mocking, “That’s it?”

“That, and the meeting was boring, so I figured we could pass the time in some other way.”

“How does it work anyway, the time here.”

“It’s irrelevant as long as we are in the Paths. I can make it flow as fast or slow as I want to for us. Or stop it entirely.”, he grinned, “Right now, it’s the same speed that the normal world, which means that every second here is a second that I won’t have to sit on that meeting.”

“You rudely pull me out of an important meeting into your own private dimension just so we can have a chat.”, Mikasa shook her head, “Sounds like someone is developing quite a god complex, no matter what he says.”

“Is that so…”, taking her hand into his, Eren pulled her closer until their bodies were pressed right against each other, looking down at her from his taller perspective, “What if I told you that maybe I had something else in mind when I brought you here.”

“Well that would be even worse,”, smirking up at him, Mikasa didn’t seem shaken by his sudden aggressiveness, “and as your direct superior I must remind you that it is fully within my power to have you punished for such indiscretion.”

“What kind of punishment do you have in mind?”

“I’ll think of something.”, she whispered, head tilting back almost automatically as the distance between their faces kept growing smaller and smaller.

“If you think that bringing you here was rude,”, Eren muttered, going in for the kill, “you’re going to hate this.”

And he kissed her.

Scarf, uniform, pants, everything was falling from them in irregular intervals, littering the endless sands of the Paths. She was so beautiful, in the ethereal light of the crystal, and when Eren told her so the blush that spread across Mikasa’s cheeks made her perfect pale skin stand out even more, although he wasn’t given much time to admire it, as she pulled him back down for another kiss. She tried to have more control over what was happening, but Eren was like a storm, and before she realized it they were both completely naked with Mikasa’s back pressed against the smooth warm crystal tree, Eren hoisting her up so she can wrap her legs around his hips. When he entered her, the moan that the penetration tore from her throat was shameful, enough that she covered her mouth with a hand, but he wouldn’t let that stand. Holding her up with one hand, a proof of his impressive strength, he gently pulled her improvised cover away, breathing heavily.

“Don’t need to be silent. We are alone here.”, his eyes were like green embers, burning into her just as his touch seemed to burn her skin, “I want to hear you.”

“Okay… Okay…”, putting her hands to work elsewhere then, she wrapped them around his neck, bringing their bodies as close together as possible, and hissing into his ear, “You want to hear me? Move then.”

And he did, he moved in slow and powerful thrusts, making her increasingly more sweaty back glide up and down on the crystal, which was pulsing with energy in sync with Eren’s movements. Somehow, the Paths were now connected to his mind and seemed to react to whatever he did. With the pulsing growing stronger and stronger, more frequent, the sky above their heads darkening, Mikasa could clearly deduce that he was close, but still her world was the first one that went white, and she rewarded Eren’s efforts with as many sounds as she could produce, since he was so keen on hearing them. And after they were both done and spent, he gently lowered her to the ground, but Mikasa’s legs gave out from under her and they ended up laying on the sand, watching the sky that was slowly brightening again. The crystal tree was also looking as tired as a tree made of crystal can look, the light inside it dim.

“You know what?”, Eren finally said, turning his head to look at her, “I don’t mind this kind of punishment.”

She grinned, swatting his shoulder, but he caught her hand, kissing the tattoo in her wrist instead.

“I feel like we horribly misused this place.”, she pointed out, “Using Paths as a safe place to fuck ..…”

Mikasa usually didn’t talk dirty, so this easy use of swearword suggested that she was still riding high on the afterglow.

“Got to say, I still prefer the bed in your quarters. I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere."

“Good thing that we are not here physically then.”, Eren offered, “Don’t have to deal with it when we get out.”

“I guess then it's about time we head out?”

“Yeah.”, squeezing her hand, Eren offered her a last grin, “Good talk.”

Returning into your body from the Paths was a bit less pleasurable. Sure, the sand didn’t carry over, but the products of her body, both sweat and the mess that she now had in her pants, did, making the last few minutes of Historia’s closing speech rather interesting. Not mentioning that Mikasa felt like she ran a few miles, and her legs were still weak. Next to her, Eren must have also arrived at a similar conclusion, but all he could offer was an apologetic shrug.

“We are not doing this again.”, she hissed his way, when the queen ended the meeting and everyone was standing up, masking her voice with the sound of scraping chairs.

“Never?”, he asked, all innocent all of a sudden.

And when she thought about it…. Yes, she had to get a change of underwear and yes, her skin was clammy, but hell, it was so worth it. So, making a decision, she leaned closer, whispering right into Eren’s ear.

“Only until the next boring meeting.”

#eremika #em #fanfic #snk #aot #prompt fill #kinda smut O_O

[winterlamb]

about the moon

well i guess i write fanfiction now

ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/21081752 

summary:  the growth and eventual ebb of an obsessive crush leading to the realization of what love really is. a little thing that incorporates my personal experience with crushes vs love. based loosely on my sad high school experience.

He was perfect in an unattainable way. The kind of crush that makes you feel like you’re flying when you’re with them but fills you with hopelessness as soon as you step away. The sort of person that makes you make up reasons for them to notice you when deep down, you know that there are none. He was the guy that made her count the petals on flowers and pretend the littlest of his actions meant something (they never did). It hurt her, but she loved to love him. So she did this for years. She devoted so much of her time and attention to this one boy. The boy with the shy smile and hair like the morning sun, with the soft voice and the sad, beautiful eyes. Loving him was like looking at a fire at nighttime. Even though it blinds you, you find it hard to look away. You look into the flames and you think you could sit still and watch them dance forever…

In freshman year, she’d tripped in gym class and had found herself sprawled on the hard floor in front of him. She’d felt the flames on her cheeks burn so hot, she’d thought she could melt the wax right off the polished wood flooring. Some of her classmates had laughed and to her complete embarrassment, she’d started to tear up. But he hadn’t laughed. He’d asked if she was okay and helped her up, and when she had looked into his clear green eyes and told him she was better than okay, she’d meant it. He had offered to take her to the school nurse and she’d leaned on him the whole way. The nurse had told her she’d twisted her ankle and Marinette had spent the next two weeks on crutches. She hadn’t focused too much on the gentle boy with much darker hair who loved music and the colour blue, the boy who had carried her books for her every day during those two weeks, who had opened all her doors, helped her sit down, and steadied her whenever she stumbled. Instead she’d just stared at her crush, so enamored with her sun ray of a boy that she didn’t even notice how beautiful the night sky could be.

In sophomore year, she had snagged the locker adjacent to her perfect crush. This year, she’d thought. This year we’ll become good friends. And they would have, but she’d wanted so badly for him to think highly of her that when she spoke to him, nothing coherent came out. She had spent that entire year stressed out over every interaction she had with him. She thought about him so much that she barely noticed how the other boy had climbed the stairs to where her locker was and waited to eat lunch with her every single day, how he would patiently stand there with his guitar, watching with his heart in a neat little knot, saving the conversation if needed. His hair had bright blue streaks now, but he doubted it was anywhere as bright as the hair that belonged to the boy he wished he could be (if only for her).

It was junior year when she started to lose hope. Surely if Adrien liked her that way, he’d have done something about it? She became insecure. Was something wrong with her? I’m ugly, she thought. Why would he want me? She changed her clothes, she changed her hair, she wondered if she could try on different personalities too. Her friends were all worried about her. You’re gorgeous already, they told her, but she didn’t think so. If you feel like you have to change for him, then he’s not worth it, they said, but she didn’t believe them.

Then the day came when Adrien, her perfect, beautiful boy, wasn’t single anymore. She had cried for hours in the arms of a blue-haired boy who hid his pain for both her and himself, and comforted her with the sweetest of words. He played his heart song for her that day, and they both cried to it for different reasons that were all too similar.

It was senior year when she became more independent. She grew up a bit. She found herself in her art, sketching up wondrous designs and sewing her soul fervently into all sorts of fabrics. That year, she created some of her favorite pieces, and she showed them all proudly to the quiet boy who loved music, the boy who had always been one of her best of friends. She spent more time with him and her other friends, and discovered the value in all the little things she had missed while she was lusting after an unrequited crush. One day, she took a deep breath and spoke in full sentences to him, the boy that was once her sun, and realized that he was just a guy. A kind of dorky guy who really liked physics, of all things. She put away his schedule that she had hidden away in her room. His pictures took up too much space on her phone, so she deleted them. She stopped waiting around spots she knew he’d be in. She prioritized herself, her family, and her friends for the first time in a very long time, and if you ask her now, she’ll fondly tell you that it was like opening your eyes in our world after living in a black and white one for years.

It was in early June on the floor of his room when Luka finally played her heart song for her. The guitar was a deep dusty blue, a sort of boring colour, but she remembers that it shone with a subtle pearlescent glow, as if it knew of hundreds of valuable secrets. She listened with her eyes closed and the melody was green, fresh like the grass in the yard outside the open window. Her heart song smelled like new beginnings, tasted like orange juice, and felt like the soft down of a newly fledged bird. And she reveled in it. When it was over, she opened her eyes and looked at him, really looked at him, and her heart skipped a beat. It was then that she realized she had never been in love before.

But oh, she was in love with him. The patient, quiet boy, who let her choose, who would always be there to catch her, the boy who knew her soul well and whose soul she knew well too. She thought that maybe she always had been.

–

A few months later and she’s wrapped up in the arms of her lover.

I’m going to tell him, she says to a mop of blue hair.

Tell Adrien?

Yeah. I think it’ll be good closure, y'know?

Well, if it’s what you want, go for it. I’m here for you.

She smiled.

You always are.

So she told the boy she had once cared so much about that she’d crushed on him all throughout high school, and got an “oh I had no idea, I’m so sorry but I just didn’t think of you that way” sort of cookie cutter reply. She shrugged and told him that it was okay. And for once, it really was.

–

The moon doesn’t go away when the sun is out. Sometimes, if you look for it, you can see it in broad daylight, its features just a muted pale blue against the brightness of the sky. Even at nighttime, when it’s at its full brightness, it doesn’t blind you when you look at it - something about its glow is comforting, in that you know you can stare at its beauty for hours on end without consequences. It’s a brilliant light, but so unlike campfires or the sun. It’s a steady companion, quiet and patient. And it knows your heart song.

#miraculous ladybug #lukanette #uh oh we writin #rubbishwrites #if the break doesnt exist its not my fault #i tried my best but tumblydotcom does not want to cooperate with me

[dyadsaber]

Part 6 of A New Reylo Reads TFA: In Which a Dyad In the Force Has One of the Neatest Looking Lightsaber Battles I’ve Ever Seen and I Finally Get to the End of This Novelization

Previous parts in my dyadsaber text posts tag. 

I came out of the theater the first time LOVING the Rey and Finn vs Kylo in the snow as Starkiller Base falls apart around them scene.  Unless I’m completely forgetting something, we’d never seen a red vs blue lightsaber fight in SNOW before, and I thought it was GORGEOUS. (I know Luke uses his on Hoth, but the Wampa doesn’t have one too, so it doesn’t count.) I just watched the whole sequence again on youtube, you know, for research reasons, and I still love it just as much as I did the first time. (Maybe more?) 

Anyway… here’s my rundown of that scene from the novel: 

First of all, I HAVE QUESTIONS about which side of the Force Rey is drawing on here. TLJ kind of touches on the fact that Rey doesn’t have the “OMG the dark side is ALWAYS EVIL” indoctrination that kids at the Jedi temple (and Luke) would have gotten, and the number of times she’s described as drawing on anger and fury here made sit up and pay attention.

When Rey’s about to shoot Kylo and he freezes her with the Force, we get this: 

“She strained against him, HER ANGER GIVING HER STRENGTH. But she couldn’t fire. He was struggling also, against her newly discovered ability” 

Sure, she’s not able to break free, but he’s been using the Dark Side for a touch longer than she has. Not saying she is for sure, here, but I think it’s one possible reading supported by the text. (Hi I teach English just in case I haven’t said that yet). Personally, I think she was. I also think BOTH of the “sides of the Force” are both amoral and necessary, and drawing on the Dark Side out of anger and desperation isn’t always a sure path to Sith-dom.  

Finn igniting Anakin’s lightsaber is still a moment that makes me love him… he’s ready to defend his knocked-against-a-tree friend with WHATEVER HE HAS, even if it’s a weapon he’s never used before and doesn’t quite understand, and that is sweet and good and loyal, and it endeared Finn to me A LOT.  I remember that when Finn turned it on and stood there in that blue glow in the theater, we ALL gasped.  I don’t remember if it had been in promo material or not, but seeing it on the big screen was… An Experience.

ANYWAY, after Finn does the awesome thing he does, Kylo has a line I’m really glad they cut. After the “That weapon is mine” exchange, we get…

Drawing himself up, a towering figure in the snow, Ren did not even bother to gesture. “I’m going to kill you for it.” 

I mean… he almost DOES (kill Finn, that is) but announcing it is a little too MWAHAHAHA villain for my taste, and I’m glad they let him speak with actions rather than words here in the film. 

So… one of the fun things about all of a sudden caring a WHOLE lot more about Kylo Ren is that I’ve gotten to fully appreciate how incredibly good Adam Driver is at the physicality of this character.  (And by that I mean “I’ve watched a lot of behind the scenes clips and stared at gifs a lot.) It’s just FUN to watch him fight, so this description from Finn’s PoV made me smile. 

The longer the contest continued, the stronger Ren seemed to become. It was as if he was enjoying the challenge. Feeding upon it.

Upon reflection, I know exactly why I love this. It reminded me SO HARD of Jaime Lannister, another pretty terrible (and just plain pretty) fictional character I would get in fights defending. I just like secretly morally conflicted dudes who swing swords, know how good they are, and are kind of assholes about it, ok? 

Give me ALL of the confident, arrogant, Kylo Ren fights.  (Fic recs always welcome. Like I said, I’m new here.) 

This next bit made me wonder about how the “fighting over an object with the Force” thing works. Because this is the FIRST time we see the dyad both try to summon that lightsaber at the same time: 

Ren extended an arm toward the device lying in the snow. It twitched and then began to vibrate as the Force called to it.

But… it doesn’t explode. And this made me wonder, “Why NOT? What was different?” 

Here’s what I’ve got. 

Maybe it went to Rey because she started trying to call it first. So even if he had more experience and wouldn’t have had to try as hard as she (probably) did since it was her first time, the Force… recognized her prior claim? Also I think what happens in TLJ is that the two of them “reach” for the lightsaber at the exact same moment, and so there IS no prior claim, and so they have to duke it out with raw strength, which goes about how you’d expect when they’re equals.  

That still doesn’t explain what happens with the ship in the desert in TRoS though…  Rey definitely reached for it first.  But also, unlike a lightsaber, the ship had ENGINES that were trying to work against her. That might be an explanation.  I wonder exactly what Kylo was trying to do there, anyway… help it break atmosphere like it was trying to do anyway, I’ve always assumed.  So if I’m right, that would make the scene make more sense, and it would mean the rules are: (I’m sure I’m proved wrong a million times in media I haven’t seen yet, but here we go)

A stationary object will usually go to the first Force user who calls it. 

A stationary object will go to the Force user who is “stronger” in the moment if they call it at the same time, (and in the absence of a clear winner, explode?).

A moving object that whose direction the Force user is trying to change will be more resistant and tends to negate #1. 

The confidence/willpower of a Force user (and size of an object only insofar as that affect confidence) is a variable that probably throws a wrench in all three of these. 

Dyads facing off probably screw with the normal course of things, too.

Thank you for coming to this episode of “I need my media to make sense and spend way too much time trying to make it do so.” 

And then… Kylo Ren sees Rey….

“It is you,” Ren murmured. His words unsettled her: Not for the first time, he seemed to know more about her than she did about herself.

He doesn’t say this in the movie. He doesn’t say anything when he sees her, I don’t think.  But when I read this… my heart stopped a little. 

This isn’t what you say to the random girl you met in the woods and who you think has the map to Uncle Luke, even if she is Force Sensitive as Hell.  

This is what you say to a girl you suddenly realize you’ve seen in that place between asleep and awake for most of your life, a girl that you’ve always been subconsciously aware of. This is what you say because you’re beginning to understand that the scavenger you brought on board and this girl you’re just now remembering clearly for the fist time are THE SAME PERSON and she is VERY connected to you.  

What I’m saying is… Ben has been aware of Rey for YEARS without realizing it, and this line FITS THAT THEORY. 

And then they fight. And it gets REALLY interesting. 

Expecting weakness, he encountered only strength. Her skill with the device was raw at best, but it was backed by a fury that was as new to his experience as it was unexpected.

Example #2 of Rey’s maybe-Dark-Side-Use.  The paragraph leading up to this talks about her being “consumed with rage,” and I can hear every (ok, almost every) Jedi master in history talking about how letting anger fuel your use of the Force is a no-no, so I don’t think I’m grasping at straws here. Poor Kylo. He didn’t stand a chance. Angry, “possibly using the Dark side without knowing it” Rey is unexpected and kinda hot, OK???

Flipping away from the Starkilling Snow Fight for a moment, there’s a line of Snoke’s that he does NOT get to say in the movie when he tells Hux to abandon ship and come to him with Kylo Ren. 

He added grimly, “It appears that he may have been right about the girl.”

I. Have. Questions. Did Snoke not BELIEVE Kylo when he flat out said she was a REALLY STRONG untrained Force User? Did he not know who Rey was (Palpatine’s granddaughter)? What does this tell us about Snoke’s independence from Palpatine? (Something I’m still not clear on.) The easiest answer is, “You’re thinking about this too much, Dyadsaber.  No one at DLF knew that Palpatine was going to come back yet when TFA was written, so no one worried about it.” 

BUT I NEED IT TO MAKE SENSE. SO, I’ve decided that Snoke didn’t understand how much of a pawn he was. He probably thought he was Palpatine’s heir or disciple or whatever Grandpa Palps convinced him he was.  Anyway, this would mean that Palpatine could give him a lot of autonomy and agency, especially when it came to corrupting Ben, while still keeping a close eye on Snoke through the Force so he could intervene when he had to. If anything in official material contradicts me, I’d love to know. 

And now for a bit that made me scream a Shakespeare line at my kindle. At one point, the narrator observes,  

What she lacked in mass, she made up for in ferocity.

This is basically a less poetic "Though she be but little, she is fierce," AND I LOVE IT. Someone who’s crafty needs to cross stitch this under Rey’s silhouette or something. 

More lines they probably cut for time, but are really telling.  When he’s got her backed up to that cliff: 

Ren held his lightsaber, poised to strike. “I could kill you right now. But there is another way.” Breathing hard, Rey looked up in disgust at the man looming above her. “You’re a monster.”

Again with the threatening to kill people.  Jeez, Kylo. WE KNOW. Seriously, though, I love this. It’s so HIM that he wants her to know he had the advantage and chose not to press it. It says a lot about how he wants to present himself and his intentions to her. As he does in the throne room later, he wants her to give her a choice, and for her to CHOOSE him. 

Also, I can feel TLJ Rey’s MURDEROUS SNAKE energy radiating off of that “you’re a monster” line. 

And instead of being DETERRED by her insult, he comes back with THIS… 

“No. You need a teacher.” He was beseeching and insistent all at once. “I can show you the ways of the Force!”

“Yeah, I know you just called me a monster, but wanna be my student instead?” The arrogance and presumption of this bit of novel-Kylo is SO VERY HIM. Also, “Beseeching but insistent” is so on brand for him when it comes to her.

And the last thing I marked from the fight was THIS bombshell that doesn’t quite come across as obviously (if at all) on screen. Rey has him on the ground, face bleeding, and…

Kill him, a voice inside her head said. It was amorphous, unidentifiable, raw. Pure vengeful emotion. So easy, she told herself. So quick. She recoiled from it. From the dark side.

I mean, if you read between the lines, Rey’s been drawing on the Dark Side without realizing it for a while now. It’s understandable.  She’s seething with pain and anger and a desire to avenge Han, but there’s a difference between using that anger to defend herself or try to just GET AWAY from Kylo, which one could argue is mostly what she’s been doing, and killing him when he’s bleeding on the ground.   

And she doesn’t do it.  TAKE THAT, TLJ LUKE (Note: I love TLJ Luke. I just also love yelling at him).  Rey has a CLASSIC opportunity to make a choice that would send her down a truly Dark Side path - striking down an unarmed enemy in anger - AND SHE DOESN’T DO IT. She RECOILS. (And then Starkiller takes the choice away from both of them by literally crumbling away and leaving a chasm between them.  If I believed the Force was sentient, this would be a moment where it was saying, “You children are not ready to play nice, and I don’t want to kill each other, so you I’m going to separate you.”) 

And that’s that. The next time they see each other, they’re Forcetiming, and I cannot WAIT to read how that goes in the TLJ novel. 

Some last thoughts: 

Because it would have been hilarious, I’m sad we didn’t the fact that Hux...

followed the troopers carrying Ren into the nearby shuttle.

CARRYING. REN. We were robbed of two (four?) poor storm troopers trying to carry gangly, bleeding, passed out Kylo. I am OFFENDED.

Right before Rey leaves for Ahch-to, she and Leia have THIS fascinating exchange…

“I’m proud of what you’re about to do,” she told the girl. 

Rey replied in all seriousness. “But you’re also afraid. In sending me away, you’re—reminded.” 

Leia straightened. “You won’t share the fate of our son.” 

“I know what we’re doing is right. This is how it has to be. This is how it should be.”

I REALLY wish they’d left this in.  I like that it makes explicit that this is the second time Leia has sent a Force user she cares about to Luke, and that choice WEIGHS on her.  (And this shows how much she already cares about Rey, too… MY HEART.) 

The fact that Rey is perceptive enough to PICK UP ON Leia’s concern, and that Leia reassures BOTH OF THEM that what Ben won’t happen to Rey just makes me love both of these characters so much. Also, I think Leia’s worry and Rey’s conviction sets up the conflict Rey has within herself and her own journey with coming to understand balance in TLJ nicely. She’s just… so confident and cheerful in that last line, and I know what’s coming, and it hurts so good. 

And finally, the last line of this book made me laugh out loud. She’s standing in front of Luke, holding out the lightsaber, and....

She wondered what would happen next.

Luke's gonna yeet that lightsaber.  That’s what.

If you read all of these, thank you.  I’d love to know what you think. I never meant for this to get so long, but I’m wordy and newly shippy, so I shouldn’t have been surprised.  Stay tuned for hopefully shorter posts as I dive into Last Jedi in a day or two.

#dyadsaber text posts #reylo #tfa novelization #the force awakens novelization

[fictioninmyblood]

Protector of Her Heart

Chapter Six

Note: I apologize for how long it has been since I’ve updated this fic (If anybody is even reading this). I hope you like it. Constructive criticism welcome :)

Summary: Elinora is an empath’s version of Professor X, only a lot more powerful. She is an enhanced human with the ability to read the world’s emotions. Nick Fury has welcomed her into the fold, but with a fear of herself she has been quite reserved. A forced bonding night with the newly discovered Wakandan royalty brings her out of the shadows of fear and into the light of lust.

Warning: language/smut, 18+

intle yam entle - my beautiful flower

Omncinci - little one

sithandwa sam - my love

Previous Chapter

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M’Baku may have looked calm, but internally he was burning with not only his desire, but hers as well. Nora may have seen his move to the bathroom as torture but he was saving them both from bursting into flames from the fire currently pulsing in his veins. He’d felt lust and desire before, but never to this extent.

It was Nora. Whatever sexual cravings she had were breaking out of her self imposed jail, and it was mixing with his own. He felt otherworldly with how it was affecting him, like Hanuman himself had come down and taken the reins of his libido. He had to get control over himself or he was going to scare her.

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

After a long cold shower he sauntered back out in nothing but a pair of black silk pajama bottoms that hung low enough to reignite whatever emotions Nora had momentarily pushed back down. M’Baku was suddenly thankful for T'Challa's recommendation for sleepwear as it worked in his favor, semi hiding his arousal and igniting hers.

Getting back into position at the apex of her thighs he sighed into her, his breath ensuring that she was in a state of awareness. “Are you ready to stop trying to control the situation and give yourself over?”

Fed up with his teasing, she let out a growl, “Would you just shut up M’Baku?! I need to cum so stop dicking around unless you intend to do so inside of me!” Nora barked back in frustration. “Just fucking uncuff me and make me cum!”

M’Baku let out a deep belly laugh. “That does not answer my question, but I rather like your answer,” M’Baku said with amusement lacing his voice. Checking the tightness of the cuffs,“I think I rather like having you in the cuffs, it ensures that the running issue you seem to have, won’t be a problem. However, you get distracted too easily so I am adding the blindfold and the only thing keeping me from gagging those beautiful lips is the fact that this is our first time together and I want to hear you scream. But make no mistake, that little outburst of yours will cost you.” He got off the bed to get a piece of leather from his traditional cloths, coming back to wrap it around her eyes gently, a misleading action to throw her off.

And that it did.

Nora was not prepared for the immediate onslaught to her pussy. In a swift motion he had her legs on his shoulders, ass molded to his hands to push her further into his face, and ate her like a starved man. He licked from her weeping hole to her pulsing clit in a figure eight motion. Everytime he worked his way back up to her clit, he flattened his tongue so that he could ease just the tip in, creating an indescribable sensation that seemed to take her by surprise each time despite his steady pace. She didn’t know how long he had been patiently repeating those simple motions, but he did not stop until she was cumming, his dedication to her pleasure setting her off. After that it was easy for him to pull one right after the other, prolonging each orgasm long enough to create a new, more powerful one each time. By the time he engulfed her clit and lapped up her nectar at the same time, she was unable to stop her screeches of pleasure.

He had broken her dam.

When she finished her third orgasm brought on by only his mouth he switched things up by focusing his tongue on her clit in a fast paced flicking motion. Inserting his forefinger and middle finger, he heightened the experience by contradicting his tongue with a slow come hither motion. Pulling away, he replaced his tongue with his thumb and held her writhing body down with his left forearm.

“Look at you opening up for me, intle yam entle. And your juices, mmmm, I could feast on you for an eternity and never yearn for another drink or morsel. Do you have one more in you? For me?”

Nora was so far gone into the web of pleasure that he had created that all she could do was hum in response.

“That is not an answer love, I need words.”

After another nonsensical moan he realized that she needed to be grounded in the moment again so he slid off the blindfold, uncuffed her hands, rubbing her wrists to increase the circulation, and grabbed her jaw.

Pulling her closer with his other hand on the small of her back, he gazed directly into those beautiful chestnut eyes, whispering, “look at me omncinci,” so low he thought she didn’t hear him until her glazed expression became a little more focused.

“I need you to cum just one more time for me and then I promise you can go to sleep. Do you think you can handle that sithandwa sam?

Not trusting her voice, Nora hummed her assent, nodding when a low growl started to spread from M’Baku’s chest to her own.

Accepting that he was going to get nothing more from her, M’Baku went back to work on dripping flower. His mouth found its way back to her clit like a magnet and his fingers found a new sensitive spot when he curled his fingers deeper.

Nora was in a cloud of bliss she had never experienced before. She briefly took note that she could feel no emotion other than ecstasy before M’Baku added a third finger, pulling her back into the cocoon of pleasure he had created just for her. It took what seemed like no time for her orgasm to build, but it’s intensity felt off to her.

She felt full. Really full.

Suddenly feeling the urge to pee, she started beating at M’Baku’s shoulders in an attempt to get him to slow down or stop. Unfortunately he barely registered her weakened blows and before she could verbally warn him that he was about to be drenched, her orgasm tore through her like a hurricane. In succession, her eyes rolled to the back of  her head, she dug her nails into M’Baku’s shoulders, and her body violently spasmed.

M’Baku was slightly caught by surprise when Nora squirted all over his beard and chest, but quickly latched his entire mouth around her pussy, drinking down the last of her juices. He growled into her pussy in an attempt to calm the insistent need to claim and mark Nora.

Rubbing soothing circles on her thighs until she came down from her high, M’Baku was able to study Nora. From their short time together, he had come to the conclusion that she was never this relaxed, so he took this time to admire this gem of a moment. When he saw that she was starting to come back to Earth, he started a bath for them, adding soothing bath salts and essential oils that he brought from home.

By the time Nora fully came down from her high she felt like jello. Before she could muster up the strength to move towards the bathroom, M’Baku had scooped her into his arms carrying her to the bathroom. Sitting her on the countertop, he stripped her out of his shirt, catching his first glance at her full naked form.

M’Baku couldn’t help but be enraptured by Nora’s glistening form. She looked like a goddess to him, her post-coital hair sticking to her glistening skin that smelled of sweat and sex, curves begging to be explored. Stuck in a state of awe, he couldn’t help but caress her smooth skin for a minute or two, taking in her expressions and body movements when he would touch a certain spot. If she didn’t look like she was about to pass out, he would’ve given in to his need to devour her again.

Nora was grateful for the exhaustion that had taken over, it helped her not dwell on how adoringly M’Baku was looking at her. It was like he was searching for the pieces of her soul that were buried deep down, the pieces that she shared with no one. It made her horny and anxious at the same time, which was not the best of feelings. Thankfully he provided the perfect distraction when he started stripping in front of her, keeping eye contact with that same invasive look.

By the time M’Baku was done disrobing, Nora was just as enchanted with M’Baku as he was with her.

--------

After their bath, which consisted of M’Baku carefully washing her and praising her, he dried and lotioned them both, opting to stay naked with her as long as possible.

Nora had been struggling to stay awake since M’Baku had started taking care of her so it was no surprise that she had fallen asleep when he put her in the reading chair while he changed the sheets. She startled awake when he lifted her back into his arms.

Yawning, she said, “You sure have an affinity for picking up extremely heavy things, don’t be mad when your arms hurt tomorrow.”

M’Baku grunted at her, not liking that she was trying to make fun of herself. After he got them settled under the covers facing each other, he said, “You are as light as your beautiful soul little one. You will never be too heavy for me.”

She shook her head and geared herself up to correct him when he pulled her flush against him to devour her mouth, consuming all of her protest.

When M’Baku felt her melt into him fully, he pulled his face away to look her in the eyes. “You are mine, and everything that is mine is blessed by Hanuman himself, including you. No more talking about yourself negatively.”

He pecked her lips with finality, signaling the end of the conversation. “Sleep on top of me?,” he asked as he moved her right thigh over his hips, maneuvering her into the desired position.

“I guess so,” Nora whispered before laying her head on his shoulder. His natural earthy tones mixed with whatever he used to moisturize calmed her into the most peaceful sleep she’d ever had.

M’Baku watched her body relax into slumber for a few minutes before he drifted as well.

Chapter Seven

#protector of her heart #mbaku fanfiction #black panther fanfiction #avengers fanfiction

[silverflintdaily]

ARTIST CLAIMS ARE NOW OPEN!

Please read all the summaries below the cut and fill out the form with your top 5 picks.  If you have questions about some of these fics before signing up and want us to follow up with the authors, please send us an ask or shoot Mel an email.  SUBMIT CLAIMS BY APRIL 25  - artist claim form here

1. running is a victory Skeleton Island holds the greatest and most ancient treasure the world’s ever known—not that anyone’s ever actually seen it before. Captain Flint and his crew sail through treacherous seas full of English ships, freak storms, and at least one large monster lurking in the deep, desperate to find the island and obtain the Urca gold. That all seems simple compared to dealing with the charming yet duplicitous John Silver and the alleged Urca curse. [Black Sails meets Pirates of the Caribbean!] 2. A Ship is a Republic Flint and Silver train relentlessly on the cliffs of Maroon Island. Silver begins to realise how much he enjoys obeying Flint's instructions. Swordplay gives way to foreplay. 3. Elijah's Violin "A mage, a sorcerer, and a warlock walk into my bar,” says a woman behind the counter. “Have you heard this one before?”

The city of Venice is in turmoil: someone has been turning people to stone. Years after the events that landed them both in hot water and separated them, Flint and Silver are thrown together to solve a dangerous magical mystery. They are joined on their mission by Thomas (who may or may not have a pet Hellhound). The three magicians must work together (and try not to kill each other) before the Carnival of Venice devours them as well. 4. title tbd Or, James Flint, state park employee and firebrand, discovers that someone who broke his heart is back in his life, and that someone is miserable. That this someone is miserable makes James Flint very happy! Except for how it really does not make him happy, whoops. Modern au, angst, slow burn, mutual pining, happy ending. 5.  Don't Say I Didn't Warn Ya John's a drag king, making friends with Thomas and his drag queen troupe. They all perform at the bar that Flint and Gates own and run together - The Frigate.

Trans!Silver, Poly!Flint. ships: silverflint, established flintgates & flinthamilton, possible eventual silverflinthamilton (if I have it in me to write that far) 6.  call to war When the Maroon Queen gets a letter from Woodes Rogers indicating that Madi is alive, she makes the executive decision to have Flint rescue her without telling Silver. When Flint does find Madi, she tells him not to tell Silver she is alive--so that he will want to continue to fight the war he so desperately hates, all so Madi's "death" wasn't for nothing. Against his own judgment, Flint agrees, leading to a series of events that spiral out of control, bringing Flint and Silver closer together, even as Flint is wracked with guilt over his deceit. A s4 canon divergence, heavily focused on Madi, Flint and Silver, as well as the Maroons.

7.  the life that we chose All of Silver's schemes and machinations screech to a halt when he locks eyes with Captain Flint across the deck of the Walrus and the world explodes into color. Flint's cold and indifferent behavior towards him in the weeks that follow makes no sense until he learns that the captain first saw colors ten years ago, in London.

(Flint's been able to see color since he first met Thomas, it's true, but - has Billy always had blue eyes? Was the spine on that book always such a deep green?)

note for artist claims: silverflint au where when you meet your soulmate you can see color. thomas and silver are both flint's soulmate: he saw most colors when he met thomas, but once he meets silver he can finally see the full spectrum. of course he doesn't realize this because ANGST 8. To Be Rid of Temptation “What would you suggest we do instead, then?”

Maybe it was the way he said it, the way Flint was sitting with his knees sprawled out, or the secrets he guarded so closely; Silver didn’t know what it was, but somebody’s Devil took ahold of his tongue then and he said, “I think we should fuck.”

Set around the start of season 3, *spoilers* they do fuck. 9. Chasing Sea Foam Once upon a time, there was a pirate Captain whose moods controlled the seas and whose grief over his missing Lord drove him to wreak havoc in the West Indies.

Once upon a time, there was a merperson who saved the pirate Captain from drowning and who longed to be a part of his world. One day he was faced with a terrible decision: to see his Captain bring death and destruction onto the world and himself, or to stop him and reunite him with his missing Lord. The merperson made his choice and disappeared into the sea.

Years after his Happily Ever After, Flint sets out to find answers about Silver guided only by tall tales and a longing in his heart.

supernatural AU (not a Supernatural the show AU, it just has supernatural elements), features Flint/Thomas and Silver/Flint/Thomas as secondary ships, and past Silver/Madi)

10.  the long waves crawl Nassau sang with magic in a way that Silver hadn’t felt since his childhood, not unlike the hazy memories of a tiny house crowded with herbs and all sorts of books that smelled of cedar smoke and sage.

Only here he was not hidden, nor was he safe. He darted through the streets, avoiding the hungry looks that other magic users gave him. Felt their eyes on his skin and knew they could smell the magic in his blood.

In which Silver is a witch, and in an already complicated world magic is a dangerous thing. 11. Fire Light Silver is a new University professor who starts his job by stealing research out from under Flint’s nose. To get access to the research, Flint steals Silver.

12. Birds Of A Feather A Black Sails/Pride and Prejudice crossover, featuring John Silver as a victim of Mrs Bennet's match making escapades and James McGraw as a lieutenant on sick leave who just wants some peace and quiet.

13. the whole estate of mortal man Silver has a limited memory, an unlimited lifespan, and a need for human souls. He spends four seasons trying to buy Flint's.

14. "On the Banks of the Lethe" Waking after a head injury with no memory of the past two years, Flint finds himself a stranger in a strange land. Faced with the politics of a war he doesn’t remember, and a Walrus crew he hardly recognizes, Flint must reconcile what he knows with what has transpired: Gates’ betrayal; the discovery of the Urca gold; the aftermath of Charles Town. All preceded by the rise of a quartermaster he doesn’t trust—a quartermaster he only knows to be a liar and a thief. Uncertain of his newfound loyalties, Flint suddenly finds himself standing in the shadow of a monster of his own inadvertent making: Long John Silver, Nassau’s newly christened Pirate King.

Amnesia!fic. Set right before Season 4. Angst. Confusion. Gross abuse of tropes. Stupid men in love (even if one doesn’t quite remember). AKA: What if Season 1 James Flint met Season 4 John Silver.

15. a beautiful, sinuous thing; a terrible, treacherous thing Driven by grief, James Flint leaves the city behind to become the caretaker of a lighthouse in a small coastal town. But despite his desire for solitude, he finds himself drawn to a man who seems to have simply strolled out of the sea one day. Silver expects the new lighthouse keeper on his shores to be easy prey - quiet, isolated, sad. But he may have more on his hands than he expected. Modern fantasy au influenced by works like Daisy Johnson's Fen and Victor LaValle's The Changeling 16. The Return of John Silver Seven months after leaving Savannah and the war behind, Flint and Thomas are doing their best to leave the past where it belongs. But the past is never quite past. When the arrival of a wounded pirate on their doorstep threatens to shake what little foundation they've managed to build together, Flint finds himself at a familiar crossroads. Does he allow himself to admit that John Silver belongs in his life, (and in Thomas's) or will he continue to deny the truth even to himself? 17. gonna need a bigger boat The not-quite-Jaws AU where Flint is a perpetually irritated sea captain, hired by a perpetually irritating quasi-con man Silver, both to hunt a shark that has supposedly killed seven people in the last few months. Only they stumble upon a crime in action, end up trapped on a small boat in the middle of an ocean, and they figure out that they're going to have to work together to stay alive and collect that shark bounty somehow. (Featuring the use of thinly veiled shark metaphors, shark fun facts, and two people who cannot believe that their relationship is hurtling towards - something). 18. Loose Lips Sink Ships Rewrite of Black Sails S4. Billy Bones tries to kill Silver, fails, and Silver starts his revenge quest. Woodes Rogers is dead, Nassau is in chaos, and Silver finds his whole world changed. Mostly silverflint and it does become silverflintham. Happy ending! Very, very violent beginning.

#SFBB2019 #artist claims

[foxydivaxx]

Abel and Cain Chapter 1

This is the Blue Exorcist fic I have been working on lately that will lead to the anime Titans story. It is an AU of sorts and explores the dark facets of Rin and Yukio's personalities. This chapter is told from Yukio's POV mostly. This takes place after Rin's powers are exposed. I originally named this fic Abel and Cain

YUKIO's POV

I sigh to myself as I walk out of the conference room haven been briefed about the , all these formalities and nonsensical bureaucracy is doing my head in. Thankfully I managed to slip out without Rin ever finding out. Like I would want that fool to ruin things for me and steal the spotlight like he always does. You see that is the problem with Rin; he is nothing more than an attention whore who wants the world to revolve around him and adore him. As if, when he is not just Satan's son but also the closet thing to an actual demon whilst I am nothing more than the most perfect angel the world has ever seen. The idiot exposed himself to the world so it is only natural that I make things worse for him. The boy is nowhere to be seen, not like I give a fuck. He can die for all I care. Soon, the world shall bow to me once I enact my evil diabolical plan.

Ok, now I know you all gonna be like why am I being mean to him? He deserves it tbh because I am tired of being in his shadow. Sure he downplayed his intelligence to make me shine and also has helped in the past. But little does he realize that he is helping me that way. The more the fool destroys himself, the more powerful and popular I become. Although I do not show it in public, I do enjoy and crave the attention I get from those putrid whiny bitches that throw themselves at me.

That ironically gave me an idea which I shall put into action. But before that, I need to ditch the other thorn at my side that would surely ruin my plans; Shura. Yes idiot Shura, Shura who thinks she is superior to me. Well newsflash bitch, I am hundred times way better than everyone especially her, Rin and that wretched old man that rotted in hell. Oh yeah, on that side note, that is part of why I hate Rin or rather, that is my legitimate excuse for hating Rin when in fact, I have always hated my big brother and is trying to destroy him at every cost.

Yeah I told him all was forgiven and shit but I was just toying with him. Nii-san is extremely emotional and thus that makes it easier to exploit and manipulate him like I have always done ever since we were little kids. Anyhow, I digress. Back to the main topic at hand here people. Now where was I? Oh yes...

"Excuse me guys, gonna go to the loo." I lied as convincingly as I could and slip into the bathroom. Once inside, I make sure to lock up the door. "You may come out now my underlings." I say. A massive shadow is casted across the room and out come two male demons, one is much taller than I am with red hair and the other has messy green hair. Both have horns on their heads though they do not have tails, both wearing school uniforms. These two are my brothers Iblis the King of Fire and Beelzebub the King of Insects. Yes bitches, I do have demonic powers but they were supressed till recently hence why I have managed to get away with my evil deeds and put Rin in trouble all the time. Yes all the fights the buffoon gets into are my doing plus a couple of other things.

"Must you keep on calling us that?" Beelzebub whines. Iblis smacks upside in the head. "Silence!" he barked. Beelzebub pouts. I simply rolled my eyes. "Look I did not summon you here for some prit a prat. I have a mission for you both." I say with the most deadliest smirk in place.

NORMAL POV

"Where is Okumura-san?" Konekomaru asked. Shiemi looks up. " I haven't seen him since that incident." says Shiemi. "I did see him walking along the corridors at one point but he has been skipping classes." says Shima."Let's just forget about him." says Suguro. The others just do that and pretend that he does not exist. All except Izumo who is standing outside fists clenches.Those fakeass bitches!!! How dare they treat him that way?!!! I must find him at once and bring him back. With that, she races off to find him.

Rin meanwhile was seated on the rooftop of their dorm, breaking down in tears. They have all abandoned me. he says to himself. Kuro nuzzles him. Rin don't cry. I am sure your friends would find you. he says. He nods and absentmindedly pets the cat. Without realizing it, he opens his mouth and words began to flow:

Amaimon, Mephisto and a newly revived Astaroth walk towards the Okumura brothers’ dorms. “I am sure our little brother is here.” Sure enough, they find the boy sitting on the roof in tears.

Upon seeing him in such a pitiful state, Amaimon hugs his brother without a moment of hesitation whilst Astaroth pats his head. Kuro grins. See told ya so. The poor boy was confused out of his mind. "W-what are you guys doing here?" he asked. "What else?" says Mephisto.

"What are they doing here?! And is Reiji still under the influence?!!" he yelled, pointing at both Amaimon and Astaroth. "Whoa! Calm down otouto! We mean, no harm. Honest. Plus I actually do kinda look like Reiji in human form." says Astaroth, raising his hand. Rin glares at him suspiciously. "And besides, we have been searching for you following that little incident back there." says Mephisto.

Amaimon nods."It was not my intention to fight you or anything but it seemed like some powerful force had control over me and made me not only attack you but also enabled you to expose your powers." he said.

He gaped at them. "You mean via mind control?" Rin asked. Mephisto nodded. "Even I do not know who could have done that as Amaimon was perfectly sane when we left the house." Rin thinks. Unless that perpetrator might have followed them and placed some magic charm on Amaimon to act that way. "Indeed but we need to redeem Rin's image first because I discovered that someone filmed that fight and posted it on social media." says Mephisto.

"WHAT?!" Rin shouts. "Let me ask you something Rin, have you noticed anything strange about Yukio?" asked Mephisto. Rin sighs. “Besides the fact that he distances himself from me and often acts coldly towards me, nothing else.”

Mephisto simply nods. He too has been observing Yukio’s behaviour and had grown suspicious of the boy. The increased presence of minions of their brothers Beelzebub and Iblis certainly do not help matters. Amaimon did say that he say the two around True Cross talking to Yukio once which makes Yukio look even more shadier. What could that boy be discussing with those two? And if Lucifer is involved in this, that makes it worse.

"Now otouto, we must make haste and take you out of here to somewhere where you can relax and unwind and become the man you ought to be and not what Yukio dictates you to be." he says.

Rin nods. "You do have a point there. I am tired of always playing second fiddle to that bastard." He then smirks deviously. "I want to be the man I ought to be." Amaimon pats his back. "See? This is what we wanted to tell you otouto." he said. Astaroth pats him on the back. " Now you will have to pack up though and bring both Kurikara and that familiar of yours with ya." says Mephisto. Rin nods. "Here goes nothing." he says.

Rin's POV

I sigh as soon as I reach the dorm. Yukio hasn't arrived home yet which is a blessing because I cannot stand another week of talkless days and nights with my twin. Speaking of which, said boy has been acting weird towards me, almost as if I do not exist. I do not blame him afterall, I killed Shiro Fujimoto our beloved adoptive Father plus all this stuff regarding me being Satan's Son and inheriting his flames is causing all sorts of drama for me.

Those stupid Grigori bitches put me on trial and treated me like a fucking animal. Ok, I admit to losing control of my flames but truth be told that I had no idea what happened back there and now that I think about it, Amaimon may most likely have been under some form of mind control. I mean, Mephisto did try to stop him from attacking me. Nothing adds up to be honest and for some weird reason I suspect Yukio here.

I know strange but it is true. That boy has always been suspicious. All this talk about long missions and whatnot is starting to become even more weird to me. Yes he is my brother but at the same time, let me acknowledge the abuse he has subjected me to. I was so naive to have allowed that bastard to take advantage of me for years.

Still, it is strange that these two older brothers of mine plus Mephisto are treating me nicely and seem to understand me, accepting me even better than my own twin. That alone makes me feel uneasy. My train of thoughts gets distracted by a little meow from beside me. Hurry up Rin. You need to pack up. says Kuro. I nod and begin to pack up my stuff. I bet Yukio would throw a fit when he does not see me for days though to be honest, I doubt he would even care since he hasn't been acting brotherly to me lately, probably enjoying all the popularity that he is getting now at school. It is obvious that that bitch enjoys all the attention as he treats me like I am second rate everytime especially behind the scenes but still pretends to be all nice to me in public.

 Everyone thinks that I am stupid and clueless about my surroundings.  Actually I am not very happy go lucky. If anything I am much darker than that and much smarter than people give me credit for. I just pretend to be stupid to hide my real self because if these bitches knew just how smart and powerful I truly am, that would scare the shit out of them.

I smile bitterly as I throw my clothes into my bag. That dream inspired by what the old man spoke to me as a kid, the words encouraging me to shape up and be the man that loads of people would admire, the hero that I aspire to be, seems almost impossible to reach now, not with the current scandal I have been hit with. I cannot help but chuckle at that word. Yes when the entire school knows about your true heritage, it is certainly one hell of a scandal. Once I am done packing, I take one final look at what has been my home for the past couple months and leave. Chances are this would be the last time Yukio and I would ever see each other again.

Anyhow, I leave that dorm and head off to meet Mephisto and the others at the car park. "I have already sorted out the mess involving people knowing about your identity." says Mephisto. "Uhm, how?" I asked. "Trust me, it's best you do not know." says Astaroth. "Anyhow, we must be off." says Mephisto. We all get into the limo and drive off.

NORMAL POV

Izumo arrives Rin’s dorm, only to find it vacated. “Oh my God....don’t tell me that I am already late...”

Before she could turn around, she gets knocked out by a mysterious person.

So there you have it guys. I originally posted this and deleted it by mistake. Thank goodness I still saved the draft of the original fic  and edited some stuff in here.  Might do a spinoff on Izumo.

#blue exorcist #ao no exorcist #fanfiction #rin okumura #yukio okumura #mephisto pheles #amaimon #astaroth #lucifer #shiemi moriyama #izumo kamiki #bon suguro #shima #konekomaru miwa

[xtyrantinax]

[Souls] Aether War | The Echion Battle Begins

Finally have the time to do an entry for the second part of the Aether war, this time with Paragon, Blizzard and Songbird doing battle against the mighty Aemon, Echion!

Warnings: Eye gore

Atop the city walls sat Paragon, Blizzard and Songbird, each of them silent as they awaited a signal from the human general stood beside them. Paragon looked out over the wasteland that surrounded the Radiant Empire’s city, a once beautiful land surrounded by rolling hills of green and ancient forests now reduced to ash and rubble. The ground was covered with scorch marks from the dragons reigning hell down on the approaching Aemons, burning away all of the foliage that had once grown there and leaving only billowing smoke in its wake. Both humans and dragons alike were continuing the battle fiercely, taking down the smaller Aemons that were ploughing across the fields as fast as possible. Unfortunately, they were only the foot soldiers, sent out to weaken the Empire’s defences and exhaust them while the true threat remained just beyond where the woods had once been, standing tall above even the largest castle towers. Echion, that was the name of the gargantuan Aemon that was corrupting everything nearby. It was a massive deer with a large portal perched between its antlers that seemed to move with it, following its every movement as it continued its great trek across the Empire’s land. So far no one had been able to find any of the creature’s weaknesses, forced to simply sit by and watch as it crushed every town in its path towards the city. Dragons and humans from all over Empyrean had made the immense journey from their homelands to the Radiant Empire, offering their services and their lives in order to take down the corrupted deer and protect the Queen and her people from the mysterious Aether King they had heard so much about. They had all been outfitted with thick, steel armour to protect their hides, and they had all been given a briefing on just how important the defeat of Echion was. Songbird, while normally a more passive dragon, determined to heal the sick and protect the weak, was also willing to join the fight. They needed every able-bodied dragon they could to pitch in, regardless of their experience in battle. She ensured to stay close to both her Uncle and Blizzard, knowing that the two of them had a great deal of power and would no doubt watch her back. Blizzard was anxious about the attack – his wounds were only newly healed and doing battle with an eldritch monster was not exactly ‘taking it easy’ as Songbird had told him – but he knew well that if the city were to fall then the Aemon King would soon begin to spread his reach across the rest of Empyrean. Paragon, seemingly sensing his concern, leaned slightly closer to him, offering a gentle nudge with his snout, a reassuring smile plastered on his snout. Paragon would have preferred it greatly if both his lover and his niece had stayed far away, hidden deep within their den back in their Frigid Empire where they were far less likely to be discovered, not beside him facing down one of the largest, most dangerous Aemons anyone had seen. However, the thought of sinking his teeth into the giant deer before them had his body jittering with excitement. He couldn’t wait to take to the air and carve out the beast’s insides. The general lifted his hand, gesturing to the first wave of attacking dragons, “Squad one, you’re free to begin your attack, go!” the burly human shouted, nodding to them as a silent ‘good luck’. With the go-ahead issued, a large group of dragons leapt into action including Paragon, Songbird and Blizzard. They flew above the battlefield, trying their best to ignore the humans and dragons still fighting below them. Several of the dragons flew directly towards Echion’s head, snarling and hissing at the beast only to have it swipe it’s horns at them, rearing back onto its hind legs and kicking out at them. One dragon was knocked from the air, dropping from the sky and narrowly missing colliding with one of its fellow warriors. Songbird was quick to alter her course, diving down after the falling dragon and managing to catch him before he could hit the ground. She placed the dragon down gently, giving him a once over to ensure he would be alright before she jumped back into the air once more. Blizzard decided that the best plan of attack was to go underneath the deer where it would be far more difficult for it to retaliate. He spewed out a great stream of ice directly against Echion’s body, watching in irritation as the animal merely shook off the attack, the ice easily crumbling and falling to the scorched dirt below. Regardless, he continued his attack, this time trying to target the beast’s legs. Although going beneath the Aemon was perhaps the safer bet, Paragon could have cared less, racing towards Echion’s face with little care for the dragons around him that were swiftly thrown from the air by its mighty antlers. He managed to dodge the attacks with practised ease, bearing down on the monster with a horrific roar. It was only when he could see his own reflection in the murky, purple depths of the Aemon’s eyes that he finally parted his jaws and breathed a powerful blast of flame into its face. Echion made an deep, guttural sound of outrage, simply angered rather than wounded, and lunged forward, crashing its head down towards Paragon as though it were battling another deer for mating rites during the early spring. Just before it made contact with the ravager Songbird made her appearance, grabbing her uncle within her claws and tossing him aside. Paragon could only watch in horror as the vibrant dragoness was struck in his place, yelping in pain as she fell like a dying angel, feathers filling the air and seeming to drift down elegantly around her falling body in slow motion. His wings flailed in panic, unable to correct himself in time to go after her. It was nothing short of a miracle when Blizzard ascended from below them, wrapping his legs firmly around the large Warden and breaking her fall. With a great deal of effort he managed to slowly lower them both to the ground, laying her unconscious body on the ground tenderly before standing over her frail form in case Echion decided to attack. Other dragons and a few humans were already rushing towards them, eager to move Songbird from the battlefield as quickly as possible so she was no longer in the line of fire. A small part at the back of Paragon’s mind was relieved that the Warden was safe and would be looked after, but the rest of his thoughts were completely taken over with rage. He shrieked, a sound that surely had many covering their ears, letting out the absolute agony he was currently unable to bottle. Despite Blizzard’s panicked roar from below – a warning to Paragon not to loose his cool and act so rashly – the Ravager flew back towards Echion, this time throwing himself at the Aemon’s face. His claws sunk into its rotting flesh, determinedly clinging on as he quickly dragged himself towards the animal’s closest eye, ignoring the way it thrashed and snorted at him. It was difficult for him to remain on the Aemon’s face with the way it tossed its head, but he persisted, finally reaching one of the eyes that pulsed with an eerie purple hue. Before he could think any better of it Paragon lunged forward, his teeth grabbing a hold of the eye itself and biting down. He’d managed to grab a hold of part of the Aemon’s sclera, tearing at it with all of his might. Although the beast thrashed, kicking out in agony, Paragon put every pound of weight behind his attack, finally managing to create a deep tear through the thick membrane. A clear liquid immediately began to gush from the wound, the entire eye seeming to deflate on itself as it was drained of the aqueous humour. In response Echion let out an unnatural scream of anguish, all of the other Aemons around them lifting their heads and retreating back towards their leader to protect it from whatever was causing it such distress. The portal above its head flickered for a few moments before massive, winged beasts burst forth from it, heeding the corrupted deer’s call to arms and quickly swarming Paragon. By then Songbird had been moved to safety and Blizzard had managed to take to the air again, throwing himself at the nearest Aemon to try and keep them away from his partner. His efforts were valiant, but there were too many of them and both ravagers – along with all of the other dragons remaining in the battle – were quickly outnumbered. It was just as Blizzard was about to call for a retreat when the second wave of dragons arrived, colliding with the swarm of Aemons mid-air. Bodies were thrown in all directions, the battle quickly devolving into complete and utter chaos.

#writing #dragons #souls between #arpg #paragon #songbird #blizzard #literature #aemon #aether war